On the last day of elementary school, eleven-year-old Anna finds a leather-bound book about handwriting analysis. Anna could use help deciphering people. Her best friend has started wearing mascara and plans to spend the summer with a more fashionable classmate. And her parents threaten to give away her tortoises just because she's a little forgetful about taking care of the sick one.

Why does everyone expect Anna to change before middle school starts? She's going to stay exactly the same. After all, large loopy letters, like Anna's, show she's perceptive and generous. It's everyone else's sloppy writing that is so hard to understand. But a mysterious note forces Anna to make a choice between her graphology obsession and the people — and tortoises — she cares about the most.