• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  • By: Betty Smith
  • Narrated by: Kate Burton
  • Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (7,973 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
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding

I felt this book takes to the heart of children who suffer from poverty. It opened my eyes in many ways.
I loved each character and felt the story gave a fantastic view into each one.
Yes, I wish mor people would read this book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So vivid, Brooklyn stands before you!

In a time of entitlement, I suggest reading for all millennials. struggles were real, but the family was always strong, proud and patient.

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Love this book so much

This is one of my all-time favorites. I've read the book numerous times and listened to the audiobook at least 4 times (yup, I'm one of those people). The book is wonderful, sad, joyous, and beautiful. You really get a feel of the times, the characters, the surroundings. The narration didn't sit well with me at first. It felt as though the narrator was trying too hard. I did get used to it though, and now the softness of the narrator's voice feels calming. It may be that I had read the book so many times that it just wasn't what I expected.

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A story full of heart, hardship, and determination

The power of this story is in how you live within each character's life. You see what they see and feel the love and the pain and the determination they feel.

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Reminiscent of East of Eden or Homegoing

I loved this novel. While not a multi generational saga, the style and tone of this novel reminded me quite a bit of John Steinbeck's East of Eden or Yaa Gaasi's Homegoing. It's a simple story told so casually and matter of factly, but peppered with really deep, poignant philosophical observations throughout. The narration was good.

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  • TA
  • 06-02-20

A story of finding love and hope wherever you are.

Love the main character and her view of life. It takes you back to an earlier time, the struggles of the poor and the triumph of hope and love.

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Beautiful story

A true classic. This is just a lovely story. And Kate Burton’s performance is spectacular! Her accents really help bring this book to life. I felt as if I were in Brooklyn while listening. What a delightful experience. So glad my book club chose it.

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Quietly Lovely

How have I missed this gem for so long? Incredibly descriptive and detailed, it transports the reader to turn of the century Brooklyn and colorful impoverished immigrant neighborhoods. You'll be rooting for the key characters from the first word. I'll be returning for another pass in the near future.

The narrator Kate Burton does a wonderful job with numerous accents in an understated way. The musical interludes were a bit intrusive and seemed a bit anachronistic, but weren't overwhelmingly so. Otherwise I enjoyed everything about this experience.

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Wonderful

Great story and Kaye Burton killed it. Great Brooklyn accent and every character got a voice and so sincere

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A very moving, relatable story of one girls moxie

I read this book 15 years ago as a high school student and revisited it in adulthood. Today, being able to listen to a performance of this book only added to the colorfulness of this lovely, Brooklyn story.

Life happens in this story and it is brought eerily closer to reality through its narrator.

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