A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This is an easy book to read. What I really liked about this book was how you don't have to let your situation in life control you. You can become a better person for it. You can overcome your obstacles. You can rise above your past and live the American Dream. There are people today who just accept where they are and don't even try to do what it takes to live better. Francie, the main character, knows what she wants in life and she works toward her goals. Her mother does the best she can and supports Francie. Each generation helps the next become better, do better, and live better than the one before. This is what I believe is the American Dream.