A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Mature Teen)
By Betty Smith
With very little money, the Nolan family has learned
to do without, but never let go of their values and dignity. Francie grows up
watching her father succumb to drink and her mother slowly work herself
to death. Education becomes the family's only hope and Francie the only capable mind.
Genre:
Classic, Set in 1940's Brooklyn, Coming of Age, Societal and Philosophical Issues, Family Struggle
Why this is a Good Book For Teenage Girls
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an incredibly
well-written book about family struggle and dedication in America during the
1920s. The Nolans have little money and a lot of struggle but hope for each
other. An excellent read for teens who enjoy stories about family life and
issues, historical settings, and perseverance.
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.
About the Author
Betty Smith (1896-1972) was a novelist and a dramatist. Her books include A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Tomorrow Will Be Better, and Maggie-Now. It is said that many parts of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn are autobiographical.
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