Betty Smith (1943)
Came across this book quite by accident when I was in the kids section of the library looking for Lemony Snicket books. I recalled two things: one, that this book is on the list of 100 Greatest Books of the last century, put out by the Librarians Association, and two, that I’d seen the movie adaptation many years ago. I was curious about the book on both accounts and checked it out.
I wasn’t disappointed. Coming off of a couple of books where I was really in the mood for a plot-driven story, it took me a while to switch gears and adjust to a more slice-of-life structure. As it went on, a dramatic story arc developed and in the end, it left me with two strong female characters that I continue to think about.
2 Things @ Once 
Fabulous book–not just for kids.