A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Let’s Learn From the Classics

Do you like reading a book that will warm the insides of your heart, teach you about human nature, show you the honest truth about growing up, and what life was like in the early 1900s?

Then A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic that will make you shiver with delight as you touch its spine and sigh lovingly at the nostalgia that comes with reading a book in which nothing will really happen but life.

Do you get your share of heart warming from listening to power ballads on your way to work? Are you someone who likes something to happen in their books? Do you like books where numerous things blow up in the first ten pages? Do you find simple subjects like growing up boring?

Then invest in a Stephen King book. Or my book when it comes out. Just don’t read this book.

Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but I like to restrict heartwarming pieces to under 200 pages. I save the 500+ books for topics that include some kind of plot other than “life happened.”

Here’s my review. Can you tell I tried not to offend the people over at Goodreads who are fawning over this book?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had to read this book for my AP English class, and whenever you have to read a book for school you tend to dive into it with some trepidation.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is about a girl and a family and a tree and a city. It follows their trials and tribulations. The Dad’s drunk, but he’s a beloved, charming entertainer who loves his children but can’t provide for them very well. The story centers around an insightful but lonely child named Francie who loves to read.

PLOT: Francie grows up, as told through many interconnected anecdotes.

PROS: It reads like a biography and the detail is exquisite. You love the characters and want the best for them, and they are very vivid.

CONS: It’s similar to “To Kill A Mockingbird”, but lacks suspense and an exciting plotline. Sure, I like reading about a family struggling in Brooklyn to find a better life, but 600 pages is a bit long without something earth shattering happening.

CONCLUSION: It’s a great book to read for relaxation. It’s heartwarming, and it’s very well written, but don’t expect anything exceptionally thrilling to happen.

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