Twelve-year-old Peony Watercolor is keeping a secret from her two best friends: Her parents are out of work, and they might have to sell their beloved, story-filled Reading House, pack everything into ugly brown boxes, and move to a different state.

Peony will do anything to save her family's Reading House, so when Hollyfield Middle School announces that the talent show's grand prize is $1,000, she signs up, determined to win. While she thinks a cash prize will save her, the school's mysterious new librarian, Lenora, seems to have other ideas. Lenora gives Peony a magic book that might know Peony better than Peony knows herself-a book that contains stories, recipes, poems, and instructions to guide Peony and hold her together while the rest of her world falls apart.

When the fraying threads of Peony's home life, secrets, and the talent show finally begin to unravel, she must uncover the meaning of the magical book or risk losing not only the Reading House, but also the friendships she loves most.