• Age: 10 to 18
• Grade: 4 to 7

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.

Bossy, inventive Anna is authentic and endearing. Her dilemmas and struggles-especially when her creative solutions breed new problems-are convincing, at once familiar and fresh. . .A droll, deftly executed debut. - Kirkus Reviews

Anna is a relatable heroine. - CM Reviews

Leslie Greentree is the author of two books of poetry, guys named Bill (2002) and go-go dancing for Elvis (2003), shortlisted for the Griffin Award for Excellence in Poetry. Her short story, The Brilliant Save, was a winner of CBC Radio's annual Alberta Anthology competition. Leslie has read across much of Canada and at the Dublin Writers’ Festival. She lives in Red Deer, Alberta. This is her first book of short stories.

Patti Edgar's profile page

A funny, insightful book about what it's like to be on the precipice of middle school, when you know who you are but not necessarily how you fit. Fair warning: You may never look at your own handwriting, or tortoises (not turtles), the same way. - Craig Battle, author of the Camp Average series

"Patti Edgar's lighthearted debut novel perfectly captures all the difficulties and dramas of the early middle school years. Anna is a refreshingly complex character; her often misguided endeavors lead to one predicament after another and will resonate with middle grade readers. Full of heartbreak and humor, Anna Analyst charmed me from start to finish." - Tara Gilboy, author of Unwritten and Rewritten

"Bossy, inventive Anna is authentic and endearing. Her dilemmas and struggles - especially when her creative solutions breed new problems - are convincing, at once familiar and fresh... A droll, deftly executed debut." - Kirkus Reviews

"Anna is a relatable heroine" - Highly Recommended, CM Reviews

"Patti Edgar excels at delving into Anna's head, demonstrating how unpredictable the world appears from her perspective." - Canadian Children's Book News