Traveling On Into The Light [Paperback]

Martha Brooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

A collection of short stories which focus on the difficult journeys teens take on their way to adulthood.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Springing from a profound understanding of sorrow and joy, this collection addresses such stately themes as love, anger, grief and hope. The protagonist of "Moonlight Sonata" must come to terms with his father's long-ago suicide, while in the poignant yet utterly radiant "The Ones with Wings," two sisters face the challenges of their meager existence with extraordinary courage. In the brief but complex "You've Always Been Such a Good Friend to Me," the narrator gradually reveals her betrayal of her beloved, admired cousin. Brooks's characters give the impression of having both a past and a future, a life that overflows the stories' boundaries. The final three stories do in fact chronicle the doings of characters created elsewhere, specifically, the young lovers of Brooks's novel Two Moons in August. At first glance, the straightforward writing seems to be a conduit of raw emotion, but closer inspection reveals the careful crafting of each sentence. Moving and memorable. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-Brooks's latest anthology is peopled with "today's youth." They have grown up in dysfunctional homes and are struggling to find themselves, awash in a sea of misery created by the adults who are supposed to nurture and protect them. Each story creates a single emotional impression, which is hiding like a pearl at its center, and is revealed in the last few lines. There is little plot action, but a lot of detail and feeling as the tangled skeins of relationships are delicately traced. The settings range from the present day to the early 1960's, yet the teens' troubles remain constant. Many of the stories are heartbreaking, yet YAs are likely find their friends and classmates in these pages. Another masterpiece from an award-winning Canadian author.
Lucinda Lockwood, Thomas Haney Secondary School, Maple Ridge, BC
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; 1ST edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531068633
• ISBN-13: 978-0531068632
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,869,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars ...you will never forget., July 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Traveling On Into The Light (Paperback)

This is a great collection of short stories. M.Brooks takes you on a fantastic ride that you will never forget. Each reader can relate to its own story in this book. Giving inspiration, hope or comfort, M.Brooks invites you to read on...Not too overwhelming with emotion, but loaded with thoughts.