Heartbeats and Other Stories

Assuming as many different voices as there are chapters in this collection, Sieruta proves himself an able student of the short story form. Whether he is writing as the bemused younger brother in ``25 Good Reasons for Hating My Brother Todd,'' or as the street-wise boy proving himself on his first job in ``Walking,'' the author has an uncanny ear for the undercurrents that are part of everyday conversation. ``The Attack of the Jolly Green Giant'' depicts a wise guy's first glimpse of his own insensitivity; it's a satisfying moment that is neither a soul-searching strain on credibility nor a glib turnaround, and gains power in the minutiae of the insight gained. High school life, and all the players, are represented in these tales, and some, such as ``Walking,'' will whet readers' appetites and make them hope that Sieruta's next work is an expansion of any of the small universes in this first book. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)