When her family moves to a new neighborhood, Heather meets ten-year-old Lizzie Logan, whose brash and bossy ways make Heather wonder if they can ever be friends.
In 1953 nine-year-old Sam moves with his mother from West Virginia to Brooklyn and finds that his grandfather, a well-liked neighborhood character nicknamed Bugsy, does not seem to want him in his life.
Bored because there is nothing to do in the house to which his family has just moved and worried about starting third grade in a new school, Stuart makes a magical cape out of his uncle's ties and has a series of adventures.
In her new journal, Jorah records her feelings about having to move, going to a new school, celebrating her birthday, learning the meaning of her name, and finding a friend.