NLS: Talking Book Topics

by Shepard Krech

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Reassesses the image of Native Americans as Noble Savages who lived harmoniously with nature. Examines anthropological and historical evidence to determine whether this image is fact or myth. Discusses the issue of environmental awareness as a modern concept. 1999.

by Jeff Johnson

read by Candy Shannon

1 cassette

Describes nineteen careers in the music field, with qualifications and duties for each job. Includes promotion, publicity, marketing, distribution, publishing, songwriting, and more. Profiles singers Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Donna Summer, and Ace of Base. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1997.

by Adrianne Blue

read by Susan McInerney

2 cassettes

Drawing on the work of researchers, novelists, poets, and movie stars to illustrate her ideas, a journalist examines the physical act of kissing and explores the importance of the kiss from infancy through adulthood. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

by Matthew Spender

read by Ted Stoddard

4 cassettes

Biography of the twentieth-century modern painter. Provides a factual account of Gorky's tormented life, separating it from the "myths" fabricated by the painter himself. Discusses Gorky's rise through the New York art scene in the 1920s and 1930s and his suicide in 1948. 1999.

by Ethan Mordden

read by Ray Hagen

3 cassettes

Discusses the shift in the focus of 1940s musicals from comedy routines to plays and identifies some defining features of the new form. The emergent musical productions and their original-cast recordings found a permanent place in our society, with many of the shows still being performed in the 1990s. 1999.

by Jane Fletcher Geniesse

read by Suzanne Toren

3 cassettes

A biography of the romantic and intrepid travel writer. Describes her love of learning, travel, and adventure--she learned Arabic and ventured into the Middle East at a time when unmarried women usually stayed home. Recalls how her fame grew after the 1934 publication of her first book. 1999.

edited by Robert Torricelli and Andrew Carroll

read by Bill Wallace

5 cassettes

A United States senator from New Jersey chronicles more than 150 speeches, sermons, radio broadcasts, eulogies, and public tributes from the twentieth century to illustrate the soul of America. Includes statements by Martin Luther King Jr., Helen Keller, Lou Gehrig, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Robert Kennedy, and others. 1999.

by Lee Allen

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

Collection of anecdotes and trivia about baseball players from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, relating their everyday lives, how they played the game, and what became of them after their professional careers. Contains myths and legends including the contentious history of Casey at the Bat. 1955.

by Richard M. Sudhalter

read by Richard Hauenstein

8 cassettes in 2 containers

Sudhalter celebrates the contributions of white musicians to the formation of jazz, some of whom he claims have been unjustly neglected by historians. He discusses Bix Beiderbecke, Benny Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers, Bud Freeman, and Artie Shaw, along with great black innovators such as Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, and Duke Ellington. 1999.

by Fred S. Kleiner and Christin J. Mamiya

read by Bruce Huntey

13 cassettes in 3 containers

This eleventh edition of Helen Gardner's work, originally published in 1926, is an authoritative introduction to the history of world art, from the artistic legacies of the Stone Age and ancient civilizations through the emergence of postmodernism in the later twentieth century. 2000.

by Isaac Asimov

read by Lou Harpenau

8 cassettes in 2 containers

A discussion and interpretation of scriptural verses in the context of historical, geographical, and biographical knowledge about biblical times. Emphasizes secular aspects of these passages as a history of civilization over four thousand years rather than spiritual beliefs or tenets of faith. 1981.

by David S. Katz and Richard H. Popkin

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

A survey of apocalyptic religious movements since the European Renaissance. Explores the development and social impact of ideas about the return of a messiah or the end of humanity through the Reformation, Thirty Years' War, and Enlightenment. Examines such twentieth-century groups as the Aryan Nation and Branch Davidians of Waco, Texas. 1998.

by Matthew Boyden

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

Biography of German composer and conductor Richard Strauss (1864-1949). Examines the cultural background of his formative years, the development of his musical career, and his collaboration with Hitler's government. Discusses his achievements, including the composition of the operas Salome, Elektra, and Der Rosenkavalier. 1999.

by Ravi Shankar

read by Lewis Grenville

3 cassettes

Memoirs of the classical sitar player from India who became popular in the United States in the 1960s. Recalls important events and people who influenced him or vice versa. Discusses his professional growth and details from his private life, and explains the history and principles of Indian music. 1997.

by Helen Keller

read by Peg Gilleland

1 cassette

Quotations from speeches, letters, articles, and interviews by the author, lecturer, and humanitarian who became deaf-blind at nineteen months of age. Topics include the senses, faith, women in society, human nature, war and peace, education, happiness, friendship and love, and triumph over adversity. Includes a chronology of Keller's life from 1880 to 1968. 2000.

by Kuki Gallmann

read by Lisette Lecat

3 cassettes

Memoir by an Italian woman whose childhood dream of living in Africa comes true when she moves there with her future husband, following a car accident in Italy. They establish a ranch home in Kenya where Kuki is determined to stay, even after two devastating personal tragedies. Bestseller 1991.

edited by Tim Flannery

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Autobiographical account of a Scotsman's twenty-five years at sea during the late eighteenth century. Nicol (1755-1825) twice sailed around the globe; fought against American and French revolutionaries; and traveled to China, Australia, and the West Indies. On one voyage, he married his true love--a convict girl being transported to Australia. 1997.

by Richard N. Ostling and Joan K. Ostling

read by Ted Stoddard

4 cassettes

Expanding on a cover story that originally appeared in Time magazine, the authors offer a brief history of the Mormon church and examine the community's "unique beliefs and penchant for secrecy, its lifestyle and finances, its place in the religious and secular world...and its growth and prospects for the future." 1999.

by Maria Hinojosa

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

2 cassettes

Self-portrait focusing on motherhood by a Mexican American journalist who succumbed to the modern American woman's quest to "have it all": career, marriage, and children. In vibrant prose laced with Spanish phrases, Hinojosa describes her fulfillment as the wife of a Dominican painter and the mother of their son Raul and daughter Yurema. 1999.

by Fred Anderson

read by Bill Wallace

6 cassettes

Interpretive chronicle of the Seven Years' (French and Indian) War, its origins, and its aftermath. Posits that this conflict dramatically reshaped the destinies of North America and Europe. Traces the roles of George Washington and participant Native Americans and tells the stories of individual settlers, land speculators, and politicians. 2000.

by Laurie Garrett

read by Kerry Cundiff

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Coming Plague (RC 41165) analyzes what she views as the worldwide failure of public health systems. Uses the examples of pneumonic plague in India, Ebola virus in Zaire, and class disparity in America, as well as the threat of biowar, to support her call for reform. 2000.

by Arthur M. Schlesinger

read by Fred Major

5 cassettes

First volume of the Pulitzer Prize winner's memoirs; traces his midwestern childhood, years at Harvard and Cambridge, overseas assignments with the Office of Strategic Services, and rise to fame as an author, historian, and commentator. Explores the development of his political views and his contributions to American thought. Bestseller 2000.

by Richard H. Shultz

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Shultz, an international politics professor, examines the successes and failures of the Special Operations Group's campaign. He uses declassified top-secret Pentagon documents and interviews of both military and civilian officials who managed America's secret war against North Vietnam. Suggests covert activities for the twenty-first century. 1999.

by Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave

read by Lou Harpenau

3 cassettes

Authors of The Marcos Dynasty (RC 29555) and The Soong Dynasty (RC 21527) scrutinize Japan's royal family, gauge the extent of their complicity in World War II, and investigate alleged postwar collusion with General Douglas MacArthur in rebuilding the country. The Seagraves claim many Japanese business and political leaders are embroiled in corruption. 1999.

by Julia Child and Jacques Pépin

read by Mitzi Friedlander

4 cassettes

In this companion to the PBS series, Julia and Jacques share their cooking secrets. With each recipe, both cooks (who don't always agree) express their own thoughts on ingredients, methods of preparation, and balancing of flavors. Covers appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, seafood, meats, and desserts. 1999.

by Susan Ackerman

read by Colleen Delany

3 cassettes

Author looks at six types of female roles in the biblical book of Judges, analyzing their impact on events and Israelite history. She includes Deborah, Jael, Delilah, Sisera's mother, and Manoah's wife in her discussion of nurturers, matrons, military heroes, prostitutes, mourners, and barren women. 1998.

edited by Leslie Pickering Francis and Anita Silvers

read by Rick Rohan

5 cassettes

Essays by leading philosophers, legal scholars, and political theorists--many with backgrounds in bioethics or in disability studies--examine critical issues concerning the conceptual, philosophical, political, and legal foundations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990. 2000.

by Demitri F. Papolos and Janice Papolos

read by Madelyn Buzzard

3 cassettes

Explores the complexities of early onset bipolar disorder and the difficulties of making an accurate diagnosis. Discusses origins of the condition, treatment, and medications. Advises the family on coping techniques and practical issues, such as insurance. 1999.

by Jorge Luis Borges

read by Robert Blumenfeld

5 cassettes

Some 161 essays, book reviews, film criticisms, lectures, and prologues by the Argentine writer well-known in Latin America for his prolific output of nonfiction. Twenty-six of these pieces were produced between 1956, after Borges became blind, and 1986, when he died. National Book Critics Circle Award. 1999.

by Thea Halo

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

Biography of the author's mother, a Pontic Greek from Turkey whose people were forcibly expelled during an ethnic cleansing of Christians in 1920. After being sold into marriage at fifteen, Sano immigrates to America but returns decades later to find her roots. Some violence. 2000.

by Efraim Karsh and Inari Karsh

Two Middle East historians reexamine nineteenth-century politics of the area to refute the popular "clash of civilizations" interpretation. Instead, they perceive a pattern of pragmatic cooperation and conflict between the Middle East and the West. To substantiate their claims, they cite examples of rulers using European powers. 1999.

by Ann Wroe

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

Biographical reconstruction of the life of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea who succumbs to pressure to condemn Jesus of Nazareth. Pilate's family background, upbringing, military career, administrative training, and years living in Rome all contribute to the preparation for his role in Christ's trial. 1999.

by Frances Kiernan

read by Michele Schaeffer

6 cassettes

Chronicles the controversial American writer's life in an unconventional biography--a combination of narrative, interviews with people who knew her, and quotes from McCarthy's own writings. Comments on her domestic dramas--including her stormy marriage to Edmund Wilson--her 1963 bestseller The Group (RC 10307), and her legal battle with Lillian Hellman. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by David Roberts

read by Rick Foucheux

2 cassettes

Highlights the adventures and private lives of two western explorers, including their most infamous trips--an 1842 expedition to Wyoming, the "Conquest of California" in 1845-1846, a disastrous trek in 1848-1849 that ended in cannibalism, and Carson's 1863-1864 roundup of Native American tribes. 2000.

by Betty Friedan

read by Margaret Strom

3 cassettes

Memoir by the author of the 1963 work The Feminine Mystique (RC 7901), who was fundamental in establishing the National Organization for Women. Reminisces about her childhood in Peoria, antisemitism, her abusive husband, motherhood, and other notable activists. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Nicholas Shakespeare

read by Vanessa Maroney

6 cassettes

A biography of the enigmatic British adventurer and writer who died of AIDS in 1989. Describes his career at Sotheby's, where he met his American wife; his wanderlust; his homosexual affairs; and his success as a writer, beginning with In Patagonia (RC 14867). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

by Arthur J. Singer

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

Biography of legendary broadcaster and salesman Arthur Godfrey (1903-1983), whose network radio shows were the most well-known during the 1940s and 1950s. Godfrey later successfully made the transition to television with his show Talent Scouts. Discusses his personal life and the incidents that led to his downfall. 2000.

edited by Nicolás Kanellos

read by Peter Gil

2 cassettes

Collection of thirty-six literary works celebrating the Christmas season, derived from the cultures of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic groups who migrated to the United States. Includes the play Los Pastores from Mexico, a sixteenth-century dramatization of Christ's birth. Many entries are presented in both English and Spanish languages. 2000.

by Charles M. Robinson

read by Terence Aselford

3 cassettes

Covers the early history of the Texas Rangers from the formation of the first frontier defense company in 1823. Traces the eras of Mexican rule, the Republic of Texas, the Civil War, and conflicts with Native Americans and outlaws through the end of the classic Ranger service in the 1930s. 2000.

by Charles P. Henry

read by Michele Schaeffer

3 cassettes

Analyzes the life and career of Ralph Bunche, the first black Nobel Laureate and a world-renowned statesman. Explains that as director of the United Nations Trusteeship Division, he established and administered the institution's first peacekeeping forces. Examines the demands made on him by various groups because of his race. 1999.

by Arlyn J. Roffman

read by Jill Ferris

3 cassettes

Suggestions for adults on coping with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Uses case studies to illustrate how to contend with daily life, including employment, dating, parenthood, intimacy, and mental health. Offers strategies for transitioning from high school. 2000.

by Ben Yagoda

read by Frank Coffee

4 cassettes

A well-researched critical history of the magazine's first seventy-five years. Discusses its contents--the form of the magazine and how it evolved--and the magazine's role in American cultural life under the leadership of Harold Ross and then William Shawn. A brief epilogue covers the years after 1987. 2000.

by Linda Hussa

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Biography of Nevada rancher Lige Langston (1908-1987), whose ropes and rawhide braids are displayed in the Smithsonian Institution. Features a personal history, as well as remembrances by friends and relatives. Includes descriptions of desert land and events that occurred there throughout the twentieth century. 1999.

by Alvin M. Josephy

read by Bob Askey

3 cassettes

The twentieth-century reminiscences of an award-winning author and advocate for American Indians. Josephy, a native Easterner and nephew of book publisher Alfred A. Knopf, ultimately attained a dreamed-for ranch in Oregon. He describes his various career paths along the way as well as his experiences in World War II. 2000.

by Desmond Mpilo Tutu

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu, retired Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, discusses the importance of probing his nation's past, including misdeeds committed under apartheid. Reflects on his life and the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the 1990s; advocates a policy of combined remembrance and forgiveness. 1999.

by Leroy TeCube

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

The author recalls being a twenty-one-year-old infantry recruit in Vietnam from January 1968 to January 1969. As an Apache, he brings to bear a different cultural perspective from that of most American GIs, and he explains how his background helped to prepare him for being a soldier. 1999.

by Titus Maccius Plautus

read by George Holmes

2 cassettes

A collection of four plays, translated by Erich Segal, from the best-known playwright of ancient Rome, Titus Maccius Plautus (254-184 B.C.). The plays feature boisterous comedy, abundant word play, commonplace settings, and brisk song-and-dance routines. 1996.

by Tom Clancy

read by Ralph Lowenstein

4 cassettes

Describes an elite fighting unit of the army--the 82nd Airborne Division--including its personnel, technology, and mission. Also presents two short stories creating scenarios illustrating the fighting capacity of the unit. From the author of Carrier (RC 49536) and Fighter Wing (RC 42130), among others. 1997.

by Antoine de Baecque and Serge Toubiana

read by Dennis Rooney

4 cassettes

Biography of the French filmmaker who won an Oscar in 1974 for Day for Night. Discusses his dark childhood, his passion for the cinema, his romances with some leading ladies, and his early death from a brain tumor. 1999.

by Robin Wright

read by Yolande Bavan

3 cassettes

Journalist and author of In the Name of God (RC 32222) and other works on the Middle East describes changes in Iran since the 1979 revolution and the 1989 death of Ayatollah Khomeini. She examines the social and cultural progress that is transforming the country into an Islamic democracy. 2000.

by Christiane Northrup

read by Anne Flosnik

5 cassettes

The author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom (RC 48380) examines female menopause in the context of a mind-body connection. Discusses hormone replacement therapy, herbal treatments, diet and exercise, sex, osteoporosis, heart disease, and other physical changes and emotional issues, including stress and depression. Bestseller 2001.

by Peter Baker

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

Journalist details the role of congressmen and White House staff in the late-1990s effort to remove the American president from office for high crimes and misdemeanors. Discusses the political and cultural clashes that led to the attempt and implications for future chief executives. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Barbara Wallraff

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

A columnist and senior editor at the Atlantic Monthly tackles English-language style and usage issues raised by readers. In essays organized by topic, she addresses grammar and vocabulary problems with humor and tact. She strongly encourages rewriting for clarity and provides much practical and specific advice. 2000.

by Lynda Madaras

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Provides an overview of puberty and discusses changes that take place in a boy's shape, size, reproductive organs, sexuality, hygiene requirements, and health concerns. Also discusses puberty in girls. Updated edition of RC 24373. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Robert D. Ballard

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

Ballard draws on some thirty years of personal experience on marine expeditions to retrace the steps of pioneers who first explored the ocean depths. He conveys the excitement of scientific discovery and tells how deep-sea craft required for visiting the bottom of the ocean were developed. 2000.

by Sara Jane Boyers

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Explains the concept of a democracy, the history of voting rights in America, the election process including the electoral college, and the importance of becoming an informed citizen. Encourages teens to participate in their community and to become politically active. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

Two Pulitzer Prize-winning writers describe the fraud and inequities they perceive in the American tax system. They argue that tax laws should be revised and simplified, maintaining that a double standard applied to citizens in different income brackets allows the rich to evade responsibility for their fair share. 2000.

by Lynda Madaras

read by Sharon Murray

2 cassettes

Provides an overview of puberty and discusses changes that take place in a girl's shape, size, reproductive organs, menstrual cycle, and sexuality. Also discusses puberty in boys. Updated edition of RC 30633. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Jim Hightower

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

Radio talk show host seriocomically dissects American politics, including the 2000 presidential race, and finds much lacking. Exhorts people to demand change by eliminating corporate influence on the parties and taking control locally. Fumes against globalization, lobbyists, and the sameness of Democrats and Republicans. 2000.

by Ian Wilmut and others

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

A science writer and the two researchers who cloned the sheep known as Dolly trace the history of cell biology and embryology and explain the hypotheses and experiments that led to the birth. Explores potential impacts in agriculture and medicine, as well as moral and political implications. 2000.

by Gilbert Waldbauer

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

A professor of entomology examines how the basic needs of insects are served by group living. Covers such topics as the insects' defense against predators, their coping with adverse weather, procuring food, and mating. Also discusses the formation of cooperating groups by insects of two or more species. 2000.

by Patricia T. Kelly

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

A medical geneticist provides tools and information to help women assess breast cancer risks, explains how to plan a breast health-care program, and discusses the emotional impact of the topic. Covers genetic testing, benign breast disease, heredity factors, understanding statistics, and navigating the medical system. 2000.

by Brenda Fowler

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes

A journalist reports the major archeological discovery of a five-thousand-year-old corpse with a cache of artifacts on the Austrian-Italian border. Discusses the mixture of scientific research and conjecture surrounding this find and the political squabble over ownership. 2000.

by Peter J. D'Adamo

read by Kerry Cundiff

3 cassettes

The doctor/author of the bestselling Eat Right 4 Your Type (RC 46076) explains how to set up a nutritional program based on your blood type. 1998.

by Yale Solomon

read by Butch Hoover

1 cassette

The author is an ophthalmologist specializing in macular degeneration who was diagnosed with the condition in one eye in 1990 and the other eye in 1997. He uses this combination of experiences to provide detailed information, advice, and reassurance in this guide for others with the disease. 2000.

by Georgia Witkin

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Explains how women experience stress differently from men and provides techniques and problem-solving skills to reduce it. Includes examples of dealing with family life (including teenagers and mates), common work problems, sexual difficulties, and aging--along with other unavoidable everyday tensions. 2000.

by Kristen Iversen

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

A biography of Margaret Tobin Brown (1867-1932), the Denver society matron who survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Reconstructs events on the ship and in the lifeboats. Separates fact from fiction in portraying "Molly" as a real person and renowned human-rights activist. 1999.

by Bernd Heinrich

read by Fred Major

3 cassettes

A biologist's study of raven behavior and the apparent motivations for the birds' adaptive responses. Based on personal observation, his experiences raising young ravens taken from the wild, and numerous field experiments, Heinrich blends science with informed speculation about the intelligence of the species. 1999.

by Pam Johnson-Bennett

read by Ann Hodapp

3 cassettes

A behaviorist presents a step-by-step guide, using behavior modification and play therapy, to help cat owners build an acceptable relationship with their pets. Suggests that understanding a feline's instincts may promote positive conduct. Provides advice on grooming, traveling, and stopping aggression and destructive chewing. 2000.

by Kenneth Conboy and Dale Andradé

read by Lou Harpenau

3 cassettes

Examines America's covert operations in North Vietnam, which were initiated by the CIA in 1960 and expanded by the Defense Department in 1964. Concludes that the commandos who infiltrated enemy lines were captured, killed, or returned with false information, because of their own deficient knowledge and their opponent's vigilance. 2000.

by Mark Mazower

read by Ken Kliban

2 cassettes

The author of Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (RC 49031) reassesses the area of southeastern Europe known as the Balkans. Explains how centuries of peaceful coexistence between diverse religious and cultural populations exploded into nationalist violence following the breakup of the Ottoman empire. 2000.

by Beatrice Forbes Manz

read by Peter Johnson

2 cassettes

Traces the life and times of Tamerlane, a fourteenth-century nomadic conqueror who used the power of his personality to rule over the ruins of the Mongol Empire in central Asia. Discusses the successful merging of ancient traditions and political developments that led to his success. 1989.

edited by Carolyn Dunn and Carol Comfort

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A collection of prose pieces and poems, often retelling traditional tales in a twentieth-century context. Authors include women of American Indian descent--Joy Harjo, Linda Hogan, Louise Erdrich, and others. Many selections rely on the animal world and nature for themes or settings. 1999.

by William J. Duiker

read by Peter Johnson

6 cassettes

Sympathetic biography of Vietnamese Communist leader known as Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969), who led the revolutionary movement against Japanese, French, and American dominance in Southeast Asia until his death six years before the Vietnam War ended. Interprets Ho's lifelong quest for national independence and social and economic justice. 2000.

by Ann Rule

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Collection of ten cases that focus on victims betrayed by killers who made pledges they never intended to honor. In the title piece, a young wife disappears and years pass before her parents and the police can find evidence that points toward her controlling husband. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Paul Begala

read by Jim Zeiger

1 cassette

Partisan criticism of President George W. Bush by a Democratic party political advisor, using quotations from Bush's speeches during his Texas governorship and the 2000 presidential campaign. Examines Bush's record in Texas on such issues as education, the environment, gun control, the death penalty, and taxes. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Larry Elder

read by Jake Williams

3 cassettes

Conservative African American talk-show host deplores the victimization of blacks based on race and analyzes myths that he suggests are perpetuated by politicians in order to retain power. Also blames liberal media and black leaders for creating artificial problems rather than addressing serious issues like illegitimacy. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

A 101-year-old laborer who learned to read at age 98 chronicles his life in the South and provides a personal retrospective on the African American past. In collaboration with a history teacher, Dawson recalls significant developments of the twentieth century, including the advent of two world wars. 2000.

by Helen Zia

read by Robin Miles

3 cassettes

Chinese American writer describes the history and potential of the large diverse Asian population in the United States. Explains how fragmented, isolated ethnic groups--motivated by hate crimes and stereotyping--transformed themselves into a new political power. Some strong language. 2000.

by Darden Asbury Pyron

read by Lewis Grenville

5 cassettes

portrays the life of Midwestern musical prodigy Wladziu Valentino Liberace (1919-1987), assessing his influence on American culture. Traces the pianist's childhood, career development, and artistic achievements. Discusses his homosexuality, his lovers, the lawsuits, and his AIDS-related death. 2000.

by Shana Alexander

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A journalist chronicles her growing interest in elephants beginning with her coverage of an elephant's first live birth in captivity in 1962. She combines personal anecdotes with historical and scientific facts to explore the relationship between elephants and humans. Discusses poaching and the possible extinction of the species. 2000.

by Paul Gervais

read by Ken Kliban

2 cassettes

When the author moved with his friend Gil from California to an Italian villa in 1982, he knew little about gardening. He writes of becoming a knowledgeable gardener and transforming an old, half-abandoned garden into an acclaimed stop on a horticultural tour. Some strong language. 2000.

by Quincy Troupe

read by Peter Jay Fernandez

1 cassette

Troupe documents his close relationship with jazz great Miles Davis, who, even before they met, was a role model for the author and his friends. Portrays the trumpeter as "irascible, contemptuous, brutally honest, and extremely bad-tempered...also insecure...and proud of being black." Companion to Miles: The Autobiography (RC 33198). Strong language. 2000.

by George Orwell

read by John Horton

2 cassettes

Autobiographical account of time spent living in the slums and working-class neighborhoods of London and Paris, in sympathy with the poor. Orwell describes dressing like a beggar and having menial jobs; portrays the characters and conditions he encountered on the streets and in a charity hospital. 1933.

by Anne Edwards

read by Lisette Lecat

3 cassettes

Recounts the Spencer family history and examines how Diana's unhappy childhood affected her adult life. Discusses the princess's relationships with her family, her discovery of Charles's infidelity--before their marriage, her position within the troubled House of Windsor, her divorce, her life afterward, and her untimely death. 1999.

by Mary Karr

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Karr continues where she left off in The Liars' Club: A Memoir (RC 41154)--as an adolescent growing up in the 1970s. She describes experimenting with sex and drugs in her small Texas town and leaving home for California. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Esther Black Elk DeSersa and others

read by Bill Wallace

1 cassette

This companion to Black Elk Speaks (RC 22552) records the reminiscences of his granddaughters and family members concerning the Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk and his son Ben. The family recall their years growing up on Pine Ridge Reservation, their traditions, and how Black Elk's legacy still affects them. 2000.

by Walter Payton

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Record-breaking NFL football player Walter "Sweetness" Payton, who died of liver cancer in 1999, discusses growing up in Mississippi, attending college, and staying positive through cancer treatment. Supplemented with anecdotes from his friends, family, and colleagues recalling his work ethic, his humor, and his generosity. 2000.

by Lisa Jardine

read by Robert O'Keefe

2 cassettes

Explores the forces in the late seventeenth century that laid the foundations for modern scientific thought and practices. Traces the development of such key discoveries as precise time measurement, enhanced astronomical observation, selective animal and plant breeding, advanced techniques in navigation, chemical substance analysis, and the mathematics of naturally occurring curves. 1999.

by Warren Christopher

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

Memoir by secretary of state in the Clinton administration, who began his legal career as a law clerk for Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas in 1949. Christopher describes his life in public service, which included roles in the Johnson and Carter administrations, and discusses the numerous crises he's witnessed. Bestseller 2001.

by Roger Kahn

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Author of The Boys of Summer (RC 16430) discusses the psychology and physics of baseball pitching, as well as some of the major personalities immortalized in the history of the sport. 2000.

by Isadore Valenti

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

War memoir by soldier who grew up in the coal mining country of western Pennsylvania. Recalled into the army in 1941, Valenti became a medic and saw action in Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. He experienced the end of the war at Hitler's chalet in the Alps. 1998.

by Aphrodite Jones

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Cincinnati, 1996. Heart surgeon Darryl Sutorius is found dead. His new wife, Dante--whom the doctor met through a dating service--is under suspicion. As police investigate, they learn of the widow's four previous husbands and her own family's fears. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Robert B. Reich

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

Scholar and former labor secretary examines the technologically advanced economy and its effects on Americans' lives. Explains how communication, transportation, and information technologies offer individuals growth opportunities but endanger traditional community and family structures as smaller, flexible companies replace the stable large corporations that have heretofore provided steady jobs and dependable benefits. Bestseller 2000.

by Sonia Choquette

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Using examples drawn from her students and clients, a teacher interprets spiritual laws and suggests applications. Proposes nine creative principles for achieving miracles, joy, a sense of abundance, security, and peace. Reflects on Jesus' and Buddha's influences in her life. Provides a step-by-step approach to experiencing God's love. 1997.

by James Alan McPherson

read by Barry Bernson

2 cassettes

Essays on the Pulitzer Prize winner's pursuits, from the segregated South to Morris Brown College, Harvard Law School, the University of Virginia, and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Reflects on his love for his daughter, the experiences of Americans, life's sorrows and delights, and works by other authors. Some strong language. 2000.

by Grace Halloran

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes

Recounts the life of Californian Grace Halloran, who was diagnosed at age twenty-three with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disorder leading to blindness. Learning that her newborn son could also become blind, Halloran dedicated her life to discovering ways to preserve and strengthen sight. 1993.

by Edward P. Stafford

read by Jack Fox

4 cassettes

History of the battles fought in the Pacific by this naval aircraft carrier and its crew during World War II. Reports on participation at Santa Cruz, Kwajalein, Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, among other sites. 1962.

by Jay Winik

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

In April 1865, as the war ends, the Confederate capital--Richmond--lies in ruins, Generals Robert E. Lee and Joe Johnston surrender their armies, and President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated. Remarkably, the author contends, the nation survives. Analyzes the reasons for the unusually successful conclusion to a republic's civil war. Bestseller 2001.

by Marcia J. Scherer

read by John Hammock

2 cassettes

Provides an overview of the issues surrounding people with disabilities and assistive technology. Discusses how the equipment affects the individual and how to successfully match them. Uses vignettes to describe those who use devices and those who tried and abandoned them. 2000.

by Maurizio Viroli

read by David Elias

2 cassettes

Biography of the Italian Renaissance statesman Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), a native of Florence and author of The Prince (RC 39689). Discusses his life amid turbulent times, his political beliefs, and his ultimate fall from power, as well as the near-universal misunderstanding of his philosophy. 2000.

by John Evangelist Walsh

read by Corrie James

2 cassettes

Chronicle of the last hundred days of John Keats's life, when the twenty-five-year-old English poet fought, and then succumbed to, consumption. Examines his unrealized ambitions, his views on religion, and the nature of the disease that killed him. Postulates that the composer's love for Fanny Brawne inspired his literary works. 1999.

by Elizabeth D. Leonard

read by Faith Potts

2 cassettes

Chronicle of women who served in the Union and Confederate armies in the field during the Civil War, either as spies, "mascots," or disguised as men. Explores the motivation behind the women's actions, the practical aspects involved, and the consequences of discovery. Also looks at earlier examples from the Revolutionary War. 1999.

by David Stafford

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Explores the relationship between the United States president Franklin Roosevelt and the British prime minister Winston Churchill before and during the Second World War. Explains how the two leaders shared intelligence secrets, bribed Spain to remain neutral, and trusted each other despite conflicting postwar national interests. 1999.

by Doug Stanton

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Recounts the events of July 30, 1945, when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the USS Indianapolis, and the subsequent failure of the navy to begin a timely rescue of its crew. Relates the survivors' tales of the ordeal and the tragic destiny of its captain years later. Bestseller 2001.

by Edmund White

read by Robert Blumenfeld

1 cassette

Novelist, critic, and biographer White, who moved to Paris in 1983, describes his wanderings through the city's arrondissements, including districts congenial to writers, African Americans, Jews, artists, gays and lesbians, and royalists. A flâneur is someone who strolls about a city with no specific purpose, yet is attuned to its history and character. Bestseller 2001.

edited by Quinton Hosford Dixie and Cornel West

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Essays compiled in honor of scholar and preacher James Melvin Washington explore a theological belief system based on African American religious experiences and American culture. Encourages people to pursue spiritual unification and to transcend the social, economic, and racial identities that divide them. 1999.

by Tracy Hogg

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

A neonatal nurse advocates methods for parents to gain insights into their baby's needs. E.A.S.Y. is Hogg's acronym for a recommended structured routine of Eating, Activity, Sleeping, and time for You; S.L.O.W. is a reminder to Stop, Listen, Observe, and evaluate What's up with the infant. Bestseller 2001.

by William Craig

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

Historical account of a pivotal World War II battle: the 1943 surrender of the elite German Sixth Army to the Russians at Stalingrad. Describes the incredible march of the German army across southern Russia and the equally amazing victory of the Soviet army. Bestseller 1973.

by Ric Edelman

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

After studying the practices of thousands of financially successful Americans, a renowned financial advisor reveals eight fundamental strategies these investors share. The techniques for attaining wealth include turning a mortgage into a wealth-enhancing program and maximizing employer-sponsored retirement plans. Bestseller 2000.

by John Edward

read by Terence Aselford

2 cassettes

Author Edward, who claims to possess psychic powers, discusses the discovery and development of his ability to communicate with the dead. He advises others who may wish to tune in to their own special abilities and includes numerous accounts of his experiences as a medium. Bestseller 1998.

by Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck

read by Gary Telles

4 cassettes

Account of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh on April 19, 1995. In addition to prison interviews with McVeigh, the authors document his childhood, military career, and drifter lifestyle in an attempt to fathom his motives and personality. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Debbie Ford

read by Kimberly Schraf

2 cassettes

A guidebook with exercises that encourages readers to uncover their shortcomings through a process of self-discovery and transform them to hidden strengths. Ford maintains that most people try to mask the thoughts, feelings, and aspects of their behavior that they feel are socially unacceptable, rather than striving to develop harmonious self-acceptance. Some strong language. Bestseller 1998.

by Pierre Nubar

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

Memoir of a blind Frenchman, who came to the United States in 1953. Nubar recalls his years in an orphanage in Marseilles, coming to America seeking medical treatment for his deteriorating eyesight, and how a policeman from his past changed his fortune. 2000.

by Peter Mayle

read by David Cutler

2 cassettes

Mayle describes how he was introduced to the pleasures of French culinary art at age nineteen. Living in the French countryside, he explores the small, out-of-the-way restaurants and local village markets. He participates in annual festivals and eats in three-star Michelin restaurants, all the while writing about his appreciation of French food. Bestseller 2001.

by Ted Koppel

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Koppel presents in journal form "snapshots of the twentieth century's final year, and some memories and observations it triggered." He includes well-known public events, such as Clinton's impeachment and the war in Kosovo, but he also reflects on his childhood in England and offers glimpses into his family's private life. 2000.

by Peter Bowerman

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful freelance writing career. Maintains that anyone can become a financially independent writer in a short period of time. Surveys the variety of projects that are outsourced by corporations and offers marketing and customer-service strategies. Includes samples of promotional materials. 2000.

by Stanley Kunitz

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

A compilation of essays about and interviews with the twentieth-century American poet, editor, teacher, and translator. Many are by young poets who studied with Kunitz, providing insights into both his private and public concerns. Includes an appendix of discussed poems. 1993.

by Cathy Scott

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Describes the rivalry between East and West Coast "gangsta" rap musicians that leads to murder. Chronicles the life of rap artist Biggie Smalls and his successful career under the guidance of Sean "Puffy" Combs. Smalls was murdered a few months after rival Tupac Shakur. Strong language and some violence. 2000.

by Mort Rosenblum

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

American journalist Rosenblum, who moved to France in 1977 and stayed on, describes the people and cuisines of his adopted country. He recounts his extensive travels, his visits with the locals to learn about their finest regional specialities, and his conversations about the appalling rise of fast-food restaurants. 2000.

by Alan Gurney

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

Discusses the competing American, British, and French sailing expeditions in the 1830s to the then still unexplored continent of Antarctica. Explains the background of the national rivalries and depicts the personalities of the major figures involved. 2000.

by Jerry M. Linenger

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

An American astronaut's personal account of his 1997 mission on the deteriorating Russian space station. Covers his training, his stay on the Mir, and his reactions upon returning to Earth. He vividly describes surviving a near-fatal fire and the physically hazardous conditions and psychological difficulties endured with good humor and ingenuity. 2000.

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

Describes the fatal last race of the legendary NASCAR driver on February 18, 2001, during the Daytona 500. Eleven articles briefly trace Earnhardt's life and highlights of his long and successful career--including seven Winston Cups--as well as his legacy. Bestseller

by Cheryl Richardson

read by Kerry Cundiff

1 cassette

Author of Take Time for Your Life (RC 50519) offers week-by-week suggestions for setting priorities, redefining success, and taking action to make necessary changes. Topics include financial, emotional, and physical adjustments that can lead to greater contentment and personal growth. Lists web sites, contacts, and additional resources. Bestseller 2000.

by Dave Longaberger

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Longaberger (1934-1999), who did not graduate from high school until he was twenty-one because he stuttered and had epilepsy and a learning disorder, explains how he created a $700 million business that began by selling his father's handmade baskets in 1973. Includes the eighteen management principles he practiced in his company. Bestseller 1999.

by Willie Morris

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette

Mississippi author of My Dog Skip (RC 41612) recalls how he had to overcome his fear of cats when his beloved fiancée wanted one. On Christmas Eve, the family took in a stray who later had kittens--one with two different eye colors. 1999.

by George Carlin

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

The comedian, who also wrote Brain Droppings (RC 44750), continues with a collection of zany one-liners, observations on modern life, and loony lists. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Bruce H. Wilkinson

read by Bob Moore

1 cassette

The founder of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries discusses the prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Wilkinson addresses each line of the petition, supporting his conclusions with anecdotes. He encourages readers to ask God to bless them daily to ensure that they receive his best. Bestseller 2000.

by Bruce Wilkinson

read by Bob Moore

1 cassette

In this sequel to The Prayer of Jabez (RC 52284), Wilkinson encourages individuals to make the best use of God's blessings. Citing verses from the biblical John 15, he illustrates four levels of "fruit bearing" through which people can move to reach their full potential in God. Bestseller 2001.

by Deborah Stipek and Kathy Seal

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

Strategies that parents can employ to instill a lifelong love of learning in their children from infancy to elementary school age. Suggests ways to increase self-motivation without the need of bribery and excessive praise. Also includes information on selecting a school. Bestseller 2001.

by Jeanette A. Griver and Michele W. Vodrey

read by Barbara Pinolini

1 cassette

Authors advocate the use of "operational analysis"--a formula designed to help people solve problems. Rather than looking at a situation in general terms, they suggest categorizing it in measurable dimensions: who, what, when, where, how, why, and costs. Provides a ten-step guide to using this technique for troubleshooting. Bestseller 2000.

by Joel Kotkin

read by John Hammock

2 cassettes

Analyzes how the technology economy has enabled businesses to move away from their traditional bases and relocate to aesthetically pleasing communities the author calls "nerdistans" and "Valhallas." Examines residential and commercial landscapes and possible future scenarios. Bestseller 2000.

by Mark Bowden

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

The author of Black Hawk Down (RC 48028) chronicles the crimes of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, his Medellín cocaine cartel, and his influence on his country. Describes Escobar's imprisonment, escape, enemies, and the American involvement with death squads that sought revenge. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Pamela R. Lessing

read by Renee Dutton-O'Hara

2 cassettes

Provides step-by-step instructions for beginners with iMac computers for using e-mail, the Internet, word processing, compact disks (CDs), and computer games. Also includes prepurchasing advice. 2000.

by Bill Gutman

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

Biography of the professional football coach who went to three Super Bowls and won two before retiring in 1999. Traces Bill Parcells's career with the New York Giants, the New York Jets, and the New England Patriots--along with the faults and attributes of the "guy from Jersey." 2000.

edited by Charles Osgood

read by Peter Gil

1 cassette

Radio and television anchorman edits and introduces a collection of essays, jokes, and poems from the Second World War. Includes "A Dictionary of American Military Slang 1941-1944"; spoofs featuring Artie Greengroin, Pfc.; and selections from Yank magazine and the Reader's Digest's regular "Humor in Uniform" feature. Some strong language. 2001.

by Ahmed Rashid

read by Ken Kliban

3 cassettes

Journalist with twenty years of experience covering Afghanistan discusses the origin and rise of the Taliban and its fundamentalist interpretations of Islam, especially regarding gender and drugs. Explains the importance of Afghanistan's energy resources for the region and the country's problems with smuggling, civil war, and lack of social services. 2000.

by Simon Reeve

read by Ralph Lowenstein

3 cassettes

British journalist traces the capture of Pakistan-born Muslim extremist Ramzi Yousef, who masterminded the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, among other crimes. Examines Yousef's relationship to Osama bin Laden, the creation of the al Qaeda terrorist network, and the dangers of jihad against the West. 1999.

by Michael Griffin

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

Analyzes the nature of politics and tribal rivalries in Afghanistan when the U.S.S.R. retreated in 1989 and the Muslim fundamentalists assumed power. Summarizes the rise of the Taliban rulers through the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen. Discusses American failure to recognize the threat of Osama bin Ladin's network. 2001.

by J.R.R. Tolkien

read by Carole Jordan Stewart

2 cassettes (Reissue)

The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an

expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including a dragon. For junior and senior high readers. 1966.

by George P. Pelecanos

read by Conrad Feininger

2 cassettes

Nick Stefanos, alcoholic Washington, D.C., bartender, is also a private investigator. While on a bender, he ends up in a park and witnesses a murder. The police seem uninterested in a dead black teenager, so Nick delves into the drug and porno underworld with the help of another PI, Jack LaDuke. Strong language and violence. 1995.

by Alexander Kent

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes (Reissue)

In a bold attempt to forestall Napoleon's war effort, newly promoted Commodore Bolitho and his squadron engage ships of the French and Spanish fleets in gallant and bloody sea encounters. Sequel to The Flag Captain (RC 49927). 1974.

by Alexander Kent

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes (Reissue)

In 1800, Richard Bolitho, one of His Majesty's ablest seamen, is appointed rear admiral and assumes command of his own squadron. As war spreads from Europe to the Baltic, he realizes that his experiences have ill-prepared him for the intricate world of power politics. Sequel to Signal--Close Action! (RC 49928). 1978.

by Alexander Kent

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes (Reissue)

1801. Rear Admiral Richard Bolitho has come home to marry Belinda Laidlaw, but aged Admiral Beauchamp needs him at sea to help show Britain's strength and determination against the French. Thus, Bolitho finds himself torn between public duty and personal desires. Sequel to The Inshore Squadron (RC 49929). 1981.

by Alexander Kent

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

1803. The newly knighted and now Vice Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho sets sail for the Mediterranean aboard the Argonaute, which he captured from French Admiral Jobert--now his sworn enemy. But Bolitho also has some personal concerns that require his attention. Sequel to Success to the Brave (RC 20529). 1986.

by Temple Bailey

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

The Ballard siblings, Mary, Constance, and Barry, live in an old house in Washington, D.C. With Constance getting married, their aunts, Isabelle and Frances, want Mary to close up the house. However, Mary feels responsible for Barry, so she has taken the bold step of renting the Tower Room to a gentleman. 1914.

by Thomas Wolfe

read by L.J. Ganser

5 cassettes (Reissue)

Bitter and nostalgic, Wolfe's sequel to The Web and the Rock (RC 50278) continues the story of George Webber, now a successful novelist but unsuccessful lover. He returns home to old Catawba, only to be sadly disillusioned by the discovery that everything he once loved there no longer exists. 1934.

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

read by Ken Kliban

8 cassettes in 2 containers

The melodramatic tale of Fyodor Karamazov and his sons: Alyosha, Dmitri, Ivan, and the illegitimate Smerdyakov. The death of the father and conflicts of faith are key themes in this panorama of nineteenth-century Russia. Acclaimed 1990 translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky of the 1879-1880 original Russian publication. 1992.

by Jacqueline Susann

read by Kimberly Schraf

4 cassettes (Reissue)

New York City, 1945. Three beautiful young women--Anne, Neely, and Jennifer--become best friends as each seeks success in the world of show business. Their dependence on pills, referred to as dolls, becomes their way of coping with life. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1966.

by Gerald Hammond

read by Phil Regensdorf

2 cassettes

Scottish kennel owner John Cunningham is suspected in the murder of one of his assistant's boyfriends, as Cunningham had refused to be blackmailed by the deceased. Somehow, the crime is connected with a gun-shy dog that Cunningham was forced to sell the previous year. 1998.

by Elaine Alberro

read by various narrators

2 cassettes

Elena García va a celebrar la fiesta de cumplir quince años, pero su acompañate está enfermo. El padre de ella arregla una substitución, y Antonio del Valle llega a ser la pareja de Elena durante la fiesta. Los dos jóvenes se enamoran. Sin embargo, Elena pertenece a la aristocracia cubana, y sus padres insisten que termine el romance con Antonio, que es el hijo ilegítimo de una limpiadora. Ocho años más tarde, Elena y Antonio se encuentran otra vez. Y se dan cuenta que nada ha cambiado entre ellos. Contiene descripciones de índole sexual y lenguaje injurioso. Edición bilingüe en español e inglés. [When Elena Garcia's escort for her quinceañera becomes ill, her father's cleaning lady's illegitimate son Antonio fills in. They fall in love, but Elena's parents (descendants of Cuban aristocracy) object to the match. Eight years later, however, perspectives change. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bilingual edition in English and Spanish.] 1999.

by Anne C. LeMieux

read by Gary Roan

1 cassette

Eighth-grader Jason is failing algebra. His father is on his case, and the twin brother of the girl Jason likes is his worst enemy. Jason tries to cheat his way out of a bad grade, but his schemes begin to catch up with him. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

by Harry Turtledove

read by John Polk

5 cassettes

In this sequel to Into the Darkness (RC 51005), warfare involving magical battles and airborne dragons engulfs the world. The Algarvian army encounters fierce resistance from its longtime foes as it sweeps across the country of Forthweg. When members of the Kaunian race are shipped off to "camps," few suspect the real purpose. 2000.

by Harry Turtledove

read by Roy Avers

5 cassettes

This sequel to Colonization: Second Contact (RC 49668), which occurs twenty years after alien Lizards invade Earth, finds humans still resisting domination. Members of both species are being cross-raised, the Third Reich remains a menace, and the addicting ginger trade continues. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Nomi Eve

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

A multigenerational saga of a Jewish family whose story begins in 1837, when Esther and Yochanan immigrate to Palestine, and ends in America in the 1990s. The storyteller interweaves the tale of her father, the orchard man, with her family's history of love, fulfillment, and loss. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Jane Austen

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Austen's last novel is a temperate comedy of manners. At twenty-seven, a woman regrets that, persuaded by her elders, she had broken her engagement to the navy captain she loved at nineteen. When she and her father are forced to rent their family home and move to Bath, she meets her former love again. 1816.

by Peter Danielson

read by John Horton

2 cassettes

Once more the Teller of Tales is called upon to recount a story from the days of King David. Here he tells of how David, aided by the young soldier Sunu, attempts to take over Jerusalem. Sequel to The Shining King (RC 51108). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1995.

by L.E. Modesitt

read by Kristin Allison

4 cassettes

Anna, an Iowa State University music instructor, is magically transported to the medieval world of Erde, where songs create spells and music is the source of power. Her vocal talents make her a powerful sorceress and a villain's target. Prequel to The Spellsong War (RC 51114). For senior high and older readers. 1997.

by William W. Johnstone

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Falcon MacCallister continues his trek around the country seeking to avenge his wife's murder. After a stop in Tombstone, Arizona, he is confronted by the horrors of conflict with Apache Indians and vows revenge. Sequel to Song of Eagles (RC 51173). Violence and strong language. 1999.

by Rhys Davies

read by Barbara Caruso

2 cassettes

Small-town West Wales, 1960s. When Rhonwen learns that her sixty-year-old husband, Adda, has been carrying on an affair, she decides to make herself a widow--and succeeds. But visions of a ram with red horns prevent her from enjoying her new life, and she confronts her husband's mistress. 1996.

by Joyce Carol Oates

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

Twenty-seven psychological horror tales that delve into "the waking nightmares of life." In the title story a wayward girl is invited to the sumptuous home of the trial judge who had suspended her sentence. There she discovers the ulterior motive for his magnanimity. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Kinky Friedman

read by Gary Telles

2 cassettes

Private detective Kinky Friedman is fed up with the falling ceiling plaster caused by Winnie Katz's lesbian dance troupe upstairs. But when Winnie receives a death threat, Kinky and his gang, the "Village Irregulars," gear up to find the perpetrator. Strong language and some violence. 1999.

by William Stuart Long

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

In this sequel to The Nationalists (RC 35500) the children of the original Australian colonists pursue their dreams. At center stage is Tolo Mason and his wife, Java, who comb the outback in search of gold, but find danger among the aborigines. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1990.

by Alistair Boyle

read by Roy Avers

1 cassette

Private investigator Gil Yates, alias mild-mannered Malvin Stark, is retained by a widow to investigate her husband's disappearance. Apparently boater Les Quincy hired five beautiful girls in Hawaii to sail--and share his bunk--with him, but they returned to shore without him. 1999.

by Marion Chesney

read by Gillian Green

2 cassettes

Lady Margery Quennell, twenty-three, is beside herself upon learning that her father is selling their family estate, Chelmswood, to pay the mounting debts incurred in keeping his new wife happy. But Margery's schemes to find a suitable husband do not go as planned. 1980.

by Max Hennessy

read by David Cutler

2 cassettes (Reissue)

The bold adventures of midshipman Kelly Maguire of the Royal Navy during World War I. He begins the war aboard an obsolete battle cruiser and is captured by the Turks after Gallipoli. Escaping, Maguire is later involved in the Battle of Jutland. Some violence and some strong language. 1977.

by Sir Walter Scott

read by George Holmes

6 cassettes

Young Harry Bertram, heir to the Ellangowan estate, is kidnapped and sent away from England by an unscrupulous lawyer who covets the property. Years later, when Harry returns to England after military service in India, he is recognized by an old gypsy woman and learns the secret of his past. 1814.

by Stephen Harrigan

read by David Hartley-Margolin

4 cassettes

Saga of the legendary mission in the Mexican territory called Texas in 1835-1836. Incorporates the fictional characters of Edmund McGowan, a traveling botanist; widow Mary Mott, a San Antonio innkeeper; and her sixteen-year-old son Terrell, with historical personalities. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Nelson Algren

read by Barry Bernson

4 cassettes

The underworld of Chicago's West Side in the late 1940s is portrayed through Frankie Machine--a poker dealer with a "golden arm" and morphine-addicted hustler with a bad conscience. Complete text followed by critical essays. Some strong language. National Book Award. 1949.

by Philip R. Craig

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Retired Boston policeman J.W. Jackson is hired by slumlord Ben Krane to investigate arson. While Jackson has little desire to help the despicable real estate broker prosper, he suspects that an unidentified body found in the latest fire is that of a friend. Some strong language. 2000.

by Gar Anthony Haywood

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Private investigator Aaron Gunner, last seen in Not Long for This World (RC 35086), is hired by the father of gangsta rap star C.E. Digga Jones to investigate his death--supposedly a suicide. Gunner's other job entails guarding African American right-wing radio announcer Sparkle Johnson. Violence and strong language. 1999.

by John Le Carré

read by David Hartley-Margolin

4 cassettes

After his young wife Tessa's murder in Kenya, British diplomat Justin Quayle investigates her death and the disappearance of her African colleague. He eventually discovers that Tessa had uncovered a scheme involving a multinational pharmaceutical company that unethically tests drugs on the local populace. Strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Kay Hooper

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Psychic sheriff Miranda Knight moves to Tennessee, hoping to heal from her shattered relationship with FBI agent Noah Bishop. But when two teenagers are found tortured to death, another has disappeared, and her own sister is endangered, Miranda calls Noah for help. Companion to Hiding in the Shadows (RC51472). Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Anne George

read by Cyn Delafield

2 cassettes

Matron sisters Mary Alice and Patricia Anne track their cousin Luke's wife of forty years and her lover, a snake-handling preacher, to a church. When they arrive, they not only discover a woman's body but learn the preacher has also been murdered. Luke's wife, however, is still missing. Some strong language. 2000.

by Howard Bahr

read by Ted Stoddard

4 cassettes

Cumberland, Mississippi; 1865. Forty-year-old former professor Gawain Harper arrives home from the war to his sweetheart, Morgan Rhea, and finds the town in the grip of poverty, hunger, and hatred. Then his future father-in-law demands that Harper avenge the murder of another daughter. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by Alistair MacLean

read by David Cutler

4 cassettes

Two classic World War II adventures. In The Guns of Navarone, a British sabotage team must destroy Nazi weapons so that a small Greek island can be evacuated. In Force 10 from Navarone, three allied spies are assigned an impossible mission in Yugoslavia. Some violence and some strong language. 1968.

by Florence Ladd

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Sarah, a married Harvard student of African literature, travels to Senegal in the 1960s to learn more about the writer Mangane. Later divorced, she weds Mangane and raises their two sons in the country she loves. But her work on women's rights brings violence that shakes her world. ALA/Black Caucus Award. 1996.

by Tananarive Due

read by Bob Moore

4 cassettes

Sarah Breedlove, orphaned at age seven, strives to overcome her poverty-stricken childhood in 1860s and 1870s Louisiana. She establishes her own laundry business, develops a line of hair-care products, turns her kitchen into a beauty parlor, and becomes Madame C.J. Walker--America's first black female millionaire. Based on research by Alex Haley. 2000.

by Henry Porter

read by Corrie James

3 cassettes

Arriving in London from Boston, Con Lindow becomes a bombing victim. When the British police learn Lindow is an Irish national, he becomes a chief suspect. He teams up with an out-of-favor policeman to find the real bomber--the only way to prove Lindow's innocence. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Brendan O'Carroll

read by Terry Donnelly

1 cassette

Dublin, 1970. Agnes's brood of seven--whom she calls the "chisellers"--are a few years older than in The Mammy (RC 51680) and are causing her more heartache. But Mark, the eldest, makes a bold move at the furniture factory and finds his dream girl. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1995.

by Brendan O'Carroll

read by Terry Donnelly

1 cassette

Dublin, 1980. In this sequel to The Chisellers (RC 51681) Agnes is forty-seven when Mark announces the birth of her new grandson and calls her "Granny." Agnes feels old for the first time, but manages to stay at the center of her family's activities. Strong language. 1996.

by Mervyn Peake

read by Kristin Allison

9 cassettes in 2 containers

Titus Groan (1946) introduces Titus, who at age two becomes the seventy-seventh earl of Gormenghast, a ritual-ridden castle full of Dickensian characters. Gormenghast (1950) follows Titus as he overcomes a power-seeking kitchen boy, then flees the castle. Titus Alone (1959) relates his experiences beyond the castle walls. Some violence. 1959.

by Bill Mesce and Steven G. Szilagyi

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes

England, 1943. Two American bombers suddenly attack a third plane as well as civilian witnesses on the ground. As Major Harry Voss of the Judge Advocate General's office delves into the incident, he uncovers secrets that the higher-ups want to keep concealed. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by James D. Doss

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Ute policeman Charlie Moon investigates a disappearance associated with a paleontological dig excavating mammoth bones. Meanwhile, his aunt Daisy Perika, a shaman, is involved with an older, related injustice dealing with the supernatural. 1999.

by Lawrence Watt-Evans

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Out of This World (RC 44629), Pel Brown is still trapped in the Galactic Empire with several other inhabitants from Earth. But he will not be allowed to return home until he destroys Shadow--the evil ruler of the magical realm of Faerie. Some violence and some strong language. 1995.

by Stephen Coonts

read by Chuck Benson

3 cassettes

Admiral Jake Grafton is sent to Hong Kong to discover whether his old buddy "Tiger" Cole, the consul general, is involved in anticommunist plots and banking scandals. But Jake's wife, Callie, is abducted. Amidst civil unrest, Grafton has to ferret out her location. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by Anne McCaffrey

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Thanks to AIVAS, which has allowed Pern inhabitants to alter the orbit of Red Star and eliminate the Thread, Pern is now undergoing its last Threadfall. Therefore, dragonriders must find new occupations. But before they do, Pern endures a new threat. Follows Dragonseye (RC 44828). 2001.

by Charles Sheffield

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

In this sequel to The Mind Pool (RC 51877), humans are under quarantine by Stellar Authority for killing other intelligent forms of life. However, Authority ships sent out to investigate distant time links in the galaxy have disappeared, and it is humans who are best qualified to rescue them. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Mercedes Lackey

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes

Orphaned Dr. Maya Witherspoon, fleeing danger in India, establishes a medical practice in her London home in 1909. Surrounded by seven animal friends and trusted Indian servants, Maya is tutored in magic by an English master who also senses the malevolent forces directed against her by a vengeful Hindu enemy. 2001.

by Deborah Smith

read by Madelyn Buzzard

3 cassettes

The lives of two very different families are entangled when a Georgia college commissions a New York artist to create a sculpture in the 1960s. Years afterwards, the sculptor's son comes to claim the scrap-metal bear and encounters a woman to whom a peculiar destiny has drawn him since childhood. Strong language. 2001.

by Robert B. Parker

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Young Mary Lou Buckman hires Spenser to investigate a local outlaw, the Preacher, and his gang for the murder of her husband in Potshot, Arizona. The gang has the town and its lawmen intimidated, so Spenser calls in some cohorts to help him. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Larry Brown

read by Jill Fox

4 cassettes

Uneducated, naive teenager Fay runs away from her abusive migrant family near Oxford, Mississippi. She lives first with a state trooper, then a stripper, and later a drug dealer. Now pregnant, Fay is followed by murder and mayhem wherever she goes. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2000.

by Catherine Anderson

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Joe Lakota and Marilee Nelson, friends since childhood, loved each other deeply. But a devastating event that Marilee refused to share with Joe caused a separation. Now, ten years later, divorced, and with a four-year-old son, Joe returns to their hometown hoping for reconciliation. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Brian Freemantle

read by Fred Major

3 cassettes

The frozen corpses of two officers in World War II uniforms--one American and one English--and a Russian woman are discovered in Siberia. The British agent in Moscow, Charlie Muffin, is assigned to the case. But not everyone wants the past revealed. Strong language and some violence. 2000.

by Richard Slotkin

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

A historian fictionalizes Lincoln's early years. Young Abe struggles with his beloved mother's death and his disapproving father. His education is shortened by the family's need for money. Leaving home, he travels the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, where he encounters slavery and frontier life. 2000.

by Dan Brown

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

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 secret medieval 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.

by Eva Rutland

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette

Two days before her wedding, Judy Taylor tells her parents she doesn't want to marry Ben Cruz. Ben secretly leaves town on their wedding day. Fortunately, best man Jake Mason rescues Judy from a horrible scene at the church and soon finds himself feeling very comfortable with her. 1998.

by Liz Nickles

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

After giving her college valedictory speech, twenty-one-year-old Nicki faints, then is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Refusing to spend her remaining months hospitalized, Nicki vacations in Greece with friends. There she falls in love, but decides not to inform her beau of her condition. Strong language. For senior high readers. 1999.

by Faith Baldwin

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Josephine Bruce was born and raised at Blue Horizons, an estate in south Florida. But now she works there as the social secretary to the new owner, Mrs. Bobbie Rivers. Josephine's life is further complicated when Mrs. Rivers's son and stepson fall in love with her. 1941.

by Karl Ackerman

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Will has just become a successful Washington, D.C., literary agent when he meets the perfect girlfriend in thirty-nine-year-old attorney Annie. The problem is that Annie wants a baby right away. Will resists until he receives a letter in the mail from his daughter--a daughter he never knew existed. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Saul Bellow

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Asa Leventhal is alone in New York while his wife is away. Seeking relief from a New York heat wave one evening in the park, he is approached by a stranger who accuses him of ruining his life. As the relationship between the antagonists deepens, Leventhal's fragile sense of self-worth starts to crumble. 1947.

by Josephine Humphreys

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

The hardworking Indian residents of Scuffletown, North Carolina, struggle to survive as the Civil War is ending. Teenager Rhoda Strong, daughter of a Scotsman and a Lumbee mother, relates the circumstances surrounding the community's demand for an end to the fighting, even if it means a Union victory. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Dean Wesley Smith

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Jay and Elle of the secret Men in Black organization charged with defending Earth against aliens are locked in a battle with the Zahurians, a race of plants that has invaded the planet to devour animal and human flesh. Some violence and some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

by Edwin Howard Simmons

read by Chris Parente

3 cassettes

Marine reserve captain George Bayard is mobilized when the Korean War breaks out and ends up in the front lines of battle at Seoul, Inchon, and the Chosin Reservoir. After being wounded, Bayard faces the choice of going home or returning to his command. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Richard Marcinko and John Weisman

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

The Rogue Warrior's latest job finds him loaded down with seventy pounds of equipment, swimming toward an oil rig in the Caspian Sea where workers have been taken hostage. His mission: uncover the reasons behind attempts to destabilize Azerbaijan. Sequel to Rogue Warrior: SEAL Force Alpha (RC 46901). Violence and strong language. 2000.

by William W. Johnstone

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Falcon MacCallister has concluded that he no longer needs to avenge his wife's murder. Now in 1881, as he travels across the Oklahoma Panhandle, he has a different mission--to ensure the building of the new railway. Sequel to Cry of Eagles (RC 51174). Strong language and some violence. 2000.

by Helen DeWitt

read by Catherine Byers

3 cassettes

Single mother Sibylla is concerned about the lack of a male role model for her six-year-old language-prodigy son, Ludo. To compensate, she repeatedly shows him the Japanese film Seven Samurai. After years of viewing the video, Ludo begins interviewing brilliant candidates to be his father. 2000.

by Charles Sheffield

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

In the twenty-third century, humans are the only species in the galaxy who know how to travel between stars. When a group of intelligent nonliving biological constructs becomes a threat to all life, it is up to humanity to save the day. Followed by The Spheres of Heaven (RC 51761). Some violence. 1993.

by Nora Roberts

read by Gabriella Cavallero

3 cassettes

Tereza Giambelli merges her world-renowned family wine company with that of her second husband, vintner Eli MacMillan. She arranges for her granddaughter, Sophia, and his grandson, Tyler, to work together. The move causes family conflicts and uncovers secrets, threatening the business. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by P.D. James

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Young seminarian Ronald Treeves is found dead on the beach near his school. Although an inquest rules the death accidental, his adoptive father, Sir Alred (a wealthy arms manufacturer), receives an anonymous note and insists on a murder investigation by Adam Dalgliesh. Bestseller 2001.

by Katie Arnoldi

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Decadent California showman Charles Worthington focuses on twenty-nine-year-old Aurora Jeanine Johnson (southern states bodybuilding champion) as his next project for developing to "perfection." Following his regimen of muscle-enhancing drugs, dieting, and workouts leaves Aurora too exhausted to care for her twelve-year-old daughter. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Diane Mott Davidson

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Caterer Goldy temporarily moves to a Colorado castle to prepare an Elizabethan feast. Her husband, deputy Tom Schulz, is out of town tracking down stamp thieves. The castle turns out to be haunted and Tom's investigation leads him there, as well. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

by Danielle Steel

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Kate Jamison, seventeen, falls for Joe Allbright, twenty-nine, in 1940. Unwilling to commit to marriage, Joe, a pilot, goes off to war. Kate marries another and has children. Eventually Joe reenters her life, forcing Kate to confront her love for him and his need to fly free. Bestseller 2001.

by Jack McDevitt

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

In three weeks, planet Deepsix will be destroyed in a collision with a rogue gas giant heading its way. Before it's too late, Priscilla Hutchins and a team of scientists set out to investigate life-forms on the planet. Their discoveries leave them deeply perplexed. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Stuart Woods

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

Attorney Stone Barrington flies to Palm Beach to find a mystery woman a wealthy computer geek fancies. The lady turns out to be shady Allison Manning, from Dead in the Water (RC 44806), and Barrington accepts her as a client as well. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

by Nora Roberts

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Taming Natasha recounts Natasha's enchantment with a child who visits her toy store--and her growing affection for the girl's father. Falling for Rachel relates what happens when a lawyer shares joint custody with the brother of a difficult teenager. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Joanna Trollope

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Recounts the effects on an entire family, including grandchildren, when British judge Guy Stockdale announces he is leaving his wife of forty years to marry his mistress of seven years. At first his sons take their mother's side, but soon no one behaves as expected, and family loyalities begin to change. 2000.

by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

When twelve-year-old Nicola leaves a traveling group of players in France to become the "fool" for Queen Mary, she finds pleasing physical comforts--warm clothes, good food, and a soft bed. But being the Queen's confidante in a sixteenth-century court of intrigue is more dangerous than she imagined. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

by David Wong Louie

read by Jonathan Davis

3 cassettes

The author of Pangs of Love: Stories (RC 34554) continues the topic of second-generation Chinese Americans living between two cultures. Twenty-six-year-old French chef Sterling Lung marries his Jewish girlfriend and has two children before he understands his ailing immigrant father. Some strong language. 2000.

by Antoni Libera

read by J.P. Linton

3 cassettes

A high school senior in 1960s Poland suffers from boredom, even though he tried forming a jazz band and a theater troupe. However, he is transfixed by the new headmistress and French teacher, Madame la Directrice. His resolve to learn everything about her leads to his liberation as an artist. 2000.

by Connie Brockway

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

Devon, England; 1887. When Horatio Thorne passes away, he leaves his estate to suffragette Lillian Bede--provided she makes the farm profitable within five years. His rightful heir, Avery Thorne, travels around the world, exchanging goading letters with his adversary, Lillian. Eventually, they meet. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by James Grippando

read by Chuck Benson

3 cassettes

When the wife of prominent Seattle lawyer Gus Wheatley disappears during a rash of serial killings, FBI agent Andrea Henning suspects that she's dead. But as Gus begins his own investigation, he discovers strange things about his wife that point to her being an accomplice instead of a victim. Violence and strong language. 2000.

by Nicholas Griffin

read by Bob Askey

3 cassettes

In 1719, the fat, educated, Welsh teenager William Williams is pressed into service on a slave ship, which is then captured by the pirate Bartholomew Roberts. Because Williams can read, write, and play the fiddle, he becomes the captain's right-hand man. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

by John Updike

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Twelve tales and a sequel to the quartet of "Rabbit" novels--a novella, Rabbit Remembered, set in Brewer, Pennsylvania. In "The Women Who Got Away," Martin recalls the wife-swapping early years of his marriage and a surprise encounter years later. Some strong language. 2000.

by David Malouf

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

Nine short stories by the Australian author of the prize-winning Remembering Babylon (RC 40780). In the title piece a writer returns to Australia after years away, mingling memories and fragments of his past with dreams and an encounter with a nighttime assailant who seems like a bad hallucination. Some strong language. 2000.

by Diana Wynne Jones

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

It is eight years aftern the end of Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Tours--as described in Dark Lord of Derkholm (RC 48321)--and Elda, the griffin daughter of the wizard Derk, arrives at the Wizards' University. She encounters new friends, pirates, assassins, worry, sabotage, bloodshed, and misused magic. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

by Gillian Bradshaw

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

During the First Punic War in 264 B.C., young Archimedes, with his slave Marcus, returns home to Syracuse from his mathematical studies in Alexandria when his father becomes ill. He soon enters King Hieron's service as an engineer and devises catapults for defense against the Romans. 2000.

by Gene Wolfe

read by John Horton

3 cassettes

In this sequel to On Blue's Waters (RC 51139), Horn's quest for the lost charismatic hero Silk has taken him from the Blue world to the jungles of the humid Green, a planet with a dying red sun and populated by alien inhumi blood drinkers and their human slaves. 2000.

by Zane Grey

read by Bob Askey

4 cassettes

Two American cowpokes, Sterl Hazelton and Red Krehl, flee to Australia. As they drive a huge herd of cattle across wild and strange bush country, they battle the elements and hostile aborigines. First published in a condensed version as The Wilderness Trek (RC 10978). Some strong language. 1937.

by Michael A. Stackpole

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Luke Skywalker is having difficulty keeping the Jedi together as they withstand the relentless attacks by the alien Yuuzhan Vong. But hope is on the horizon as several knights, traveling to the planet Garqi, uncover a secret that might prove useful against their enemies. A Star Wars Novel. Some violence. 2000.

by Terry Pratchett

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

In Discworld--a world of many small and great gods--the unexpected can be expected. Brutha, a young novice priest who cannot read or write, is content tending his melon patch. He is selected, however, as the Chosen One by the bossy Om, a small god who appears as a tortoise. 1992.

by Fern Michaels

read by Sharon Murray

3 cassettes

When frumpy, overweight college student Jane Lewis and another coed, Connie, were attacked by five men, only Connie was raped. Later Connie committed suicide. Now a successful psychiatrist, Jane is treating a patient who stirs up memories of that night. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Jim Heynen

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

When he is sent to live with relatives in rural Iowa--as an alternative to a Seattle juvenile detention center--high school senior Cosmos falls in love with a religious girl and reconsiders his values and beliefs. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Anne Perry

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

William Monk's client, Daniel Alberton, is murdered. The main suspect--a Union arms buyer--and Daniel's daughter have absconded to America. William and his wife, Hester, travel to Manassas, Virginia, where they witness the first Battle of Bull Run before escorting the Yankee back to England for trial. Some violence. 2000.

by Robert B. Parker

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

Boone Adams first meets Jennifer Grayle, the love of his life, at a college dance in 1950. They become lovers despite very different backgrounds. But when Boone is drafted to serve in Korea, Jennifer marries someone else, and Boone's life falls apart. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1983.

by Frank X. Gaspar

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Award-winning poet Gaspar's autobiographical tale of Josie Carvalho, who grows up in the Portuguese fishing village in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Abandoned by his mother, Josie is raised by an aunt and his seldom-sober grandfather, who regales him with the adventures of an ancestor who supposedly discovered America before Columbus. 1999.

by Katherine Stone

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Trauma surgeon Jace Colton meets lonely Julia Hayley on a plane from Chicago to London during the Christmas holidays. Both are trying to forget their past losses. After a whirlwind romance, Jace continues his trip to the Balkan war zone as a medical volunteer and Julia returns home pregnant. 1999.

by Doug Bowman

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Kirb Renfro and his beloved bride leave Tennessee after the Civil War for a better life in Texas. But after Ellie is raped and murdered on their ranch, the cowboy vows revenge. Some violence. 2000.

by Robert S. Levinson

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Reporter Neil Gulliver and his ex-wife, actress Stevie Marriner, are in the audience when a man resembling an aged James Dean murders a participant during a ceremony honoring the late celebrity. The two delve into the mystery of the resurrected Dean. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by Todd Strasser

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

In order to help his students understand the complacency of the German population under Nazi rule, high school teacher Ben Ross initiates an experimental game in his history class. The rest of the school soon joins in, but things get out of control. For junior and senior high readers. 1981.

by Marion Chesney

read by Madelyn Buzzard

1 cassette

When Lady Amelia Godolphin decides she needs a companion, she sends for her cousin, Maria Lamberton. But Maria has just died and her niece, needing a new abode, decides the position is perfect for her. Thus Constance Lamberton arrives in London, and soon turns Lady Amelia's world upside down. 1980.

by Steven Pressfield

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Krewe Island, Georgia; 1931. Rannulph Junah, a local, embittered war hero, joins a golf match with legendary players Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. With help from his African American caddy, Bagger Vance, Rannulph reconciles the past through the spirituality of the game. 1995.

by Barry Reed

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Cynical Boston attorney Frank Galvin accepts a shaky malpractice suit against the largest Catholic hospital in the country. He is briefly tempted by a generous out-of-court settlement. But Galvin risks everything to win against his formidable adversaries--the Church, the medical profession, and the legal establishment. Some strong language. 1980.

by Julian F. Thompson

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Sixteen-year-old Terry stows away on a yacht that was stolen by young Mick and is sailing south. Mick is washed overboard during a tropical storm. Terry is rescued and held for ransom by an eccentric pirate family that is looking for buried treasure. For senior high readers. 2000.

by William Bell

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

When seventeen-year-old Alex accompanies his photojournalist father to China in 1989, he witnesses the violent protest demonstration in Tiananmen Square. Injured in the melee, but with provocative film coverage in his pockets, Alex escapes with help from a student. Some violence. For junior and senior high readers. 1990.

by Nora Roberts

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

A killer loose on the streets of Washington, D.C., has earned the nickname "The Priest," since he strangles his victims with a clerical scarf and leaves a note forgiving them of their sins. Psychiatrist Teresa Court offers to help find the killer and almost becomes a victim. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1987.

by Joan Lowery Nixon

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Seventeen-year-old Abbie is sentenced to community service for vandalizing her dad's girlfriend's house. Her job is to assist elderly Edna Merkel. But Mrs. Merkel turns out to be an amateur private investigator, who drags Abbie into a mystery that almost gets both killed. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

by Carolyn Coman

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

More than a year after her older sister, Laura, was murdered in South Africa, Berry is still depressed and numb. On a trip with her estranged father to the school where Laura worked, Berry gradually becomes reconciled with her grief and her father. For junior and senior high readers. Printz Honor book. 2000.

by Nan Ryan

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Lady Madeleine leaves England to marry Lord Enfield in America. Believing death is imminent during a hurricane at sea, she succumbs to the charms of Armand de Chevalier. But Madeleine survives, and once in New Orleans, she must face the consequences of her actions. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Al Lacy

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Jim Logan's family has had many problems since the Civil War, dashing his dream of owning a cattle ranch. Although his employer's death provides an opportunity, tragic events threaten his future. But each time, Bible-inspired John Stranger is there to help. Sequel to Legacy (RC 39963). Some violence. 1994.

by Al Lacy

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

When three convicts escape from a Colorado prison, it is up to U.S. marshal Ridge Holloway to capture them. Unfortunately the family of one escapee is determined to protect them. When two women are taken hostage, mysterious man of God John Stranger helps them. Sequel to Silent Abduction (RC 52049). Some violence. 1995.

by Alice Alfonsi

read by Michele Schaeffer

2 cassettes

Harmony, New England, harbors a centuries-old witch with a grudge. Tabitha knows all of the inhabitants' secrets--mistresses, illegitimate babies, blackmail, and substance abuse. She creates even more trouble by casting spells of her own. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Nalo Hopkinson

read by Gary Telles

2 cassettes

Toronto is abandoned after the riots and is now ruled by Rudy and his vicious gang. Ti-Jeanne, her baby, and her grandmother live by selling ancient herbs and medicines. But when the outside world needs organ transplants, Ti-Jeanne invokes ancient magic to survive. Violence and strong language. 1998.

by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

Miami private investigator Lupe Solano is hired by two fellow Cubans to recover invaluable art works from Havana. Her clients want to retrieve property from their family home before Fidel Castro sells it. Lupe soon becomes involved in art forgery, smuggling, and murder. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

by Miriam Grace Monfredo

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Seneca Falls, New York; 1861. Librarian Glynis Tryon assists constable Cullen Stuart in investigating the murder of local businessman Roland Brant. Suspects include the victim's son and a missing mute kitchen maid. Meanwhile, Glynis's niece, Emma, is experiencing wedding jitters. 1999.

by Henry James

read by Ted Stoddard

4 cassettes (Reissue)

Satirical comedy involving impressionable young suffragette Verena Tarrant, who struggles to reconcile her love for Basil Ransom, a charming southern lawyer, with the demands of her patron, Olive Chancellor, a domineering Boston feminist who hates men. 1886.

by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

read by Michele Schaeffer

2 cassettes

Unlike her sister, who owns the successful Chicago Stars football team, Molly gave away her inheritance and survives by writing children's books. Now her crush on the Stars' quarterback leads to both physical and emotional problems. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Anne Tyler

read by Kimberly Schraf

2 cassettes

Rebecca, a fiftyish grandmother, was widowed in her twenties and left with four daughters to raise. She is tired of family and career demands, and wonders if she made the right choices in life. Rebecca contacts the college boyfriend she once walked out on. Bestseller 2001.

by Jeffery Deaver

read by Michael Russotto

3 cassettes

Silicon Valley computer genius--and sociopath--Jon "Phate" Holloway plays deadly real-life video games: he hacks into computers and kills their owners. The state police Computer Crimes Unit turns to imprisoned hacker Wyatt Gillette, who traces his former colleague's moves. But a traitor exists. Strong language and some violence. 2001.

by Iris Johansen

read by Nanette Savard

2 cassettes

Psychologist Jessica Riley treats the president's catatonic seven-year-old daughter, Cassie, after a kidnapping attempt. Jessica's sister, Melissa, psychically communicates with Cassie. The sisters and shady international broker Michael Travis return Cassie to the scene of the crime hoping to heal her. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Jan Karon

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

In this companion to the Mitford Years series, Father Tim Kavanagh finally gets up the courage to ask Cynthia Coppersmith to marry him. Tensions mount as each struggles with doubt and preparations. Meanwhile the entire town becomes involved in the planning. Bestseller 2001.

by Joan Johnston

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

When modern-day Texas Ranger Owen Blackthorne and veterinarian Bayleigh Creed team up in Big Bend wilderness to save their brothers, they have a history of family feuds to overcome. Life-and-death decisions force them to admit their growing attraction. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by T. Jefferson Parker

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

When Orange County, California, supervisor Will Trona is murdered, his disfigured adopted son, Joe, blames himself. But Joe is also a county cop. While seeking revenge, he learns more about Will and the shady political deals he was involved in. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by George MacDonald Fraser

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

In three new episodes of the purported memoirs of a "scoundrel, amorist, and self-confessed poltroon" of the Victorian era, Sir Harry Flashman manages to save Emperor Franz-Josef of Austria from assassination, flees Zulu warriors in Africa, and fights a duel. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

by Kent Haruf

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Colorado, 1896 to 1976. Edith Goodnough, the courageous daughter of homesteaders, finds herself bound by duty, love, and obligation to her crippled father and younger brother. Sacrificing her chance for happiness with the man she loves, she assumes the task of maintaining the family farm. Strong language. 1984.

by Dorothy Gilman

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette (Reissue)

A disturbing note found in a hurdy-gurdy sends Amelia Jones to Joe Osbourne, a graphologist, to learn about Hannah, its author. Joe is intrigued by the message and by Amelia. Soon they are on the road to Maine to investigate the mystery behind Hannah's frightening words. 1979.

by Lori Aurelia Williams

read by Gail Nelson

2 cassettes

Shayla sets out to write about her African American neighborhood in Houston, but she winds up involved in people's problems. Her sister disappears and her new friend, Kambia, daughter of a prostitute, is being abused. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2000.

by Barbara Cartland

read by Gabriella Cavallero

1 cassette (Reissue)

Paris, 1867. All of Paris tries to meet Lokita, the lovely and secretive young ballet dancer. Prince Volkonski, on holiday from the Russian court, succeeds--but only briefly. The prince's blue blood, Lokita's mysterious background, and a protective duenna are all obstacles to the couple's happiness. 1978.

by Ivonne Lamazares

read by Gabriella Cavallero

1 cassette

Communist Cuba, 1960s. Tanya and her younger half-brother, Emanuel, are raised by a neglectful mother whose schemes leave the family in dire straits. But when Tanya becomes a teenager she joins her mother on a dangerous sea escape to Florida. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by J.D. Robb

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

New York City, 2059. Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates a series of ritualistic murders of employees at her husband Roarke's upscale hotel. She suspects career criminal Sylvester Yost. But when Roarke's best friend, con man Mick Connelly, arrives from Ireland, he complicates matters. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Iain Pears

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

Newlywed Flavia di Stefano of Italy's Art Theft Squad is assigned to quietly track down a stolen masterpiece on loan from the Louvre. Meanwhile, Flavia's husband, art historian Jonathan Argyll, is tracing the history of her boss's favorite painting. The two uncover political corruption, kidnapping, and murder. 2000.

by Dan Cushman

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

Two western stories featuring the Pecos Kid and his companions, Hernandez Flanagan and Big Jim Swing. In "Raiders of the Stage Trails," they masquerade as stagecoach robbers to catch the real crooks. In "Tamers of the Deadfall Towns," they tackle cattle rustlers. Follows The Pecos Kid (RC 50786). Some violence. 1951.

by Dan Jenkins

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Football player Billy Clyde Puckett of the New York Giants comes to Los Angeles with his pals for an epic duel with the Jets in the Super Bowl. Followed by Life Its Ownself (RC 21223). Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1972.

by Britney Spears and Lynne Spears

read by Nanette Savard

1 cassette

Fourteen-year-old singer Holly Faye Lovell shares a close relationship with her single mother, a seamstress in Biscay, Mississippi. When Holly wins a scholarship to a prestigious music school, she becomes embarrassed about her humble roots. Meanwhile Holly's mother considers revealing a secret. For junior and senior high readers. Bestseller 2001.

by F.X. Toole

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

Six short stories about the sport of boxing. In "Million $$$ Baby," trainer Frankie Dunn helps a hillbilly woman realize her dream of being in the ring. In the title story, "Mac" McGee coaches teenage "Puddin" Pye into the Olympics but a local gang intervenes. Violence and strong language. 2000.

by Dennis McFarland

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

When Malcolm is shot one night by a man in a Corvair, his wife, Sarah, and young son, Harry, witness his murder. While Sarah withdraws into prolonged mourning, Malcolm's friend Deckard, a Vietnam vet, copes by looking after Sarah and Harry. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Miriam Cooke

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Traces three generations of Palestinian women while they struggle with personal problems and political turmoil from 1946 through 1990. Samya lives in Jerusalem and, along with her daughter Assia and granddaughters Maryam and Afaf, survives wars, exile, imprisonment, rape, and poverty. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

by Richard Stark

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

After Parker is stiffed by his partners in a bank robbery, he vows revenge and tracks them to their next job--a jewelry heist in Palm Beach. With the help of his lover, Claire, and real estate agent Leslie Mackenzie, Parker stalks his victims--and their loot. Violence and strong language. 2000.

by Margaret Maron

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

Judge Deborah Knott travels to hear cases in Randolph County, North Carolina, where the red clay has produced generations of potters. But when one of the parties in an ongoing divorce case is murdered, Deborah suspects that someone is killing the male members of the artisan Nordan clan. Some strong language. 2001.

by Dara Joy

read by Nanette Savard

2 cassettes

Jorlan Reynard, an intelligent, attractive young nobleman, has vowed he will never be fastened to a woman. Against his wishes, She-Lord Green Tamryn bids for his hand. To ensure that the wedding occurs, Green forgoes the Ritual of Proof that Jorlan is a virgin. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. Bestseller 2001.

by Lee Child

read by Christopher Walker

3 cassettes

Battered-wife Carmen Greer's wealthy Texan husband is coming home from prison. She wants to leave, but fears losing her young daughter. She tries to enlist itinerant ex-military cop Jack Reacher to kill him. Instead Reacher hires on as a ranch hand to protect her. Violence and some strong language. 2001.

by Philip Roth

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Sixtyish New York cultural critic David Kepesh is already struggling with his own mortality when a former favorite young lover, Cuban Consuela Castillo, returns in ill health to see him again. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Elmer Kelton

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

As the Civil War is ending in 1865, Texas Ranger Rusty Shannon contends with frontier battles against the Comanches. When Rusty captures a white youth called Badger Boy, raised by Comanches, Rusty's own past returns to haunt him. Sequel to The Buckskin Line (RC 50220). Some strong language. 2001.

by Walter Mosley

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Watts, 1954. African American bookstore owner Paris Minton calls on his friend, Fearless Jones, when he gets entangled in a case of stolen Swiss bonds. The two try to protect an elderly Jewish couple but get in over their heads. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

by Nancy Atherton

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

Lori travels to a country estate near Scotland to evaluate a book collection for the owners, newlyweds Jared and Nicole. Eerie things begin to happen, involving a handsome stranger and a tragic wartime romance. Lori seeks her ghostly Aunt Dimity's help in banishing an evil presence from the past. 2000.

by Louis Begley

read by David Elias

2 cassettes

In this sequel to About Schmidt (RC 44886), the retired attorney is still living on Long Island with his much younger, promiscuous girlfriend when his estranged daughter returns home demanding money. Meanwhile, Schmidt's neighbor, a billionaire Egyptian-American, also has financial propositions. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by John Grisham

read by Steven Carpenter

1 cassette

Tax accountant Luther Krank calculates that a Caribbean cruise will cost less than what he and his wife, Nora, spent celebrating the holidays last year. Since daughter Blair is in the Peace Corps, they plan to skip Christmas. Luther, however, doesn't anticipate the town's reaction. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

by Milton Meltzer

read by Susan McInerney

1 cassette

Examines witch-hunts around the world from medieval Europe to the present day. Reveals how innocent people become accused of imaginary crimes because of fear, ignorance, and mass hysteria. Includes the Salem witch trials, Shakespeare's witches, and twentieth-century examples of persecution. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999.

edited by Alan Govenar

read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley

1 cassette

A woman in her nineties recounts experiences from her East Texas childhood in the early twentieth century. She recalls her fear of white people, her grandmother's stories about slavery, and how her family celebrated Juneteenth--the day the slaves in Texas were told about their freedom. For grades 3-6. 2000.

by Dan Gutman

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Describes in detail nine of the best baseball games ever played, including the 1951 "shot heard 'round the world," when the New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers. Also recalls a slide worth $15,000 in 1886, and Harvey Haddix pitching--and losing--the "greatest game in history" in 1959. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1994.

by Elizabeth Berg

read by Graci Ragsdale Miller

1 cassette

Provides a brief overview of the culture and history of the United States, highlighting important events and geographical formations. Includes a summary on foreign relations. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1999.

retold by Victor Montejo

read by Gabriella Cavallero

1 cassette

Mythical and historical tales, known collectively as the Popol Vuh, recount the origins of the Mayan people in Guatemala. In these stories, kind and vengeful gods, jaguars, tropical birds, deer, and monkeys appear. Glossary included. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1999.

by Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling

read by Gillian Green

1 cassette

Presents almost fifty experiments and activities (many requiring adult supervision) that can be done at home. Learn to use orange juice to test for sensitivity to bitter taste; make a square egg; or stack a tower of ice cubes, while discovering the scientific reasons why. For grades 3-6. 1999.

by Ross Allan

read by Kerry Cundiff

1 cassette

Presents a practical training program for the beginner. Covers the six obedience exercises: heel, sit, stand, drop, stay, and recall (come when called). Discusses basic training principles and the best age to train a dog; gives specific exercises. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.

by J.E. Smith

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

A professional snake-keeper uses his experience and knowledge to answer questions about acquiring, housing, feeding, and breeding kingsnakes and milk snakes. He also provides information on cage maintenance and recognizing common diseases. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.

by Kathiann M. Kowalski

read by Mitzi Friedlander

1 cassette

Examines the election process in the United States, including both fair and unfair campaign practices, and the prospects for reform. Uses examples of past races and discusses the roles of political parties and the media. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Patricia McDermott

1 cassette

Presents a history of the study of leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming tissues, which was considered incurable in the 1960s but usually treatable by the 1990s. Discusses symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. Considers social and economic issues, current research, and future outlook. For grades 6-9. 2000.

by Robert Barlas

read by Peter Jay Fernandez

1 cassette

Describes the people, flora and fauna, history, and economy of this African country, which became independent in 1962. Though a small, landlocked nation, Uganda is home to many different ethnic groups. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

by Michael Spilling

read by Lisette Lecat

1 cassette

Explores the geography, history, economy, government, and people of the eastern Mediterranean country of Cyprus. Since ancient times the island nation has been invaded by many other civilizations, and ethnic conflicts between Greek and Turkish inhabitants persist. For grades 5-8. 2000.

by Leta McGaffey

read by Gabriella Cavallero

1 cassette

Describes the geography, people, culture, government, and history of the Central American country of Honduras. Includes information on its festivals, food, arts, and leisure. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Richard Lord

read by Lewis Grenville

1 cassette

Introduces the geography, history, government, and culture of reunified Germany. Includes the country's past and present relationships with the United States. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1999.

by Pete Prisco

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

Highlights the life and career of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell from his childhood in California to his professional football days. Describes his college years and how he learned to be a proficient passer. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Rob Rains

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

Chronicles the life and football career of the running back who played for the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. Describes Faulk's impoverished childhood in New Orleans, his combination of education and athletics that led to success, and his achievements through the 1990s. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Steven Frank

read by John Polk

1 cassette

Chronicles the rise to fame of the Allison-family drivers in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) tour since the 1950s. Describes how Bobby's quest for victory was joined by brother Donnie and sons Davey and Clifford. For grades 5-8. 2000.

by Donna M. Jackson

read by Catherine Byers

1 cassette

Describes how undercover agents at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, verify species, analyze evidence to solve crimes against animals, and help to convict those responsible for such misdeeds. For grades 3-6. 2000.

by J.K. Pomeray

read by Terry Donnelly

1 cassette

Explores the history, culture, geography, and people of the island country of the Republic of Ireland. Describes its centuries of oppression, the revolution of 1916, and the continuing conflict with Great Britain. For grades 6-9. 1999.

by Garry Lyle

read by Yolande Bavan

1 cassette

Describes the history, geography, and politics of this oil-rich southwest Asian country. Discusses the social and cultural life of the people, the rise of the Muslim militants under Ayatollah Khomeini, the 1980s war with Iraq, and tribal peoples such as the Kurds and the Luri. For grades 6-9. 1999.

by Joan Dash

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

A biography of John Harrison, the eighteenth-century British inventor of a seagoing clock for measuring longitude. Explains the importance of this device for marine navigation and Harrison's long struggle to gain recognition for his invention. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

by J.P. Docherty

read by Yolande Bavan

1 cassette

Explores the people, history, culture, land, and economy of this Middle Eastern country, once called Mesopotamia, which is considered the "cradle of civilization." Also briefly discusses its modern wars with neighbors Iran and Kuwait. For grades 6-9. 1999.

by Peta Bee

read by Michael Russotto

1 cassette

Describes the causes, nature, symptoms, and treatment of asthma. Explains how exercise, pets, and poor air quality trigger the illness and how to help people with asthma during an emergency. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2000.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Michael Russotto

1 cassette

Describes the symptoms and treatment of Lyme disease, as well as ways to protect against it. Explains how the bacteria that is spread by tick bites causes the illness and how Lyme disease cannot be transferred by touching an infected person or animal. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2000.

by Diane Lindsey Reeves

read by Erik Synnestvedt

1 cassette

Discusses math-related occupations and how to prepare for them. Includes profiles of a banker, auto mechanic, economist, urban planner, and machinist. Lists web sites and organizations for further information. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

by Mary Cerullo

read by Michael Russotto

1 cassette

Looks at how scientists solve various problems in marine ecology, including the destruction of coral reefs and the decline of penguin and salmon populations. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Jack Myers

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

Discusses the scientific detective work that must be done to answer questions on animal behavior. Explores how cats purr, how seals can dive so deep, why pandas are hooked on bamboo, why alligator eggshells are covered with tiny cavities, and what happened to the woolly mammoth. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Bernard Evslin and others

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Brief stories introduce the pantheon of Greek gods: Zeus, Hera, Athene, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Artemis, Apollo, Hermes, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite. Also includes seven nature myths about Prometheus, Pandora, Phaethon, and Orpheus, as well as Narcissus and Echo, Eros and Psyche, and Arion. For grades 5-8. 1966.

by Chris Hayhurst

read by John Polk

1 cassette

Describes the sports of mountain-bike racing, navigating steep terrain at a fast pace, and of free-riding, "hitting the trails in search of fun." Highlights the development of equipment, selecting a bike, safety, and riding techniques. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Tom Lalicki

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette

Life of the celebrated magician and escape artist. Born in Budapest in 1874, Houdini came to America in 1878. After his debut in a backyard circus, age nine, he developed ever more complicated tricks, entertaining the world with escapes from handcuffs, packing cases, and straitjackets. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

by Bruce Brooks

read by Susan McInerney

1 cassette

Eleven-year-old Alice is hospitalized for bronchitis following a failed stint living with her father and grandmother. But when it is time to go home to her alcoholic mother and strict stepfather, Alice realizes she can stay in the hospital with her new friend Rex--if she stops eating. For grades 5-8. 1999.

retold by Jacqueline Morley

read by Susan McInerney

1 cassette

Eleven retellings of ancient Egyptians' myths about their gods and goddesses. The first tale, "Ra the Shining One," describes the creation of the sun and the formation of the Earth and sky. For grades 4-7. 1999.

retold by Alvin Schwartz

read by Susan McInerney

1 cassette (Reissue)

Seven very short, scary stories to tell at night in front of a fire or in the dark. Based on traditional narratives and folktales from various countries. For grades K-3. 1984.

by Rachel Isadora

read by Chuck Young

1 cassette

Ben enjoys listening to the music from his neighborhood jazz club and plays along on his imaginary trumpet. One day the club's trumpeter notices Ben and sees his dream. For grades K-3. 1979.

by Alan Schroeder

read by Chuck Young

1 cassette

Based on an incident in Louis Armstrong's childhood, this tale relates the story of how the legendary jazzman saved the five dollars he needed to buy his first cornet. For grades K-3. 1996.

by Keiko Kasza

read by Chuck Young

1 cassette

Wolf loves to eat more than anything else. One day he sees a chicken who would make a great stew, if she were bigger. But when he tries to fatten her up, he gets a big surprise. For preschool-grade 2. Kentucky Bluegrass Award. 1987.

by Mary Jane Auch

read by Marilyn Gleason

1 cassette

1817. In this sequel to Frozen Summer (RC 49325) Mem, thirteen, has been taking care of her younger siblings since her mother's death. Mem's father finally begins the move back home to Connecticut, but stops to work on the Erie Canal and all but abandons the children. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Lemony Snicket

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

The woeful saga of the Baudelaire orphans, last encountered in The Austere Academy (RC 50911), continues as evil Count Olaf discovers their whereabouts at Esmé Squalor's seventy-one-bedroom penthouse and concocts a new plan to steal their family fortune. For grades 4-7. Bestseller 2001.

by Robert Quackenbush

read by Suzanne Toren

1 cassette

Miss Mallard, the world-famous ducktective, solves two cases in different parts of the world. While surfing in Hawaii, she hits a valuable carved stone that helps settle a dispute over land. In Paris, France, the granddaughter of an old friend performing at the Canard-Rouge is ducknapped as Miss Mallard watches. For grades 2-4. 1986.

by Carolyn Keene

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette (Reissue)

Nancy Drew becomes involved in the mystery of a haunted inn and learns to her dismay that someone is impersonating her. For grades 3-6. 1930.

by Lois Ruby

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Parallel stories about Dana, a modern teenager, investigating a mystery involving the old Kansas house that her parents run as a bed-and-breakfast, and James, a Quaker youth living in that same house in 1857, trying to help some fugitive slaves to freedom. Sequel to Steal Away Home (RC 41158). For grades 3-6. 2000.

by Claire H. Blatchford

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

In this sequel to Nick's Mission (RC 43812), deaf seventh-grader Nick and his dog, Wags, are in danger from a bully and his gang at a deserted motel. But he is rescued by a mysterious girl who trains sheepdogs. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Norma Klein

read by Erin Jones

1 cassette (Reissue)

As the daughter of an unwed mother, Brett enjoys having her parent all to herself. But then the "Wolf Man" appears on the scene--Brett calls him that because he owns an Irish wolfhound. Worse yet, they want to get married. For grades 6-9. 1972.

by Candice F. Ransom

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Kobie, the class artist, is eager to draw a mural for a sixth-grade class contest until the teacher asks John, the new boy, to help her. Kobie plays a mean trick on John that makes her realize how selfish she's been. Followed by Thirteen (RC 33501). For grades 5-8. 1988.

by Jean Van Leeuwen

read by Catherine Byers

1 cassette

Albert, the new student in Oliver's school, is taller than his pig classmates and he can read. But at recess, Oliver and his friends realize that Albert can't play kickball and that he likes bugs. Soon the whole class is studying the critters. For grades K-3. 2000.

by Walter Farley

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes (Reissue)

When Henry Dailey buys Black Minx, the first filly by Black Stallion, he has no inkling that she will be the greatest challenge of his career as a trainer. For grades 4-7. 1952.

by Leon Garfield

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

London, 1700s. Just before a man is murdered, twelve-year-old pickpocket Smith steals documents from him. Then Smith hides from the killers in the house of a kindly blind magistrate and decides to learn how to read so that he can decipher the stolen papers. For grades 6-9. 1967.

by Geraldine McCaughrean

read by David Cutler

2 cassettes

Phelim Green, who considers himself an ordinary eleven-year-old boy, undertakes a journey to the Stoor Worm's lair to destroy the long-forgotten Worm and its Hatchlings. He is aided on his desperate mission by Maiden, Fool, and the strange black Horse. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Jill Paton Walsh

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

Three motherless children and their father are among the last refugees to escape from the dying planet Earth. After four years, the group settles on a distant planet. Even as they begin a new life, they know they cannot survive on the glassy vegetation. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1982.

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

read by Mitzi Friedlander

1 cassette

In 1862, during the Civil War, eleven-year-old Summer and her thirteen-year-old brother, Rosco, take turns describing their lives as slaves on a Virginia plantation. Summer dreams of learning to read, but Rosco's yearning for freedom is more intense. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Nancy Etchemendy

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

After the worst day in middle-schooler Gib Finney's life, when his little sister, Roxy, is hit by a truck while he watches from a carnival ride, Gib remembers the "unner"--a device that can "undo" past events--given to him by a strange man. Only it's lost in the woods. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Lois Lenski

read by Catherine Byers

1 cassette (Reissue)

Simple rhymes describe many sources of winter fun, including snowmen, sleds, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. For preschool-grade 2. 1950.

by Tim Winton

read by Erik Sandvold

1 cassette

Thirteen-year-old Australian Lockie loves surfing and misses Vicki, his former girlfriend. He meets Egg, a heavy-metal fan who is as lonely as Lockie is. The unlikely duo work together to stop the dumping of industrial sludge into the harbor. Some strong language. For grades 5-8. 1993.

by Jean Craighead George

read by Gregory Gorton

1 cassette

The whole town of Saddleboro loves Cock Robin and his mate, who made their nest in Mayor Joe's old Stetson hat. Cock Robin dies suddenly, so Tony and Alice examine pollutants in the air, soil, and water to find out what killed him. For grades 5-8. 1971.

por Elaine Alberro

leído por varios narradores

2 cassettes

Elena García va a celebrar la fiesta de cumplir quince años, pero su acompañate está enfermo. El padre de ella arregla una substitución, y Antonio del Valle llega a ser la pareja de Elena durante la fiesta. Los dos jóvenes se enamoran. Sin embargo, Elena pertenece a la aristocracia cubana, y sus padres insisten que termine el romance con Antonio, que es el hijo ilegítimo de una limpiadora. Ocho años más tarde, Elena y Antonio se encuentran otra vez. Y se dan cuenta que nada ha cambiado entre ellos. Contiene descripciones de índole sexual y lenguaje injurioso. Edición bilingüe en español e inglés. [When Elena Garcia's escort for her quinceañera becomes ill, her father's cleaning lady's illegitimate son Antonio fills in. They fall in love, but Elena's parents (descendants of Cuban aristocracy) object to the match. Eight years later, however, perspectives change. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bilingual edition in English and Spanish.] 1999.

por Tim LaHaye y Jerry B. Jenkins

leído por Juan Ramírez

3 cassettes

Pasaron dos años desde el primer Éxtasis mundial. Ha estallado la tercer guerra mundial, y el joven pastor Bruno Barnes, del Comando Tribulación, queda muerto. Amanda--ahora la esposa de Raimundo--así como el rabino Zión Ben-Judá y los otros miembros que integran el Comando Tribulación luchan por la unificación del mundo en Cristo, mientras la devastación se extiende por todo la tierra. Sigue a El Comando Tribulación (RC 50983). [Nearly two years after the Rapture, World War III erupts and Pastor Bruce Barnes is dead. The remaining members of the Tribulation Force--now including Rayford's wife, Amanda, and Tsion Ben-Judah--struggle to bring people to Christ as devastation spreads around the globe. Sequel to El Comando Tribulación (RC 50983).] 1999.

por Tim LaHaye y Jerry B. Jenkins

leído por Juan Ramírez

3 cassettes

Los miembros del Comando Tribulación--Raimundo, Camilo, y Zión--sobreviven el terremoto mundial, aunque Zión queda atrapado bajo los escombros de la iglesia de Raimundo. Raimundo y Camilo buscan frenéticamente a sus esposas, y más tarde Raimundo investiga las denunicas contra Amanda cuando le cargan de ser cómplice de Nicolás. Mientras tanto, Nicolás sufre un revés cuando millares de personas se unen a Cristo. Sigue a Nicolás (RC 50986). [Although Tsion is buried alive, he and other Tribulation Force members Rayford and Buck survive the worldwide earthquake. Rayford looks for his wife, Amanda, but must investigate charges that she is working with Nicolae. Nicolae suffers a setback as thousands turn to Christ. Sequel to Nicolás (RC 50986).] 1999.

por Tim LaHaye y Jerry B. Jenkins

leído por Juan Ramírez

3 cassettes

En Jerusalén reunen 144,000 testigos en un estadio para oir las palabras de Zión Ben-Judá. Pero Nicolás Carpatia, el anticristo, también se presenta esperando atraer a cristianos a su lado. La Tribulación continua, y los fieles tienen que pasar más juicios horribles. Sigue a Cosecha de Almas (RC 50987). [In Jerusalem, 144,000 witnesses gather in a stadium to hear the words of Tsion Ben-Judah. But Nicolae Carpathia, the Antichrist, also speaks in hopes of diverting Christians to his beliefs. The Tribulation continues as the faithful endure several more judgments. Sequel to Cosecha de Almas (RC 50987).] 1999.

por J.K. Rowling

leído por María Pino

2 cassettes

Al cumplir once años Harry Potter se entera de que es más que un huérfano indesable. El Colegio Hogwarts de Magia y Hechicería le alista porque tiene habilidades innatas de magia. Anticipando su nueva vida en el colegio, Harry se prepara comprando túnicas negras, una varita de magia, un sombrero puntiagudo y una lechuza mensajera. Para grados 4 a 7. (On Harry Potter's eleventh birthday, he learns that he is more than an unwanted orphan. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry recruits him because he has inherent magical abilities. As he purchases his school supplies--robes, wand, and messenger owl--Harry looks forward to attending his new boarding school. For grades 4-7.) 1999.

por J.K. Rowling

leído por María Pino

2 cassettes

A pesar de una amenaza mortal que se cierne sobre el Colegio Hogwarts, Harry se dirige al colegio para iniciar el segundo año de estudios mágicos. Así pues, Harry encuentra peligros de la Cámara Secreta que alguién abrió. También Harry vuelve a enfrentarse con la mismísima reencarnación de su más temible adversario. Sigue a Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal (RC 50988). Para grados 4 a 7. [Despite a warning not to return to Hogwarts for his second year of wizardry studies, Harry shows up. But Harry is in danger from the opened Chamber of Secrets as well as from his would-be protector. Sequel to Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal (RC 50988). For grades 4-7.] 1999.

por J.K. Rowling

leído por María Pino

3 cassettes

Harry aguarda con impaciencia el inicio del tercer año en Hogwarts con sus amigos Ron y Hermione. Pero todavía encuentra amenazas. El siniestro villano Sirius Black, cómplice de Voldemort, se ha escapado del prisión de Azkaban y está dispuesto a eliminar a Harry del mapa. Sigue a Harry Potter y la Cámara Secreta (RC 50989). Para grados 4 a 7. [Harry is relieved to be back at Hogwarts for his third year with his friends Ron and Hermione even though he isn't completely safe. The escaped convict Sirius Black, a staunch supporter of Voldemort, is after Harry. Sequel to Harry Potter y la Cámara Secreta (RC 50989). For grades 4-7.] 2000.