As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni describes her first summer in the town of Naomi, Florida, and all the good things that happen to her because of her big ugly dog Winn-Dixie.

Instead of being rescued from a plane crash, as in the author's book "Hatchet," this story portrays what would have happened to Brian had he been forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet.

Peter describes the highs and lows of life with his younger brother, Fudge.

A tiny cricket is born and tries to greet all the insects that greet him, but he just cannot make a sound--until he meets another cricket.

More humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, where students learn to tango, face the cafeteria's dreaded Mushroom Surprise, and study a hobo during Show and Tell. Sequel to "Sideways Stories from Wayside School."

A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.

When their mom remarries, Molly and her brother, Michael, try to make friends with their new stepsister, Heather. But Heather only wants to make trouble for them. She lies and tattles and misbehaves, and somehow they always get the blame. They know she's trying to drive a wedge between her father and their mother so she can have her father all to herself--and it seems to be working. Then, Heather starts playing in the graveyard behind their new house....

The family routine is upset during Ramona's year in second grade when her father unexpectedly loses his job.

When Billy enters a bet with his friend, Alan, in hopes of winning $50 so he can buy a minibike, he must eat fifteen worms in fifteen days, but Billy soon learns that Alan may not pay up even though Billy has courageously eaten the worms.