Braille Book Review, Vol. 69, No. 1, January-February 2000

Braille Book Review
January-February 2000
Volume 69, Number 1

_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 2000

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

Braille Book Review                               
January-February 2000                        

In Brief 

National Advisory Group seeks your advice

The members of the National Advisory Group on Collection
Building Activities wish to thank their fellow patrons and
librarians for their input concerning the NLS program. 
Please be assured that your ideas and suggestions were
important and were thoroughly discussed in the committee's
deliberations.  
     The group will meet again at NLS on May 24-26, 2000. 
Please continue to assist us by contacting committee members
or your cooperating library with your suggestions.  Input
from readers is the key ingredient in the success of our
program.  The NLS National Advisory Group represents you!

Representatives from consumer organizations

American Council of the Blind
Mr. John Taylor
2012 40th Place
Des Moines, IA 50310

Blinded Veterans Association
Ms. Corrine A. Blank
307 Yoakum Parkway
Alexandria, VA 22304

National Federation of the Blind
Mrs. Barbara Walker
2224 South 35th Street
Lincoln, NE 68506

Reader-at-large representatives

Midlands Region--includes the following:  Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma,
and Wisconsin

Prof. Gary Adelman
910 W. White Street
Champaign, IL 61821

Northern Region--includes the following:  Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia

Mr. Michael Rickman
15 Yandow Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403

Southern Region--includes the following:  Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North
Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and Virgin Islands

Mr. Michael Duke
4911 Old Canton Road, Apt. 239
Jackson, MS 39211

Western Region--includes the following:  Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota,
Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Mr. Michael Jones
180 Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80226-8067

***

Braille catalogs produced for children and adults
Two new braille catalogs, For Younger Readers 1996-1997 and
Braille Books 1997-1998, have been sent to readers who
ordered them.  For copies of these catalogs, contact your
network library.
     The three-volume For Younger Readers 1996-1997 contains
children's books produced in braille during the two-year
period.  Titles are listed by subject category in nonfiction
and fiction sections.  The catalog also contains lists of
PRINT/BRAILLE books, books for Very Young Readers (preschool
to grade 2), and selected young adult books suitable for
older children.  
     The six-volume braille edition of Braille Books 1997-
1998 contains titles produced in braille for adults and
young adults arranged by subject category under nonfiction
and fiction headings.  There is also an index to bestsellers
and a separate list of young adult titles.
     Both catalogs are also available through the NLS home
page, www.loc.gov/nls.  The on-line edition of the
children's catalog also contains juvenile titles recorded on
cassette during 1996 and 1997.

Magazines in Special Media 1998 now available in braille 
A braille edition of the NLS directory to special-format
magazines is now available from network libraries and has
been sent to readers who ordered it.  This publication lists
all NLS-produced magazines and other magazines available for
purchase, loan, or free subscription from other agencies in
a variety of special formats: braille, cassette, computer
diskette, disc, electronic access, large print, and Moon
type. Magazines are listed alphabetically and also in
separate lists by media.
     The directory is also available on the NLS web site,
www.loc.gov/nls.

Medicare information available
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has produced
a two-volume braille edition of  The Medicare and You 2000
Handbook, which is now available through network libraries. 
Patrons may also request single copies from the Medicare
Hotline at 1-800-633-4227.  
     The publication describes types of privately sold
health insurance policies that supplement the Medicare plan
and includes a complete phone listing of federal and state
offices that assist consumers with matters related to health
insurance. 

Newsstand
The following announcements 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.  Items mentioned, however,
are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not
imply endorsement.

Two new books ready at National Braille Press 
National Braille Press  (NBP) has just produced two books
about the Internet.  Captured by the Net covers how to use
the Internet with speech or braille access.  Learn how to
comparison shop for service providers, which hardware and
software products work best for blind users, which search
tools are speech- and braille-friendly, plus much more
useful resource information for blind individuals.  The book
is available in braille or PortaBook (braille files on disk)
for $19.99.
     Shop Online the Lazy Way describes how to buy
everything from boots to poetry, houses to tents, via the
Internet.  This book was not written specifically for blind
users but contains much useful information on shopping
without wasting time.  It also contains useful web sites. 
Available in braille and PortaBook (TM) for $13.95.
     Contact National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street,
Boston, MA 02115; telephone 800-548-7323.  Or visit their
web site at www.nbp.org

New publication on adaptive technology
AFB Press is offering subscribers a new resource for
obtaining information about adaptive technology and visual
impairment.   AccessWorld: Technology for Consumers with
Visual Impairments is produced six times a year in print,
braille, and audiocassette formats.  Each issue describes
new products, techniques, books, videos, and tips on using
adaptive technology.  Subscriptions are available from AFB
Press; 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300; New York, NY 10001. (212)
502-7651 (tel);  (212) 502-7774 (fax); e-mail: 
cboston@afb.net; web site: http://www.afb.org  
Subscription:  $29.95 per year

The following information is reprinted from Talking Book
Topics, January-February 2000.

For younger readers

For Younger Readers 1996-1997, cassette edition, has been
sent to patrons who ordered it on the most recent patron
survey and is available through your local library.  The
three-cassette catalog contains books that have been
recorded on audiocassette.  It includes nonfiction and
fiction titles written for children and young adults--from
preschool through junior high readers.

Medicare publications in special formats
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the federal
agency that administers the Medicare program, has produced
two Medicare-related publications in special formats. The
1999 Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare has
been recorded on cassette in English and Spanish.  The
booklet describes ten types of privately sold health
insurance, often referred to as Medigap policies, which
supplement Medicare.
     Both English and Spanish editions of the Guide are also
available online at the web site: www.medicare.gov.  The
two-cassette English and 
three-cassette Spanish versions refer listeners to an (800)
toll-free number for additional health insurance
information.  NLS patrons may order the audiocassette
version of the Guide from their network libraries.  The free
booklet is also available directly from HCFA at 1-800-633-
4227.  These publications are also available online in large
print at the web site:  www.medicare.gov.

###
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."

_Nonfiction_

Run to the Mountain: The Story of a Vocation; the Journals
of Thomas Merton, Volume 1, 1939-1941.
BR 11527.
by Thomas Merton.
5 volumes.
This volume of Merton's diaries recalls events as America
stands on the brink of war and the author, on the threshold
of a religious vocation. Entries describe the intellectual
and quotidian life of the young writer and college
instructor, and his spiritual journey from the secular world
to monastic seclusion. 1995.
BR 11527.
##

###
09
The Only Math Book You'll Ever Need.
BR 11659.
by Stanley Kogelman and Barbara R. Heller.
3 volumes.
A practical guide for "adults who want to deal effectively
with the math in their lives." Explains mathematics for
financial planning and income tax purposes, making consumer
decisions, household budgeting, home projects, cooking,
recreation, and more. 1994.
BR 11659.
##

Ideas in Chemistry: A History of the Science.
BR 11715.
by David Knight.
3 volumes.
Knight argues that even though the field of chemistry "is
certainly not dead, nor is it asleep," he sees it "as having
a glorious future behind it." Through a series of essays, he
tracks the intellectual and institutional history in which
chemistry is seen as an occult science, a mechanical
science, a deductive science, and, finally, a "service
science." 1992.
BR 11715.
##

The Internet for Dummies.
BR 11774.
by John R. Levine and others.
4 volumes.
Describes what the Internet is and how to use it. Advises on
choosing a service, children's use, and shopping online.
Explains aspects such as e-mail, web pages, and netiquette;
defines terminology; and answers frequently asked questions.
1998.
BR 11774.
##

101 Things You Don't Know about Science and No One Else Does
Either.
BR 11846.
by James Trefil.
3 volumes.
The author, an educator and National Public Radio
commentator, presents short essays on scientific topics. He
considers questions being researched in the 1990s such as:
Is the climate getting warmer? Can humans live forever? What
causes cancer? He then summarizes the progress that has been
made. For senior high and older readers. 1996.
BR 11846.
##

The Learning Highway: Smart Students and the Net.
BR 11848.
by Trevor Owen and Ron Owston.
3 volumes.
Emphasizes how high school and undergraduate students can
use the Internet for learning. Covers how to express search
needs online, the multiple functions of web-based browsers,
research strategies on the web, and practical examples of
Internet projects. Some strong language. For senior high and
older readers. 1998.
BR 11848.
##

Sybil.
BR 11940.
by Flora Rheta Schreiber.
4 volumes.
In an account of the first psychoanalysis of a person with
multiple personality disorder, the author relates the
eleven-year treatment of Sybil Dorsett (a pseudonym), who
unknowingly assumes sixteen different personalities. During
her treatment, assisted with drugs and hypnosis, Sybil's
illness is traced to a battered childhood tied to a
schizophrenic mother and a derelict father. Violence. 1973.
BR 11940.
##

Report from Part One.
BR 11948.
by Gwendolyn Brooks.
2 volumes.
Autobiographical writings and interviews with the poet
laureate born in 1917. Contains a brief account of her
childhood, marriage, family, and career. Describes her
increasing awareness of her racial heritage and her role as
an African American poet. Includes an appendix of personal
entries entitled "Collage." 1972.
BR 11948.
##

Learning to Love: Exploring Solitude and Freedom; the
Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 6, 1966-1967.
BR 11975.
by Thomas Merton.
4 volumes.
During 1966 and 1967, Merton moves from a period of monastic
routine into an intense love affair with a student nurse,
then back to the quiet life of contemplation. He discusses
his emergence from the experience with a deeper
understanding of love and a renewed commitment to his
religious vocation. 1997.
BR 11975.
##

The Other Side of the Mountain: The End of the Journey; the
Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 7, 1967-1968.
BR 11978.
by Thomas Merton.
4 volumes.
Chronicles the last two years of Merton's life, during the
political and social upheaval of the Vietnam War era. He
travels widely, visiting American seminaries and venturing
to India, Ceylon, and Thailand--where a tragic accident ends
his life in 1968. 1998.
BR 11978.
##

Risking.
BR 11983.
by David Viscott.
2 volumes.
A psychiatrist underscores the need to take risks in order
to grow and change in all areas of life. He demonstrates why
people should make choices and decisions based on their own
goals rather than the desires of others. 1977.
BR 11983.
##

Just People _and Other Poems for Young Readers_ and
_Paper/Pen/Poem: A Young Writer's Way to Begin_.
BR 11992.
by Kathi Appelt.
1 volume.
Collection of twenty-two poems describing personal reactions
to objects and events such as birds, pebbles, a first kiss,
and the death of a loved one. The second section provides
background information on each poem with an invitation to
the reader to write about suggested topics. For junior and
senior high readers. 1997.
BR 11992.
##

Black Zodiac.
BR 11995.
by Charles Wright.
1 volume.
An anthology of twenty poems examining man's place in the
universe. In the title piece, Wright interweaves memories
with descriptions of the physical world searching for
meaning. 1998 Winner of the National Book Critics Circle and
the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. 1997.
BR 11995.
##

Wounds of Passion: A Writing Life.
BR 11998.
by bell hooks.
2 volumes.
In this sequel to _Bone Black:_ _Memories of Girlhood (BR
10958)_, noted African American feminist bell hooks recalls
her early life, struggling to write and to earn a doctorate.
She recalls her long and intense relationship with a fellow
author and her decision finally to leave him. Strong
language and descriptions of sex. 1997.
BR 11998.
##

The Other America: Poverty in the United States.
BR 11999.
by Michael Harrington.
2 volumes.
Originally written in 1962, the book depicts the poverty
that existed in the United States at that time. The author
surveys social classes and focuses on unskilled workers, the
aged, and racial minorities from coast to coast. In an
afterword to the 1981 edition, he analyzes subsequent
events. Introduction written in 1993 by Irving Howe. 1981.
BR 11999.
##

The Ride down Mt. Morgan.
BR 12063.
by Arthur Miller.
1 volume.
A two-act play wherein a middle-aged man confronts the
decisions he has made and their effect on others.
Hospitalized after a car accident, Lyman Felt admits being a
bigamist and realizes the hurt and humiliation he has caused
both of the women and his children. Some strong language.
1991.
BR 12063.
##

Women in Praise of the Sacred: Forty-Three Centuries of
Spiritual Poetry by Women.
BR 12066.
edited by Jane Hirshfield.
2 volumes.
Anthology of poetry, song, and prayer--a record of intimacy
with the sacred--by women of various cultures and
traditions. Arranged in chronological order by writer;
biographical sketches precede the selections. 1994.
BR 12066.
##

Slow Motion: A True Story.
BR 12069.
by Dani Shapiro.
2 volumes.
The author describes dropping out of college to become the
mistress of her roommate's wealthy stepfather and turning
her life around a few years later after her parents are in a
serious accident. Shapiro stops drinking, leaves her lover,
and returns to school at Sarah Lawrence to become a writer.
Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998.
BR 12069.
##

The Communist Manifesto.
BR 12070.
by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
1 volume.
Political and economic theory of social organization, first
published as the platform of the Communist League.
Anticapitalist work based on collective government ownership
and democratic management of production and distribution of
goods. 1848.
BR 12070.
##

The Three Sisters.
BR 12074.
by Anton Chekhov.
1 volume.
Olga is an old-maid schoolteacher, Masha is unhappily
married, and Irina works in a telegraph office. The sisters
are overcome with boredom following the death of their
father, commander of a Russian brigade. When their brother
marries a country girl who tries to control everyone, the
three find a new purpose in life. 1901.
BR 12074.
##

Maya Angelou: Journey of the Heart.
BR 12078.
by Jayne Pettit.
1 volume.
Presents the life of Maya Angelou from her childhood through
her years as a poet, author, civil rights activist,
entertainer, and professor. Describes how her creativity and
hard work have promoted the success of African Americans
through poetry, writing, and teaching. For junior and senior
high readers. 1996.
BR 12078.
##

Wooroloo.
BR 12103.
by Frieda Hughes.
1 volume.
The daughter of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath expresses
herself in forty-six poems. Describes Australian landscapes,
animals dead and alive, feelings about incidents in her
personal life, and women's issues. 1998.
BR 12103.
##

Slackjaw.
BR 12115.
by Jim Knipfel.
2 volumes.
At age twelve, Knipfel's uncle told him he "better start
learning braille," but it was years before he knew he had
retinitis pigmentosa. Then a brain lesion began causing
erratic behavior. With humor and honesty, Knipfel recalls
his reluctance to accept his condition and how he has coped.
Strong language. 1999.
BR 12115.
##

The Presence of Absence: On Prayers and an Epiphany.
BR 12126.
by Doris Grumbach.
1 volume.
Describes the author's long and ongoing spiritual journey
"to recover a sense of the presence of God." Reflects on
religious problems and on readings of Dag Hammarskjld,
Kathleen Norris, and Thomas Kelley, among others. Discusses
the qualities of prayer. 1998.
BR 12126.
##

The Way Winter Comes: Alaska Stories.
BR 12162.
by Sherry Simpson.
1 volume.
A journalist examines Alaskan wildlife and wilderness in
eight essays. In the title piece, she visits an
archaeological site in Barrow in mid-September on the cold,
first day of winter. Through descriptions and reflections,
she seeks to understand Alaska as a geographic and
metaphysical location. 1998.
BR 12162.
##

Legends.
BR 12180.
retold by Tana Reiff.
1 volume.
Nine famous legends from around the world retold in simple
language. Begins with a West African tale about Anansi, the
spider. Includes stories from Mexico, England, Canada,
Persia, Switzerland, and Ireland. Grade 1 braille. 1991.
BR 12180.
##

###
_Fiction_

Unicorn's Blood.
BR 11881.
by Patricia Finney.
4 volumes.
As a young princess, Elizabeth I wrote of her affair with
Thomas Seymour and of Mary Queen of Scots as the royal heir
in a diary. Now queen, Elizabeth must find the stolen
journal--identified by an embroidered unicorn with a ruby
eye--before her opponents do. Companion to _Firedrake's Eye
(BR 11880)_. Some strong language. 1998.
BR 11881.
##

The Daddy Clock.
BR 11894.
by Judy Markey.
2 volumes.
At forty-four, divorced Chicago sportswriter Charlie Feldman
wants to be a parent. He confides this to coworker Lacy
Gazzar, who at thirty-five is about to put both her daughter
and herself through college. She decides to help Charlie
find the mother-to-be of his child, as long as it isn't
Lacy. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
1998.
BR 11894.
##

_The_ _Queen of Spades_: _The Negro of Peter the Great_;
_Dubrovsky_; _The Captain's_ _Daughter_.
BR 11914.
by Alexander Pushkin.
3 volumes.
Four stories by the nineteenth-century Russian writer. _The
Queen of Spades_, written in 1833, tells of a young
officer's obsession with winning at cards. His subterfuge,
intended to learn an elderly countess's secret for success,
has dire consequences for both of them. 1962.
BR 11914.
##

Brave New World.
BR 11922.
by Aldous Huxley.
2 volumes.
A satire set in a future technocratic society in which
people are rigidly classified by the state and kept happy by
a government-administered drug. When two bureaucrats, Lenina
and Bernard, travel to a "savage" reservation, they "rescue"
a woman and her adult son, abandoned long ago, and return
them to civilization. For senior high and older readers.
1946.
BR 11922.
##

Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy.
BR 11950.
edited by Robert Silverberg.
6 volumes.
Each author of these eleven tales has set a story in his or
her well-established universe. Some episodes take place at
earlier times in the history of their worlds, and some
simply enhance sideline events. Includes work of Stephen
King, Orson Scott Card, Ursula K. Le Guin, Terry Goodkind,
Anne McCaffrey, and Robert Jordan. Some strong language.
1998.
BR 11950.
##

The Learning Tree.
BR 11994.
by Gordon Parks.
3 volumes.
The story of a black family living in a small Kansas town
during the 1920s, when African Americans were relegated to
second-class citizenship and terrorized by racial violence.
Adolescent Newt experiences his first romance, tangles with
the town tough, and wrestles with his awe of death. Strong
language and violence. For high school and older readers.
1963.
BR 11994.
##

The Giant, O'Brien.
BR 11996.
by Hilary Mantel.
2 volumes.
London, 1782. A Scottish doctor, John Hunter, wants to
acquire the body of the giant Irishman, Charlie O'Brien, for
research purposes. But O'Brien is still alive, earning money
as a spectacle, and he does not want to pre-sell his corpse
for experimentation. Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. 1998.
BR 11996.
##

Running Wild.
BR 11997.
by Thomas J. Dygard.
1 volume.
Pete Holman, always in trouble, is released from police
custody to Coach Wilson on the condition that Pete join the
football team. Pete reluctantly agrees, knowing his
incorrigible friends will mock him. But, learning he is a
natural receiver, he discovers purpose and friendship in
being part of the team. For junior and senior high readers.
1996.
BR 11997.
##

Hunger: A Novella and Stories.
BR 12051.
by Lan Samantha Chang.
2 volumes.
A novella and five short stories revealing stresses within
the family when Chinese immigrants confront cultural
difficulties in America. In the title piece, a frustrated
musician is determined that one of his daughters will have a
musical career even at the expense of a loving home. 1998.
BR 12051.
##

The Dean's List.
BR 12055.
by Jon Hassler.
4 volumes.
In this sequel to _Rookery Blues (BR 11344)_, Leland
Edwards, decades later, is the dean at Rookery State
College, divorced, and living with his demanding mother. In
between fund raising and staving off sexual harassment
charges, he falls in love. 1997.
BR 12055.
##

Sweet Baby.
BR 12056.
by Sharon Sala.
2 volumes.
At age six, Victoria Lancaster finds her house empty and no
one at home, destroying her sense of security. Now a
successful photojournalist, Tory finally feels safe with her
live-in boyfriend. But while developing pictures for a
story, the face of a man begins to haunt her. Some
descriptions of sex. 1998.
BR 12056.
##

Cat Raise the Dead.
BR 12058.
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy.
2 volumes.
Joe Grey, a house cat, and Dulcie, the library cat of Molena
Point, California, investigate the disappearance of some
senior citizens while the two felines are participating in a
nursing-home pet program. Joe is also stalking a "cat
burglar," but he is insulted by the absurd title attached to
such a thief. Some violence. 1997.
BR 12058.
##

The Stargazey: A Richard Jury Mystery.
BR 12059.
by Martha Grimes.
3 volumes.
Richard Jury is so strangely intrigued by the attractive
woman wearing a luxurious fur who boards the bus he is
riding, that he follows her when she leaves. A few days
later, Jury learns a woman matching her description is found
dead. Jury's investigation leads him to an art-theft ring
and another murder. 1998.
BR 12059.
##

The Healing.
BR 12064.
by Gayl Jones.
3 volumes.
Harlan Jane Eagleton follows her thoughts from her present
itinerant faith-healing practice to her former job as
manager for a female rock singer. A series of flashbacks
include a trip to East Africa with her medical
anthropologist husband who was studying a Masai medicine
woman. Some strong language. 1998.
BR 12064.
##

A Different Life.
BR 12065.
by Lois Keith.
3 volumes.
Libby Starling is a typical fifteen-year-old--worried about
friends, exams, and boys--until she becomes seriously ill.
With a supportive family, Libby eventually accepts her
inability to walk. She becomes involved in her
rehabilitation, socializes with friends, and goes on her
first date. Some strong language. For senior high and older
readers. 1997.
BR 12065.
##

Soldier's Heart: A Novel of the Civil War.
BR 12076.
by Gary Paulsen.
1 volume.
When the war starts, fifteen-year-old Charley Goddard is
eager to join up with the Minnesota Volunteers. The physical
and mental agonies of combat change his attitude. Some
violence. For junior and senior high and older readers.
1998.
BR 12076.
##

The Life of Insects.
BR 12084.
by Victor Pelevin.
2 volumes.
A Russian novel set in a seaside resort where the characters
change from human to insect form. In one episode two
Russians, Arnold and Arthur, meet a visiting American
businessman, Sam Sacker. They fly off as mosquitoes, and Sam
insists on imbibing the blood of a man who is drunk on
cologne, with unfortunate consequences for Sam. Some strong
language and some descriptions of sex. 1996.
BR 12084.
##

The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich: A Study of the Mass-
Insanity at Smithville.
BR 12085.
by Fritz Leiber.
1 volume.
In this posthumously published story, originally sketched in
1936, a scientist is obsessed with the notion of time
travel. He conducts an experiment going back to the moment
of a woman's death, hoping to change the outcome. When the
townspeople discover her empty grave, they become incensed.
1997.
BR 12085.
##

The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child.
BR 12099.
by Francisco Jimenez.
1 volume.
Twelve interconnected short stories about the hardships of
an illegal migrant family told by the son, Panchito. "Under
the Wire" recounts how the family leaves Mexico and crawls
under barbed wire into California. Picking crops to earn
money is the top priority, with schooling squeezed in when
possible, as related in "The Circuit." Grade 1 braille.
1997.
BR 12099.
##

Prejudice: Stories about Hate, Ignorance, Revelation, and
Transformation.
BR 12101.
edited by Daphne Muse.
2 volumes.
Short stories and excerpts from novels dealing with
prejudice of many types. In "Only Approved Indians Can
Play," a basketball team forfeits a game because of some
players' ethnic identity. In "White Trash," a poor girl with
an accent is ostracized. Some strong language. For junior
and senior high readers. 1995.
BR 12101.
##

The Long Valley.
BR 12102.
by John Steinbeck.
2 volumes.
Collection of classic stories set in California and first
published in 1938, reflecting Steinbeck's interests in the
tensions between workers and owners, past and present, and
city and country. Included in this volume are Steinbeck's
"Red Pony" stories, "The Gift," "The Great Mountains," "The
Promise," and "The Leader of the People." 1938.
BR 12102.
##

The Foundation Pit.
BR 12104.
by Andrey Platonov.
2 volumes.
In this nihilistic fable written around 1929 and unpublished
during Platonov's lifetime, Soviet laborers are digging a
vast foundation pit for a building that is never
constructed. The Soviet plight is further depicted by the
difficulties encountered on a collective farm when several
of the workers are ordered to supervise the others. 1996.
BR 12104.
##

The Cat Who Saw Stars.
BR 12111.
by Lilian Jackson Braun.
2 volumes.
Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum always retreat to
his lake cottage in July. Just before they go this year,
Qwilleran learns that a young hiker has disappeared in that
area. Then, shortly after their arrival, Koko makes a
discovery on the beach that keeps Qwilleran busy. Bestseller
1998.
BR 12111.
##

The Lneburg Variation.
BR 12112.
by Paolo Maurensig.
1 volume.
Dieter Frisch is found dead in his garden on a giant
chessboard, apparently a suicide. But to those who can read
the clues, Frisch's obsession with chess and his hidden Nazi
past suggest the possibility of a belated execution. 1993.
BR 12112.
##

The Farm She Was.
BR 12118.
by Ann Mohin.
2 volumes.
Despite the urging of her social worker and minister,
ninety-year-old Irene Leahy steadfastly refuses to leave her
farm and go into a nursing home. Between their visits she
reminisces about her long seasons on the land, first as a
child and later when she took over after her father died.
1998.
BR 12118.
##

Betty Zane.
BR 12123.
by Zane Grey.
3 volumes.
Recounts the family stories about Betty Zane, the capture of
her brother Isaac by a Native American princess, Betty's
suitors, the successful defense of Fort Henry against the
British in 1782, and Betty's race for her life. Grey's first
novel about pioneer days, written in 1903. 1903.
BR 12123.
##

The Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in
the Ohio Valley.
BR 12124.
by Zane Grey.
2 volumes.
This is a version of the 1777 massacre of a small band of
Christian Native Americans who lived in the Village of Peace
founded by Moravian missionaries. It involves Lewis Wetzel
and Jonathan Zane against Jim Girty. First published in
1906. Some violence. 1906.
BR 12124.
##

And Both Shall Row: A Novella and Stories.
BR 12154.
by Beth Lordan.
2 volumes.
Stories about small-town life in the midwest. In the title
novella, two sisters grow old together. When one has a
stroke, the other reminisces about the experiences they have
shared--they have even been married to the same man. In
"Running Out__," an unemployed carpenter enjoys the
"perfect" day. 1998.
BR 12154.
##

Hope Mountain.
BR 12156.
by Jon Land.
1 volume.
Jen feels guilty that a traffic accident led to the loss of
her teenage brother's leg. At an adaptive ski school, they
meet instructor Jamie Brooks, who was a champion until an
injury sidelined his career. Matt learns quickly and
challenges Jamie to ski a dangerous trail. Some strong
language. 1998.
BR 12156.
##

The Young Lion Hunter.
BR 12159.
by Zane Grey.
2 volumes.
Rangers Dick Leslie and Jim Williams and game warden Hiram
Bent--with his trained lion-hound, Prince--are mounting an
expedition to rid Utah's Coconina Forest Preserve of
cougars. Easterners Ken Ward and his fourteen-year-old
brother, Hal, spend their vacation with the rangers lassoing
mountain lions. 1911.
BR 12159.
##

Chinook: A North-Western Story.
BR 12160.
by Max Brand.
2 volumes.
Joe Harney is a greenhorn, heading for the Alaskan
goldfields. On the way he joins up with Andrew Steen and his
great husky dog, Chinook. Together they come to the aid of a
young woman, Kate Winslow. Joe falls for Kate and helps her
out of many jams. 1929.
BR 12160.
##

Heaven in High Gear.
BR 12177.
by Joan Brady.
1 volume.
Stripper Heather Hurley meets God (in the form of Joe) at a
bar during one of her panic attacks. As she and Joe become
friends, he introduces her to seven principles that promise
spiritual health. Realizing she is unhappy, Heather tries to
change her life. Sequel to _God on a Harley (BR 11380)_.
1997.
BR 12177.
##

The Testament.
BR 12186.
by John Grisham.
3 volumes.
Billionaire Troy Phelan surprises his legal heirs by leaving
his entire estate to an illegitimate daughter, Rachel Lane.
Because she is a missionary living somewhere on the Brazil-
Bolivia border, lawyer Nate O'Riley's immediate problem is
to find her and inform her of the inheritance. Some strong
language. Bestseller 1999.
BR 12186.
##

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
BR 12212.
by Stephen King.
2 volumes.
While her brother and mother argue up ahead on the Maine
hiking trail, nine-year-old Trisha stops to relieve herself
and becomes lost for days in the wilderness. Her imaginary
conversations with Red Sox relief pitcher Tom Gordon help
her cope with the evil thing that's following her. Some
strong language. Bestseller 1999.
BR 12212.
##

East of the Mountains.
BR 12237.
by David Guterson.
2 volumes.
Retired heart surgeon and widower Ben Givens has colon
cancer and plans to commit suicide while on a hunting trip
in eastern Washington state. He sets out with his dogs, but
a series of chance encounters draws him into other people's
problems and eventually to a decision that leads him home.
Bestseller 1999.
BR 12237.
##

Seeds{END FIELD}BR.
12259 by.
Paul Fleischman .
read by 1 volume.
Transforming a trash-filled vacant lot into a community
garden began with one Vietnamese girl planting lima beans.
People of different nationalities tell how they became
involved in the effort and how friendships developed among
the gardeners. Grade 1 braille. 1997..
Grade 1 braille story about creating a community garden.
12259 by.
##

###
_Books for Children_
The following books were recently produced for the NLS
program.  To order books, contact your braille-lending
library.

_Nonfiction_

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors
Thought).
BR 11927.
by Kathleen Krull.
1 volume.
Unusual biographical facts about the personal lives of the
presidents of the United States. Discusses the presidents as
fathers, husbands, pet owners, and neighbors. Provides
information on hairstyles, favorite foods, and sports and
also some bad habits and fears. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 11927.
##

The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space.
BR 11932.
by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy.
1 volume.
The astronaut Sally Ride describes Earth, the third planet
from the sun, as viewed from a space shuttle and satellites.
Explains how ordinary cameras and instruments that measure
light gather information from space to help scientists
understand the planet's atmosphere, oceans, land mass, and
life-forms and their interactions. For grades 4-7. 1994.
BR 11932.
##

Ultimate Soccer.
BR 11962.
by Ivor Baddiel.
2 volumes.
Presents a brief background of the game of soccer, followed
by information on rules, techniques, formations, and
championships. Lists top goalscorers and summarizes
achievements of outstanding national teams. Profiles twelve
of the greatest players. Traces the history of the FIFA
World Cup. Includes a "Test Your Knowledge" quiz. For grades
5-8 and older readers. 1998.
BR 11962.
##

Stonewall.
BR 12000.
by Jean Fritz.
1 volume.
Biography of the Confederate general Thomas Jackson, who was
affectionately nicknamed "Stonewall." Orphaned at age seven,
he did not have much formal schooling. Yet he graduated from
West Point at age twenty-two. Tells how his determination
and self-discipline helped him fulfill his ambitions. For
grades 4-7. 1979.
BR 12000.
##

Pegasus.
BR 12024.
retold by Marianna Mayer.
1 volume.
When heroic Bellerophon is sent on a mission to kill the
monster Chimera, he realizes he is being sent to his doom. A
wise man advises him to seek the help of the magical winged
horse, Pegasus. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 12024.
##

Measuring Penny.
BR 12026.
by Loreen Leedy.
1 volume.
When Lisa has a homework assignment to measure something,
she chooses her dog, Penny, and she tries to measure all the
other types of dogs in the park, too. After returning home,
Lisa calculates how much food and water Penny consumes, and
she figures out the cost of having a pet--in time and money
but not in love, which can't be measured. PRINT/BRAILLE. For
grades 2-4. 1997.
BR 12026.
##

Ouch! A Tale from Grimm.
BR 12027.
retold by Natalie Babbitt.
1 volume.
When a baby boy, Marco, is born to an ordinary family, a
fortune-teller predicts he will marry a princess. But the
king puts many obstacles in his way, including an errand to
the devil. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1998.
BR 12027.
##

The Night before Christmas.
BR 12029.
by Clement Moore.
1 volume.
Original version of the well-known Christmas poem about a
visit from St. Nicholas. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3.
1998.
BR 12029.
##

Ray Charles: Soul Man.
BR 12071.
by Ruth Turk.
1 volume.
Biography of the black musician who was blinded by glaucoma
as a child. Charles left school at an early age to pursue
his musical career. He traveled from his home in Florida to
form different bands and became a popular performer of
international renown. Covers periods of Charles's life from
childhood to age sixty-three. For grades 4-7. 1996.
BR 12071.
##

Science in Ancient Rome.
BR 12081.
by Jacqueline L. Harris.
1 volume.
Discusses how Romans improved their own lives by applying
scientific knowledge originally acquired by the Egyptians
and Greeks. Describes building achievements based on the
arch, as well as metalworking, medical advances, and
measuring time. For grades 5-8. 1998.
BR 12081.
##

The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions: More than Sixty-five
Wacky, Wild, and Crazy Concoctions.
BR 12094.
by John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel.
1 volume.
Instructions for creating high-quality crafts, toys, and
modeling materials using common household ingredients. All-
time favorites such as gooey gunk, funny putty, and instant
volcano are included, as well as directions for making
fruity lip gloss, sandcastle clay, and kookie creepies.
Adult supervision is recommended. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 12094.
##

Keeping Water Clean.
BR 12098.
by Ewan McLeish.
1 volume.
Explains worldwide water problems, including pollution and
shortages, and suggests ways to prevent future crises. Gives
advice on how individuals can practice conservation at home
and in school. Includes a glossary and resources for further
information. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 12098.
##

The Great Apes.
BR 12122.
by Geoffrey C. Saign.
1 volume.
Saign describes the four species of apes--gorillas,
orangutans, chimpanzees, and their smaller cousins, bonobos-
-that are the closest living relatives of humans. Discusses
physical, emotional, intellectual, and social
characteristics, and provides information on efforts to save
these primates from extinction. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 12122.
##

The Solar System.
BR 12135.
by Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Describes the formation of the solar system and each of the
planets. Includes a glossary, index, and further sources.
For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12135.
##

Stars.
BR 12136.
by Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Explains the birth, life, and death of stars. Includes a
short history of stargazing. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12136.
##

Constellations.
BR 12137.
by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Discusses the origin, purpose, and observation of
constellations and describes their importance to ancient
civilizations. Contains a glossary and additional resources
including web sites. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12137.
##

Galaxies.
BR 12138.
by Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Introduces the concept of a galaxy and describes different
types: elliptical, spiral, and irregularly shaped galaxies.
Discusses the importance of galaxies in understanding the
universe. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12138.
##

Earth.
BR 12139.
by Larry Dane Brimner.
1 volume.
Basic facts about the planet. Contrasts ancient people's
ideas about Earth with what modern scientists think.
Describes the Earth's physical characteristics, its place in
the solar system, and its satellite, the Moon. For grades 3-
6. 1998.
BR 12139.
##

Venus.
BR 12141.
by Larry Dane Brimner.
1 volume.
Describes the planet Venus, including ancient beliefs
surrounding it as well as information gathered from several
space probes. Contains glossary and sources for additional
information. 1998.
BR 12141.
##

Project Apollo.
BR 12142.
by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Describes the eighteen missions of Project Apollo, including
the tragedy that took the lives of three astronauts as well
as the successes of landing on the Moon and linking up with
Soviet cosmonauts in space. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12142.
##

Project Gemini.
BR 12143.
by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Describes the twelve missions of Project Gemini resulting in
the first manned space flight and the first walk in space.
Explains the differences between Project Mercury and Project
Gemini, discusses problems in orbit, and provides a list of
the astronauts. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12143.
##

Project Mercury.
BR 12144.
by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
A brief history of space travel, including the six missions
of Project Mercury that led to the walk on the Moon. Lists
the astronauts who participated and the problems they
encountered. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12144.
##

Black Holes.
BR 12145.
by Paul P. Sipiera.
1 volume.
Defines and explains black holes as well as mass, gravity,
and velocity. Introduces the theories of Isaac Newton and
Albert Einstein. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 12145.
##

Mars.
BR 12153.
by Larry Dane Brimner.
1 volume.
Presents ancient beliefs and basic facts about the Red
Planet. Discusses the information sent by space probes
passing Mars and from the 1997 landing of _Pathfinder_ on
the planet's surface. Concludes with plans for further
exploration. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 12153.
##

###
_Fiction_

It's My Life.
BR 11923.
by Michael Harrison.
1 volume.
Martin's mother had ordered him straight home from school.
When she calls to check on him, Martin reaches for the phone
only to have someone grab him from behind. So begins
Martin's kidnapping, which becomes more and more bizarre as
he realizes just who his enemies really are. For grades 6-9.
1997.
BR 11923.
##

Frozen Stiff.
BR 11924.
by Sherry Shahan.
1 volume.
For the three summers since her parents' divorce, Cody and
her mother have stayed in a small Alaskan village. This
year, Cody sneaks away for an overnight kayaking trip with
her visiting cousin Derek. An advancing glacier turns the
adventure into a terrifying experience. For grades 4-7.
1998.
BR 11924.
##

The Butterfly Lion.
BR 11928.
by Michael Morpurgo.
1 volume.
When a ten-year-old boy runs away from an English boarding
school, he encounters an elderly woman who tells him about
an earlier runaway, Bertie, who had a pet white lion. Over
tea and scones, she explains why Bertie carved the image of
the lion into the hillside, and why the boy should return to
his school. For grades 3-6. 1996.
BR 11928.
##

Faraway Summer.
BR 11930.
by Johanna Hurwitz.
1 volume.
In 1910, orphaned Dossi, twelve, lives with her seamstress
sister, Ruthi, in a New York tenement. Ruthi signs Dossi up
for a Fresh Air Fund vacation on a Vermont farm. Dossi knows
the family members are puzzled by her Jewish customs, but
she can't understand why the daughter is so unfriendly to
her. For grades 5-8. 1998.
BR 11930.
##

Hush! A Thai Lullaby.
BR 12025.
by Minfong Ho.
1 volume.
A mother in the countryside of Thailand lays her baby in a
hammock. She hushes all of the animals so her baby can rest.
At the end, everyone is asleep except the baby.
PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1996.
BR 12025.
##

Josefina Saves the Day: A Summer Story.
BR 12053.
by Valerie Tripp.
1 volume.
Josefina and her family, in Santa Fe, await the arrival of
wagon trains to trade blankets and mules for goods they
need. Patrick O'Toole, a wagon scout, promises to handle the
family's transactions, but he suddenly disappears. Sequel to
_Happy Birthday, Josefina (BR 12052)_. For grades 2-4. 1998.
BR 12053.
##

Changes for Josefina: A Winter Story.
BR 12054.
by Valerie Tripp.
1 volume.
Following the family's fiesta on the Feast of the Three
Kings, Ta Dolores announces she must return home. But
knowing Ta and her pap love each other, Josefina begins
making plans. Sequel to _Josefina Saves the Day (BR 12053)_.
For grades 2-4. 1998.
BR 12054.
##

Come Back, Amelia Bedelia.
BR 12067.
by Peggy Parish.
1 volume.
Amelia Bedelia cannot keep a job because she does exactly as
she is instructed. For example, as an office clerk Amelia
jumps up and down on letters that she is asked to stamp. For
K-3. 1971.
BR 12067.
##

Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals; Beastly Fables.
BR 12072.
by Jon Scieszka.
1 volume.
Eighteen modern fables with fresh morals about bossy,
sneaky, funny, annoying, "dim-bulb" people--all disguised as
animals to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. Topics include
homework, using the telephone on the right occasion,
friendship, and dinner-table talk. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 12072.
##

Clockwork; or, All Wound Up.
BR 12077.
by Philip Pullman.
1 volume.
Long ago in a German tavern, Fritz begins telling a story
about a clockmaker. This master craftsman makes mechanical
figures so lifelike, they appear to breathe. Then Fritz's
story comes to life as the clockmaker enters the tavern. And
Karl, an apprentice clockmaker, is desperate enough to
accept this stranger's dangerous mechanical gift. For grades
5-8. 1996.
BR 12077.
##

Brian's Winter.
BR 12117.
by Gary Paulsen.
1 volume.
Thirteen-year-old Brian was rescued from the Canadian
wilderness at the end of summer in _The Hatchet (RC 30535)_.
But what if, instead, he had faced the harsh winter in the
woods? This survival story pits the stranded young
outdoorsman against the cold, loneliness, and worst of
nature. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1996.
BR 12117.
##
                                                            
Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever.
BR 12128.
by Katherine Paterson.
1 volume.
Christmas is coming, and Marvin wants to make a nicer
present than the one he made for his parents last year.
Finally he decides to make a big wreath to hang on the end
of their house trailer. But when Christmas is past, he
doesn't want the wreath taken down. For grades K-3. 1997.
BR 12128.
##

Seeing Lessons: The Story of Abigail Carter and America's
First School for Blind People.
BR 12163.
by Spring Hermann.
1 volume.
1832. Ten-year-old Abigail and her six-year-old sister,
Sophia, are among the first students chosen to attend a new
school in Boston that is solely for children who are blind.
The girls are homesick but thrilled at the chance to learn
to read, do math and handicrafts, and play the pianoforte.
For grades 4-7. 1998.
BR 12163.
##

###
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 (monthly)
Braille Book Review (bimonthly)
Braille Chess Magazine (quarterly)
Braille Music Magazine (monthly)
Conundrum (British monthly)
Cooking Light (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6]) 
Harper's (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 (10 issues)
Muse (6 issues) 
The Musical Mainstream (quarterly)
National Geographic (monthly)
The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly)
News (quarterly)
Parenting (monthly except January and July)
PC World (monthly) 
Playboy (monthly)
Poetry (monthly)
Popular Communications (monthly)
Popular Mechanics (monthly)
Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)
Rolling Stone (26 issues) 
Science News (weekly)
Seventeen (monthly)
Short Stories (monthly)
Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) 
Stone Soup (5 issues)
Update (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