A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

Betty Smith's classic novel tells the story of a young girl growing up in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. Her heroine, Francie Nolan, survives a childhood of extreme poverty and successfully transitions from adolescence to a working, collegebound adult. This coming-of-age story is replete with symbolism - from Francie's loss of innocence to her growing up and maturing into an individual. Smith uses beautiful language to describe the neighborhood Francie grows up in, and paints a beautiful picture of what it was like to grow up in troubled times - as the big cities exploded with progress and moved from the steam engine age to the industrial age, as WWI erupted, as Francie's poor Brooklyn neighborhood filled with immigrants, intertwined with classic growing-up themes - puberty, first heartbreak, rebellion and a little girl too young to absorb the grown-up world around her. Although Smith's book was long, there were no unnecessary scenes, and she insinuates plenty to ensure you are aware of the adult world Francie Nolan is forced to grow up in - from her Aunt Sissy, a "bad girl", to the stoning of a neighborhood woman who "got in trouble". Francie's life is also filled with strong female role models like her aunt Sissy - her mother, grandmother and two aunts are described as being made of "invisible steel" and often overshadow the men in their lives. Francie grows into one of these woman as she gradually gains her mother's respect and equality as a woman, and revisits her childhood as an adult. Great novel, I wasn't bored for a minute.

Overall: 10 out of 10.

Details:

Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics (May 30, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061120073
ISBN-13: 978-0061120077

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's, by John Elder Robison

I read this book for my teen book group, although it had been recommended to me beforehand. I hate to steal words out of another reviewer's mouth, but I have found after reading this book that how I look at the world has changed (in a good way). Robison (brother of Augusten Burroughs, of Running with Scissors fame) relives his childhood, adolescence, and journey into adulthood - living both with a dysfunctional family, and Asperger's - a form of autism for which there simply was no diagnosis. Before I continue, I should expand a little on Asperger's itself. Asperger's syndrome is a form of high-functioning autism. Children with Asperger's usually demonstrate intense concentration and interests (for Robison, this was electronics), and generally have a difficult time socializing and making friends. Robison talks a lot about his struggles in the book - from making friends as a child, to escaping his family as an adolescent, to being accepted in society and finding his place in the working world as an adult. Robison adds a fresh point of view on subjects many people experience in their own lives - married life, fatherhood, finding one's place in the world and being accepted. He also explains experiences unique to him - living with an abusive father and mentally unstable mother, living on his own as a teenager and being diagnosed at the age of forty. His persistent wit and unique perspective on life add humor to a very serious subject. One thing I like about Robison is that he tells his story like it is - he does not milk his experiences for emotional heartwrench. Instead, he lets his story speak for itself (and I do distinctly remember crying at different points throughout the book). I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone (although there is a lot of swearing, so maybe not for everyone). Definitely one of my favorite reads.

Overall: 10 out of 10.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition (September 9, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307396185
ISBN-13: 978-0307396181