The young son of a Chilean farmer writes a note asking for a "faraway friend," and places it in a box of grapes bound for the United States.

"When a postal error creates pen pals of two young Amish people, can they put behind their past mistakes to see the bright future God has written for them?"--

When fourth-grader Gregory releases a helium-filled balloon into the sky with his name and address attached, it leads to an unusual friendship and an exchange of mystery gifts.

"The animals of Sir Sidney's Circus enter a contest at the Iowa State Fair in hopes of winning a $5,000 prize that could save Farmer Farley's farm and his prize pig, Pablo"--

As letters flow back and forth--between the prairies of Illinois and the mountains of Afghanistan, across cultural and religious divides--sixth-grader Abby, ten-year-old Amira, and eleven-year-old Sadeed begin to speak and listen to each other.

"Hart Ralston is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the wasteland of Tanria, hunting for drudges. It's an unforgiving job, and Hart's got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness. Mercy Birdsall never has a moment to herself. She's been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat - despite definitely not being a son - in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart Ralston, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest....

Maktel Geebrit, Pleskit's best friend from back home on Hevi-Hevi, is finally going to visit him on Earth. Pleskit is excited, but a little nervous, too. How will Maktel get along with Pleskit's new friend, Tim? And just how do you cope with having two best friends on the same planet, anyway?

In 1935, ten-year-old Alex Maki of Bainbridge Island, Washington, is horrified to discover that his new pen pal, Charlie Lévy of Paris, France, is a girl, but in spite of his initial reluctance, their letters continue over the years and they fight for their friendship even as Charlie endures the Nazi occupation and Alex leaves his family in an internment camp and joins the Army.