Eleven-year-old Lacey rediscovers life and the soothing power of nature and art after she, her little sister, and mom escape from their controlling and abusive father.

When an inkblot, who can write, listen, learn, and draw, jumps out of Mr. Rylance's sketchbook, Ethan believes he may be the answer to their problems and names him Inkling.

"Twelve-year-old Clea wants to do her homework, follow instructions, pay attention in school, and play chess on the school team, but somehow she cannot focus on whatever is in front of her, and the other kids at school are starting to notice and make fun of her; when her worried parents take her to be tested she finds out that she has ADHD (only without the hyperactivity)--and with help from the psychiatrist who seems to really understand her, she...

When Pa Peachey comes home in a happy-go-lucky mood--and singing!--the family is concerned. Pa has never not been grumpy after work! But when Ma and siblings Ava and Ollie learn that Pa has gotten a new job--which means moving to an appealing new house--they are all pretty quick to get on board. Even McTavish the dog is excited to make a canine pal in the new park nearby. Only the youngest sibling, Betty, remains out of sorts--nervous about changing...

Abbie Wu is FRAZZLED as she navigates locker thieves, diabolical cats, and other hazards of middle school. Things are looking up for Abbie Wu: this year she'll run for class president and get a brand-new shiny locker. Until--she doesn't...Not only does she discover that her locker has been hijacked by a complete stranger, but it turns out the culprit also happens to be her new science partner. To make matters worse, there's an addition to the Wu family--a...

"Following a tragedy that further alters the course of her life, twelve-year-old Lucy Everhart decides to continue the shark research her marine biologist mother left unfinished when she died years earlier"--

Fourth-graders Maisie and Hank, who has autism, become friends as they devise schemes to save a neighbor's dog, Booler, from being tied to a tree because of his epilepsy.

Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen -- he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live. Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping...

"Lu knows he can lead Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and the team to victory at the championships, but it might not be as easy as it seems. Suddenly, there are hurdles in Lu's way--literally and not-so-literally--and Lu needs to figure out, fast, what winning the gold really means"--

"Thirteen-year-old Patricia, widely known as Sweet Pea, navigates her parents' unconventional divorce and finds herself in the unlikely role of her town's advice columnist"--