The Promise of Unbroken Straw - by Ken Steele (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

1944, Oklahoma. With their family farm on the brink of ruin, Paul's life takes an unexpected turn--but newfound fortune comes at an unimaginable cost.

In rural Oklahoma, 13-year-old Paul wrestles with more than the typical burdens of adolescence. With a struggling farm, Allied boots marching through Europe, and whispers surrounding his mother's death, life feels anything but simple. But when an unexpected windfall saves them from poverty, Paul discovers that wealth brings complications he never imagined.

Paul's rags-to-riches move to Tulsa thrusts him into a world of private schools and sprawling mansions, where he and his brother face bullies, a distant father's impossible expectations, and the weight of devastating loss. Haunted by guilt and buried secrets, Paul's journey spans decades as he searches for forgiveness and a way to bridge the chasm between himself and the father he never truly knew.

Award-winning and praised for its unforgettable characters, The Promise of Unbroken Straw is a journey of heartbreak, secrets, and redemption.

Dive into this coming-of-age tale, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and William Kent Krueger.

Review Quotes

"This story has all the charming characteristics any avid historical fiction reader loves and expects in a small town with characters that draw you in from the very first page."

--Readers' Favorite

"I found The Promise of Unbroken Straw to be difficult to put down. Given my back-ground, I followed the oil/gas subplot with interest. But Ken Steele was able to connect that narrative into a far more profound dis-course about grief, guilt, and the struggles of a family to move on."

--Al Hirshberg

Executive Vice President,

Production, Drilling,

and Projects (Retired)

ConocoPhillips

"In his family saga of loss and redemption, Mr. Steele develops his characters so that you love or loathe each. As secrets and lies are revealed, those feelings evolve and intensify. His writing style evokes crisp images of locations and events and incredibly clear emotions, and you are left with universal truths about life and forgiveness."

--Marci Oesch Bahr

Faculty Emeritus

St. John's School

Houston, Texas

"On a hardscrabble Oklahoma farm during a distant world war, the discovery of oil changes everything for a boy struggling to become a man--or so he thinks. Beautifully crafted, The Promise of Unbroken Straw portrays the complex relationship of a grieving father and an accidental son with depth and grace. I loved this engaging story and look forward to Ken Steele's next book."

--Marcia Preston

Mary Higgins Clark Award Recipient

Author of The Spiderling

"The author eloquently conveys the maturation of Paul as he evolves in an age where a world war rages, calamity surfaces with alarming frequency, and sorrow is an all-too-familiar feeling. This endearing [novel] proves more than satisfying in its depth and emotional range."

--US Review of Books RECOMMENDED (Highest Rating)

"The Promise of Unbroken Straw is a poignant coming-of-age tale that eloquently meditates on how the secrets of the past shape the contours of our lives. I heartily recommend it."

--Walter Muller

Chief Investment Officer (Retired)

Bank of America

"The Promise of Unbroken Straw will lure readers into an epic and unforgettable tale of three generations of a family saturated with secrets, grief, and unrealized, stubborn love. Ken Steele takes us on a sweeping journey from rags-to-riches-to-rags-to..., from rural to urban, from heartbreak to healing, from lost to found. It's a story as deep and complicated and revealing and wonderful as life itself."

--Mark McKinnon

Chief Media Advisor to five Presidential campaigns

Regular columnist for Vanity Fair, The London Daily Telegraph, and Daily Beast

"This story is beautifully told...I want to live in this place that Mr. Steele has created."

--John Norton

Author