• 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)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn  By  cover art

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

By: Betty Smith
Narrated by: Kate Burton
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $28.79

Buy for $28.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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
  • 5 Stars
    6,136
  • 4 Stars
    1,316
  • 3 Stars
    390
  • 2 Stars
    74
  • 1 Stars
    57
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,351
  • 4 Stars
    998
  • 3 Stars
    225
  • 2 Stars
    48
  • 1 Stars
    30
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,243
  • 4 Stars
    1,010
  • 3 Stars
    258
  • 2 Stars
    58
  • 1 Stars
    46

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Flood of Memories

Would you listen to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn again? Why?

Absolutely...to be reminded of a simpler time and a loving family.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Francie...her story was so very much like that of my grandmother, who grew up in NY during those same years.

Have you listened to any of Kate Burton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Don't know.

Who was the most memorable character of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and why?

I think Sissie was remarkable. A truly genuine person who accepted herself as she was and never tried to be anything else.

Any additional comments?

A flood of memories came back: growing up in New York, attending public school, riding the ell train. I could smell the tiled hallways that Katie mopped so dutifully. It also brought back thoughts of the devotion and love, no matter what, that kept the family together. The author put you in the room with her characters. You really felt you were sharing their up and downs not just observing their lives.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfull Classic Story

Would you listen to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn again? Why?

It's a must read , for any age . It truly depicts the hardships of living in New York in the early 1900's. The smoothness of the story the interesting characters was outstanding . I could not put the book down .Highly recommend this classic. Kate Burtons performance is second to none .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. Everything about it was wonderful. A great story, great characters and the narration by Kate Burton is just wonderful. I know I will be listening to this again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

This is a powerful story of family strength and how challenges build character and develops the great ability to love.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My New Favorite Book of all Time

I fell in love with this book the moment I started reading it. I felt like I knew and cared about these people throughout the book. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • PJ
  • 01-10-19

excellent book! read it now

growing up is bitter sweet but so worth the journey....this book reminded me of that.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator too fast

The story is good but the narrator was too fast that I forgot to breathe just like her.
I took voiceover classes and know that a reader must take a breath at certain times but she was too fast

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful classic!

My mom has wanted me to read her favorite book forever! Why did I wait so long? Beautiful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I had forgotten this lovely classic

What a wonderful book! I couldn’t remember much about this since I read it so long ago in high school. This beautifully written book has themes of hard work, dignity, love a family and commitment. It talks pointedly of childhood experiences and passions and pain. It is a classic. Definitely listen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thinking girl grows up

It’s a well written slice of a thin but rich existance. I didn’t resent reading it. I resented Grapes of Wrath. Also Moby Dick. So this is better. I decided I should read it because so many people seem to have really loved it. It’s a very good book (I laughed a little bit and cried a little bit), but I prefer stories that don’t kick up my empathy so much.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!