In 1956, toward the end of Rev. John Ames's life, he begins a letter to his young son, an account of himself and his forebears. This is also the tale of wisdom forged during his solitary life and how history lives through generations, pervasively present even when betrayed and forgotten.

Ninety-year-old Hagar Shipley, in a final struggle for independence, escapes from her nursing home and tries to come to terms with her tumultuous past.

Sophia knits a special hat for her elderly neighbor and knitting teacher, Mrs. Goldman.

Ten-year-old Sprig no longer gets along with her twelve-year-old sister, Dakota, but the two pull together during their father's extended business trip to Afghanistan, sharing concerns about his safety, an elderly neighbor's health, fights with their best friends, and boys.

To relieve the boredom of a long, hot summer, Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby join their fun-loving neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, and her mischievous dog Zeke on an adventurous sightseeing boat cruise.

Brian Worth Jr. plans on trying out for his middle school's basketball team, but the trouble is he has always relied on his height to give him an advantage and that is no longer enough--but at the local senior center, where he reluctantly volunteers, he discovers a friend in George, a former player, who sets out to teach him some of the skills he is missing.

Eli the dog has been with Astrid since she was a baby, and now that Eli is getting older and slowing down, Astrid wants to make fun memories with him, but knows what is most important to Eli is the time he spends with Astrid.

Reluctantly, Mr. Putter and his cat, Tabby, agree to go ballroom dancing with Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke.

If you had to pick five people to sum up your life, who would they be? If you were to raise a glass to each of them, what would you say? And what would you learn about yourself, when all is said? At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He's alone, as usual -- though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story. Over the course of this...