A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith

I certainly hope this book is semi-autobiographical, because it has no plot.  It’s the story of Francie Nolan’s childhood in the early 20^th century.  Her father drinks too much, and her mother works hard to make up for her husband’s inability to put food on the table.  In her father’s defense, he does contribute to the family finances sporadically, and Francie adores him.  He likewise dotes on her, whereas Francie’s mother loves Francie’s brother more than Francie.  The author makes this point multiple times, and it grated on me.  I felt that Francie had a bit of a chip on her shoulder because of her mother’s preference for her son over her daughter, but Francie still manages to keep a sunny outlook, no matter what, and loves her brother dearly.  In other words, Francie is an almost perfect child and sees the silver lining in every hardship.  Neither of Francie's parents made it past grade school, and Francie’s mother is determined to make sure that her children escape poverty through education.  Both children read the Bible and Shakespeare’s plays incessantly, as these are the only books the family possesses.  Francie views poverty through rose-colored glasses, and I suppose this viewpoint is better than for her to be wallowing in self-pity.  She and her brother certainly look back on their childhood with fond memories, but I guess it’s normal to remember the good times and repress the bad.  Whenever something really ugly happens in this book, someone comes to the rescue, and suffering seems to be short-lived.  Consequently, I felt that the story lacked depth.  I enjoyed it for what it is—mostly G rated.  That’s not to say there’s not a dash of heartbreak here and there, including death, romantic betrayal, and even a sexual predator, but Francie always bounces back, stronger and wiser.