Freddy Dissel has that left-out kind of middle-kid-in-the-family feeling -- but he finally has a chance to prove how special he really is.Ramona just wants everyone to be happy. Maybe she can't find her father a job, but she can help him stop smoking -- if only he'll listen to her.Karen just wants one thing for her birthday, and it's not a trip to the circus. What she really wants is to celebrate with her entire family.Emma doesn't think it's fair for her parents to go away for five whole days and leave her with an aunt and uncle she hardly knows. What if they don't like kids?Some very peculiar things have been happening to james lately. He is inside a giant peach with his very peculiar new friends -- and they are about to set off on an even more peculiar adventure.Nora has a lot of friends in her building, but what she really wants is a special best friend, a girl her own age. Too bad her new neighbors have a son. Can Nora ever learn to like him?