Seventh-grader Georges adjusts to moving from a house to an apartment, his father's efforts to start a new business, his mother's extra shifts as a nurse, being picked on at school, and Safer, a boy who wants his help spying on another resident of their building.

Noah is excited to learn that the new student lives in his building and is eager to make friends with him but soon begins to wonder about the new boy's behavior.

Thirteen-year-old Gabe buys a bottle bearing an imp that will grant his every wish, but someone else will pay the price and, if he dies while owning the bottle, he will lose his soul.

"Twelve-year-old Minerva Keen forms a detective club to uncover who is poisoning residents of her storied Chicago apartment building, knowing that any one of her neighbors could be the poisoner--or the next victim"--