It is 1904 and the partially deaf Asta Hedstrom is engaged to Nils, but she does not want to marry him: she would rather spend her time with her best friend Gunnar Fuglestad and his secret boyfriend, Erlend, who belongs to the wealthiest family on their Norwegian island; so when Nils gravely injures Gunnar, she shuns her marriage and moves in with Gunnar and Erlend in a secluded cabin above town--and the three misfits set out to win the annual Christmas...

"It's the annual Race-a-thon in the forest, and Steve is very excited. He wins EVERY year, and Steve LOVES winning ... But this year, they're trying something new - instead of every animal for himself, it's going to be a relay race! "No problemo," says Steve. "I will be on a team with Deer, Rabbit and ... hmm, who else is fast ... oh, and Fox!" Bob explains that to keep things fair, they drew names, and Steve is on a team with Duck, Turtle and Snail....

When Seattle fourth-grader McKenna Brooks' cast comes off she dives back into gymnastics training in hopes of making the competitive team, but after volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding center, she considers broadening her interests.