With their father jailed for sinking a river boat, Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters around their Florida Keys home.

"Desperado Detectives--aka Mo Lo Beau and her best friend Dale, along with newly-appointed intern, Harm Crenshaw--must take on a new case when Dale's daddy goes on the lam just before his trial is about to start"--

A father tries to convince his son that he spends his days as the captain of a pirate ship.

Shortly after their police officer father is killed in the line of duty, thirteen-year-old Grace's older sister decides to adopt a dog to train as a service dog for a handicapped child so that she can write about it for her college applications, but, true to form, it is the grief-stricken Grace who ends up taking responsibility for the dog.

"Two siblings provide instructions for how to surprise one's dad, including surprises you can make, do, or find--and how to plan a Special Day surprise party for him"--

A child describes all of the adventures she has with her two daddies.

"Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she's already lost more than most people do in a lifetime. But she's learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don't have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you. Every new scar hardens Charlie's heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts...

Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but by the end of the year he has developed good relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents and learned many important lessons.

The son of an unconventional father promises a similar childhood for his newborn.

When Brother and Sister try out for soccer teams, Papa is at first disappointed that they do not want to play baseball, but he changes his mind when he sees them practice.