Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Description: A true American classic first published in 1943, this is the tale of a little girl living in the slums of Brooklyn, who dreamily watches out her window as a tree struggles to reach the sky.

Brief description:

Betty Smith (1896-1972) was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Her novels A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Tomorrow Will Be Better, Joy in the Morning, and Maggie-Now continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers worldwide.

Review Quotes:

"A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life. . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience." - New York Times

"One of the books of the century." - New York Public Library

"Betty Smith was a born storyteller." - USA Today

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves to be thought of as one of the greatest American novels." - The New Yorker

"One of the most cherished of American novels....It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn't think we had." - New York Times

"A poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships....[Smith's] book has light and air in it, comedy and pathos, and an underlying rhythm pulsing to the surge and flow of humanity itself. No matter what happens to the Nolans, they never lose their awareness of the sweetness and wonder of life." - Orville Prescott, New York Times

"The quintessential New York immigrant novel, which underscored the power of education." - Min Jin Lee, The New York Times