A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

• Genre: Fiction; coming-of-age
• Originally Published: 1943
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 810L; Grades 9 and up
• Structure/Length: 5 parts; approximately 528 pages; approximately 14 hours, 55 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel centers around Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in the early 20th century in the slums of Brooklyn. She faces poverty, family struggles, and coming of age in a challenging environment. The central conflict revolves around Francie’s journey of self-discovery, education, and aspirations to rise above her circumstances. The novel beautifully portrays her resilience, determination, and the importance of her family’s love and support.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Poverty; mature themes; depiction of difficult family situations, substance abuse, and sexual violence

Betty Smith, Author

• Bio: Born 1896; American author and playwright; grew up in poverty in Brooklyn, which heavily influenced her writing; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is her best-known work and draws from her own experiences; known for her empathetic portrayal of characters and their struggles; often explores themes of family, dreams, and the human spirit in her works; continued to write novels, short stories, and plays throughout her life; left a lasting impact on literature through her poignant and relatable storytelling
• Other Works: Tomorrow Will Be Better (1947); Maggie-Now (1958); Joy in the Morning (1963)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Correlation of Class and Shame
• The Limitations of Being a Woman in Turn-of-the-20th-Century America
• Antisemitism in Turn-of-the-20th-Century America

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Consider the lasting impact that the novel has had on readers and the ways that its themes and topics, such as coming-of-age alongside the ideal of the American Dream, remain relevant in a contemporary world.
• Study paired texts and other resources to make connections to the text’s three themes of The Correlation of Class and Shame, The Limitations of Being a Woman in Turn-of-the-20th-Century America, and Antisemitism in Turn-of-the-20th-Century America.
• Analyze the 1945 film version of the novel and evaluate the ways the film adapts the novel for the screen.
• Analyze and evaluate theme, symbolism, character development, and other literary devices to draw conclusions in structured essays regarding topics such as coming-of-age, struggle and resilience, and education.