When the mayor of Blue Hill visits Anne to talk about a new tax proposal that will soon go before the town council, she's excited about the possibilities. The additional funding could provide more library resources and programs, as well as pay some of Anne's dedicated volunteers. But when popular children's books begin vanishing from the shelves, Anne discovers that it is just the tip of an iceberg of political intrigue involving the proposed levy. Can she find out who is behind the scheme and expose their plans before it's too late? Meanwhile, Ben befriends Joey, a new boy at school, who spends an increasing amount of time at the library and begins frequently staying overnight with Ben's family. As Anne observes Joey's unkempt appearance, she soon realizes there is more to his story thanb meets the eye.