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05-17-2002, 12:49 AM
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I'd heard of Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn many times, including a review by dramastef on Epinions. Somehow, I had the idea that it was a children's book.
It isn't.
Or perhaps some people would say it is, but I would say it isn't.
I can't figure out where I got the impression that it was for children. Am I absolutely nuts, or is it perhaps marketed toward children?
(I enjoyed the book, by the way. It isn't what I would call well-written, but it's fascinating.)
Julie |
05-17-2002, 03:06 AM
|  | Gravitas! | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: New Orleans, La. U.S.A.
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I think it originally was intended as an adult book, but was commandered by teachers because the main character was a child/young adult.
I personally loved the book. I completely relate to Francie Nolan. |
05-17-2002, 11:05 AM
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It's one of my favorite books. The movie was ok, but nowhere near as good.
Amy
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05-17-2002, 01:28 PM
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Y'know, I just re-read this, and I'm wondering the same thing about it's marketing.
The first time I read this, it was given to me by my 5th grade teacher. I liked it--I too empathize with Francie quite a bit--but I didn't really get it. When I finished it recently, I loved it. As a matter of fact, I bought my most recent copy from the children/young adult section of the bookstore.
But it's most certainly not a children's book.
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05-17-2002, 01:33 PM
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I read it when I was 12, and do think that it's suitable for young teens; however it is a book that adults will enjoy as well.
I honestly believe that "children's books" have been dummied down quite a bit since I was a kid. It's sad to see how they have taken some of the old classic kids books and revised them to use easier words.
Amy
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05-17-2002, 04:26 PM
| | Fallen angel & loving it! | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hell, MI
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Quote: Originally posted by amykhar
I honestly believe that "children's books" have been dummied down quite a bit since I was a kid. | That means you probably haven't read the His Dark Materials trilogy yet . . .
. . . i can't think of any YA tale from the good ole Wiz o' Oz days that got away sincerely portraying God like Philip Pullman pulled off ( Screwtape Letters didn't really mean it) in the trilogy . . . 
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05-18-2002, 12:10 AM
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Quote: Originally posted by amykhar
I honestly believe that "children's books" have been dummied down quite a bit since I was a kid. It's sad to see how they have taken some of the old classic kids books and revised them to use easier words. | It isn't the vocabulary that I wonder about; it's the subject matter.
Alcoholism, starvation, bigamy, sexual molestation, murder, and condom jokes don't make up the subject matter of many children's books. I don't think the writing is above the heads of most kids, really. I didn't find Smith's style to be difficult at all, though I occasionally found it irritating.
The book is refreshing, and interesting, but I still wouldn't call it a children's book.
I guess I wouldn't call Pullman's novels children's books, either. I would have had nightmares over the daemon separation scenes as a child.
Julie |
05-18-2002, 02:25 AM
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I think the books might fit better in the young adult category.
But, remember, before Children's Lit became common, all kids did have to read were adult books. | |
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