When Johanna shows up at the beginning of summer to house-sit next door to Finn, he has no idea of the profound effect she will have on his life by the time summer vacation is over.

Shaindy Goodman feels awkward, over-looked. Across the street and in another league, elegant Gayil, lives the life of a queen bee, gorgeous, liked and admired, the perfect Bais Yaakov Middle School girl. Even her school uniform looks chic. So it's more than a shock when Shaindy sees Gayil in the window looking at her and holding a sign with five little words: want to know a secret? Gayil's found a way to break into their school after hours; and asks...

"When catastrophe strikes their beloved upstairs neighbors, the Vanderbeeker children set out to build the best, most magical healing garden in Harlem--in spite of a locked fence, thistles and trash, and the conflicting plans of a wealthy real estate developer"--Provided by the publisher.

Told that they will have to move out of their Harlem brownstone just after Christmas, the five Vanderbeeker children, ages four to twelve, decide to change their reclusive landlord's mind.