May and Annie are sisters living on the Isle of Wight at the end of the nineteenth century, but they couldn't be more different. May is a great reader while Annie is "word blind" or dyslexic. After their mother dies these Victorian girls are forced to pool their skills in order to understand the gaps in their family history. An encounter with a mysterious uncle in London puts Annie in charge for a change, and leads to a surprising reconciliation. 
Includes an appendix with a reader's guide and sources.