A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in Pick-a-Shelf

Jul 05, 2009 Rebekah rated it liked it

Shelves: bookgirls, genre-classics, genre-young-adult, genre-book-club, genre-historical-fiction, genre-literature, genre-young-adult-coming-of-age, genre-novels, genre-adult, genre-adult-fiction

I read this sometime in my teens and honestly don't remember much about it, positive or negative, so I will rate it 3 stars. ...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Tien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-project, young-adult, historical-fiction

No matter how hard the times were, I feel like I’m missing something not growing up at the turn of the century. Mind you, one of my greatest wish is to time travel so that’s really not a big surprise, is it? There is just something about life – the difference in pace, in community but I think it’s mostly the nostalgic notes throughout this book which really drew me to life back then.

Of course, having your main character loving to read is a Great move. Which reader out there does not like a Reade No matter how hard the times were, I feel like I’m missing something not growing up at the turn of the century. Mind you, one of my greatest wish is to time travel so that’s really not a big surprise, is it? There is just something about life – the difference in pace, in community but I think it’s mostly the nostalgic notes throughout this book which really drew me to life back then.

Of course, having your main character loving to read is a Great move. Which reader out there does not like a Reader MC? I love how Francie looks forward to coming home and having things set out just right at her favourite spot to read – does that remind you of yourselves? It sure does me!

The book begins when Francie was 11 and just starting to realise a lot of differences between dreams and reality. This is a true coming-of-age book as we see Francie very determinedly fighting for more in life than just a life of drudgery and ends where we see Francie carving her own path to the future.

One thing which really annoyed me about this book was the mother’s preference of one child over another. I’m trying not to be too judgemental as I’m sure that does happen but to actually tell the child of it and shrugging it off as something you couldn’t help… that kills me! Still, I was quite happy to see that the mother was willing to give all for the safety of her child, preferences aside.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading about Francie and her family. Whilst I was kind of annoyed at the mother [see above], I actually admire her cuz she’s a real woman, tough and determined, a good woman. Funny how I actually ended up admiring her instead of Francie, who whilst being the main character, was just likeable to me. Here is a favourite part of mine…

She bought the coveted dance set-panties and brassiere made of scraps of black lace held together by narrow black satin ribbon.
…
Francie showed her dance set and mama let loose her “Oh, my!” of astonishment.
“Do you think that’s what fast women wear?” asked Francie hopefully.
“If the do, I’m sure they all come down with pneumonia. Now let’s see: What’ll we have for supper?"
“Aren’t you going to object?” Francie was disappointed because mama wasn’t making a fuss.
“No. All women go through a black-lace-drawers time. You came to it earlier than most and you’ll get over it sooner. I think we’ll heat up the soup and have that and soup meat and potatoes. …”

The attended mass together Christmas morning….
Francie was wearing her lace pants and freezing. Whenever an icy wind blew her coat apart and went through her thin dress, it was as it she had no underwear on at all. “I wish-oh, how I wish I had my flanner bloomers on,” she mourned. “Mama was right. A person could get pneumonia. But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of letting her know. I guess I’ll have to put these lace things away until summer.”
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Mar 19, 2009 Suzanne rated it liked it

Shelves: juvenile, classics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 09, 2011 Tara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: busy-bee

I found that this book is like a slow walk through the park. I did not find that it had a major climax and did not put me at the edge of my seat. It did draw me in with the touching story of Francie and her family and the trials and tribulations that they had to face as a poor family in NY. I have to admit that I had a hard time at first getting into the book, but as soon as the author took me back to Katie and Johnny's earlier days, I soon wanted to know more.
It was a story that I found to hav ...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Arlene rated it really liked it

I remember reading this book, years ago, when I was still a student. I know that I really liked it.

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Jul 08, 2008 Lennie rated it liked it

This story is about a girl from Brooklyn who grows up in a poor family. The story is sad at times because she has to deal with all these hardships, one being that she has an alcoholic father, and her and her brother have to shoulder a lot of responsibilities at a young age. I felt the author did a good job in developing the setting and time period for which the story took place--you get a sense of what NY was like during that time.

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Aug 28, 2012 Rachel N. rated it it was amazing

The story of Francie Nolan and her family growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900's. I fell in love with Francie and wanted to know more about what happened to her. Sad in parts but a great book. ...more

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