Sixth-grader Emme Remmers feels that as an only child she has to be the peace-maker for her parents rapidly deteriorating marriage, and she could use some help--so the new bakery, Daisy's Desserts, where everything is baked with love, may offer the perfect solution for the dinner she is planning for her parents' anniversary.

When classmate Vanessa insists that all single children are spoiled, Ivy wonders whether she can become "unspoiled" by giving away all her clothes at school (which does not go over well with her teacher or parents)--but ultimately decides that all she needs to accomplish her goal is a little sister.

"Perry's mother and father are busy people ... they're impatient, they're tired, they get cross easily. And they think that only children, like Perry, should be kept busy. On Saturday mornings Perry and her father visit her gran, Honora Lee, at the Santa Lucia rest home, but Gran never remembers them. 'Who is that man?' Honora Lee asks when Perry's father leaves the room. After movement class is abruptly cancelled, Perry is allowed to go to Santa...