Marissa, who loves to dance, starts to feel a bit clumsy and overly tall when she dances, so she does not bother to try out for the Rose Fairy ballet until somebody else encourages her.

Feeling isolated as the only African American in her sixth grade class, Jessi gains a sense of belonging by participating in the Baby-sitters Club, learning sign language in order to communicate with a deaf child, and dancing in a ballet.