When they were children, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus, and Dave Boyle were friends. But then a strange car pulled up to their street. One boy got into the car, two did not, and something terrible happened -- something that ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever. Twenty-five years later, Sean is a homicide detective. Jimmy is an ex-con who owns a corner store. And Dave is trying to hold his marriage together and keep his demons at bay...

"In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his crazy-about-sports family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and she loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister, Gen, is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just stop being so different so he can concentrate...

A boy and a robot strike up a friendship despite their differences.

While preparing for a unit on storytelling, the mermaids of Trident Academy learn of a legendary pirate treasure in their own city and Pearl decides to find it, despite a warning that it is guarded by a ghost.

"[M]eet Louis, a young boy who shuttles between his alcoholic dad and his worried mom, and who, with the help of his best friend, tries to summon up the courage to speak to his true love, Billie"--Provided by publisher.

"When Ripley comes across an abandoned egg, she's determined to take care of it until the parent comes back. Unfortunately, her plan is quickly foiled by egg poachers, who steal the egg for their own collection"--Provided by publisher.

"Fifth-grader Timminy, who's small for his age and new in town, isn't eager to start middle school--but he gets a great consolation prize in Maxi, a big, deaf, lovable dog"--