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Smith, Betty.
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
New York : HarperCollins, 2001.
IL YA
ISBN 0060001941

(2 booktalks)

Click on the book to read Amazon reviews
Booktalk #1

Francie loved her life in Brooklyn. She adored her father, a singing waiter, and loved school. When her father suddenly dies; everything changes for Francie. She goes to work instead of high school to help her brother, mother, and herself survive. She also starts classes at the local college. Francie realizes that this is what her life must be like and gives up all the dreams she once had. Will Francie with determination and luck ever be happy again? (Maha M. Gaballa, Mansfield High School Student)

Booktalk #2

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a vivid, historical fiction novel about the life of Ms. Mary Frances "Francie" Nolan, growing up in the early part of the 20th century.
Francie and her relatives are poor, but they do not accept charity. Francie's mother, Katie, is a hardworking woman who is employed as a maid. Johnny, her father, is a creative and handsome man whose profession is entertaining at parties. But he is also reckless and is drunk often. In addition, Francie's little brother, Neeley, is always getting into trouble.
 Francie Nolan hungers for knowledge, and has an exceptional talent for writing. She and her family even lie to get her into a superior school on the other side of town, where she excels and receives mostly A's for her compositions. But when things take a turn for the worse, and one of Francie's cherished family members becomes very ill, the Nolan family is baffled. Will they get through it with the help of aunts, uncles, and very dear friends?  Find out in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, an exceptionally intriguing story of one inspiring and extraordinary young woman.  (Selena W., student)

SUBJECTS:     Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction.
                        Poor -- New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction.

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