Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She is a smart girl, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah decides to participate in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from...

Buck Howard is a mentalist extraordinaire who used to spend his days in the limelight. But nowadays, it's become clear to everyone but Buck that his act has long ago lost its luster. Yet, Buck is convinced his comeback is imminent. With the help of his new personal assisstant, recent law school drop-out and would-be writer Troy, not to mention his fiery publicist, Buck surprisingly lands back in the American consciousness, taking Troy along for the...

Yenebi, her sister Melanie, and mom drive to school every morning across the US-Mexico border.

The good times begin with a certain big-nosed beagle playing Cupid and does not stop until Charlie Brown opens his mailbox one last, eager time. Homemade Valentine's, class parties, the tug of romance and the allure of chocolate set the mood for these school children.