Ann M. Martin

In parallel stories, Bone, an orphaned dog, finds and loses a series of homes, Molly, a family pet, helps Charlie through the grief and other after-effects of his brother's death, and lonely Henry pleads for a dog of his own.

In 1963, when her flamboyant mother abandons the family to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, eleven-year-old Ellie Dingman takes charge of her younger siblings, while also trying to deal with her outcast status in school and frightening acts of prejudice toward the "misfits" that live on her street.

Kristy's new baby-sitting charge is autistic and she wants to show everyone that Susan is a "regular" kid.

Karen's favorite teacher is getting married and Karen is going to be the flower girl, but she was asked before Ms. Coleman's niece arrives. Karen wonders if she will still get to walk down the aisle.

Flora and Ruby are beginning to adjust to Camden Falls, but they and their friends have problems and hope their friendship will give them the strength to work things out.

Karen has a great time at her mommy's family reunion where she meets her cousin Diana for the first time and together they discover a hidden, magical garden.

Karen might be the best junior speller in the state of Connecticut. She is even going to be on TV, but her friends think she is a show-off.

It is obvious Claudia is very different from her sister Janine, but when she can hardly find any baby pictures of herself and no birth certificate, she begins to wonder--is she adopted?

When Karen's best baby doll is in an accident, Karen is crushed. But her dad knows a man who can fix the doll. Now Karen has a new idea--she is going to start a doll hospital.

Jessi's Aunt Cecelia is moving in to take care of her and her brother and sister. Jessi knows she is old enough to take care of herself--but how can she tell that to her aunt?--Cover.