To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.

"Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City's mightiest hero (and Nick's biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he'll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life)."--

Seventh-grader Frankie, who has various sensory disorders, is determined to find her missing best friend, Colette, before it is too late.

"Through bravery, charm, and an alarming amount of enthusiasm, Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams. Now instead of just writing stories about him, Nick actually gets to kiss him. But having a superhero boyfriend isn't everything Nick thought it would be--he's still struggling to make peace with his own lack of extraordinary powers. When new Extraordinaries begin arriving in Nova City--siblings who can manipulate smoke and ice,...

Twelve-year-old Clea wants to do her homework, follow instructions, pay attention in school, and play chess on the school team, but somehow she cannot focus on whatever is in front of her, and the other kids at school are starting to notice and make fun of her. When her worried parents take her to be tested, she finds out that she has ADHD (only without the hyperactivity)--and with help from the psychiatrist who seems to really understand her, she...

Joey's father returns, calling himself Charles Heinz and apologizing for his past bad behavior, and he swears that once Joey and his mother change their names and help him fix up the old diner he has bought, their lives will change for the better.

Joey tries to keep his life from degenerating into total chaos when his mother sends him to be home-schooled with a hostile blind girl, his divorced parents cannot stop fighting, and his grandmother is dying of emphysema.

"Impulsive and unreserved, Lydie Stoltzfus has always felt like a disappointment-a square peg in a round hole in her quiet Amish community. Leaving Stoney Ridge seems like her best move -- even though it would mean leaving Nathan Yoder behind." --

Eighth-grader Hester Greene suffers from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, plus anxiety, which is why she loves making movies where she is behind the camera and in complete control of the action--but if she cannot improve her language arts grade she will not be allowed to enter her video in The Hoot (a showcase of student work) and write a satisfactory ending to her middle school career.

After going on a quest across Los Angeles together, Quentin, Vic, Nevaeh, and Mara, four very different foster children, realize that they have become a family.