Signed by Zelda

Lucy, who has a passion for handwriting analysis, has just moved to New York from Savannah. Classmate Nicky lives in her apartment building, and the mystery begins when his beloved grandma suddenly disappears, leaving a note that says, "Help me." Feiffer keeps the tone light, incorporating a talking pigeon and lots of handwriting analysis tips that readers may find intriguing.

The plot in this mystery turns on one of the young main characters' passion for handwriting analysis. Lucy has just reluctantly moved with her parents from Savannah to New York City. Her one consolation is having a new pool of people whose handwriting she can analyze. The family's new apartment is right below that of Lucy's classmate Nicky, who drives her crazy with his incessant jumping around upstairs. Nicky has a more pressing concern: his beloved grandma Zelda has suddenly disappeared from their building, leaving behind a note that says, "Help me." What Nicky doesn't know is that Lucy intercepted an earlier note sent by Zelda because she loved the writing. Since the story moves forward and backward through time, readers learn the facts out of order, heightening both the mystery and the confusion. There are some serious issues raised in the book: Nicky's father isn't a nice guy, and the way he treats Zelda is appalling. But Feiffer keeps the tone light, incorporating a talking pigeon and lots of handwriting analysis tips that readers may find intriguing. susan dove lempke