A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Harper Perennial Deluxe Editions)

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick

A beautifully designed Harper Perennial Deluxe Edition of the beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the twentieth century.

From the moment she entered the world, Francie Nolan needed to be made of stern stuff, for growing up in the Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn, New York demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her family's erratic and eccentric behavior--such as her father Johnny's taste for alcohol and Aunt Sissy's habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce--no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolans' life lacked drama. By turns overwhelming, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the Nolans' daily experiences are raw with honestly and tenderly threaded with family connectedness. Betty Smith has captured the joys of humble Williamsburg life--from "junk day" on Saturdays, when the children traded their weekly take for pennies, to the special excitement of holidays, bringing cause for celebration and revelry. Smith has created a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as deeply resonant moments of universal experience. Here is an American classic that "cuts right to the heart of life," hails the New York Times. "If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, you will deny yourself a rich experience."

The special edition includes French flaps, special cover effects, and deckle-edged paper.

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528 pages

Average rating: 8.67

21 RATINGS

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1 REVIEW

Community Reviews

Anonymous
Jul 18, 2024
8/10 stars
The true meaning of growing in this classic. Francie only knew Brooklyn for so much of her young life, but was wise beyond her years. She allowed herself to understand others from paying attention to the choices and lessons they provided. Reading played such a huge part in her upbringing that even when she tried to push it away she always realized the importance of books in allowing her to grow. Even with only the guidance of close relatives and teachers she was able to create a great life for herself. I enjoyed this book and so glad to put it on my summer reading list.

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