In 1938, eleven-year-old Esther joins her father in tropical, multicultural Cuba, where they toil together to rescue the rest of their Jewish family from persecution in Poland. Includes notes about the author's grandmother, on whom the story is based.

"When Mia reads about a Design-a-Dress contest in a magazine for "budding designers ages 12-16" she is excited. But she doesn't realize how much work designing--and sewing--a dress truly is until she starts on her contest entry. While Mia stresses out about all the work she has to do, she and Katie have an argument about, of all things, fashion preferences! Katie offers suggestions that don't really go with the outfit Mia has in mind. And when Mia...