Volume 88, Number 4
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About Braille Book Review
Braille Book Review, published in braille, large print, and online, is distributed free to people unable to read regular print. It lists braille titles recently added to the NLS collection. The braille edition also lists NLS audiobooks appearing in Talking Book Topics. The entire collection, with hundreds of thousands of titles, is available at www.loc.gov/nls/. Select Catalog Search to view the collection. Braille Book Review is also available in downloadable braille files from BARD.
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NLS Communications and Outreach Section
Library of Congress
Washington DC 20542
Library of Congress, Washington
2019
Catalog Card Number 53-31800
ISSN 0006-873X
Contents
In Brief
Books for Adults
Adult Fiction
- Adventure
- Classics
- Fantasy
- General
- Historical Fiction
- Human Relationships
- Mystery and Detective
- Occult and Horror
- Romance
- Science Fiction
- Sports and Recreation
- Suspense
Adult Nonfiction
- Biography
- Blindness and Physical Disabilities
- Cooking
- Crime
- Government and Politics
- Nature and the Environment
- Poetry
- Science and Technology
- U.S. History
Books for Children
Children’s Fiction
Children’s Nonfiction
Braille Magazines
In Brief
Finding commercial and BARD-only talking books
For the first eight decades of its existence, NLS almost always used its own recording studio staff or outside studios to record books. That changed in 2013, when we began striking deals with commercial publishers to obtain their audio files, free of charge.
“By taking advantage of commercial recordings when we can, we’re getting more books into the talking-book program and doing it in a more timely fashion,” NLS Director Karen Keninger said. “This helps us focus our efforts on producing books that don’t have commercial audio counterparts.”
It’s a money-saver, too. There are still costs for converting a commercial file into a format that can be read by NLS talking-book machines and downloaded from BARD, but the narration costs for such titles are eliminated.
The titles that NLS produces are generally available on digital talking-book cartridges as well as on BARD, and those titles are also listed in Talking Book Topics (TBT). Commercial titles that are bestsellers or are in high demand are also listed in TBT and available in cartridge format.
However, the collection also includes many titles that are available only on BARD. These “BARD-exclusive” titles—most of which are commercial audiobooks—are not listed in TBT. Some braille books produced locally by network libraries are also BARD-exclusive and will not appear in Braille Book Review. To find all commercial audiobook and locally produced titles in the collection, you can either search BARD or the online Voyager catalog, which lists all the books in the NLS collection.
To search for a specific title or author on BARD, login to the site and enter either the title of the book or the author’s last name followed by a comma and the author’s first name. If you don’t want to search BARD, you can also just browse the “Recently added books and magazines” link or the “Most popular books” link on the main BARD page.
To use the Voyager catalog search engine, go to www.loc.gov/nls and select “Catalog Search.” Once you’re on Voyager’s “Basic Search” screen, you can choose to search by keyword, title, author last name, subject, and a few other categories.
“Of course, most patrons won’t want to browse thousands of titles to find a book they want,” Keninger said. “But they can also use Voyager to search for a specific title, books by their favorite author, or books on a certain subject—whether they are commercial titles or books that NLS has produced.” And patrons should also always feel free to contact the reader advisors at their local talking-book library, who are happy to assist.
If you are not on BARD or BARD Mobile and don’t have access to the thousands of BARD-exclusive titles, ask your local cooperating library for access to BARD.
Books for Adults
The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, complete the order form and return it to your braille-lending library.
Registered users can also immediately download all titles and magazines from the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service. The free BARD Mobile app is available from the App Store for reading braille books on a personal iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. To learn more about the collection or to sign up for BARD, 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
Adventure
Recreated BR22363
by Colleen Houck
5 volumes
After her tragic parting from Amon in Reawakened (BR21299), Lily takes refuge at her grandmother’s farm, but her dreams are filled with Amon’s suffering in the underworld hell of Netherworld. Some violence and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2016.
Classics
Wuthering Heights BR22475
by Emily Brontë
5 volumes
This classic nineteenth-century English novel, set in the wild moor country of Yorkshire, is about Heathcliff, a foundling raised in the Earnshaw home, who passionately loves Catherine. He dedicates his life to the realization of that love and revenge on those who oppose him. 1847.
Fantasy
Changes: A Novel of the Dresden Files BR22456
by Jim Butcher
6 volumes
Susan Rodriguez calls her former lover Harry Dresden with news that Arianna Ortega, duchess of the Red Court, plans to use against Harry. Meanwhile, the peace between the court and the wizards leaves Harry in a tricky situation. Violence and some strong language. 2010.
The Talented Ribkins BR22464
by Ladee Hubbard
3 volumes
Johnny Ribkins comes from a family with unusual superpowers. They try to use their talents for good, but Johnny and his brother eventually turn to burglary. Years later, Johnny needs to come up with the money he stole from his mobster boss or he’s dead. Strong language. 2017.
The Fall of Gondolin BR22395
by J.R.R. Tolkien
4 volumes
Tuor is sent to Gondolin by the god Ulmo, only to fall in love with the elf king’s daughter, Idril. Their bliss is shattered when the evil Morgoth sends an army to destroy Gondolin. This previously unpublished Middle-earth tale was edited by the author’s son Christopher. Bestseller. 2018.
General
The Next Person You Meet in Heaven BR22478
by Mitch Albom
2 volumes
Years after an accident left her scarred and traumatized, Annie from The Five People You Meet in Heaven (BRC00016) is celebrating her wedding to childhood sweetheart Paulo. But another accident leads Annie to meet the man who saved her life all those years ago. Bestseller. 2018.
Historical Fiction
Copyboy BR22465
by Vince Vawter
3 volumes
Several years after the events in Paperboy (BR20434), Victor, now seventeen and a copyboy at the newspaper, sets out on a journey to spread the ashes of his friend and mentor. Along the way he discovers new friends and an inner strength. For junior and senior high readers. 2018.
Human Relationships
History of Wolves BR22406
by Emily Fridlund
3 volumes
Fourteen-year-old Linda lives with her parents in a largely abandoned Minnesota commune. Isolated at school, Linda is welcomed into the home of a neighboring couple who hire her to babysit their little boy. When things go wrong, however, she has no one to whom she can turn. 2017.
Sea Prayer BR22508
by Khaled Hosseini
1 volume
A father waits on the beach with his young son, Marwan, for a boat to take them from their war-torn homeland. The father reflects on joys Marwan is too young to remember and the horror of his current existence, and expresses his hope for Marwan’s future. Bestseller. 2017.
A Spark of Light BR22484
by Jodi Picoult
4 volumes
When a gunman bursts into a reproductive health clinic, he takes everyone inside hostage. Police negotiator Hugh McElroy rushes to the scene, only to get a text from his fifteen-year-old daughter, who is among those trapped inside the clinic. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2018.
Mystery and Detective
Blood Trail BR22261
by C.J. Box
4 volumes
When a Wyoming hunter is murdered and his carcass treated like game, Governor Spencer Rulon asks Joe Pickett to join the investigation. Because a clue links the case to two other hunters’ deaths, Rulon suspects the killer is an animal activist—but Joe seeks proof. Violence and some strong language. 2008.
The Black Ice BR22468
by Michael Connelly
5 volumes
Faced with the murder of a smuggler of black ice (a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and PCP), LAPD detective Harry Bosch turns to Calexico Moore in Narcotics for help. When Moore commits suicide soon after their talk, Bosch suspects that Moore knew more than he let on. Violence and strong language. 1993.
Trunk Music BR22504
by Michael Connelly
5 volumes
When a mob-connected Hollywood film producer is murdered, Detective Harry Bosch begins his investigation in Las Vegas. Along the trail, Bosch deals with an old flame, seedy cops, and the sordid underworld. Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex. 1997.
The Devil’s Cave: A Mystery of the French Countryside BR22402
by Martin Walker
4 volumes
Chief Bruno investigates a murder as St. Denis prepares for Easter. An unknown woman—dead, naked, and bearing the marks of a black-magic ritual—is found in a boat. With the townsfolk terrified, clues quickly lead Bruno to the Gouffre de Colombac—the Devil’s Cave. 2012.
Occult and Horror
Experimental Film BR22479
by Gemma Files
5 volumes
Former film critic Lois, depressed about the recent diagnosis of her son with autism, finds a fragment of silent film footage that might prove that a socialite who disappeared in 1918 was an early female filmmaker. Her research brings up strange links to her own life. Strong language. 2015.
Romance
It’s in His Kiss BR22462
by Julia Quinn
4 volumes
England, 1825. Gareth St. Clair receives an old family diary found among his late brother’s belongings, but it’s written in Italian. Gareth’s grandmother, Lady Danbury, reintroduces him to Hyacinth Bridgerton, who can translate. They discover past secrets and the key to their future. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.
When He Was Wicked BR22434
by Julia Quinn
4 volumes
England, 1820. Notorious rake Michael Stirling finally falls for beautiful Francesca Bridgerton, but she marries his cousin John. When John suddenly dies, Michael flees, afraid to comfort the grieving widow. Four years later he returns to claim his inheritance—and Francesca’s heart. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.
Every Breath BR22487
by Nicholas Sparks
4 volumes
Hope Anderson is at a crossroads, with her relationship stalled and her father sick. She decides to take a break in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. She meets Tru Walls, a safari guide from Zimbabwe in town to investigate his family mysteries, and the two share a connection. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2018.
When I Fall in Love: A Christiansen Family Novel BR22466
by Susan May Warren
4 volumes
Grace Christiansen receives the chance to travel to Hawaii to take an intensive culinary course. She meets Max Sharpe, a pro hockey player, when the two are paired up for a competition. Grace falls for Max, but she will need her faith to choose a path forward. 2014.
Science Fiction
Daughter of Eden BR22493
by Chris Beckett
5 volumes
After generations of division, the people of New Earth and Mainground go to war. Angie Redlantern and her family flee across Snowy Dark to the first stone circle—where a profound event and surprising visitors forever change the people of Eden. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2016.
The Darkest Minds BR22442
by Alexandra Bracken
6 volumes
The Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration virus killed most American children—and left others with dangerous powers. When the government quarantines survivors in rehabilitation camps, sixteen-year-old Ruby escapes. Includes a bonus story featuring brothers Liam and Cole. Some violence and some strong language. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2012.
Altered Carbon BR22417
by Richard K. Morgan
7 volumes
In the future, death is just a time of temporary storage. UN Envoy Corps member Takeshi Kovacs is pulled out of storage and put on Earth to investigate the death of industrialist Laurens Bancroft. Kovacs also hunts down his own killers. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.
Sports and Recreation
After the Shot Drops BR22401
by Randy Ribay
3 volumes
Told from alternating perspectives, Bunny takes a basketball scholarship to an elite private school to help his family, leaving behind Nasir, his best friend, in their tough Philadelphia neighborhood. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2018.
Suspense
The Sinners BR22444
by Ace Atkins
4 volumes
The Pritchards are an evil, greedy family that make their living dealing drugs and committing mayhem. Years ago, Sheriff Quinn Colson’s late uncle put the clan’s patriarch in prison, but now he’s getting out—with revenge, power, and family business on his mind. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2018.
Snap BR22443
by Belinda Bauer
4 volumes
Three years ago, Jack’s mother left him in charge of his sisters—and never returned. Fourteen-year-old Jack is still in charge, robbing houses to feed them and trying to solve his mother’s murder. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman finds a knife beside her bed with a menacing note. Violence and strong language. 2018.
Past Tense: A Jack Reacher Novel BR22473
by Lee Child
4 volumes
In the New England woods, wandering Jack Reacher sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. In the same isolated area, two Canadians’ car breaks down. As their stories merge, Reacher makes a shocking discovery. Violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2018.
Holy Ghost BR22451
by John Sandford
4 volumes
The mayor’s money-making scheme to put tiny Wheatfield, Minnesota, on the map by attracting pilgrims backfires when a dead body shows up. He and his buddy soon find that’s only the beginning of their troubles. Virgil Flowers must deal with the aftermath. Violence and strong language. 2018.
Pieces of Her BR22459
by Karin Slaughter
6 volumes
While Andrea and her mother Laura are at the mall, a horrifying act of violence reveals a completely different side of Laura, who calmly faces down the killer. But now Laura’s secret previous life has been exposed, and nothing will be the same. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2018.
Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend BR22518
by Karen Blumenthal
3 volumes
A chronicle of the lives of notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker (1910–1934) and Clyde Barrow (ca. 1909–1934). Debunks some of the myths surrounding the couple. Spins a tale of love, car chases, kidnappings, and murder set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Some violence. For senior high and older readers. 2018.
Blindness and Physical Disabilities
A Handbook for the Prospective Guide Dog Handler BR22445
by Guide Dog Users, Inc.
1 volume
Fourth edition of a handbook for those considering working with a guide dog. Sections include asking if a guide dog is for you, teaching old dogs new tricks, the path of independence, when things go wrong, and helpful resources. 2018.
Beyond the Blindness: My Story of Losing Sight and Living Life BR22492
by Ted Hinson
2 volumes
Man recounts his experiences after going permanently blind due to optic neuritis, possibly triggered by a virus, at the age of twenty-seven. Discusses the impact on his wife and children, rebuilding his career in the oil and gas industry, and the importance of faith in his life. 2017.
The Visual Made Verbal: A Comprehensive Training Manual and Guide to the History and Applications of Audio Description BR22458
by Joel Snyder
3 volumes
Pioneer in the field presents a training manual for making visual images of theater, media, and visual art accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. Includes the history of audio description, fundamentals, practical exercises, ways to promote audio description in your community, and more. 2014.
Cooking
Cook Like a Pro: Recipes & Tips for Home Cooks BR22501
by Ina Garten
2 volumes
Collection of recipes from the host of The Barefoot Contessa cooking show featuring techniques to help home cooks improve their kitchen skills. Categories include cocktails and finger foods, soups and salads, dinner entrees, vegetables and sides, desserts, breakfast plates, and basics such as chicken and beef stock. Bestseller. 2018.
Crime
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row BR22408
by Anthony Ray Hinton
4 volumes
After being wrongfully convicted of murder, the author spent his first three years on Holman State Prison’s death row full of despair and anger. Once Hinton accepted his fate, he spent the next twenty-seven years transforming his and his fellow inmates’ spirits, finally winning his release in 2015. Bestseller. 2018.
Government and Politics
The Bill of Rights: A User’s Guide BR22392
by Linda R. Monk
5 volumes
A constitutional scholar examines the Bill of Rights amendment by amendment, discussing its history and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of these rights. Includes stories of individuals who challenged, defined, or expanded many of these rights. Updated fifth edition. 2018.
Nature and the Environment
Animals Strike Curious Poses: Essays BR22489
by Elena Passarello
3 volumes
Collection of seventeen essays examining the lives of animals that humans have elevated by naming and immortalizing them. Animals covered include mammoths, wolves, rhinoceroses, bears, horses, gorillas, pigs, elephants, and goats. 2017.
Poetry
The Final Voicemails BR22522
by Max Ritvo
1 volume
A second posthumous collection of poems from the author, whose first collection, Four Reincarnations (BR21887), was also published after his 2016 death from cancer. In this follow-up, Ritvo continues to ruminate on the pain, fear, and isolation that accompany long-term illness. 2018.
American Journal: Fifty Poems for Our Time BR22469
selected by Tracy K. Smith
1 volume
Collection curated by the United States poet laureate featuring poems that highlight living in America. Sections include “The Small Town of My Youth,” “Something Shines out from Every Darkness,” “Words Tangled in Debris,” “Here, the Sentence Will Be Respected,” and “One Singing Thing.” Some strong language. 2018.
Science and Technology
Brief Answers to the Big Questions BR22506
by Stephen Hawking
2 volumes
Author of A Briefer History of Time (BR16183) presents his views on a number of questions, including Is there a God?, How did it all begin?, Can we predict the future?, What is inside a black hole?, and Will we survive on Earth? Bestseller. 2018.
U.S. History
An African American and Latinx History of the United States BR22461
by Paul Ortiz
6 volumes
Covers more than two hundred years of American history, reexamining the roles of people from Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean in the development of the United States. Challenges accepted descriptions of the roles of African American, Latinx, and Indigenous voices throughout US history. 2018.
Books for Children
The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, complete the order form and return it to your braille-lending library.
Books and magazines are also available for immediate download from NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). 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
Fantasy
Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows BR22631
by Ryan Calejo
3 volumes
Steeped in Hispanic folklore since childhood, middle-schooler Charlie Hernández learns the stories are true when, shortly after his parents’ disappearance, he grows horns and feathers and finds himself at the heart of a battle to save the world. For grades 5–8. 2018
Friendship
The Rough Patch BR22439
by Brian Lies
1 volume
Farmer Evan and his dog do everything together, and they especially love working in the garden. But when his dog passes away, Evan lets his garden fill with weeds until a pumpkin vine brings new hope. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2018.
How to Be a Lion BR22341
by Ed Vere
1 volume
When Leonard the lion and his friend Marianne, a duck, are confronted by a pack of lion bullies, they find a creative way to stand up for themselves. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool–grade 2. 2018.
Harbor Me BR22447
by Jacqueline Woodson
2 volumes
When six students are chosen to participate in a weekly talk with no adults allowed, they discover that when they’re together, it’s safe to share the hopes and fears they have to hide from the rest of the world. For grades 5–8. 2018.
Historical Fiction
Finding Langston BR22448
by Lesa Cline-Ransome
1 volume
After picking up a book of Langston Hughes’s poetry in the library, his young namesake discovers the power in words. Poetry helps him cope with the loss of his mother, the move from Alabama to Chicago as part of the Great Migration, and being bullied. For grades 3–6. 2018
Holidays
Pie Is for Sharing BR22342
by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard
1 volume
At a glorious Fourth of July picnic, a community shares everything from pie to their experiences. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool–grade 2. 2018.
School
Kayla & Kyle the Walking Dictionaries: Election Day, Vol. 1 BR22521
by Nicholas Buamah
1 volume
Twin dictionaries Kayla and Kyle prepare for a big day at school: today one of them will be elected class president. For grades 2–4. 2018.
Back to School, Weird Kids Rule! My Weird School Special BR22446
by Dan Gutman
1 volume
A group of friends are preparing for the upcoming school year, but first they want to end their summer on a note they’ll never forget. For grades 2–4. 2014
Children’s Nonfiction
Biography
Counting on Katherine BR22340
by Helaine Becker
1 volume
Introduces the boundary-breaking mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose passion for numbers at a young age led to a position at NASA, where she calculated moon landings and helped save the Apollo 13 mission. Highlights the challenges she faced as an African American and as a woman. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2018.
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World BR22507
by Susan Hood
1 volume
Fourteen revolutionary young women who were persistent in achieving their dreams and goals, and sparked change in the process. Notable women include Molly Williams, the first known female firefighter in the United States, and Angela Zhang, a prominent young scientist and cancer researcher. For grades 3–6. 2018.
Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science Superstars BR22494
by David Stabler
1 volume
Unusual yet true stories from the childhoods of notable scientists, including Albert Einstein, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Katherine Johnson. A young Rachel Carson was instructed by her mother to catch—not kill—the bugs in the house and free them outside. For grades 3–6. 2018.
Nature and the Environment
If Polar Bears Disappeared BR22438
by Lily Williams
1 volume
Considers what would happen if polar bears disappeared from our planet, and highlights how climate change drastically alters the Arctic ecosystem. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2018.
Science and Technology
The Stuff of Stars BR22440
by Marion Dane Bauer
1 volume
Explores the formation of the universe and the composition of living things. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K–3. 2018
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.
Boys’ Life (for children and teens, monthly)
Braille Book Review (6 issues)
Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly)
Braille Music Magazine (British monthly)
Catster Magazine (6 issues)
Conundrum (British monthly)
Cooks Illustrated (6 issues)
Eating Well (10 issues)
ESPN: The Magazine (12 issues)
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)
Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues)
Muse (for children; 9 issues)
Musical Mainstream (NLS quarterly)
National Geographic (6 issues)
News (NLS quarterly)
The New York Times Book Review (weekly)
The New York Times Large Print Weekly (weekly)
O (Oprah) (monthly)
Parents (monthly)
PC World (personal computing; monthly)
Playboy (4 issues)
Poetry (11 issues)
Popular Mechanics (10 issues)
Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)
Popular Science (4 issues)
Rolling Stone (popular culture; 12 issues)
Science News (24 issues)
Short Stories (British monthly)
Spider: The Magazine for Children (9 issues)
Stone Soup (children’s writings; 11 issues)
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