Braille Book Review, Vol. 65, No. 6, Nov-Dec 1996 Braille Book Review November-December 1996 Volume 65, Number 6 _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly 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. These books will continue to be available from your cooperating library and will be listed again in _Braille Books 1995-1996_. 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. To order books or to change your subscription or address, 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 1996 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Handcopied Braille--Other Agencies Braille Magazines _In Brief_ Bibliography Available in Braille _Pioneer and Frontier Stories_, a bibliography listing selected books dealing with the lives of the people who blazed trails westward and settled the land, will be available in braille in December. The braille edition lists only braille books. Readers who ordered the braille edition of this bibliography on their annual order forms will automatically receive it in the mail. Others may request the bibliography from their local cooperating libraries. It is also available through the Internet by accessing LC MARVEL. Calendars for 1997 Listed below are organizations that offer free braille calendars. For more sources of braille calendars, contact the NLS Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults 18440 Oxnard Street Tarzana, CA 91356 (818) 343-2022 6 x 6-1/2-inch calendar featuring one page per month and a listing of major holidays. Accepts orders by mail only. Braille Institute Press c/o Braille Institute of America 741 North Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90029 (213) 663-1111, ext. 231 8-3/4 x 11-inch calendar. It is provided as an insert in the December issue of the _Braille Mirror_ and the holiday issue of _Expectations_. A limited quantity of extras are available and can be ordered by mail or telephone. John Milton Society for the Blind 475 Riverside Drive Room 455 New York, NY 10115 (212) 870-3336 12-1/2 x 10-1/2-inch calendar featuring a motto on each page. Accepts orders by mail or telephone. Lutheran Mission with Blind and Visually Impaired Persons 1333 South Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122 (314) 965-9000 800-433-3954 attn: Lynne Borchelt 8-1/2 x 11-inch calendar featuring a monthly verse from the Bible. Accepts orders by mail or telephone. Services for the Blind The Auditorium P.O. Box 1059 Independence, MO 64051 (816) 833-1000, ext. 1460 4 x 4-inch calendar that includes a listing of major holidays. Accepts orders by mail or telephone. Nineteenth-Century Book on Blind People Reissued A classic book about the achievements of blind people, which had been out of print, was recently reissued in a commemorative regular-print edition by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) and the Friends of Libraries for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals in North America. The book is being produced in recorded and braille formats for the NLS collection and is expected to be available to patrons in early 1997. _Biography of the Blind_ by James Wilson was first published in four separate editions from 1821 to 1838. It contains biographical sketches of blind men and women of varying age, ability, and status in life, from the well-known writers Homer and Milton to an obscure miser, Adam Mond. The book also includes an extensive autobiography of the author, who was born in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Belfast, Ireland. While his family was traveling to England when Wilson was four years old, both parents died at sea and Wilson himself was blinded by smallpox. He became a self-educated man with an interest in documenting the achievements of blind persons. The reissue edition combines under one cover all of the biographies Wilson presented in his four editions and includes notes by research librarian Kenneth Stuckey of the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. In addition to providing a look at past lives, the book offers a glimpse of the road that European and American society has traveled in disabilities awareness up to the twentieth century. Print copies of the book can be purchased for $16.95 for the paperback edition and $22.95 for hardcover. Contact Friends of Libraries for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals in North America, Inc., 1555 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 462-9600. Reference Information Now on Cassette NLS has produced two new four-track cassettes containing a reference circular and factsheets. One cassette contains _Blindness and Visual Impairments: Information and Advocacy Organizations_, a reference circular that lists state-level, national, and international organizations providing a variety of services to blind and visually impaired persons. Another cassette contains _Facts: Sources for Purchase of Cassette Players and Player-Recorders Compatible with Recorded Materials Produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)_ and _Facts: Playback Machines and Accessories Provided on Free Loan to Eligible Individuals and Institutions_. These factsheets provide information about special equipment used to listen to NLS recorded books and magazines. Both cassettes are available for patrons to keep for their reference use. To obtain either or both cassettes, write to Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Washington, DC 20542. These publications are also available through the Internet by accessing LC MARVEL. Newsstand The following announcement may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. Items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. New Seedlings Catalog and Address. Seedlings Braille Books for Children announces its 1997 catalog and also a new box number and ZIP code. For a free catalog or more information, contact Seedlings, P.O. Box 51924 (new number), Livonia, MI 48151-5924 (new ZIP code), telephone 800-777-8552. _Books for Adults_ Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. To order books, fill out the enclosed braille order form and send it to your cooperating library. Note: For the information 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 occurrence, as in "some strong language." _Nonfiction_ The Ultimate Pasta Machine Cookbook BR 10127 by Tom Lacalamita 2 volumes Tells how to make a variety of fresh pastas and noodles using a pasta machine. Also included are recipes for entrees, salads, soups, sauces, and desserts using the homemade pasta; for example, pan-fried noodles with chicken, baked manicotti and cannelloni, sun-dried tomato and pasta salad, won ton soup, Filipino stir-fried egg noodles, and raspberry crisp. 1994. The Homeless BR 10140 by Christopher Jencks 2 volumes To determine how much homelessness increased during the 1980s, why it increased, and what can be done to reduce it, sociologist Jencks examines different methods used to count the homeless and various social and political changes that may have contributed to the rise in numbers. These changes include the abolishment of involuntary commitment for the mentally ill, the destruction of skid row, and reductions in monetary welfare benefits. 1994. Silence of the Spheres: The Deaf Experience in the History of Science BR 10143 by Harry G. Lang 3 volumes A deaf scientist, who teaches deaf physics students, writes about deaf people throughout history who overcame negative attitudes to contribute significantly to various fields of science. He also discusses education, including the establishment of Gallaudet University, and suggests ways representation of deaf people could be increased in the scientific community. 1994. Living and Dying in England, 1100-1540: The Monastic Experience BR 10171 by Barbara Harvey 4 volumes Joint winner of the 1993 Wolfson Foundation History Prize in Britain. Drawing on the archives of the Benedictine foundation at Westminster Abbey, a historian produces an account of the daily lives of the monks in this important monastery during the Middle Ages and the early sixteenth century. The author also explores such topics as their social conditions, charitable work, diet, and pensions. 1993. Study for the World's Body: New and Selected Poems BR 10233 by David St. John 1 volume The title poem, written as a coda to the entire collection, is a duet between "The Body of Desire" and "Of Time and the Body," one evocative and the other elegiac. In "Study," selected poems are gathered from _Hush_ (1976), _The Shore_ (1980), _No Heaven_ (1985), and _Terraces of Rain: An Italian Sketchbook_ (1991). In "Merlin," new poems that appeared first in 1991, St. John pays homage to some of his idols. 1994. The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories BR 10251 edited by William J. Bennett 7 volumes Collection of poems and stories from the Bible, from great authors, and from folklore that Bennett suggests can be used for teaching parents, teachers, students, and children about specific virtues. Topics include faith, self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, honesty, and loyalty. Bennett introduces each section. Bestseller 1993. Taking the Fear out of Eating: A Nutritionists' Guide to Sensible Food Choices BR 10278 by Charlette R. Gallagher and John B. Allred 4 volumes Provides practical advice on interpreting nutrition labels and making food choices, explains nutrients and their functions, examines food production and processing, and discusses the relationship between nutrition and health. 1992. Last Watch of the Night: Essays Too Personal and Otherwise BR 10289 by Paul Monette 3 volumes Ten essays written from August 1992 to New Year's Eve 1993. While "leashed to three separate IV drugs and a small mountain of oral medication," AIDS patient Monette wrote as thoughts came to him. Topics include Puck, the dog left by one of his lovers; selecting his own grave site; and the lives of gay priests. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1994. Persian Cooking for a Healthy Kitchen BR 10297 by Najmieh Khalili Batmanglij 2 volumes The author draws on fifteen years of researching Persian traditions and collecting and preparing recipes for her collection of low-fat, high-flavor dishes. She includes recipes for appetizers and side dishes, soups, pickles and relishes, desserts, various meats, and the ever-present rice. 1994. High Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now or Never BR 10304 by Barbara Kingsolver 2 volumes Autobiographical essays from novelist Kingsolver, who wrote _Pigs in Heaven (BR 9239)_. In the title selection, Kingsolver, returning from an ocean vacation, inadvertently brings a hermit crab back to her desert home. After puzzling over his odd behavior, she decides her new pet is reacting to the tides of Tucson! Other selections discuss being a writer, a mother, and a desert dweller. Bestseller 1995. The Journey BR 10346 edited by Kenneth Jernigan 1 volume Collection of essays designed to show that if given appropriate training and equal opportunity, people who are blind make meaningful contributions to society. Includes entries about Kenneth Jernigan, spokesperson for the National Federation of the Blind; Kathy Kannenberg, math teacher; Peggy Pinder, lawyer; and Theodore Paul Lubitz, violinist, singer, and piano tuner. 1993. _Fiction_ Kristin Lavransdatter: Volume 1, The Bridal Wreath BR 10085 by Sigrid Undset 3 volumes In this first volume of a trilogy set in medieval Norway, the winner of the 1928 Nobel Prize for literature tells of Kristin's girlhood and her love for Erlend Nikulauss”n, a young man of whom her father strongly disapproves. Prequel to _The Mistress of Husaby (BR 10086)_. 1923. The Carpetbaggers BR 10129 by Harold Robbins 7 volumes A study of the rise to power of Jonas Cord, a man haunted by a demanding father and a man committed to success, regardless of the consequences. Prequel to _The Raiders (BR 10130)_. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1961. If I Should Die before I Wake BR 10142 by Han Nolan 2 volumes Since her father died in an accident she attributes to his Jewish boss, Hilary has shaved her head and joined a local youth gang called the Great Aryan Warriors. Now in a Jewish hospital after a motorcycle accident, Hilary is annoyed by the pity in an elderly woman's eyes. Then Hilary spirals into another place and time--Nazi Germany--and realizes she is a Jewish girl named Chana. Strong language and some violence. For junior and senior high readers. 1994. The Crystal Star BR 10187 by Vonda N. McIntyre 3 volumes While Princess Leia attempts to rescue her kidnapped children from a power-mad Empire loyalist, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo investigate a space-bending crystalline star that causes a disruption in the Force and adversely affects Luke's Jedi powers. And on a nearby planet, Luke and Han meet a charismatic alien with miraculous healing powers, but whose intentions are unclear. A Star Wars novel. 1994. The Angel Gang: Tom Hickey Trilogy, Book 3 BR 10190 by Ken Kuhlken 2 volumes After rescuing childlike Wendy from a Tijuana dive in _The Loud Adios (BR 9977)_, ex-private eye Tom Hickey took her to his Tahoe retreat and eventually married her. Now that Wendy is about to give birth, Hickey is frustrated that she insists he leave town to help a past acquaintance beat a murder rap. His frustration turns to horror when Wendy is kidnapped. Strong language and some violence. 1994. The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit BR 10218 by Charles Dickens 8 volumes Old Chuzzlewit, surrounded by a selfish family, sees the same traits forming in his grandson Martin and kicks him out of the house. Penniless, young Martin makes his way to America to seek his fortune. After a series of difficult experiences, he is cured of his greed. Other members of the Chuzzlewit clan have their own selfish goals, including a plot to murder Old Chuzzlewit. 1844. Telling Lies: A Maggie MacGowen Mystery BR 10238 by Wendy Hornsby 2 volumes Twenty-two years ago today, investigative filmmaker Maggie MacGowen's twenty-two-year-old brother Marc was killed in Vietnam, and his twin sister Emily was the cover story in Time magazine because of her antiwar activities. On this anniversary, Emily, now a well-loved doctor, has summoned Maggie and others together for a "mystery guest" but is shot before the unveiling. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1992. Rocking the Babies BR 10246 by Linda Raymond 2 volumes Although Martha and Nettie Lee are both older African American women who volunteer to rock premature babies at a hospital, they dislike each other from the start. Martha wants to become a foster mother for a preemie abandoned in a Port-a-Potty. She doesn't realize that Nettie Lee is the child's grandmother, who is staying anonymous to protect her daughter. As the two women tell stories and befriend a young mother, they grow closer. Strong language. 1994. In the Sparrow Hills: Stories BR 10252 by Emile Capouya 2 volumes Five autobiographical tales. Most draw on the author's experiences, often having to do with life at sea and occasionally with literary associations. In the title story, the narrator searches in vain for a Chekhov tale he read in college. 1993. The Dawning of Deliverance: The Russians, Volume 5 BR 10264 by Judith Pella 3 volumes In the early 1900s, Countess Mariana Remizov, twenty-three and unmarried, wants to do something more with her life. Her father and grandmother are outraged when Mariana heads to the Manchurian front to work as a nurse. There she again meets Daniel Trent. As war rages, Mariana and her family rely on God's power to bring them love and freedom. Sequel to _Heirs of the Motherland (BR 9863)_. 1995. Jasmine Nights BR 10268 by S.P. Somtow 3 volumes In a crazy mix of Thai, American, British, and classic Greek influences, twelve-year-old Justin explores the mysteries of the adult world in his native Bangkok. He and his two cohorts-in-adventure, one from black Georgia, the other from white South Africa, combine knowledge and misconceptions from their very different backgrounds. Glossary of Siamese words. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. Mysterium BR 10290 by Robert Charles Wilson 2 volumes Two Rivers, Michigan, is the site of a government facility that is conducting tests on a strange artifact found in Turkey in 1989. Then in the early dawn hours of a Saturday in late May, the town vanishes. The residents awake to find themselves in a town without modern technology and governed by a powerful, repressive church. Some violence. 1994. The Nature of Longing BR 10293 by Alyce Miller 2 volumes Collection of eight short stories, most dealing with the complexity of race relations. In the title story about a homosexual librarian, race is less an issue than sexuality. In "Color Struck," a black mother has difficulty accepting her albino daughter. In "What Jasmine Would Think," a white teenage girl tries to hang out with a group of black teens, and in "Off-Season Travel," two couples develop an unsettling bond. Some strong language. 1994. The Aliens of Earth BR 10298 by Nancy Kress 3 volumes Eighteen science fiction and fantasy stories by the Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author. The collection includes "The Price of Oranges," a time travel story; "In a World like This," a tale that presents a nightmarish erosion of reality; and "The Battle of Long Island," about an alternate universe. "People like Us" and "Cannibals" are concerned with aliens. Some strong language. 1993. Bertie and the Crime of Passion BR 10305 by Peter Lovesey 2 volumes Paris, 1891. Bertie, prince of Wales, has just arrived in Paris when Sarah Bernhardt informs him that the intended son-in-law of his good friend Jules d'Agincourt has been murdered. Bertie enlists Sarah's help, and they are soon off to the Moulin Rouge, where the murder occurred. 1993. Murder on the Iditarod Trail BR 10307 by Sue Henry 2 volumes Critical injuries are rare during the Iditarod dog-sled race, but on day two musher George Koptak is found dead. While Alaska state trooper Alex Jensen investigates the accident, he learns that another contestant is dead. At a loss for determining a motive, Jensen turns to musher Jessie Arnold for help. As other racers die, Alex, who is growing fond of Jessie, begins to fear for her. Strong language and violence. For high school and older readers. 1991. The Cat Who Said Cheese BR 10344 by Lilian Jackson Braun 2 volumes It is autumn in Pickax City, and Qwill, along with other residents, is preparing for the Great Food Expo--a festival of all kinds of happenings related to food. There is also a mysterious female guest at the New Pickax Hotel whose presence is causing quite a stir. But things really get hectic when a bomb explodes in the hotel and the intended victim seems to be the mystery guest. As usual, Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum help solve the crime. Bestseller 1996. Blackening Song BR 10348 by Aimee and David Thurlo 3 volumes Ella Clah left the Navajo reservation to join the FBI and start a new life. When her father is murdered, she returns, against FBI rules, to the "Rez" to investigate. Her brother, a medicine man, is considered a suspect. In trying to clear his name, Ella feels the tug of two cultures and two ways of life. She must discover her own identity as she seeks that of the murderer. Some violence and some strong language. 1995. Interface BR 10349 by Stephen Bury 5 volumes William Cozzano is the perfect presidential candidate. An international network to whom the United States owes most of the national debt has taken him over, literally, with a microchip in his brain. The network can instantaneously feed the latest public opinions, obtained from the populace by wrist-worn polling units, directly into Cozzano. He's unbeatable--if nothing goes wrong! Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1994. Alma BR 10350 by Gordon Burn 2 volumes Burn bases this 1991 Whitbread Prize novel on the life of Alma Cogan, a 1950s British singer who died of cancer in 1966. In Burn's tale, Alma is still alive in 1986, and she explores the complex relationship between her public and private life. Some strong language and some violence. 1991. The Lethal Partner BR 10351 by Jake Page 2 volumes Blind Santa Fe artist Mo Bowdre, from _The Stolen Gods (BR 10360)_, once again becomes involved in a murder investigation. Shortly after gallery owner Elijah Potts announces he has seven previously unknown Georgia O'Keeffe paintings, his gallery manager is killed and the paintings disappear. When Potts is arrested for her murder, he turns to Bowdre, who discovers a complex web of deceit and backstabbing. Strong language. 1996. Dance Hall of the Dead BR 10352 by Tony Hillerman 2 volumes Navajo police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn faces a mystery and a possible murder in the disappearance of a Zuni youth and his Navajo best friend shortly before an important annual Zuni religious ceremony. Beliefs, motivations, and actions of characters reveal the differences between the Navajo and Zuni cultures. 1973. Electricity: A Novel BR 10353 by Victoria Glendinning 2 volumes In Victorian England, the change of mores that broadens women's roles and the coming of technology that alters daily life are reflected in the notebooks of a young woman. Raised in a repressive household, Charlotte Mortimer becomes enamored of a young engineer who introduces electricity with a missionary zeal. Her infatuation pales after marriage, though, and she enters into a dangerous new liaison. 1995. Riding the Rap BR 10359 by Elmore Leonard 2 volumes Retiring bookie Harry Arno sends bounty hunter Bobby Deo to collect money owed him by Chip Ganz. Instead, Chip convinces Bobby to help him and ex-convict Louis Lewis kidnap Harry. Luckily for Harry, his former girlfriend Joyce is now dating federal marshal Raylan Givens. Raylan is not too thrilled with Harry, but he is a fair man and good at tracking people and escorting them to prison to "ride the rap." Strong language and some violence. 1995. _Books for Children_ Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. To order books, fill out the enclosed braille order form and send it to your cooperating library. _Nonfiction_ Bam Bam Bam BR 9948 by Eve Merriam 1 volume Slam, slam, slam goes the wrecking ball. Bam, bam, bam against a stone wall. Merriam's poem provokes the noise and violence of tearing down a building so a new one can take its place. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1966. Firebird BR 10009 by Rachel Isadora 1 volume Growing up, Prince Ivan heard of a magical tree in the forest by his castle. Although no one who tries to find the tree ever comes back, the prince decides to look for it himself. Just as he discovers the tree, a dazzling creature appears, "half woman, half bird, with feathers bright as flames. A Firebird!" PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1994. Cactus BR 10310 by Carol Lerner 1 volume Because they can hoard large amounts of water, cacti are called succulents. The part that holds the water is the green stem of the cactus. Lerner discusses some of the many types of cacti, how the cactus plant works, and where it grows. For grades 4-7. 1992. An Adventure in the Amazon BR 10326 by The Cousteau Society 1 volume The Amazon, the world's largest river, is four thousand miles long and travels through nine nations. Captains Jacques Cousteau and Jean-Michel Cousteau, along with more than fifty other crew members, spent two years studying the mighty river. They report on the people, plants, and animals that live along and within its waters. For grades 3-6. 1992. _Fiction_ Dear Bear BR 9942 by Joanna Harrison 1 volume While Katie is busy during the day, she doesn't think about the bear. But at night she worries that the bear will jump out of the closet under the stairs and grab her. Her mother tells her to write a letter to the bear asking it to go away. Then the bear writes back! PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1994. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? BR 9944 by Bill Jr. Martin 1 volume A brown bear sees a red bird. What does the red bird see? Each animal sees another colorful animal until a goldfish sees a teacher, the teacher sees her class, and the class sees each one of the animals again. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1967. "Hi, Pizza Man!" BR 9946 by Virginia Walter 1 volume Vivian is very hungry and is having a hard time waiting for the pizza man. While waiting, she and her mother play a game about who might deliver the pizza. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1995. Arthur Meets the President BR 9947 by Marc Brown 1 volume Arthur and his classmates enter a nationwide essay contest on "How I Can Help Make America Great." When Arthur's essay wins, all of his friends and family are thrilled: they get to go to Washington, D.C.! But Arthur is too nervous to be happy because he has to give his speech to the president! PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1991. Once upon a Golden Apple BR 9950 by Jean Little and Maggie de Vries 1 volume "Once upon a time" is how most fairy tales begin, but not this one. And much to the amusement of the three bears, the seven dwarfs, and even the gingerbread boy, that isn't the end of it. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. 1991. Turnip Soup BR 10003 by Lynne Born and Christopher Myers 1 volume One afternoon George's mother sends him down to the root cellar to get some potatoes so she can make potato soup for dinner. But when George comes back and tells her there is a dragon in the cellar eating all the vegetables, she thinks George just wants something different for dinner. Then his mother makes an interesting discovery. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1994. Night Becomes Day BR 10007 by Richard McGuire 1 volume The passage of time is depicted by a string of word associations, such as "cloud becomes rain" and "dream becomes good." Artwork shows how "wool becomes blanket" and "tree becomes paper." PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers. 1994. Rites of Passage: Stories about Growing Up by Black Writers from around the World BR 10120 edited by Tonya Bolden 2 volumes Stories about young black people who are growing up in different parts of the world. In "Dreaming the Sky Down," a plump, awkward British girl faces her gym teacher's taunts by day, while at night she flies gracefully in her dreams. But is she really dreaming? Barbados, the United States, Jamaica, and South Africa are the settings for other stories. Some strong language. For grades 5-8. 1994. The Wimp of the World BR 10302 by Alison Cragin Herzig and Jane Lawrence Mali 1 volume Ten-year-old Bridget lives with her family at the Blue Moon Motel, which they own. When Bridget's triplet brothers devise a training program to make her less wimpy and Bridget learns she is to room with the new baby, she turns to her great-aunt Dawsie for help. But Dawsie announces she's getting married and wants Bridget to wear a frilly dress--something her brothers definitely won't approve of! For grades 3-6. 1994. The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena: Goosebumps BR 10303 by R.L. Stine 1 volume At twelve, Jordan has never seen snow and cannot even imagine what it is like, especially while living in sweltering Pasadena, California. When his father gets a photographic assignment in Alaska, Jordan and his sister, Nicole, are excited that they get to go too. Little do they know what is in store for them as they track the elusive and mysterious snow monster, the Abominable Snowman. For grades 4-7. 1995. Don't Open the Door after the Sun Goes Down: Tales of the Real and Unreal BR 10306 by Al Carusone 1 volume In the title story, Jarrel is hiking with his two cruel older brothers when a storm approaches. They come to an odd house and ask the old man living there if they can stay the night. He agrees but warns them not to answer the door after dark. In "Dog Days," a girl gets a strange replacement pet when a woman runs over her dog. Seven other spooky tales complete the collection. For grades 3-6. 1994. The Topiary Garden BR 10308 by Janni Howker 1 volume Liz Jackson, twelve, is spending the weekend with her father and older brother, Alan, at a motorcycle competition near Carlton Hall. Running away from her dad and Alan after they laugh at her for getting upset about a picture Alan drew in her sketchbook, Liz meets Sally Beck, ninety-one, who has an extraordinary tale to tell about her life at Carlton Hall. For grades 6-9. 1984. The Bus People BR 10318 by Rachel Anderson 1 volume Bertram wouldn't swap places with any of the other school bus drivers even though they call his route the "fruitcake run." First we meet a girl who has Down's syndrome as she learns a heartbreaking lesson at her sister's wedding. Then there are more portraits of Bertram's special passengers: a child who uses a wheelchair, another who doesn't speak, and a boy who falls off his big sister's bike and damages his brain. For grades 5-8. 1989. Sable BR 10320 by Karen Hesse 1 volume Although ten-year-old Tate longs for a dog, her mother, who was attacked by a dog as a girl, refuses. When a weak, skinny stray wanders into their yard, Tate is surprised that her mother grudgingly puts up with the dog Tate has named Sable. Then Sable develops a habit of going off exploring and bringing back other people's belongings. Now Tate's mother wants to give Sable away. For grades 3-5. 1994. Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat BR 10340 by Jennifer Armstrong 1 volume The haughty wife of a rich official refuses help from her neighbors after her husband dies. But as she grows poorer and poorer, she finds she will soon be out of food. Then she meets a ginger cat who can help her gain her wealth back. When he disappears, the woman learns a useful lesson. For grades 3-6. 1993. Looking for Jamie Bridger BR 10354 by Nancy Springer 1 volume At fourteen, Jamie wants to know who her real parents are. Her question brings an unexpected and horrified response from her grandparents, with whom she lives. Jamie sets out to find some answers and discovers that her grandparents have a son whom they never discuss because he is gay. As Grandma begins to withdraw, Jamie becomes more determined in her search. For grades 5-8. 1995. Danger on Thunder Mountain: An American Adventure, Book 3 BR 10404 by Lee Roddy 2 volumes Ruby Konning, Hildy's cousin, arrives in California to continue searching for her father. After she and Hildy rescue a sheepherder from a group of tormentors, they show him a picture of Ruby's father. The sheepherder says he has never seen the man, but both Ruby and Hildy notice the look in his eyes. Sequel to _The Desperate Search (BR 10403)_. For grades 4-7. 1989. Hold Fast to Dreams BR 10413 by Andrea Davis Pinkney 1 volume Dee Willis, twelve, is not happy about moving from Baltimore to Wexford, Connecticut. Just as her friend Lorelle warned her, Dee is the only black student in her class. Her sister, Lindsay, fits in at her prep school by acting white and joining the lacrosse team. But Dee misses her double-dutch squad and isn't good at playing lacrosse. Will her hobby of photography and her one friend be enough to make school bearable? For grades 5-8. 1995. _Handcopied Braille--Other Agencies_ The following books have been hand transcribed for the library indicated with each entry and are available from that library for circulation throughout the country. Please write or call directly to the library indicated. LLB Lutheran Library for the Blind 1133 South Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122 314-965-9000, 800-433-3954 _Adult Nonfiction_ From Full House to Empty Nest LLB by William L. Coleman 3 volumes Advice on how to switch from being the parent of a child to being the parent of an adult. Tells how to use parenting skills to promote personal growth and enjoyment of life. Pressed Down but Not Forgotten LLB by H. Curtis Lyon and John Juern 2 volumes Discusses the causes and spiritual roots of depression and offers answers to the problem. Includes Bible studies for dealing with depression. Sometimes I Feel like Running Away from Home LLB by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse 3 volumes Offers insights for women who feel they have given until exhaustion. Provides simple, inexpensive, enjoyable ideas for putting energy back into life. _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 sends you braille materials. Asimov's Science Fiction (monthly plus mid-December) Better Homes and Gardens (monthly) Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Journal of Physiotherapy (British monthly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Braille Variety News (monthly) Children's Digest (for children, 8 issues) Consumers' Research (monthly) Cooking Light (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6]) Fortune (biweekly plus specials) Inside Sports (monthly) Jack and Jill (for children, 8 issues) Journal of Rehabilitation (quarterly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Madam (British monthly) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) New Beacon (British monthly) The _New York Times_ Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC/Computing (monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (monthly) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Progress (British monthly) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens, monthly) 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 *** 11/7/96 (gft)*** Comments to: lcmarvel@loc.gov