Harry Harding's Year of Promise

"Harry Harding's Year of Promise" by Alfred Raymond is an early 20th century novel about a boy named Harry Harding, who is determined to make the most of his upcoming year working at McMartin Brothers. After a summer break, Harry returns with a strong resolve to grow and take on responsibility. The book is about Harry's journey as he handles friendships, especially with his fun-loving but sometimes reckless friend, Teddy Burke, and deals with the everyday challenges of his job. The story begins with Harry reading under a tree, enjoying the last bit of summer before Teddy shows up. They talk about a story Harry read, inspiring them to create their own "Year of Promise" at work, and decide to embrace this idea despite the difficulties they anticipate at the department store, setting the stage for a year full of personal development and the tests of friendship.