A Tree Grows in Brooklyn American Classics Edition: A Special Edition of the Coming-of-Age Novel

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick

“One of the most cherished of American novels. . . . It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn’t think we had.” ― New York Times

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, HarperCollins is proud to present this library of American classics drawn from our storied catalog. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is Betty's Smith's beloved novel about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the twentieth century, growing up in the slums of immigrant New York, fortified by the love of her family and her own hunger to learn.

From the moment she entered the world, Francie Nolan needed to be made of stern stuff, for growing up in the Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her Irish Catholic's family’s erratic and eccentric behavior―such as her father Johnny’s taste for alcohol and her Aunt Sissy’s habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce―no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolan's life lacked drama.

By turns heartbreaking and uplifting, the Nolan's daily experiences are raw with honestly and tenderly threaded with family connectedness. Betty Smith details the joys and sorrows of a humble immigrant American life, creating a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as deeply resonant moments of universal experience. Here is an American classic that "cuts right to the heart of life," hails the New York Times. "If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, you will deny yourself a rich experience."

A BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE WITH FLAPS: Featuring French flaps and a unique vivid cover design, each book in the collection is published as a deluxe trade paperback that is a part of a stunning series look.
HARPER COLLINS AMERICAN CLASSICS: This series includes timeless novels, poetry, children’s books, and groundbreaking nonfiction that has shaped American thought, literature, and identity across generations.
AMERICA’S PUBLISHER: Since its founding in 1817, no American publisher has been so entwined in the history of American letters. Our books enrich, challenge, and defined the American spirit.
AMERICA 250: The HarperCollins American Classics arrive in time for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Betty Smith (1896–1972) was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Her novels A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Tomorrow Will Be Better, Joy in the Morning, and Maggie-Now continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers worldwide.

“A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life. . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience.” - New York Times

“One of the books of the century.” - New York Public Library

“Betty Smith was a born storyteller.” - USA Today

“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves to be thought of as one of the greatest American novels.” - The New Yorker

“One of the most cherished of American novels….It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn’t think we had.” - New York Times

“A poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships....[Smith’s] book has light and air in it, comedy and pathos, and an underlying rhythm pulsing to the surge and flow of humanity itself. No matter what happens to the Nolans, they never lose their awareness of the sweetness and wonder of life.” - Orville Prescott, New York Times

"The quintessential New York immigrant novel, which underscored the power of education." - Min Jin Lee, The New York Times

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a poignant, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel that captures the struggles and triumphs of an impoverished Irish-American family in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn in the early twentieth century. At the heart of the story is the "Tree of Heaven," a resilient plant that grows out of the cement, thriving despite the lack of soil, sunlight, or care. This tree serves as a profound metaphor for the novel's protagonist, Francie Nolan, and her family, symbolizing their remarkable ability to survive and flourish in an environment plagued by extreme poverty. Through Francie’s observant and sensitive eyes, Smith crafts a deeply moving narrative about resilience, the loss of innocence, and the transformative power of education.

The story closely follows the Nolan family, anchored by Francie’s parents, Katie and Johnny. Katie is a pragmatic, fiercely determined mother who scrubs floors as a janitress to secure free rent and keep her children fed. She is hardened by her difficult circumstances but is driven by a powerful belief instilled by her immigrant mother: that education is the absolute only way out of the slums. In stark contrast to Katie’s realism is Francie’s father, Johnny. He is a charming, handsome, and deeply loving man who works sporadically as a singing waiter. However, he is also a crippling alcoholic who frequently drinks away the family's meager earnings. Despite his flaws, Johnny is a dreamer who brings warmth, music, and imagination into Francie’s life. Francie idolizes him, sharing his romantic disposition, while her younger brother, Neely, favors Katie’s practical and grounded nature.

Francie’s childhood is defined by the stark, everyday realities of tenement living. She and Neely spend their Saturdays collecting scrap metal, rags, and paper to sell to the junkman for pennies, which are quickly turned over to their mother to help buy stale bread or condensed milk. Yet, Francie’s world is not entirely bleak; she finds solace and a profound escape from her grim surroundings at the local public library. She embarks on a personal mission to read every book in the library in alphabetical order, finding absolute refuge in the worlds created by words. Books become her sanctuary and her greatest teacher, feeding her vivid imagination and providing a stark contrast to the gritty streets of Williamsburg. Through her extensive reading, Francie begins to understand the broader world and recognize the stark class divisions that exist even within her own community.

Recognizing that her neighborhood school is underfunded and abusive, Francie takes her education into her own hands. She discovers a beautiful, well-kept school in a wealthier neighborhood and, with Johnny's help in forging an address, manages to transfer there. This marks a turning point in her life, exposing her to different ways of living and thinking. However, the family's fragile stability completely shatters when Johnny’s alcoholism finally consumes him. He succumbs to illness and passes away just before Christmas, leaving Katie pregnant with their third child. Johnny's death is a devastating blow, forcing Francie to mature rapidly. The family faces starvation, but Katie’s unyielding resolve and the support of her vibrant, rule-breaking sister, Aunt Sissy, help them survive the darkest winter of their lives. The birth of baby Annie Laurie brings new hope, but the severe financial strain dictates that both Francie and Neely must go to work instead of attending high school.

Despite the heartbreak of having to put her formal education on hold, Francie’s determination remains unbroken. She finds work reading newspaper clippings and later secures a well-paying job in a communications office, effectively becoming the primary breadwinner for the family. Because she cannot attend day school, she enrolls in summer college courses, proving her intellect and relentless drive. As Francie transitions from a wide-eyed girl into a capable, independent young woman, the family's fortunes slowly begin to turn. Katie catches the eye of Sergeant McShane, a kind, retired police officer who has long admired her strength. His eventual proposal offers Katie the financial security and peaceful life she has been denied for so long, ensuring that Neely and the new baby will not have to endure the same brutal deprivations Francie faced.

The novel concludes with Francie preparing to leave Brooklyn to attend the University of Michigan, a monumental achievement that fulfills her family's long-held dream. Before she departs, she looks out at the Tree of Heaven in the tenement yard. Though it had been chopped down, a new branch has sprouted from the stump, growing just as defiantly as before. Francie realizes that she, too, has been irrevocably shaped by her harsh beginnings but has survived and grown stronger because of them. Since you love the immense convenience of digital reading and carrying a massive personal library with you, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is an essential classic to add to your collection. Whether you find a free public domain version online or download it to your Kindle or Google Books app, reading this digitally will allow you to easily search for and highlight Francie’s beautiful, timeless observations on life, keeping her inspiring resilience right at your fingertips.