Volume 91, Number 6
Need help ordering books or changing your subscription status? Your local braille and talking-book library is always the place to start. For general information and to order books, call 888-NLS-READ (888-657-7323) to be connected to the appropriate library for you.
Emails and phone numbers for libraries around the country can be found by visiting www.loc.gov/nls and selecting “Find Your Library.”
Get books fast from BARD
Most books and magazines listed in Braille Book Review are available to eligible readers for download on the NLS BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) site. To use BARD, contact your local braille and talking-book library or visit https://nlsbard.loc.gov for more information. The free BARD Mobile app for reading talking books on your personal smart phone or tablet is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon's Appstore and can be used to read books with a refreshable braille display.
Do you live overseas?
American citizens living abroad may enroll and request delivery to foreign addresses by contacting the NLS Overseas Librarian by phone at 202-707-9261 or by email at [email protected].
Music scores and instruction
NLS music patrons may receive braille and large-print music scores and instructional recordings through the NLS Music Section. To learn more, email [email protected], call 800-424-8567 ext. 2, or visit www.loc.gov/nls/music.
About Braille Book Review
Braille Book Review, published in braille and HTML, is distributed free to people who have a visual or physical disability that makes it difficult to read regular print. It can be found at www.loc.gov/nls/bbr or downloaded in BRF from BARD. It lists braille titles recently added to the NLS collection. The entire collection, with hundreds of thousands of titles, is available at www.loc.gov/nls/catalog.
Library of Congress, Washington, DC
2022
Catalog Card Number 53-31800
ISSN 0006-873X
Contents
In Brief
When publisher-provided book descriptions are available, NLS will use them verbatim. This means that book descriptions may reference other works or supplementary materials that are not available or contained in the NLS edition. The book descriptions are statements from the publisher and do not represent the position of the Library of Congress. NLS will, however, continue to provide rating taglines to help patrons identify books containing strong language or descriptions of sex and violence.
Please note that in addition, beginning in 2023, NLS will no longer be supplying the extremely brief, one-line annotations of talking books that previously appeared only in the braille edition of Braille Book Review. Braille Book Review will use publisher-provided descriptions of braille books, but will now list only titles, authors, and durations of talking books. We encourage patrons who relied on Braille Book Review for knowledge of talking books to subscribe to Talking Book Topics as well.
NLS Braille-on-Demand pilot continues
Interested in braille you can keep indefinitely? The NLS Braille-on-Demand pilot program, launched this summer, allows all registered patron to receive one hard-copy braille book per month with no return date. Patrons may request books directly using the form at www.surveymonkey.com/r/NLSbrailleondemand External or may contact their network library for assistance in filing their requests. Any braille book available on BARD is eligible to be produced in hard copy by this program. Books will be mailed directly to the requesting patrons.
New braille and audio magazines available
NLS recently added three new magazines to its collection, two in audio and one in braille.
- Harvard Women’s Health Watch, available in audio, shares information on new prevention strategies, diagnostic techniques, medications, and treatments.
- Psychology Today, available in audio, is a general-interest psychology magazine representing a variety of perspectives and approaches.
- Guideposts, available in braille, shares inspirational stories.
All three magazines may be downloaded from BARD. To subscribe to them on cartridge or in hard-copy braille, please contact your network library.
Version 1.4.6 of BARD Mobile for Android released
NLS released two updates to the BARD Mobile for Android app in September. Version 1.4.5, released early in the month, added many new features, including:
- the ability to pause and resume downloads
- sort and search capabilities in Bookshelves and the various Get Book lists
- the ability to delete books from Wish List
- a new More Info book details screen
- a new Settings tab with new settings for User Account and Audio Settings pages
A version 1.4.6 was released later in September to address bugs and stabilize performance. If users have not automated BARD Mobile updates, they will need to go to the BARD Mobile entry in the Google Play Store and enable the update. BARD Mobile users can confirm that they are running the latest version by checking the bottom of the app’s Settings screen.
Version 2.0 of BARD Mobile for iOS released
In a major update to BARD Mobile for iOS, version 2.0 replaces the BARD Website option within the app with a new and powerful search engine. If users have not automated BARD Mobile updates, they will need to go to the App Store and enable the update. Once installed, BARD Mobile 2.0 for iOS will allow users to search by keyword, title, author, or annotation and receive reliable results. Additionally, version 2.0 fixes problems with rewind controls, side-loading books, and downloading and reading non-ASCII foreign language book titles.
To conduct a search in BARD Mobile 2.0, choose the Search option at the top of the Get Books screen, just above Wish List. Keyword is the default search type, and Audio is the default format, but you may change these settings. To access options such as Download and viewing other books by the same author with VoiceOver, touch the title of interest, flick up or down to the desired choice, and double-tap. If you don’t use VoiceOver, select the More info button to the right of the title, and then choose either Download, Add to Wish List, or More Actions. Currently, the new Search option on iOS version 2.0 does not return non-English titles. Patrons searching for non-English titles should continue to use the BARD website to find and add titles to their Wish Lists for downloading.
NLS Patron Engagement Section virtual programs
The NLS Patron Engagement Section continues to host a virtual Monthly BARD review program on Zoom called The Many Faces of BARD. This program occurs the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Eastern. Each Review will last for one hour and will discuss a predetermined topic about a component of BARD usage or a specific BARD product. After the prepared training, patrons will have an opportunity to ask any questions that they may have regarding the topic of the evening or any other aspect of BARD.
To join a session, visit www.loc.gov/nls/about/services/many-faces-of-BARD on our website or call in by telephone at 1-669-254-5252 (meeting ID 161 116 1911).
The Patron Engagement Section will also be holding its next quarterly Patron Corner program on December 12. The topic will be Do You Hear What I Hear: NLS’s Music Collection Is Not Just for the Musician. For information on future Patron Engagement Section programs, visit www.loc.gov/nls/about/services.
Newsstand
The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. The items mentioned below are not part of the NLS program, and their listings do not imply endorsement or support. Prices and details about listed items were correct at the time of compilation but are subject to change.
2023 braille and large-print calendars
Listed below are organizations that sell or distribute braille and/or large-print calendars for 2023.
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
1800 Johnson St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9315
410-685-2340 fax
www.actionfund.org External
- Braille 6" × 6.5" calendar. Features one page per month, a personal day page, and a listing of major holidays. Free. Patrons can request up to three braille calendars.
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Ave.
Louisville, KY 40206
800-223-1839 toll-free
502-899-2284 fax
[email protected]
https://shop.aph.org External
- 2023 Braille Datebook in a two-ring binder. Features tabbed pages of durable plastic; comes with a saddle-shaped stylus and a pamphlet with print and braille tips. Catalog no. 1-07899-23, $105. Dimensions 12.6 × 14.5 × 3.4 in. Twelve compatible tabbed plastic calendar pages may be purchased separately. Catalog no. 1-07897-00, $17.
- Large-print (60-point) 2023 EZ Track Calendar and appointment book in a three-ring binder. Four days per page, with room for notes. Calendar with binder. Catalog no. 1-07900-23, $109. Dimensions 11.4166 × 11.625 × 2.25 in. Insert pages may be purchased separately. Catalog no. 1-07901-23, $105.
- Print/braille (36-point) 8.5" × 11" 2023 APH InSights Art Calendar. Includes holidays and moon phases. Features the work of artists with visual impairments. Catalog no. 5-18971-23, $8.
- Print/braille Individual Calendar Kit. Contains two brightly colored, embossed, bold-line grid sheets for making your own monthly calendar. Catalog no. 1-18971-00, $23.
Braille Works
942 Darby Lake Rd.
Seffner, FL 33584
813-654-4050
800-258-7544 toll-free
813-689-8628 fax
[email protected]
https://brailleworks.com
- Braille 11" × 17" wall calendar with images. Spiral-bound. Contact vendor for price.
JBI Library
110 E. 30th St.
New York, NY 10016
212-889-2525
800-433-1531
[email protected]
www.jbilibrary.org External
- Large-print 11" × 17" 16-month calendar in English and Hebrew. The calendar indicates secular and Jewish holidays and includes the weekly candle-lighting times. Free to eligible individuals.
- Braille 11" × 17" 16-month calendar in English and Hebrew. The calendar indicates secular and Jewish holidays and includes the weekly candle-lighting times. Free to eligible individuals.
Lutheran Braille Workers
PO Box 5000
Yucaipa, CA 92399
800-925-6092 toll-free
[email protected]
www.lbwloveworks.org External
- Braille 8.5" × 11" scripture calendar. Features a Bible verse and tactile graphic for each month. Free.
- Large-print (18-point) 8.5" × 12.5" calendar. Free.
Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund
3500 N. Elm Rd.
Jackson, MI 49201
517-780-5096
517-780-5448 fax
[email protected]
http://mi-braille.org External
- Print/braille 4.5" × 6" spiral-bound calendar. Includes a separate listing of major holidays. Free (two calendars per person).
National Federation of the Blind
Independence Market
200 E. Wells St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314, ext. 2216
[email protected]
www.nfb.org/independence-market External
- Braille 6.5" × 6.5" spiral-bound calendar. Features one page per month and a listing of major holidays. Catalog no. BBC23B. Free.
Books for Adults
The following books were recently produced for the NLS program.
Registered users can immediately download all titles and magazines from BARD, the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download service, at https://nlsbard.loc.gov. The free BARD Mobile app for reading talking books on your personal smartphone or tablet is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon’s Appstore and can be used to read books with a refreshable braille display. To order books or sign up for BARD service contact your local cooperating library. Regional library telephone numbers and email addresses are listed on the last pages of this magazine.
Books within the headings Adult Fiction and Adult Nonfiction are listed alphabetically by subject category, author last name, and title. For example the title War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy would be listed in Adult Fiction under the Classics subject category and by the last name Tolstoy.
Note: A notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of violence, strong language, or descriptions of sex. The word “some” before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in “some strong language.”
Adult Fiction
Fantasy
Dreamfever BR23583
by Karen Marie Moning
5 volumes
The battle for Dublin begins as fae and human worlds collide. Sidhe-seer MacKayla Lane is at the mercy of erotic cravings that draw her toward two dangerous men whom she can neither deny nor trust. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. 2009.
A Sky beyond the Storm BR23689
by Sabaa Tahir
6 volumes
Laia, Elias, and Helene must risk everything to defeat their foes—both human and supernatural—and prevent the coming of an otherworldly maelstrom. Sequel to A Reaper at the Gates (BR22336). Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2020.
Or What You Will BR23306
by Jo Walton
4 volumes
He may be imaginary, but he has appeared in one guise or another in all of author Sylvia Harrison’s novels. Now, nearing the end of her life, Sylvia has traveled to Italy to write and her character wants to find a way for them both to live on. Some strong language. 2020.
General
The Sentence BR24020
by Louise Erdrich
4 volumes
After her release from prison, Tookie takes a job at a Minneapolis bookstore. The store is haunted by the ghost of Flora, a former customer who had a habit of claiming to have Native American heritage. Tookie must solve the mystery of this haunting while Minneapolis endures a year of upheaval. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2021.
Beautiful World, Where Are You BR24018
by Sally Rooney
4 volumes
Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a warehouse, and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend, Eileen, is getting over a breakup, and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2021.
Shuggie Bain BR23576
by Douglas Stuart
6 volumes
In 1980s Glasgow, Shuggie’s mother Agnes is a burden for him and his siblings. Obsessed with keeping up appearances, she finds increasing solace in drink, abandoning Shuggie to care for her as she swings between alcoholic binges and sobriety. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2020.
Historical Fiction
Katalin Street BR23278
by Magda Szabó
2 volumes
Three families live together on Katalin Street, and their children—Bálint, Irén, Blanka, and Henriette—play together. Bálint has his choice of women and chooses Irén. But after their lives are torn apart by war, the ghost of Henriette visits her old playmates. Translated from the 1969 Hungarian edition. Some violence. 2017.
The Dressmaker’s Gift BR23904
by Fiona Valpy
4 volumes
2017. Harriet Shaw has arrived in Paris to work an internship. She uses the opportunity to find out more about her grandmother, Claire. What she discovers are secrets from a long-ago war in which Claire and her friends, Vivienne and Mireille, all had different missions. Violence. 2019.
Human Relationships
A Walk along the Beach BR23312
by Debbie Macomber
4 volumes
After their mother died and their father was lost in grief, Willa raised her siblings, Harper and Lucas. She put her own life on hold as an adult to nurse Harper through a terrifying illness, but now that Harper is better, Willa has the chance at her own dreams. 2020.
Mystery and Detective
Among the Wicked BR23629
by Linda Castillo
4 volumes
In rural upstate New York, a developing situation involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between the Amish and “English,” the sheriff asks Chief of Police Kate Burkholder to infiltrate the community, posing as an Amish woman. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2016.
Down a Dark Road: A Kate Burkholder Novel BR23590
by Linda Castillo
4 volumes
Two years ago, Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. He was a “fallen” Amish man with a drug habit and a violent temper. Now King has escaped, and he’s headed back to Painters Mill. Chief Kate Burkholder is on edge. Violence and strong language. 2017.
A Cold Trail BR23773
by Robert Dugoni
4 volumes
Homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite has returned to Cedar Grove—this time it’s to put her life in order for herself, her husband, and her daughter. But tragic memories haunt her. She is soon recruited by the local police department to help on a case. Violence and strong language. 2020.
The Madness of Crowds BR23917
by Louise Penny
5 volumes
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is holidaying with his family in the village of Three Pines when he is asked to provide security for a university event. He agrees, but then discovers the topic and requests the event be cancelled. Accused of censorship, he is soon called in to investigate murder. Strong language. 2021.
Case Pending BR23262
by Dell Shannon
3 volumes
First entry in the police procedural series featuring Lieutenant Luis Mendoza in 1950s Los Angeles. A child’s battered body is found in an empty lot. Meanwhile a young man finds a spot of blood on his sleeve and worries that “it’s happened again.” Strong language and some violence. 1960.
Occult and Horror
Deathless Divide BR23774
by Justina Ireland
5 volumes
After surviving the events in Dread Nation (BR22317), Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler. But nothing is easy, and Jane questions everything she thought she knew about battling the undead. Violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2020.
Religious Themes
The Stranger in the Lifeboat BR24072
by Mitch Albom
2 volumes
Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, nine people struggle for survival. Short on water, food, and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. When they pull him in, he claims to be “the Lord” and says he can only save them if they believe in him. Some strong language. 2021.
Romance
The Wallflower Wager: Girl Meets Duke BR23965
by Tessa Dare
3 volumes
Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society. When he moves in next door to Lady Penelope Campion, he demands she get rid of her many rescue animals. She agrees, but only if Gabriel can find them loving homes. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2019.
The Girl He Used to Know BR23855
by Tracey Garvis Graves
3 volumes
Annika has trouble with social interactions, preferring books or chess. When Jonathan joined the chess club, he immediately falls for shy Annika. They pursue a relationship, but it doesn’t last. Years later, they meet again—and their feelings remain strong. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2019.
The Love Hypothesis BR24019
by Ali Hazelwood
4 volumes
To prove to her friend that she is dating, PhD candidate Olive Smith kisses the first man she sees. Hotshot professor Adam Carlsen may be a jerk, but he agrees to pretend to be her boyfriend. Even though their fake relationship has a deadline, real feelings develop. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2021.
The Bride Test BR23600
by Helen Hoang
4 volumes
Khai Diep believes he is incapable of feelings and avoids relationships. His mother takes matters into her hands and returns from Vietnam with Esme Tran, intending her as a bride for Khai. Esme wants this chance to help her family, but can she win Khai’s affections? Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2019.
The Heart Principle BR23916
by Helen Hoang
4 volumes
Violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieved career success with a viral YouTube video, but is currently burned out and artistically paralyzed. When her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship, she attempts to have a one-night stand with tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2021.
To Sir, with Love BR23903
by Lauren Layne
3 volumes
When her father dies, Gracie Cooper takes over his Midtown Manhattan champagne shop. She soon finds out that the store is barely making it and a giant corporation wants to buy her out. She finds a friend in the nameless man she has been messaging online. Some strong language. 2021.
Science Fiction
William Shakespeare’s Jedi the Last: Star Wars Part the Eighth BR24087
by Ian Doescher
2 volumes
The story of the movie Star Wars: Episode 8; the Last Jedi, told in the format of a Shakespearean play, including meter and verse. The Resistance must flee the First Order, so it falls to Rey, Finn, Poe, and Rose to take up arms. Sequel to William Shakespeare’s The Force Doth Awaken (BR24078). 2018.
Dust BR24016
by Hugh Howey
4 volumes
Juliette is now mayor of Silo 18. Factions within the Silo jockey for position as Juliette learns more and more about the world beyond the silos and those who created the silos in the first place. Sequel to Shift (BR24014). Some violence and some strong language. 2013.
Riot Baby BR23284
by Tochi Onyebuchi
2 volumes
Siblings Ella and Kev have extraordinary power, but they face structural racism and brutality while growing up. When Kev is put in prison, Ella works to inspire him to fight against America’s broken society. Strong language and some violence. 2020.
The Doors of Eden BR23687
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
6 volumes
When a government physicist conducting extra-dimensional research is attacked, MI5 agent Julian Sabreur investigates. He clashes with agents serving an unknown power that may or may not be human. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2020.
Blackout BR23741
by Connie Willis
8 volumes
Oxford, 2060. Time-traveling historians Michael, Eileen, and Polly journey to World War II England, only to encounter scheduling glitches and problems with their technology. Matters get worse when the three colleagues realize that their previously held belief—that they are not able to change history—is wrong. Some violence. 2010.
Short Stories
Men without Women: Stories BR23307
by Haruki Murakami
3 volumes
Seven short stories in which the author observes men who find themselves to be alone. Translated from the 2014 Japanese edition. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2017.
Spies and Espionage
The Janson Command BR23694
by Paul Garrison
5 volumes
Reformed from his days of covert operations, Janson works to rehabilitate disenchanted agents and help them shape new lives. Meanwhile, he takes on independent missions and struggles with the ethics of his work. Sequel to The Janson Directive (BR14484). Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2012.
Suspense
The Passengers BR23840
by John Marrs
5 volumes
Eight people are riding in self-driving cars when suddenly the doors lock, the route changes, and they have lost all control. Then, a mysterious voice tells them they are going to die. From cameras hidden in their cars, their panic is broadcast to millions of people around the world. Some violence and some strong language. 2019.
Crooked River BR23305
by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
5 volumes
While vacationing in Florida, Agent Pendergast is called to a bizarre crime scene on Sanibel Island. Dozens of identical, ordinary-looking shoes have washed up on the beach, each one with a crudely severed human foot inside. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2020.
War Stories
The Vanishing Sky BR23318
by L. Annette Binder
3 volumes
As the war in Europe closes in on its finale, the Huber family must still tread dangerous waters. Matriarch Etta worries for her two sons, elder Max serving at the Eastern front and younger Georg at a Hitler Youth school. When Max returns home, Etta knows much is wrong. Some violence and some strong language. 2020.
Westerns
Texas Kill of the Mountain Man BR23770
by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone
3 volumes
Delbert Catron, a gang leader known as The Professor, and his crazy desperadoes have terrorized and killed Smoke’s old friend Big Jim Conyers in Texas. Intent on avenging his friend’s death, Smoke hunts down Catron and his cronies. Sequel to Savagery of the Mountain Man (BR23106). Violence and strong language. 2020.
Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America BR23601
by Maria Hinojosa
5 volumes
Journalist examines immigration in America through the lens of her own family’s experiences and decades of reporting. Discusses the history of US immigration policy and how rhetoric informs American attitudes towards outsiders. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2020.
Business and Economics
Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale BR23849
by Adam Minter
4 volumes
Journalist examines the reuse industry, which is supplied by those looking to get rid of things they don’t need any more but don’t want to put into the garbage stream. Discusses items typically found in the reuse stream, locations where unwanted items are found, and the global market for secondhand goods. 2019.
Consumerism
Estate Planning 101: From Avoiding Probate and Assessing Assets to Establishing Directives and Understanding Taxes, Your Essential Primer to Estate Planning BR23909
by Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock
3 volumes
Personal finance bloggers advises on preparing an estate plan. Topics include why an estate plan may be needed, whom to consider when developing a plan, determining what constitutes your estate, powers of attorney, advance health directives, end-of-life wishes, taxes, and special considerations such as blended families. 2021.
Napkin Finance: Build Your Wealth in 30 Seconds or Less BR23842
by Tina Hay
3 volumes
Entrepreneur provides guide to understanding money and the managing of it to build wealth. Discusses economic concepts ranging from money basics like compound interest and having an emergency fund to voodoo economics and cryptocurrency. Provides quizzes at the end of chapters to test your understanding. 2019.
Cooking
Noodle Soup: Recipes, Techniques, Obsession BR23995
by Ken Albala
3 volumes
Food historian examines the history, recipes, and techniques of noodle soups based on his experiences of making noodle soups every day for two years. Topics include serving sizes, utensils, etiquette, regional cuisines, tools, stocks, noodles, garnishes and seasonings, classics, adaptations, and inventions. 2018.
New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indiana BR24066
by Freddie Bitsoie and James O. Fraioli
3 volumes
Chef Bitsoie and James Beard Award-winning author Fraioli present a collection of recipes celebrating Indigenous cuisine and food traditions of North America. Categories include soups, salads and vinaigrettes, vegetables and starches, land and sea, and puddings and sweets. Includes a list of pantry items typically found in Indigenous kitchens. 2021.
Time to Eat: Delicious Meals for Busy Lives BR23585
by Nadiya Hussain
3 volumes
Collection of recipes from winner of The Great British Bake Off presented in her Netflix show, Nadiya’s Time to Eat. Recipes are constructed for those who live busy lives and have limited time in which to create meals. Includes tips on batching meal preparation and multiple use recipes. 2019.
Bress ‘n’ Nyam: Gullah Geechee Recipes from a Sixth-Generation Farmer BR24077
by Matthew Raiford and Amy Paige Condon
3 volumes
Collection of one hundred heirloom recipes celebrating the culture of the Gullah Geechee, who call the coastal areas from the Carolinas to Florida home. Recipes are arranged by their elemental beginnings of earth, water, fire, wind, nectar, and spirits. Also recounts Chef Raiford’s family history. 2021.
Crime
I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran and Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa BR23862
by Charles Brandt
5 volumes
Former prosecutor profiles “The Irishman,” the late mob enforcer who claimed he killed Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa in 1975. Quotes Sheeran on his role in organized crime and on what transpired the night Hoffa disappeared. Includes a later epilogue and conclusion. Television tie-in. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2004.
Home Management
Simply Clean: The Proven Method for Keeping Your Home Organized, Clean, and Beautiful in Just 10 Minutes a Day BR23678
by Becky Rapinchuk
3 volumes
Blogger details her tips and tricks for keeping a tidy house and building the habits of a neat person. Includes advice on getting started, tutorials for hard-to-clean spaces, recipes for cleaning supplies, checklists, schedules, and more. 2017.
Psychology and Self-Help
Untamed BR24067
by Glennon Doyle
3 volumes
Author and motivational speaker believes that trusting one’s inner voice and ignoring the world’s expectations can lead to joy and peace. Speaks of her own experiences learning to listen to herself at key moments and reclaim her true, untamed self. Strong language. 2020.
Science and Technology
Helgoland: Making Sense of the Quantum Revolution BR24070
by Carlo Rovelli
2 volumes
Author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics (BR21539) and The Order of Time (BR22339) analyzes quantum theory. Discusses the discoveries and theories formed since Werner Heisenberg made a crucial breakthrough on the North Sea island of Helgoland. Translated from the 2020 Italian edition. 2021.
Social Sciences
A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves: One Family and Migration in the 21st Century BR23865
by Jason Deparle
6 volumes
The true multi-generational saga of a Filipino immigrant family that eventually reached Texas. Describes their years of sacrifice and separation and discusses the role of migration in the twenty-first century, particularly in American politics. Some strong language. 2019.
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive BR23264
by Stephanie Land
3 volumes
Recounts years working in the domestic service industry, struggling in poverty as a single mother. Examines the difficulties and misleading rhetoric surrounding poverty as well as the realities of life in service work. 2019.
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor BR23859
by Layla F. Saad
3 volumes
Twenty-eight day guide to examining the ways white supremacy influences your life. Provides exercises to assist in dismantling those thought processes. Topics include definitions, anti-blackness, racial stereotypes, allyship, power differentials, and continuing the work. Includes a foreword by Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility (BR22400). 2020.
Stage and Screen
The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life BR23274
by Alex Trebek
2 volumes
Longtime host of the TV game show Jeopardy! shares stories of his life and career. Alongside anecdotes about the show and its contestants, he discusses marriage, parenthood, spirituality, education, philanthropy, and his own battle with cancer. 2020.
Travel
Braver Than You Think: Around the World on the Trip of My (Mother’s) Lifetime BR23311
by Maggie Downs
4 volumes
Journalist chronicles her journey around the world as she travels to the destinations her mother dreamed of visiting. Discusses managing and maintaining her relationship with her new husband as she travels alone, dealing with the death of a family member, and coming to an understanding of herself. Strong language. 2020.
An Experience Definitely Worth Allegedly Having: Travel Stories from The Hairpin BR23280
edited by Edith Zimmerman
2 volumes
Eight essays on travel that are funny, adventurous, and weird. In “Madame’s Cane,” Anne Helen Petersen recounts lessons learned while studying abroad in France in 2002. Other locations explored include London, Mexico, Buenos Aires, and Stockholm. Strong language. 2013.
Books for Children
The following books were recently produced for the NLS program.
Registered users can immediately download all titles and magazines from BARD, the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download service, at https://nlsbard.loc.gov. The free BARD Mobile app for reading talking books on your personal smartphone or tablet is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon’s Appstore and can be used to read books with a refreshable braille display. To order books or sign up for BARD service contact your local cooperating library. Regional library telephone numbers and email addresses are listed on the last pages of this magazine.
These books are listed alphabetically within the headings Children’s Fiction and Children’s Nonfiction by subject category, author last name, and title. For example, the title Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown would be listed in Children’s Fiction under the Classics subject category and by the last name Brown.
Children’s Fiction
Family
Breathing Underwater BR24073
by Sarah Allen
2 volumes
During a road trip, thirteen-year-old Olivia, a budding photographer, tries to recreate a Treasure Hunt she once shared with her sixteen-year-old sister, Ruth, while watching for signs that Ruth’s depression is back. For grades 5–8. 2021.
Fantasy
Amari and the Night Brothers BR23699
by B.B. Alston
4 volumes
After fighting a bully at school and losing her scholarship, Amari discovers a mysterious briefcase in her brother Quinton’s closet that contains an invitation for summer tryouts at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs—which she believes is key to locating Quinton, who is missing. For grades 3–6. 2021.
Friendship
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh BR24074
by Helen Rutter
2 volumes
Billy Plimpton wants to be a famous comedian, but his stutter gets in the way. He decides to avoid talking in his new school. However, Billy’s newfound silence manages to draw the attention of the school bully. For grades 4–7. 2021.
Growing Up
Stella Díaz Never Gives Up BR23879
by Angela Dominguez
1 volume
During summer camp, Stella Díaz reaffirms her dream to become a marine biologist. After learning the oceans and marine life are in danger from pollution, Stella and her friends turn to activism. Sequel to Stella Díaz Has Something to Say (BR22224). For grades 3–6. 2020.
Historical Fiction
Being Clem BR23907
by Lesa Cline-Ransome
3 volumes
After his father, a Navy sailor, dies in the Port Chicago Disaster, Clem navigates his family’s losses and struggles in 1940s Chicago. For grades 4–7. 2021.
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA BR23628
by Brenda Woods
2 volumes
Twelve-year-old Gabriel gains a new perspective when he becomes friends with Meriwether, a Black World War II hero who has recently returned to the unwelcoming Jim Crow South. For grades 4–7. 2019.
Humor
Something's Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear BR23900
by Jory John and Erin Kraan
1 volume
Jeff, a bear, is sure he has forgotten something when he sets out from home. Things get silly when the animals in the forest fail to inform him that he is wandering around wearing underwear—all except his friend Anders. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2021.
Ready for Action: Toy Academy BR23860
by Brian Lynch
1 volume
After the events in Some Assembly Required (BR23851), misfit toy Grumbolt trains as an action toy and sidekick to Rex Everything, the academy bully. When toy Tempest Boomcloud breaks out of a display case, the unlikely duo race to stop her. For grades 2–4. 2019.
Ready for Action: Toy Academy BR23861
by Brian Lynch
1 volume
After the events in Some Assembly Required (BR23853), misfit toy Grumbolt trains as an action toy and sidekick to Rex Everything, the academy bully. When toy Tempest Boomcloud breaks out of a display case, the unlikely duo race to stop her. Uncontracted braille. For grades 2–4. 2019.
I Funny TV: A Middle School Story BR23283
by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
1 volume
Jamie’s recent victory in a comic contest leads to a television sitcom based on his life, but being the star of the show forces him to balance his newfound success with the responsibilities of being a good friend. Sequel to I Totally Funniest (BR23277). For grades 4–7. 2015.
I Funny: School of Laughs BR23287
by James Patterson and others
2 volumes
When a new principal threatens to close the school library, Jamie Grimm tries to save the day by teaching a comedy class for his fellow students. Sequel to I Funny TV (BR23283). For grades 4–7. 2017.
The Nerdiest, Wimpiest, Dorkiest I Funny Ever BR23291
by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
2 volumes
Comedian Jamie Grimm, accompanied by his friends, circles the globe as the host of regional competitions. But then he decides to compete against the winners in the Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic Worldwide contest. Sequel to I Funny: School of Laughs (BR23287). For grades 4–7. 2018.
Scary Stories
Judy and the Beast: Goosebumps SlappyWorld BR24114
by R.L. Stine
1 volume
Judy Glassman lives with her brother and father in a village at the foot of Black Rock Mountain. Every winter, Ira accompanies their dad up to the mansion at the top of the mountain to assist the eccentric Grendel family with their house repairs. But this year, Judy goes with them to learn if the legends of a beast are true. For grades 3–6. 2021.
Slappy in Dreamland: Goosebumps SlappyWorld BR24115
by R.L. Stine
1 volume
Richard’s dad studies dreams, and one day they decide to hook Richard’s new Slappy doll up to the dream machine as a joke. Suddenly, Richard starts having nightmares of Slappy coming to life and wreaking havoc. For grades 3–6. 2022.
School
Mrs. Patty Is Batty! My Weird School, Book 13 BR23342
by Dan Gutman
1 volume
A.J. and the other students at Ella Mentry School brave trick-or-treating at the school secretary’s house, even though it is supposedly haunted. For grades 2–4. 2006.
Children’s Nonfiction
Biography
Normal: One Kid’s Extraordinary Journey; Young Readers’ Edition BR23313
by Magdalena Newman and others
2 volumes
Memoir of Nathaniel, a teenage boy with craniofacial differences caused by Treacher Collins syndrome. His mother, the co-writer, discusses the family’s perspective. For grades 5–8. 2020.
Fly, Girl, Fly! Shaesta Waiz Soars around the World BR23746
by Nancy Roe Pimm and Alexandra Bye
1 volume
Describes Shaesta Waiz’s journey to become the youngest woman in history, and the first woman from Afghanistan, to fly around the world in a single-engine aircraft. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2020.
History
Bones Unearthed! Creepy and True BR24076
by Kerrie Logan Hollihan
2 volumes
Investigates remarkable discoveries of skeletal remains and what they reveal about human civilization. Includes cryptic tales of murder and mayhem that span cultures and millennia, from Aztec skull racks, the cannibals of Jamestown, and Benjamin Franklin’s basement boneyard, to frozen sailors in the Arctic and the centuries-long search for the body of King Richard III. For grades 5–8 and older readers. 2021.
Desert Diary: Japanese American Kids behind Barbed Wire BR23589
by Michael O. Tunnell
1 volume
In March 1943, Miss Yamauchi and her students began keeping a classroom diary in a strange new environment: the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah, where Japanese Americans were imprisoned. Each entry describes the daily life in an internment camp and the mixed feeling of citizens who were loyal but distrusted. For grades 4–7. 2020.
Hobbies and Crafts
Dungeons & Tombs: A Young Adventurer’s Guide; Dungeons & Dragons BR23864
by Jim Zub and others
1 volume
Guide to six lethal lairs role-players encounter in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and the dangerous beasts that live within. Includes instructions on how to build your own dungeon. For grades 4–7 and older readers. 2019.
Jokes, Riddles, and Rhymes
The Unofficial Harry Potter Joke Book: Raucous Jokes and Riddikulus Riddles for Ravenclaw BR23866
by Brian Boone
1 volume
Hundreds of jokes and riddles for a Ravenclaw witch or wizard. Includes categories such as the quidditch pitch, Luna’s lovely beasts and magical creatures, common room riddles, and expecto wordplay! For grades 2–4 and older readers. 2019.
Science and Technology
Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science behind Your Favorite Monsters BR23856
by Carlyn Beccia
3 volumes
Presents the origins of eight scary creatures: Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, zombies, King Kong, werewolves, the kraken, Bigfoot, and Godzilla. Uses science to explain the myth, and discusses the events that led to the rise of the beasts. Uncontracted braille. For grades 5–8. 2019.
13 Ways to Eat a Fly BR23747
by Sue Heavenrich and David Clark
1 volume
Thirteen flies become tasty snacks in a reverse counting book about predators and prey. A swarm of flies buzzes along, losing one member to each predator along the way. Includes a guide to eating bugs, complete with nutritional information for a single serving of flies. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2021.
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.
Braille Book Review (NLS publication)
Braille Chess Magazine (British publication)
Braille Music Magazine (British publication)
Catster
Conundrum (British publication)
Cook’s Illustrated
Cricket: The Realm of Imagination (for children and teens)
Dell Sunday Crosswords
Dogster
Guideposts
Harper’s (literary)
Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter)
Interweave (knitting)
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine
Muse (for children)
Musical Mainstream (NLS publication)
National Geographic
National Geographic Kids
News (NLS publication)
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Large Print Weekly
PC World
Poetry
Popular Mechanics
Popular Music Lead Sheets
Reader’s Digest
Rolling Stone (popular culture)
Science News
Scout Life (for children and teens)
Short Stories (British publication)
Spider: The Magazine for Children
Sports Illustrated Kids
Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists (children’s writings)
Today’s Parent
Schedules for the following sports leagues are also available:
Major League Baseball
National Basketball Association
National Football League
National Hockey League
Women’s National Basketball Association