Rob, who passes the time in his rural Florida community by wood carving, is drawn by his spunky but angry friend Sistine into a plan to free a caged tiger.

After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie doesn't think--she just acts, stealing the book and running away. As she begins to read the slender volume, Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who both loved her, and a peculiar deal made with "the smiling man," a sinister specter...

Bob, a mutt of uncertain heritage, sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan the gorilla and Ruby the elephant. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family. -- adapted from back cover