Braille Book Review July-August 2010 Volume 79, Number 4 _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large- print,braille, and computer diskette formats and distributedfree 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 ordercatalogs 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 2010 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 Digital talking-book players now available The new digital talking-book players are here! All NLS patrons are eligible to receive digital players and digital talking books. Both the standard and advanced players are easy to use and come with a built-in audio guide. Users may press any button on either player to learn the button’s function. The sound quality is excellent, and most books fit on one cartridge. Users need only insert the book cartridge and the book will begin playing. To receive a digital player, contact your local network library. Contact information for network libraries is listed on the last pages of this magazine and is also available through the “Find a Library” feature at www.loc.gov/nls/find.html. 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. The items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. Talking first-aid kits for travelers The Talking Safe Traveler kit from Intelligent First Aid includes bandages, sponges, antibiotic ointment, disposable gloves, and other essentials—plus talking instruction cards that explain how to treat breathing difficulties, bleeding, shock, and routine injuries. The kit comes in a lightweight, water-resistant nylon bag and costs $59.99. You may order online at www.intelligentfirstaid.com or by phone toll-free at 1-800-377-4544. New tactile atlas available The Princeton Braillists of Princeton, N.J., recently published the seventy-eight-page Atlas of Southern Africa, which includes eighteen tactile maps and sells for $14. The small group of senior citizen volunteers produces maps by hand in metal foil. The maps are then duplicated by the Thermoform process onto 11 x 11.5 inch plastic sheets that are spiral bound into volumes with cardboard covers. The group also has produced Maps of Alaska, Maps of Canada and the United States, and many other atlases. Contact Ruth Bogia at (215) 357-7715 or by e-mail at rhbogia@aol.com, or Nancy Amick at (609) 924-5207 or jamesaamick@aol.com. More information is available on the Princeton Braillists web site, http://mysite.verizon.net/resvqbxe/princetonbraillists. Talking banknote identifier Orbit Research, which developed a talking calculator in the late 1990s, has introduced the iBill talking banknote identifier. The iBill is about the size of two packs of chewing gum laid side by side and can be attached to a keychain or lanyard. Users insert a piece of U.S. currency into a slot and push a button; a female voice announces the banknote’s denomination. For those who want more privacy, or who have a hearing impairment or difficulty discerning speech, the iBill also has vibration and tone modes. It is available for $99 through Orbit Research at www.orbitresearch.com or 1-888-606-7248, and through AT Guys at www.atguys.com or (269) 216-4798. ### Books for Adults_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Note:_ For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of violence, strong language, or explicit descriptions of sex. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Adult Nonfiction The Improvisational Cook BR 17532 by Sally Schneider 4 volumes Columnist and former chef presents dozens of basic recipes intended to be built upon to bring spontaneity and creativity to the kitchen. Explains the fundamentals of flavor combinations and logic behind each dish that can be easily modified using on-hand ingredients. Offers scores of suggested adaptations. 2006. BR 17532 ## The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why BR 17909 by Amanda Ripley 3 volumes Time magazine writer investigates the psychology of survival during disasters such as airline crashes, fires, hostage situations, and tsunamis. Reveals the traits that people demonstrate to help them escape. Includes interviews with survivors of the September 11, 2001, attacks, 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, and the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting rampage. Some strong language. 2008. BR 17909 ## Can’t Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research BR 17912 by Sue Halpern 2 volumes Science writer Halpern recounts her three-year investigation into medical research on Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. Describes studies involving food, herbal supplements, and game playing. Reports her findings that age-related memory loss is normal and that regular physical exercise boosts memory recall. 2008. BR 17912 ## West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War BR 17914 by Heather Cox Richardson 5 volumes History professor focuses on the formation of a middle class in post-Civil War America and asserts that its members defined the nation’s identity at home and abroad for the next century and beyond. Highlights the era’s sectional animosities, racial tensions, booming industrialization, suffragist activism, and westward expansion. 2007. BR 17914 ## Laughter, the Best Medicine II: A Laugh-Out-Loud Collection of Our Funniest Jokes, Quotes, Stories, and Cartoons BR 17915 3 volumes Humorous tidbits previously published in Reader’s Digest magazine. Contributors include members of the general public as well as notables such as Dave Barry, Mary Roach, and quarterback-turned-broadcaster Terry Bradshaw, who comment on computers, customer service, marriage and family, aging, pets, the English language, and many other topics. 2006. BR 17915 ## The Man Who Made Lists: Love, Death, Madness, and the Creation of Roget’s Thesaurus BR 17927 by Joshua Kendall 3 volumes Biography of Englishman Peter Mark Roget (1779–1869), physician, mathematician, inventor, writer, and chess expert. Discusses Roget’s family, marriage, and social life. Describes his invention of the log-log slide rule, near-capture by Napoleon’s army, progressive medical practices, and love of list-making that culminated in his publishing a book of synonyms. 2008. BR 17927 ## Real Life: Preparing for the Seven Most Challenging Days of Your Life BR 18057 by Phil McGraw 3 volumes Dr. Phil discusses ways to cope when facing—or helping someone face—seven types of devastating events: losing someone, becoming physically or mentally ill, falling prey to addiction, having an existential crisis, becoming overwhelmed by demands and responsibilities, or realizing you’ve lost your purpose in life. Bestseller. 2008. BR 18057 ## Unsolved Political Mysteries BR 18070 by David Southwell and Sean Twist 1 volume Describes conspiracy theories involving famous people, such as Malcolm X, Hillary Clinton, and Saddam Hussein, and events, such as the Watergate scandal and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Uncontracted braille. For senior high and older readers. 2004. BR 18070 ## Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance BR 18106 by Barack Obama 4 volumes Obama, his father a Kenyan student and his mother a white Kansan, struggles with issues of identity and ethnicity. A Harvard Law School graduate, community organizer, and civil rights lawyer, Obama recounts a life-changing pilgrimage to Kenya to meet relatives from his father’s other marriages. Some strong language. Bestseller. 1995. BR 18106 ## One Hundred Questions and Answers about HIV and AIDS BR 18109 by Joel Gallant 2 volumes Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine physician offers information about living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Covers topics such as disease basics, transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and side effects. Also addresses women’s issues (including pregnancy), relationships, and the prognosis for HIV/AIDS patients. 2009. BR 18109 ## The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook: Seasonal Foods, Simple Recipes, and Stories from the Market and Farm BR 18113 by Amelia Saltsman 3 volumes Food writer offers tips on selecting, storing, and preparing fresh, seasonal produce like that found at one of California’s oldest certified farmer’s markets. Includes dozens of recipes, such as black cod with green tomatoes, for courses ranging from starters, soups, salads, and sides to main dishes and desserts. 2007. BR 18113 ## The Great Warming: Climate Change and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations BR 18119 by Brian Fagan 3 volumes Anthropologist follows up The Little Ice Age (BR 13935) with an examination of the Medieval Warm Period (A.D. 800–1300). Describes changes in temperature and rainfall that brought bountiful harvests, population growth, and cultural advancement to western Europe while Central America and Southeast Asia experienced drought, famine, and decline. 2008. BR 18119 ## Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing BR 18120 by Mignon Fogarty 2 volumes Fogarty presents language usage tips similar to those from her popular podcast Grammar Girl. Explains guidelines for choosing between terms she calls “dirty words” such as “affect” versus “effect” or “i.e.” versus “e.g.” Provides information on applying basic grammar rules, starting sentences properly, and using punctuation and capitalization correctly. 2008. BR 18120 ## Nickie’s Nook: Sharing the Journey BR 18136 by Nickie Coby 1 volume Selected writings from the online journal of blind college student and aspiring social worker Coby, who has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Discusses her guide dog Julio, her Christianity, and the differences between blindness and chronic illness. For senior high and older readers. 2007. BR 18136 ## The Deen Family Cookbook BR 18224 by Paula Deen 2 volumes Savannah, Georgia, restaurant owner and TV host gathers her relatives’ down-home favorites, like Aunt Peggy’s meat loaf and Michael’s deluxe twice-baked potatoes with shrimp, and adds some more health-minded dishes, like seared scallops and oven-fried chicken. Recipes cover all categories from snacks to main dishes, desserts, and beverages. Bestseller. 2009. BR 18224 ## O, the Oprah Magazine Cookbook: One Hundred Seventy-five Delicious Recipes to Savor with Friends and Family BR 18231 edited by O, the Oprah Magazine 3 volumes Some sixty chefs and food writers present meal ideas, including recipes for appetizers and beverages, light fare, main courses, vegetable dishes, sauces, breads, and desserts—all inspired by American and international cuisines. Offers essays and dining commentary by Maya Angelou, Gayle King, Marcus Samuelsson, and others. Introduction by Oprah Winfrey. 2008. BR 18231 ## The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature BR 18233 by Daniel J. Levitin 3 volumes The author of This Is Your Brain on Music (BR 17517) discusses the role of music in the evolution of humankind over thousands of years and across the six inhabited continents. Focuses on music with lyrics, examining six subjects of song—friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion, and love. 2008. BR 18233 ## The Prince BR 18237 by Niccolò Machiavelli 1 volume A sixteenth-century treatise on political philosophy in which Florentine civil servant and thinker Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) describes acquiring, wielding, and maintaining political power. A 2007 translation by PEN Translation Prize winner Peter Constantine. 2007. BR 18237 ## The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir BR 18247 by John Grogan 3 volumes John Grogan, author of Marley and Me (BR 16584), describes growing up near Detroit as the youngest of four siblings. Recounts many experiences, from disappointing his devout Catholic parents by living with his girlfriend to witnessing his father’s 2004 death and his mother’s mental decline. Strong language. 2008. BR 18247 ## Gandhi on Non-Violence: Selected Texts from Mohandas K. Gandhi’s Non-Violence in Peace and War BR 18250 by Mohandas Gandhi 1 volume Writings of Gandhi (1869–1948) that state the principles of his philosophy of nonviolence (ahimsa) and nonviolent action (satyagraha), selected by Trappist monk Thomas Merton in 1965. Merton’s introduction examines the foundations of Gandhi’s universal truths and analyzes Gandhi’s commitment to change through political action. Preface (2007) by Mark Kurlansky. 1964. BR 18250 ## The Yarn Girls’ Guide to Knits for All Seasons: Sweaters and Accessories for Men and Women BR 18258 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs 2 volumes Forty projects organized by fibers and styles for each season—silk and rayon cardigans for spring, cotton skirts for summer, alpaca pullovers for fall, and bulky wool turtlenecks for winter. Sweaters range from sleeveless to zippered and accessories include tote bags, scarves, belts, and caps. 2007. BR 18258 ## Panini Express: Seventy Delicious Recipes, Hot off the Press BR 18316 by Daniel Leader and Lauren Chattman 1 volume Tips and recipes for perfectly grilled sandwiches. Instructions for baking your own bread and preparing mayonnaises, pestos, and other sandwich enhancers. Recipes suggest store-bought or homemade breads appropriate to a variety of toppings from a range of international cuisines: French, German, Italian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern. 2008. BR 18316 ## All My Patients Have Tales: Favorite Stories from a Vet’s Practice BR 18334 by Jeff Wells 2 volumes Wells recounts his Iowa vet-school experience and the early years of his veterinary practice in South Dakota and Colorado. Describes chasing an excrement-spewing feral cat through the clinic, treating a Tibetan yak named Jack, and realizing that an ex-marine had fainted while Wells sutured a horse’s nose. 2009. BR 18334 ## Forecast: The Consequences of Climate Change, from the Amazon to the Arctic, from Darfur to Napa Valley BR 18343 by Stephan Faris 2 volumes Journalist examines the ecological, social, and political effects of climate change as evidenced in worldwide events. Posits that global warming is responsible for third-world agricultural changes and subsequent land deterioration is a catalyst for regional conflicts. Also highlights environmental refugees, coastal insurance, diseases, and wine production. 2009. BR 18343 ## The Ten Best Questions for Recovering from a Heart Attack: The Script You Need to Take Control of Your Health BR 18387 by Dede Bonner 3 volumes Holistic guide for heart-attack victims and their caregivers promotes patient advocacy. Draws on advice from cardiologists, nutritionists, personal trainers, and others to form questions to ask physicians regarding tests and procedures, medications and surgery, lifestyle changes, and emotional and financial health. 2009. BR 18387 ## Searching for Schindler: A Memoir BR 18398 by Thomas Keneally 2 volumes Author of Schindler’s List (BR 9689) describes his novel-writing process. Recalls his 1980 chance encounter with Holocaust survivor Leopold Pfefferberg in Beverly Hills, which led to Keneally’s writing about Oskar Schindler, a Nazi who saved hundreds of Jews from death camps. Some strong language. 2007. BR 18398 ## Adult Fiction Married Lovers BR 17910 by Jackie Collins 3 volumes Fitness trainer Cameron Paradise, having fled her abusive husband, works at an exclusive L.A. studio. She falls in love with producer Ryan Richards, who is married to a Hollywood princess. The two resist each other until tragedy intervenes. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008. BR 17910 ## Adventures in the West: Stories for Young Readers BR 17916 edited by Susanne George Bloomfield and Eric Melvin Reed 3 volumes Twenty-six short western adventure stories originally published in two children’s magazines, Youth’s Companion and St. Nicholas, and written between the 1890s and World War I. Includes “The Buffalo Hunt,” “Our First Well in Nebraska,” and “Sister Anne and the Cowboy,” among others. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2007. BR 17916 ## Yellow Flag BR 17917 by Robert Lipsyte 2 volumes Seventeen-year-old Kyle comes from a family of NASCAR drivers. Kyle prefers playing the trumpet in a brass quintet, but when his racer brother Kris is injured, Kyle steps in. While helping his kin, Kyle becomes torn between racing and music—and two potential girlfriends. For junior and senior high readers. 2007. BR 17917 ## Guilty BR 17920 by Karen Robards 3 volumes Philadelphia. Prosecutor and single-mom Kate White is held hostage until one of the captors—a figure from Kate’s troubled youth—recognizes her and releases her under threat of blackmail. To protect her past, Kate lies to investigator Tom Braga despite their mutual attraction. Violence, explicit descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 2008. BR 17920 ## Secrets BR 17921 by Jude Deveraux 3 volumes Cassie Madden works as a nanny for widower Jeff Ames—a man Cassie has had a crush on since she was twelve. When Jeff begins dating spoiled Skylar, heartbroken Cassie befriends a retired actress and accidentally uncovers a long- forgotten mystery and secrets involving Jeff. 2008. BR 17921 ## Hotlanta BR 17922 by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller 2 volumes Beautiful African American twin sisters—Sydney, a high achiever, and Lauren, a party girl—live a privileged life in Atlanta with their mother and stepfather. But the girls must deal with family secrets and scandal when their biological father is released from prison. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 17922 ## Indigo Summer: An Indigo Novel, Book 1 BR 17923 by Monica McKayhan 2 volumes Indigo Summer begins freshman year at her Atlanta high school as one of the most popular girls in her class. But after being dumped by her football-star boyfriend Quincy Rawlins, Indigo comes to appreciate next-door neighbor Marcus Carter and learns something about true friendships. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 17923 ## Jinx BR 17925 by Meg Cabot 2 volumes After her first spell goes awry, sixteen-year-old Jean “Jinx” Honeychurch, who has witchcraft in her bloodline, leaves Iowa to live with relatives in Manhattan. Jinx soon must stop her cousin Tory from practicing black magic that could harm a boy they both like. For junior and senior high readers. 2007. BR 17925 ## Unaccustomed Earth: Stories BR 17928 by Jhumpa Lahiri 3 volumes Eight short stories by Pulitzer Prize-winning author explore the nature of family and love. In the title story, a mother in Seattle nervously hosts her widowed father, who helps tend her garden but hides a secret. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17928 ## Running Hot: An Arcane Society Novel BR 18060 by Jayne Ann Krentz 3 volumes After escaping a psychic-blast murder attempt, high-level aura reader Grace Renquist became a librarian for the paranormal Arcane Society. Now in need of her talent, the Society sends her to Maui, assigning ex-cop aura talent Luther Malone as her bodyguard. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008. BR 18060 ## If Only You Knew: A Hotlanta Novel BR 18061 by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller 2 volumes Atlanta. Twins Sydney and Lauren run into trouble when Sydney makes secret visits to their biological father in jail and Lauren falls in love with a boy from the wrong side of town. And their wealthy stepfather may be involved in murder. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18061 ## Raisins and Almonds: A Phryne Fisher Mystery BR 18062 by Kerry Greenwood 2 volumes Australia, 1920s. PI Phryne Fisher investigates the poisoning death of a Jewish student in a bookshop run by Miss Sylvia Lee. Aided by detective Jack Robinson, taxi-driver friends Bert and Cec, and companion Dot, Phryne finds evidence that exonerates Miss Lee and implicates the local Zionist movement. 2002. BR 18062 ## Taming Natasha and Luring a Lady: Stanislaski Saga BR 18063 by Nora Roberts 4 volumes In Taming Natasha toy-store owner Natasha Stanislaski meets professor Spence Kimball and his daughter Frederica when they move to Shepherdstown, West Virginia. In Luring a Lady Natasha’s brother Mikhail is attracted to the owner of his rundown apartment building. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008. BR 18063 ## The Spellman Files BR 18064 by Lisa Lutz 3 volumes Twenty-eight-year-old licensed private investigator Izzy Spellman has worked for her parents’ PI firm for sixteen years. Fed up with her family’s prying ways, Izzy agrees to work one last job—an unsolved missing-persons case. Then Izzy’s quirky fourteen-year-old sister Rae—who shadows people both recreationally and for the business—disappears. Strong language. 2007. BR 18064 ## Curse of the Spellmans BR 18065 by Lisa Lutz 3 volumes In this sequel to The Spellman Files (BR 18064), private investigator Izzy Spellman is busy spying on every member of her family and her best friend. She also takes a long, hard look at her new next-door neighbor, whose background check and locked office are extremely suspicious. Strong language. 2008. BR 18065 ## Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and the Lily of the West; a Bloody Jack Adventure BR 18066 by L.A. Meyer 4 volumes 1806. Jacky Faber heads west to escape British charges of piracy. She turns a Mississippi keelboat into a casino-showboat and heads for New Orleans, with her beloved Jaimy following in her wake. Sequel to In the Belly of the Bloodhound (BR 17126). For junior and senior high readers. 2007. BR 18066 ## The Bishop at the Lake: A Blackie Ryan Mystery BR 18069 by Andrew M. Greeley 3 volumes Cardinal Sean Cronin sends Chicago archbishop Blackie Ryan to check up on Malachi Howard-Nolan—Blackie’s ecclesiastic rival—at the Nolan family’s lavish Lake Michigan estate. When Malachi is almost killed by a human-orchestrated hornet attack, Blackie searches for the would-be killer among Malachi’s dysfunctional relatives. 2007. BR 18069 ## Honeymoon Husband BR 18071 by Shirley Marks 1 volume Hannah Roberts is on her way to her wedding—and the Hawaiian honeymoon she won— when her fiancé leaves her. Arriving in Hawaii, Hannah immediately meets a man and begins enjoying herself. But she can’t seem to dodge the contest organizers, who want a picture of the winning newlyweds. 2007. BR 18071 ## Sizzle and Burn: An Arcane Society Novel BR 18073 by Jayne Ann Krentz 3 volumes Raine Tallentyre’s paranormal ability to hear voices leads her to her deceased aunt’s basement. There she discovers a serial killer’s latest victim-to-be. Raine falls for PI Zack Jones, who is using his mirror talent to investigate Raine’s family. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008. BR 18073 ## The Various Haunts of Men: A Simon Serrailler Mystery BR 18096 by Susan Hill 4 volumes Chief inspector Simon Serrailler’s new detective Freya Graffham investigates the disappearance of a middle-aged woman who was last seen on her morning run. As Freya falls for Simon, another woman vanishes. Meanwhile, Simon’s physician sister investigates suspicious alternative medicine practitioners. Some violence and some strong language. 2004. BR 18096 ## Heart and Soul BR 18107 by Maeve Binchy 4 volumes While her philandering husband wants a divorce and her immature adult daughters still live at home, Dublin cardiologist Clara Casey opens and runs an underfunded heart clinic at St. Brigid’s hospital. Clara assembles a compassionate staff and ultimately realizes that their efforts are making a difference and that people can change. Bestseller. 2008. BR 18107 ## Big Boned: A Heather Wells Mystery BR 18110 by Meg Cabot 2 volumes After events in Size Fourteen Is Not Fat Either (BR 17176), Heather Wells longs for her landlord Cooper, dates a vegan professor, and continues her job at the university “death dorm,” where several murders have occurred. But when Dr. Veatch, her boss, is killed, Heather investigates. Some strong language. 2007. BR 18110 ## Ink Exchange BR 18112 by Melissa Marr 2 volumes Mortal teenager Leslie, Aislinn’s friend from Wicked Lovely (BR 17597), endures an abusive home life. But when Leslie gets a tattoo, its image draws her into the Dark Court of evil faeries, where King Irial falls in love with her. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18112 ## Me, the Missing, and the Dead BR 18115 by Jenny Valentine 1 volume London teenager Lucas Swain becomes obsessed with an urn containing the ashes of Violet Park. He also is preoccupied with his journalist dad, who mysteriously disappeared years ago and was somehow connected to Violet. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 18115 ## Faro’s Daughter BR 18116 by Georgette Heyer 3 volumes Regency-era England. Max Ravenscar offers gambling-house mistress Deborah Grantham a small fortune to refuse his nephew Adrian’s marriage proposal. Outraged by the bribe, Deborah—who never intended to pursue Adrian—decides to teach Max a lesson by pretending to go through with the courtship. Meanwhile Max falls in love. 1941. BR 18116 ## Miss Julia Paints the Town BR 18121 by Ann B. Ross 3 volumes Miss Julia rallies her town of Abbotsville, North Carolina, to protest plans of a New Jersey developer to replace city hall with condominiums. Miss Julia plots to scare off the Yankee by showcasing local eccentrics. In the meantime the husbands of three of Miss Julia’s friends have disappeared. 2008. BR 18121 ## A Parcel of Patterns BR 18124 by Jill Paton Walsh 1 volume Eyam, England; 1665. Mall Percival recalls the way the plague came to her Derbyshire village—in a package of sewing patterns sent from London to the minister’s wife. The villagers voluntarily isolate themselves to prevent the disease from spreading, but three-fourths of them die. For junior and enior high readers. 1983. BR 18124 ## Whirlwind: The Caretaker Trilogy, Book 2 BR 18127 by David Klass 3 volumes After saving Earth’s oceans in Firestorm (BR 17258), Jack discovers that his girlfriend P.J. is missing and that her parents blame him for her disappearance. Jack and his psychic dog Gisco head to the Amazon rain forest to ask a wizard for help. Some violence. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18127 ## Tell Me, Pretty Maiden: A Molly Murphy Mystery BR 18235 by Rhys Bowen 3 volumes New York, 1902. Private investigator Molly Murphy finds a beautiful young woman lying unconscious in snow-covered Central Park. As Molly visits local theatres and flophouses in an attempt to learn what happened, she is aided by her beau Daniel—a wrongfully suspended police captain—and influential friends like reporter Nelly Bly. 2008. BR 18235 ## The Devil Riding: A Tamara Hayle Mystery BR 18239 by Valerie Wilson Wesley 2 volumes African American private investigator Tamara Hayle is hired by a wealthy couple to find their runaway eighteen-year-old daughter Gabriella. Tamara follows a tip that leads to an apartment where Gabriella is staying. There Tamara finds a woman’s body—but no sign of Gabriella. Some violence and some strong language. 2000. BR 18239 ## Liberty: A Lake Wobegon Novel BR 18240 by Garrison Keillor 2 volumes Lake Wobegon citizens demand the resignation of tyrannical Fourth of July committee chairman Clint Bunsen. Meanwhile sixty-year-old Clint, who is married, receives shocking DNA results, has an affair with Angelica Pflame—the parade’s former Miss Liberty—and contemplates a bid for congress. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008. BR 18240 ## The Bridge of San Luis Rey BR 18244 by Thornton Wilder 1 volume Peru, 1714. A bridge connecting Lima and Cuzco collapses, killing five travelers. Brother Juniper, a Franciscan missionary who witnesses the tragedy, delves into the victims’ lives to determine if the incident was a matter of chance or divine intervention. Includes 2003 afterword by Tappan Wilder. Pulitzer Prize. 1927. BR 18244 ## A Good Woman BR 18245 by Danielle Steel 2 volumes Wealthy nineteen-year-old Annabelle Worthington of Manhattan, who loses her father on the Titanic, marries older banker Josiah Millbank. After a scandalous divorce, Annabelle moves to France to study medicine—but her past catches up with her. Some violence and some descriptions of sex. 2008. BR 18245 ## Grace BR 18246 by Richard Paul Evans 2 volumes 1960s. Ninth-grader Eric is still adjusting to his family’s move from California to Utah when he discovers his classmate Grace scrounging for food in a restaurant dumpster. Eric and his brother Joel hide Grace in their backyard clubhouse. But neither the boys nor Grace can keep their secrets forever. 2008. BR 18246 ## Red Spikes BR 18248 by Margo Lanagan 1 volume Ten short fantasy tales by the Australian author of Black Juice (BR 16627). In “A Feather in the Breast of God” the spirit of Smoko, a pet budgie that was eaten by a cat, returns to aid a member of the family. Some violence. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 18248 ## How to Be Bad BR 18253 by E. Lockhart and others 2 volumes Florida teenage girls Mel, Jesse, and Vicks leave their summer jobs and head to Miami for the weekend to visit Vicks’s boyfriend Brady at college. The three weather adventures including hurricanes and arguments about family problems but manage to remain friends. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18253 ## Murder inside the Beltway: A Capital Crimes Novel BR 18255 by Margaret Truman 3 volumes Senior detective Walter Hatcher and his colleagues Matthew Jackson and Mary Hall investigate the murder of Rosalie Curzon, a Washington, D.C., call girl. Rosalie had made videotapes of her clients—and one, Bob Colgate, is running for president. A child’s subsequent kidnapping is also linked to Rosalie’s death. 2008. BR 18255 ## Clean Cut: An Anna Travis Mystery BR 18315 by Lynda La Plante 4 volumes As Anna Travis begins questioning her live-in relationship with sloppy, selfish Detective Chief Inspector Langton, he is badly injured. While Langton recovers enough to track his assailant, Travis works a connected case and, still worried about Langton, secretly tries to do some of his legwork. Violence and strong language. 2007. BR 18315 ## A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man BR 18335 by James Joyce 2 volumes Largely autobiographical novel portrays the Irish childhood, adolescence, and early manhood of Stephen Dedalus, one of the leading characters in Joyce’s Ulysses (BR 10287). Stephen’s growing self-awareness as an artist forces him to reject the narrow world in which he was brought up. Includes 2006 introduction by Langdon Hammer. 1916. BR 18335 ## The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie BR 18337 by Muriel Spark 1 volume Edinburgh. With her freethinking ideas and irresistible charm, schoolmistress Jean Brodie exerts an enormous influence on a small group of impressionable young girls. The “Brodie set” receives an introduction to the privileged world of adult games. A portrait of adolescence, its innocence, and curiosity about life and sex. 1961. BR 18337 ## Angel’s Tip BR 18338 by Alafair Burke 3 volumes NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher,permanently working in homicide after the events of Dead Connection (BR 18336), investigates the case of a college student tourist who was murdered after leaving a club. Ellie soon realizes her late partner Flann McIlroy was looking into similar cases. Violence and some strong language. 2008. BR 18338 ## Little Wing BR 18341 by Joanne Horniman 1 volume Australia. Emily, a young mother, struggles to find a way out of post-partum depression and leaves her baby Mahalia. Along her emotional journey she meets Martin and his son, whose relationship reminds her of what she left behind. Companion to Mahalia (BR 15232). For junior and senior high readers. 2006. BR 18341 ## The Ghosts of Kerfol BR 18347 by Deborah Noyes 1 volume Five intertwined stories involving Kerfol, the fictional mansion of author Edith Wharton. Over the centuries its inhabitants are haunted by dead dogs, fractured relationships, and the taste of bitter revenge. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18347 ## Urn Burial: A Phryne Fisher Mystery BR 18351 by Kerry Greenwood 2 volumes Sleuth Phryne Fisher, her lover Lin Chung, and their retinue take a holiday at a gothic mansion in Australia’s mountain country. But mischief and murder disrupt the peace when the owners receive death threats and someone strangles a parlor maid. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1996. BR 18351 ## Angels and Demons BR 18393 by Dan Brown 4 volumes Professor of religious iconology Robert Langdon is called to the Vatican to investigate the murder of a physicist by the brotherhood of the Illuminati, a medieval secret society. Joining Langdon is the victim’s beautiful daughter Vittoria and scientists from CERN, a Swedish research facility. Some violence and some strong language. 2000. BR 18393 ## The Grub-and-Stakers Pinch a Poke BR 18395 by Alisa Craig 2 volumes Ontario. Dittany Monk, museum-board secretary, convinces her writer husband to enter a drama festival competition. When someone tries to kill the play’s lead actor, Dittany helps investigate a booby-trapped “poke” of shaving gear and a cast of suspects including a jealous rival, a jaded fiancée, and a vengeful ex- wife. 1988. BR 18395 ## The Quilter’s Kitchen: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel with Recipes BR 18405 by Jennifer Chiaverini 2 volumes Anna, now the chef of Elm Creek Manor, and Sylvia remodel the inn’s kitchen and plan a cookbook. They also use fabric scraps and old aprons to create a new quilt. Includes dozens of recipes. 2008. BR 18405 ## The Smart One and the Pretty One BR 18406 by Claire LaZebnik 2 volumes When Ava and Lauren Nickerson’s mother develops cancer, the sisters return to Los Angeles. Trying to straighten each other out, bookish attorney Ava makes spendthrift fashionista Lauren establish a plan to become debt free, while Lauren makes over Ava and reunites her with former childhood neighbor Russell Markowitz. 2008. BR 18406 ## The Disappeared BR 18412 by Gloria Whelan 1 volume Buenos Aires, Argentina; 1977. Teenaged Silvia and her older brother Eduardo correspond after Eduardo is arrested and jailed by the government. Silvia describes her parents’ anguish and the dates she has with General López’s son in an attempt to help Eduardo’s cause. Violence. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18412 ## Terminal Freeze BR 18467 by Lincoln Child 3 volumes Exploring the frigid landscape of the Federal Wilderness Zone, paleoecologist Evan Marshall and his team come upon a strange animal encased in ice. Against the advice of Marshall’s team, their sponsor plans to televise the creature’s thawing. But then the beast disappears and people die. Violence. Bestseller. 2009. BR 18467 ## Chosen: House of Night, Book 3 BR 18481 by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast 2 volumes Fledgling vampire Zoey Redbird’s best friend Stevie Rae is “undead” and becoming a monster—and Zoey knows that her own mentor is behind the deed. When two professors are murdered, Zoey suspects humans are guilty. She also finds herself in a love triangle. Strong language. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 18481 ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Children’s Nonfiction The Daring Book for Girls BR 17712 by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz 3 volumes Girls’ guide to indoor and outdoor adventures. Provides tips, facts, activities, rules for games, projects, and stories. Covers campouts and sleepovers, rope- jumping variations, math tricks, spy techniques, and information on queens of ancient times and women Olympians. Includes recommended reading lists. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2007. BR 17712 ## Marie Curie: The Woman Who Changed the Course of Science BR 17926 by Philip Steele 2 volumes Biography of Marie Curie (1867–1934), a dedicated scientist who became the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes. Describes her childhood in Poland, university education in Paris, pioneering research on radioactivity, and use of X-rays to help wounded soldiers. Places her achievements in historical context. For grades 4-7. 2006. BR 17926 ## She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer BR 18068 by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander 1 volume Biography of Laura Bridgman (1829–1889), the first deaf-blind child to receive a formal education—decades before Helen Keller. Discusses the causes of Laura’s deaf-blindness at age two, her sponsorship at Perkins Institution, and her success at learning manual sign language. For grades 4-7. 2008. BR 18068 ## One-Minute Mysteries: Sixty-five Short Mysteries You Solve with Science! BR 18122 by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder 1 volume Short problems based on chemical, earth, life, physical, space, and general science. In “A Fishy Solution” Dennis proposes placing a clear plastic sheet over his outdoor pond to keep out fish-eating raccoons. His friend’s warning gives a biological reason why this wouldn’t work. For grades 4-7. 2008. BR 18122 ## Dinosaur Eggs Discovered! Unscrambling the Clues BR 18133 by Lowell Dingus and others 1 volume Three scientists discuss their 1977 discovery in Argentina of dinosaur eggs, embryos, and fossilized bones. They explain their methods for identifying which dinosaurs laid the eggs and present evidence of what conditions killed the embryos and preserved the nesting grounds. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2008. BR 18133 ## Hear That Train Whistle Blow! How the Railroad Changed the World BR 18135 by Milton Meltzer 1 volume Traces the history of rail transportation, from the 1630 coal-hauling operation in England to twentieth-century commuter lines. Discusses the railroad’s role in American history, including uniting the North during the Civil War and galvanizing the first African American-led labor union—the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. For grades 6-9. 2004. BR 18135 ## African Critters BR 18251 by Robert B. Haas 1 volume Accompany a wildlife photographer on safari in Africa, where he observes the actions and movements of a mother leopard and two cubs, a herd of elephants, a pack of wild dogs, a pride of lions, as well as hyenas, hippos, rhinos, cheetahs, and itty-bitty critters too. For grades 3-6. 2008. BR 18251 ## Snow Falling in Spring: Coming of Age in China during the Cultural Revolution BR 18252 by Moying Li 1 volume Recounts the end of the author’s happy childhood in 1950s–1960s Beijing when the harsh realities of political change engulfed her family. Describes beloved relatives being denounced, schools being closed, and books being forbidden, but her educational desires enduring. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2008. BR 18252 ## Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family’s Farm BR 18256 by Michael J. Rosen 1 volume Describes the seasonal routines and adventures of the Bennett family—Caleb, Chase, Cayne, Grey, Ali, and their parents—who live on a 150-acre farm in Ohio. Discusses family chores involving the cows, chickens, and dogs; going hunting, sledding, and swimming; raising food; and attending school. For grades 4-7. 2008. BR 18256 ## A Life in the Wild: George Schaller’s Struggle to Save the Last Great Beasts BR 18340 by Pamela S. Turner 1 volume Examines the background and fieldwork of wildlife conservationist George Schaller. Discusses his first Alaska expeditions and experiences observing gorillas in the Congo; studying tigers in India, lions in East Africa, and snow leopards in the Himalayas; and tracking pandas and surveying other endangered animals in China. For grades 5-8. 2008. BR 18340 ## Young Charles Darwin and the Voyage of the Beagle BR 18354 by Ruth Ashby 1 volume This biography of Charles Darwin (1809–1882) focuses on the scientific observations and discoveries about the natural world that he made during his five-year shipboard voyage around the world. Discusses his collections of plants and birds, which led him to his theory of evolution. For grades 4-7. 2009. BR 18354 ## Children’s Fiction Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days! BR 17918 by Stephen Manes 1 volume When a self-help book falls off the library shelf and hits Milo on the head, he figures he’s meant to read it—especially since his family and classmates think he’s less than perfect. But following author Dr. K. Pinkerton Silverfish’s instructions is not so easy. For grades 3-6. 1982. BR 17918 ## When the Black Girl Sings BR 17924 by Bil Wright 2 volumes The only black girl in an all-white prep school, eighth-grader Lahni Schuler contends with her white adoptive parents’ separation as she prepares for a singing competition. Going to church with her mother inspires Lahni to join a gospel choir, which gives her new self-confidence. For grades 6-9. 2008. BR 17924 ## Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity BR 18015 by Mo Willems 1 volume Her daddy in tow, Trixie hurries to school to show off her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny. But an awful surprise awaits her: someone else has the exact same bunny! Sequel to Knuffle Bunny (BR 16029). PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 18015 ## Timothy and the Strong Pajamas BR 18016 by Viviane Schwarz 1 volume After his mother mends his favorite pajamas, Timothy finds he has super strength and uses it to help others. But his pajamas rip again and Timothy loses strength just when he needs it the most. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 18016 ## Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace BR 18075 by Donald J. Sobol 1 volume Clues provided in ten cases challenge the reader to try to think the way Encyclopedia Brown does and solve each mystery. Join him in cases with suspicious cave drawings, a mysterious wanted man, a valuable missing diamond ring, and others. For grades 3-6. 1969. BR 18075 ## The Unsigned Valentine: And Other Events in the Life of Emma Meade BR 18077 by Johanna Hurwitz 1 volume Vermont, 1911. Fifteen-year-old Emma is considered old enough to leave school and help on the farm but not old enough to fall in love. Cole Berry stays interested anyway and during a flood, takes a canoe to search for her. Sequel to Dear Emma (BR 17380). For grades 5-8. 2006. BR 18077 ## Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox BR 18123 by Eoin Colfer 3 volumes Artemis’s mother contracts a deadly disease that can be cured only with the brain fluid of lemurs—an animal that Artemis previously made extinct. With the help of his fairy friends, Artemis travels back in time. Sequel to Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony (BR 17205). For grades 5-8. 2008. BR 18123 ## Time Pieces: The Book of Times BR 18125 by Virginia Hamilton 1 volume Valena interweaves reports of summer events—such as seeing the aurora borealis, surviving a tornado, and going to an amazing circus—with family stories about her ancestor’s travel on the Underground Railroad and the cruelties of long ago. For grades 5-8. 2002. BR 18125 ## Revenge of the Dragon Lady: Dragon Slayers’ Academy, Book 2 BR 18126 by Kate McMullan 1 volume After accidentally killing a dragon, Wiglaf hopes his friends at Dragon Slayers’ Academy will help him be a hero when he faces the dragon’s mother Seetha, the Beast from the East. For grades 2-4. 2003. BR 18126 ## Morgy’s Musical Summer BR 18131 by Maggie Lewis 1 volume Morgy and his friend Byron attend Outlook Music Camp in Maine on promising- beginner scholarships. Morgy enjoys three weeks of trumpet playing, canoeing, swimming, and soccer but dislikes Damian, who is an oboe prodigy and a bully. Sequel to Morgy Coast to Coast (BR 16386). For grades 2-4. 2008. BR 18131 ## Passion and Poison: Tales of Shape-Shifters, Ghosts, and Spirited Women BR 18139 by Janice M. Del Negro 1 volume Eerie stories of things that are not what they seem to be. In “Skulls and Bones, Ghosts and Gold” housekeeper Pearl braves a cemetery at midnight to fetch a skull and win a bet for her master. In “Rubies” a woman tries to avenge her sister’s murder. For grades 5-8. 2007. BR 18139 ## The Graveyard Book BR 18241 by Neil Gaiman 2 volumes A toddler enters a cemetery pursued by the knife-wielding stranger who just murdered his family. Resident ghosts Mr. and Mrs. Owens protect and adopt the child, naming him Nobody “Bod” Owens. Bod’s graveyard upbringing serves him well, but why was his family targeted? For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2008. BR 18241 ## Doomwyte: Redwall Abbey BR 18242 by Brian Jacques 3 volumes The Redwallers face dangerous villains in a treacherous hunt for long-lost treasure—the jeweled eyes of the great Doomwyte idol. The quest takes them into the caves beneath the wooded hill where Korvus Skurr, the black-feathered raven, dwells. For grades 5-8. 2008. BR 18242 ## Harry Goes to the Hospital: A Story for Children about What It’s Like to Be in the Hospital BR 18243 by Howard J. Bennett 1 volume When Harry throws up too many times, his parents take him to the emergency room. Harry has an IV placed in his arm, and his two-day hospital stay includes a blood test and a CAT scan. Includes advice for parents about a child’s hospital trip. For grades K-3. 2008. BR 18243 ## Houndsley and Catina BR 18260 by James Howe 1 volume After Catina, a cat, writes a disappointing book and Houndsley, a dog, loses a cooking contest, the two best friends find the right things to say to each other, because that’s what best friends do. Three short chapters. For grades K-3. 2006. BR 18260 ## Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise BR 18261 by James Howe 1 volume Best friends Houndsley, a dog, and Catina, a cat, are both sad because they do not know when their birthdays are. Then each of them plans a surprise for the other. Three short chapters. For grades K-3. 2006. BR 18261 ## Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time BR 18262 by James Howe 1 volume Houndsley likes the quiet of winter’s first snow, but Catina worries they will be snowed in and miss the concert they have been practicing for. However, the two friends still plan ways to enjoy this snowy day together. Three short chapters. For grades K-3. 2008. BR 18262 ## Just Grace Goes Green BR 18324 by Charise Mericle Harper 1 volume When Miss Lois teaches her class ways to “go green,” Just Grace learns to recycle, conserve, and reuse things to save the Earth. But convincing her mother to cooperate is not easy. For grades 2-4. 2009. BR 18324 ## The Cats of Roxville Station BR 18348 by Jean Craighead George 1 volume Thrown into a river by a cruel human, a tiger-striped kitten fights to survive among feral cats and other creatures that live near the Roxville train station. Mike, a foster boy who is forbidden to have any pets, calls her “Rachet” and gradually becomes her friend. For grades 3-6. 2009. BR 18348 ## Mudshark BR 18361 by Gary Paulsen 1 volume Principal Wagner confidently deals with a faculty washroom crisis, a psychic parrot, and a terrorizing gerbil, but when all the classroom erasers disappear, he turns to the school’s best problem solver and locator of lost items, twelve- year-old Lyle Williams, a.k.a. Mudshark. For grades 3-6. 2009. BR 18361 ## The Slave Dancer BR 18364 by Paula Fox 1 volume 1840. Kidnapped from New Orleans by the crew of a ship bound for Africa, thirteen-year-old Jessie Bollier discovers to his horror that he is on a slaver and his job entails playing his fife during the exercise periods of the human cargo. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 1973. BR 18364 ## Hate That Cat BR 18403 by Sharon Creech 1 volume Jack continues his study of poetry begun with Miss Stretchberry last school year in Love That Dog (BR 14137). Although he still misses his dog Sky, he writes poems about other things: words, sounds, silence, his mother’s hand signs, and cats. A novel in verse. For grades 4-7. 2008. BR 18403 ## Eating Enchiladas BR 18413 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 1 volume Sarah’s teacher wants each student to give a report on a country. After a sleepover at her friend Mercedes’s that feels like a visit to Mexico, Sarah has a great idea. For grades 2-4. 2008. BR 18413 ## Little Audrey BR 18415 by Ruth White 1 volume Southwest Virginia, 1948. Eleven-year-old Audrey experiences some small joys, but mostly difficulties, growing up in a coal miner’s family. She tells about a father who goes on payday drinking binges, her sad mother, and three sisters almost as hungry as Audrey is. For grades 4-7. 2008. BR 18415 ## ### Braille Magazines The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that send you braille materials. Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Conundrum (British monthly) Cooking Light (10 issues) ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly) Harper's (literary; monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues) Muse (for children; 10 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC World (personal computing; monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (11 issues) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens; monthly) Short Stories (British monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Stone Soup (children's writings; 5 issues) Update (NLS quarterly) The Washington Post Book World (weekly) The following sports schedules are also available: American Baseball League Schedule National Baseball League Schedule National Basketball Association Schedule National Football League Schedule National Hockey League Schedule Women's National Basketball Association Schedule ###