Traveling on Into the Light: And Other Stories by Martha Brooks

by Martha Brooks

The miracle of unexpected connections and small victories that enlarge and transform shines forth in this haunting collection.Here are teenagers on the brink of Jamie, who comes to understand that the lost can be found in unexpected ways when he goes looking for his dead father and finds a living memory instead; Laker, a runaway able to face his mother's rejection because of the kindness of a total stranger; and Sidonie, who, threatened with the loss of the love that made her feel safe, discovers she can survive and face the unknown. Out of alienation, isolation, and loss coms hope for the future in the support of friends, family, or lovers, the healing power of memory, or the sanctity of a safe place from which personal dragons can finally be faced.

Genres: Young Adult, Short Stories, Canada

Library Binding

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Martha Brooks is an award-winning novelist, playwright and jazz singer whose books have been published in Spain, Italy, Japan, Denmark, England, Germany and Australia, as well as in Canada and the United States. She is a three-time winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year, as well as the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Governor General’s Award, and the Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. Letters to Brian is her first book for adult readers. She lives in Winnipeg.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection for middle to high school readers. Stories they can connect with as all the main characters are teenagers. The stories deal with loss but not in a depressing way.

[Liaken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories dig deep, some only pretend to. The final three stories, which are interconnected somewhat, are the strongest in the collection from my viewpoint.