No promises in the wind
Irene Hunt
No promises in the wind
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Irene Hunt
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What would you do if you had to leave home at just fifteen, wandering through a country full of people struggling to survive? Imagine searching for food, shelter, and hope during the hardest times anyone has ever faced. Josh’s journey is full of challenges — but will he find the strength to make it on his own?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the Great Depression, this historical fiction novel follows 15-year-old Josh as he navigates the hardships of poverty and uncertainty while trying to build a life for himself. The story explores themes of resilience, family, and survival in a difficult era, making it appropriate for middle-grade readers who can handle realistic depictions of economic struggle and emotional challenges.
Why we rated No promises in the wind 11ME
No promises in the wind is written at a Level 6 reading level across 223 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, No promises in the wind works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate No promises in the wind as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, No promises in the wind explores family, coming of age, historical, survival, and depression era — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, historical.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780425099698
- Pages
- 223
- Publisher
- Berkley
- Published
- 1986
- Type
- Fiction