# Books like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

**10** books similar to *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* by Betty Smith (Literary Fiction · grades 9–12), matched on shared themes, genre, and reading level. Every pick is grade-appropriate (a reading-level match, not just a topical one) and links to where it is assigned in US schools.

**Themes:** poverty, coming of age, education, family, immigrant life
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/similar/a-tree-grows-in-brooklyn
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Similar books

- [Black Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/black-boy) by Richard Wright _(950L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of poverty and education and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [Purple Hibiscus](https://readinglist.school/book/purple-hibiscus) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie _(920L · Grades 10–12)_ — Shares themes of coming of age and family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (10–12).
- [The Color Purple](https://readinglist.school/book/the-color-purple) by Alice Walker _(670L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of poverty and family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [The Secret Life of Bees](https://readinglist.school/book/the-secret-life-of-bees) by Sue Monk Kidd _(840L · Grades 9–11)_ — Shares themes of coming of age and family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–11).
- [A Lesson Before Dying](https://readinglist.school/book/a-lesson-before-dying) by Ernest J. Gaines _(750L · Grades 8–12)_ — Shares themes of education, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (8–12).
- [Bless Me, Ultima](https://readinglist.school/book/bless-me-ultima) by Rudolfo Anaya _(840L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of coming of age, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [The Bluest Eye](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bluest-eye) by Toni Morrison _(920L · Grades 11–12)_ — Shares themes of poverty, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (11–12).
- [The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time](https://readinglist.school/book/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time) by Mark Haddon _(1090L · Grades 8–12)_ — Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (8–12).
- [The Joy Luck Club](https://readinglist.school/book/the-joy-luck-club) by Amy Tan _(930L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [The Poet X](https://readinglist.school/book/the-poet-x) by Elizabeth Acevedo _(800L · Grades 8–12)_ — Shares themes of coming of age and family and overlapping grades (8–12).

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