Traveling on Into the Light

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. (Oct.)