ement-like sour earth out of which nothing could possibly grow."
             Even though the Nolans are poor money-wise, they are so rich in heart. The Nolans never complain, and they never accept charity. They have pride for who they are, where they have come from, and what they will be in the future. They do everything on their own, because they want to, and they know it will come back to them as a reward later on in their lives. This book reminds you of how working hard really does pay off.
             A Tree Grows In Brooklyn has one main character, and her name is Francie Nolan. She is a young girl, full of happiness, spunk, and confidence, yet she has a polite and decisive attitude.
             Because she has confidence, if Francie wants something, she usually knows how to get it. She does that by being firm yet not assertive. Kids tease her at school, but she acts like it doesn't hurt or affect the way she carries herself. But like any other little girl, at some point it has got to hurt, but in my opinion, that only makes her stronger, and in her own subtle little way, she gets back at them.
             I think that Francie gets her confidence from her mother and her spunk and happiness from her father. Katie, Francie's mother is a very confident woman, and she knows how to get her way. Her father is just bursting with happiness (most of the time) and always full of spunk. He is the kind of guy who looks at the glass half full most of the time, instead of being a pessimist.
             Katie's confidence has rubbed off on little ten-year-old Francie and she is trying to negotiate with the butcher. She will get her way – even if it means having the butcher getting mad at her.
             " Francie started the negotiations.
             'Ten cents worth of round steak please.'
             'Lady was just in. Bought a quarter's worth of round ground steak. Only I ground too much and here's the rest on the plate. Just ten cents worth. ...