Frances Chin, a 10-year old Chinese-American girl, lives in the suburbs of Detroit with her immigrant parents and older sister, Clara. Frances struggles to speak up, and at school she copes with bullies and the loneliness that comes with not quite fitting in. At home, she feels a different kind of aloneness because her parents are preoccupied with work and worry about Clara, whose hair is inexplicably falling out. But, with the help of her friend Annie, Frances is determined to play Nancy Drew and solve the mystery of Clara's condition.

Includes discussion questions in back of book.