Scotty and the Gypsy Bandit

Winkler's first novel, set in 1959, is peopled with likable, quirky characters, and the narrator's transformation from self-involved to empathetic is convincing. Scotty's life is a mess: as the book opens, his father has been diagnosed with a brain tumor; the man dies soon after, and Scotty's mother waits only a few months before starting to date again. Scotty's neighbor McStew, or the Gypsy Bandit as he likes to call himself, lives an even more miserable existence; his mother is alcoholic and his father hits them. As Scotty and McStew work on a tree house that Scotty's dad designed, a bond grows between them. Through his experience with McStew, Scotty learns to reach out to people in need. The author covers a lot of ground here and, unfortunately, gives many of the events equal weight. Some of the pivotal developments, such as the impact of his father's death on Scotty, deserve more emphasis; other incidents, like the protagonist's pursuit of his dream girl or his charitable trip to a series of orphanages on Thanksgiving, seem extraneous and overly sentimental. However, delicate moments such as the description of Scotty's mother when she talks about his dad (""a voice stuffed in cotton"") or vivid scenes of McStew talking like a pirate while he digs up ""buried treasure"" (his mother's household appliances) show Winkler's talent. Ages 10-up. ( Mar.)