Braille Book Review
September-October 2008
Volume 77, Number 5
_Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large-print,
braille, and computer diskette formats and distributed
free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who
participate in the Library of Congress free reading program.
It lists braille magazines and books available through a
network of cooperating libraries.  The braille edition also
lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations.  News
about library services is featured in both editions.
     The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles
recently added to the national collection, which contains
thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including
classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and
self-help guides.  To learn more about the wide
range of books in the national collection, readers may order
catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating
libraries.  Librarians can check other resources for titles
and answer requests for special materials.  Readers can
receive _Braille Book Review_ and other information
through the Internet by accessing the the NLS
home page at http://www.loc.gov/nls.
     To order books or for subscription changes,
contact your local cooperating library.
Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent
to Publications and Media Section, National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of
Congress, Washington, DC 20542.
Library of Congress, Washington 2008
Library of Congress
Catalog Card Number 53-31800
ISSN 0006-873X
Contents:
In Brief
Books for Adults
     Nonfiction
     Fiction
Books for Children
     Nonfiction
     Fiction
Braille Magazines
###
In Brief
The following information is reprinted from an issue of NLS
Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on
NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library
staff, and other interested individuals.
NLS Flash
July 2008
volume 4 issue 2
Contracts awarded for digital talking-book player,
cartridge mailing container, and training
On behalf of the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped (NLS), the Library of Congress has
awarded contracts for three critical elements necessary for
implementation of the digital talking-book system. Shinano
Kenshi Corporation Ltd. of Japan and its subsidiary
Plextor-LLC of Culver City, California, will produce the
digital talking-book players; LC Industries in Hazlehurst,
Mississippi, will produce the digital talking-book
cartridge mailing containers; and SI International in
Reston, Virginia, will develop training strategies for the
network of cooperating libraries. The award of the
cartridge contract is pending.
Digital talking-book players
Shinano Kenshi/Plextor will produce the standard and
advanced digital talking-book players. Plextor, the
electronic equipment division of Shinano Kenshi, produces
the Plextalk line of DAISY talking-book players and other
computer components including players for compact discs
(CDs), DVDs, and Blu Ray discs.
The player contract's base period is for three years with a
unilateral government option of an additional four years.
More than $35 million has been obligated to fund the
initial production of 223,837 players. The first players
will be manufactured in late 2008.
Digital talking-book cartridge mailing containers
LC Industries, a Javits-Wagner-O'Day contractor, has
produced injection-molded plastic mailing containers used
by NLS for more than 15 years. The company will initially
produce 500,000 blue plastic mailing containers for digital
talking books. NLS is working out details regarding the
network purchase of the mailing containers and will notify
the network when the containers are available for purchase.
Training contract
SI International has designed training applications for
deployment over the Internet since 1998. NLS has engaged
the company to assist with preparing strategies for
training the staffs of the 128 cooperating libraries
serving blind and physically handicapped readers throughout
the country and in U.S. territories. SI International will
gather information to recommend training models appropriate
for preparing library staff to handle three specific tasks:
using and explaining the digital talking-book machine;
downloading digital talking books and signing up patrons
for the download project, NLS BARD; and duplicating digital
talking books at the local level.
The goal is to provide a variety of training materials for
each task and to identify the best methods of delivery. The
materials will be designed to assist current and future
network library staffs.
Newsstand
The following announcement may be of interest to readers.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements
selectively, as space permits. The item mentioned, however,
is not part of the NLS program, and its listing does not
imply endorsement.
Bookshare.org offers free text reader for visually impaired
students
At the beginning of the 2008?2009 school year, visually
impaired students with access to the Internet on a Windows
PC will be able to use the free Read:OutLoud, Bookshare.org
Edition, text reader to access the more than thirty-six
thousand electronic books, magazines, and newspapers
available in the Bookshare.org online library. Memberships
to Bookshare.org are now free to all U.S. students with
qualifying disabilities.
This software tool was designed to serve elementary and
secondary students who receive special education services
and qualify for free reading materials under the 1996
Chafee Amendment to
the Copyright Law. The text reader was designed to align
with state educational standards and provides audio
feedback, electronic highlighting, and note-taking
features. A Macintosh version of the text reader will be
introduced in 2009. For more information, visit
bookshare.org.
###
_Books for Adults_
The following books were recently produced for the NLS
program.  To order books, contact your braille-lending
library.
_Note:_  For the infomation of the reader, a notice may
appear immediately following the book description to
indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit
descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any
of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent
occurence, as in "some strong language."
Adult Nonfiction
How to Read the Bible: History, Prophecy, Literature?Why Modern Readers
Need to Know the Difference, and What It Means for Faith Today
BR 16659
by Steven L. McKenzie
3 volumes
Biblical scholar contends that recognizing the Bible's various literary
genres is vital to accurate interpretation. Relies on textual clues to
analyze the meaning of passages such as that of Jonah, which McKenzie
posits is not a literal account of a man swallowed by a whale but a
humorous satire. 2005.
BR 16659
##
Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism
BR 16664
by Paul Collins
2 volumes
Memoirist recounts his experiences after his two-year-old son was
diagnosed with symptoms of autism, a developmental disorder affecting
communication and social skills. Intersperses episodes of his family's
daily life with anecdotes from his own personal journey to understand
the world of autists and the meaning of "normal." Includes resources.
2004.
BR 16664
##
Captured by Grace: No One Is beyond the Reach of a Loving God
BR 16672
by David Jeremiah
2 volumes
Pastor reflects on the message of grace as found in John Newton's hymn
"Amazing Grace" and the letters of the apostle Paul. Explores the
transcendent power of mercy and forgiveness. Discusses how anyone can
admit transgressions, access divine grace, and create a life of purpose
and peace. 2006.
BR 16672
##
Captain John Smith: Jamestown and the Birth of the American Dream
BR 16673
by Dorothy Hoobler and Thomas Hoobler
3 volumes
A chronicle of explorer John Smith (1580?1631), who founded and led the
Jamestown colony from 1607 to 1609. Uses Smith's writings, colonists'
diaries, and archives to trace his adventures, including his arrival in
the New World facing possible execution, and to demythologize his
relationship with Pocahontas and portray wilderness life. 2006.
BR 16673
##
Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens
BR 16675
by Margaret O. Hyde and Elizabeth H. Forsyth
1 volume
A science writer and a child psychiatrist discuss the physical and
emotional aspects of human sexuality including anatomy, contraception,
abstinence, social pressures, and diseases such as AIDS. Presents
scenarios that teens may encounter and practical responses to them. For
senior high and older readers. 2006.
BR 16675
##
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
BR 16801
by Harold S. Kushner
1 volume
Impelled by personal tragedy in his own life, the author, a rabbi,
helps others cope with grief, guilt, rage, bitterness, and bewilderment
at God's "unfairness." In his search for answers to why tragedies
seemingly strike those undeserving of them, he offers comfort and
reassurance to the troubled. 1981.
BR 16801
##
American Medical Association Guide to Living with Diabetes: Preventing
and Treating Type 2 Diabetes?Essential Information You and Your Family
Need to Know
BR 16922
by American Medical Association and Boyd E. Metzger
3 volumes
Lifestyle guidelines for people with type 2 diabetes including diet,
exercise, and personal care. Covers diagnosis, treatment, medication,
alternative therapies, children, pregnancy, and complications. 2006.
BR 16922
##
The First Scientific American: Benjamin Franklin and the Pursuit of
Genius
BR 16941
by Joyce E. Chaplin
5 volumes
Harvard professor highlights the scientific discoveries of American
founding father Benjamin Franklin (1706?1790) that enabled his
involvement in political affairs. Describes the transatlantic community
of Enlightenment scientists and Franklin's international renown due to
his pathbreaking research on electricity, asbestos, the Gulf Stream,
and other topics. 2006.
BR 16941
##
Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry like Christmas
BR 16943
by Maya Angelou
2 volumes
In this third volume of her memoirs, following Gather Together in My
Name (BR 16910), Angelou covers her twenties. Describes her
relationship with the white world, her early motherhood, and her show
business career that began when she was a dancer in a San Francisco
club. 1976.
BR 16943
##
Tigers in Red Weather: A Quest for the Last Wild Tigers
BR 17143
by Ruth Padel
5 volumes
British poet describes the plight of tigers as she travels to their
habitats in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, Korea, China,
Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Padel discusses tiger lore and history,
the work of scientists and conservators in the field, and the reasons
for the near extinction of tigers. 2006.
BR 17143
##
Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are
BR 17152
by Frans de Waal
3 volumes
Explores the parallels between bonobo, chimpanzee, and human behaviors
in expressing control, sexual attraction, violence, and kindness.
Contrasts the power-hungry and brutal chimp with the peace-loving,
empathetic, and erotic bonobo and examines the combination of these
traits in human nature. Also discusses human ancestry. Descriptions of
sex. 2005.
BR 17152
##
The Essential Talmud
BR 17167
by Adin Steinsaltz
3 volumes
Rabbi presents an overview of the beliefs, attitudes, and customs
associated with the Talmud, the sacred Jewish text that he calls "a
book of holy intellectualism." Presents the Talmud's history,
methodology, and structure and content, including Jewish law regarding
diet, crime, marriage, divorce, prayers, and festivals. 2006.
BR 17167
##
Understanding Herpes
BR 17172
by Lawrence R. Stanberry
1 volume
Physician offers an overview and history of the common herpes simplex
virus family that includes chicken pox, shingles, mononucleosis,
roseola, Epstein-Barr, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Concentrates on
prevention, identification, treatment, and psychological impact of
genital herpes. 2006.
BR 17172
##
Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the
Transfiguration
BR 17214
by Pope Benedict XVI
3 volumes
Pope Benedict pens a biography of the flesh-and-blood Jesus as revealed
in the Gospels. The pope shares his understanding of Jesus of Nazareth
as the central figure of Christianity, who brought God to Earth along
with faith, hope, and love. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17214
##
The Diana Chronicles
BR 17228
by Tina Brown
6 volumes
British writer and former editor of the New Yorker interviews
colleagues and friends of the late Princess Diana (1961?1997) to
provide a personal profile of Her Royal Highness. Discusses Diana's
marriage to Prince Charles, their divorce, and assertions of her
manipulation of the press. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17228
##
Selected Poems, 1947?1995
BR 17241
by Allen Ginsberg
4 volumes
Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg (1926?1997) presents a half century
of verse in a variety of forms and themes including the political,
sexual, devotional, and spiritual. Contains selections from Howl,
Kaddish, The Fall of America, Plutonian Ode, White Shroud, and others.
Descriptions of sex and strong language. 1996.
BR 17241
##
The Avenger Takes His Place: Andrew Johnson and the Forty-five Days
That Changed the Nation
BR 17255
by Howard Means
3 volumes
Traces the events surrounding President Abraham Lincoln's April 14,
1865, assassination, when Vice President Andrew Johnson from Tennessee
unexpectedly became the nation's leader. Highlights Johnson's May 29,
1865, unilateral decision to grant amnesty to Confederates who took a
loyalty oath. Discusses his battles with the radical Republicans in
Congress. 2006.
BR 17255
##
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . . : Understanding Philosophy
through Jokes
BR 17268
by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein
1 volume
Authors present dialogs, one-liners, and limericks to illuminate key
concepts of Western philosophy. Cathcart and Klein show how humor often
contains philosophy and exposes hidden truths about life. Topics
include ethics, epistemology, existentialism, logic, metaphilosophy,
metaphysics, and relativity, as well as theories of language, politics,
society, and religion. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17268
##
Outliving Heart Disease: The Ten New Rules for Prevention and Treatment
BR 17304
by Richard A. Stein
3 volumes
Cardiologist presents to people with heart disease his plan for "living
well with your heart until you die of something else." Describes
scientific breakthroughs in tests, treatments, and medications;
suggests lifestyle changes in diet and exercise; discusses alternative
and complementary therapies; and covers the mind-body connection. 2008.
BR 17304
##
The Hellenistic Age: A Short History
BR 17327
by Peter Green
3 volumes
Classics professor surveys three centuries of ancient Greek history
from the era of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great in 336 B.C.E.
to the death of Cleopatra of Egypt in 31 B.C.E. Highlights ruthless
leaders, political machinations, and battles that eventually gave way
to Roman control. 2007.
BR 17327
##
The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good
Behavior
BR 17359
by Tamar Geller
2 volumes
Humane Society advisor and owner of a cage-free boarding facility
offers a training manual based on positive reinforcement, not
punishment. Discusses effective communication techniques and nonviolent
ways to attain good behavior, such as sitting and walking on a leash,
and to correct bad behavior, such as jumping and begging. 2007.
BR 17359
##
Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices about Sex
BR 17361
by Bronwen Pardes
1 volume
The author, a sex education teacher, explains puberty and reproductive
anatomy and provides information on sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), birth control, sexual abuse, and gender identity issues.
Includes resources, definitions, and a question-and-answer section. For
senior high and older readers. 2007.
BR 17361
##
Scambusters! More than Sixty Ways Seniors Get Swindled and How They Can
Prevent It
BR 17363
by Ron Smith
2 volumes
Concise manual on recognizing fraudulent activity and avoiding becoming
a victim. Describes dozens of scenarios involving banking and credit,
nursing homes, health care, online pharmacies, insurance, investments,
the Internet, car repairs, charitable donations, shopping, and
telemarketing. Includes resources. 2006.
BR 17363
##
The Amputee's Guide to Sex
BR 17374
by Jillian Weise
1 volume
The author, an amputee with a prosthetic leg, offers her poetic
meditations on the emotional and physical complexities of sexual
intimacy. In the poem "The Old Questions" a new lover seems more
interested in the author's artificial limb than in having sex. Some
strong language. 2007.
BR 17374
##
Andrew Jackson
BR 17386
by Sean Wilentz
2 volumes
Princeton historian analyzes the seventh American president, Andrew
Jackson (1767?1845), in the context of his times. Portrays Jackson as a
military hero who endorsed the concept of the people as a sovereign
power. Highlights Jackson's 1828 election at the dawn of the Age of the
Democratic Revolution. 2005.
BR 17386
##
Julia Child
BR 17477
by Laura Shapiro
2 volumes
Award-winning food writer describes the unlikely career path of
American chef Julia Child (1912?2004), who championed French cuisine on
television and published Mastering the Art of French Cooking (BR 12229
and BR 12230). Discusses Child's passion for cooking and appetite for
life. 2007.
BR 17477
##
Breast Cancer Clear and Simple: All Your Questions Answered; from the
Experts at the American Cancer Society
BR 17478
by American Cancer Society
1 volume
Offers an overview of breast cancer, available treatments, and recovery
issues. Suggests questions to ask one's physician and discusses
possible treatment side effects, breast reconstruction options,
insurance issues, and choices for healthy living. 2008.
BR 17478
##
###
Adult Fiction
Comfort and Joy
BR 16603
by Kristin Hannah
2 volumes
School librarian Joy Candellaro takes an impromptu vacation during the
holidays when she learns that her ex-husband and her sister are having
a baby. After surviving a crash landing in a remote forest, Joy
encounters reclusive Daniel and his eight-year-old son Bobby?or did she
imagine them? 2005.
BR 16603
##
Dead Water: An Inspector Roderick Alleyn Mystery
BR 16906
by Ngaio Marsh
2 volumes
When a week of death threats at a controversial faith-healing resort
ends with a ghastly murder, Inspector Roderick Alleyn is faced with a
puzzling and painful case. One of the two main suspects is an old
friend of Alleyn's and the other is the victim herself. 1963.
BR 16906
##
The Shelters of Stone: Earth's Children, Book 5
BR 17151
by Jean M. Auel
9 volumes
Continues the saga of prehistoric society from The Plains of Passage
(BR 17119). Ayla and Jondalar, with their two horses and a wolf, arrive
at the caves of the Zelandonii?Jondalar's people?and receive a mixed
welcome. Ayla, as an outsider with strange customs, strives to win
acceptance. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2002.
BR 17151
##
Cat Pay the Devil: A Joe Grey Mystery
BR 17173
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
2 volumes
California. Escaped convict Cage Jones targets former federal agent
Wilma Getz. When Wilma goes missing, feline sleuths Dulcie and Kit set
out to infiltrate Cage's hideout. Meanwhile, tomcat Joe Grey, who is
preoccupied with local murders, and his human companion Clyde retrace
Wilma's last known whereabouts. Some strong language. 2007.
BR 17173
##
At Some Disputed Barricade: A World War I Novel
BR 17174
by Anne Perry
3 volumes
The Western Front, 1917. British intelligence officer Matthew Reavley
tracks a traitor called Peacemaker. Meanwhile, his brother Joseph, a
chaplain, and sister Judith, an ambulance driver, experience
ambivalence when twelve British soldiers face execution for killing an
incompetent officer. Sequel to Angels in the Gloom (BR 16291). Some
violence. 2007.
BR 17174
##
Falling Man
BR 17211
by Don DeLillo
2 volumes
On September 11, 2001, businessman Keith emerges from the World Trade
Center rubble and makes his way to the apartment of his estranged wife
Lianne. She tries to understand their apparent reconciliation, while
Keith reaches out to fellow survivor Florence. Some descriptions of sex
and some strong language. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17211
##
The 6th Target: A Women's Murder Club Mystery
BR 17215
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
2 volumes
San Francisco. When a mass shooting on a ferry wounds Women's Murder
Club member Claire Washburn, Sergeant Lindsay Boxer investigates and
attorney Yuki Castellano prosecutes. Lindsay also delves into a child
kidnapping case involving a dead nanny. Strong language, some
descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17215
##
The Tale of the Children of H?rin: Narn I Ch?n H?rin
BR 17216
by J.R.R. Tolkien
2 volumes
A tale of the Elder Days of Middle-earth, variations of which appeared
in Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth (BR 05039) and The
Silmarillion (BR 11510). Describes the fates of H?rin?cursed lord of
Dor-l?min?and his children T?rin and Ni?nor. Restored, edited, and
introduced by the author's son, Christopher Tolkien. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17216
##
Christmas Letters
BR 17218
by Debbie Macomber
2 volumes
Seattle medical transcriptionist and ghostwriter Katherine "K.O."
O'Connor meets prominent child psychologist Wynn Jeffries, whose
parenting principles her sister has adopted. K.O. disagrees with Wynn's
theories, claiming that they have turned her twin nieces into little
monsters, but falls in love with the attractive doctor. 2006.
BR 17218
##
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
BR 17231
by Ann Brashares
2 volumes
Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby, from Girls in Pants (BR 15872), share
the magic blue jeans during the summer after their freshman year in
college. The four relish their long friendship while experiencing
grown-up dilemmas and romance. Some descriptions of sex. For senior
high readers. 2007.
BR 17231
##
Old Filth
BR 17240
by Jane Gardam
2 volumes
1990s. Widower and former judge Edward Feathers, known as Old FILTH
(Failed In London Try Hong Kong), nearly eighty and living alone,
recalls his past. Muses on his childhood in Malaya, military service
and law career, relationships with women, and reasons for retiring to
England. Some descriptions of sex. 2004.
BR 17240
##
Murder at the Opera: A Capital Crimes Novel
BR 17253
by Margaret Truman
3 volumes
Washington, D.C. A promising young Canadian singer is found murdered
backstage at the Kennedy Center. Law professor Mac Smith?an extra in
the Washington National Opera's upcoming production of Puccini's Tosca?
and his wife Annabel investigate. Aided by PI Ray Pawkins the pair
uncover a far-reaching international conspiracy. 2006.
BR 17253
##
Light Thickens: An Inspector Roderick Alleyn Mystery
BR 17257
by Ngaio Marsh
2 volumes
A London acting troupe putting on Shakespeare's Macbeth suspects the
play is cursed after several pranks disrupt rehearsals. Their
apprehension turns to horror when an actor is murdered on stage during
a performance. Scotland Yard Chief Superintendent Roderick Alleyn, who
happens to be in the audience, investigates. 1982.
BR 17257
##
The Killer's Tears
BR 17259
by Anne-Laure Bondoux
1 volume
When on-the-run criminal Angel Allegria arrives at the Poloverdos' farm
in southernmost Chile, he murders the parents but spares their child
Paolo. Angel's paternal bond with Paolo is challenged by Luis Secunda,
a well-educated man who moves in nearby. Some violence. For senior high
and older readers. Batchelder Honor. 2003.
BR 17259
##
The House of the Scorpion
BR 17298
by Nancy Farmer
3 volumes
In a future where humans despise clones, Matt has special privileges as
the young clone of El Patr?n?the 140-year-old leader of a corrupt drug
empire. When Matt gets a glimpse of his fate, he rebels. Some violence
and some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. Newbery
Honor Book; National Book Award. 2002.
BR 17298
##
Harley's Ninth
BR 17312
by Cat Bauer
2 volumes
For sixteen-year-old Harley Columba, October 9th is a momentous day,
featuring her opening in a New York City gallery, a fight and
reconciliation with her newly found father, and the arrival of her
period five days late. Sequel to Harley, like a Person (BR 13382). Some
descriptions of sex. For senior high readers. 2007.
BR 17312
##
The Hooded Hawke: An Elizabeth I Mystery
BR 17325
by Karen Harper
2 volumes
England, 1569. Queen Elizabeth Tudor and her court, which includes
Francis Drake, are traveling in the countryside to escape the London
summer when archers attack them and kill the queen's falconer.
Elizabeth and her herbalist Meg Milligrew investigate the crime?
suspecting political rivals, Spanish enemies, and even the queen's
relatives. 2007.
BR 17325
##
Play Dirty
BR 17340
by Sandra Brown
4 volumes
Former quarterback Griff Burkett,just released from jail after serving
time for throwing a game for the mob, is hired by Texas paraplegic
millionaire Foster Speakman to impregnate his wife Laura. Griff takes
the money while being stalked by crooked Dallas cop Stanley Rodarte.
Explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17340
##
The S?ance
BR 17341
by Heather Graham
3 volumes
A series of murders in Orlando was originally pinned on a cop who was
shot and killed. When the murders begin again, the cop's ghost asks
reluctant Christina Hardy to help prove his innocence posthumously and
catch the real killer. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and
strong language. Bestseller. 2007.
BR 17341
##
Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes
BR 17357
by Maureen Johnson
2 volumes
Timid seventeen-year-old Ginny receives from her recently deceased
favorite aunt a packet of mysterious envelopes that send Ginny from New
Jersey on a scavenger hunt across Europe. Along the way Ginny meets new
people, finds love, and has adventures that transform her life. For
senior high readers. 2005.
BR 17357
##
Limitations
BR 17358
by Scott Turow
2 volumes
Appellate court judge George Mason, from Personal Injuries (BR 12406),
deliberates the case of four men charged with raping an African
American teenager. As George considers the statute of limitations, he
confronts memories of his own sexual indiscretion. Some explicit
descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006.
BR 17358
##
Back on Blossom Street
BR 17360
by Debbie Macomber
3 volumes
Colette, a young widow who left her job after an affair with her boss;
Alix, a jittery bride-to-be; and flower store owner Susannah join A
Good Yarn's newest knitting class. Under instructor Lydia's tutelage,
they learn to make prayer shawls?and to cope with their problems. Some
descriptions of sex. 2007.
BR 17360
##
Up in Honey's Room
BR 17362
by Elmore Leonard
2 volumes
Federal marshal Carl Webster, from Hot Kid (BR 16125), travels to
Detroit in 1944 to search for escaped German POWs. Webster interviews
beautiful Honey Deal, the divorced wife of Nazi meatcutter Walter
Schoen, and investigates Ukrainian spy Vera Mezwa. Strong language and
some violence. 2007.
BR 17362
##
The Lottery and Other Stories
BR 17368
by Shirley Jackson
2 volumes
Twenty-five short stories ranging from adventure to horror. In the
title piece, a village puts a terrifying twist on the luck of the draw.
In "The Witch" a stranger on a train regales a young boy with a
chilling tale of murder. Some violence. 1948.
BR 17368
##
Howard Who? Stories
BR 17370
by Howard Waldrop
2 volumes
Twelve short stories. In "Heirs of the Perisphere" a robot dog, duck,
and rodent spontaneously animated in a long-abandoned cartoon automaton
factory find a world much different from their own. Also includes the
Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning "The Ugly Chickens" and "Horror,
We Got." 1986.
BR 17370
##
Slaughterhouse-Five; or, The Children's Crusade?a Duty-Dance with Death
BR 17373
by Kurt Vonnegut
2 volumes
Billy Pilgrim, adrift in time, randomly revisits past and present
manifestations: senile widower stalked by an assassin, hopeful young
newlywed, giraffe on the planet Tralfamadore?where time is an illusion?
and, most crucially, American POW during the firebombing of Dresden in
World War II. Strong language. 1969.
BR 17373
##
Knots
BR 17377
by Nuruddin Farah
4 volumes
Mogadiscio, Somalia. Cambara returns to her native land from Toronto
after the accidental death of her son. Cambara reclaims her parents'
house from a local warlord, organizes a play with the help of women
activists, and falls in love. Companion to Links (BR 16276). 2007.
BR 17377
##
To Have and Have Not
BR 17381
by Ernest Hemingway
2 volumes
Key West, Florida. Swindled by an American who chartered his boat for
deep-sea fishing, Harry Morgan turns to smuggling goods from Cuba to
provide for his family. Changing his moral compass, Harry progresses
from running rum to transporting riskier human contraband. Some strong
language. 1937.
BR 17381
##
The Land of Mango Sunsets
BR 17385
by Dorothea Benton Frank
3 volumes
New York socialite Miriam Swanson, estranged from her grown sons, has
become a miserable social pariah since her divorce. But, after visiting
her aging hippie mother in Sullivans Island, South Carolina, Miriam
changes her attitude. With the help of her tenants she begins to enjoy
life. 2007.
BR 17385
##
A Version of the Truth
BR 17476
by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
2 volumes
Topanga Canyon, California. Widowed, dyslexic high school dropout
Cassie lies on her resum? to obtain a local university job assisting
animal behavior professor Conner. Cassie, already a wildlife expert,
discovers a different world of education, refinement, and love. Strong
language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
BR 17476
##
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_Books for Children_
The following books were recently produced for the NLS
program. To order books, contact your braille-lending
library.
Children's Nonfiction
Canterbury Tales
BR 17220
retold by Barbara Cohen
1 volume
Four of Geoffrey Chaucer's tales retold in modern English. The nun's
priest recounts the barnyard adventures of prideful rooster
Chauntecleer, the pardoner teaches a lesson about greed, the wife of
Bath relates a baffled knight's dilemma, and the franklin celebrates
courtly love. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1988.
BR 17220
##
Venturing the Deep Sea
BR 17353
by Laurie Lindop
1 volume
Discusses the relatively uncharted realm of the deep sea and a
collection of data and specimens that biologists and geologists
gathered using underwater cameras, remotely operated robot explorers,
and manned submersibles. Examines mid-ocean ridges, hydrothermal vents,
and bioluminescent creatures. Describes a submarine expedition in the
Arctic. For grades 5-8. 2006.
BR 17353
##
Chasing Tornadoes
BR 17355
by Laurie Lindop
1 volume
Explains the formation of tornadoes and the science of forecasting
their arrival. Discusses the contributions of "storm chasers," who
conduct experiments from airplanes and ground vehicles in the section
of the midwestern United States known as Tornado Alley. Features
scientist Ted Fujita and his rating scale. For grades 5-8. 2003.
BR 17355
##
Hip-Hop: A Short History
BR 17376
by Rosa Waters
1 volume
Traces the musical movement that began in neighborhoods in the Bronx in
the 1970s and became a major cultural, political, and philanthropic
force around the world. Discusses hip-hop's African origins and other
influences in its development. Focuses on the positive aspects of the
form. For grades 5-8. 2007.
BR 17376
##
Dinosaur Tracks
BR 17390
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
1 volume
Explains that fossils of dinosaur footprints found today are the result
of tracks made and preserved millions of years ago. Includes an
activity for making your own fossil handprints or footprints. For
grades 2-4. 2007.
BR 17390
##
Should I Play the Piano?
BR 17483
by Nicola Barber
1 volume
Explains how a piano works, what types of music can be played on it,
and who some of the famous players are. Offers suggestions for finding
a teacher. For grades 3-6. 2007.
BR 17483
##
Should I Play the Guitar?
BR 17484
by Richard Spilsbury
1 volume
Presents the history of the instrument and the music that can be played
on it. Explains the parts of the guitar and how they work together to
produce sound. Discusses the advantages of learning and playing this
instrument and deciding whether it is right for you. For grades 3-6.
2007.
BR 17484
##
###
Children's Fiction
The Noonday Friends
BR 16609
by Mary Stolz
1 volume
Franny Davis enjoys spending lunchtime with her best friend Simone
Orgella, because after school Franny is busy with lots of household
responsibilities. She worries that Simone prefers her rich friend Lila,
who has more time to play. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. 1965.
BR 16609
##
Things Not Seen
BR 17135
by Andrew Clements
2 volumes
When fifteen-year-old Bobby wakes up and can't see his body, his
relationship with the physical world and his parents changes. He
confides his invisibility situation to new friend Alicia, who was
blinded two years before, and they try to figure out what happened to
him. For grades 6-9. Schneider Family Book Award. 2002.
BR 17135
##
Joey Pigza Loses Control
BR 17300
by Jack Gantos
1 volume
In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Joey is spending the
summer with his long-absent alcoholic dad, who convinces Joey to stop
wearing his medication patches. Soon wired again, Joey clashes with his
dad's own out-of-control personality. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor
Book. 2000.
BR 17300
##
The Wanderer
BR 17302
by Sharon Creech
2 volumes
Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic
voyage by sailboat, along with other relatives, to visit their
grandfather Bompie in England. The family's journey of discovery
becomes especially important for Sophie, who was adopted only three
years ago. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. 2000.
BR 17302
##
Jackson Jones and the Curse of the Outlaw Rose
BR 17310
by Mary Quattlebaum
1 volume
Elderly gardener Mr. Kerring enlists ten-year-old Jackson and his
friend Reuben to "rustle roses" from a graveyard. Poison ivy, broken
bones, and stinging bees make the boys believe that the rose cutting is
cursed. Sequel to Jackson Jones and Mission Greentop (BR 17103). For
grades 3-6. 2006.
BR 17310
##
Star in the Storm
BR 17366
by Joan Hiatt Harlow
1 volume
1912. Twelve-year-old Maggie's Newfoundland dog Sirius is a valued
member of her family. But all non-sheepherding dogs are outlawed, so
Maggie hides Sirius. When a steamship founders during a storm, Maggie
must decide whether to send Sirius to rescue passengers or keep him
safely hidden. For grades 3-6. 2000.
BR 17366
##
Our Only May Amelia
BR 17367
by Jennifer L. Holm
2 volumes
In 1899, twelve-year-old May Amelia lives with her Finnish American
family in the small Washington community of Nasel. A tomboy with seven
brothers, May becomes anxious about her family's bad luck. Some strong
language. For grades 4-7. Newbery Honor Book. 1999.
BR 17367
##
Penny from Heaven
BR 17369
by Jennifer L. Holm
2 volumes
New Jersey, 1953. During the summer, eleven-year-old Penny carries her
uncle Dominic's lucky bean, almost loses her arm, reconciles with her
mother's beau, and discovers the cause of her father's death. Best of
all, she reunites her feuding family. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor
Book. 2006.
BR 17369
##
Wringer
BR 17372
by Jerry Spinelli
1 volume
Palmer LaRue dreads turning ten, the age at which boys become wringers?
those who break the necks of wounded birds at the town's annual pigeon
shoot. A pigeon appears at Palmer's window and becomes his pet, a fact
that the boy conceals until the day of the shoot, when he faces a tough
moral decision. For grades 4-7. Newbery Honor Book. 1997.
BR 17372
##
Lily's Crossing
BR 17375
by Patricia Reilly Giff
1 volume
In the summer of 1944, Lily goes to Rockaway Beach, New York, with her
grandmother. There Lily meets Albert, a young Hungarian refugee orphan
who fled from the Nazis. When Lily tells lies to impress Albert, there
are unexpected consequences. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. 1997.
BR 17375
##
Muggie Maggie
BR 17378
by Beverly Cleary
1 volume
Third-grader Maggie refuses to learn cursive writing. After consulting
with the principal, her parents, and a psychologist, Maggie's teacher
appoints Maggie mail messenger and has her deliver notes that are
written in cursive. Maggie suspects the messages concern her and
finally teaches herself to read them. For grades 2-4. 1990.
BR 17378
##
Squirrel's World
BR 17379
by Lisa Moser
1 volume
This four-chapter tale follows a cheerful, busy squirrel who is always
on the "go, go, go." Squirrel, who likes to play "leap, leap,
leapfrog," and Turtle, who prefers "sleep, sleep, sleepfrog," find
something they both like in "the perfect game." Easy reader. For grades
K-3. 2007.
BR 17379
##
Dear Emma
BR 17380
by Johanna Hurwitz
1 volume
New York City, 1910. Eighth-grader Dossi, a Russian Jewish immigrant,
writes to her Vermont friend Emma, whom she met on a Fresh Air Fund
vacation, as told in Faraway Summer (BR 11930). Dossi describes her new
brother-in-law, the diphtheria epidemic, and the Triangle Shirtwaist
Factory fire. For grades 5-8. 2002.
BR 17380
##
A Dog for Life
BR 17382
by L.S. Matthews
1 volume
John Hawkins, his older brother Tom, and their dog Mouse can read one
another's thoughts. But that doesn't help when Tom becomes seriously
ill and his mother plans to take Mouse to the pound. Instead John and
Mouse run away. For grades 4-7. 2006.
BR 17382
##
The Silver Donkey
BR 17384
by Sonya Hartnett
1 volume
France, World War I. An English army deserter, blinded by war and
clutching a small silver donkey good-luck charm, is discovered in the
woods by two young sisters. He relates four tales about donkeys while
the girls arrange his return home across the Channel. For grades 5-8.
2004.
BR 17384
##
Meet the Austins
BR 17486
by Madeleine L'Engle
2 volumes
The arrival of ten-year-old, spoiled, recently orphaned Maggy Hamilton
disrupts the happy routines of the Austin family. Maggy annoys and
exasperates siblings Vicky, Rob, Suzy, and John as they struggle to
understand her. For grades 5-8. 1960.
BR 17486
##
###
Braille Magazines
The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library
of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal
subscriptions to these magazines. For information
on the availability of specific magazines, consult the
library that send you braille materials.
Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly)
Braille Book Review (bimonthly)
Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly)
Braille Music Magazine (British monthly)
Conundrum (British monthly)
Cooking Light (10 issues)
ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly)
Harper's (literary; monthly)
Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo
     Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at
     Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly)
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly)
Ladies' Home Journal (monthly)
Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues)
Muse (for children; 10 issues)
The Musical Mainstream (quarterly)
National Geographic (monthly)
The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly)
News (NLS quarterly)
Parenting (monthly except January and July)
PC World (personal computing; monthly)
Playboy (monthly)
Poetry (11 issues)
Popular Communications (monthly)
Popular Mechanics (monthly)
Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)
Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues)
Science News (weekly)
Seventeen (for teens; monthly)
Short Stories (British monthly)
Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly)
Stone Soup (children's writings; 5 issues)
Update (NLS quarterly)
The Washington Post Book World (weekly)
The following sports schedules are also available:
American Baseball League Schedule
National Baseball League Schedule
National Basketball Association Schedule
National Football League Schedule
National Hockey League Schedule
Women's National Basketball Association Schedule
###