A collection of ten different scenarios in which people dealing with forces beyond their control somehow manage to survive, persevere, and triumph, even if it is only a triumph of the will.

Eleven-year-old Augie Boretski dreams of escaping his run-down Camden, New Jersey, neighborhood, but things start to turn around with help from a Big Brother, a music teacher, and a mysterious bookstore owner, so when his school is in trouble, he pulls the community together to save it.

After tryouts for the school basketball team, eighth graders Zeke, Eli, Ryan, and Miles find their friendship tested when two of them make the team and two of them do not. Includes facts about Michael Jordan and Bill Russell.

Zippy the rabbit dreams of traveling to outer space one day, but fears she may fail to keep up if she goes to space camp with bigger, smarter-looking creatures.

Tired of just supporting her big brothers in their activities, Megan Owlet tries to find something of her own to do and when she decides dancing is right for her, her brothers are there to help her succeed.

In Ireland in the Middle Ages, young Brother Cuthbert, known for making mistakes and giving up easily, is chosen through a miscommunication to serve as scribe for an illuminated manuscript of the Nativity story, through which the Abbot hopes to make the monastery famous.

Sophie is a little girl who tries to be helpful but has trouble sticking to a task until Gabby, her guardian angel-in-training, finds a way to teach her not to give up.

"Kiwi sees a rope. He wants to pull it, but he cannot reach! What will happen next? Beginning readers can help Kiwi by turning the pages, shaking the book, and more in this interactive story" --

Désirée Rabbit dreams of being a famous ballet dancer in her hometown of Paris, France, but is continually told there are no bunnies in the ballet, yet after taking classes she wins over her classmates and has a chance to shine.

Anna and Finn look over the wall that surrounds their tiny village and discover a mountain, which the villagers warn cannot be climbed, but the siblings are determined to reach the top.