Twelve-year-old Petunia is used to living in the shadow of her fourteen-year-old half-sister, Ava, their mother's favorite, but now that the whole family has moved to Paris for a year, Pet finds herself stepping into the light, making new friends, uncovering secrets, and, inspired by the classic French dolls she has found, revealing an unexpected talent for designing dresses--and her beautiful sister does not take it well.

Dara Palmer dreams of being an actress, but when she does not get a part in the school play she wonders if it is because of her different looks as an adopted girl from Cambodia, so Dara becomes determined not to let prejudice stop her from being in the spotlight.

Lily Davis's big sister and star soccer player, Jana, has left home for basic training, and now Lily's parents and coach want her to change positions, from goalie to striker, wear Jana's jersey, and fill her sister's shoes--at first she goes along with the switch, until a letter from Jana gives her the courage to tell them all that she is her own person, and that person is a goalie.