A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Characters

Our Sensitive, Observant LeaderEven though A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is written in the third person, it definitely feels like the narrator is an older and wiser Francie much of the time. Because of...

What a strong character we have in Katie Nolan. When you think of Katie, words like determined, hard-working, capable, creative, proud, and honest might come to mind. The moment Katie becomes a mot...

Meet Johnny, but be careful or you just might develop a little crush on him. What’s not to like? He’s easy to talk to and super charming, in addition to being easy on the eyes and knowing how t...

Sissy is by far the kindest and most compassionate of all the characters in the novel, and the person everyone calls when they have a problem. Sissy comforts Johnny much like a mother comforts her...

Neeley is born only one year after Francie, so they go through most of their young lives side-by-side. Mama even holds Francie back a year so that both her children can go to school together and pr...

Sissy’s third husband is really named Steve, but we don’t learn that until very close to the end of the novel. As a general rule Sissy has him wrapped around her finger, but he puts his foot do...

Mary Rommely is Katie’s saintly mother, a sweet woman who is deeply religious and deeply compassionate to all people. She believes that the way to a better life is through education and land owne...

Thomas Rommely is Mary’s husband and Katie’s father. There's really no nice way of putting it: the guy's a miserable jerk. An Austrian immigrant who left his homeland to avoid army service, his...

Evy is the third Rommely daughter. She marries Willy Flittman when she is very young, and together they have three children: Willy, Paul Jones, and Blossom. Francie thinks Evy is very funny and tel...

Willie Flittman is married to Evy, and we don’t learn too much about him other than that he really hates his work horse, Drummer, and he constantly feels sorry for himself. To make himself feel b...

Francie first meets McShane when she is at the Democratic Party re-election carnival. He notices that she doesn’t have any tickets for food, so he gives her some and inquires about her Mama. Imme...

Dr. FraberDr. Fraber is the dentist who owns the lovely horse, wagon, and stable next door to Francie’s tenement building. The stable is the most beautiful structure in all of Williamsburg.FrankF...