This week's feature read is No Promises in the Wind by Irene Hunt.In 1932, America was in the depths of a deep depression. A job, food to fill you, a place to sleep, and shoes without holes--for millions of people, these simple needs were nothing more than dreams. At 15 years of age, Josh had to make his own way through a country of angry, frightened people. This is the story of a young man's struggle to find a life for himself in the turbulent 1930s.
I read this book for my history class. I love Irene Hunt's writing style, of which I was already familiar with after reading Across Five Aprils. The story of Josh made me feel rather pathetic. I have everything a person could hope for--food, clothing, a bed, a house. Amid Josh's lack of these things, he learns about what really matters. He learns how to survive and how to treat others. He learns the meaning of compassion and understanding. He learns how to love. It is a very touching story, one that made me laugh and tear up at the same time.
The history side of the book is very insightful. While reading No Promises in the Wind I was taken into the heart of the Great Depression and I got to see what it would have been like to live during the 1930s. I learned a lot about history from this book without having to read a textbook. I would definitely read this book again.
