After Emma stands up for EllRay Jakes, the school bully, Jared Matthews, sets his sights on her. To make matters worse, EllRay isn't too happy about being rescued by a girl.
While trying to start new friendships in the first grade, six-year-old Lily gets in trouble with her teacher, but she soon discovers that it is possible to start over again after making a mistake.
Twelve-year-old Janey tries to adjust in the aftermath of an automobile accident that kills her parents, severely injures her face, and forces her and her younger sister to move from Arizona to California to live with their grandfather and great-aunt.
Third-grader Emma's peaceful life as an only child is disrupted when she has to temporarily share her tidy bedroom with four-year-old Anthony Scarpetto, a bona fide "pain in the patootie.".
Third grader EllRay is faced with a problem when his plan to bring his dad's crystals to school in order to impress his classmates does not go accordingly.
Eight-year-old EllRay Jakes's attempts to defend himself against the class bully always end up getting him in trouble, but he promises to do his best when his dad offers to take him to Disneyland if he can be good for an entire week--which may be a few days too long.
