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bookshelfmystic 's review for:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn reminds me strongly of Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, but if the protagonist were actually living in poverty instead of being on the poor side of middle class. I love both of those books, so this is high praise. Francie isn’t as whimsical or feisty as Anne Shirley or Jo March, but her plucky pragmatism in the face of her circumstances and her resolve to keep dreaming makes her endearing in perhaps a grittier, more realistic way.
I’m not surprised to learn that Betty Smith originally drafted this book as a memoir. Without the author having lived it, I can’t imagine the 1910s poor Brookyln neighborhood would be so alive as it is in this book. Each detail, from the food the Nolans scrounge up to their four-room apartment, the dirty children gathering scraps in the street and the tree of heaven growing from a crack in the courtyard, is evocative and perfectly placed to immerse us in Francie’s world.
Despite – or perhaps because of – the difficult circumstances, Smith shows incredible empathy to nearly every character. Katie and Johnny are both imperfect parents, but their love for their children is evident. Aunt Sissy is flamboyant and uncouth, but her chutzpah enables a better life for her sister’s family and her own. Even the scheming undertaker who swindles grieving families out of their life insurance policy just needs to get by. Smith gives us people doing the best they can, sometimes succumbing to their circumstances, sometimes rising above them. It strikes me that the characters who seem to elicit the least sympathy are the ones who themselves judge the Nolans: the doctor giving Francie and Neeley shots, the teacher insisting Francie write about “beautiful” things. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ends up being an effective argument for the systemic, self-perpetuating nature of poverty under capitalism without ever pushing an overt agenda.
And amidst all of the harshness and struggle, Smith gives us beautiful moments familiar to any of us who have experienced growing up. “The junk shop was still there; the stores were all the same. Nothing was changing. She was the one who was changing.” Francie learns truths about the world as she grows from a dreaming child to a realistic teenager, but she also experiences new joys that keep her dreaming. Betty Smith is a phenomenal storyteller with a deep understanding of the relatability of human experience, and this book is a window into the soul of a girl who could easily open a window back into ours.
I’m not surprised to learn that Betty Smith originally drafted this book as a memoir. Without the author having lived it, I can’t imagine the 1910s poor Brookyln neighborhood would be so alive as it is in this book. Each detail, from the food the Nolans scrounge up to their four-room apartment, the dirty children gathering scraps in the street and the tree of heaven growing from a crack in the courtyard, is evocative and perfectly placed to immerse us in Francie’s world.
Despite – or perhaps because of – the difficult circumstances, Smith shows incredible empathy to nearly every character. Katie and Johnny are both imperfect parents, but their love for their children is evident. Aunt Sissy is flamboyant and uncouth, but her chutzpah enables a better life for her sister’s family and her own. Even the scheming undertaker who swindles grieving families out of their life insurance policy just needs to get by. Smith gives us people doing the best they can, sometimes succumbing to their circumstances, sometimes rising above them. It strikes me that the characters who seem to elicit the least sympathy are the ones who themselves judge the Nolans: the doctor giving Francie and Neeley shots, the teacher insisting Francie write about “beautiful” things. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ends up being an effective argument for the systemic, self-perpetuating nature of poverty under capitalism without ever pushing an overt agenda.
And amidst all of the harshness and struggle, Smith gives us beautiful moments familiar to any of us who have experienced growing up. “The junk shop was still there; the stores were all the same. Nothing was changing. She was the one who was changing.” Francie learns truths about the world as she grows from a dreaming child to a realistic teenager, but she also experiences new joys that keep her dreaming. Betty Smith is a phenomenal storyteller with a deep understanding of the relatability of human experience, and this book is a window into the soul of a girl who could easily open a window back into ours.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Grief, Classism
Minor: Racism