Great American Read: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Next date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM

The United States is turning 250 years old in July, and we are celebrating with a special book club highlighting American classics, new and old, in literature. March's pick: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a semi-autobiographical novel by Betty Smith that follows the life of Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in a poor family in early 20th-century Brooklyn, highlighting themes of resilience, education, and the struggle for a better life.

First published in 1943, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century.

March: “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith

April: “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

May: “There There” by Tommy Orange

June: “Laughing Boy” by Oliver La Farge

July: “Charlotte's Web” by E.B. White

When

Location

Program Room at Red Mountain Library

Mesa Public Library, 635 N. Power Road, 85205, View Map