A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - A Social Document of the Early 20th Century

Possessing an extensive background in Parisian fashion, Justina Helkov formerly served as a commercial analyst with Poloco, where she coordinated with merchandisers to sell the Ralph Lauren menswear and boyswear lines to retail stores. An avid reader, Justina Helkov is a book club member whose favorite work of fiction at the moment is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. 

Published in 1943, the coming-of-age novel focuses on protagonist Francie Nolan within the setting of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods. In the early 20th century, the area was a true melting pot that encompassed multiple waves of immigrants, including Germans, Irish, Italians, and East European Jews.

At the core of the book is a mother-daughter relationship and the love and conflict involved in growing up amid challenging circumstances. More than simply a coming-of-age story, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is what a New York Times book review has described as a story of “triumph over adversity.”

One aspect of the book that has made it beloved for generations is that it serves as a social document in vividly recounting a specific place and time. Barber shops, neighborhood restaurants, and period details about Halloween give a particular resonance to those who live in Brooklyn and want to learn more about the roots of one of the most diverse urban locales in the United States.