In the shadow of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, eighth-graders and new neighbors Bird Mallon and Thomas Neary make some decisions about what they want to do with their lives.

Luke is unhappy about leaving his home and abuelo when his father takes a job at a New York zoo, but soon he has new friends and a mystery to solve. Includes facts about zoo animals and wildlife.

March is the worst month for Richard Best, it's report card time and if he doesn't get good grades he might be left back again.

Sarah is too embarrassed to speak Spanish in front of her friends at the Columbus Day party until Anna's cousin from Colombia explains her own secret fear.

Drummer Willie Roberts dreams of a perfect Thanksgiving which would have the Lincoln Lions Band in new uniforms playing on the football field and his long-absent father in the stands.

166 PAGES. $10.40. WHO'S BEEN IN SO MANY FOSTER HOMES SHE CAN HARDLY REMEMBER THEM ALL. HOLLIS WOODS IS A MOUNTAIN OF TROUBLE. SHE RUNS AWAY EVEN FROM THE REGANS, THE ONE FAMILY WHO OFFERS HER A HOME. WHEN HOLLIS SENT TO JOSIE, AN ELDERLY ARTIST WHO IS QUIRKY AND AFFECTIONATE, SHE WANT TO STAY. BUT JOSIE IS GROWING MORE FORGETFUL EVERY DAY. DN

Emily Arrow determines to get the most fish in the library's Fish for a Good Book contest but she doesn't take into account the equal determination of Dawn Bosco.

When Tori's cousin and best friend, Sumiko, visits, the two girls investigate a mystery involving a missing zoo animal and strange noises in the back yard.