"It's hatching season, and all of Jemison Elementary is buzzing about the arrival of the baby chicks. Soon, the chicks will pip a hole in their shells, unzip the eggs, and take their places in the world. For fifth-grader Jillian, breaking out of her shell is much harder. Jillian is always too shy to raise her hand in class, even when she knows the right answers; meanwhile her nemesis, Rashida, is never afraid to speak her mind. As Jillian's grandma...

"Tia Lugo, an asthmatic thirteen-year-old Puerto Rican girl living in NYC, witnesses a murder late one night from her bedroom window. Terrified the killer will do anything to keep her silent and desperate to find the courage to speak out, Tia turns to her grandmother's favorite shopping spot: the botanica"--

Meena is excited because today she's going to Nanu's house to drink tea and eat treats. When Meena gets there, she's ready to get started ... but her nanu tells her it's not time yet. Today they're going to have a very special Bengali tea called doodh cha, and they are going to make it together.

Jojo's grandmother Lola invites him to join her in the rhythmic tinikling dance, and though he initially stumbles, Jojo finds his footing and joyfully embraces his American and Filipino heritages.