Feeling isolated as the only African-American in her sixth grade class, Jessi gains a sense of belonging by participating in the Baby-sitters Club, learning sign language in order to communicate with a deaf child, and dancing in a ballet.
When a fight breaks out among the members of the Babysitters Club, timid Mary Anne finds herself becoming more assertive as a baby sitter and in her relationships with her father and friends.
A stray puppy named Squirrel relates her life story, beginning with her nurturing mother; providing details of her experiences with both nice and mean humans, busy highways, and the seasons; and ending with her meeting two friends.
No one seems to understand how hard it is for Claudia to do well in English class except for Shea Rodowsky, who has a learning problem. Together Claudia and Shea are going to show the teachers how smart they really are.
Flora and Ruby trouble their friends and grandmother when their friendship falters and they begin to fight constantly, but the sisters will need help to learn how to stay together while they grow up.
Belle Teal Harper's entrance into fifth-grade in the early 1960s brings many changes and challenges as her Gran's memory begins to slip, her mom spends long hours away at work, and her class gets two new students, including an African-American boy.
