“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”, written by Betty Smith, is a book that talks about growing and learning. The story takes place in Brooklyn, New York; it is about how a girl grows up in a gutter whose name is Francie Nolan. Her childhood is full of hardship: mom favors her brother. In addition, her dear dad died at a young age. Moreover, she is born in a poor family; she is also despised in the school. However, she is like the “The Tree of Heaven”, toughly growing in the gutter. In my opinion, the major theme of this book is learning through growing. She learned many things such as creativity and toughness. Toughness makes people stronger and prepares people for the obstacles in their lives. Francie learns from parents and mimics what they do. When a child is growing, he will absorb everything his parents have. Francie learned toughness from her mom. Francie first shows her toughness when she was born. Many people think she is too weak to survive, but Katie fells like she is like the Tree of Heaven. “Francie wasn't much of a baby. She was skinny and had a blue look and didn't thrive. Katie nursed her doggedly although the neighbor women told her that her milk was bad for the child” (92). This toughness let her exceed forefathers: grandmother is not capable of reading; mom only finished her education at elementary school level, but Francie is going to the college. Her toughness lets her overcome difficulties and achieve the American dream. Francie learned imagination from her grandmother. “‘Because,’ explained Mary Rommely simply, ‘the child must have a valuable thing which is called imagination. The child must have a secret world in which live things that never were. It is necessary that she believe. She must start out by believing in things not of this world. Then when the world becomes too ugly for living in, the child can reach back and live in her imagination.’”(72). Imagination made her life much easier. Her t