Which of the following is a universal theme that applies to the novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith?

The novel follows Francie Nolan as she grows up and learns about family, hardship, and her place in the world. “Childhood is a time to learn life lessons” applies broadly to her experiences and can apply to people beyond the story. The other choices make claims about love, losing oneself, or breaking rules that are not central universal themes of the novel.

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