A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

At age 13, I borrowed ''A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,'' from my Jr. High School Library, and that weekend, cried, smiled, LAUGHED, ...did I mention CRIED? ... my way through the entire book. In my personal opinion, ''A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'' has no set reader level. Now in my late 60s, I adore this story as much as (or more than) I did at age 13.---book editor review

The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's ''A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'' is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident.

The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

trekbody (Nov 16, 2005) A very enjoyable novel of early 20th century life in New York. (4 of 5 Stars)

lesezeichen (Jan 7, 2006 - 4.5 of 5 Stars) "The American classic about a young girl's coming of age at the turn of the century" A wonderful book, one of my favourite BC discoveries and one of my favourite literary characters. Francie is really amazing in the way she makes her way in life in spite of the unfavourable circumstances. The setting - Brooklyn at the beginning of the last century - is wonderfully brought to life. The book is beautifully written and touching. www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2017314 www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1302480

jedisluzer [Flagged as not a review] (Mar 19, 2006 - 4 of 5 Stars) Read it when I was nine. Kept reading it through my teens.

shebytches (Apr 19, 2006) My all time favourite book. I have read it so many times the pages are falling out!

kellibee (May 21, 2006 - 5 of 5 Stars) I love the character or Francie. It shows the relationship between her and her family growing up. My sister said I'd have to read it, and I think every American girl should, too.

tuff517 (Jun 1, 2006 - 5 of 5 Stars) This is a great book. Francie is definitely a character I can identify with, outcast from other children and accepting of her place in the family. I always enjoy books that focus on the family relationship, the perceptions of each member of their place in it, and interactions between members.

ca.bookwyrm (May 18, 2020 - 1 of 5 Stars) Some well-meaning adult in my life gifted me this when I was a young teen, thinking it was a book I would enjoy. So I read it. And I hated it. I think this is one of those books that adults think children will get inspiration from because that's what the adults get from it. NOPE. I came out of this one (as a young teen) thinking it was in turns boring and gross and wondering why I wasted my time on it. One of the biggest results is that I refuse to re-read it now, when (as an adult) I might actually get something out of it.

BookAddict (Apr 13, 2006) I started reading this book because people were raving about it but I was disappointed. I read to page 65 and couldn't read anymore. I briefly skimmed the rest. It's sexist and racist and I wasn't enjoying it. I also didn't find the writing very good. It probably documents a period of American history well from one point of view but it's not Thoreau.