It is 1970 in a small town in California. "Bean" Holladay is twelve and her sister Liz, is fifteen when their mother, Charlotte, takes off, leaving her girls enough money to last a month or two. One day Bean sees a police car outside the house, and she and Liz decide to take the bus to Virginia, where their Uncle Tinsley lives. Bean soon discovers who her father was, and hears many stories about why their mother left Virginia. Bean adores her whip-smart...

When her relationship with Paul comes to an end, Hannah Lapp heads to Ohio in hopes of finding refuge with another Amish outcast, and a deepening friendship with Martin Palmer helps her cope as she struggles to understand the contemporary world.

"Veronique Vincent is a star. At age twenty-two, she is one of the most sought-after models in fashion, gracing the covers of magazines and walking the runways of haute couture shows across the globe. Yet, despite being the consummate professional, Veronique wants little of the glamorous life that modeling affords her. The beloved daughter of a hardworking single mother, she has always preferred spending time at home or with her kindhearted boyfriend...

Left with just a notebook of his brother after he died, Sunny Gill has decided to fill it with rash decisions -- starting with upturning all of his prom plans in favor of a more traditional American teen experience. He shows up without beard, turban, or long hair; skips the fandom afterparty where he should be playing bass with his band; and gets his notebook stolen by Mindii Vang, a girl who is in the middle of some rash decisions of her own.

When Keesha's dad gets a new job, her family has to move to the city. Keesha finds that change is hard when it means leaving behind the home she loves and moving to a new house, a new school, and meeting new friends.

Tara is forced to move in with her cousins after her house burns down. She faces a difficult adjustment while her mother is away trying to earn money. Interwoven with this story is that of Tara's ancestors, who in 1859 were convinced by a mysterious stranger to put all their money into searching their property for gold.

"Why do the people we love sometimes die? Why did they have to leave us, and can they come back? Young Andy wants to know. He's sad and confused because his dad has died. So on a quiet day in the springtime, Andy goes for a walk in the woods behind his house to think about what has happened. In the woods, Andy meets Clyde --- a talking caterpillar! Clyde helps Andy talk about his dad ... about how much he misses him and about how much he loved him....