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1 Novel Ties No Promises in the Wind Irene Hunt A Study Guide Written By Laura Huerta Edited by Joyce Friedland and Rikki Kessler LEARNING LINKS PO Box 326 Cranbury New Jersey 08512

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Synopsis Background Information Pre-Reading Activities Glossary Chapters 1, Chapters 3, Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapters 10, Cloze Activity Post-Reading Activities Suggestions For Further Reading Answer Key Notes Novel-Ties are printed on recycled paper. The purchase of this study guide entitles an individual teacher to reproduce pages for use in a classroom. Reproduction for use in an entire school or school system or for commercial use is prohibited. Beyond the classroom use by an individual teacher, reproduction, transmittal or retrieval of this work is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Copyright 1988, 2011, 2013 by LEARNING LINKS

3 For the Teacher This reproducible study guide consists of instructional material to use in conjunction with the novel No Promises in the Wind. Written in chapter-by-chapter format, the guide contains a synopsis, pre-reading activities, vocabulary and comprehension exercises, as well as extension activities to be used as follow-up to the novel. NOVEL-TIES are either for whole class instruction using a single title or for group instruction where each group uses a different novel appropriate to its reading level. Depending upon the amount of time allotted to it in the classroom, each novel, with its guide and accompanying lessons, may be completed in two to four weeks. The first step in using NOVEL-TIES is to distribute to each student a copy of the novel and a folder containing all of the duplicated worksheets. Begin instruction by selecting several pre-reading activities in order to set the stage for the reading ahead. Vocabulary exercises for each chapter always precede the reading so that new words will be reinforced in the context of the book. Use the questions on the chapter worksheets for class discussion or as written exercises. The benefits of using NOVEL-TIES are numerous. Students read good literature in the original, rather than in abridged or edited form. The good reading habits formed by practice in focusing on interpretive comprehension and literary techniques will be transferred to the books students read independently. Passive readers become active, avid readers. LEARNING LINKS

4 SYNOPSIS No Promises in the Wind tells the story of fifteen-year-old Josh Grondowski s struggle to survive along with his younger brother Joey during the bleak, despairing days of the Great Depression in the United States. It is October 1932, and the nationwide Depression has shattered the Grondowski family who live on the west side of Chicago. Dad lost his factory job eight months before, sister Kitty lost her clerking job, and Mother, no longer able to find students willing to pay for piano lessons, was forced to work in a laundry. Josh awakens early each morning to deliver newspapers before school to supplement his family s meager income. Bitter over his inability to support his family, Dad lashes out at Josh who retaliates by arguing constantly with his father. Josh s only solace is playing the piano to accompany his best friend Howie who plays the banjo. Mrs. Grondowski, torn between loyalty to her husband and love for Josh, reluctantly concedes that Josh might be better off striking out on his own. Accompanied by his younger brother Joey and his friend Howie, Josh plans to leave Chicago on a freight train and head west to Nebraska. Tragically, Howie is killed while they are climbing onto a train. Although devastated by the loss of their friend, Josh and Joey are determined to continue. As they travel, they are helped by various strangers, attacked by a gang of toughs, forced to beg, and compelled to search through garbage cans for food. In spite of small kindnesses, they are usually starving, exhausted, and cold. Josh and Joey are picked up on the road by Lonnie Bromer, a kindly truck driver. Lonnie is particularly sensitive to the boys plight because he sees in Josh his own dead son. He drives the boys to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where they meet Pete Harris, who reluctantly hires Josh to play the piano at his carnival. Because the carnival feeds, clothes, and shelters the boys, they are able to save some money from Josh s five-dollar-a-week salary. Josh falls in love with thirty-year-old Emily, the circus clown and mother of three young boys, but is upset to learn that she is going to marry Pete. A ruinous fire at the carnival convinces Josh that it is time to head north again and find Lonnie. Hitchhiking north, the boys are picked up on the road by Charley, a young hoodlum, in a luxury car outfitted to carry bootleg liquor. In an effort to show off, Josh uses all his money to change a twenty-dollar bill for Charley. When he later presents the bill to a shopkeeper to pay for overshoes for Joey, the bill is confiscated as counterfeit. Now almost penniless, the boys continue northward to Nebraska, where their physical condition deteriorates and Josh develops pneumonia. After fighting over half a loaf of bread, Joey abandons Josh. LEARNING LINKS 1

5 Josh, weak and remorseful, searches for Joey, but collapses from illness and exhaustion on the road. A couple find him and contact Lonnie, who, with the help of his niece Janey, nurses Josh back to health. While Josh is recuperating, Lonnie searches for Joey. Although Joey has relented for leaving his brother, he is now unable to find Josh and so joins a group of wild boys. After a wall collapse in the dilapidated barn where the boys have been staying, a radio broadcast describes the boys rescue. Lonnie, Janey, and Josh hear the broadcast and realize that one of the boys is Joey. Lonnie brings Joey to his home and helps him regain his health. Josh, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Janey. He encounters another stroke of good fortune when the couple who had rescued Joey get him a job playing the piano in a restaurant, allowing him to pay back some of his debt to Lonnie. Finally Josh and Joey decide to return to their family in Chicago. They are met at the train station by their grateful family, and Josh, with a new level of understanding and compassion, is reunited with the parents he had vowed never to see again. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Great Depression The Great Depression refers to the severe worldwide economic crisis, which was precipitated by the Wall Street stock market crash in October At that time millions of dollars of stock were subject to panic selling in a matter of hours. This forced the closure of many banks whose reserves were involved in stock speculation. Suddenly, the investments of millions of people were lost. In the United States businesses closed, people lost their homes, and by 1933, sixteen million people, or one-third of the labor force, were unemployed. Complete recovery from the Depression came only with the heavy defense spending for World War II in the 1940s. Prohibition The period of Prohibition in United States history was when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was in force. The passage of this amendment prohibited the manufacture, transportation, and sale of intoxicating liquors. It represented the culmination of a long campaign by proponents of temperance. This led to bootlegging, or the illegal distribution of liquor, and increased organized crime activity. Public opinion insisted on its repeal by the passage of the 21st Amendment in LEARNING LINKS

6 PRE-READING ACTIVITIES 1. Preview the book by reading the title and the author s name and by looking at the illustration on the cover. What do you think the book will be about? When do you think it takes place? Do you think it will be serious or humorous? Have you read any other books by Irene Hunt? 2. This novel tells of an era in United States history referred to as The Great Depression. Information concerning this period will enable you to have a better understanding of Josh s family situation and conditions in the country. Read the Background Information on page two of this study guide and do some additional research on the Great Depression. Find out the years of the Depression, what caused the Depression, and what effect it had on people throughout the country. 3. Compare the economic conditions of the Great Depression to the economic conditions today. How are they the same? How are they different? Do some research to find out what measures the federal government provides to protect the population from total economic devastation. 4. Have you ever considered running away from home? What might cause you to take such drastic action? How would you survive on your own? How do you think your family and friends would view your departure? Can you think of any circumstances in which a child might be encouraged to leave home? 5. Read the Background Information on page two of this study guide and do some additional research to learn about Prohibition. Find out the years it was in effect, the motivation for its passage into law, and the reasons for its dismal failure and ultimate repeal. 6. The most dramatic way to appreciate the Depression is to see the human suffering it caused. Locate photographs and documentary films that depict the era. Share these images with your class. 7. Cooperative Learning Activity: Work with a small group of your classmates to discuss the effect of poverty and hopelessness on a family unit. What might happen to a loving family if the breadwinners lose their jobs? How might the situation have been worse during the Depression, a time when there was no government financial aid or social agencies to help desperate people? 8. Obtain a road map of the United States. Locate Chicago, Illinois. As you read, trace the boys journey from their home as they set out on their own. 9. Become familiar with the slang and words of the depression era that you will find in the Glossary on page four of this study guide. Refer back to these words and their definitions as you encounter them in your reading of the book. LEARNING LINKS 3

7 GLOSSARY bank foreclosure ballyhoo (informal) Bayou country bread lines Bulls (slang) Cajun Dixieland Feds (slang) hooch (slang) installment buying The Loop panhandling Salvation Army Kitchen or soup kitchen relief speakeasy Windy City repossession of property by the bank when people don t pay the mortgage noisy attempt to attract customers to a show area of southern United States; Louisiana lines of people waiting for free food railroad detectives whose job it was to remove hobos from trains native of Louisiana descended from French-Canadian exiles kind of jazz with a strong two-beat rhythm government agents who enforced Prohibition liquor buying items and paying for them in equal segments over an extended period of time business section of Chicago begging place where soup and other food is supplied free to the needy aid or assistance to those in need place for the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages during Prohibition Chicago 4 LEARNING LINKS

8 CHAPTERS 1, 2 Vocabulary: Draw a line from each word on the left to its definition on the right. Then use the numbered words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. 1. rancor a. leftovers 2. docile b. untidy 3. disheveled c. owner 4. paltry d. deep-seated ill will 5. arpeggio e. petty; worthless 6. remnants f. notes of a chord played in succession 7. absurdity g. foolishness 8. proprietor h. obedient; weak After an entire day of cleaning the house, everyone looked. 2. An excellent pianist, she was able to play the with ease. 3. After being fired from his job, he spoke with about his boss. 4. Because there were only a few left from the bolt of fabric, there was not enough to make another outfit. 5. The amount of food they were able to afford would hardly feed their family of five. 6. If you are looking for a pet for a young child, you should look for one with a(n) disposition. 7. The of the store was trying to hire someone to make deliveries. 8. The of the situation made us all laugh. Questions: 1. What evidence revealed the Grondowski family s poverty? 2. What evidence showed that poverty was widespread in America? 3. What was Josh s special talent? LEARNING LINKS 5

9 Chapters 1, 2 (cont.) 4. What caused Josh s father to become deeply unhappy? 5. Why did Josh feel secure at Penn High School? 6. What compassionate act did Joey perform that was unusual during these hard times? 7. How did Josh feel about his father? 8. How did Mother respond to Josh s question about leaving home? Why do you think she reacted this way? 9. What were the boys plans when they first left home? Do you think these plans were realistic? 10. How did the hobo make Josh feel uneasy? What happened to confirm Josh s feeling of uneasiness? Questions for Discussion: 1. Do you think Josh s feelings toward his father were justified? 2. How do you think your family would react if you told them you were leaving? 3. Do you think Howie s tragedy could have been averted? Might people or the times themselves be blamed? 4. What do you think the boys will do next? Literary Device: Point of View Point of view in literature refers to the voice telling the story. It could be a character in the story or the author narrating the story. From whose point of view is this story told? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this point of view? Writing Activity: Josh and his father were antagonistic towards each other. Josh felt his anger and hostility were justified. Write a journal entry that Josh might have written after one of his arguments with his father. 6 LEARNING LINKS

10 Chapters 1, 2 (cont.) Literary Element: Characterization You will meet many unusual characters as you read this book. Use this chart to make notes about each one. Physical Character Characteristics Occupation Other Information Josh Grondowski Joey Grondowski Kitty Grondowski Dad Mom Howie Lonnie Bromer Janey Bromer Pete Harris Emily Charley LEARNING LINKS 7

11 CHAPTERS 3, 4 Vocabulary: Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Draw a line from each word in column A to its synonym in column B. Then use the words in column A to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. A B 1. extravagant a. misery 2. ravenous b. shame 3. vivid c. indifferent 4. tenant d. starved 5. humiliation e. excessive 6. numb f. renter 7. grief g. bright After living through the tragedies of war, the soldier became to everyday problems at home. 2. We were tired and after hiking for two days without food or rest. 3. The colors of my painting faded when it was exposed to direct sunlight. 4. It was difficult for the little girl to endure the of being scolded in public. 5. As a new in an old building, I expect to join a group to get the owners to make some needed repairs. 6. Because of his taste in clothing, the young man never had any money to add to his savings account. 7. The photographs clearly showed the of the family as they stood weeping at the funeral. Questions: 1. Why were Joey and Josh anxious to get off the train? Why did they refuse to eat with the men who offered food? 2. What decision did the boys make after Howie died? Why did they reach this conclusion? 3. How were the boys able to obtain food and shelter? 4. How have Josh s thoughts and dreams changed? 8 LEARNING LINKS

12 Chapters 3, 4 (cont.) 5. What drove Josh to look through garbage cans for food? 6. How did Joey help to find food? Why was the role better for him than for Josh? 7. How did the elderly woman in Nebraska help the boys? 8. Why was Josh reluctant at first to share his reason for running from home with Lonnie? Why do you think he changed his mind and told Lonnie his story? 9. What mistake did Lonnie reveal to Josh? Questions for Discussion: 1. Do you think Josh could ever forgive his dad? 2. Why do you think Lonnie helped Josh and Joey? Literary Elements: I. Plot Plot refers to the sequence of events in a work of fiction. Number these events from Chapters 1 4 in the order that they occurred in the story. Howie s body was lifted by the express train and thrown down the tracks. Joey wrote a letter home. Josh s father became angry with him for asking for more potatoes. Joey and Josh begged for food during hard times. The farmer s wife gave the boys a bag of potatoes. The boys met Lonnie. Josh, Joey, and Howie left Chicago full of hope. The boys enjoyed their first bath since leaving Chicago. Howie and Joey earned seventy-eight cents playing and singing on the streets. Joey and Josh cooked a rooster in a ramshackle farmhouse. LEARNING LINKS 9

13 Chapters 3, 4 (cont.) II. Characterization Compare and contrast the characters of Lonnie and Mr. Grondowski in the Venn diagram below. Record their similar personality traits in the overlapping part of the circles. Lonnie Mr. Grondowski Writing Activities: 1. Josh and Joey showed qualities that help people face problems. Choose one of the boys and write about the qualities that made him a responsible person. 2. The elderly lady in Nebraska convinced Joey to write a letter to his mother. Pretend you are Joey and write that letter. 10 LEARNING LINKS

14 CHAPTER 5 Vocabulary: Use the words in the Word Box and the clues below to complete the crossword puzzle. WORD BOX antics grant motley optimism bayou ingenuity nonchalant skeptical Across 2. funny acts 3. belief that good prevails 5. varied 6. cleverness 8. coolly unconcerned Down 1. marshy land 4. doubtful 7. give or concede Questions: 1. Why did Josh have a sense of relief now that he was with Lonnie? 2. Why did Josh keep track of the cost of the meals while traveling with Lonnie? 3. What evidence showed that Josh had not changed his feelings toward his father? 4. Why was Pete Harris hesitant to hire Josh? Why do you think he finally decided to hire him? 5. Describe the men who would be the boys neighbors. 6. What did Lonnie do that showed he would always care about the boys? 7. Why did Blegan have a negative attitude towards the boys? 8. What was Emily s job and why did it come as a surprise to the boys? LEARNING LINKS 11

15 Chapter 5 (cont.) 9. What warning did Emily give Josh? 10. How did Josh feel about the way he expected to act on the first night of the job? Why did he feel this way? Questions for Discussion: 1. What particular dangers might Josh and Joey face if they stayed on at the circus? 2. In what ways do the lives of people in a carnival or circus differ from the lives of people who have ordinary careers? Literary Device: Simile A simile is a comparison of two unlike objects, using the words like or as. For example, Josh says: I felt as heavy as lead inside. What is being compared? What does this reveal about Josh s feelings? Find at least one other simile in this chapter. Tell what is being compared and whether the comparison is appropriate. Writing Activity: Write about a time when you were asked to act in a way that ran counter to your nature. Describe what you were asked to do, why you didn t want to do it, and how the situation resolved itself. 12 LEARNING LINKS

16 CHAPTER 6 Vocabulary: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Draw a line from each word in column A to its antonym in column B. Then use the words in column A to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. A 1. tedious a. divested 2. agony b. acceptance 3. vain c. unappreciative 4. rebuff d. genuine 5. acquired e. pleasure 6. imitation f. exciting 7. grateful g. humble B You mistakenly judged my frown as a(n), when I really just wanted to warn you of danger. 2. The lottery winner a new home and automobile. 3. The field worker sang to make the job of picking strawberries go faster. 4. The injured athlete was to her teammates who got her immediate care. 5. The of losing their house and land was more than the family could bear. 6. The film actor was too to face reporters until he was perfectly dressed. 7. Even a good pearl necklace is worth very little in comparison to the real article. Questions: 1. What was the carnival s most popular act? Why were children fascinated by this act? 2. Why did the boys send money to Lonnie? 3. What did Joey and Josh send home for Christmas? Why do you think they did this? LEARNING LINKS 13

17 Chapter 6 (cont.) 4. How did Emily explain Josh s blues? Why did Josh disagree with Emily? 5. Why did Josh get upset with Emily at the Christmas Eve party? 6. How did Emily feel about Pete? Why did she feel that way? 7. How did Josh feel about Emily and Pete s relationship? Why? 8. How did the fire change Josh s feelings toward Emily? Do you think he is being more realistic now? Questions for Discussion: 1. Do you think a relationship can survive when there is a large age difference between two people? 2. Why did the author title this book No Promises in the Wind? Do you think it is an appropriate title? Literary Element: Characterization We find out about people in a work of fiction from what other people say about them, as well as from what they say and do. Emily says of Josh, I think of you as a sensitive, talented boy a bit on the stubborn side, but never a fool. Do you agree with her assessment? Support your opinion with evidence from the story. Writing Activity: When Josh went off to be alone, he thought about how much he hated the wind. Write about your own reactions to weather. Tell about a time when weather affected your mood and actions. 14 LEARNING LINKS

18 CHAPTER 7 Vocabulary: Use the context to determine the meaning of the underlined word in each of the following sentences. 1. We felt complacent about the value of our land until we learned that the state was planning to build a road through our acreage. a. disheveled b. self-satisfied c. angry d. tired 2. After years of neglect, the cabin in the woods had become a dingy place. a. bright b. narrow c. dreary d. luxurious 3. Only a worker with incredible gall would challenge the president of the company. a. nerve b. height c. weight d. weakness 4. Without any light or flow of air, the cellar bedroom seemed like a frightful abyss. a. sleepiness b. town c. colorful space d. bottomless pit 5. Everyone was astonished when the shabbily dressed man paid fifty dollars for his meal with a flourish, and then left the restaurant without any other gestures in the waiter s direction. a. smile b. wave in the air c. smirk d. stamp of his foot 6. Once the police posted notices of crime suspects, she became notorious throughout the state. a. fancy b. well regarded c. unfavorably d. ugly known Questions: 1. Why did Pete have to let Josh go? 2. Josh left the carnival with mixed emotions. How did he feel about leaving Emily, Pete, Edward C., and New Orleans? 3. Who was Charley and what was his special job? 4. What did Josh mean when he said, We were still able to feel superior to the shallowness of a well-dressed minor hoodlum? Why did he feel this way? 5. Why did Josh change Charley s twenty-dollar bill? 6. How was the shoe salesman able to get the boys to leave without their twenty dollars? 7. In spite of their loss at the shoe shop, the boys weren t as poor as they often had been. What did they have to help them get by? LEARNING LINKS 15

19 Chapter 7 (cont.) 8. Why did Josh feel unhappy about just showing up at Lonnie s door and expecting him to care for them? 9. What did Josh mean when he said he was pulling his belt a little tighter? 10. How did Joey spend the last of his money? Question for Discussion: The shopkeeper accused Josh of having a counterfeit bill. Do you think that the bill was counterfeit? Language Activity: Multiple Meanings Some words in our language have multiple meanings. They must be considered in context in order to determine their meanings. What are some of the meanings of the word bar? What does bar mean in the following sentence: The latch was broken, and there had been no attempt to bar entrance. Writing Activity: Write about a time when you or someone you know was tricked. Describe the situation and its outcome. Also, tell how the situation might have been avoided. 16 LEARNING LINKS

20 CHAPTER 8 Vocabulary: Replace each underlined word in the sentences below with a word from the Word Box. Write the word you choose on the line below the sentence. WORD BOX commenced defiance envelop lurched compassion dominate foremost preoccupied 1. After the introductions were completed, the meeting began. 2. After the plane crashed in the mountains, surviving was first in everyone s mind. 3. During the earthquake, our bodies lunged forward, knocking us to the floor. 4. A strong personality will usually control a weaker one. 5. I was so engrossed with reading my program, I did not realize the play had begun. 6. Everyone who saw photographs of war orphans felt sympathy and a desire to help. 7. We couldn t see the road as fog began to cover the area. Questions: 1. What windfall resulted from Joey s attempt to sing and accompany himself on the banjo? 2. What caused the hysterical woman to change her mind about feeding Josh and Joey? 3. What act of kindness did Joey perform that upset Josh? 4. How did Joey and Josh become separated? 5. Why do you think the expression lowest common denominator kept whirling through Josh s brain? When did this phrase appear before? 6. What events led to Josh s arrival at Lonnie s home? LEARNING LINKS 17

21 Chapter 8 (cont.) 7. As Josh regained consciousness, what did he worry about? 8. What historical event did Janey and Josh listen to on the radio? 9. As Josh watched Janey at the stove, why did he ask her if she ever wore earrings? Question for Discussion: Do you think Joey would have acted differently if he had known that Josh was very sick? Literary Device: Foreshadowing Foreshadowing refers to clues an author gives to forthcoming events in a novel. What foreshadowed Josh s illness? Social Studies Connection: In the 1932 presidential election, President Hoover was not re-elected as president. Do some research to find out about this election during the Depression. Learn why Herbert Hoover was not reelected and why the electorate chose Franklin Delano Roosevelt instead. Then go to to find FDR s famous first inaugural address in which he tells Americans that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Writing Activity: Pretend that you are Josh, Janey, or Lonnie. Write a journal entry describing your feelings at this time. 18 LEARNING LINKS

22 CHAPTER 9 Vocabulary: Draw a line from each word on the left to its definition on the right. Then use the numbered words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. 1. convalescence a. likely to be stricken or affected 2. speculate b. reflect; guess 3. incredulously c. ability; talent 4. remorse d. fall back; return to a former state or condition 5. aptitude e. time of healing 6. susceptible f. disbelievingly; skeptically 7. malnutrition g. result of not getting a balanced or sufficient diet 8. relapse h. painful feeling of guilt; sorrow After three years of drought, many who lived in farming communities suffered from. 2. The smile on the convicted murderer s face showed that he had no. 3. There might be a long period of after a bout with the flu. 4. Going without sleep and sufficient food may make you to illness. 5. Before the first lunar landing, people could only about the surface of the moon. 6. If you return to work before you have completely recovered, you run the risk of a(n). 7. Aware of my lack of athletic, I was surprised to be invited to join the track team. 8. She stared at the tightrope walker who seemed fearless as she moved across the highwire. Questions: 1. Why did Josh have a troubled convalescence? 2. Where did Lonnie search for Joey? 3. How did the presence of an unopened letter to Lonnie from Mom affect Josh? LEARNING LINKS 19

23 Chapter 9 (cont.) 4. In what ways did Mom encourage Josh to come home? 5. How did Lonnie feel about Janey and Josh spending time together? 6. Why did Lonnie rush from the house at night after hearing a radio broadcast? 7. Why didn t Josh hug Joey upon his return? Questions for Discussion: 1. Why do you think Janey began wearing dresses when she came to visit Josh? 2. Do you agree with Josh that it would have been inappropriate to hug his brother? Would it be inappropriate today? Writing Activity: Pretend you are Josh. Write a letter to your mother answering her letter and telling her about Joey s rescue. 20 LEARNING LINKS

24 CHAPTERS 10, 11 Vocabulary: Analogies are equations in which the first pair of words has the same relationship as the second pair of words. For example: RAPID is to SLOW as ATTRACTIVE is to HOMELY. Both sets of words are opposites. Choose a word from the Word Box to complete each of the analogies below. WORD BOX aghast decrepit repertoire alcove improvised turmoil 1. TRAVEL is to JOURNEY as RAMSHACKLE is to. 2. AMUSED is to COMIC as is to HORROR. 3. HALL is to CORRIDOR as NOOK is to. 4. OBJECT is to COLLECTION as WORKS is to. 5. SUPERIOR is to INFERIOR as REHEARSED is to. 6. PEACE is to CONTENTMENT as WAR is to. Questions: 1. Why did the people who had taken in Joey resent Lonnie? 2. How did Joey help Josh realize that the same difficult circumstances that had affected him had also affected their father? 3. What did Josh feel he had to do before he could return home? 4. How did Mrs. Arthur help Josh find work? 5. Why did Lonnie agree to take part of Josh s salary? 6. Why didn t Janey trust Josh s promise to return? 7. How was the train ride home different from the train ride they had taken to leave Chicago? 8. Compare Josh s and Joey s thoughts about returning to Chicago. LEARNING LINKS 21

25 Chapters 10, 11 (cont.) 9. Josh compared their borrowed home in Omaha to their home in Chicago. What were his feelings towards each home? 10. Why did Josh decide to give his dad a chance? Questions for Discussion: 1. Do you think it might have been better for Joey to stay with the Arthurs? 2. Lonnie sent a wire, or telegram, to Josh and Joey s parents. How might Lonnie have communicated with the boys parents if this happened today? 3. Do you think Dad should have been forgiven for the way he treated Josh in the past? Did Josh deserve to be forgiven for the way he treated Joey? 4. In your opinion, did Mr. Ericsson have the right to advertise Josh s history without permission? 5. Do you think that Josh and Janey really loved one another? Could you imagine them getting married later in their lives? 6. How do you imagine Josh will get along with Dad upon his return? Writing Activity: Write about a time when you or someone you know was able to forgive another individual. Tell whether it was difficult to grant forgiveness and why it was offered. 22 LEARNING LINKS

26 CLOZE ACTIVITY The following excerpt has been taken from Chapter Eight of the novel. Read the entire passage and then fill in each blank with a word that makes sense. Afterwards, you may compare your language with that of the author. We got to Nebraska the last week in February, exhausted, penniless, and hungry. Joey tried to pick up a 1 coins by singing and accompanying his 2 on the banjo, but icy 3 made his fingers numb and the 4 of people in general made them 5 past him without paying much attention 6 the plea that promoted his singing. 7 did get one windfall, though, in 8 gift of some beef bones from 9 kindly butcher who heard Joey s songs 10 helped him in the kind of 11 a butcher could afford. It was 12 precious gift, and we eagerly hunted 13 of the shabbiest houses we could 14 we tended to seek out people 15 shabby as we were and we 16 the good fortune to meet an 17 man who agreed to boil the 18 on his cookstove for a share 19 the soup. He was a gentle 20 man, very quiet and sometimes seeming 21 little dazed. He asked us no, 22 but he frowned when I had 23 particularly hard coughing spell; later he 24 up the broken shoes which I 25 taken off to dry in front 26 the fire, and he spent a 27 time fitting cardboard soles inside them. When we were leaving, he gave me a pair of heavy gray socks and in the quavering voice of aged people, warned me about keeping my feet dry. LEARNING LINKS 23

27 POST-READING ACTIVITIES 1. Return to the character study that you began on page seven of this study guide. Add more information about each character and compare your responses with those of your classmates. 2. The ending of this book could be the beginning of another story. Choose one set of characters and write another episode about them. You might choose to write about Josh and Dad, Josh and Janey, Pete and Emily, Josh and Joey, or Josh and Emily. 3. Social Studies Connection: Do some research to find out about major events that occurred in America from 1932 to Select five of these events and tell how each might have affected the Grondowski family. 4. Cooperative Learning Activity: Work with a small cooperative learning group to compile a list of questions that you would like to ask Josh. Write a script with your questions and Josh s probable responses. Present this Q and A to your classmates. 5. Through the many difficult situations Josh endured: he was forced to grow up quickly. Select two incidents from the story in which Josh was forced to make a decision. At least one of the incidents should show a mature decision that he made. 6. Some of the following adjectives could be used to describe Josh. Select three from the list below and briefly cite an incident from the story to justify each choice. compassionate loving realistic courageous malicious spiteful fickle mischievous stubborn 7. Lonnie proved to be a true friend to the boys. Do you feel his reasons were selfish or did he really care for the boys? Use incidents from the story to support your answer. 8. Why do you think the book was called No Promises in the Wind? What might be another good title for this book? 9. Imagine that this book is being made into a film. Who do you think might play the roles of Josh, Joey, Mom, Dad, Emily, and Lonnie? Should any scene be added, omitted, or changed? What kind of background music might accompany specific parts of the book? 10. Vocabulary Review: Select two vocabulary words that challenged you from each chapter unit. Create a sentence about the story using each of the words. Work with a partner to compare and edit your sentences. Then choose ten of these sentences, replace the vocabulary word with an underlined space and project the page on your classroom whiteboard. Challenge your classmates to replace the words in the sentences. 24 LEARNING LINKS

28 Post-Reading Activities (cont.) 11. Literature Circle: Have a literature circle discussion in which you tell your personal reactions to No Promises in the Wind. Here are some questions and sentence starters to help your literature circle begin a discussion. Do you identify with any of the characters in the book? Do you find the characters in the novel realistic? Why or why not? Which character did you like the most? The least? Who else would you like to read this novel? Why? What did you learn about the Great Depression in this book of fiction that you might not have understood from reading a textbook? What questions would you like to ask the author about this novel? It was not fair when... I would have liked to see... I wonder... Josh learned that... LEARNING LINKS 25

29 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING Fiction * Burch, Robert. Queenie Peavy. Puffin. * Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner. Kirby, Susan E. Home for Christmas. Avon. * Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Grand Central Publishing. Lyon, George Ella. Borrowed Children. University Press of Kentucky. * Paterson, Katherine. Come Sing, Jimmy Jo. Puffin. * Peck, Robert Newton. A Day No Pigs Would Die. Laurel Leaf. Reeder, Carolyn. Grandpa s Mountain. HarperCollins. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. Penguin. * Taylor, Mildred. The Friendship. Puffin. *. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Puffin. * Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Dover. *. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Dover. Nonfiction Beyer, Janet, and JoAnne B. Weisman. The Great Depression. History Compass. Freedman, Russell. Children of the Great Depression. Times Books. Lawson, Don. FDR s New Deal. Ty Crowell Co. Lindap, Edmund. Modern America: The Dazzling Twenties. Franklin Watts.. Modern America: The Turbulent Thirties. Franklin Watts. Meltzer, Milton. Brother Can You Spare a Dime? The Great Depression Facts on File. Stein, R. Conrad. The Great Depression (Cornerstones of Freedom). Children s Press. Watkins, T.H. The Hungry Years. Holt. Other Books by Irene Hunt * Across Five Aprils. Berkley. * The Lottery Rose. Berkley. * Up a Road Slowly. Berkley. William. Ace Books. * NOVEL-TIES Study Guides are available for these titles. 26 LEARNING LINKS

30 ANSWER KEY Chapters 1, 2 Vocabulary: 1. d 2. h 3. b 4. e 5. f 6. a 7. g 8. c; 1. disheveled 2. arpeggio 3. rancor 4. remnants 5. paltry 6. docile 7. proprietor 8. absurdity Questions: 1. The Grondowski family s poverty was revealed by the boys sharing a bed, broken furniture, Josh s paper route that required him to awaken at 3:45 A.M., Dad s and Kitty s loss of jobs, Mom s work at a laundry, scanty meals, a treasured piano that was sold, and no savings in the bank. 2. The fires in trash cans, banks closed, bread lines, cheerless faces, and overall despair revealed that poverty was widespread in America. 3. Josh s special talent was playing the piano. 4. Josh s father was deeply distressed over the loss of his job and the lack of savings. He no longer was the proud man he had been. 5. Josh felt secure at Penn High School because he was a good student. His music teacher made him feel good about himself and allowed him to practice on the piano. 6. Joey spent a precious nickel that Kitty had given him to buy milk for a starving cat. 7. Josh felt unyielding coldness toward his father. 8. Mother said that with no jobs or food at home, Josh was probably right about wanting to leave. Answers to the second part of the question will vary. 9. The boys planned to sneak rides on freight trains and head south and west. They hoped to get jobs singing and playing in a speakeasy, restaurant, or dance hall. Answers to the rest of the question will vary. 10. The hobo made Josh feel uneasy when he described the dangers of climbing on the trains. Later when Howie s body was lifted by the express train and thrown down on the tracks, the hobo s warning was confirmed. Chapters 3, 4 Vocabulary: 1. e 2. d 3. g 4. f 5. b 6. c 7. a; 1. numb 2. ravenous 3. vivid 4. humiliation 5. tenant 6. extravagant 7. grief Questions: 1. The boys wanted to get away from the place of tragedy. They needed to be alone as they were in deep shock. 2. After Howie died, the boys decided they would continue. Josh remembered Mom saying it was best and he thought of Dad s face and his anger. Joey would stick with Josh. 3. In an abandoned farmhouse the boys made broth from an old tough rooster and stayed dry when it rained; a man and woman shared their meager meal and gave them a half dozen potatoes to take with them. 4. Josh no longer hoped and dreamed of being a musician, of girls, or of adventure; he only thought of food. 5. Josh resorted to looking for food in garbage cans because he and his brother were starving and there were no jobs. 6. Joey begged for food. He was younger and people had more sympathy for little kids whereas they might not give a scrap to someone older. 7. The elderly woman in Nebraska gave the boys supper, their first bath since they d left home, a real bed for the night, washed their clothes, gave them a good breakfast, and stationery to write home. 8. At first Josh wouldn t talk about his past because he was ashamed of things that happened at home. He felt their problems were those of people from homes with low standards. Answers to the second part of the question will vary. 9. Lonnie told Josh that his son had died because he made the mistake of giving him castor oil for a bad stomachache. His wife had wanted to call a doctor, but Lonnie thought the castor oil would cure him quickly. The boy actually had appendicitis and the castor oil killed him. Chapter 5 Vocabulary: Questions: Across 2. antics 3. optimism 5. motley 6. ingenuity 8. nonchalant; Down 1. bayou 4. skeptical 7. grant 1. Lonnie made Josh feel confident and assured. He gave Josh a sense of security, a lack of worries, and he allowed Josh to be a boy again without tension and responsibilities. 2. Josh kept track of meals because he intended to pay Lonnie back. 3. It was clear that Josh s feelings toward his father had not changed when he said he d never return, offer his father a hand of friendship, or sit at the same table with him. 4. Pete was reluctant to hire Josh because he was having hard times and was not sure how much longer he could hang on. Answers to the second part of the question will vary, but might include the fact that Pete s cousin said he helped people down on their luck. Perhaps he felt sorry for the boys. 5. The two men who would be the boys neighbors were dwarves: Edward C. was a quiet, dignified little man; Blegan was rattle-brained and gossipy. 6. Lonnie showed his concern for the boys when he gave them a scrap of paper with his name and address on it and told them to contact him if they ever needed help. 7. Blegan didn t feel they needed or could afford a piano player. He said Pete was a crazy old fool. 8. Emily was a clown. The boys were surprised because female clowns were rare. 9. Emily warned Josh that LEARNING LINKS 27

31 carnival people were strange and the boys, therefore, should be cautious. 10. Josh was upset that he had to grin, wink, and urge people to pay their dimes to see the dancers. This was hard for him to do because he was shy and reserved and felt it was a waste of his musical talent. Chapter 6 Vocabulary: Questions: Chapter 7 Vocabulary: Questions: Chapter 8 Vocabulary: Questions: 1. f 2. e 3. g 4. b 5. a 6. d 7. c; 1. rebuff 2. acquired 3. tedious 4. grateful 5. agony 6. vain 7. imitation 1. The carnival s most popular act was Emily the clown. Kids liked seeing a grown-up outwitted by childish-looking dwarf men. 2. The boys sent money to Lonnie because they felt they owed him money and they were afraid he had lost his job. 3. Joey and Josh sent home a letter with two dollars, one from each of the boys. Answers to the second part of the question will vary. 4. Emily said Josh was blue because he was lonely: she wished there was a young girl around for him to take to the movies. Josh disagreed: he wished Emily was a girl his age. 5. At the Christmas Eve party, Pete was there and called Emily hon. He had given Emily a personal gift of earrings. Josh had wanted to get her perfume, but Edward C. had persuaded him to give her dimes instead. 6. Emily felt Pete was a good man, who was loyal, kind, and decent. He had looked after her and her boys after her husband died. 7. Josh felt Pete was too old for Emily. He was jealous. 8. After the fire, Josh saw Emily more as a mother-figure who was kind and understanding, and he was grateful that she was there when he needed her. Answers to the second part of the question will vary. 1. b 2. c 3. a 4. d 5. b 6. c 1. Pete had to let Josh go because it would probably be a while before the carnival got going again. He was at rock bottom, he had to look after Emily and her boys, and couldn t afford to continue carrying Josh. 2. Josh was sorry to leave the people he liked and the warmth of New Orleans but couldn t bear to see Pete and Emily together. He was sorry to leave Edward C. 3. Charley was a young hoodlum, hauling liquor illegally. 4. Josh s feeling of superiority was based on the fact that they had never stolen anything, had always been honest, and had never done anything illegal. Answer to the second part of the question will vary. 5. Josh changed Charley s twenty-dollar bill because he was showing off. 6. The shoe salesman accused the boys of having a counterfeit bill and even called in the sheriff. He threatened the boys with jail if they didn t take the overshoes and leave. He kept the twenty and gave them no change. 7. The boys had Emily s cookies and pecans. Joey had over four dollars in his pocket. 8. Josh needed to show Lonnie they could get along by themselves and only needed his friendship. 9. Josh meant he would eat less. 10. Joey spent the last of his money on cough syrup for Josh. 1. commenced 2. foremost 3. lurched 4. dominate 5. preoccupied 6. compassion 7. envelop 1. The windfall was some beef bones from a butcher. 2. The hysterical woman said she couldn t rest if she denied children because they weren t her own. 3. Josh was upset when Joey took half a loaf of bread to the hysterical woman who had fed them. 4. Josh became angry and struck Joey. Joey left and Josh went looking for him, but was too sick to know what he was doing and couldn t find his way back to the shack. He fell and couldn t get up. Joey went back to the shack to look for Josh. 5. This statement appeared on the blackboard in the schoolhouse where the boys had once spent the night. Answers to the rest of the question will vary but students may feel that Josh realized how terribly he had behaved. 6. While looking for Joey and the shack, Josh fell and couldn t get up. A couple passing found him by the side of the road. They found Lonnie s address in his wallet and contacted him. Janey and Lonnie brought Josh home. 7. As Josh regained consciousness, he worried whether Joey was all right. 8. Janey and Josh listened to Franklin Delano Roosevelt s inaugural address. 9. Josh focused on Janey s earrings because Emily, his first love, had received earrings from Pete. Chapter 9 Vocabulary: 1. e 2. b 3. f 4. h 5. c 6. a 7. g 8. d; 1. malnutrition 2. remorse 3. convalescence 4. susceptible 5. speculate 6. relapse 7. aptitude 8. incredulously Questions: 1. Josh was troubled during his convalescence because he had strong feelings of guilt concerning the shabby way he had treated his brother. 2. Lonnie searched for Joey at detention homes and at police stations within a fifty-mile radius. He inquired of Pete at the carnival, and he contacted the boys parents. 3. Josh was emotionally shaken by his mother s letter because he could 28 LEARNING LINKS

32 envision her at the table writing the letter. He was afraid to read the letter. 4. In the letter she had enclosed for Josh in her letter to Lonnie, Mom indicated that her husband forgave Josh, that she and her husband would be unhappy until their sons returned, and that Josh must not feel guilty for anything that had happened. 5. Lonnie approved of Janey and Josh s relationship. He said that they were of an age when it was easy to be fond of one another. 6. Lonnie left the house hurriedly in response to a radio broadcast that seemed to describe Joey and hint at his whereabouts. Lonnie believed he would be able to find Joey if he went to the radio station. 7. Josh didn t hug Joey because he believed that it was inappropriate for a fifteen-year-old boy to display outward affection to another boy, even if it were his brother. Chapters 10, 11 Vocabulary: 1. decrepit 2. aghast 3. alcove 4. repertoire 5. improvised 6. turmoil Questions: 1. The Arthurs, the people who had taken in Joey, resented Lonnie because they didn t want to give up the boy whom they had taken care of that day. Even after such a short time, they had become very fond of Joey. 2. Joey reminded Josh that Dad was upset when he turned on Josh, a situation parallel to the one in which Josh turned on Joey. 3. Before Josh could return home, he had to get well, needed to find a job, and repay Lonnie. 4. Mrs. Arthur talked to her husband s friend who owned a restaurant, and she encouraged him to hire a piano player. He accepted her word concerning Josh s playing ability. 5. Lonnie only agreed to take a part of Josh s salary because he realized that the boys would not be comfortable accepting his charity and he would save the money for the boys to use for their return home. 6. Janey didn t trust Josh s promise to return because she had suffered so many losses in her life: her parents, a cousin, and an aunt. 7. On the train ride home, as opposed to the train ride away from Chicago, the boys had tickets to ride legally, food to eat, and were not fearful of being found. 8. On the train ride home Josh was worried and restless. He worried about getting along with his father as times were still bad. Joey was not worried and thought we can handle Chicago. 9. Josh thought that Lonnie s home represented happiness and security, while his home in Chicago represented fear and insecurity. 10. Josh was willing to give his dad a chance when he recognized the imperfections in his own character. LEARNING LINKS 29

33 Abby...L0813 Alexander, and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...L0043 Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday...L2045 Amelia Bedelia...L0206 Anansi the Spider...L0897 Anna Banana and Me...L0266 Arthur s Baby...L1047 A Big Fat Enormous Lie...L0795 Blueberries for Sal...L0331 Bringing/Rain to Kapiti Plain...L2666 Caps For Sale...L0336 A Chair For My Mother...L1370 LITTLE NOVEL TIES Study Guides for Primary Picture Books Clifford the Big Red Dog...L0685 Clifford the Small Red Puppy...L0342 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...L3135 Corduroy...L0344 Crictor...L1198 Curious George...L0345 Dandelion...L1226 Franklin Fibs...L2398 Gilberto and the Wind...L1668 Goodnight Moon...L0687 Gregory the Terrible Eater...L0704 Harry the Dirty Dog...L0771 Humphrey s Bear...L1186 Ira Sleeps Over...L0696 The Last Puppy...L0736 The Legend of the Bluebonnet...L2929 Leo the Late Bloomer...L0690 The Little Island...L0715 Lyle, Lyle Crocodile...L1536 Madeline...L0505 Madeline s Rescue...L0662 Make Way For Ducklings...L0380 May I Bring a Friend?...L0382 Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel...L0774 Millions of Cats...L0691 Miss Nelson is Missing...L0707 Miss Rumphius...L0932 NOVEL T IES STUDY GUIDES Ox-Cart Man...L0646 Pinkerton, Behave!...L2130 Roxaboxen...L1187 The Snowy Day...L0658 Stevie...L1360 Stone Soup (Brown)...L0412 The Story of Ferdinand...L0414 Strega Nona...L1647 Sylvester/Magic Pebble...L0653 Timothy Goes to School...L1225 Umbrella...L1368 Where the Wild Things Are...L0422 Whistle For Willie...L0801 Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People s Ears...L0423 GRADE 1 Arthur s Camp-Out...S2543 A Bargain for Frances...S0321 Biscuit...S0290 Buzby...S0157 The Case of/hungry Stranger...S1211 Danny and the Dinosaur...S0347 Forest...S0272 Frog and Toad All Year...S3409 Frog and Toad Are Friends...S0363 Frog and Toad Together...S0364 George and Martha...S1451 The Grandma Mix-up...S1826 Grandmas at Bat...S2716 Grandmas at the Lake...S1830 The Great Snake Escape...S0943 Here Comes the Strikeout...S1704 Kick, Pass, and Run...S2730 The Lighthouse Children...S2731 Little Bear...S0162 Little Bear s Friend...S1389 Little Bear s Visit...S0504 Little Runner of the Longhouse...S1318 Mouse Tales...S0121 Mrs. Brice s Mice...S2073 Newt...S2930 Oliver...S3760 Sammy the Seal...S3284 The Smallest Cow in the World...S0101 Tales of Oliver Pig...S2544 Uncle Foster s Hat Tree...S3115 Wagon Wheels...S1321 GRADE 2 Anna, Grandpa and /Big Storm...S2545 Annie and the Old One...S0758 Balto: The Bravest Dog Ever...S3744 A Bear for Miguel...S2931 The Beast/Ms. Rooney s Room...S0475 The Big Balloon Race...S1322 Blackberries in the Dark...S0148 The Boston Coffee Party...S1302 The Boy with the Helium Head...S3384 Buffalo Bill and/pony Express...S2732 Busybody Nora...S0018 Cam Jansen /Dinosaur Bones...S0130 Cam Jansen /Gold Coins...S0462 Chang s Paper Pony...S2358 Daniel s Duck...S1312 Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House)...S1754 Dolphins at Daybreak (Magic Tree House)...S3067 The Drinking Gourd...S1323 Emma s Magic Winter...S0681 Flat Stanley...S2733 Freckle Juice...S0361 Henry and Mudge...S0408 Hill of Fire...S1324 Hour of the Olympics...S3348 In the Dinosaur s Paw (Polk Street)...S0256 The Jamie and Angus Stories...S3794 The Josefina Story Quilt...S1317 Juan Bobo...S2546 Julian s Glorious Summer...S0549 Junie B., First Grader (at last!)...s3612 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus...S1753 Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie...S3260 Kidnapped at Birth? (Marvin Redpost)...S3313 The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House)...S1943 Little Soup s Hayride...S1402 Molly s Pilgrim...S1375 Monster/3rd Dresser Drawer...S0558 Mummies in the Morning...S2560 (Magic Tree House) Nate the Great...S0602 Nate the Great /Missing Key...S0267 Nate the Great /Musical Note...S1403 Next Spring an Oriole...S1060 The One in the Middle is a Green Kangaroo...S0994 The Outside Dog...S2547 Rip-Roaring Russell...S0920 Russell Sprouts...S0921 Sam the Minuteman...S1308 Seven Kisses in a Row...S0528 Snowshoe Thompson...S2273 Song Lee in Room 4B...S1839 The Stories Huey Tells...S3116 The Stories Julian Tells...S0765 Thunder at Gettysburg...S0420 Tornado...S2734 Tye May and the Magic Brush...S0158 Who Cloned the President? (Capitol Mysteries)...S3568 GRADE 3 26 Fairmount Avenue...S3613 Adventures/Ali Baba Bernstein...S0918 Aldo Applesauce...S0917 Amber Brown Goes Fourth...S1009 Amber Brown is Not a Crayon...S2729 Be a Perfect Person /Three Days..S0515 Ben and Me...S1061 The Boxcar Children...S0378 The Chalk Box Kid...S0988 The Chocolate Touch...S0532 Class Clown...S0919 Cool Zone/ Pain and Great One...S3809 The Courage of Sarah Noble...S0833 Donovan s Word Jar...S3117 Ellen Tebbits...S0146 Felita...S1062 Front Porch Stories...S2548 A Gift for Mama...S0539 Go Fish...S3306 A Grain of Rice...S2361 Helen Keller...S0040 Herbie Jones...S2735 How to Eat Fried Worms...S0374 The Hundred Dresses...S0991 The Hundred Penny Box...S0760 The Indian School...S2932 Ivy and Bean...S3851 J.T....S0052 Jake Drake, Bully Buster...S1139 Judy Moody Saves/World...S0309 Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World...S3138 The Littles...S0553 Maurice s Room...S1063 Mishmash...S3745 The Most Beautiful Place/World...S0299 The Mouse and the Motorcycle...S0181 A Mouse Called Wolf...S0135 Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle...S0298 Muggie Maggie...S0127 My Father s Dragon...S0202 My Name is Maria Isabel...S2140 The Night Crossing...S3118 O Diddy...S1064 Ralph S. Mouse...S2616 Ramona Forever...S0186 Ramona Quimby, Age 8...S1158 Ramona the Brave...S0565 Ramona s World...S0886 The Secret Soldier...S0279 The Shoeshine Girl...S0993 Shortstop From Tokyo...S0938 Sidewalk Story...S2549 Silver...S1075 The Skirt...S0140 Surprise Island (Boxcar Children)...S2000 A Taste of Blackberries...S0201 There s an Owl in the Shower...S3144 The Trouble with Tuck...S1404 The Year of the Panda...S2171 GRADE 4 All-of-a-Kind Family...S0005 Almost Starring Skinnybones...S2161 Anastasia Krupnik...S0985 Arthur, for the Very First Time...S0522 Baby...S2680 The Ballad of Lucy Whipple...S0250 Because of Winn-Dixie...S0959 Best Christmas Pageant Ever...S2624 The BFG...S1393 The Big Wave...S0123 Bunnicula...S1065 By the Great Horn Spoon...S2550 Caleb s Story...S1761 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory S0132 Charlotte s Web...S0023 Chocolate Fever...S2337 The Cricket in Times Square...S0229 Dear Mr. Henshaw...S0141 Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective...S0449 The Enormous Egg...S0147 The Family Under the Bridge...S1081 Fantastic Mr. Fox...S0033 Finding Buck McHenry...S2642 The Friendship...S1613 Frindle...S3119 Fudge-A-Mania...S1477 The Gold Cadillac...S1672 The Great Brain...S0037 Henry Huggins...S0160 House with/clock in its Walls...S1405 Iggie s House...S0163 The Indian in the Cupboard...S0992 James and the Giant Peach...S0170 The Janitor s Boy...S3761 Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, & Me, Elizabeth...S0258 Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key...S0908 Journey to Jo burg...s1066 The Kid in the Red Jacket...S2227 The Landry News...S1021 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...S0060 A Lion to Guard Us...S0835 Little House in the Big Woods...S0467 Little House on the Prairie...S0263 A Long Way From Chicago...S2379 Loser...S3642 Lunch Money...S3801 Maggie Marmelstein for PresidentS0006 The Midnight Fox...S0155 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane...S3799 Mississippi Bridge...S2736 Misty of Chincoteague...S0068 Mr. Popper s Penguins...S0560 My Brother Stevie...S0122 Nightjohn...S2675 Nory Ryan s Song...S3643 The One & Only Ivan...S3826 One Crazy Summer...S3850 Our Only May Amelia...S2720 The Penderwicks...S3795 Pippi Longstocking...S0563 Poppy...S2603 Robin Hood/Sherwood Forest...S1233 Sadako/Thousand Paper Cranes...S0091 Sarah, Plain and Tall...S0401 Search for Delicious...S0277 Shiloh...S1372 Shiloh Season...S3120 Skinnybones...S0939 Skylark...S2551 Socks...S0100 Soup...S0406 Stone Fox...S0569 Strider...S2453 Stuart Little...S2737 Superfudge...S0416 The Tale of Despereaux...S3640 Tales/Fourth-Grade Nothing...S1067 There s a Boy in the Girl s Bathroom...S3614 The Tiger Rising...S3764 Trouble River...S0205 Trumpet of the Swan...S0755 Turtle in Paradise...S3818 The Velveteen Rabbit...S0288 The Witch of Fourth Street...S0117 Yang the Youngest/ Terrible Ear...S0242 A Year Down Yonder...S3615 LEARNING LINKS Phone Fax