Braille Book Review

January-February 2002

Volume 71, 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 2002

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 

                                        

Safe Handling of Mail

In October 2001, as part of a national campaign for

heightened awareness of safety and security concerns, the

United States Postal Service issued guidelines for safe mail

handling.  A card was sent to every postal customer in the

country containing the information reprinted here.

     The side of the card bearing the address also displays

a message from Postmaster General John E. Potter: "The U.S.

Postal Service places the highest priority on the safety of

our customers and employees and on the security of the mail. 

Please see the other side of this card for information about

safety and handling.  We want you to know we are doing

everything possible to make sure the mail is safe, and we

need your help.  Your security and peace of mind are

paramount to us."

     On the reverse, the following mail safety guidelines

appear:

What should make me suspect a piece of mail?

-  It's unexpected or from someone you don't know.

-  It's addressed to someone no longer at your address.

-  It's handwritten and has no return address or bears one

that you can't confirm is legitimate.

-  It's lopsided or lumpy in appearance.

-  It's sealed with excessive amounts of tape.

-  It's marked with restrictive endorsements such as

"Personal" or "Confidential."

-  It has excessive postage.

What should I do with a suspicious piece of mail?

-  Don't handle a letter or package that you suspect is

contaminated.

-  Don't shake it, bump it, or sniff it.

-  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

-  Notify local law enforcement authorities.

Collection Development Advisory Group seeks advice

The members of the Collection Development Advisory Group

(formerly the National Advisory Group on Collection Building

Activities) wish to thank fellow patrons and librarians for

their input concerning the NLS program.  Please be assured

that ideas and suggestions were thoroughly discussed in the

committee's deliberations.  

     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 group will meet again at NLS on May 22-24, 2002.   

Representatives from consumer organizations

American Council of the Blind

Ms. Jill O'Connell

279 Church Lane

Carlotta, CA 95528-9715

jillocon@juno.com

Blinded Veterans Association

Dr. Ronald L. Miller

1480 Aptos Drive

Turlock, CA 95382

docron@netfeed.com

National Federation of the Blind

Ms. Ever Lee Hairston

113 Greensward Lane

Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-4710

Reader-at-large representatives

Midlands Region--includes the following:  Illinois, Indiana,

Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma,

and Wisconsin

Ms. Jane L. Toleno

1815 Hillsboro Ave. N.

Golden Valley, MN 55427

jtoleno@visi.com

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

Ms. Diana Brash

919 Walnut St., Fourth Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19107

dbrash@asb.com

 

Southern Region--includes the following:  Alabama, Arkansas,

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North

Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,

Virginia, and Virgin Islands

Ms. Kathy Blackburn

8607 Delaware Court

Austin, TX 78758

kblackbn@concentric.net

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. Blas Yslas Jr.

104 S. Elm St.

South Hutchinson, KS 67505

mlyslas@msinter.net

Librarians

Midlands

Ms. Lissa Shanahan

Indiana State Library

Special Services Division

140 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 232-3684

lshanahan@statelib.lib.in.us

Northern

Ms. Renee Snowten

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Free Library of Philadelphia

919 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 683-3218

snowtenr@library.phila.gov

Southern

Mr. Randy French

Library and Resource Center

Department for the Visually Handicapped

395 Azalea Avenue

Richmond, VA 23227

(804) 371-3661

frenchra@dvh.state.va.us

Western

Ms. Sue Sugimura, Librarian

Hawaii State Library for the Blind and Physically

Handicapped

402 Kapahulu Avenue

Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 733-8444

fax: (808) 733-8449

sue@lib.state.hi.us

Children's/Young Adults

Ms. Emma Schroth

State Library of Louisiana

Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

701 North Fourth Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(225) 342-9563

eschroth@pelican.state.lib.la.us

The following additional information is reprinted from

Talking Book Topics, January-February 2002.

Magazine of the Month Selections for 2001

Two NLS programs offer readers samplings of magazines not

otherwise available through network libraries.  Subscribers

to Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the

Month receive a different magazine on audio cassette each

month.  For a free subscription to either program, contact

your cooperating library.  Although the selections are

subject to change, subscribers will receive some of the

following magazines during 2002.

Magazine of the Month 

- American Visions: The Magazine of Afro-American Culture

(the African American contribution to arts and letters)

- Craft Home and Style (original craft and home decor

projects)

- Infinite Energy (energy science and technology)

- Latin Style: The Latin Arts and Entertainment Magazine

(issues and individuals of significance in the Latino

community)

- Native Peoples (arts and lifestyles of native peoples of

the Americas)

- Rosie (movie stars, fashion, beauty, crafts, cooking, and

cultural issues, centered on talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell)

- Skeptic (investigations of controversial claims in science

and history)

- Utne Reader: The Best of the Alternate Media (writings on

politics, culture, and the environment from the independent

press)

- Where to Retire (issues related to retirement)

- Wildlife Journal: The Magazine for an Untamed World (study

and preservation of animals in the wild)

- Williams Sonoma Taste (recipes, entertainment, and

culinary experiences)

- World War II (essays and historical accounts)

Alternates: American Scientist, The Circle, E-The

Environmental Magazine, Emerge, Home Companion, Hope

Magazine, Latina Style, Military History, Oxygen, Skeptical

Inquirer, Travel 50 and Beyond, Veggie Life

Young Adult Magazine of the Month

- Calliope: Exploring World History (history for junior and

senior high readers)

- Cicada (fiction and poetry by and for teens)

- Elle Girl ((fashion and celebrity interviews for girls)

- Footsteps: African-American History for Kids (articles and

poetry)

- Frontera (Latino cultural interests including music,

literature, and entertainment)

- Mad (humor and satire)

- Martial Arts Legends (various forms of martial arts)

- Mary-Kate and Ashley Magazine (fashion, lifestyle,

celebrity interviews)

- Soccer Jr.: The Soccer Magazine for Kids (for children and

teen soccer enthusiasts)

- Teen Voices (alternative to teen gossip and fashion

magazines, written by young women)

- YM: Young and Modern (fashion and beauty for teenage

girls)

- Zillions: For Kids from Consumer Reports (consumer

information on snacks, toys, videos, and cosmetics)

Alternates: Amazing Stories, Marie-Claire, Quill & Scroll,

Sassy, 16 Magazine, Snowboarding, Teen, Twist, Worlds of

Horror 

###

_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_

Johannes Brahms: A Biography.

BR 11801.

by Jan Swafford.

8 volumes.

Using primary sources, the author documents the life of

composer Johannes Brahms in the context of the social and

political atmosphere of nineteenth-century Austria. Brahms

himself destroyed much of his personal correspondence as

well as compositions he deemed inferior. Includes musical

examples to show Brahms's developmemt. 1997.

BR 11801.

##

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House.

BR 12601.

by Cheryl Mendelson.

13 volumes.

Helpful hints on a range of domestic topics--planning and

preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning each room in a

home, preserving books and furniture, caring for pets, fire

safety, and many others. Includes guidelines for both the

novice and longtime housekeeper and bits of wisdom gained

from older relatives. Bestseller 1999.

BR 12601.

##

Frommer's 99 Washington, D.C.

BR 12653.

by Elise Hartman Ford.

5 volumes.

Tips on dining, shopping, accommodations, and recreational

activities in the Washington, D.C., area including

sightseeing and city strolls, museums and monuments,

neighborhoods and parks, nightlife and entertainment. 1999.

BR 12653.

##

The Metropolitan Opera: Stories of the Great Operas.

BR 12702.

by John W. Freeman.

6 volumes.

Describes the plots of 150 world-famous operas, featuring

works from sixteenth-century Italy through twentieth-century

America. Seventy-two composers are presented in alphabetical

order. Biographical sketches of the composers precede the

opera entries, each of which includes a list of characters

and a summary of each act. 1984.

BR 12702.

##

Mao Zedong.

BR 12736.

by Jonathan Spence.

2 volumes.

Portrays the personal and public life of the revolutionary

leader of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. Depicts a

"lord of misrule" who was relentlessly driven to achieve a

utopian, egalitarian society at any cost. Traces his youth

in Hunan province through his waning years as head of state.

1999.

BR 12736.

##

Frost on My Moustache: The Arctic Exploits of a Lord and a

Loafer.

BR 12776.

by Tim Moore.

3 volumes.

A British journalist's comic account of his effort to re-

create the 1856 Norwegian Arctic expedition of Lord

Dufferin, who returned to write a bestselling travel book.

But Moore suffers social and physical indignities as he

leaves his comfortable coach to endure bitter cold, polar

bears, born-again Vikings, and seasickness. 1999.

BR 12776.

##

The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero.

BR 12789.

by Robert Kaplan.

3 volumes.

Chronicle of the evolution of the mathematical concept of

zero and the development of its importance as a

philosophical concept. The author traces its path through

various Eastern and Western societies, both ancient and

modern. He incorporates literary quotations throughout the

text, linking mathematical and cultural ideas. 1999.

BR 12789.

##

For the Love of It: Amateuring and Its Rivals.

BR 12791.

by Wayne Booth.

3 volumes.

A professor of English, who took up the cello at age thirty-

one and continued playing for over four decades, describes

the benefits and enjoyments of a hobby. Meditates on the

meaning of "fun," "work," and "love" while contrasting the

perspectives of amateur and professional. 1999.

BR 12791.

##

Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in

America.

BR 12795.

by Ronald J. Sider.

3 volumes.

An evangelical Christian's visionary strategy for reducing

poverty in the United States--the richest nation on Earth in

the twenty-first century. Notes that the solution to this

issue requires moral, spiritual, socioeconomic, and

structural changes, and proposes a joint effort by

Christians and other people of goodwill. 1999.

BR 12795.

##

Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World.

BR 12813.

by John Larner.

4 volumes.

A history professor examines the authenticity of Polo's book

about his travels to the East and assesses its impact on

European culture. He reviews known facts about Marco Polo

(1254-1323?) and the Venetian merchants, discusses how the

book came to be written, and describes its reception in

succeeding years. 1999.

BR 12813.

##

Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy

Landscaping.

BR 12817.

by Thomas Leo Ogren.

4 volumes.

Horticulturist presents a system of rating plants for their

allergen-producing potential and urges gardeners to avoid

those highest on the list. Mentions more than three thousand

varieties; includes descriptions, suggested locations, and

possible problems. Offers tips, such as using female

specimens to eliminate pollen, and recommends hard pruning

and other gardening techniques. 2000.

BR 12817.

##

The Catholic Vision.

BR 12908.

by Edward D. O'Connor.

6 volumes.

A Roman Catholic priest and Notre Dame theology professor

discusses the mysteries of God, Jesus Christ, and the

Church. Outlines defining features, teachings, and practices

of his religion. Asserts that Catholic doctrine is coherent,

intelligible, reasonable, and socially relevant. Disputes

the notion of a conflict between faith and reason. 1992.

BR 12908.

##

To Love This Life: Quotations.

BR 12932.

by Helen Keller.

1 volume.

Quotations from speeches, letters, articles, and interviews

by the author, lecturer, and humanitarian who became deaf-

blind at nineteen months of age. Topics include the senses,

faith, women in society, human nature, war and peace,

education, happiness, friendship and love, and triumph over

adversity. Includes a chronology of Keller's life from 1880

to 1968. 2000.

BR 12932.

##

Driving over Lemons: An Optimist in Andaluca.

BR 12933.

by Chris Stewart.

2 volumes.

First drummer for the rock group Genesis humorously recalls

naively purchasing land in Andaluca, Spain, and with his

wife, Ana, gamely making a go at being full-time farmers

without the benefit of plumbing or electricity. Describes

subsequent years when they had a child and made lasting

friendships with neighbors. Some strong language. 1999.

BR 12933.

##

Threads of Time: Recollections.

BR 12937.

by Peter Brook.

2 volumes.

In this memoir, stage and screen director Brook recalls the

aesthetic, personal, and spiritual journey that has shaped

his long and varied career. Explains his ideas about film,

opera, and other productions; discusses his efforts to

create a multicultural and multilingual theater; relates

experiences and encounters that left lasting impressions.

1998.

BR 12937.

##

Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know about

Writing.

BR 12968.

by Patricia T. O'Conner.

2 volumes.

A user's manual for writing well. Emphasizes that good prose

is more craft than art. Provides tips and techniques to

improve writing skills and avoid pitfalls, whether for term

papers, reports, newsletters, or a novel. For senior high

and older readers. 1999.

BR 12968.

##

The Prince of Tennessee: The Rise of Al Gore.

BR 12976.

by David Maraniss and Ellen Nakashima.

3 volumes.

Two _Washington Post_ journalists construct a personal and

political biography of Vice President Al Gore. They describe

Gore's childhood as the son of a senator and trace his

career path in his father's footsteps. 2000.

BR 12976.

##

Handwriting: Poems.

BR 12980.

by Michael Ondaatje.

1 volume.

A collection of poems drawing on the history, landscape, and

religious imagery of the author's birthplace, Sri Lanka.

1998.

BR 12980.

##

Despicable Species: On Cowbirds, Kudzu, Hornworms, and Other

Scourges.

BR 12998.

by Janet Lembke.

2 volumes.

Fourteen natural history essays contemplating a dozen

species that are loathed or scorned by humans: the sandbur,

gray squirrel, starling, horsefly, opossum, centipede, and

fruit fly among others. The author points out that all life

is interconnected and humans need to better appreciate the

diversity of the natural world. 1999.

BR 12998.

##

Beginning Weight Training: The Safe and Effective Way.

BR 13184.

by V. Patteson Lombardi.

3 volumes.

Advises proper weight lifting techniques for beginning and

intermediate students as well as teachers. Also explains the

scientifically based principles of the sport and ways to

minimize injury. Discusses the human muscular system and how

to develop a fitness plan. 1989.

BR 13184.

##

Prenatal Testing and Disability Rights.

BR 13232.

edited by Erik Parens and Adrienne Asch.

5 volumes.

Essays concerning the practice of prenatal testing for

abnormalities and the debate about abortion. Selections

illustrate the diverse opinions within the medical

profession, across the disability community, and among

prospective parents. 2000.

BR 13232.

##

The Canterbury Tales.

BR 13235.

by Geoffrey Chaucer.

6 volumes.

A modern English translation by Ronald L. Ecker and Eugene

J. Crook of Chaucer's fourteenth-century classic in which

pilgrims agree to a storytelling contest as they travel to

the shrine of Thomas  Becket in Canterbury. 1993.

BR 13235.

##

Islam: A Short History.

BR 13247.

by Karen Armstrong.

2 volumes.

__Describes the origin and spread of the religion of Islam.

Discusses Muhammad and his family, the Crusades, and the

powerful Moghul and Ottoman Empires. Explores Islam's

divergence into sects and the creation of a modern

fundamentalist movement. 2000.

BR 13247.

##

Arcadia.

BR 13248.

by Tom Stoppard.

1 volume.

The action of the play shuttles back and forth between the

early nineteenth century and the late twentieth century in a

room at Sidley Park in Derbyshire. The 1990s characters

examine writings and garden plans to find evidence

supporting various speculations--including one that Lord

Byron had killed someone there. Some strong language. 1993.

BR 13248.

##

The Ice Finders: How a Poet, a Professor, and a Politician

Discovered the Ice Age.

BR 13250.

by Edmund Blair Bolles.

2 volumes.

Describes how the scientific community, including noted

geologist Charles Lyell, believed the poles to be covered

with open sea and scoffed at naturalist Louis Agassiz's

1830s ice-age theory. Twenty years later, when adventurer

Elisha Kane's long months stranded among Greenland's

glaciers lent credence to Agassiz's ideas, Lyell switched

camps. 1999.

BR 13250.

##

Mozart.

BR 13252.

by Peter Gay.

2 volumes.

A brief biography of the eighteenth-century Austrian child

prodigy, genius, and composer, whose life ended at age

thirty-five. Historian Gay perceives kernels of truth behind

the myths about Mozart and illuminates his musical

contributions. 1999.

BR 13252.

##

Betrayal.

BR 13253.

by Harold Pinter.

1 volume.

Play centered around an adulterous affair between Robert and

his best friend Jerry's wife, Emma. Two years after they

stopped seeing each other, the former lovers meet at a pub

and reminisce. Some strong language. 1978.

BR 13253.

##

In Love with Night: The American Romance with Robert

Kennedy.

BR 13255.

by Ronald Steel.

3 volumes.

Examines Robert Kennedy's life, career, and enduring image.

Asserts that he cannot be understood apart from his older

brother, President John Kennedy. Argues that it is pure

myth, not reality, for Americans to believe that with

Robert's passing the promise of political redemption eluded

the nation. 2000.

BR 13255.

##

Herman Melville.

BR 13256.

by Elizabeth Hardwick.

1 volume.

A critical interpretation of the nineteenth-century American

author and his work. Discusses his character, homoerotic

tendencies, and family life. Presents insightful analysis of

his major opus, _Moby-Dick (BR 1608)_, as well as his other

novels, stories, and poems. 2000.

BR 13256.

##

The Mythology of Native North America.

BR 13258.

by David Leeming and Jake Page.

2 volumes.

Introduces seventy-two myths--with such noteworthy

characters as Coyote, Spider Woman, Glooscap, Water Jar Boy,

and the maiden who fell out of the sky--derived from a

variety of Native American cultures and language groups. The

authors' commentary places these tales within the context of

world mythology. 1998.

BR 13258.

##

Poems.

BR 13262.

by Robert Frost.

2 volumes.

Eighty-four pieces by New England poet Robert Frost (1874-

1963), as selected by John Hollander. Includes such

favorites as "Mending Wall," "The Road Not Taken," and

"Birches." 1997.

BR 13262.

##

Police Brutality: An Anthology.

BR 13275.

edited by Jill Nelson.

3 volumes.

Essays by academics, historians, social critics, a Chicago

congressman, and a former New York City police detective

place corruption and brutality in intellectual and

historical context. Explains how these problems have

influenced America's culture. Details numerous incidents

perpetrated primarily against African Americans. 2000.

BR 13275.

##

The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the

Original Deaf-Blind Girl.

BR 13353.

by Elisabeth Gitter.

3 volumes.

The life of Laura Bridgman, deaf and blind from age two, who

became one of the most famous women of the mid-nineteenth

century. Explores her education with Samuel Howe at Boston's

Perkins Institution for the Blind; views her achievements in

the context of American social, cultural, and intellectual

history. 2001.

BR 13353.

##

###

_Fiction_

Kirinyaga: A Fable of Utopia.

BR 12732.

by Mike Resnick.

3 volumes.

Ten tales of a utopian planet inhabited by former residents

of Kenya. In 2123 Koriba, a European-educated witch doctor,

becomes disenchanted with the modernization of Kenya and

colonizes the planet of Kirinyaga. There he reinstates

ancient customs and decides the fate of his people, while

still maintaining a link to Earth. Some violence. 1998.

BR 12732.

##

Talk.

BR 12741.

by Laura Van Wormer.

3 volumes.

At first it irritates talk-show host Jessica Wright that her

security is tightened just because a fan calling himself

Leopold begins sending odd letters. But when the notes

appear in secure places and then her secretary is murdered,

Jessica becomes angry and frightened. Strong language,

violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

BR 12741.

##

Comanche Moon.

BR 12758.

by Larry McMurtry.

6 volumes.

In this sequel to _Dead Man's Walk (BR 12567)_ and prequel

to _Lonesome Dove (BR 6198)_, Texas Rangers McCrae and Call

aid white settlers as they face Comanche raids and attacks

by bandits in the struggle to survive frontier hardships.

Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 1997.

BR 12758.

##

First Snow on Fuji.

BR 12780.

by Yasunari Kawabata.

2 volumes.

Collection of nine short stories and a play by the Japanese

Nobel laureate, translated into English for the first time.

In the title piece, published in 1958, two former lovers

take an overnight trip together some years later, exploring

the changes that time and separation have wrought. 1999.

BR 12780.

##

Someone to Watch over Me: Stories.

BR 12799.

by Richard Bausch.

2 volumes.

A dozen poignant short stories. Marlee, the younger second

wife in the title piece, is upset that Ted chooses to

celebrate their first anniversary in a lavish restaurant

recommended by his first wife. Marlee's anger and behavior

provoke an unexpected reaction from Ted. Some strong

language. 1999.

BR 12799.

##

Blameless.

BR 12877.

by Lisa Reardon.

2 volumes.

Mary Culpepper, thirty-four, is on leave from her job as a

school bus driver after finding one of her passengers dead

from a beating. As she awaits the trial, Mary finds respite

from night terrors and family issues in an illicit affair.

Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

BR 12877.

##

In Her Defense.

BR 12897.

by Stephen Horn.

3 volumes.

A former New York prosecutor has inexplicably left his

father-in-law's prestigious Washington law firm and

consequently endured an unwanted divorce. His struggling new

practice receives an unexpected boost when a comely

socialite hires him to defend her in a front-page murder

case. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.

2000.

BR 12897.

##

Who Do You Love: Stories.

BR 12906.

by Jean Thompson.

3 volumes.

Fifteen disquieting short stories explore the basic human

need for love. In "Fire Dreams," a bored single woman begins

an affair with a married fireman, a convenient neighbor from

the next-door fire station. In "Antarctica," a lonely woman

reevaluates the dynamics of her family while she drives her

grandmother to view a nursing home. Some strong language.

1999.

BR 12906.

##

Hope Was Here.

BR 12927.

by Joan Bauer.

2 volumes.

Sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt Addie, a professional

waitress/cook team, move to Wisconsin to help G.T. Stoop run

his restaurant. Soon they become involved in removing the

corrupt mayor from office, and Hope finds the father she

needs. For junior and senior high readers.  Bestseller 2000.

BR 12927.

##

The Cat Who Smelled a Rat.

BR 12928.

by Lilian Jackson Braun.

2 volumes.

Moose County awaits the first snowfall, hoping it will end

the drought that may be the cause of a rash of fires.

Columnist Jim Qwilleran suspects arson when his Siamese cats

Koko and Yum Yum demand his attention with catfits. Then a

murder occurs, and the local bookstore goes up in flames.

Bestseller 2001.

BR 12928.

##

The Constant Gardener.

BR 12929.

by John Le Carr.

4 volumes.

After his young wife Tessa's murder in Kenya, British

diplomat Justin Quayle investigates her death and the

disappearance of her African colleague. He eventually

discovers that Tessa had uncovered a scheme involving a

multinational pharmaceutical company that unethically tests

drugs on the local populace. Strong language. Bestseller

2001.

BR 12929.

##

Round Robin: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel.

BR 12935.

by Jennifer Chiaverini.

3 volumes.

In this sequel to _The Quilter's Apprentice (BR 12533)_, the

Elm Creek women of Waterford, Pennsylvania, expand their

craft by opening an instructional camp. Sarah continues to

have problems with her mother, Sylvia encounters love again,

and all find comfort in one another's support. 2000.

BR 12935.

##

Both Sides Now.

BR 12940.

by Ruth Pennebaker.

2 volumes.

High school sophomore Liza is an optimist like her physician

father, and takes cues from him in dealing with her mother's

fight against breast cancer. But as increasingly aggressive

treatments fail, Liza gradually begins to feel empathy for

her mother. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

BR 12940.

##

Persuasion.

BR 12975.

by Jane Austen.

3 volumes (Reissue).

Austen's last novel is a temperate comedy of manners. At

twenty-seven, a woman regrets that, persuaded by her elders,

she had broken her engagement to the navy captain she loved

at nineteen. When she and her father are forced to rent

their family home and move to Bath, she meets her former

love again. 1816.

BR 12975.

##

Dark Dance: First in the Blood Opera Sequence.

BR 12978.

by Tanith Lee.

3 volumes.

The terrifying tale of Rachaela Day, who reluctantly

complies with her vampire father's demand that she live with

his family. Details the events that lead to her daughter's

destruction of some family members. Prequel to _Personal

Darkness (BR 10865)_. Violence, some explicit descriptions

of sex, and some strong language. 1992.

BR 12978.

##

Henry of Atlantic City.

BR 12981.

by Frederick Reuss.

2 volumes.

Six-year-old Henry lives in an Atlantic City casino where

his father is director of security. Having been introduced

to the Gnostic gospels by a blackjack dealer, Henry not only

hears angels talking in his ear but tries to communicate

their teachings--not always welcomed in his gaudy

surroundings. Some strong language. 1999.

BR 12981.

##

The Ladies from St. Petersburg: Three Novellas.

BR 12983.

by Nina Berberova.

1 volume.

Three stories about Russian lives disrupted by wars. Written

in 1927, the title piece depicts a mother and daughter on

vacation in the country, just as political turmoil erupts.

Their fateful trip marks the young girl's sudden transition

to maturity. 1998.

BR 12983.

##

The Fated Sky.

BR 12984.

by Henrietta Branford.

1 volume.

Ran, a sixteen-year-old Viking girl, is blamed for her

mother's death and selected for sacrifice to Odin. Toki, a

blind musician, helps her escape and the two flee Norway for

Iceland. Unfortunately, their enemy, Vigut, reappears. Some

descriptions of sex and some violence. For senior high

readers. 1996.

BR 12984.

##

The Man Who Ate the 747.

BR 12985.

by Ben Sherwood.

2 volumes.

J.J. Smith, authenticator for _The Book of Records_, is in

Superior, Nebraska, where farmer Wally Chubb is grinding up

and eating a Boeing 747 cargo jet to prove his love for

local newspaperwoman Willa Wyatt. Despite his scientific

mind, J.J. is soon falling for Willa too. Some descriptions

of sex. 2000.

BR 12985.

##

Elizabeth and After.

BR 12997.

by Matt Cohen.

3 volumes.

Carl McKelvey returns to the small Ontario town of his birth

to renew his relationship with his seven-year-old daughter.

But now his ex-wife, Chrissy, is living with an abusive

rival, his father is dying, and his neighbors still hold him

accountable for his mother's death. Some strong language.

Governor General's Award. 1999.

BR 12997.

##

Scandalmonger.

BR 13233.

by William Safire.

5 volumes.

Political scandals of the late eighteenth century revealed

by James Thomson Callender, a Scottish fugitive and

journalist hired to write incendiary articles regarding men

of power. Selecting Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson

as his primary targets, he describes their alleged sexual

indiscretions. 2000.

BR 13233.

##

Free Fall.

BR 13237.

by Kyle Mills.

4 volumes.

Suspended FBI agent Mark Beamon is hired by ruthless

presidential aspirant David Hallorin to find professional

rock climber Darby Moore, who is on the run with stolen

government files that could destroy Hallorin's reputation. 

Sequel to _Storming Heaven (BR 12356)_. Strong language,

some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2000.

BR 13237.

##

English Passengers.

BR 13238.

by Matthew Kneale.

4 volumes.

In the 1850s, British customs' exorbitant fines force Illiam

Quillian Kewley, captain of a smuggling band, to charter his

ship. His two passengers are on a quest to prove that the

actual Garden of Eden was Tasmania. But they do not arrive

at any paradise. Booker Prize nominee.  2000.

BR 13238.

##

Motherhood Made a Man out of Me.

BR 13243.

by Karen Karbo.

2 volumes.

Brooke has a six-month-old daughter and a husband who would

rather play computer games than help out with the day-to-day

parenting. Meanwhile, Brooke's best friend Mary Rose learns

she's pregnant, and then discovers the father isn't quite as

divorced as he claims to be. Some strong language. 2000.

BR 13243.

##

Truth or Dairy.

BR 13249.

by Catherine Clark.

2 volumes.

Courtney's boyfriend breaks up with her because he doesn't

want a long-distance relationship while attending college a

half-hour drive away. Heartbroken, Courtney vows to give up

dating, run for student council, and stay vegan. But her

life remains a comical mess. For junior and senior high

readers. 2000.

BR 13249.

##

The Tale of the Unknown Island.

BR 13254.

by Jos Saramago.

1 volume.

Allegory of a man who petitions his ruler for a boat with

which to discover an island--any unknown island. When the

king finally grants his wish, a cleaning lady insists on

joining the crew and together they dream of sailing away. By

Portugal's Nobel laureate. Translated by Margaret Jull

Costa. 1999.

BR 13254.

##

Midnight Champagne.

BR 13259.

by A. Manette Ansay.

2 volumes.

Valentine's Day at the Great Lakes Chapel overlooking Lake

Michigan. Elmer Liesgang is horrified that his daughter is

marrying a man she barely knows and that the wedding is in a

former whorehouse. While the guests (including the bride's

former fianc) contemplate love, a marriage ends abruptly in

the nearby lodge. Some strong language. 1999.

BR 13259.

##

In the Drink.

BR 13260.

by Kate Christensen.

2 volumes.

Claudia came to New York to become a reporter, but ended up

ghostwriting the books of an aging and aggravating society

woman. Now deeply in debt and drinking heavily, Claudia

realizes she's secretly in love with her friend, William.

Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

BR 13260.

##

The Dwarfs.

BR 13265.

by Harold Pinter.

2 volumes.

Only novel by noted English playwright is set in London and

comprised mainly of conversations between three male friends

and occasionally the woman friend of one of them--

conversations that lead to shifts in the relationships. Some

strong language. 1956.

BR 13265.

##

4:50 from Paddington.

BR 13283.

by Agatha Christie.

2 volumes.

While returning by railroad from Christmas shopping in

London, Mrs. McGillicuddy observes a man strangling a woman

in a passing train. When Mrs. McGillicuddy returns home, she

tells her friend Miss Marple, who initiates an

investigation. (Previously titled _What Mrs. McGillicuddy

Saw!_). Some violence. 1957.

BR 13283.

##

The Plato Papers: A Prophesy.

BR 13314.

by Peter Ackroyd.

1 volume.

The year is A.D. 3700, the place is London, and the speaker

is Plato, an orator and scholar. He lectures about the Age

of Mouldwarp, which ended in A.D. 2300, but fundamentally

misinterprets the culture of that era. Then Plato must

defend himself against accusations of spinning lies. 1999.

BR 13314.

##

P Is for Peril.

BR 13363.

by Sue Grafton.

3 volumes.

Private investigator Kinsey Millhone is hired by prominent

physician Dowan Purcell's ex-wife to find him. Medicare

investigators are looking for the elderly doctor, too,

although his current wife isn't. Also, Kinsey is curious

about her office landlord's past when she discovers he's

suspected of patricide. Some strong language. Bestseller

2001.

BR 13363.

##

###

_Books for Children_

The following books were recently produced for the NLS

program.  To order books, contact your braille-lending

library.

_Nonfiction_

South America.

BR 12934.

by April Pulley Sayre.

1 volume.

Describes the weather, geography, flora, and fauna of the

continent of South America. Provides information on

environmental issues including the preservation of rain

forests. For grades 5-8. 1999.

BR 12934.

##

Africa.

BR 12936.

by April Pulley Sayre.

1 volume.

Describes the regions, geology, weather, plants, and animals

of the continent of Africa. Includes ecological information

on desertification, drought, and famine. For grades 5-8.

1999.

BR 12936.

##

Asia.

BR 12939.

by April Pulley Sayre.

1 volume.

Overview of Asia--the world's largest continent--describing

its deserts, mountains, rivers, plants and animals, and

weather, including monsoons and cyclones. For grades 5-8.

1999.

BR 12939.

##

America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle.

BR 13081.

by David A. Adler.

1 volume.

A short biography of an American who loved to swim as soon

as she learned how at age seven. Describes her achievements,

including winning three medals in the 1924 Olympics and

becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel in

1926. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3.   2000.

BR 13081.

##

The Friendly Beasts.

BR 13086.

by Sharon McGinley.

1 volume.

This is a version of the traditional Christmas carol "The

Friendly Beasts," written by Robert Davis in 1920.  A 

donkey, cow, sheep, camel, and dove talk about the gifts

they bring for the baby Jesus.  Includes music for the

carol. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2.   2000.

BR 13086.

##

Heroes of the Game: True Baseball Stories.

BR 13251.

by Terry Egan and others.

1 volume.

In this companion to _The Good Guys of Baseball (BR 11625)_,

the authors highlight nineteen players who exemplify

sportsmanship and the love of the game.  Includes major

leaguer Roberto Clemente, who died on a mercy mission, and

Jim Eisenreich, who plays with Tourette's syndrome. For

grades 3-6. 1992.

BR 13251.

##

Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia.

BR 13298.

by Margaret Cousins.

1 volume.

A biography of the eighteenth-century American who was not

only a statesman, philosopher, printer, and author, but also

a scientist and inventor. For grades 4-7.   1952.

BR 13298.

##

Wind Power.

BR 13315.

by Ian Graham.

1 volume.

Examines wind power as a source of energy and force of

nature. Traces its history from traditional uses for

sailboats and windmills to twentieth-century wind farms.

Discusses future potential for wind power programs. For

grades 4-7. 1999.

BR 13315.

##

###

_Fiction_

A Year down Yonder.

BR 12930.

by Richard Peck.

1 volume.

During the 1937 recession fifteen-year-old Mary Alice from

Chicago is sent to live with feisty Grandma Dowdel in rural

Illinois. There she learns about small-town ways and grows

to love her grandmother. Sequel to _A Long Way from Chicago

(BR 12129)_. For grades 6-9. Newbery Medal. Bestseller 2000.

BR 12930.

##

The Secret of Shadow Ranch.

BR 12944.

by Carolyn Keene.

1 volume.

Nancy Drew arrives in Arizona for a fun-filled vacation and

immediately finds herself involved in the search for a

phantom horse and a hidden treasure. For grades 3-6. 1931.

BR 12944.

##

The Secret of Red Gate Farm.

BR 12945.

by Carolyn Keene.

1 volume (Reissue).

A reluctant saleswoman, a very expensive bottle of perfume,

a girl who faints on a train, and a crude stranger on the

same train pull Nancy Drew into a mystery that involves her

with the Secret Service. For grades 3-6.   1931.

BR 12945.

##

Mary Poppins Opens the Door.

BR 12971.

by P.L. Travers.

2 volumes (Reissue).

In this sequel to _Mary Poppins Comes Back (BR 5488)_ Jane

and Michael light off a fireworks rocket. But instead of

producing a starburst in the sky, the flare's single spark

turns out to be Mary Poppins, who takes the Banks children

on more marvelous adventures. For grades 4-7. 1943.

BR 12971.

##

Mary Poppins.

BR 12972.

by P.L. Travers.

1 volume (Reissue).

An extraordinary English woman blows in on the East Wind

with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag to

become the Banks family's new nanny. Mary Poppins introduces

her elder charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful

people and experiences. Prequel to _Mary Poppins Comes Back

(BR 5488)_. For grades 4-7. 1934.

BR 12972.

##

The Wind in the Willows.

BR 12977.

by Kenneth Grahame.

2 volumes (Reissue).

Relates the escapades of four animal friends--Toad, Mole,

Rat, and Badger--who live along a river in the English

countryside. For grades 4-7. 1908.

BR 12977.

##

Olivia.

BR 13074.

by Ian Falconer.

1 volume.

Olivia, a preschooler pig, lives with her mother, father,

and  younger brother, Ian (who is always copying her).

Olivia is good at lots of things--dressing up, singing

songs, building sand castles, dancing, and painting on

walls. And she is very good at wearing people out.

PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. Caldecott Honor. 

2000.

BR 13074.

##

Fables from Aesop.

BR 13077.

retold by Tom Lynch.

1 volume.

A baker's dozen of traditional Aesop tales retold in modern

English and ending with a short moral. Includes the familiar

favorite "The Tortoise and the Hare," which closes with the

admonition "So remember! Slow and steady wins the race."

PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2.   2000.

BR 13077.

##

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story.

BR 13078.

by Angela Shelf Medearis.

1 volume.

Tale about seven argumentative Ashanti brothers, who are

given the seemingly impossible task of turning spools of

silk thread into gold. They join together to solve the

problem, thus exhibiting the spirit of Kwanzaa. Includes

information on this cultural holiday and instructions for

weaving a Kente belt. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2000.

BR 13078.

##

Max.

BR 13079.

by Bob Graham.

1 volume.

Born into a family of superheroes, Max is a late bloomer

when it comes to flying. But when a baby bird falls from a

nest, Max flies to its rescue without even thinking about

it. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2.   2000.

BR 13079.

##

The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale.

BR 13080.

retold by Mary Casanova.

1 volume.

Long ago, in a tiny Chinese village, there lived a good

hunter named Hai Li Bu who cared more about the well-being

of his fellow villagers than about wealth or even his own

life. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3.   2000.

BR 13080.

##

A Screaming Kind of Day.

BR 13083.

by Rachna Gilmore.

1 volume.

Scully only listens to her teasing brother and scolding

mother when she wants to; then Scully turns on her hearing

aids. One rainy day she longs to play outside. When her

mother sends her to her room, Scully sneaks out the back

door. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3.   1999.

BR 13083.

##

Petunia.

BR 13087.

by Roger Duvoisin.

1 volume.

Petunia, the silly goose, carries a book under her wing,

believing that having the book will make her wise. After

upsetting the other barnyard animals with her

misinformation, Petunia realizes she must learn to read.

PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3.   1950.

BR 13087.

##

Stuart Little.

BR 13246.

by E.B. White.

1 volume (Reissue).

Mr. and Mrs. Little's second son is a mouse. Stuart is happy

with his human family, but his size of just over two inches

and the family cat are causes of some misadventures. Then

Stuart falls for a little bird named Margalo. For grades 4-

7. 1970 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.  1945.

BR 13246.

##

The Night Flyers.

BR 13261.

by Elizabeth McDavid Jones.

1 volume.

North Carolina, 1918. While her father is away fighting in

World War I, twelve-year-old Pam tends his homing pigeons.

When a stranger with a foreign accent offers to buy all of

her birds, she suspects him of being a German spy. For

grades 3-6. Edgar Allan Poe Award.  1999.

BR 13261.

##

Horrible Harry at Halloween.

BR 13295.

by Suzy Kline.

1 volume.

Miss Mackle's third-grade class is excited about Halloween

and what costumes they will wear. They remember all of

Harry's scary costumes since kindergarten and wonder what he

will be this year. But Harry keeps his secret and surprises

everyone. For grades 2-4. 2000.

BR 13295.

##

I Took My Frog to the Library.

BR 13328.

by Eric A. Kimmel.

1 volume.

Bridgett brings her pets to the library--with humorously

disastrous results. Her frog frightens the librarian, the

pelican hides the dictionary, and the hyena laughs too much.

When her enormous elephant wrecks the place, however,

Bridgett is told she must leave her animals at home. For

preschool-grade 2.   1990.

BR 13328.

##

###

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 (monthly)

Popular Communications (monthly)

Popular Mechanics (monthly)

Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)

Rolling Stone (popular culture; 26 issues)

Science News (weekly)

Seventeen (for teens; monthly)

Short Stories (monthly)

Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) 

Stone Soup (children's writings; 6 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