A ten-year-old girl discovers the modern delights of turn-of-the-century New York City when she travels there with her grandmother to visit relatives.

Samantha's birthday party is nearly ruined when Eddie Ryland plays a mean trick. Then Agnes and Agatha, Cornelia's ten-year-old twin sisters, save the day with an invitation to visit New York City. Samantha loves the twins? carefree attitude and can't wait to go - specially since the trip will include a stop at a fancy ice cream parlor. But when the girls carelessly break some rules, they suddenly find themselves racing dangerously through the big city - and the path they take leads to surprising discoveries

When an English girl comes to stay at Molly's during World War II, she and Molly learn to bridge their differences and ultimately enjoy a wonderful, mutual birthday party.

Josefina hopes to become a "curandera" or healer like Tâia Magdalena, and she is tested just before her tenth birthday when a friend receives a potentially fatal snakebite.

While spending the summer at Grandmary's home on Goose Lake, Samantha and the twins Agnes and Agatha decide to visit the island where Samantha's parents were drowned during a storm.

The two weeks before Christmas are filled with activity as Samantha finishes her homemade presents and makes peparations for visiting relatives