Reviews

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

ahmedduman's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

steffski's review against another edition

3.0

I feel like everyone is giving this 5 stars because they feel like they have to because it's a classic. It's a hefty story about life and loss and hardship. I wanted more of the tree. I liked the importance of reading and the library and the struggle with faith.

bamou's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

my fave

adriana21's review against another edition

Started way too slow paced for me, and then I read reviews and discovered that the book is barely plot focused. This book just isn’t for me.

mollymisek's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Obviously

hdanley73's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

jjoyce54's review against another edition

emotional inspiring relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

yarnmouse's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

leggup's review against another edition

5.0

I highly recommend reading the notes ahead of the story. I somehow never read this book in school and didn't have the context of the story apart from history.

Themes include poverty, early 1900s NYC, immigrants, family, addiction, growth, and multigenerational change.

This was exactly the kind of book to read on the edge of bad times looking forward to good times. A great spring read.

maxihyde's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0