Scout and Lily are best friends who have to face some difficult times when Lily's mom is arrested and Lily has to go into foster care. While Scout tries to help her friend, she also learns some valuable lessons about herself.
Nile is a baby hippo who is born during a great storm. When she opens her eyes, she is surrounded by destruction. Her family is gone and her home is gone. Nile is all alone in the world. But Nile is a survivor. She uses her strength and determination to find food and shelter. She meets other animals along the way, but she is always careful not to get too close. She knows that if she lets her guard down, she could end up like her family. Nile's story is one of hope and resilience. It shows that no matter how bad things seem, there is always a chance for a new beginning.
Shannon is a thirteen-year-old girl who loves to skateboard and is very talented. When her family moves from California to Maine, Shannon is worried that she won't be able to skateboard or make any friends. However, she quickly finds a group of girls who love to skateboard and starts entering competitions. Shannon does very well in the competitions and starts to believe that she can make it as a professional skater.
Emily travels to France after her mother's death, hoping to connect with her mother through the country she always spoke so fondly of. There, she meets Pierre, a charming man who helps her to see France in a new light. The two fall in love, but when Emily discovers that Pierre is already married, she must decide whether to stay in France or return to America.
Johnathan is a veteran who is coming home from the war. He is struggling to readjust to civilian life and is constantly drawn back to the military life he left behind. As he tries to figure out his new life, Johnathan must also grapple with the demons he left on the battlefield.
John Smith is finally free after being held captive in a secret military prison for eight years. He sets out to find the people responsible for his capture and clear his name, with the help of his old friend Colonel Jameson.
Nigel the giraffe is always the last one picked for any game at the zoo, but he comes to the rescue when the other animals find themselves in danger. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but he's brave and he's smart. And he's finally found his place in the world.