7A Tree Grows in Brooklyn By Betty Smith (post 7)

I think I just realized how this book became a classic. It addresses serious points from the point of view of a child who doesn't follow the whole "That's how it is" or "Don't think too much about it" concept. That whole, out of sight out of mind is so obsolete here because Francie sees everything that goes on. The part that really touched me was on page 230 where Betty Smith stated, "She was a girl who had gotten into trouble. Her baby was illegitimate--*censorship* was the world they used in the neighborhood--and these good women felt that Joanna had no right to act like a proud mother and bring her baby out into the light of day. They felt that she should have kept it hidden in some dark place." Can you believe the heartlessness of these women?! They are bulling Joanna because she wanted to take a walk with her baby! Francie at first didn't she how bad this was until the women started to throw rocks at Joanna and hitting her poor baby in the head! The poor thing's head started to bleed and I just lost it from there. This book and TKAM hold a really cool style. A young girl tells the story in an informative voice and only adds emotion during sensible moments unlike stories now where the main character's voice is constantly annoying the plot with their whining or but ins. 10/10 here, it highlights a really important point about human nature.