In 1965, orphaned James Vagus is given an interesting offer. John Smith represents MIS-X, the mysterious benefactor of James’ education. Smith notes James’ youth, good looks, amiable but reserved personality, and affinity for languages. MIS-X is looking for young recruits to go to places where the youth hang out like concerts, colleges, and class trips and gather information unobtrusively. In other words, they are looking for teen spies. James is the perfect potential spy. He accepts the proposal, is given a partner Dakota Walker, and receives his first major assignment.
The Belgian Girls tells two stories. The first chronological one is that of Gabrielle “Gaby” Petit, a barmaid in pre-WWI Belgium. Infuriated by the presence of German soldiers in her country, she organizes a spy network to pass information and defeat her country’s enemies. The second story is that of Julienne Gobert, newly arrived in Brussels with her widowed father. She hears the story of Gaby Petit and is inspired to also become a spy and Resistance fighter against the Nazis as they devour the country around her.
Delia Cahill seems to live a perfect enviable life. She's happily married to Mark, a government employee, and has a great career as a high powered attorney with a noted list of rich and famous clients. If her career sends her constantly on the road, well that's the price and she always comes home to a loving husband.
Former political activist and half-Witch, Olivia Sheppard travels to Europe after a family emergency with her companions Gabriel, her Witch father, Elsa, her Time Walker Spirit Guide, Lily, her Fairy Best friend, William, her Vampire boyfriend, and Josef, William’s Vampire friend. Olivia and company also have to face Nikolas, a powerful charismatic thousand year old Vampire who uses any means to lead the Council of Others, including murdering Humans and Others who oppose him.
Claire and Stephen seem to have an idyllic affluent married suburban, life but it's all surface. There are cracks in their home life that are becoming more evident. Stephen has had many extramarital affairs, and Claire is being seen by many colleagues and acquaintances as unstable and temperamental. Stephen’s infidelities and Claire's characteristics become more evident when a woman known to the couple has been found murdered. Claire is seen as a primary suspect especially when it turns out that the deceased woman was Stephen’s mistress.
Thirteen year old Gittel Borenstein is part of a Jewish family that emigrated from Eastern Europe because of a pogrom to Mill Creek, Wisconsin with 12 other Jewish families. The book focuses on various events in Gittel’s young life such as bullying from antisemitic classmates, conflicts with her more traditional Orthodox family, a budding romance with a local boy, and her participation in a Chautauqua, which is a social, influential, and inspirational program that focuses on the arts and is often held in rural areas like in Mill Creek.
