While visiting her grandmother in California, seventeen-year-old Catherine comes in contact with a mysterious stranger who says he can help her contact a friend who died in a car crash for which Catherine feels responsible.
Twelve-year-old Kevin, who is traveling with his grandmother on a sightseeing trip to different national parks and monuments, suspects that a man in his tour group might be carrying a bomb.
Eight-year old Alex is determined to keep the toy mouse he finds tied to a balloon, even after posters appear asking for its return, but when his dog Patch disappears, Alex discovers what it is like to lose something you love more than anything.
Searching for treasure hidden by an eighteenth-century highwayman in northern Ireland, Kevin uncovers a clue, receives warnings to search no further, and brushes with the IRA.
At his own "just-about" birthday party, Little Badger discovers that his friends have birthdays at just about the same time as his and thoughtfully figures out how everyone can celebrate their "just-about" birthdays and go home with a special present.