The Treasure Bird

Jessy has more than her share of troubles: her stutter makes her self-conscious and she hates her mother for running off to join a cult. On the positive side, Jessy's new stepmother is nice and the family has just inherited a house in Texas. But financial worries come to the fore this summer: taxes are due on the house and neither parent has yet found a job. So Jessy, with help from her stepbrother, Matt, and a parrot named Goldie, works on the mystery of the missing old coins often mentioned by Great-Uncle Matthew. This quiet family story touches upon a handful of ``problems'' without settling on a central issue--a diversity that agreeably sets this novel apart from straightforward genre fiction. Griffin ( Otto from Otherwhere ) writes in an engagingly forthright style; and while Jessy may not shine quite as brightly as some other YA fiction stars, readers will enjoy her low-key success. Ages 9-12. (Oct.)