Published in 1943, Betty Smith’s classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, should still be a necessary item on your bookshelf. Having just reached the 70th anniversary of its publication, the coming of age story still holds relevance to lives of readers today, as a powerful insight into the struggles of growing up.

The story, set in early 20th century Brooklyn, follows a multitude of characters each playing an important role in the upbringing of the protagonist Francie Nolan. The novel depicts images of poverty and loss, paralleled with great successes and joys, as the Nolan family pursues the age old American Dream. It provides a rather slow paced but uniquely genuine glimpse of one family’s life and the beauty of the story seems to lie in the simplicity itself. One could almost transport the family into any ear and still understand their struggles.

Occasionally hard to follow, due to the sheer number of characters, Smith weaves interesting anecdotes into the larger plot line of Francie’s story as desperately seeks an education, in spite of the challenges that holds. Despite her being an adolescent girl, Francie’s character holds an allure and something particularly relatable to people across ages and genders for any avid book lover and lifelong learner.

The novel captures a vivid and real depiction of an average family, living in New York, trying to survive the impoverished society while still appreciating what is beautiful about the lives they lead. As many before them have, new readers will fall in love with Smith’s protagonist, Francie, as they experience with her the difficulties of growing up, looking for love, and finding her place in the world.