In this novel that unites characters from "The Giver" and "Gathering Blue," Matty, a young member of a utopian community that values honesty, conceals an emerging healing power that he cannot explain or understand.

Illustrations and rhyming text describe acts of kindness and community.

"When a girl's parents and community are overwhelmed by sudden bad news, she tries to imagine how to help."--Jacket flap.

A little girl's small act of kindness after a storm spreads throughout her town so that the next time there is a storm, her community comes together to make a big difference.

Mary Christmas wants to love Christmas as much as her family does, but their over-the-top preparations embarrass her until she comes up with a way to share their enthusiasm.

"Sixth-grader Wes Henderson sets out to save the Oaks, the neighborhood where he's lived his whole life, from being sold to a real estate developer"--

"The Mouse Scouts are back for another badge. Violet, Tigerlily, and their friends are determined to earn their 'Make a Difference' badge"--

"One Cherokee child celebrates the family tradition of gathering wild onions for a big community meal, a significant tradition among several southeastern tribes"

It's springtime on Bradford Street and twins Jada and Jamal Perkins are helping their parents with yardwork as they look for signs of spring, When their teacher tells them about the town's plans to plant new trees at school in celebration of Earth Day, Jada and Jamal and their best friends, Carlita and Josh, come up with a school beautification project of their own"--

"Nora Tucker is looking forward to summer vacation in Wolf Creek--two months of swimming, popsicles, and brushing up on her journalism skills for the school paper. But when two inmates break out of the town's maximum security prison, everything changes. Doors are locked, helicopters fly over the woods, and police patrol the school grounds. Worst of all, everyone is on edge, and fear brings out the worst in some people Nora has known her whole life....