T.K. and his family moved from Oklahoma to California because a big dust storm in April of 1935 ruined their farm. Their life is hard as the whole family picks crops for a living and they live in a tent. When a photographer comes to their camp to take pictures of the workers, T.K. decides he wants to have his picture taken so the photographer can tell his story.
Isabel is worried about her friend Derrick because his big brother, Andy, is a bully. He yells at Derrick and makes him do things that sometimes get Derrick hurt. One day, Andy tries to convince Isabel, Derrick, and their friend Grace to sneak into the closed pool to swim alone. Isabel decides that it's time for someone to stand up to Andy.
Isabel's uncle, Arturo, flies into Cincinnati from Mexico City to play violin with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and to visit Isabel's family. Throughout the visit, Isabel works hard to teach her uncle English, however, it seems difficult for him. Isabel feels like he isn't really trying to learn the language. When the day of his performance comes, Isabel is amazed and impressed to find out that he is the featured performer. Later Isabel asks him to give her a violin lesson. He agrees, and Isabel finds out what it is like to try to learn something that is difficult, just as learning English is for Arturo.
After Mr. Harada's wife passes away, Tony and Brandon, two boys who live in his apartment building, decide to cheer him up by ordering a Japanese vegetable that he misses being able to buy. Mr. Harada is so thrilled with the gift that it inspires the idea to plant a whole garden in a nearby vacant lot. Mr. Harada, the boys, and other friends from the building start the garden with gusto. However, someone is littering the garden and leaving hateful graffiti every night. The boys figure out that it is Keith, Mr. Harada's neighbor. Keith stops doing the damage when he is given his own plot of land in the community garden.
Three friends are playing with Peg. When Billy decides to explore her neighbor's garden, Peg feels uncomfortable. When Billy starts eating a tomato, Peg thinks it is not right but doesn't say anything. Donald gives Peg courage to speak up when he says the tomatoes don't belong to them.
Betty likes to race soapbox cars with her friend Cecil. The problem is that it's 1919, and girls aren't supposed to do things like race soapbox cars. However, Betty's mother, who is a feminist fighting for women's right to vote, has taught her that females should have the same rights as men--including the right to race soapbox cars.
Aleesha is a very imaginative girl, so she is excited when her school assignment is to create or rewrite a fairy tale. On her way home from the library, she discovers a secret path. The path leads Aleesha into an enchanting land filled with fairy tale characters. At first, Aleesha is not sure whether she is dreaming or whether she has stumbled into once-upon-a-time land.
Captain Holden's new job as the keeper of a lightship is exciting yet dangerous. He and his crew must remain at sea during bad weather conditions to direct passing ships away from the treacherous coast. Sarah, the captain's young daughter, proposes the idea that the family join the captain at sea. Though he is reluctant to bring his family aboard, his wife convinces him to agree to the arrangement. For a number of years, the family and crew make the lightship their home. After a gigantic storm destroys the lightship, however, their tour of duty is brought to an abrupt end.
Rion is a boy who lives in a futuristic world. After Rion enters an art contest, he begins drawing a simple black-and-white sketch of a landscape. When he realizes that his competitors - some of whom are enhanced humans - have created elaborate pieces of art that utilize the latest technology, Rion sets out to make the most spectacular artwork anyone has ever seen. In his overwhelming desire to win the contest, Rion learns an important lesson about dreams and goals.
Rhett Mason, a high school track star, tragically loses his leg in a snowmobiling accident. He believes his life as an athlete is over. After meeting other teens who are in training for the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, Rhett realizes that he may still have a future in athletics. After being fitted for a prosthesis, Brett becomes a runner again. Eventually he makes it to the Beijing Paralympics and brings home the gold medal for his country.
Jack is a very talented video game player, yet he feels lonely at school because he doesn't have many friends. When Jack wins a video gaming competition, his classmates seem to take more of an interest in him. Then after losing a competition, Jack discovers something about his classmates that he didn't realize.
Fourteen-year-old Adam Carter and his parents were chosen to be one of the first families to settle the new Moon Colony. Adam hates everything about the moon until he becomes friends with other children from different parts of Earth that have also settled there. As the children become friends, friendship and cooperation between the adults are strained. After the adults split into opposite camps, Adam and his friends come up with a plan to keep hope alive.
