Mississippi Treasure Hunt

Thirteen-year-old Vangie and brother Jason travel from L.A. to Minnesota for what promises to be a deadly dull summer with their father and cranky stepmother. But relief soon arrives, in the form of a letter informing their dad that he has inherited the rambling Mississippi estate of his great-aunt, whose grandfather was rumored to have made off with a stash of Confederate gold. In an old desk, the family finds a letter, written in verse, that presents riddles allegedly pointing to the whereabouts of hidden treasure. With the help of their kindly paternal grandfather, Vangie and Jason manage to piece together the clues and solve the letter's puzzle. Although Cannon (A Pocketful of Karma) chronicles their research in sometimes tedious detail and although there is little suspense here (the cover illustration shows the youngsters peering into a treasure box), the heroine is likable and her first-person narration believable enough. A cheerful if formulaic caper. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)