• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  • By: Betty Smith
  • Narrated by: Kate Burton
  • Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (7,956 ratings)

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn  By  cover art

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

By: Betty Smith
Narrated by: Kate Burton
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Editorial reviews

Why You Should Download This Audiobook: Betty Smith's immensely moving novel is essentially a paean to the human spirit—among most uplifting works we can think of. It's one of those stories you delight in giving to a good friend or family member who might be facing difficulty, certain that it could change the way they perceive life or give them strength to overcome a problem. It's also worth mentioning that this novel is a refreshing, plainspoken American work, a welcome change of pace if you've been lately persuing dense or complex works of literature.

Publisher's summary

A moving coming-of-age story set in the 1900s, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn follows the lives of 11-year-old Francie Nolan, her younger brother Neely, and their parents, Irish immigrants who have settled in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Johnny Nolan is as loving and fanciful as they come, but he is also often drunk and out of work, unable to find his place in the land of opportunity. His wife Katie scrubs floors to put food on the table and clothes on her children's backs, instilling in them the values of being practical and planning ahead.

When Johnny dies, leaving Katie pregnant, Francie, smart, pensive and hoping for something better, cannot believe that life can carry on as before. But with her own determination, and that of her mother behind her, Francie is able to move toward the future of her dreams, completing her education and heading off to college, always carrying the beloved Brooklyn of her childhood in her heart.

©1947 Betty Smith (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"There's a reason this tale remains beloved after almost 50 years, and it stands with memoirs like Angela's Ashes for its happy-ending triumph over a bad childhood." (AudioFile)
"A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and a true one. It cuts right to the heart of life." (The New York Times)

What listeners say about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Average customer ratings
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Captiivating story

Of all the books my bookclub of many years have read this was my favorite.

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Fantastic story

Great coming of age story. Love the grit of the main character and her mother.

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The Best!

This is my most favorite book of all time. When I first read it, I cried when it was done because I wanted it to go on and on. It was wonderful to hear it on Audiobooks, because now it can!

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Great Book, Kate Burton did fantastic narrating!

This book is not my normal read, however, it may be one of my favorite books after reading. Glad I did not pass this one up.

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Understanding My Parents Life

My parents were born in Williamsburg and Greenpoint in 1915. They had me in 1953 and immediately moved out to Levittown on Long Island. I spent many weekends in Brooklyn visiting my aunts, uncles, and grandparents, so I was quite familiar with many locales mentioned in this book, which made it more dear to me.

For me, the author captured Brooklyn exactly as my parents had explained it to me when I would ask about their childhoods. The Brooklyn vernacular…”stood” instead of “stayed”, “terlet” for “toilet” was so true then. That accent is not nearly as pronounced now, but my 11 Brooklyn aunts and uncles filled my young ears with it over coffee and cake most Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The story evoked so many memories and feelings in me, and I only spent weekends in Brooklyn until I was 12. But walking down Metropolitan Avenue where my grandparents lived and going into the candy stores and ice cream shops are wonderful memories that came right back to me listening to this book.

The narrator was wonderful…a great voice, and a pretty good actress, Her attempts at a Brooklyn accent were commendable and passed muster with me. The story didn’t have great plot lines or twists and turns, but just an epic story of the hardships of a family during the 1900s and the love and persistence that made their lives successful.

I can understand why this was such a successful novel and why it continues to be.

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ages like a fine fine

there's a few parts I thought that could never be written now but for the most part this books has aged really well

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Love it

I’m 25 and am reading/listening to this book for the first time. Its tone and pacing have a familiar comfort to it. The characters feel just as alive as I do. It’s also made me laugh out loud AND tear up. Very recommended piece,

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Thoroughly enjoyable

I had read this several years back (more than once) and it listened to just the same. Hated to see it end!

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Full of heart

This is now my favorite book, and a reminder of wisdom gained from people who make the best of what their lives offer them. My life is richer for listening to it.

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Narrator is AMAZING for this amazing story

Loved the story and the narrative. I’m going to look up more book read by this narrator.

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