A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Francie Nolan is the main character of this book and we follow her and her family thoughout all the hardships that befall them. Money is not very plentiful in the Nolan household but yet somehow this family knows how to take a loaf of stale bread and turn it into a feast. We learn how Francie makes it through her teenage years and her story is of hope and survival.

I truly enjoyed reading this book, it was well written with a lot of great characters especially Francie, Aunt Sissy and Katie. This is the type of book I could read again and its one that I plan to hold on to for a very long time.

Despite the hardships Francie is faced with, she perseveres, acquiring a job in order to help her family survive. Although her education must be put on hold for the time being, Francie remains hopeful that the day will come in which she, like her brother, Neeley, will be capable of going off to school.

Not only is the ongoing story of a young girl growing up in Brooklyn simply timeless, but the metaphor of the tree outside Francies window that has grown through unfortunate circumstances is absolutely perfect. The tree had been cut down and was even the victim of a bonfire, but it continued to grow and blossom. Just like Francie, the tree beat the odds and rose from nothingness to beauty and strength.

Never have I read anything and cried at the end simply because it was over. As you read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", you become wrapped up in Francies life until you feel as though she and you are one in the same. The fact that I have only read this book once astonishes me, and I can guarantee you that I will read it again this summer. The purchase of this book may set you [a few]...dollars, but the experience of reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is absolutely priceless.