A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Summary, Meaning, and Why It Still Inspires

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Summary, Meaning, and Why It Still Inspires

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

A poor girl grows up Brooklyn-style.

A short summary:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn follows young Francie Nolan as she comes of age in the tenements of early 20th-century Brooklyn. Through poverty, struggle, and the daily grind of survival, Francie discovers her own strength and dreams. Education becomes her escape, imagination becomes her refuge, and resilience becomes her defining trait. As she witnesses both hardship and unexpected beauty, Francie learns that growth can happen anywhere, even in the most unlikely soil.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Look at everything always as if you are seeing it for the first time or the last time. Thus, your time on earth is filled with glory."

Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

                  Questions to ponder while reading:

Is social class more than money?

How much do you like to read?

My review:

This novel was a life-changer for me. Francie’s fierce hunger for education and her belief that learning could open doors felt like a revelation. I connected with her determination, her yearning, and even her small rebellions, including the refusal to ever settle for stale bread again. Betty Smith’s world felt lived-in and honest, and her message was simple but powerful: knowledge can transform a life. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn still stands as a reminder that where we begin doesn’t dictate where we can go.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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