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, contact your cooperating library.
This page includes Web-Braille links to full-text braille versions of books. Eligible patrons may sign up for Web-Braille through the library that handles their braille magazine subscriptions.
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."
Devil's Rim BR 11714
by Sam Brown
2 volumes
Concho Smith is headed to Mexico in the summer of 1898 when he
comes across Judith Van, who is trying to mend a broken gate on
her ranch. Her husband has been crippled by a fall from a horse,
and she really needs help with the ranch work. Concho stops to
help and ends up staying and facing problems. Strong language
and some violence. 1998.
The Answer Is Yes BR 11772
by Sara Lewis
3 volumes
After being laid off at work, unsuccessful at tracking her
birthmother, and weary of trying to hold her scientist husband's
attention, Jenny Brown discovers the Institute of Affirmation
and its odd adult education classes. 1998.
Sarah on Her Own BR 11793
by Karen M. Coombs
2 volumes
Orphaned fourteen-year-old Sarah survives the 1620 trip from
London to the New World, but her aunt does not. Her aunt's
fiancé, who sent for them, has also died. Not wanting to
marry, become an indentured servant, or settle on the land she
has been allotted, Sarah searches for a way home. Violence. For
junior and senior high readers. 1996.
Companions of the Night BR 11795
by Vivian Van de Velde
2 volumes
Returning to a laundromat at midnight to retrieve her brother's
toy, sixteen-year-old Kerry is confronted by three men who are
holding a young man named Ethan hostage. When she realizes the
captors are determined to prove Ethan is a vampire, Kerry helps
him escape. Some strong language. For junior and senior high
readers. 1995.
Joyride BR 11796
by Gretchen Olson
2 volumes
When Jeff McKenzie and a friend take a joy ride through a
farmer's bean field one night, Jeff has no idea he will spend
the summer in a strawberry field. He had planned to play tennis,
but this is the price he must pay for ruining the farmer's
irrigation motor. Jeff learns a lot and is befriended by the
farmer's daughter and a farm hand. For junior and senior high
readers. 1998.
Bombay Ice BR 11824
by Leslie Forbes
4 volumes
A psychological murder mystery set in the movie production world
of Bombay, India. The pregnant Miranda fears that her husband,
Prosper, murdered his first wife. She confides in her crime
reporter sister, Roz Bengal, who arrives in Bombay to
investigate. Some violence, some strong language, and some
descriptions of sex. 1998.
Sink or Swim BR 11826
by Gerald Hammond
2 volumes
Wallace James's activity level is slowed by heart trouble and
angina, but he still works in his sporting-goods shop in the
highlands of Scotland. Listening to his CB radio, he overhears a
blackmail attempt. It seems Colonel McInsch had failed to save a
neighbor from drowning. Now there is some doubt as to the
death's accidental nature. With his wife Janet's help, James
investigates. 1996.
The Running Woman BR 11835
by Patricia Carlon
2 volumes
Australian teenager Carol Zamia is found dead in a creek. A
neighbor saw a woman in white running from the scene, and
Zamia's parents accuse the young widow Gabriel Endicott. Gabriel
admits to being at the crime scene but says she knows nothing
about the murder. Now she must prove it. 1966.
An Island like You: Stories of the Barrio BR 11844
by Judith Ortiz Cofer
2 volumes
Twelve short stories chronicle the lives of Puerto Rican
teenagers in Paterson, New Jersey. Struggling to mature, the
teens have to live in two cultures and speak two languages. In
"Bad Influence," Rita is sent off to the island for the summer,
to keep her away from boys, but she learns to like it there. For
senior high and older readers. 1995.
The Hundred Days: The Aubrey-Maturin Novels BR 11850
by Patrick O'Brian
3 volumes
Napoleon, now converted to Islam, has escaped from Elba and is
again building up his troops. He hopes to receive aid from the
Muslims--if a gold shipment reaches them in time. Commodore Jack
Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin are called in to intercept the
gold shipment and prevent a Napoleonic victory. Sequel to The
Yellow Admiral (BR 10685). Bestseller 1998.
The Locket BR 11852
by Richard Paul Evans
2 volumes
Following his mother's death, Michael Keddington takes a job at
a nursing home to pay off his growing debts. He meets the quiet
and withdrawn Esther Huish, and as he wins her trust, she
encourages him to pursue his relationship with the well-to-do
Faye Murrow. Then Michael is accused of murdering a resident.
Bestseller 1998.
Glory Days and Other Stories BR 11856
by Gillian Chan
1 volume
Five short stories feature students from the same Canadian high
school. In "Singing the Blues," Rachel, embarrassed by her
hippie parents, wishes she had a normal family. In "The
Invisible Girl," new-girl-in-town Luisa dates Mark in order to
fit in. She learns too late that she should have listened to her
father's words of caution. For senior high and older readers.
1996.
Cat's Cradle BR 11875
by Kurt Vonnegut
2 volumes
To write his book about the end of the world, Jonah contacts the
children of a famous scientist, Dr. Felix Hoenikker, who
invented the atomic bomb. Each child has some of the father's
last invention, ice-nine--a compound that destroys life by
instant freezing. Jonah discovers a new religion, Bokononism,
when he joins them on San Lorenzo island. Some strong language.
1963.
The Mad Dog: Stories BR 11897
by Heinrich Böll
1 volume
Ten tales by the German Nobel laureate that were not published
when written after World War II. One story, "Youth on Fire,"
written in 1937 before Böll went to war, shows his youthful
faith and idealism. The title piece depicts the repercussions of
wartime horrors on a highly intelligent soldier and on an
ordained priest. 1997.
Black Coffee: A Hercule Poirot Novel BR 11898
by Charles Osborne
2 volumes
Osborne has adapted as a novel this work originally written as a
play by Agatha Christie in 1930. Scientist Sir Claud Amory
believes someone in his home is trying to steal an important
formula he has developed. He asks Poirot to come to his Surrey
home and take the formula back to London. But when Poirot
arrives, he finds Amory dead and soon identifies numerous
suspects. 1998.
Franny and Zooey BR 11900
by J.D. Salinger
2 volumes
Two stories about the Glass family of New York City. In the
first story, college student Franny spoils an evening with her
date because of a religious conversion; in the second, Franny's
brother Zooey encourages her to become an actress. Some strong
language. 1957.
Bech at Bay: A Quasi-Novel BR 11908
by John Updike
2 volumes
Five humorous episodes in the life of Henry Bech, the
semi-obscure American author created by Updike. In the last
story, Bech is awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1999,
but must contend with the subsequent literary protest. Sequel to
Bech Is Back (BR 5307). Some strong language. 1998.
Danger Zone BR 11954
by David Klass
2 volumes
Jim Doyle from Minnesota is selected to be in an international
junior basketball tournament in Italy. At the training camp, his
teammates shun him because of his racial identity and social
inexperience. But in Rome, when the team encounters
discrimination and death threats, Jim proves his loyalty. Some
violence. For junior and senior high readers. 1996.
Don't Die, My Love BR 11955
by Lurlene McDaniel
2 volumes
High school juniors Julie and Luke have known each other for
years and are in love. Luke is the star football player and
Julie's father is his coach. Julie is waiting to see where Luke
gets a football scholarship so she can apply to the same school.
Then Luke is diagnosed with cancer. For junior and senior high
readers. 1995.
A Place to Call Home BR 11957
by Jackie French Koller
2 volumes
Anna, fifteen, lives with her irresponsible mother, her
five-year-old sister, Mandy, and baby brother, Casey. When her
mother disappears, Anna decides to keep it a secret, because she
thinks no one would want to keep a biracial teenager who has two
white siblings. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.
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