A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Dreams, Hopes, and Plans Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

Francie thought that all the books in the world were in that library and she had a plan about reading all the books in the world. She was reading a book a day in alphabetical order and not skipping the dry ones. (2.1)

Our girl has big plans. Not only does she have big plans though, she does what many people don’t do… she starts moving in their general direction. She’s on it.

Quote #2

A head pain caught her between the eyes at the taking in of such a wonderful sight. It was something to be remembered all of her life. “When I get big,” she thought, “I will have such a brown bowl and in hot August there will be nasturtiums in it […] Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I’ll have a desk like this in my parlor and white walls and a clean green blotter every Saturday night and a row of shining yellow pencils always sharpened for writing and a golden-brown bowl with a flower or some leaves or berries always in it and books… books… books…” (2.4-7)

This girl knows what she wants, and what she wants is all things library inspired. Hey, we are all different, right? Her vision of what she wants and doesn’t want in her future home is very clear—especially for an eleven year old. That’s cool.

Quote #3

“If I get a lot of tips tonight, I’ll put the money on a good horse that I know is running Monday. I’ll put a couple of dollars on him and win ten. Then I’ll put the ten on another horse I know and win a hundred. If I use my head and have any kind of luck at all, I’ll run it up to five hundred”

Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything you talked about could come true! He went on talking. (3.46-47)

Francie’s dreams are in stark contrast to her papa’s dreams. Papa’s dreams are just pretty thoughts. Even as he says it, he knows he is full of… um, hot air… is the nicer way of saying it.