Middle schoolers Timothy Murphy and Jessamyn Hazard careen downhill on a sailboat which was being towed through Manhattan and fall into the sewers, where they meet interesting characters before being caught by the evil "queen" of this underground society.
Readers learn to apply critical thinking skills to distinguish between facts and opinions in arguments about society's attitude toward the homeless and the best way to help them.
As she starts middle school, Bess volunteers to work on the school musical in hopes of fitting in, but when she and a friend get to know an elderly homeless woman, Bess changes her mind about what is really important.
Fleeing from a cruel step-father, eleven-year-old Robin takes his baby brother and finds shelter with street boys living in a church in a tenement area of New York City.
Eric lacks the courage to end his association with troublemaker Marty, even when Marty abuses a homeless jazz musician and instigates other serious pranks.
