A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Chapter 16-20 summaries
By: Staffon Audain
Chapter 16: This chapter describes the neighborhood that Francie will grow up in. There are multiple stores mentioned in this chapter, a cigar store, a bakery, and a paint shop. The pawnshop is Francie's favorite store because of the three gold balls hanging outside the shop. There is also a tea, coffee, and spice shop with a pair of scales that Francie likes. The other place mentioned is a Chinese Laundromat where Johnny takes his clothes .
Chapter 17: This chapter shows that Katie strongly wishes to learn how to play the piano. The Tynmore sisters live on the first floor of the same building as the Nolan’s. One gives piano lessons, and the other gives voice lessons. So Katie trades cleaning services to Lizzie Tynmore for piano lessons.
Chapter 18: Neeley and Francie were making mud pies, and they go to a clinic to be vaccinated against smallpox looking very dirty. The doctor sees the dirt on Francie and begins insulting the poor, he calls them filthy and not even capable of using soap and water. Francie is very ashamed and hurt by the insults. When her vaccination is finished, she tells the doctor not to repeat the insults for her little brother. After the vaccination, Francie's arm gets infected. Katie told the children that if they scratch the spot where the needle was injected the wound would become infected and their arms might turn black and fall off. Francie doesn’t go to sleep with the fear that she will die. When Johnny comes home, he cleans the wound and re-bandages it, this makes Francie feel better, her arm is alot better in the morning.
Chapter 19: even Francie was looking forward to school she realized right away that she will never be the teacher's pet. The teacher likes only the rich children, who come to class in fancy clothing. The poor children, are forced to sit in the back of the classroom. The bullies control the recesses and dont allow the poor children to...