Reviews

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

leggup's review

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

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

teachertoledo_books's review

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad slow-paced

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

5.0

alyssareads02's review

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

beanpod's review

4.0

Read for a YA book club. A classic and well worth reading. Some sentimental schmaltz, but so much life! Love the narrator (Francie grown up?) and her at time contradicting descriptions of people, situations and events. Surprised by the positive but not altogether hopeful ending, how Smith does not make Katie ever withdrawal her preference for Neeley, how scary so much of this is on the precipice of The Depression.

goflya61's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

juliepe33's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

minheepeaches's review against another edition

fantastic book. the characters and environment are written so well. this made me think of what it was like to be a young girl when everything felt new. wish i read this sooner. 

monmonster's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

3.5

ktmp2112's review

5.0

I loved this book. I loved the characters and how relatable life seemed. I loved being able to watch them grow and feel the things they felt. This is a must read.