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Books like A tree grows in Brooklyn
24 connected reads, with a reason for every recommendation.
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8 reading possibilities- 01
Like Smith’s novel, this story follows a young woman in a poor immigrant family as she seeks education and independence in New York.
- 02
Vignettes about a young girl’s life in a working-class neighborhood echo the seed’s intimate portrait of growing up in the city.
- 03
Its memorable sisters navigate modest means, family bonds, and the ambitions of young women.
- 04
An unexpected connectionThis quieter story of a young woman leaving Ireland for Brooklyn bridges Smith’s novel through migration, place, and female independence.
- 05
Cather’s classic traces an immigrant girl’s life and resilience within a close-knit community facing hardship.
- 06
A resourceful girl faces a sudden fall in fortune while holding on to her imagination and dignity.
- 07
Its portrait of a guarded girl gradually finding connection offers a gentler, nature-centered take on childhood transformation.
- 08
An unexpected connectionAntin’s memoir of growing up as a Jewish immigrant in Boston offers a nonfiction route into the pressures and possibilities of city life.
Explore 16 more recommendations
- 09
Three siblings adapt to a changed family life with resourcefulness and warmth.
- 10
Elnora’s determination to pursue an education despite poverty and family strain recalls Francie’s tenacity.
- 11
This affectionate portrait of a family with limited means shares the seed’s attention to everyday neighborhood life.
- 12
An unexpected connectionRoth’s experimental novel follows a Jewish boy in New York’s immigrant neighborhoods, making it a formally adventurous counterpart.
- 13
A young girl’s perspective, strong family ties, and struggles against poverty make this a compelling parallel.
- 14
Its observant young narrator and sharply drawn community offer a similarly memorable view of childhood shaped by social realities.
- 15
Readers drawn to Francie’s childhood perspective may enjoy Twain’s lively account of a resourceful young person finding a place in the world.
- 16
An unexpected connectionIts linked stories explore daughters, mothers, and cultural inheritance, extending the seed’s interest in family and female lives.
- 17
Jane’s difficult early life and fierce commitment to self-respect make this a classic counterpart to Francie’s independence.
- 18
Dickens’s autobiographical coming-of-age novel follows a young person through poverty, work, and the formation of a life.
- 19
Its vivid city setting and attention to poverty provide a darker historical companion to Smith’s Brooklyn story.
- 20
An unexpected connectionWoodson’s memoir in verse connects through a young girl’s formative years, family history, and changing sense of home.
- 21
Wharton’s precise portrait of New York life complements Smith’s very different but equally attentive rendering of the city.
- 22
A determined woman’s efforts to shape her life amid social constraints provide a strong thematic link.
- 23
Its young narrator’s firsthand view of hardship and adult society offers another classic, voice-driven childhood story.
- 24
An unexpected connectionMcBride’s account of his mother’s life and their family’s Brooklyn roots offers a nonfiction discovery grounded in the seed’s setting.
About the book
Betty Smith’s 1943 novel follows a teenage girl growing up amid poverty in Brooklyn, and is widely regarded as a classic of American literature.
About the author
Betty Smith was an American novelist and playwright; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is her best-known work.