Katie is Francie’s mother. Like all the women in the Rommely family, Katie comes from a family of strong women. She is the fourth of Mary Rommely’s four daughters. When she needs to accomplish something, Katie always finds the strength to succeed. She quickly realizes after Francie’s birth that her […]
Read more Character Analysis Katie Rommely NolanCharacter Analysis Francie Nolan
Mary Francis Nolan is the central character, the protagonist, in this coming-of-age novel. Unlike most of the other children who live in her neighborhood, whose parents are recent immigrants, Francie is a second-generation American. She was named after the fiancee of her father’s dead brother, Andy, whose name was Francis. […]
Read more Character Analysis Francie NolanSummary and Analysis Book 6: Chapters 55–56
Summary Chapter 55: Francie passed her college entrance exams with Ben’s help, and as soon as her mother is married, she will be leaving Brooklyn to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Ben chose the college because he believes that leaving home is an important part of maturing […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 6: Chapters 55–56Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 52–54
Summary Chapter 52: Francie meets a young soldier, Lee Rhynor, who is about to ship overseas to the war. She likes both his smile and his honesty and agrees to go out alone with him, even though he is engaged to a girl back home. They go out to dinner, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 52–54Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 49–51
Summary Chapter 49: Francie loves college. A boy that she met in the bookstore, Ben Blake, helps her acclimate to her classes. He is only a senior in high school, but this is his third summer taking college courses. Ben helps Francie study for her final exam in French, which […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 49–51Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 46–48
Summary Chapter 46: On New Year’s Eve, Francie is convinced that the coming year, 1917, will be an important one. McGarrity has given the family a bottle of brandy, and Katie prepares a punch with the brandy. She is worried that the children might have inherited Johnny’s love of drink, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 46–48Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 43–45
Summary Chapter 43: During the summer after graduation, Francie and Neeley both get jobs. Francie begins to work at a factory, where she makes tissue flowers all day. At the end of their week working, Francie and Neeley stop at the bank to change their wages into brand-new dollar bills. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapters 43–45Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 40–42
Summary Chapter 40: As Katie nears the time for her new baby’s birth, she relies upon Francie for help. Although Francie has long known that Katie does not love her as much as she loves Neeley, Francie now feels closer to her mother because she needs her help. When Katie […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 40–42Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 37–39
Summary Chapter 37: Johnny’s death is very hard on Francie and Neeley. Although Francie continues to attend church with her mother, she tells Neeley that she no longer believes in God. Katie says that the family needs to return to their usual customs, so that night, they will read a […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 37–39Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 34–36
Summary Chapter 34: In spite of all the babies who have died, Sissy still wants a baby. She learns of a young girl, Lucia, who is unmarried and pregnant. Lucia’s father has locked her in her room and is giving her only bread and water. Sissy visits the family one […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 34–36