FDL Reads: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Reviewed by: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Group: Adults
What is This Book About? The American classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, is a coming of age story written by author Betty Smith. It was originally meant to be her memoir, but she reconfigured it as historical fiction at the request of her editor. The novel is set in early twentieth century Williamsburg, a poor section of Brooklyn. The author begins the story by describing a tree which struggles to reach the sky, but grows lushly out of rubbish heaps and vacant lots only in the tenement districts. Eleven year old Francie Nolan, the main character, lives in a run down tenement with her mother Katie, her father Johnny, and her younger brother Neeley. The family struggles to eat and pay rent so Francie’s mother scrubs floors to earn a living while her father sings and waits tables at local night clubs. Katie is a proud woman and will not take charity. She wants her children to have an education more than anything. Francie and Neeley both graduate from grade school, but Neeley is the only one who attends high school after tragedy strikes the family. Though Francie must take jobs in New York City in order to earn enough money to make ends meet and to care for her pregnant mother, she still dreams of pursuing higher education. Francie’s mother has her baby and marries a retired police officer. He is quite wealthy, and Francie’s little sister will not grow up in poverty.
My Review: I really enjoyed reading this piece of historical fiction. When reading, I felt as though I was transported back in time to early twentieth century Brooklyn, specifically the impoverished neighborhood of Williamsburg. The author herself grew up in Williamsburg where she experienced the hardships of poverty just like the main character Francie Nolan does in the novel. As she grows up, Francie experiences such things as life in a crowded, rundown tenement apartment, hunger, discrimination, sexual violation, and tragic loss. Yet, just like the tree that grows up from the rubbish and cracked cement in her yard, Francie flourishes despite the hardships of poverty.
Three Words that Describe this Book: Historical, Detailed, Engaging
Give This A Try If You Like: Other novels by Betty Smith, including Joy in the Morning, Magie-Now, and Tomorrow Will Be Better
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
FDL Reads: The Four Winds
Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Historical fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is this Book About? Elsa Wolcott, a banker’s daughter, had no idea what was ahead for her when she met Raffaello Martinelli in 1921. Elsa, a tall, gangly, “past marrying age” woman and 18-year old, college-bound Rafe meet and this meeting changes the course of both their lives. When a pregnant and disowned Elsa marries Rafe and moves to his family farm, she finds a very different life and a truly loving family. But then the depression hits and northern Texas becomes a dust bowl. This book details the hard times of the 1930’s for farmers whose land dried up and blew away leaving them with no way to make a living or care for their families. Eventually the migration to California draws Elsa and her family westward, but the “golden land of milk and honey” turns out to be anything but ideal for this family and the hundreds of others who migrated to the west. This is a story of love and struggle during the 1930’s in America.
My Review: I loved this book even though the story is not a pleasant one. Times were extremely difficult in the 1930’s and the realism of this book weighed heavily on my heart. Hannah portrays the characters and events with an emotional intensity that kept me reading even as I hated the struggles that the characters faced. Hannah is a wonderful storyteller who draws you into the times and lets you experience the perseverance and strength of her characters. Elsa’s bravery and determination combined with her deep capacity to love make this story one of courage and triumph in extremely hard times. I also learned more about that era in U.S. history and found myself seeking additional information about the actual events fictionalized here.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Heart-wrenching, Realistic, Compelling
Give This a Try if You Like: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck or The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
Bilingual Story Time (Online) – Heart / El corazón
Hi, everyone! My name is Miss Haley, and I’m so happy you’re joining me today for bilingual story time at Fondulac District Library. Bilingual is a word that means more than one language, so that means we’ll be singing songs and reading books in English and Spanish today. Are you ready? Let’s go! ¡Vamos!
Song: Good Morning / Buenos dias
(Tune: “Frère Jacques” or “Are You Sleeping?”)
English Lyrics:
Good morning
Good morning
How are you?
How are you?
Very well, thank you
Very well thank you
And you?
And you?
Spanish Lyrics:
Buenos dias
Buenos dias
¿Como estas?
¿Como estas?
Muy bien, gracias
Muy bien, gracias
¿Y usted?
¿Y usted?
Credit: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel
Song: Open, Shut Them / Abre, cierra
English Lyrics:
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap, clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Put them in your lap, lap, lap
Creep them, crawl them,
creep them, crawl them
right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open wide your little mouth, but…
Do not put them in!
Credit: Jbrary YouTube Channel
Spanish Lyrics:
Abre, cierra
Abre, cierra
Da una palmadita, -ta
Abre, cierra
Abre, cierra
Mantenlas juntitas, -tas
Sube, sube, sube, sube
Hasta la barbilla, -lla
Abre la boquita pero…
¡No metas los dedos!
Credit: NCO Bilingual Storytime
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Fingerplay: Heart
English Lyrics:
I put my hands together
This is how I start
I bring my fingers down like this
And now I have a heart
Credit: Miss Nina – Music and Movement for Preschoolers
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Book: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Mi corazón se llena de alegría
Written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Julie Flett, and read with the permission of Orca Book Publishers.
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Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider / Itsy Bitsy araña
English Lyrics:
The itsy bitsy spider
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
Went up the spout again.
Spanish Lyrics:
La arana pequeñita
Subió, subió, subió.
Vino la lluvia
Y se la llevó.
Salió el sol
Y todo lo secó
Y la araña pequeñita
Subió, subió, subió.
Credit: Spanish Playground
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Song: Tall Trees / Arboles altos
English Lyrics:
Tall trees
Warm fire
Strong wind
Deep water
I feel it in my body
I feel it in my soul
Spanish Lyrics:
Arboles altos
Fuego tibio
Viento fuerte
Aguas profundas
Lo siento en mi cuerpo
Lo siento en mi cuerpo
Credit: Jbrary
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Book: Listening with My Heart/ Escuchando con mi corazón
Written by Gabi Garcia, illustrated by Ying Hui Tan, and read with the permission of Skinned Knee Publishing.
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Craft: Heart Noise-Maker
Pick up a craft kit at the library while supplies last from the Youth Services Department or the drive-up window!
Included in supply kit:
- Two paper plates
- Bag of rice
Supplies needed at home:
- Stapler or tape
- Coloring utensils (crayons, markers, colored pencils)
- Scrap paper
Instructions:
- Draw a heart on the back of each paper plate.
- Color in the heart and the rest of the plate however you like.
- On a small strip of scrap paper, write down something that makes your heart happy. Make as many of these as you would like.
- Place your pieces of paper on one of the plates on the side without the heart.
- Pour rice over the pieces of paper.
- Staple or tape the two plates together so that the hearts show on both sides. If you use staples, make sure to place them close enough together that rice won’t fall out of your noise maker when you shake it.
- Whenever you’re sad or need a friend, shake your heart noisemaker to remind yourself of all the things that make your heart happy. You can be a friend to yourself by remembering to speak kindly about yourself and do things that make your heart smile!
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Mango Languages App:
Did you know that we have an app available on the Fondulac Library website that can help you and your child learn a new language? It’s called Mango, and you can sign up for free using your library card number. Check it out by clicking here!
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Song: The Goodbye Song
English Lyrics:
Goodbye
So long
To you
My friend
Stay well
And fine
Til we meet
Again
Spanish Lyrics:
Adios
Adios
A ti
Mi amigo
Cuídate
Muy bien
Nos vemos
Otra vez
Credit: Burlington Specials
– Miss Haley, Youth Services Assistant
Book Talk (for Kids) – Pride Month
Alice shares some recommendations for middle grade readers (4th-8th) for Pride Month! Select the titles below to place a hold.
Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse
Rick by Alex Gino
Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Overdrive Big Library Read
Fondulac District Library provides access to a large collection of eBooks and audiobooks through the Overdrive or Libby app. Several times during the year, Overdrive hosts a Big Library Read, an online book club for readers around the world. Featured books are chosen by librarians and announced shortly before the Big Library Read begins. Our library is provided with unlimited copies of the eBook or audiobook, and our patrons can read without wait time through the Overdrive or Libby app until July 12. A library card number and PIN are required to access the book. This summer, the Big Library Read has chosen The Quiet Girl by S.F. Kosa. Below is a little about the book from The Big Library Read’s website:
The Quiet Girl
Good girls keep quiet. But quiet girls can’t stay silent forever—and the consequences are sure to make some noise.
When Alex arrives in Provincetown to patch things up with his new wife, Mina, he finds an empty wine glass in the sink, her wedding ring on the desk, and a string of questions in her wake. The police believe that Mina, a successful romance author, simply left, their marriage crumbling before it truly began.
But what Alex finds in their empty cottage points him toward a different reality: Mina has always carried a secret. And now she’s disappeared.
In his hunt for the truth, Alex comes across Layla, a young woman with information to share, who may hold the key to everything his wife has kept hidden. A strange, quiet girl whose missing memories may break them all.
To find his missing wife, Alex must face what Layla has forgotten. And the consequences are anything but quiet.
In her debut thriller, S.F. Kosa presents a tightly-woven book sure to inspire questions about trauma, memory, and how well we ever know the people we love.
–Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
FDL Reads: The Handsome Girl and Her Beautiful Boy
The Handsome Girl and Her Beautiful Boy by, B. T. Gottfred
Reviewer: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: YA LGBTQ+
Suggested Age: 16+
What is this book about? This YA novel is about two main characters, Zee and Art, who do not fit into any specific LGBTQ+ category. Zee is an androgynous tomboy who likes to wear hoodies and cargo pants and whose classmates think she is a lesbian. But Zee’s best friend Cam is a star athlete who she has had feelings for since childhood. Cam, however, has a girlfriend whose little brother is Art. Art is flamboyant and pretty so people assume he is gay, but he identifies as straight, especially when he meets Zee and falls in love with her. They have a magical attraction to each other, but they also experiment and enjoy sexual fluidity through experiences with the same gender.
My Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I like how the author switched back and forth between the two main characters’ perspectives. It made for a quick read. I also like the author’s important message to the reader. He presents Art and Zee as non-binary characters who see past boundaries in order to be their most authentic selves. How appropriate to emphasize and promote during Pride month!
Rating: 5/5
Three Words That Describe This Book: eye-opening, informative, magical
Give This Book A Try If You Like: Forever For A Year and Nerdy Dirty by B. T. Gottfred