A curse on cursive! Maggie doesn't really mean it when she vows never to read and write those wiggly, squiggly, roller-coaster letters. After all, she uses the computer. But everybody seems to be taking her revolt very, very seriously.

Maggie's parents say she'll enjoy it once she starts. Her teacher doesn't want to listen when she points out how untidy grown-ups' handwriting can be. And her classmates think it's a riot when her first try at signing her name makes it look like "Muggie." Now Maggie is too embarrassed to back down. Why can't she just go on printing her whole life?

Newbery medalist Beverly Cleary has penned a wise and funny book, filled with the perceptive humor that has earned her generations of fans.