Rating: 
Summary: A fabulous book
Review: Betty Smith's classic is probably my all-time favorite book. After falling in love with it at age 13, I've read it at least 100 times as I approach age 40. And each time, I find something new -- a new character insight, a bit of description that I hadn't noticed before. Each character is memorably drawn, leaping off the page and coming to vivid life in my mind's eye as I read. I recommend it for all ages, but it's especially good for young girls and women who are, like Francie, smart and bookish and a bit of a square peg.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book!
Review: I absolutely adore this book and recommend it to everyone every chance I get! I identified so much with Francie in her relationship with her family. I also admired her strength through all that happened. My favorite part is when they are getting the christmas tree chucked at them and they have to stay standing to win it. Francie was always thought of to be frail and weak b/c that's how she looked while her younger bro. looked strong and healthy but when the tree hit them, the bro. went to his knees and Francie jerked him back up even tho it hit her in the head. The book has great insight and narrative. It is a wonderful read.
Rating:
Summary: My All-Time Favorite Book
Review: I first read this book in 5th grade and have read it again every few years since. Now, even after having majored in English in college and become an English teacher, this remains my favorite book of any genre, any time. It is the kind of book you can enjoy as a child and enjoy even more as an adult, appreciating nuances you hadn't noticed before. The characters are so well-developed, so vividly portrayed, so multi-faceted, and so REAL that they become a part of you. This may be a work of fiction, but it is most definitely a "true" story, if you know what I mean. Don't miss this wonderful book!
Rating:
Summary: A ONE-OF-A-KIND CLASSIC!
Review: I first read this book thirty years ago and have since read it many times over. It is a rare classic that will stay in your heart long after the pages have been read. You will become deeply and emotionally attached to Francie Nolan, a young girl who overcomes many obstacles and challenges beyond her control in order to survive. Taking place in the slums of Brooklyn, Francie is part of a family who dotes on her brother. Her parents are not without their own set of problems, and Francie is faced with growing up in a world that is not kind to her. She understands only too well the meaning of hunger, doing without, leaving school and not having enough money to go around."A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" takes place in the early part of the century and was written over fifty years ago. With this in mind, it may be difficult for today's generation, particularly if financial stability was never a problem, to fully understand and appreciate Francie's life. Unless, of course, the reader also experienced poverty - "no money" means no money, no matter what year you are living in. You will marvel at Francie's determination, strength and courage, smile at her resourcefulness, and feel compassion for a girl who, by necessity, is far more mature than her years. One other excellent book by the same author that I also treasure among my collection is "Joy in the Morning." It is written with the same grace, style and emotion as this one. Both classics are highly recommended and would make a cherished part of your library.
Rating:
Summary: An Extremely Good Read
Review: I have always wanted to read this book, and when I went into my ninth grade honors English class this year and saw it on the reading list, I couldn't wait to start it. I never had read it before because it had always seemed too long. How wrong I was! I couldn't put the book down, and when I finished, I yearned to know more about Francie. The story is very believable, as I am sure that Ms. Smith experienced some of the same hardships that Francie underwent. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an excellent book to read for school, and it is probably on most reading lists. The theme is very prevalent throughout the novel, and there are good examples of figurative language, and other aspects that are discussed in the classroom. I think that in order to truly understand the book, the reader must be at least eleven years old. However, I do feel that this can be enjoyed by a younger child, even if the exact meaning is not understood. Francie sets a good example for everyone in her ability to overcome obstacles and reach her goals. This is a timeless classic that I'm sure will be enjoyed for years to come!
Rating:
Summary: Magical
Review: I honestly don't know how this novel has become a classic. As an avid reader I had to practically force myself to get through this book and only did so because my book club was reading it. I wasn't the only person in our club who was disappointed. It was a miserable story and pointless. It was a great discription of life in Brooklyn during that time period but Betty Smith never made me care about the characters enough to care about what happened to them. This novel needs more character development to be a classic. I only give it 2 stars instead of 1 because it really is a great description of life in Brooklyn.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful classic!
Review: I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I was about twelve years old, and I decided to give it a whirl once again. I recommend that adults who loved this book as a child return to it because the magic of reading it is as wonderful and beautiful in your adult years as it was when you were a child. The story of Francie Nolan and her family will most likely have a different and interesting effect on the reader, or at least it had a different effect on me this time around. Francie is a bright young girl growing up in a poor, but hardworking family in 1912 Brooklyn. Although her life is a constant struggle over money, she still manages to eke out much joy. The novel, which does not really have a plot, is rather a collection of vignettes about Francie's life. While so much of her life appeared to be conspiring against her success, she never gave in to defeatism. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an inspiring and beautiful story that people of all ages will love. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Rating:
Summary: Not just for girls
Review: I read this book while home from school and ill in 1960. I was 12 and very certainly male. I still remember this vivid, moving, enthalling story while I have forgotten most any details from the usual 'thrillers' that I read in those days.
I am not surprised to find that most of the reviewers are female. The central character is a young woman, but her coming of age and coping with the realities of the human condition are pertinent to anyone, anytime.
Rating:
Summary: Life lessons
Review: It is the first book that I read that really made an impression on me, and I was only 13 years old the first time I read it (That was over 40 years ago!). I did not even realize how strong an impression it made until years later, as I began to grow and mature as a person. I recently (1 year ago) sought out and bought a new copy for my two teenage daughters to read.
I identified with Francie's plight, growing up in a 'poor', but rural, area, and becoming 'aware of life' at 13, when I first read the book.
Betty Smith's portrayal of a 'survivor' of a disfunctional life and time is 'universal' and timeless. Her poignant reflections of a young girl struggling and learning 'against the odds' are heartfelt and enduring.
(I believe she was a strong influence in my love of writing and story-telling)
Rating: 
Summary: Timely Classic
Review: Smith's timely classic of coming of age story was suggested to me by Oprah's BC. I found it to be just as magnificant as when I first read it many years ago. Also easing its way up the Oprah's list is the novel, LUST OF THE FLESH by Beverly Rolyat. An engaging, compelling, riveting, enlightening pageturner. A story about a corrupted district attorney, Nick Alapapalaus, who finds himself caught up in scandalous activities. This novel has sexually explicit scenes, but I guess that accounts for its title. A highly recommended novel with enlightening messages through and through.
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