The Promise of Unbroken Straw

by Ken Steele

Paul's teachers say he's distracted, and they're not wrong. With the demands of a struggling farm, Allied boots in Europe, and secrets surrounding his mother's death, who can blame him? And the expectations of his unapproachable father are seemingly out of reach. When a financial windfall sparks a rags-to-riches transformation, it also sets in motion events that will test young Paul to his core. This coming-of-age story connects Paul's tumultuous adolescence to his unfulfilled adulthood. Across those decades, he searches for redemption and reconciliation with the ghosts of his past.
"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, Cheif Media Advisor to five Presidential campaigns, Regular columnist for Vanity Fair, The London Daily Telegraph, and Daily Beast.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

376 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Michael McRuiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A high recommendation for Ken Steel’s brilliant debut novel “The Promise of Unbroken Straw.” Set in the author’s native state of dusty Oklahoma during the Second World War, it is a compelling coming of age story that chronicles the challenges of a motherless family struggling to keep their heads above water during the Depression. It is an authentic description of rural farm life and the oil and gas industry of the time.

Told from the perspective of the protagonist Paul, a rural high school student, we learn the details his life with his emotionally distant father, his brother, and his grandfather. As the family goes from rags to riches, their struggles continue as they try to adjust to and hold onto their newly acquired wealth and learn the bitter lessons of life.

[Pippilotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It definitely gave me William Kent Krueger vibes.
Such a compelling story. So well written with deep characters, realistic dialogue and character dynamics. It's just so good.
It's a WWII coming-of-age, rags to riches story that deals with the effect of money, or the lack thereof, and family secrets have on people and relationships.
If you enjoy well-written historical fiction that gives you a clear sense of place and character development, you'll love this novel.

[Rose Auburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promise of Unbroken Straw unfolds the rags-to-riches story of the Landrum family through the eyes of the younger son, Paul, using dual timelines, one set in the mid-1940s and the other in the mid-1980s.

Motherless, living with his father, Jake, grandfather, Eli, and brother, Tim, Paul navigates an awkward adolescence marred by secrets, guilt, and Jake’s cold aloofness while the family scratches a living in the wheat fields of Oklahoma during WWII. But when a startling discovery is made on their farm, the Landrums are swept into an unfamiliar world of wealth and privilege…

Steele has written a riveting debut blending an absorbing coming-of-age story with a gripping generational saga. Although the majority of the book is set in the 1940s, Steele opens his tale with a middle-aged Paul in 1986.

It’s a gently amusing, intriguing beginning, yet within a few paragraphs, there are hints of regret and bitter disaffection despite Paul appearing to have a comfortable, successful life. Steele gives the reader quite a lot to unpack in this first chapter, but it’s focused, and Paul is an immediately likable individual and investable main protagonist.

Steele then transports the reader to the 1940s for several chapters. His writing is alive with authentic quirks and period nuances as Paul endures agonizing school days and arduous chores on the farm. The bond between Paul and best friend, Teddy, is well-depicted, although foreboding hangs heavy over Teddy, not only due to his violent alcoholic father.

Steele is adept at conjuring Paul’s internal adolescent voice, full of questioning, wondering, and nascent emotional development. It’s engrossing, especially as Paul innocently shares observations that are freighted with foreshadowing for the reader.

All of which are set against the Landrums' life of grinding rural poverty in the wondrously evoked, dusty, sepia-toned heat of Wyatt County, Oklahoma. However, it’s the puzzling dynamic between the Landrums that initially hooks the reader's attention. Although Ann, Jake’s wife and mother to Paul and Tim, has died, her presence is keenly felt, while mention of her death is avoided.

Jake is a closed, emotionally redundant father who is mired in grief, but the reader suspects something more troubling behind his horribly strange and strict behavior. His relationship with Paul is toxic and weighed down by the unspoken. Eli, who himself has a few buried secrets, attempts to shield Paul from the worst of Jake’s moods but curiously never openly remonstrates with him.

Talented football player, Tim, is slightly enigmatic but the easiest-going of the Landrums, despite also hiding a couple of things to himself. At times, the entire family seems trapped in a crucible of love, rage, and poverty. Steele skillfully furnishes the narrative with subtle clues that afford fascinating blink-and-you-miss-them glimpses as to why this odd, dysfunctional atmosphere permeates the farmstead.

Nonetheless, as Steele takes the reader forward to the 1980s in Chapter 7, he begins to drop a series of narrative bombs. As the reader reaches halfway, The Promise of Unbroken Straw not only makes its title poignantly clear, but things begin to shift dramatically for the Landrums.

Notwithstanding their good fortune, tensions swell and unease flickers. The Landrums’ arrival in Tulsa high society sits uncomfortably, for different reasons, with each of them. Steele peppers this part of the story with various competing narrative strands, none of which, the reader senses, will end particularly well.

There are several seismic half-reveals and twists throughout The Promise of Broken Straw, the most incendiary of these comes just before three-quarters concerning Teddy’s father. The ambiguous inference made is never confirmed, and Paul does not appear to register what Eli is possibly suggesting, but it gives the reader pause for thought.

Indeed, Steele leaves quite a lot to the reader’s imagination, which works well because the framework for what occurs in the decades not covered by the novel is signposted, yet remains nicely intriguing. However, the denouement between Jake and Paul is a trifle unsatisfying, and a touch more context with Amy, Paul’s girlfriend, would have been beneficial.

The Promise of Broken Straw is spellbindingly good and proves difficult to put down. Highly recommended.

[Emhoggard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul and his family navigate the twists of financial ruin and windfall while trying to process grief. I really liked it; there wasn’t anything unpredictable about it, but it was a compelling story, and I finished it easily.

Also, I haven’t been a huge fan of the two timeline plot device lately, but it worked here remarkably well. I never felt like it distracted from the story, and there were a few times it kept me reading.

[Helen Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yorkshire Publishing release, The Promise of Unbroken Straw by Ken Steele, was a great read. I especially enjoyed the flashback chapters where the author beautifully showed life in rural Oklahoma during the 1940's and the dramatic affects of WWII on the protagonist and his family
I look forward to future releases by Ken Steele.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! The plot surprised me several times. I love history and learned so much about Oklahoma oil history. Ken Steele, the author, describes the time in history so well that I felt like I was there. My husband and I read it in a weekend, taking turns we could hardly put it down!

[Kristin Smock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those feel good stories that sucks you in and makes it difficult to put the book down. You root for the characters and cry with their hardships. Ken's vivid descriptions bring the scenes and events to life for the reader.

[Sue Ann Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters and their growth. The history of Oklahoma was woven in quite deftly.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hidden gem. Really well-writen, a story I didn't want to end.

[Tricia O’Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promise of Unbroken Straw took me back to my childhood. Growing up in a small north Texas town I could relate to many things that were described in the book! The way Ken Steele developed the characters was really interesting. Such a thought provoking book in many ways! Great job!!!! Definitely worth the read!

[Becky Almany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of the year. It’s definitely a coming of age story with a twist—sometimes, that maturity comes with realizing things are not always as they seemed to be. We realize some people were stronger than we knew, and some got more credit than they deserved. I think we can all recognize many of the characters, so richly developed, in this terrific novel. Happy Reading!

[Carrie Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very small Texas book club just finished reading The Promise of Unbroken Straw. We loved the characters and the changing timelines. Hope to introduce it to my book club at church. I’m sure they will cherish the main character’s perseverance to succeed.

[Gordon Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promise of Unbroken Straw skillfully puts the reader in rural Oklahoma during the Great War. One can almost feel see and hear the poverty of life during this period. This is the riveting tale of a young Paul finding his path despite the insecurities and impositions of not accepting or rather not submitting to the status quo. Fortunes, love, family, and secrets are gained and lost as Paul comes into his own. A must read for those with memories either personal or passed down of this historical time.

[BookWormBecky · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0

*Thank you to Ken Steele and Yorkshire Publishing Group for this gifted copy!

Changes, windfall, emotionally distant…

We learn about brothers Tim and Paul growing up on an Oklahoma farm, living with their dad Jake and grandfather Eli. They live hardscrabble lives as wheat farmers.

How things will change when oil is discovered on their property! This rags-to-riches story will have them encountering challenges new to them. Just as things are looking more positive and hopeful in life, they meet with tragedy.

A heartfelt tale with tiers of secrets, sorrows, regrets, and trauma as well as hope, resilience, and redemption.


THOUGHTS:

*Great debut! This is so good! It reminded me of something William Kent Krueger might write. Written in a folksy manner about true-to-life characters in realistic settings.

*Very descriptive writing. You can see & hear the sights & sounds of rural Oklahoma, city life in Tulsa, and Boston.

*CHARACTERS-
Jake (Dad) is somewhat remote
Eli (Grandfather) - I loved his wisdom
Tim - the “it” kid
Paul- somewhat naive teen
Teddy - I had sympathy for…

*Quotes I liked:

“Memories lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce” (p 15)

“You keep looking behind you & you’re going to miss what’s really important” (p 149)

“A lone tumbleweed blew past on the back of an indifferent wind “ (p341)

*Highly recommend! It was a pleasure to read! I will definitely read future books!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promise of Unbroken Straw written by Ken Steele. I hope this is just the start of his career and he writes many more books! This book is about growing up poor on a wheat farm in Oklahoma being raised by his widowed father and grandpa. He shares a room with his brother. This is a wholesome book that the whole family can enjoy. I could visualize the stories as though I were right there with them milking cows, fishing with grandpa, and the fear of the tornado. This book is about farming, friendships, family, hardships, hitting it big in oil, sadness, and redemption. This book has high reviews and I agree! It seems a little slow at the beginning while he builds the characters and storyline. In the end though, this is a book that I'd go back and read again. . . and would love to see a movie made from it!
#bookstagram
#ThePromiseofUnbrokenStraw
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@kensteeleauthor
Genre: Historical fiction

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ken Steele’s The Promise of Unbroken Straw is an immersive coming-of-age book set in the 1940s, the story was so powerful, that I had to read it twice. Steele’s writing is both poetic and deeply emotional, and at times, the story’s progression moved me to tears.

A heartfelt and unforgettable novel, The Promise of Unbroken Strawlingers long after the final page. If you enjoy compelling, emotional narratives, I highly recommend it!

Read my full review here - https://writethroughthenight.com/2025...

A huge thank you to BookSirens and Ken Steele for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Susan Comito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The author did a great job of developing the characters in depth. The story has twists and turns which keep you intrigued. I highly recommend ‘The Promise of Broken Straw’. Susan Comito

[Ida]

I haven't been putting stars on my reviews for a while.

This debut novel, told in first person, has a sympathetic main character. We first see Paul as an adult, with the impending death of his father sending him into reminiscences of his youth, first growing up on the edge of poverty on an Oklahoma farm, only to find his world turned upside down when the oilmen arrive. The movement back and forth in time works well to unroll the story of his life.

[Casey Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this book. It is such a great somber story that had me crying at the end.

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

The promise of free land sent many homesteaders to Oklahoma’s panhandle.

There are affluent families in Tulsa but the homestead is three plus hours away from the city. Then, a rich discovery is made on their property that alters the fortunes of the family.

Wealthy youth take advantage of the situation, and the two sons are harassed and bullied at school.
This story is tension-filled and very poignant and reminds me of my youth long ago. Read and enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

[Marci O. Bahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop reading! 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

[Megan F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was absolutely fine, but felt so formulaic in a way that sort of….bored me. The story has heart, to be sure, and I felt empathy for every single character in it. To me, this is book was like white, background noise- comforting if not exactly compelling.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note: my review refers to a few details in the book that I don't consider spoilers, but if you don't want to know any details of how any character's lives are like at the end of the book, don't read.

When I read fiction, I want to be totally submersed in the world of the book. Any clunky phrasing, errors, etc. that take me out of the world are frustrating. Now Steele's work is actually better than many in this regard, and the four stars are for the compelling characters, storyline, and settings. I also like how not knowing totally how things were going to work out (and even things like not knowing why Paul called his dad Jake--eventually addressed in the book but Paul didn't know!) because it reflected some of the messages of the book very well!

But there were definitely, probably at least every few pages, incidences where I rewrote sentences in my head to flow better. The clunkiest and most often seen was when Steele started a sentence with an "-ing" verb, but then the subject did not agree with the verb. I apologize for not remembering what this type of structure is called, but here's a (not actually from book) example:

"Coming out of my front door, the wind hit me full in the face."

This sentence means that the wind was coming out of the front door and hit the narrator in the face when it did!

Correct would be "When I came out of my front door, the wind hit me full in the face" or "as I was coming" or "coming out of my front door, I was hit full in the face by the wind."

This type of structure occurred many times and I got more and more irritated each time! In fact, I'm not sure I ever saw that construction used correctly!

But the most egregious error to me and one that could have so easily been avoided was--well, let me backtrack. I assume Paul, Amy, etc. are just about the age of my parents or a little bit younger because they were in Jr. High then HS in the earlier time setting of the book. Therefore, at the very latest, they'd have graduated from HS say 1950 (my folks graduated in 1947).

Unless Amy delayed college entry for TWO DECADES, she would not have gone to Princeton! Princeton didn't admit women until 1970! And there are so many traditionally high caliber (to demonstrate Amy's lasting intelligence) institutions that could have been subbed in that are far enough from MIT to have been a cause for the relationship to fray (thereby making them fine candidates for the alma mater of Amy).

At any rate, it's still well worth a read and I'll read future books by Steele.

[Travis Almany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most I have enjoyed reading a book this year and maybe in several years prior.

Ken Steele manages to turn a novel that I expected to be a simple tail of growing up into a page-turner that made me want to hurry up and find out what happens next as if it was an action thriller. It is at times chilling, heartwarming, depressing, exhilarating, mysterious, revelatory, educational, entertaining, and always fascinating. It read as so real that I kept wondering how much, if any, of it was the real life of the author.

When I first started reading, I was a bit thrown by the language. My thinking was "A young teenager on a farm would not use this sort of vocabulary or maybe even have these thoughts." Once I came to terms with it being the language, emotions, and thoughts as interpreted by the adult, well-educated version of Paul, the story teller, I loved it. It is part of what made the work so wonderful and I would not have had him write it any other way. As an aside, when the young Paul is actually speaking in the action, it is very much the language of a young teenager.

I cannot recommend The Promise of Unbroken Straw highly enough!

[Mark J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this original, multi-generational, muli-dimensional story set in a region of the country and time period which resonated with me. The main characters were well developed, realistically imperfect and carried on in spite of challenges and a few shocking events as they were revealed and endured. Ultimately, I cared about what happened to these people all the way to the conclusion which is in hindsight is why I read these kinds of stories!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a coming of age story, the location and era provide a rich historical fiction setting. Seeing it through the eyes of the young narrator really brings it to life. I felt more like I was watching the story than reading it and I went through it in about two days.
I loved some characters, hated more than one, and by the end I understood more or less what made at least one that way. Left me thinking about parenting, money and motives. Very emotional.

[Andrea M · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter when, where, or to whom you were born, this Novel connects us all through the shared experiences of being human. We all want to feel safe. We want connection to the people we love the most. Only time can reveal the unspoken truths of the ones we've loved and lost. This Novel makes me understand that we are all more alike than we realize. There's a vulnerability to the author's writing.

[Phil Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing first novel. The story is engaging and easy to follow, with compelling descriptions of the characters and locations. Following the life of the principal character, as he experiences and is shaped by the events of his life, creates a compelling and fascinating story. I can only hope for more from this author.

[Julie Billingsly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read. This book brought me back to my youth in a small farming town in Oklahoma. I hope all my peers are able to read this book. I couldn’t keep from crying for the characters. Their lives were so much like mine then and now. My book club will love this book.

[Florience · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic, emotionally rich story that captures the weight of family secrets and personal growth. Paul’s journey from hardship to fleeting success and back again felt authentic and deeply moving. I was hooked from the first page.