Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, read Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Angela's Ashes, The Secret Life of Bees and To Kill a Mockingbird. All follow resilient young people growing up in difficult circumstances with warmth and honesty.
Betty Smith's 1943 novel tells the story of Francie Nolan, a girl growing up in poor Brooklyn with books as her escape. It is beloved for its unsentimental, tender portrait of childhood. The books below offer similar coming-of-age stories with strong heroines, family love and sharp observation.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | All ages | sisters and growing up |
| Anne of Green Gables | L.M. Montgomery | All ages | imaginative heroines |
| Angela's Ashes | Frank McCourt | Adult | memoirs of poverty |
| The Secret Life of Bees | Sue Monk Kidd | Adult | found family |
| To Kill a Mockingbird | Harper Lee | Teen | moral growth |
| I Capture the Castle | Dodie Smith | Teen | diary novels |
| Daddy-Long-Legs | Jean Webster | Teen | letters and humour |
| The Glass Castle | Jeannette Walls | Adult | family memoir |
| Cold Sassy Tree | Olive Ann Burns | Adult | small-town humour |
| The Color Purple | Alice Walker | Adult | resilient women |
| Their Eyes Were Watching God | Zora Neale Hurston | Adult | voice and love |
| Brooklyn | Colm Toibin | Adult | immigrant stories |
| Betsy-Tacy | Maud Hart Lovelace | 8-12 | friendship classics |
| Little House in the Big Woods | Laura Ingalls Wilder | 6-10 | pioneer childhood |
| The House on Mango Street | Sandra Cisneros | Teen | poetic coming-of-age |
1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The March sisters grow up during the Civil War. A classic about ambition, family and growing up.
Best for: sisters and growing up.
2. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
An orphan girl with a big imagination finds a home on Prince Edward Island. Funny, warm and unforgettable.
Best for: imaginative heroines.
3. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
McCourt recalls his poor childhood in Limerick, Ireland. Sad, funny and beautifully written.
Best for: memoirs of poverty.
4. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Lily runs away with her caregiver to a house of beekeeping sisters in 1960s South Carolina. Warm and moving.
Best for: found family.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Scout Finch watches her father defend a Black man in a small Southern town. A classic about justice and growing up.
Best for: moral growth.
6. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Cassandra writes her diary in a crumbling English castle. Charming, witty and romantic.
Best for: diary novels.
7. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
An orphan goes to college thanks to a mysterious benefactor and writes him letters. Light and delightful.
Best for: letters and humour.
8. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Walls describes her chaotic childhood with unreliable parents. Vivid and moving.
Best for: family memoir.
9. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
A boy narrates small-town Georgia life in 1906 when his grandfather remarries quickly. Funny and tender.
Best for: small-town humour.
10. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Celie, a Black woman in the South, tells her story through letters. Powerful and moving.
Best for: resilient women.
11. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Janie searches for love and independence in Florida. Lyrical and bold.
Best for: voice and love.
12. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
A young Irish woman emigrates to Brooklyn in the 1950s and must choose where she belongs. Quiet and moving.
Best for: immigrant stories.
13. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Two young girls become best friends in a small Minnesota town. Sweet and nostalgic.
Best for: friendship classics.
14. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura describes life in a log cabin in Wisconsin. Simple and cozy, though some depictions are dated.
Best for: pioneer childhood.
15. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Esperanza grows up in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago and dreams of a house of her own. Short vignettes, lyrical and honest.
Best for: poetic coming-of-age.
How to Choose
For other classic girls' stories, pick Little Women, Anne of Green Gables or Betsy-Tacy. For memoirs of poverty, choose Angela's Ashes or The Glass Castle. For stories that explore race and justice, read To Kill a Mockingbird, The Color Purple or The Secret Life of Bees. For immigrant stories and quiet beauty, try Brooklyn or The House on Mango Street. Some books depict abuse and racism, so check ages and content. Francie's love of reading is a central part of Smith's book, so it is natural to pair it with other stories of readers who find hope in books. Try reading one classic and one more modern coming-of-age novel side by side to see how the genre has changed.
Related: What Age Is Where the Red Fern Grows Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · Printable List Of Magic Tree House Books In Order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn about?
Francie Nolan grows up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood in the early 1900s and finds hope in books and family.
Is it autobiographical?
It is semi-autobiographical, drawn from Betty Smith's own childhood.
What age is it for?
About 12 and up.
Is there a movie?
Yes, a 1945 film directed by Elia Kazan.
Why is the tree important?
The tree of heaven grows in poor places and symbolizes resilience.
Are there other books about Brooklyn?
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay are good picks.
How long is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn?
It runs over 400 pages in most editions.
Does it have a happy ending?
It is hopeful but realistic, with both joy and loss.
Is it suitable for a book club?
Yes. Poverty, family and ambition make it good for discussion.