NLS/BPH: Talking Book Topics, January and February 2006

The following information is reprinted from two issues of NLS Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals.

Flash, October 2005, volume 1, issue 11

Found: Digital talking-book distribution solution

Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? It is when it comes to digital talking-book distribution. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, ended the first phase of its distribution-system study last month by selecting an option that combines mass duplication and on-demand duplication of titles. The NLS Digital Long-Term Planning Group (DLTPG) supported this solution.

"Our top priority was finding an efficient distribution process that suits flash technology and is functional for NLS, network libraries, and patrons," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director.

"After careful consideration of various options, it's clear that a mixed option is the most sensible solution. It should meet the needs of the entire network."

The study, conducted by ManTech Advanced Systems International, recommends that digital talking books be mass produced for the first two to three years. When duplication technology is able to support on-demand production, a hybrid system--combining mass duplication and on-demand duplication--will be introduced.

When the new system is fully implemented, high-circulation titles will be mass duplicated and shipped to libraries for local storage and loan. Less popular titles will be produced on demand and distributed from duplication centers. High-circulation titles will be weeded as their popularity wanes and will migrate to on-demand production to reduce storage build-up and make way for new titles.

According to Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director, the benefits of a hybrid solution far outnumbered those of other systems. "The shift of some distribution to duplication centers focuses staff resources on reader advisory services. It also reduces the number of cartridges required. These factors translate into cost savings for both NLS and regional libraries," says Moodie. "The only drawback of the hybrid is that it's more complex from an operational standpoint."

A winning combination

Choosing between the mass-duplication and hybrid options was a rigorous process. Each system's impact on NLS, network librarians, and patrons was closely considered. Extensive circulation data collected from nine libraries--all varying in size, location, and information system used--ensured that many factors affecting distribution were assessed. Each system was evaluated for such factors as cost efficiency, operational complexity, storage utilization, and quality of service.

ManTech presented its findings to the DLTPG--comprising patrons, state and network librarians, and NLS staff--to gauge whether the process would work well for all parties involved. Group members assessed the evaluation factors used to select the hybrid model and found them to be adequate. The committee also considered the grouping of titles for mass or on-demand duplication.

"The group ultimately accepted the final recommendations," said Jerry Ducrest, ManTech subcontractor. "They were receptive to the hybrid system as long as it is implemented correctly."

The new system will affect librarians minimally at first, as they continue to handle all distribution. Once the hybrid system is implemented, an estimated 20 percent of circulation would move from network library to on-demand-center responsibility. Impact also depends on how easily a library's existing circulation system interfaces with the new model. Patrons will continue to order books through their libraries without any noticeable impact.

Bridge to the future

The move to the hybrid model will be smooth, systematic, and gradual. An extensive transition plan will bridge NLS to the future process. The research-driven plan will be developed alongside system design during the second phase of the distribution study. The plan will address operational issues such as distributing players, balancing quantities of cassettes and digital talking books, and the designing of automated systems. The plan is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2006.

Eager to move forward, the DTLPG discussed key transition issues and goals in its recent meeting. Considerable attention was given to how digital talking-book players would be distributed during the first few years. The group discussed this issue at length and NLS will develop guidelines based on its input.

The DLTPG will continue to advise on the transition process in the coming year. "The Digital Long-Term Planning GroupÆs input is very helpful in developing a transition plan that will be functional for the entire network,ö noted Moodie. "NLS will issue recommendations based on the committeeÆs feedback."

Hybrid highlights

When the digital talking-books program rolls out in 2008, it will be via a mass duplication system. NLS will then introduce a hybrid model two to three years later, combining mass and on-demand duplication. Here is how it will work once implemented:

Mass duplication: High-circulation titles--which account for about 20 percent of the total collection and nearly 80 percent of total circulation--will be mass produced and distributed to libraries for storage and circulation to patrons.

Duplication-on-demand: Low-circulation titles--comprising the balance of the collection yet only 20 percent of circulation--will be duplicated on demand at distribution centers. Patrons will continue to place orders for books through their local library.

Flash, November 2005, volume 1, issue 12

An update on digital talking-book features

Expectations are high for the proposed digital talking-book system soon to be introduced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. Librarians and patrons alike have shared their wish lists with NLS, and now the challenging task of implementing a system that balances expectations with the actualities of design and function is under way.

"NLS is making every effort to provide a program that works for all," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "In order to create this system, we must carefully weigh each desired feature against the basic needs of librarians and patrons, taking into account other factors such as cost and complexity as well."

The NLS Digital Long-Term Planning Group (DLTPG)--made up of patrons, librarians, and engineers--has considered a range of expectations and assumptions. One of the highest patron expectations is that the digital player will be smaller and lighter than the current analog cassette machine. The new machine won't be small enough to fit in a pocket or an average-sized purse, but NLS patrons will find the compact, lightweight machine a pleasant change from the current playback equipment.

"Most patrons are realistic," observes DLTPG member Kim Charlson, librarian at the Braille and Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind. "They wish for a player thatÆ\'s small and lightweight, but they also understand it must be large enough to incorporate conveniently spaced control buttons, a speaker, and other accessible features that make it easy to use. Patrons will also find the cartridge easier to insert and remove from the player than a cassette and librarians will have a sturdy, robust medium that will play even after years of use. Users correctly assume that the digital talking-book cartridge will have enough surface area for braille and large-print labels."

Balancing act

In many ways, digital talking books will be preferable to cassette books, provid-ing high-quality sound and navigation options. Most titles will fit on a single cartridge, and cartridges can play through to the end without being turned over like cassettes. The player will also mark a readerÆs place and start up in that spot when played again, even when readers switch from one book to another and back again. But there are some caveats. While 95 percent of books will fit on one cartridge, extremely large ones such as War and Peace will require multiple cartridges.

Librarians and patrons anticipate correctly that the human aspect of service will not change. "Patrons want someone they may call to connect them with what they need," says Charlson. "Librarians are excited about the new technology and wish to continue to provide a human touch in their service delivery." Librarians will be provided training to field calls, help patrons download books, and solve technical issues as they arise.

Patrons will see the first digital talking books and players in 2008. According to Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director, "Approximately 10 to 15 percent of patrons will receive players in the first year and NLS will provide guidelines for distribution. We need to manufacture a small number of machines initially and continue to test them. Once we are sure that everything is fine, we can accelerate production. In the meantime, the cassette system will still be supported and available."

Twenty thousand digital titles will be available in 2008. Some will be on flash cartridges and all will be available for Internet download. For those who wish to have access to the collection before 2008, a significant number of the books will be available for download a year earlier. But the first digital talking books will not be on library shelves until near the time the machines are ready. This group will be only a small portion of the twenty thousand titles. After the hybrid distribution system that combines mass and on-demand production is phased in--two to three years after the initial launch--all digital talking-book titles will be available on flash-memory cartridges, some from libraries, and others from the on-demand centers.

Photo Caption: NLS's Digital Long-Term Planning Group—comprising patrons, librarians, and engineers—advises the digital transition process, particularly the development of digital talking books and players.

Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones

Completed

Start 1/12/04 - Finish 10/1/08

The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses.

To view the Strategic Business Plan on the Web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2003.html

Collection Development Advisory Group seeks advice

The members of the Collection Development Advisory Group wish to thank fellow patrons and librarians for their input concerning the NLS program. Ideas and suggestions from readers are key components in the success of the program and are thoroughly discussed in the committee's deliberations.

Please continue to assist us by contacting committee members or your cooperating braille or talking-book library with your suggestions. The group will meet again at NLS on May 16 - 19, 2006.

American Council of the Blind

Blinded Veterans Association

National Federation of the Blind

Readers-at-large representatives:

Midlands Region

--includes: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

Northern Region

--includes: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Southern Region

--includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Virgin Islands.

Western Region

--includes: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Librarians:

Midlands

Northern

Southern

Western

Children's and Young Adult Librarian:

Magazine of the Month selections for 2006

Two NLS programs offer readers samples of magazines not otherwise available through network libraries. Subscribers to Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the Month receive a different magazine on audiocassette each month. For a free subscription to either program, contact your cooperating talking-book library. Subscribers may expect to receive some of the following:

Magazine of the Month

Alternates:

Cat Fancy, Cosmopolitan en Español, Field and Stream, GQ, Home Business, Jane, Oprah, Popular Science, Prevention, Quick and Easy Crochet, Realms of Fantasy, Sea Classics

Young Adult Magazine of the Month

Alternates:

BMX Plus, Grappling, J-14, Self, Slap, Teen Beat, Teen Newsweek, Teen Times, Teen Voices, Twist, Vibe, YM

Books for Adults

Cassettes Nonfiction

How to Live 365 Days a Year RC 56223
by John A. Schindler
read by Peter Lavezzoli
2 cassettes
Physician's guide to coping with emotionally induced or psychosomatic illness. Schindler demonstrates through case histories how mental stress from work or family can lead to physical symptoms. He also discusses twelve important principles for enriching one's life. 2002.

The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College RC 56911
by Jacques Steinberg
read by John Lescault
3 cassettes
New York Times reporter examines the policies and procedures of a Wesleyan admissions officer in recruiting and selecting students and follows up on some top applicants to the highly selective Connecticut university. Provides insights into how colleges decide who gains access to their campuses. For senior high and older readers. 2002.

Journal of the Dead: A Story of Friendship and Murder in the New Mexico Desert RC 56932
by Jason Kersten
read by Eric Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Journalist details the 1999 road trip that ended in murder when, after wandering lost for days in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, twenty-five-year-old Raffi Kodikian stabbed his friend David Coughlin, allegedly to end his pain from dehydration. Kersten reconstructs their ordeal (which they recorded in a journal), the investigation, and the state's unprecedented trial. Some strong language. 2003.

Red Zone: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the San Francisco Dog Mauling RC 56934
by Aphrodite Jones
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Bestselling crime writer reconstructs the fatal mauling of lacrosse coach Diane Whipple in January 2001 and the trials of attorneys Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, the dogs'caretakers. Jones exposes the couple's unusual background that included association with an illegal dog ring linked to prison gangs and the Mexican Mafia. Strong language. 2003.

Lee in the Shadow of Washington RC 57699
by Richard B. McCaslin
read by Michael Kramer
2 cassettes
Explores the strong influence of George Washington (1732-1799) on Confederate army commander Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) and how this affected Lee's military plans. Discusses the multiple connections between the two Virginia families and Lee's continued emulation of his hero after the Civil War. 2001.

Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time RC 57779
by Paul Rogat Loeb
read by Lindsay Ellison
3 cassettes
Social activist celebrates the power of community involvement in working to promote economic, political, and environmental causes. Loeb profiles individuals in both the United States and abroad whose public participation--"the very soul of democratic citizenship"--has helped make the world a better place. 1999.

Quirky Kids: Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn't Fit In; When to Worry and When Not to Worry RC 57786
by Perri Klass and Eileen Costello
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Pediatricians' guide to coping with developmental and behavioral problems associated with autistic spectrum disorders, Asperger's syndrome, nonverbal learning disability, sensory integration dysfunction, pragmatic language disorder, and more. Addresses diagnosis, treatment, medication, and schooling as well as family and social challenges from childhood through adolescence. 2003.

The Wrong Man: The Final Verdict on the Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case RC 57788
by James Neff
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
4 cassettes
Investigative reporter assembles extensive evidence exonerating Cleveland physician Sam Sheppard of murdering his pregnant wife, Marilyn, on July 4, 1954. Describes botched police and forensic investigations, Sheppard's retrials and eventual acquittal in 1966, and his son's anti-death-penalty activism. Identifies the probable actual killer and reconstructs a possible murder scenario. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

The Jerusalem Bible: Reader's Edition RC 57847
edited by Alexander Jones
read by Lou Harpenau
21 cassettes in 4 containers (Reissue)
Modern, readable version of the Bible created during the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and intended mainly for Catholics. Translated from original ancient texts by biblical scholars utilizing mid-twentieth-century archaeological discoveries. Contains the Old and New Testaments, the Apocrypha, and brief introductions on each book's historical setting. 1966.

Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me! The Solution to Sibling Bickering RC 57857
by Anthony E. Wolf
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Clinical child psychologist outlines steps to reduce the problem of fighting among children in the family, using anecdotes from his practice and experience. Offers additional parenting suggestions, explains the nature of sibling relationships, and gives suggestions for moral growth. Some strong language. 2003.

West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder; San Francisco, 1915 RC 57993
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette (Reissue)
Letters from Little House author Laura Ingalls Wilder to her husband, Almanzo, during a San Francisco visit to her daughter. Laura writes about the excitements of her cross-country train ride, her first sight of the Pacific Ocean, and the 1915 World's Fair. For junior and senior high readers. 1974.

'Tis Herself: A Memoir RC 58099
by Maureen O'Hara
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Illustrious actress reminisces about her six-decade career during Hollywood's "golden age." O'Hara describes her radio and stage child-stardom in Ireland, arrival in California at eighteen, interactions with famous actors and directors, marriages, and retirement in the Virgin Islands. Some strong language. 2004.

I'd Hate Myself in the Morning: A Memoir RC 58210
by Ring Lardner
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
Two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter and original member of the Hollywood Ten chronicles his resistance to McCarthyism. Lardner spent nine months in prison in 1947 for refusing to divulge his Communist Party affiliation. He also describes being blacklisted and reflects on the cultural cost of the red scare. 2000.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation RC 58442
by Lynne Truss
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Despairing over the abysmal state of British usage, author/journalist Truss, a stickler for punctuation, dissects common language errors involving apostrophes, commas, dashes, and hyphens. She notes punctuation is not a class issue but a tool to clarify the written word. Bestseller. 2003.

Flesh and Machines: How Robots Will Change Us RC 58498
by Rodney A. Brooks
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
Robot-builder and director of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory offers his perspective on the evolution and repercussions of robotic technology. Brooks predicts "a moral battleground" in the new millennium as humans "question, reject, and accept these innovations" that have redefined the relationship between man and machine. 2002.

Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light RC 58501
by Patrick McGilligan
read by Steve Douglas-Craig
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Biography of English-born film director who dominated the first fifty years of cinema. Refuting an earlier portrayal of Hitchcock (1899-1980) as a "manipulative egoist and monster," McGilligan paints him as a neurotic but mostly decent man and a consummate professional. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

Practical Philosophy RC 58599
by Immanuel Kant
read by Ted Stoddard
6 cassettes
Contains the complete writings on moral and political philosophy by the seminal modern German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, originally published between 1783 and 1798. Treatises include "Groundworks of 'The Metaphysics of Morals,'" "Critique of Practical Reason," "Toward Perpetual Peace," and "The Metaphysics of Morals." With 1996 introductions. 1798.

A Treatise of Human Nature RC 58606
by David Hume
read by Michael Scherer
8 cassettes in 2 containers
Contains the complete texts and author's abstract of this eighteenth-century Scottish philosopher's major work, considered a turning point in Western philosophy. Includes a substantive introduction by the editor as well as explanatory matter by David Fate Norton, professor emeritus of McGill University. 1740.

The Greatest Horse Stories Ever Told RC 58734
edited by Steven D. Price
read by Todd Scofield
3 cassettes
Diverse collection of short stories, essays, and articles explores the bond between horse and rider. Topics include hunting, racing, ranch work, the real "horse whisperer," and writings by Pulitzer Prize-winner Red Smith. Each of the thirty selections is prefaced by an introduction from the editor. 2001.

The Prince of Providence: The True Story of Buddy Cianci, America's Most Notorious Mayor, Some Wiseguys, and the Feds RC 58738
by Mike Stanton
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist's chronicle of Rhode Island's first Italian American mayor of Providence, Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci Jr. Traces the political intrigues and illegal deals that for six terms kept Cianci in power revitalizing the gritty industrial city until his racketeering conviction and imprisonment in 2002. Strong language. 2003.

Our Own Devices: The Past and Future of Body Technology RC 58750
by Edward Tenner
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Author of Why Things Bite Back (RC 44720) discusses ways everyday objects affect the use of our bodies--how we sit, stand, walk, and communicate. Examines baby bottles, footwear, chairs, musical instruments, typewriter keyboards, eyeglasses, and helmets. Suggests that technological advances enhancing human comfort and capabilities may also lead to increased dependence. 2003.

When Difficult Relatives Happen to Good People: Surviving Your Family and Keeping Your Sanity RC 58752
by Leonard Felder
read by Eric Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Advice by a psychologist on coping with difficult relatives. Drawing on his practice for examples of effective techniques, covers holidays, religion, money, addictions, abuse, bigotry, and other topics that trigger negativity. 2003.

Saving the Lost Tribe: The Rescue and Redemption of the Ethiopian Jews RC 58753
by Asher Naim
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
A personal account of Israel's May 1991 "Operation Solomon," a twenty-five-hour mission during which fourteen thousand Jews were airlifted from embattled Ethiopia to Jerusalem. Naim, an Israeli diplomat and former ambassador who played a central role in the rescue, also provides insight into Ethiopian culture. 2003.

Iraq: An Illustrated History and Guide RC 58756
by Gilles Munier
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Concise, comprehensive overview of the history of Iraq from the days of Sumer (4500-2340 BCE) to the 2003 Gulf War. Makes a geographic tour of the country, centering in Baghdad and highlighting monuments, landmarks, and ancient archaeological sites. 2000.

Gray Fox: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War RC 58760
by Burke Davis
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Civil War portrait of Confederate general Robert E. Lee from his letters, eyewitness accounts, and recorded conversations. Depicts Lee as a man and a soldier during the eventful, tragic years from his 1861 acceptance of command in Virginia to his 1865 surrender at Appomattox. 1956.

Tim Page on Music: Views and Reviews RC 58761
by Tim Page
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Collection of sixty-five commentaries published since 1992, mostly in the Washington Post, by Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic Tim Page. Features interviews with various artists, including Plácido Domingo, Mario Lanza, Arthur Rubinstein, and Frank Sinatra. Also contains critiques of Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio, Andrew Lloyd Webber's compositions, and performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and others. 2002.

In the Presence of Mine Enemies: War in the Heart of America, 1859-1863 RC 58770
by Edward L. Ayers
read by John Polk
4 cassettes
University of Virginia history professor constructs a social narrative of the American Civil War as experienced by the residents of Augusta County, Virginia, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Using letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and other records, Ayers illustrates the shared Shenandoah Valley lifestyle of two societies divided by the conflict. 2003.

Sweets RC 58771
by Tim Richardson
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
British journalist explores the history of candy, from the ancient world to the present. In-depth investigations enriched by anecdotes cover the physiology of sweetness, candy's global diversity, odd characters in the confectionery industry, and myths and folklore of sweets. 2002.

The Secret Service of the Confederate States in Europe; or, How the Confederate Cruisers Were Equipped RC 58772
by James D. Bulloch
read by Butch Hoover
6 cassettes
Memoir of a secret envoy sent to Europe in 1861 by Confederate president Jefferson Davis to acquire ships and arms for the fledgling southern navy. The author, a relative of Theodore Roosevelt, describes his covert diplomatic missions throughout the four years of the Civil War. 1884.

A Nation under Our Feet: Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration RC 58775
by Steven Hahn
read by Mitzi Friedlander
5 cassettes
History professor chronicles the development of African American political culture during the last half of the nineteenth century. Extensive survey traces kinship, labor, and communication networking trends through slavery, emancipation, Radical Reconstruction, and the Great Migration north, discussing how grassroots movements transformed the South and the nation. Pulitzer Prize. 2003.

Uncas: First of the Mohegans RC 58776
by Michael Leroy Oberg
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
A portrait of Uncas, the seventeenth-century Mohegan sachem romanticized by James Fenimore Cooper in The Last of the Mohicans (RC 19920). Based on extant sources, the chronicle examines the Native American leader's importance to colonial New England, notably his skillful interaction with European settlers that benefited his people. 2003.

Mercator: The Man Who Mapped the Planet RC 58784
by Nicholas Crane
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
Biography of Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator (1512-1594), who revolutionized mapmaking with depictions of Earth that were unsurpassed in accuracy, clarity, and consistency. Chronicles his life during a time of violent social and religious conflict and details his work, including his method of "projection" to represent the spherical planet in two dimensional renderings. 2002.

Voice of America: A History RC 58786
by Alan L. Heil
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes
Thirty-six-year veteran of the Voice of America chronicles six decades in the history of the publicly funded global broadcasting organization founded in 1942. Heil blends perspectives of engineers, journalists, and loyal listeners on the institution's reporting of monumental events that shaped the world. 2003.

The Chinese in America: A Narrative History RC 58788
by Iris Chang
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Author of The Rape of Nanking (RC 45548) explores 150 years in the history of Chinese Americans. Chang traces three waves of immigration--the first during the 1849-era California gold rush--and explains each group's differing motivations, reception in America, and accomplishments. Also includes experiences of individuals and their personal struggles for success. 2003.

The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason RC 58791
by Charles Freeman
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
Author of Egypt, Greece, and Rome (RC 46107) analyzes the Greek intellectual tradition's destruction in the fourth and fifth centuries by forces within the authoritarian late Roman Empire. Contends that Constantine's conversion and enforcement of Christian orthodoxy were pivotal in suppressing rational thought in Western culture until the Renaissance. 2002.

Old Gods Almost Dead: The Forty-Year Odyssey of the Rolling Stones RC 58794
by Stephen Davis
read by Barry Bernson
4 cassettes
In-depth biography of the legendary English band that refused to fade into rock history. Davis chronicles the evolution of their music, which began in 1962 as straightforward rhythm and blues but grew and changed to reflect the passing decades. Details band members' sex lives, drug use, and legal troubles. Strong language. 2001.

The Lunar Men: Five Friends Whose Curiosity Changed the World RC 58797
by Jenny Uglow
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
Biographical study of a group of diverse late-eighteenth-century men who met in Birmingham, England, to discuss natural philosophy and perform scientific experiments. Their individual discoveries and inventions helped shape the modern world. Covers Erasmus Darwin, James Watt, Matthew Boulton, Josiah Wedgewood, and Joseph Priestly, among others. 2002.

The Empty Ocean: Plundering the World's Marine Life RC 58798
by Richard Ellis
read by Madelyn Buzzard
4 cassettes
In this well-researched report, the author of Aquagenesis (RC 54352) addresses the systematic destruction of the world's fisheries and marine populations. Ellis identifies species of whales, seals, sea turtles, fish, coral, and others that have been hunted and collected to near extinction--and considers what needs to be done to save them. 2003.

Washington: The Indispensable Man RC 58802
by James Thomas Flexner
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Biography of George Washington (1732-1799), America's first president and the "most conspicuous and influential man in the United States" during his later life. Investigates the man behind the myths from his early military leadership during the French and Indian War to his retirement days at Mount Vernon. 1969.

With Bold Knife and Fork RC 58803
by M.F.K. Fisher
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes (Reissue)
A presentation of the author's culinary triumphs along with commentary on good eating and enjoyable preparation of dishes. Includes over one hundred forty recipes. Chapters cover appetizers, soups, fish, rice, eggs, main dishes, sauces, casseroles, salads, breads, desserts, drinks, and condiments. 1969.

Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia RC 58828
by Carmen Bin Ladin
read by Shohreh Aghdashloo
2 cassettes
The former sister-in-law of terrorist Osama bin Laden describes her marriage to his older half-brother, Yeslam, and her life in Saudi Arabia. Swiss Persian Carmen, raised in Europe with Western values, relates her difficulties in adjusting to an intolerant Islamic household. Bestseller. 2004.

His Brother's Keeper: A Story from the Edge of Medicine RC 58894
by Jonathan Weiner
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Beak of the Finch (RC 42578) reconstructs the crisis of a family in Newtonville, Massachusetts, when twenty-nine-year-old Stephen was diagnosed in 1999 with the nerve-death disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--Lou Gehrig's disease. Chronicles older brother Jamie's full-time search for a cure through genetic research. Some strong language. 2004.

American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans RC 58899
by Eve LaPlante
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Journalist details the life of the Massachusetts wife, mother, midwife, theologian, and social reformer who was expelled from the state in 1637 for heresy. Describes Hutchinson's resettlement in the Rhode Island colony, which she cofounded, and her legacy as founding mother of religious tolerance, gender equality, and free speech. 2004.

Wings: A History of Aviation from Kites to the Space Age RC 58901
by Tom D. Crouch
read by Richard Hauenstein
5 cassettes
Account by senior aeronautics curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and author of The Bishop's Boys (RC 30316) tracing air flight evolution from balloons and gliders to jetliners and stealth bombers. Highlights memorable engineers, scientists, industrialists, and aviators who pioneered and furthered the air age. 2003.

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery; the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 RC 58902
by Nathaniel Philbrick
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Bestselling author of In the Heart of the Sea (RC 50271) recreates the adventures of the U.S. expedition commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes that set sail in 1838 to explore the southern hemisphere. Examines the mission's scientific and historical contributions and considers why the unprecedented naval operation has largely been forgotten. 2003.

Cosmetic Breast Surgery: A Complete Guide to Making the Right Decision, from A to Double D RC 58903
by Robert M. Freund
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Leading plastic surgeon addresses emotional and physical factors to consider before undergoing breast surgery. Describes basic procedures (enlargements, reductions, lifts, and reconstruction) and associated risks and benefits. Also discusses the silicone implant controversy, finding the right doctor, scarring, fixing bad surgeries, and post-surgery breast-feeding. Includes case studies. 2004.

What Good Are Bugs? Insects in the Web of Life RC 58908
by Gilbert Waldbauer
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Entomologist examines the integral role of insects in the ecosystem's complex community of life. Waldbauer illuminates the functions of specific species in pollinating plants, controlling plant spread, serving as food for other creatures, decomposing dead organisms and organic waste, and performing other ecologically essential tasks. 2003.

In Search of King Solomon's Mines RC 58909
by Tahir Shah
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Native of Afghanistan recounts his quest to find the legendary source of King Solomon's gold, which he believes is located in the biblical land of Ophir. A treasure map purchased in Jerusalem and other clues from antiquity point Shah to Ethiopia, where he begins his adventure. 2002.

LT: Over the Edge; Tackling Quarterbacks, Drugs, and a World beyond Football RC 58911
by Lawrence Taylor
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Former New York Giants defensive linebacker follows his first autobiography, LT: Living on the Edge (RC 30418), with a second memoir of his football career, marriages, addictions, and rehab. Incorporates numerous anecdotes by family, friends, and colleagues. Also includes career statistics. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2003.

Dead Run: The Shocking Story of Dennis Stockton and Life on Death Row in America RC 58915
by Joe Jackson and William F. Burke
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
Journalists chronicle Stockton's twelve years in Virginia's Mecklenburg penitentiary until his 1995 execution. Drawing from interviews and Stockton's diary, recounts his claims of innocence and fight for retrial. Details collusion of guards and prisoners in illicit drug activity and the 1984 escape of six death-row inmates. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1999.

A Jacques Barzun Reader: Selections from His Works RC 58916
by Jacques Barzun
read by Fred Major
5 cassettes
A selection of essays on history, science, literary classics and criticism, language, opera, education, American and French culture, and crime stories obtained from the works of the prolific author of From Dawn to Decadence (RC 50517). 2002.

Ultimate Punishment: A Lawyer's Reflections on Dealing with the Death Penalty RC 58927
by Scott Turow
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Criminal lawyer and writer dispassionately examines capital punishment issues. Drawing on his experiences prosecuting cases, representing death-row inmates, and serving on an Illinois commission appointed to recommend capital system reforms, Turow relates his evolution from death penalty ambivalence to opposition to avoid the possibility of "occasionally condemning the innocent or undeserving." 2003.

The Wild Boy of Aveyron RC 58928
by Harlan Lane
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Documents Dr. Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard's method of educating and socializing "Victor," a boy found in the late eighteenth century living wild in the French countryside and appearing to be deaf. Examines Dr. Itard's techniques, which helped shape modern tutelage of mentally and physically disabled, hearing impaired, and preschool children. 1976.

Universities in the Marketplace: The Commercialization of Higher Education RC 58929
by Derek Bok
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Former Harvard University president raises concerns over the increasing trend of colleges and universities to profit financially from athletics, research, and other ventures. Bok discusses the growth of commercial activity, the dangers it poses for the educational system, and ways academic leaders can limit the risk to their institutions. 2003.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place RC 58934
by Aron Ralston
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Spring 2003. Author's account of becoming trapped while hiking in the Utah wilderness. The twenty-eight-year-old recalls the five days he spent alone in a canyon pinned in place by a boulder. Describes his desperate decision to amputate his own arm, rappel down, and seek help. Strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out against John Kerry RC 58936
by John E. O'Neill and Jerome R. Corsi
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Veterans who oppose John Kerry's 2004 presidential candidacy critique the senator's account of his brief tour of duty in Vietnam and his subsequent behavior in the antiwar movement. They fault his lack of character and judgment and claim fearful consequences if Kerry becomes commander-in-chief. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty RC 58938
by Kitty Kelley
read by Margaret Strom
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Critical Bush family portrait by bestselling unauthorized biographer of many celebrities. Kelley claims that her nearly one thousand interviews with Bush friends, former employees, classmates, business associates, and relatives unearthed personal, financial, and political secrets. Bestseller. 2004.

The Burma Road: The Epic Story of the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II RC 58998
by Donovan Webster
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Award-winning author of Aftermath: The Remnants of War (RC 47190) relates experiences of WWII Allied forces who maintained the Burma Road, their supply route and operations base that ran across Burma from India to China. Profiles U.S. general "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell and other prominent defenders of the road. 2003.

Seven Long Times RC 59000
by Piri Thomas
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Continuation of the autobiography begun in Down These Mean Streets (RC 52585). Details author's seven years in prison after a 1950 armed robbery and assault conviction. Graphic account of the U.S. penal system argues for humane treatment of inmates. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1974.

The First National Bank of Dad: The Best Way to Teach Kids about Money RC 59001
by David Owen
read by Eric Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Staff writer for the New Yorker presents a novel plan for exposing children to the practical benefits of saving money. Describes setting up a fictitious home bank with high-interest checking accounts to reward kids for not spending their allowances and earnings and to teach them principles of economy, fiscal responsibility, and charitable giving. 2003.

Treachery: How America's Friends and Foes Are Secretly Arming Our Enemies RC 59002
by Bill Gertz
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Award-winning reporter exposes ways rogue states can buy weapons to use against American troops. Documents how Russia, China, and France became three main arms suppliers to Iraq as well as to North Korea, Iran, and Syria. Discusses the oil-for-food scandal, United Nations' failures, and nuclear threats. 2004.

Scurvy: How a Surgeon, a Mariner, and a Gentleman Solved the Greatest Medical Mystery of the Age of Sail RC 59013
by Stephen R. Bown
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Chronicles the search for a cause and a cure for the disease that hindered maritime exploration and claimed over two million sailors' lives since the 1400s. Describes how three eighteenth-century figures--James Lind, Captain James Cook, and Sir Gilbert Blane--worked independently to understand and eliminate the affliction caused by vitamin C deficiency. 2003.

Gentleman Revolutionary: Gouverneur Morris, the Rake Who Wrote the Constitution RC 59014
by Richard Brookhiser
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Biography of Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816) of New York, one of America's founding fathers. Traces the good-natured aristocrat's role before, during, and after the Revolution. Describes his service as minister to France, peer relationships, and marriage to a scandalous Virginian, as well as many personal misfortunes--including one that cost him his left leg. 2003.

Caviar: The Strange History and Uncertain Future of the World's Most Coveted Delicacy RC 59025
by Inga Saffron
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In-depth history of the sturgeon's roe, from humble beginnings as Russian peasant cuisine to iconic delicacy for wealthy Europeans. Discusses industry efforts to mass-produce the eggs and explores biological issues associated with over-harvesting and poaching of the docile mother sturgeon. 2002.

All Fishermen Are Liars: True Tales from the Dry Dock Bar RC 59032
by Linda Greenlaw
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Portland, Maine. Bestselling author and boat captain recounts sea stories told by her elderly best friend, Alden Leeman, and fellow fishermen over a long lunch at a bar. Among their tales the author intersperses bits of fishing lore and assorted lists titled "bar snacks." Strong language. 2004.

The World War II Memorial: A Grateful Nation Remembers RC 59034
edited by Douglas Brinkley
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Companion volume to the PBS documentary about the memorial chronicles its design and construction. Includes summaries of WWII land, sea, and air campaigns and discusses war production, women's roles and the home front, and accounts of veterans including senators Dole and Inouye, Audie Murphy, and Warren Spahn. 2004.

Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country RC 59035
by Louise Erdrich
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Native American author of the award-winning Love Medicine (RC 22061) describes her visit to the Ontario and Minnesota islands of her ancestors, accompanied by her infant daughter and the baby's father, an Ojibwe spiritual leader. Erdrich "reads" the stories in centuries-old rock paintings and reflects on history, heritage, and the meaning of books. 2003.

A Farther Shore: Ireland's Long Road to Peace RC 59038
by Gerry Adams
read by Steven Crossley
4 cassettes
President of Sinn Féin, the Irish republican party founded in 1905 to oppose British rule, offers a personal chronicle of Ireland's peace process. Adams's frank account illuminates his role in conflicts and negotiations involving the IRA, England, and world leaders before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. 2003.

Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens RC 59041
by Jane Dunn
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Historical portrayal of the dynamic relationship between Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots, both sixteenth-century claimants to the English throne. Discusses the vast differences in their lives, personalities, and handling of palace scandals. Also describes their struggles for supremacy, culminating in Mary's execution at Elizabeth's direction. 2003.

The Upanishads RC 59044
translated by Eknath Easwaran
read by Yolande Bavan
2 cassettes
Translation of India's centuries-old teachings on the meaning of life by a Sanskrit scholar who has followed this mystical philosophy himself. Includes introductions to, and notes on, each Upanishad and an afterword by Michael N. Nagler, a professor of comparative literature. 1987.

Secrets of the Sands: The Revelations of Egypt's Everlasting Oasis RC 59056
by Harry Thurston
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Award-winning science writer recounts the discovery yield from archaeologists' thirty-year excavation of Egypt's Dakhleh Oasis. Thurston, who joined the dig in 1987, cites remains from nearly half a million years of habitation including Egyptian and Roman cultures, as well as evidence of human relationships with a changing environment. 2003.

Osama: The Making of a Terrorist RC 59059
by Jonathan Randal
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Former Washington Post foreign correspondent describes Osama bin Laden's personality, family dynamics, and violent background in Afghanistan, Algeria, and Sudan. Posits American foreign policy failures. Draws on interviews with academics, diplomats, businessmen, and others. Strong language. 2004.

Forgotten Readers: Recovering the Lost History of African American Literary Societies RC 59066
by Elizabeth McHenry
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
English professor traces the rise and development of African American literacy organizations between 1830 and 1940, from the antislavery movement's height to the Harlem Renaissance. Examines the cultural role of the black press, women's contributions, and efforts to promote reading and writing that fostered activism and influenced black communities. 2002.

American Indians in U.S. History RC 59068
by Roger L. Nichols
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Concise survey of U.S. Native Americans for students and general readers. The author, a professor, focuses on three stages of Indian history since 1500: life before European intrusion, the reservation experience, and contemporary society. Narrative highlights central issues and incorporates tribal customs, ideas, movements, and individuals. Includes suggested readings. 2003.

His Excellency: George Washington RC 59070
by Joseph J. Ellis
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Author of Founding Brothers (RC 51469) delves into the life and times of America's first president. Uses personal papers and historical accounts to recreate the man who was a French and Indian War soldier, plantation owner, businessman, and savvy politician who forged a new nation. Bestseller. 2004.

Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey RC 59072
by Brooke Ellison and Jean Ellison
read by Mary Beth Wise
2 cassettes
Dual account of Jean Ellison and her daughter Brooke, who at age eleven was struck by a car and left paralyzed from the neck down. They recall the accident, Brooke's battle to stay enrolled in school, her graduation from Harvard, and the nature of their extraordinary bond. 2001.

The Last Frontier RC 59082
edited by Jill Shepherd
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Fifty-eight of Alaska magazine's most compelling tales of survival, exploration, and adventure published between 1935 and 2002. Articles about diverse topics from wildlife management issues to heroic sled dogs depict the fantastic landscape and its inhabitants as well as record the ever-changing face of America's largest state. 2002.

Sex with Kings: Five Hundred Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge RC 59085
by Eleanor Herman
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
Author explores the role of royal mistresses in European courts from medieval times through the twentieth century, citing famous romances, among them Madame de Pompadour and Louis XV and Camilla Parker-Bowles and Prince Charles. Explores the king-queen-mistress triangle, detailing the courtesan's various duties. Descriptions of sex. 2004.

Dress Codes: Of Three Girlhoods--My Mother's, My Father's, and Mine RC 59104
by Noelle Howey
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Chronicles the author's nontraditional family life as it evolved following her teenage discovery that her father was a transsexual. Describes coming to terms with his coming out and, in reconstructing her family history, addresses identity and gender. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2002.

Light This Candle: The Life and Times of Alan Shepard, America's First Spaceman RC 59129
by Neal Thompson
read by Dan Bloom
4 cassettes
Journalist describes how NASA chose Mercury Seven's Alan Shepard (1923-1998) as the first American in space. Drawing on exclusive access to private papers and interviews, Thompson portrays Shepard as impatient, driven, womanizing, and competitive. Details his life and career before, during, and after the space program. Strong language. 2004.

What Children Need When They Grieve: The Four Essentials; Routine, Love, Honesty, and Security RC 59134
by Julia Wilcox Rathkey
read by Liz Solar
1 cassette
Widowed mother of three, whose husband died in the September 11, 2001, attacks, draws on her family's bereavement to advise caregivers on how to help children cope with loss. Explores children's reactions to death and suggests ways to offer them comfort and support. Foreword by former first lady Barbara Bush. 2004.

Do You Really Need Back Surgery? A Surgeon's Guide to Neck and Back Pain and How to Choose Your Treatment RC 59147
by Aaron G. Filler
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Leading authority on spine and nerve surgery discusses various types of back problems and chronic, acute, and recurring pains, as well as possible solutions. Spinal health topics include bones, disks, joints, spurs, stenosis, osteoporosis, and spina bifida. Treatment areas cover noninvasive procedures, injections, surgery, and recovery. 2004.

Why Marriage? The History Shaping Today's Debate over Gay Equality RC 59167
by George Chauncey
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Historian and author of Gay New York (RC 40701) examines the roots of the national debate on gay rights and explores the history of antigay discrimination. Documents shifting American attitudes, from acceptance to opposition, and discusses the call for a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. 2004.

Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror RC 59171
read by Dan Willems
3 cassettes
An unnamed senior U.S. intelligence official criticizes post-September 11, 2001, policies for failure to properly counter threats posed by Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and radical Islamic groups. Contends the United States and allies are fighting "worldwide Islamic insurgency" rooted in political, military, and economic, not ideological, grievances. Bestseller. 2004.

Ric Flair: To Be the Man RC 59173
by Ric Flair
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
Autobiography of one of wrestling's long-lived superstars, winner of sixteen world championships. Ric "Nature Boy" Flair describes his adoption and childhood, family life, and most memorable matches. Includes interviews with fellow athletes. Introduction by "Triple H." Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.

American Soldier RC 59174
by Tommy Franks
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes
Retired army general and former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command recollects his childhood and decorated thirty-eight-year military career including service in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Provides an inside look at the war on terror. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, a Team, and My Comeback Season RC 59176
by Ken Baker
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Former high-school and college hockey star relates putting aside his dream of a professional sports career but then later, at age 31--after brain surgery and rehabilitation--playing again as the oldest rookie in pro history. Reveals details of teammates, coaches, fans, and one fast-paced hockey season. Strong language. 2003.

The Empty Room: Surviving the Loss of a Brother or Sister at Any Age RC 59177
by Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Science and health writer's recollection of her brother's death and its impact on her life. Blending research and personal interviews, the author details the loss, grief, guilt, and rage associated with a sibling's death. 2004.

A Woman Scorned RC 59187
by Lisa Pulitzer
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
In 1997, police investigate a murder on a Virginia horse farm and discover that the daughter of wealthy international firearms dealer Samuel Cummings shot her lover. Claiming that Roberto Villegas, an Argentinean polo player, tried to kill her, the heiress pleads self-defense. Some strong language. 1999.

Mountains beyond Mountains RC 59188
by Tracy Kidder
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Cultural biography of Paul Farmer, physician, Harvard professor, anthropologist, and infectious disease specialist with a mission to improve medical conditions in remote locations. Recounts his founding of Partners in Health, recognition for creating a public health system in disease-ridden settlements of Haiti, and travels among unserved peoples in Latin America and Russia. 2003.

The Church That Forgot Christ RC 59189
by Jimmy Breslin
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Breslin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, chastises the Roman Catholic Church for its sex-scandal cover-ups, greed, position on abortion, and exclusion of women from the clergy. While affirming his faith, the popular columnist uses wit, humor, and anecdotes to advocate for female priests, married ministers, and a revival of Christianity. 2004.

Jim Wilson's Container Gardening RC 59191
by Jim Wilson
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Former PBS Victory Garden host advises people who want to explore gardening in pots, troughs, and other vessels. Provides information on containers, soil mixtures, and plants, herbs, and vegetables appropriate for various locations and situations. Includes a condensed encyclopedia of plants adapted to container gardening. 2000.

Cereal for Dinner: Strategies, Shortcuts, and Sanity for Moms Battling Illness RC 59198
by Kristine Breese
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Author recounts her serious illness and discusses with others the changes that occur in home life when mothers become sick. Describes how a disability affects the whole family. Provides tips and tools for talking with children and asking for help. Includes resources. 2004.

Hollywood, Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon; the Case against Celebrity RC 59199
by Andrew Breitbart and Mark Ebner
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
The authors, motivated by a mutual disgust of popular culture, delve into the "cult of celebrity" to expose misbehavior, corrupted family values, sexual perversity, and extremist politics in the entertainment industry. Reveals gossip about such high-profile personalities as Tom Cruise, Whitney Houston, Hugh Hefner, and others. Strong language. 2004.

Given Up for Dead: America's Heroic Stand at Wake Island RC 59200
by Bill Sloan
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
Freelance journalist chronicles the battle for the remote U.S. Pacific outpost of Wake Island in December 1941 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Drawing on interviews with survivors, Sloan reconstructs the efforts of both military and civilian personnel who initially repulsed the invading Japanese but ultimately surrendered. Violence. 2003.

A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W. Bush RC 59201
by Ronald Kessler
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Award-winning ex-reporter and author of The Bureau (RC 55193) presents an inside look at President Bush's management style, decision-making process, and personal qualities, which are often criticized by his opponents and the media. Includes comments of senior officials, Secret Service agents, former presidential aides, and career White House employees. 2004.

The Little Red Writing Book: Twenty Powerful Principles of Structure, Style, and Readability RC 59202
by Brandon Royal
read by John Richardson
1 cassette
Concise guide to organization, style, and presentation for students and business persons. Author posits that anyone can develop outstanding writing skills by mastering the basics. Includes thirty commonly encountered rules of grammar and diction as well as examples and exercises to help create effective documents for any occasion. 2004.

The Best American Science Writing, 2004 RC 59207
edited by Dava Sobel
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Bestselling science writer selects twenty-two essays and one poem as the year's outstanding articles in a broad range of scientific fields. Includes "Columbia's Last Flight," in which author William Langewiesche recounts the space shuttle tragedy and NASA's decision-making failures. 2004.

Resilience: Learning from People with Disabilities and the Turning Points in Their Lives RC 59208
edited by Gillian A. King and Elizabeth G. Brown
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Researchers disclose results of a study on disabled people's adaptation to change at turning points in their lives, focusing on individuals with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and attention deficit disorder. Interviews explore factors that helped or hindered fifteen adults' adjustment. Includes information about their diseases. 2003.

A Prison Diary RC 59209
by Jeffrey Archer
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Former British Parliament member and bestselling author chronicles a twenty-two day stay in London's Belmarsh Prison in 2001. Convicted of perjury and sentenced to four years in jail, Archer records his daily observations and experiences as a celebrity inmate among murderers and drug smugglers with whom he forges relationships. Strong language. 2002.

The Zanzibar Chest: A Story of Life, Love, and Death in Foreign Lands RC 59210
by Aidan Hartley
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Journalist covering Africa during the 1990s describes the wars and atrocities in Somalia, Rwanda, and elsewhere. Interweaves his British colonial background, his finding the diary of his father's shadowy friend Peter Davey in a carved chest, and his Arabian trek to unlock secrets of Davey's life. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.

Get Organized with Heloise RC 59215
by Heloise
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Good Housekeeping magazine columnist offers solutions for putting home and family in order. Using her "five minutes or five things" daily plan, time- and budget-saving tips, and letters from readers, Heloise explains how to get rid of household clutter, organize kids and pets, and reduce travel-related chaos. 2004.

Knit One, Felt Too: Discover the Magic of Knitted Felt with Twenty-five Easy Patterns RC 59216
by Kathleen Taylor
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Craft magazine writer offers easy-to-follow instructions for knitted projects that are then machine washed and shrunk down to a tight, fuzzy felt. Techniques use wool yarn, simple stitches, and large needles and are designed for all skill levels. Includes patterns for bags, hats, mittens, bunny slippers, pillows, and more. 2003.

Think like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin RC 59219
by Gary Scheiner
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Diabetes educator, diagnosed with the disease in 1986, offers advice on managing blood sugar levels by designing an insulin program to fit an individual's lifestyle. Discusses the pros and cons of various delivery devices like syringes and pumps, the impact of emotions, illness, and aging, and more. 2004.

What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America RC 59291
by Thomas Frank
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Social observer and native Kansan analyzes political trends in middle America, explaining that Kansans are influenced by candidates' support of traditional values more than their public-policy platforms. Frank provides a sociopolitical history of the state and critiques leaders of the national Republican party. Bestseller. 2004.

Complete Writings: Phillis Wheatley RC 59298
by Phillis Wheatley
read by Gabra Zackman
2 cassettes
Definitive edition of famed eighteenth-century African American writer Phillis Wheatley's complete poems and letters. Works of some less well-known contemporary poets--Lucy Terry, Jupiter Hammon, and Francis Williams--are included in appendixes. Critical introduction by editor Vincent Carretta. 2001.

Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams RC 59307
by Linda Dahl
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Biography of African American jazz pianist/composer Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981), a child prodigy who played with Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Thelonious Monk. Recounts her rough childhood, marriages and love affairs, as well as her influence on ragtime and bop. Some strong language. 1999.

The King and I: The Uncensored Tale of Luciano Pavarotti's Rise to Fame by His Manager, Friend, and Sometime Adversary RC 59318
by Herbert Breslin and Anne Midgette
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Luciano Pavarotti's manager/publicist candidly recounts his thirty-six-year relationship with the opera singer. Breslin describes the tenor as evolving from a "simple, lovely guy" to a "determined, aggressive, and somewhat unhappy superstar." Details his career, quirks, superstitions, and love life. 2004.

Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life RC 59328
by Clay Aiken
read by Alec Volz
1 cassette
American Idol 2003 runner-up details what success means to him. He describes his childhood and the impact his mother and granny had on his upbringing. Also discusses the absence of his father, the role of religion in his life, and his new responsibilities as a pop singer. Bestseller. 2004.

Sharing Good Times RC 59329
by Jimmy Carter
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Former president Carter writes about his "more challenging, relaxing, and enjoyable experiences." He discusses personal hobbies, excursions to exotic places, volunteer work, fishing, family vacations, and ordinary moments. Along the way he relates his struggle to learn "the true sharing of equals" with his wife and children. Bestseller. 2004.

How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): The World according to Ann Coulter RC 59332
by Ann Coulter
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Syndicated columnist presents her writings about American liberalism. Her commentary covers the war on terrorism, the 2004 presidential election, the state of the Democratic party, Max Cleland, Bill Clinton, and freedom of speech, among other topics. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

A Paper Life RC 59333
by Tatum O'Neal
read by Megan Burnett
2 cassettes
Autobiography of the actress and former child star who in 1974, at age ten, became the youngest Oscar winner ever. Describes her childhood of abuse and neglect, disastrous marriage to tennis star John McEnroe, and drug addiction and subsequent recovery. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.

Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 RC 59335
by Stephen Puleo
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Chronicle of the Boston waterfront's molasses tank collapse that flooded the city's North End with a sticky twenty-five-foot-high tidal wave that killed twenty-one people. Explores the tragedy from the tank's 1915 construction to a civil lawsuit decided in 1925, and touches larger issues of immigration, WWI, Prohibition, and labor. 2003.

The Abs Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life RC 59337
by David Zinczenko
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Men's Health editor-in-chief offers a nutrition program to improve health, appearance, and athletic performance by targeting dangerous belly fat. Claims adherents can lose up to twenty pounds of fat and gain four to six pounds of muscle in six weeks. Includes meal suggestions, abdominal exercises, and success stories. Bestseller. 2004.

Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls RC 59341
by Nigel Dunnett and Noël Kingsbury
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Techniques for incorporating plants with roofs and exterior walls for aesthetic and environmental benefits such as reducing pollution and run-off, insulating against heat and cold, and decreasing a building's maintenance needs. Construction issues include weight-bearing concerns, materials, soil depths, draining layers, site preparation, and plant choice. 2004.

Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past RC 59342
by Paul Cartledge
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
British scholar, author of The Spartans (RC 58416), searches for the historical Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE), blending classical accounts with the findings of modern researchers. Chronicles the major battles and conquests, appraises Alexander's personal and political beliefs, and assesses problems of historical interpretation. 2004.

A Foxfire Christmas RC 59352
edited by Eliot Wigginton
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Appalachian high school students of the Foxfire learning tradition assemble holiday memories from the mountains of northeast Georgia. Based on interviews with neighbors and family members. Includes instructions for re-creating simple ornaments, gifts and toys, and recipes and menus. 1996 preface. 1989.

Visions of Courage: The Bobby Smith Story RC 59364
by Bobby E. Smith
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Account of former Louisiana state trooper who was shot and blinded during a routine 1986 traffic stop. By describing his experience and intense physical and mental recovery, Smith hopes to help other police officers stay safe in similar situations and to cope with the aftershock of trauma. 1998.

America the Vulnerable: How Our Government Is Failing to Protect Us from Terrorism RC 59367
by Stephen Flynn
read by Dan Willems
2 cassettes
After examining domestic security planning in response to terrorist threats, Flynn finds shortcomings for which he proposes a homefront mobilization. He recommends strengthening emergency preparedness teams, tracking international criminals, and tightening security in trade and transportation. Flynn also supports specific improvements in public health services, public utilities, and border control. 2004.

Kiss Me, Kill Me: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files, Volume 9 RC 59525
by Ann Rule
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Ten cases from the 1960s and 1970s, eventually solved by modern forensics or tracking technology, that suggest most victims know and trust their killers. In the title piece, DNA testing identifies a young, pregnant wife's murderer thirty-six years later. Sequel to Last Dance, Last Chance: And Other True Cases (RC 55730). Violence. Bestseller. 2004.

A Rip in Heaven: A Memoir of Murder and Its Aftermath RC 59605
by Jeanine Cummins
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Author recounts a deadly April 1991 family vacation during which four men assaulted her cousins, Julie and Robin, and her nineteen-year-old brother, Tom, on a Mississippi River bridge. Describes how sole survivor Tom was the prime suspect until police identified the real killers. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

Gift from the Sea RC 59660
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
read by Claudette Colbert
1 cassette (Reissue)
Reflections on possessions, love and marriage, and solitude and contentment written by Anne Morrow Lindbergh when she was a young mother on a quiet vacation by the sea. Fiftieth anniversary edition with a 2005 introduction by Anne's daughter Reeve Lindbergh. 1955.

True North: Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole RC 59671
by Bruce Henderson
read by Bruce Henderson
2 cassettes
Addresses the question of who actually reached the North Pole first--American explorer Frederick Cook in 1908 or Robert Peary in 1909? Recounts how the two men became enemies during one expedition together in 1891 and the controversies that arose from this conflict. Chronicles each Arctic expedition to resolve the mystery. 2005.

Wilt, 1962: The Night of One Hundred Points and the Dawn of a New Era RC 59673
by Gary M. Pomerantz
read by Stephen Hoye
2 cassettes
Chronicles the March 2, 1962, night in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when Wilt Chamberlain scored one hundred points in a game against the New York Knickerbockers. The author emphasizes the importance of the untelevised event in propelling the National Basketball Association, then a mostly white league, to its eventual prominence. Some strong language. 2005.

The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life's Dreams RC 59675
by Tim Sanders
read by Stephen Hoye
2 cassettes
Guide to relationships stresses four factors that determine how much other people like you: friendliness, relevance (mutual interests), empathy, and "realness" (being genuine). Asserts that improving your likeability factor will bring success to all areas of your life. 2005.

Supernanny: How to Get the Best from Your Children RC 59705
by Jo Frost
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Host of the ABC television program Supernanny offers commonsense advice for dealing with the ordinary challenges and problems of raising young children. Topics include routines, boundaries, toilet training, social skills, bedtime, and the "naughty" corner. Bestseller. 2005.

Cassettes Fiction

Arrowsmith; Elmer Gantry; Dodsworth RC 56668
by Sinclair Lewis
read by Constance Crawford
10 cassettes in 2 containers
Three early-twentieth-century American classics by Nobel Prize-winning author. In Arrowsmith, an idealistic young doctor is disillusioned by greedy and self-serving colleagues. Elmer Gantry takes aim against the hypocrisy of a tent-show evangelist. In Dodsworth, a retired auto maker's dull marriage comes unglued during a European tour. 2002.

Remember When RC 56898
by Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb
read by Mary Beth Wise
3 cassettes
Laine Tavish discovers that a man killed outside her Maryland shop helped her father steal millions in diamonds. Max Gannon, investigating the theft, falls in love with Laine. Fifty years later, NYC police detective Eve Dallas assists their endangered granddaughter who unknowingly has the stones. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

The Known World RC 56918
by Edward P. Jones
read by Chuck Young
3 cassettes
Manchester County, Virginia; 1855. At his death Henry Townsend, a thirty-one-year-old former slave who maintains a relationship with his owner William Robbins, owns more than thirty slaves himself and fifty acres of land. But now his plantation begins to fall apart as slaves betray one another. Bestseller. 2003.

On the Night Plain RC 57072
by J. Robert Lennon
read by Michael Kramer
2 cassettes
Grant Person abandoned the family ranch after WWII. But when his mother died three years later, he returned home to rebuild his life. Family loyalty and brotherly love are tested when his only remaining brother brings home a new mistress. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

The Green Hour RC 57426
by Frederic Tuten
read by Celeste Lawson
2 cassettes
Art historian Dominique cannot forget her first love, a self-absorbed yet irresistible poet and social activist. After earning her doctorate, teaching in Paris, and surviving cancer, she must choose between passion and dependability when a wealthy man vies for her affections. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

The Rehearsal RC 57686
by Sarah Willis
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
1971. Director Will Bartlett assembles a cast to rehearse Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men at his family's summer farmhouse. Sixteen-year-old Beth, her hormones raging, longs for a part; eight-year-old Mac is overlooked; and Will's wife Myra's adulterous indiscretions with an actor test everyone's relationships. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

True Devotion: Uncommon Heroes, Book 1 RC 57753
by Dee Henderson
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Lifeguard Kelly Jacobs fears she will die trying to rescue surfer Ryan Raines, but prays Navy SEAL Lieutenant Joe Baker will find them. Kelly, whose husband died during a SEAL operation, has fallen in love with Joe. But their love must wait--the man responsible for her husband's death is nearby. Prequel to True Valor (RC 57765). 2000.

In the Forest of Harm: A Mary Crow Mystery RC 57754
by Sallie Bissell
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
After another successful murder conviction, Atlanta assistant district attorney Mary Crow returns to North Carolina to go camping with two girlfriends. The vacation becomes a fight for survival when they are stalked by a madman and another seeking revenge. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

The Touch RC 57769
by Colleen McCullough
read by Terry Donnelly
4 cassettes
Australia, 1872. Wealthy Alexander Kinross, having built his empire, sends for his young Scottish cousin, Elizabeth, to marry--despite his mistress Ruby's love. As the women bear children and the families grow, Ruby and her son remain involved in Alex's life and business. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

True Honor: Uncommon Heroes, Book 3 RC 57785
by Dee Henderson
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Darcy St. James has been retired from the CIA for two years. After September 11, she is recalled to help track down a man who knew about events planned for that day. With a bounty on her head, Darcy relies on God and Navy SEAL Sam Houston to protect her. Sequel to True Valor (RC 57765). 2002.

Bluebottle: A Lew Griffin Novel RC 58288
by James Sallis
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
New Orleans, 1960s. African American private detective Lew Griffin is shot while leaving a downtown bar with a white woman he just met. Lew had been on his way to meet Eddie Bone--who later turned up dead. Lew recovers and looks for answers. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1999.

Jake, Reinvented RC 58444
by Gordon Korman
read by Eric Synnestvedt
1 cassette
The Great Gatsby retold with high school students as main characters, i.e., Jake and Didi for Jay and Daisy. Mysterious former geek Jake Garrett hosts wild parties and joins the football team in hopes of winning Didi away from Todd the quarterback. For senior high readers. 2003.

The Eternal Footman RC 58745
by James Morrow
read by Mary Beth Wise
3 cassettes
When God's skull moves into orbit above Times Square, the Western world faces an epic crisis. Amidst the chaos, two people fight to preserve life and sanity--single mother Nora Burkhart and sculptor Gerard Korty. Sequel to Blameless in Abaddon (RC 43681). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

Signal and Noise RC 58765
by John Griesemer
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Chester Ludlow, an American engineer involved in laying the first trans-Atlantic cable in the 1850s and 1860s, achieves fame for his technical abilities and fund-raising successes. Meanwhile, as Chester takes up with a beautiful musician, his fragile wife left behind in Maine embraces spiritualism hoping to contact their dead daughter. Some violence. 2003.

The Master of Rain RC 58787
by Tom Bradby
read by Brian Conn
3 cassettes
Shanghai, 1926. British detective Richard Field joins the international police force in China. His first case involves the murder of a White Russian tea dancer. He discovers political unrest, local gangsters, bribery, and corruption--while falling in love with the victim's neighbor, Natasha. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2002.

The Kill Clause RC 58792
by Gregg Hurwitz
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Ex-deputy U.S. marshall Timothy Rackley joins a vigilante group after his young daughter's brutal murder and her killer's acquittal on a technicality. Members of the "Commission" have all suffered similar losses and now hunt criminals who've escaped punishment. Rackley's enthusiasm soon fades. Violence and strong language. 2003.

Perdido Street Station RC 58795
by China Miéville
read by Erin Jones
5 cassettes
In New Crobuzon, rogue scientist Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin's research project goes amok, inciting terror in the polluted city. Meanwhile Isaac and Lin--his cross-species, insect-like lover--endanger themselves by meddling with unsavory characters. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Arthur C. Clarke Award. 2000.

The Master Butchers Singing Club RC 58796
by Louise Erdrich
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
After World War I, Fidelis Waldvogel marries his dead friend's pregnant fiancée, Eva, and emigrates to North Dakota, taking along his master-butcher knives. Fidelis forms a singing group and settles into family life until his wife's premature death. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

The Adventures of Augie March: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition RC 58799
by Saul Bellow
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes (Reissue)
Nobel Prize-winner Saul Bellow's picaresque novel of Augie March, born to poor Russian Jewish immigrants and growing up in Depression-era Chicago. Recounts his escapades in the world of wealth, war, and sophisticated women. 2001 introduction by Christopher Hitchens. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 1949.

Little Scarlet RC 58827
by Walter Mosley
read by Michael Boatman
2 cassettes
During the Watts riots the police recruit Easy Rawlins to track down a serial killer who preys on young women. Aided by his friend Mouse and L.A. detective Melvin Suggs, Easy plunges into the city's anarchy and rage to prevent another murder. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

Coming Home RC 58877
by Shirlee Busbee
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Return to Oak Valley (RC 57526), ex-model Roxanne Ballinger resettles in her California hometown after a fashionable life in New York City. Encountering her lifelong nemesis, deputy sheriff Jeb Delaney, Roxanne finds their previous hostility overtaken by a strong attraction neither can deny. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell RC 58885
by Susanna Clarke
read by Roy Avers
6 cassettes
In the early 1800s, with England embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars, Norrell reveals his skills as a practicing magician. Novice Jonathan Strange becomes Norrell's pupil and takes up England's cause on the battlefield. As Strange's powers grow, so does his obsession with the ancient, magical Raven King. Bestseller. 2004.

The Ten Word Game RC 58895
by Jonathan Gash
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Hiding from cops and bounty hunters, antiques dealer Lovejoy is selling rarities at a portside import emporium when he is lured aboard a Russia-bound cruise ship. His captors entangle him in a plot to rob the world's largest art museum, the famous Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Some strong language. 2003.

Teen Idol RC 58900
by Meg Cabot
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
When teenage actor Luke goes undercover at a small-town Indiana high school to research a movie role, he's shocked at the cruel behavior he observes. He persuades Jenny, his junior mentor and the school advice columnist, to try to change things for the better. For senior high readers. 2004.

Last to Die: A Jack Swyteck Mystery RC 58904
by James Grippando
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Florida attorney Jack Swyteck represents Tatum, a friend's brother and former hit man, after beautiful Sally Fenning is murdered. Tatum denies involvement but is one of six shady beneficiaries in Sally's will, a multimillion-dollar estate only the last left alive can collect. Strong language and some violence. 2003.

Nowhere to Run RC 58905
by Mary Jane Clark
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Still in recovery from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a leading news network is struck by anthrax hysteria. Employee and first casualty Jerome Henning has completed a manuscript exposing lives of network news executives. It falls on producer Annabelle Murphy to solve the health crisis before more deaths occur. 2003.

Dead Famous: A Kathleen Mallory Mystery RC 58913
by Carol O'Connell
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
A serial killer, egged on by a "shock jock" radio DJ, targets members of a disbanded jury. Meanwhile New York policewoman Kathleen Mallory is alarmed by her injured partner Riker's interest in a suspicious hunchbacked woman who cleans crime scenes for a living. Violence and strong language. 2003.

Drummer in the Dark RC 58917
by T. Davis Bunn
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
Former businessman Wynn Bryant is picked by his brother-in-law, the governor of Florida, to replace Congressman Hutchings, incapacitated by a stroke. Pressured by the governor to kill a Hutchings-supported legislative amendment that would relieve third-world-country debts, Bryant partners with investigator Jackie Havilland to uncover a political conspiracy. Some violence. 2001.

How Not to Spend Your Senior Year RC 58919
by Cameron Dokey
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Jo moves several times a year because her father is in the witness protection program. She finally enjoys being a senior in Seattle, falls in love, and wants to stay. When ordered to leave, Jo disobeys protocol and returns to say goodbye to her boyfriend. For senior high readers. 2004.

Who Am I without Him? Short Stories about Girls and the Boys in Their Lives RC 58922
by Sharon G. Flake
read by Megan Burnett
1 cassette
Ten short stories about African American teens and their sometimes problematic search for love. In "So I Ain't No Good Girl," an unattractive young lady allows her good-looking boyfriend to demean her. In "A Letter to My Daughter," an absentee father sends advice. For senior high readers. 2004.

Midnight Clear: A Callahan Garrity Mystery RC 58923
by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Private investigator Callahan Garrity and her mother, Edna, are surprised one Christmas when Callahan's brother Brian reappears after a ten-year absence. Brian is charged with kidnapping his three-year-old daughter, Maura, and murdering the child's mother. Callahan must prove her brother's innocence. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1998.

The Golem's Eye: The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2 RC 58924
by Jonathan Stroud
read by Erin Jones
3 cassettes
Two years following The Amulet of Samarkand (RC 58011), fourteen-year-old government wizard Nathaniel is ordered to destroy commoner resistance to the magicians' rule. Aided by sarcastic demon Bartimaeus, Nathaniel searches for human leader Kitty, who has obtained some magic of her own. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Thieves' Dozen: A Dortmunder Mystery RC 58925
by Donald E. Westlake
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Eleven short mystery stories involving hapless criminal John Dortmunder. In "Ask a Silly Question," the thief is hired by a wealthy man to steal a counterfeit statue from his ex-wife. In "Too Many Crooks," the gang breaks into a bank that is already being robbed. Some strong language. 2004.

The Plot against America RC 58935
by Philip Roth
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
In this alternative history, a young man--called Philip Roth--recounts his Jewish family's fears and humiliations when aviation hero Charles Lindbergh is victorious in the 1940 presidential election. The New Jersey Roths struggle as America, caught up in anti-Semitic fervor, descends into fascism. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.

Junky: The Definitive Text of Junk RC 58941
by William S. Burroughs
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Fiftieth-anniversary edition of author's semi-autobiographical novel. Beginning in 1945, depicts Burroughs's early years as a drug addict and homosexual and details habits of various postwar urban subcultures in the United States and Mexico. Includes a comprehensive introduction, auxiliary texts, previously omitted chapters, and lost passages. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1953.

Catch as Catch Can: The Collected Stories and Other Writings RC 58944
by Joseph Heller
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Selections by the bestselling author of Catch 22 (RC 48063). Includes commentary, thirteen stories published between 1945 and 1990, five previously unpublished early works of fiction, five nonfiction pieces including four related to Catch 22, and an episode spun from the one-act play Clevinger's Trial. Some strong language. 2003.

Ghost Warrior RC 58945
by Lucia St. Clair Robson
read by Mary Kane
4 cassettes
As the U.S. Army launches its campaign in 1850 against Native Americans, an Apache woman forsakes marriage and becomes a fierce warrior. Through thirty years of bloodshed, Lozen spares only one white man from her wrath because of a bond transcending friendship. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2002.

The Charnel Prince: The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 2 RC 58991
by Greg Keyes
read by Anne Flosnik
4 cassettes
Since the awakening of The Briar King (RC 55733), madness and terror plague the kingdom of Crotheny. King William is dead, and Princess Anne is on the run from assassins. Young knight Neil MeqVren sets out to rescue Anne, while others battle evil. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2004.

Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family RC 58992
by Thomas Mann
read by Annie Wauters
5 cassettes (Reissue)
Generational saga of a merchant family's decline in nineteenth-century northern Germany. Portrays wealthy bourgeois lifestyle and everyday occurrences through cycles of marriage, birth, divorce, and death. German Nobel laureate's first novel, translated by John E. Woods. 1901.

Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand and Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career RC 58995
by Carla Kelly
read by Vanessa Maroney
4 cassettes
Two Regency romances by the author of The Lady's Companion (RC 45373). Widow Roxanna Drew fends off improper advances from a man who could destroy her--while falling for another. Miss Ellen Grimsley gets a lesson in love when she impersonates her brother to study at Oxford. Some descriptions of sex. 1992.

Brilliance of the Moon: Tales of the Otori, Book 3 RC 58999
by Lian Hearn
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Otori Takeo and Shirakawa Kaede's marriage enrages warlord Arai Daiichi and Lord Fujiwara, who considered Kaede his betrothed. When Takeo journeys to reclaim Kaede's ancestral lands and avenge his adopted father, Fujiwara kidnaps Kaede. Sequel to Grass for His Pillow (RC 57935). Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Barracuda 945 RC 59004
by Patrick Robinson
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
U.S. national security advisor Arnold Morgan squares off against Iranian-born Major Ray Kerman, who has defected from the elite British Special Air Service to lead a Middle East terrorist organization. Kerman obtains a Russian nuclear submarine and plots to target America's Alaskan oil reserves. Strong language and some violence. 2003.

A Fistful of Rain RC 59005
by Greg Rucka
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Kicked out of her band for excessive drinking, guitarist "Mim" Bracca returns home and encounters a stalker. Mim's drug-dealing brother informs her that their father, jailed for killing their mother, is out, and nude photos of Mim are circulating on the Internet. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.

Harvard Yard RC 59008
by William Martin
read by Michael Russotto
4 cassettes
Antiquarian book dealer Peter Fallon from Back Bay (RC 58322) searches for a lost Shakespeare play handwritten by the bard himself and originally given to Robert Harvard. Stolen from the Harvard College library in 1639, the manuscript is retrieved by a student and hidden by his family for generations. Strong language and some violence. 2003.

Red Zone RC 59010
by Mike Lupica
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Jack Molloy, inheritor of his father's New York Hawks in Bump and Run (RC 51970), agrees to sell the Super Bowl-winning football team to business mogul Dick Miles. Before long, Jack regrets his decision and plots to get the team back with help from a new ally, Dick's ex-wife. Strong language. 2003.

Elsewhere in the Land of Parrots RC 59012
by Jim Paul
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
When his pet parrot becomes destructive, reclusive poet David Huntington tosses it out a window. Feeling guilty, he searches for the bird, eventually following leads to Ecuador. There he meets Fern, an American researcher studying the same species, and discovers the real reason he left San Francisco. 2003.

Dune: The Battle of Corrin; Legends of Dune, Volume 3 RC 59055
by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
read by J.P. Linton
5 cassettes
Last in the Legends of Dune trilogy and prequel to the House of Dune trilogy. Jihad continues after Serena Butler's death. Omnius unleashes plagues throughout the galaxy. The struggle between man and machine climaxes at the Battle of Corrin. Sequel to Dune: The Machine Crusade (RC 57121). 2004.

Death of a Peer: An Inspector Roderick Alleyn Mystery RC 59060
by Ngaio Marsh
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
New Zealander Roberta Grey moves to England when her parents die. There she is reunited with the eccentric Lamprey family, impoverished aristocrats who live from crisis to crisis financially. When their wealthy uncle, a marquis, is murdered after leaving the Lamprey flat, Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn investigates. 1940.

Lost Boy Lost Girl RC 59061
by Peter Straub
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Novelist Timothy Underhill of The Throat (RC 38073) returns to his hometown when his sister-in-law, Nancy, commits suicide. Then Nancy's fifteen-year-old son vanishes--presumably the victim of a serial killer. Searching for his nephew, Tim uncovers terrible secrets in an abandoned house. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.

Debt of Bones: The Sword of Truth RC 59062
by Terry Goodkind
read by Gabra Zackman
1 cassette
Young peasant woman Abigail petitions the First Wizard to help her besieged homeland. Zedd refuses, for granting her request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. Then he learns they are bound in a debt of bones. Prequel to Wizard's First Rule (RC 41067). Some violence. 1998.

Divas, Inc. RC 59065
by Donna Hill
read by Gail Nelson
2 cassettes
When Margaret Drew's vacationing best friends Tiffany and Chantel choose her to house-sit, Margaret uses their Manhattan apartments, socialite boyfriends, and trendy wardrobes to make over her plain-Jane lifestyle. Despite mishaps, she elevates her image and discovers the secret of being a true diva. Some strong language. 2004.

Incubus Dreams: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter RC 59069
by Laurell K. Hamilton
read by Michele Schaeffer
5 cassettes
Crime investigator Anita Blake pursues a serial-killing vampire who preys on female strippers. Blake's psychic ability fuels her compulsion for sex, and lust interferes with her judgment. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

Whispers: The Glenbrooke Series, Book 2 RC 59074
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Glenbrooke, Oregon, schoolteacher Teri Moreno revisits Maui to see her sister and possibly rekindle a past romance with a marine biologist. Her emotions become confused when she encounters a former high school crush, meets an endearing but clumsy Australian, and relies on her faith to choose among the three. 1995.

Yours until Dawn RC 59080
by Teresa Medeiros
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
1806. Gabriel Fairchild, earl of Sheffield, blinded at Trafalgar and abandoned by his fiancée, now lives bitterly in seclusion. Nurse Samantha Wickersham, although hiding her shadowy past, helps him regain his confidence, independence, and ability to love. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Broken Wings: A Broken Wings Novel RC 59081
by V.C. Andrews
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Three teenage girls share their stories of dysfunction and crime. Robin finds trouble in Nashville with her negligent mother. Teal is a rich girl who will do anything to get her parents' attention. Phoebe makes a risky attempt to fit in. Descriptions of sex. 2003.

Gateway RC 59083
by Frederik Pohl
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Wealthy prospector Robinette Broadhead wins a one-way trip to Gateway, an abandoned interstellar depot of the vanished Heechee race. Unsettled by the experience and with the help of his computerized psychoanalyst, Broadhead begins a personal journey that could lead to his destruction. Strong language. 1976.

Out of the Dark RC 59086
by Sharon Sala
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Street artist Jade Cochrane is haunted by the years of abuse she endured in a cult her mother belonged to. When her father learns she has escaped, he hires PI Luke Kelly to find her. But Jade is still in danger. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Breaking Her Fall RC 59087
by Stephen Goodwin
read by Gregory Gorton
4 cassettes
Tucker Jones has survived a divorce, started a new business, bought a house, and relocated his children. Then a late-night telephone call about his fourteen-year-old daughter, Kat, changes the lives of his family and all who touch them. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.

The Revenant RC 59088
by Michael Punke
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Missouri River tributaries, 1823. When a trapper is mauled by a grizzly, he is left behind with two volunteers who soon abandon him. Deserted, defenseless, and enraged, he vows to survive and exact his revenge. Based on the real life of fur trapper Hugh Glass. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Cypress Grove RC 59090
by James Sallis
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Turner, ex-Memphis detective and ex-con, retires to the Tennessee countryside seeking a life of solitude. He reluctantly agrees to help the local sheriff solve a set of bizarre ritual murders--a role that introduces him to the locals and exposes him to the unexpected kindness of strangers. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.

A Seahorse Year RC 59092
by Stacey D'Erasmo
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
San Francisco. A nontraditional family copes with the breakdown of their sixteen-year-old schizophrenic son, Christopher. When Christopher runs away from a mental facility, his mother, Nan, his gay father, Hal, and Nan's lover, Marina, must confront the complexities of love. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2004.

When Night Falls RC 59094
by Cait London
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
Freelance artist Uma Thornton continues to mourn her murdered friend when the Warren brothers return to the small Oklahoma town. After eighteen years and despite the advances of her patient ex-husband, Uma is still drawn to Mitchell. Rumors spread while passion builds and a killer plots revenge. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.

The Royal Physician's Visit RC 59098
by Per Olov Enquist
read by Steve Douglas-Craig
2 cassettes
German Johann Struensee becomes personal physician to Denmark's young, deranged King Christian in the 1760s, a time of political and social upheaval there. Although Enlightenment-educated Struensee gains absolute power, his affair with the queen precipitates a dramatic end. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

Catching Katie RC 59099
by Robin Lee Hatcher
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Idaho, 1916. Headstrong Katie Jones returns to her parents' traditional home after graduating from Vassar College and becoming involved in the women's suffrage movement. Soon Ben Rafferty's newspaper, the Homestead Herald, provides a forum for her views, and her ideas incite community tempers as well as Ben's heart. 2003.

Tunnel in the Sky RC 59101
by Robert A. Heinlein
read by Todd Scofield
2 cassettes (Reissue)
High school graduates take their final exam in survival class, a standard ten-day journey through a hyperspace tunnel to any planet in the universe. For Rod Walker and his classmates, the days stretch into months when they find themselves stranded on a distant world beyond contact with Earth. 1955.

Nerd in Shining Armor RC 59105
by Vicki Lewis Thompson
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Honolulu secretary Genevieve Terrence and computer programmer Jackson Farley are stranded by their diabolical boss Nick on a deserted island with little but lust for sustenance. Meanwhile Genevieve's mother, Annabelle, and Nick's partner, Matt, desperately searching for the pair, unexpectedly fall in love. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.

Sixteen in Nome RC 59106
by Max Brand
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Sixteen-year-old Joe May arrives in Nome, Alaska, hoping to claim some land. He is down on his luck until he rescues Alexander the Great, a husky belonging to Hugh Massey. Expecting a reward, Joe instead becomes the bait Massey needs to lure foe Arnold Calmont into a deadly trap. 1930.

Harvest Home RC 59108
by Thomas Tryon
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Ned and his wife, Beth, move to an idyllic New England village with their asthmatic daughter, Kate. After a healer called "the Widow Fortune" stops one of Kate's attacks, the town's chilling secret rituals, spells, and murders entangle the family. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1973.

Brain Wave RC 59111
by Poul Anderson
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Physicist Peter Corinth begins the day realizing that his thinking processes are not normal. Farmer Archie Brock's livestock are behaving with supernatural intelligence. In fact, everyone on earth is getting much, much smarter, raising questions about civilization's future. Corinth and a colleague explore the solar system in a starship to find answers. 1954.

Double Take RC 59114
by Brenda Joyce
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Manhattan executive Kait London receives a desperate call from her estranged twin sister, Lana, who begs Kait to impersonate her. To save Lana's life, Kait moves into Lana's Virginia estate where she meets her sister's handsome, divorce-seeking husband and her many enemies. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

The Spiral Path RC 59116
by Mary Jo Putney
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Fledgling director Raine Marlowe casts her soon-to-be-ex-husband, British film star Kenzie Scott, as the tortured hero in her upcoming movie. When the lead actress bails, Raine is forced to play Kenzie's love interest. As passions reignite, a tabloid reporter uncovers Kenzie's sordid past. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.

Some Girls Do RC 59118
by Leanne Banks
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Plain Katie Collins must find a blue-blood husband for her boss's dowdy daughter, Wilhemina. But Wilhemina escapes high society Philadelphia and falls in love with a hog farmer in Texas. Katie trails her, accompanied by the girl's handsome bodyguard Michael. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Dance with Me RC 59123
by Luanne Rice
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Baker Jane Porter returns to Rhode Island to care for her ailing mother and to locate the now-teenage daughter, Chloe, she gave up for adoption. Jane hides the truth when she unexpectedly falls in love with Chloe's widowed uncle, Dylan. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

A Garden in the Rain RC 59133
by Lynn Kurland
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
While vacationing in Scotland, Madelyn Phillips meets the handsome but brooding Scottish lord Patrick MacLeod. Before they fulfill their destiny together, the two must contend with Madelyn's meddling ex-fiancé, ghosts from Patrick's own troubled past, and a dangerous journey back in time. 2003.

The Society RC 59137
by Michael Palmer
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
A serial killer targets managed health care executives. Dr. Will Grant, member of a society opposing insurance company practices, finds himself both suspect and potential victim. Detective Patty Moriarity, her career at stake, reluctantly must trust him. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 2004.

The Terminal Experiment RC 59138
by Robert J. Sawyer
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
2011. To test his immortality theories, Dr. Peter Hobson creates three electronic simulations of his own mind. The duplicates somehow escape into the global matrix--and one becomes a killer. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Nebula Award. 1995.

The Alias Man RC 59143
by Bill Pronzini
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
A complex drama of deception and fraud engulfs three attractive young women, who discover the common denominator in their lives: the man they love. As these victims jointly uncover the con man's deadly scheme, they must confront their individual fears. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

Briarpatch RC 59144
by Ross Thomas
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Benjamin Dill returns to Washington, D.C., after his sister Felicity, a homicide detective, dies in a car bombing. Dill's investigation pits him against former friends, corrupt cops, greedy politicians, and beautiful lawyer Anna Maude Singe. 2003 introduction by Lawrence Block. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Edgar Award. 1984.

To Catch a Wolf RC 59145
by Susan Krinard
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
1880. Charitable spinster Athena Munroe, who uses a wheelchair, is pleased when the circus comes to Denver. Drawn to Morgan Holt's sideshow, Athena discovers that she and Morgan share a secret: they are both werewolves. With Morgan's help, Athena embraces her true nature. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Bling RC 59146
by Erica Kennedy
read by Gail Nelson
3 cassettes
African American Lamont Jackson, head of the recording industry's hottest hip-hop label, signs Mimi, a naive twenty-year-old singer, and transforms her into an R&B superstar. But in the decadent world of designer clothes and exclusive clubs, fame has its price. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Hex: A Ruby Murphy Mystery RC 59149
by Maggie Estep
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
A misunderstanding on the subway leads Coney Island's Ruby Murphy to accept her first case as a private investigator: tailing a woman's errant lover. Ruby works undercover at the Belmont Racetrack, where both horses and people meet with foul play. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

The Hour before Dark RC 59152
by Douglas Clegg
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
After his father's brutal murder, Nemo Raglan returns to his remote Massachusetts island home to join his sister, Brooke, and his brother, Bruno, in unraveling the mystery. They make frightening connections between their spotty family history and a supernatural childhood game. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2002.

Player Haters RC 59162
by Carl Weber
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
Three differing African American siblings have one thing in common: drama. Ladies' man Trent Duncan, who held the family together after their father died, rethinks his bad habits. Eldest brother Wil contemplates an affair. Baby sister Melanie meets her true love. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Bucking the Sarge RC 59165
by Christopher Paul Curtis
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
Involuntarily involved by his cold, manipulative mother (the "Sarge") in her shady business dealings, fourteen-year-old African American Luther keeps a sense of humor. He runs the Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men for Sarge while dreaming of going to college and becoming a philosopher. For senior high readers. 2004.

Trace: Dr. Kay Scarpetta Mysteries RC 59172
by Patricia Cornwell
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Former medical examiner Kay Scarpetta returns to Richmond, Virginia, to advise on the mysterious death of a teenage girl whose father is associated with Homeland Security. Meanwhile Kay's lover, Benton, and niece Lucy investigate another case--which later appears connected to Kay's. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower, Volume 7 RC 59175
by Stephen King
read by Fred Major
6 cassettes
Conclusion of the Dark Tower saga continuing from Song of Susannah (RC 58365). Jake Chambers and Pere Callahan encounter foes in the Dixie Pig Cafe. Roland Deschain ends his quest and is reunited with Susannah, Eddie, Jake, and Oy. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.

Whistle for a Wind and How Wide the Heart: Bennett's Island Saga RC 59178
by Elisabeth Ogilvie
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Two early novels of Bennett's Island, Maine, inhabitants. In Whistle for a Wind patriarch Jamie Bennett contends in 1820 with murderous wreckers luring ships onto the rocks. In How Wide the Heart a young islander chooses between continuing her off-island education and marrying her childhood sweetheart, a lobsterman. 1954.

Cadence: American Anthem, Book 2 RC 59179
by B.J. Hoff
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
Late nineteenth-century New York. Three immigrant families from Prelude (RC 57449) pursue their American dreams. Physician Andrew Carmichael attends to the poor. Conn MacGovern works at the Emmanuel estate, where Michael, a blind composer, is falling in love with his deceased wife's sister, Susanna. 2003.

The Singapore Wink RC 59184
by Ross Thomas
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Los Angeles. Ex-stuntman Edward Cauthorne is hired to find a colleague he thought he had accidentally killed during a Singapore harbor film shoot two years earlier. Cauthorne contends with blackmail, murder, the FBI, and a crime czar's beautiful daughter. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1969.

Beyond the Highland Mist: The Highlander Series, Book 1 RC 59185
by Karen Marie Moning
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Adrienne de Simone finds herself transported from modern day Seattle to medieval Scotland. Against her will she marries Hawk, an earl known for his prowess in war and in love. Adrienne vows to resist him, but Hawk is determined to win her. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1999.

A Grave Denied: A Kate Shugak Mystery RC 59192
by Dana Stabenow
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
After eighth-grade students discover handyman Len Dreyer's corpse under a glacier, Alaska state trooper Jim Chopin hires Kate Shugak of A Fine and Bitter Snow (RC 55180) to investigate. When Kate's inquiries put her in danger, Jim wants her off the case. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.

The Crystal City: The Tales of Alvin Maker, Volume 6 RC 59193
by Orson Scott Card
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
Alternative history of North America following Heartfire (RC 49667) continues. Healer Alvin Maker's wife sends him to Spanish-occupied New Orleans (Nueva Barcelona), where he lodges with an abolitionist family. Unsure of his mission, Alvin tries to save the city from a plague, but his efforts bring greater danger. 2003.

At Home in Covington: Ladies of Covington RC 59196
by Joan Medlicott
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes
Friends Grace, Hannah, and Amelia from The Spirit of Covington(RC 57454) escape rural life with a Caribbean cruise. Tension mounts between Hannah and Amelia, who leaves for a Maine photography workshop. Hannah finally sets a wedding date, and Grace and her son mourn his partner's death. 2004.

Wish Come True: A Carson Springs Novel, Book 3 RC 59212
by Eileen Goudge
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Anna is arrested for killing her wheelchair-bound sister, former actress Monica Vincent, after Monica's body is found in the pool of her lavish estate. With help from friends and a new love, Anna fights to exonerate herself. Sequel to Taste of Honey (RC 57244). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

Ripped at the Seams RC 59214
by Nancy Krulik
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Sami leaves Minnesota after high school and heads to New York City to become a fashion designer. But when Bruce, her boss and new boyfriend, steals her designs, she takes a job at a risqué lingerie shop, where she finally finds success. For senior high readers. 2004.

Forty Guns West: The First Mountain Man, Book 4 RC 59220
by William W. Johnstone
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
While visiting family in Ohio, the mountain man called Preacher kills an important, albeit deserving, gentleman. With a high price on his head, Preacher flees back west to the High Lonesome, towing a sick little boy and a small army of bounty hunters. Sequel to Absaroka Ambush (RC 58395). 1993.

Always RC 59236
by Jude Deveraux
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
FBI agent Jack Hallbrooke teams up with psychic Darci Montgomery from Forever and Always (RC 57049) to find his kidnapped father. They accidentally travel back in time to 1843, where Jack discovers his true love and Darci continues her search for her missing husband, Adam. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

44 Cranberry Point: Cedar Cove, Book 4 RC 59237
by Debbie Macomber
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
In this sequel to 311 Pelican Court (RC 57922), bed-and-breakfast owner Peggy Beldon relates the continuing tale of life in Cedar Cove. The mystery of a guest's sudden death is solved, and several weddings are in the works. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

California Girl RC 59239
by T. Jefferson Parker
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
In 1968, Playboy centerfold Janelle Vonn is murdered in Orange County, California. Her neighbors, the Becker boys--a minister, a reporter, and a detective--each do their part to bring the killer to justice. Decades later the brothers must face their mistakes. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2004.

Killing Time: An Inspector Bill Slider Mystery RC 59246
by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Inspector Bill Slider of Blood Lines (RC 45733) investigates the murder of male stripteaser Jay Paloma, who recently sought protection after receiving threatening letters. Slider delves into London nightlife's seedy underside while coping with the demands of his estranged wife and current lover. Some violence and some strong language. 1996.

The Bishop and the Missing L Train: A Blackie Ryan Mystery RC 59248
by Andrew M. Greeley
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Chicago. When unpopular bishop Augustus Quill and the "L" train that he was riding on disappear, Bishop "Blackie" Ryan is dispatched to investigate. Suspects include Ryan's friend, stockbroker Tommy Flynn, and divorcée Jenny Carlson, whose first marriage was annulled. Strong language. 2000.

The Companions RC 59249
by Sheri S. Tepper
read by Mary Kane
4 cassettes
ETs and Earthers are conflicted over the possibilities for habitation and profit on the planet Moss. Jewel Delis has an agenda for exploring the new world, as does a group of humans who were stranded there long ago. 2003.

Hot and Sweaty Rex: A Dinosaur Mafia Mystery RC 59251
by Eric Garcia
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
The head of the velociraptor mafia hires Los Angeles detective Vincent Rubio, a dinosaur disguised as a human, to tail a rival hadrosaur. Vincent travels to Miami, where he learns about some horse racing schemes. Sequel to Casual Rex (RC 53313). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2004.

Sunsets: The Glenbrooke Series, Book 4 RC 59255
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Twenty-six-year-old Pasadena travel agent Alissa Benson overcomes her checkered past as she rediscovers her religious beliefs. Trust, friendship, financial security, and a budding romance with her new next-door neighbor bring her the beginnings of happiness. A weekend visit to Glenbrooke, Oregon, reopens the closed doors of her heart. 1997.

A Miracle in Paradise: A Lupe Solano Mystery RC 59256
by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Little Havana, Miami. PI Lupe Solano's sister is a nun whose mother superior hires Lupe to debunk a rival order's claim that a miracle will happen on upcoming Cuban Independence Day. Lupe pursues the investigation, even when it leads to murder. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

Melancholy Baby: A Sunny Randall Mystery RC 59257
by Robert B. Parker
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Boston PI Sunny Randall, upset over her ex-husband's remarriage, seeks counseling from Dr. Susan Silverman. Meanwhile Randall's latest case involves a young woman who's convinced her parents have adopted her--and the father is soon murdered. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

Midnight Flight: A Broken Wings Novel RC 59263
by V.C. Andrews
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Three young women from different worlds--Phoebe, Teal, and Robin--are newcomers to Dr. Foreman's desert ranch "school" for troubled teens. Trapped in forced labor, the girls are tempted to betray one another. The only way out, however, is to stick together. Sequel to Broken Wings (RC 59081). 2003.

Meet Me at Midnight: With This Ring RC 59264
by Suzanne Enoch
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
When Victoria's father catches Lord Sinclair Grafton and Lady Victoria "Vixen" Fontaine embracing in a shockingly sensual kiss, they have no recourse but to marry. The arrangement offers Grafton a chance to redeem his reputation and find the man who murdered his brother. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

The Risen Empire: Succession, Book 1 RC 59274
by Scott Westerfeld
read by Steve Douglas-Craig
2 cassettes
Child empress Anastasia Khaman, the immortal emperor's sister and heiress to an interstellar empire, is captured by the Rix, a cult of computer-augmented humans. Captain Laurent Zai attempts a rescue while senator Nara Oxham, the woman he loves, prepares for war. Precedes The Killing of Worlds (RC 59284). Some violence. 2003.

Till the End of Tom: An Amanda Pepper Mystery RC 59276
by Gillian Roberts
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Teacher Amanda Pepper discovers a cup of poisoned tea in her classroom and the body of wealthy Tomas Severin at the bottom of the school's staircase. As she investigates Tomas's death, she uncovers his many enemies and several possible motives for his murder. 2004.

The Killing of Worlds: Succession, Book 2 RC 59284
by Scott Westerfeld
read by Steve Douglas-Craig
2 cassettes
Interstellar war escalates between The Risen Empire (RC 59274) and the cyborg Rix. Captain Zai attempts to intercept a Rix battlecruiser; the emperor plans a nuclear attack as a backup. Meanwhile Nara Oxham, Zai's true love, uncovers information that could end the emperor's reign. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.

Skeleton Man: A Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee Mystery RC 59293
by Tony Hillerman
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
A 1956 plane collision over the Grand Canyon left 128 dead and a briefcase of diamonds missing. Decades later, after a Hopi man tries to pawn one of the gems, retired Navajo tribal policeman Joe Leaphorn assists sergeant Jim Chee in tracking down the jewels. Some violence. Bestseller. 2004.

Family Blessings RC 59319
by Fern Michaels
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
1 cassette
Matriarch Loretta Cisco from No Place like Home (RC 55943) loses her house in a tornado. While the townspeople help her rebuild, she learns her triplet grandchildren--all newlyweds--have run into marital difficulties. The family members rally around one another to try to restore togetherness in time for Christmas. 2004.

Maigret Sets a Trap: An Inspector Maigret Mystery RC 59323
by Georges Simenon
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
A serial killer is attacking plump women in the Montmartre section of Paris. But after Superintendent Maigret ensnares the main suspect, another murder occurs. 1955.

Clouds: The Glenbrooke Series, Book 5 RC 59325
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Shelly Graham visits her childhood home in Glenbrooke, Oregon, after being away for five years as a flight attendant. She later sees her first love, Jonathan Renfield, in Europe, where he works as a youth missionary. Shelly realizes she still loves Jonathan, but he's engaged to someone else. 1997.

Whiteout RC 59331
by Ken Follett
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
As head of security at Stanley Oxenford's Scottish pharmaceutical firm, Antonia Gallo investigates a technician's horrifying death. Meanwhile terrorists steal a deadly virus, and the Oxenford family, stranded at home by a blizzard, discover a traitor in their midst. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2004.

The Case of the Baited Hook: A Perry Mason Mystery RC 59338
by Erle Stanley Gardner
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
The cloak-and-dagger tactics of two cases become intertwined the more Perry Mason investigates. A man named Tidings is the common bond who could provide answers, but someone murders him. Heiress Byrl Gailord and penniless Adelle Hastings join the cast of characters with motives for the homicide. 1940.

The Other RC 59339
by Thomas Tryon
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes (Reissue)
1930s. In a small Connecticut town, a series of bizarre events surround the once well-to-do Perry family, whose male members have all died violently. The deaths seem mysteriously linked to twelve-year-old twins Niles and Holland. Some violence and some strong language. 1971.

Cheyenne Challenge: The First Mountain Man, Book 5 RC 59343
by William W. Johnstone
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Outlaw Ezra Pease returns to settle a score with mountain man Preacher. After escorting some missionaries to safety, Preacher rounds up old friends Beartooth, Nighthawk, and Dupre for a final showdown with Pease, whose dealings incite an Indian war. Sequel to Forty Guns West (RC 59220). Violence. 1995.

The Dastard: Xanth RC 59345
by Piers Anthony
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Eighteen-year-old Anomy trades his soul to a demon for the ability to travel back in time and erase events. When his dastardly deeds threaten the future of Xanth, Becka, a young dragon-girl destined to help her land, is the only one who can stop him. 2000.

Bell, Book, and Scandal: A Jane Jeffry Mystery RC 59349
by Jill Churchill
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Hoping for advice on her new manuscript, amateur sleuth Jane Jeffry from The House of Seven Mabels (RC 55577) attends a mystery writers' convention with her friend Shelley. Investigating after an editor is poisoned and a book-bashing reviewer is attacked, Jane uncovers plagiarism and hidden resentments. Some strong language. 2003.

The Program RC 59354
by Gregg Hurwitz
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
On his first case since his daughter's murder, marshal Tim Rackley goes undercover to retrieve a well-connected film producer's nineteen-year-old stepdaughter, Leah, from a mind-controlling cult and an insidious operation called "the program." Sequel to The Kill Clause (RC 58792). Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Four Souls RC 59355
by Louise Erdrich
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Revenge has unexpected consequences in Fleur Pillager's quest for retribution against the lumber baron who stole her family's North Dakota land. Vengeance also wreaks havoc with tribal elder Nanapush's plans for his sweetheart. Continuation of Tracks (RC 28557). 2004.

The Fools in Town Are on Our Side RC 59357
by Ross Thomas
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Released from a Hong Kong prison, former U.S. secret agent Lucifer Dye is hired by businessman Victor Orcutt to incite unrest that will upset a small American southern town's coming elections. Introduction (2003) by Tony Hiss. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1970.

Leaving Atlanta RC 59362
by Tayari Jones
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
An atmosphere of terror prevails among African Americans in 1979 Atlanta when children begin disappearing. Fifth graders Tasha, Rodney, and Octavia cope with danger and uncertainty as their classmates are among the missing and dead. Some strong language. Hurston/Wright Legacy. 2002.

Star Soldiers RC 59366
by Andre Norton
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Two interstellar adventure stories. In "Star Guard," swordsman Kana Karr and his comrades are abandoned in a hostile future world. Four thousand years later, in "Star Rangers," the crew of a spaceship crashes on an uncharted planet. Some violence. 1953.

Pop Princess RC 59369
by Rachel Cohn
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Yearning to escape the small town where her family retreated after the death of her sister Lucky, fifteen-year-old outcast Wonder Blake gets a record contract from her sister's former manager. But Wonder soon realizes the life of a star is anything but glamorous. Strong language. For senior high readers. 2004.

Wrestling Sturbridge RC 59372
by Rich Wallace
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
In the small town of Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, high school wrestling is a big deal. Ben, a senior, wants to become state champion, but he will have to beat out at least one of his three higher ranked best friends to do it. For junior and senior high readers. 1996.

An Answer in the Tide: Bennett's Island Saga RC 59373
by Elisabeth Ogilvie
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Bennett's Island, Maine. Lobsterman Sorensen's son Jamie falls in love with an attractive married newcomer. His affair, out of sync with local values, strains his relations with family and community, proves dangerous for Jamie himself, and nearly leads to a lobster war. Some violence and some strong language. 1978.

Jingle Bell Bark: A Melanie Travis Mystery RC 59379
by Laurien Berenson
read by Megan Burnett
2 cassettes
When her eight-year-old son's usual bus driver, Henry, is unexpectedly replaced just before the holidays, teacher and dedicated dog owner Melanie Travis checks on him and discovers he recently died under suspicious circumstances. Melanie brings Henry's two golden retrievers to her Aunt Peg, who's determined to solve the mystery. 2004.

The Road to Ruin: A Dortmunder Mystery RC 59380
by Donald E. Westlake
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
With his gang of wayward thieves John Dortmunder wages a personal vendetta against wealthy corporate criminal Monroe Hall. Posing as servants, the gang launches a crook-against-crook scheme that goes awry as Dortmunder discovers another group hating Hall enough to cause mischief and arouse police suspicion. Some strong language. 2004.

The Dragon's Son: The Dragonvarld Trilogy, Book 2 RC 59383
by Margaret Weis
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Draconas searches for the late high priestess's twin sons, born of different fathers, to protect them. Half-dragon Ven and his human brother Marcus, the king's son, share a psychic connection that evil dragons hope to exploit. Sequel to Mistress of Dragons (RC 58682). Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2004.

The Shining Badge: The House of Winslow, Book 31 RC 59386
by Gilbert Morris
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
After the 1929 stock market crash the Winslow family moves to their farm in Georgia. Jenny runs for sheriff against the corrupt incumbent, Max Conroy, but the locals resent her interference. She trusts in God to bring peace to the county. Sequel to The Beloved Enemy (RC 57802). 2004.

The Case of the Dangerous Dowager: A Perry Mason Mystery RC 59387
by Erle Stanley Gardner
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
To avoid blackmail, feisty Matilda Benson hires attorney Perry Mason to buy back her granddaughter Sylvia's IOUs from Sam Grieb, part owner of a gambling ship. Once aboard, Perry encounters complications--most notably Sam's dead body. Matilda, Sylvia, and the floating casino's surviving partner are among the suspected passengers. 1937.

Metro Girl RC 59459
by Janet Evanovich
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Former stock-car driver Alexandra Barnaby leaves Baltimore to find her missing brother "Wild Bill" in Miami. NASCAR driver Sam Hooker is also looking for Bill, who stole Hooker's yacht. The two join forces to expedite the search and sparks fly. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2004.

Winner Takes All RC 59480
by Nora Roberts
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
In Rules of the Game, a director of commercials vows not to mix business and pleasure, until she films a handsome baseball player. In The Name of the Game, a game-show producer falls for a celebrity guest. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll: A Perry Mason Mystery RC 59568
by Erle Stanley Gardner
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Stenographer Mildred Crest, fleeing humiliation after her embezzling fiancé ended their engagement, picks up hitchhiker Fern Driscoll. When Fern dies in a car accident, opportunistic Mildred assumes her identity. As Fern, Mildred faces blackmail and a murder rap. Before attorney Perry Mason can help, he must unravel her lies. 1958.

Silence of the Hams: A Jane Jeffry Mystery RC 59572
by Jill Churchill
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Jane Jeffry and her best friend, Shelley, witness the death of detestable attorney Robert Stonecipher when a rack of hams falls on him in a Chicago deli. With the help of Jane's police detective boyfriend, both ladies investigate the crime. Some strong language. 1996.

The Rosary Girls RC 59662
by Richard Montanari
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
Veteran Philadelphia cop Kevin Byrne and rookie partner Jessica Balzano investigate a serial killer who targets Catholic schoolgirls, leaving a rosary with each corpse. Byrne, who uses unorthodox methods to solve crimes, is hounded by a reporter while Jessica takes up boxing. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Impossible RC 59665
by Danielle Steel
read by David Garrison
2 cassettes
Widowed gallery owner Sasha Boardman offers a contract to bad-boy artist Liam Allison. Soon conservative Sasha and staunch-nonconformist Liam begin an affair--though he is married and nearly a decade younger. Differences, complications, and personality clashes threaten their dramatic romance. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Never Let Me Go RC 59667
by Kazuo Ishiguro
read by Rosalyn Landor
2 cassettes
England, 1990s. Kathy H., Ruth, and Tommy attended Hailsham, one of the better academies where human clones bred to be organ donors are sheltered from reality. Now thirty-one, Kathy has been a donor caregiver for eleven years. As her own time to donate nears, Kathy appreciates her privileged upbringing. 2005.

The Goddess Rules RC 59668
by Clare Naylor
read by Rosalyn Landor
3 cassettes
Aging French movie star Mirabelle Moncur hires bohemian London pet portraitist Kate Disney to paint her lion cub. Soon Mirabelle adopts Kate as her personal project, teaching her how to dress, act, and seduce men. But Kate's caddish boyfriend still attracts her. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Portrait RC 59669
by Iain Pears
read by Simon Vance
1 cassette
A small island near Brittany, early 1900s. When famous British art critic William Naysmith visits Scottish artist Henry MacAlpine to sit for a portrait, he becomes captive to the artist's diatribe. The artist indicts the critic's ruthless use of power and gradually reveals a plan of vengeance. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005.

Cold Service: A Spenser Novel RC 59674
by Robert B. Parker
read by Joe Mantegna
1 cassette
Private detective Spenser's colleague, Hawk, is shot in the back while protecting a bookie from the Ukrainian mob. While Hawk recuperates, Spenser seeks revenge and tracks the assailants through Boston's underworld. Proper payback may require eliminating the entire cell of organized crime. Violence and strong language. 2005.

The Chairman RC 59679
by Stephen Frey
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
Thirty-six-year-old Christian Gillette becomes CEO of private New York equity company Everest Capital after founder Bill Donovan dies. Gillette barely escapes death himself when the limo taking him to the cemetery explodes. Now he faces corporate sabotage and tries to survive. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

Murder at Five Finger Light: An Alaska Mystery RC 59680
by Sue Henry
read by Staci Snell
2 cassettes
Dogsledder Jessie Arnold's friends Laurie and Jim have just purchased an old lighthouse on an island. They invite people over to celebrate and to help repair their new home. Jessie investigates when a guest dies and the telephone and radio lines are cut. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

Reunion RC 59706
by Sharon Sala
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Oklahoma City. Security company heir Gabriel Connor awakens from a coma hearing voices and dreaming of gruesome killings. When he learns the envisioned crimes are real, Gabriel consults psychic Laura Dane. And as they get closer, Laura grows suspicious. Violence, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 1999.

Mr. Lucky RC 59996
by James Swain
read by Paul Boehmer
2 cassettes
Former cop Tony Valentine, now a casino consultant, visits North Carolina to prove that local gambler Ricky Smith is cheating. Ricky's winning streak has not abated since he escaped death in a Las Vegas hotel fire. Meanwhile Tony's son lands in a Mafia feud. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

The President's Assassin: A Sean Drummond Mystery RC 59998
by Brian Haig
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
On loan to the CIA, JAG attorney Sean Drummond investigates the execution-style murders of the White House chief of staff and five associates. At the crime scene the killer leaves a note threatening the president. Drummond joins FBI agent Jennifer Margold to thwart the plot. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Countdown RC 60003
by Iris Johansen
read by Bernadette Dunne
2 cassettes
Jane MacGuire, adopted daughter of forensic sculptor Eve Duncan from Blind Alley (RC 58833), is the victim of an attempted kidnapping. Jane believes that someone from her past life is involved and seeks help from con man Mark Trevor. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005.

Bangkok Tattoo RC 60005
by John Burdett
read by Paul Boehmer
2 cassettes
After high-priced prostitute Chanya arrives at the Old Man's Club covered in blood, Royal Thai police detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep of Bangkok Eight (RC 56818) finds the mutilated body of a young CIA agent in a nearby hotel. But this is not a straightforward murder. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Bright Forever RC 60006
by Lee Martin
read by Susan Denaker
2 cassettes
Indiana, 1970s. A small town is shocked when nine-year-old Katie Mackey disappears on a bicycle ride to the library. The tragedy leads to the gradual revelation of personal secrets, motives, and unfortunate choices throughout the community and within the seemingly perfect Mackey family. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

Books for Children

Cassettes Nonfiction

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog RC 58838
by Pamela S. Turner
read by Nicola Daval
1 cassette
A boy watches a dog accompany its master to and from a Tokyo train station every day. When its owner dies Hachiko still returns to wait for the man daily for the remaining ten years of its own life. Based on a true story. For preschool-grade 2. 2004.

Aliens from Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems RC 58859
by Mary Batten
read by Eric Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Explores how and why plants and animals enter ecosystems to which they are not native and the affect of these invasions on other animals and plants and even humans. Includes accounts of mosquitos, killer bees, kudzu, and algae. For grades 3-6. 2003.

The Road to There: Mapmakers and Their Stories RC 59076
by Val Ross
read by Mary Beth Wise
1 cassette
Biographies of cartographers seeking to map the world from ancient times to the invention of aerial photography, among them China's Cheng Ho, Belgium's Gerard Mercator, and America's explorers Lewis and Clark. Includes tales of forgery, undersea adventure, and secret maps. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003.

What to Do When You're Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids RC 59097
by James J. Crist
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Child psychologist presents advice and methods that young people can use to overcome fears, phobias, separation anxieties, and panic attacks. Also suggests ways for kids to handle other issues. Includes exercises for identifying problems and finding solutions. A note to grown-ups directs them in helping children. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Dinosaur Mummies: Beyond Bare-Bone Fossils RC 59194
by Kelly Milner Halls
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Discusses the discovery of mummified dinosaur fossils, including skin, muscle, and internal organs, and the paleontologists who study them. Describes the 2000 dig in Montana that found the most intact and best-preserved mummy so far, as well as excavations conducted in Canada, Italy, China, and Argentina. For grades 4-7. 2003.

They Called Her Molly Pitcher RC 59195
by Anne Rockwell
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
A brief biography of Mary "Molly" Hays who, in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, followed her husband into battle at Monmouth, New Jersey. She brought water to Continental Army soldiers and was honored by George Washington for her bravery. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines RC 59204
by Caroline Arnold
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Introduces the science of avian flight. Describes the flight anatomy of a wide variety of birds--their skeletons, wings, and feathers. Explains the mechanics of taking off, flapping, gliding, hovering, steering, and landing. Considers birds that cannot fly and some other animals that can. For grades 3-6. 2003.

Helen Keller: Out of a Dark and Silent World RC 59217
by Sandra H. Shichtman
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
A biography of the deaf and blind woman who became an internationally celebrated speaker, writer, and advocate for people with disabilities. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Blades, Boards, and Scooters RC 59348
by Keltie Thomas
read by Alec Volz
1 cassette
The author of How Hockey Works (RC 57091) examines the science behind inline skates, scooters, and skate and snow boards. Discusses their inventions and histories, safety tips, maintenance, and repair. For grades 4-7. 2003.

Experiments with Simple Machines RC 59356
by Salvatore Tocci
read by Dan Willems
1 cassette
Explains the science behind machines like the lever, pulley, inclined plane (ramp), screw, wedge, and wheel and axle. Provides instructions for making them from everyday household objects. Describes experiments that show how simple and complex machines make work easier. For grades 3-6. 2003.

Riding for Kids RC 59575
by Judy Richter
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Provides detailed information on how to ride a horse using an English saddle. Step-by-step handbook covers the essentials of horsemanship: stable care, clothing, equipment, tack, longeing, lessons, jumping, and competition. For grades 4-7. 2003.

Cassettes Fiction

Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy RC 53177
by Wendelin Van Draanen
read by Graci Ragsdale Miller
1 cassette
Sammy is working off school detention in the church office. Shocked when Father Mayhew accuses her of stealing from him, Sammy is determined to find the thief. Meanwhile, her own prized softball glove is swiped, and she tries to befriend a girl who appears to be homeless. For grades 5-8. 1999.

Home Run Hero: Scrappers, Book 2 RC 57531
by Dean Hughes
read by Rick Wiseman
1 cassette
Wilson Love is a great hitter for the Scrappers, his summer league baseball team--when he connects. He desperately wants to improve his batting and the team spirit, but advice from the coach and everyone else only makes him strike out more. For grades 3-6. 1999.

Jo's Triumph RC 57535
by Nikki Tate
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
Utah Territory, 1850s. When she is almost thirteen, Joselyn Whyte escapes from a Carson City orphanage and disguises herself as a boy to join the Pony Express. Her pluck and ingenuity are often tested, especially when another rider discovers her secret and plans a robbery. For grades 4-7. 2002.

Secret Weapon: Soccer 'Cats, Book 3 RC 57861
by Stephanie Peters
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Lisa, who is small for her age, has trouble playing soccer until the coach devises a plan to turn her into a valuable fullback. For grades 2-4. 2000.

Hat Trick: Matt Christopher Soccer 'Cats, Book 4 RC 57866
by Stephanie Peters
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Stookie tries to score three goals in every soccer game just like his older brother did. But the coach has to teach him not to hog the ball and to place more value on teamwork. For grades 2-4. 2000.

The Shrouding Woman RC 58224
by Loretta Ellsworth
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Minnesota, 1870s. Eleven-year-old Evie resents her aunt Flo, who arrives to help the family after Evie's mother dies. Flo's traditional occupation, preparing bodies for burial, at first frightens Evie, who doesn't want to follow in her footsteps--until an emergency arises. For grades 4-7. 2002.

The Goose Girl RC 58713
by Shannon Hale
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Sixteen-year-old Princess Ani travels to another kingdom to marry a prince she has never met. Along the way her lady-in-waiting attempts to kill her, then takes her place. Ani escapes and becomes a goose tender at the palace, where she falls in love with her betrothed. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Uncovering Sadie's Secrets: A Bianca Balducci Mystery RC 59089
by Libby Sternberg
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Fifteen-year-old Bianca befriends Sadie Sinclair, a mysterious classmate who is overly concerned about a "friend" being framed for murder. Aided by her best pal, Kerrie, private eye sister, Connie, and would-be boyfriend, Doug, Bianca sets out to uncover Sadie's secrets. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003.

Tangled Threads: A Hmong Girl's Story RC 59115
by Pegi Deitz Shea
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
After ten years in a Thai refugee camp, thirteen-year-old Laotian orphan Mai Yang and her grandmother emigrate to Providence, Rhode Island, where Americanized kinsmen introduce them to new ways. All the while, other refugees keep Mai connected to her Hmong heritage. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Fourth-Grade Fuss RC 59117
by Johanna Hurwitz
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
Yard sales, ice skating, and class pictures provide plenty of fun for Julio and his pals in the fourth grade. As the end-of-the-year statewide test approaches, the children get serious about studying, but Julio learns there are some surprises you can't prepare for. For grades 3-6. 2004.

A Couple of April Fools: The Hamlet Chronicles RC 59131
by Gregory Maguire
read by Liz Solar
1 cassette
At a Vermont elementary school, April Fool's Day takes on a mysterious tone when teacher Miss Earth goes missing. Suspects include her fiancé and an also absent mutant chicken. The rival boys and girls clubs search the woods for Miss Earth. For grades 3-6. 2004.

No Time for Mother's Day RC 59140
by Laurie Halse Anderson
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Charity Chatfield has only two days left to think of a Mother's Day present. After spending a frantic Saturday running errands with her busy mom, Charity figures out the perfect gift. For grades K-3. 1999.

Summer of the Monkeys RC 59141
by Wilson Rawls
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Late 1800s. While exploring the Ozark river bottom on their farm, fourteen-year-old Jay Berry and his hound dog, Rowdy, find a tree full of escaped circus monkeys. Jay is determined to capture them and earn some reward money to help his family. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1976.

Midnight for Charlie Bone: Children of the Red King, Book 1 RC 59154
by Jenny Nimmo
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Ten-year-old Charlie's relatives discover that he has magical talents inherited from their ancestor the Red King. They send Charlie to the Bloor's Academy, where he makes new friends and solves a mystery. But a wicked branch of the family uses its powers unwisely. For grades 5-8. 2002.

Jess and the Stinky Cowboys RC 59159
by Janice Lee Smith
read by Constance Crawford
1 cassette
When some smelly cowboys who refuse to bathe come to town while the sheriff is away, young Deputy Jess and Deputy Gussy, her aunt, must find a way to enforce the no-stink law. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004.

Rakkety Tam: Redwall Abbey RC 59180
by Brian Jacques
read by Brian Conn
3 cassettes
Warrior squirrel Rakkety Tam leads Redwall Abbey into battle against Gulo the Savage, a bloodthirsty wolverine who will stop at nothing to recover the Walking Stone that will give him the authority to rule the lands of ice beyond the Great Sea. For grades 5-8. 2004.

The E-Mail Murders: A P.C. Hawke Mystery RC 59181
by Paul Zindel
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
High school junior P.C. Hawke and pal Mackenzie accompany Mac's psychiatrist dad to a conference in Monaco, where a psychiatrist colleague is murdered. The teens work with the local police inspector's blind daughter to determine whether the perpetrator is a notorious serial killer or a copycat. For grades 4-7. 2001.

The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung-Cart Knight: A Squire's Tale RC 59182
by Gerald Morris
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
After her mother and guardian are burned as witches, thirteen-year-old Sarah barely survives in the woods. When she witnesses the kidnapping of Queen Guinevere and Sir Kai, Sarah reports it to Camelot and helps rescue the queen. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary: A Sammy Keyes Mystery RC 59183
by Wendelin Van Draanen
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
During a weekend in the country, seventh-grader Sammy and her friends are drawn into a generations-old family feud that involves an old diary, modern-day illegal drugs, and Sammy's stolen skateboard. Eventually Sammy solves the mystery of a burnt-down cabin and learns about trust. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Arthur's April Fool RC 59205
by Marc Brown
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette (Reissue)
It's April first, and Arthur worries about remembering his magic tricks for the school assembly and about big Binky's threats to pulverize him. What Arthur wants most of all is a trick that will make Binky disappear. For grades K-3. 1983.

Rotten Ralph Feels Rotten: Rotten Ralph Rotten Reader RC 59206
by Jack Gantos
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Rotten Ralph begins to appreciate his owner Sarah's healthy home-cooked cat food after he gets sick from eating out of trash cans and has to go to the vet. Easy chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2004.

Iris and Walter and the Substitute Teacher RC 59213
by Elissa Haden Guest
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Iris loves to hear her Grandpa talk about being a school teacher. When her own teacher, Miss Cherry, becomes sick, Iris is surprised to discover her grandfather will be the substitute. Easy chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004.

The Easter Bunny That Overslept RC 59226
by Priscilla Friedrich and Otto Friedrich
read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley
1 cassette (Reissue)
After sleeping through the holiday, the Easter Bunny tries to give away his beautifully painted eggs on Mother's Day, the Fourth of July, and Halloween but no one wants them. Finally, at Christmastime, Santa gets him back on track. For preschool-grade 2. 2002.

Gus and Grandpa and the Piano Lesson RC 59242
by Claudia Mills
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
Gus would rather play outside than practice his music, so his performance at the piano recital does not go well. Then his grandfather shows him that music can be fun. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004.

Rowan and the Ice Creepers: Rowan of Rin RC 59250
by Emily Rodda
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
When a bitter winter threatens starvation for the people of Rin, they depart for the warm coast. Rowan and several companions, however, journey up the mountain, braving ice monsters and other dangers, to find a solution to the cold. Sequel to Rowan and the Zebak (RC 56294). For grades 3-6. 2003.

Under the Watsons' Porch RC 59267
by Susan Shreve
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old Ellie's boring summer becomes exciting when she develops a crush on her new nextdoor neighbor. Thirteen-year-old Tommy has a troubled past, so Ellie's parents forbid her to see him. But the two start a camp for kids and become fast friends. For grades 5-8. 2004.

I Lost My Grandfather's Brain: I Was a Sixth Grade Alien RC 59269
by Bruce Coville
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Pleskit Meenom, the first alien kid to openly attend school on Earth, is struggling through sixth grade. Making matters worse he is featured in a sleazy tabloid; feuds with his best friend, Tim; and loses his Grandfatherly One's major sensory organ. For grades 3-6. 1999.

Colman RC 59316
by Monica Furlong
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
The healer Juniper, her apprentice Wise Child, and Wise Child's cousin Colman flee their village to return to Juniper's home in Cornwall, where Juniper is a princess. They find an evil aunt has taken over the kingdom and imprisoned Juniper's brother. Sequel to Wise Child (RC 29536). For grades 6-9. 2004.

Days of Magic, Nights of War: Abarat, Book 2 RC 59340
by Clive Barker
read by Erin Jones
3 cassettes
Candy Quackenbush's adventures in the Abarat continue. She makes a startling realization about who she is, while the forces of the Night begin plans for war. Sequel to Abarat (RC 56273). Some strong language. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2004.

Horrible Harry and the Locked Closet RC 59346
by Suzy Kline
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Harry and the rest of the third graders are bored after spending a snowy week playing indoors. They decide to investigate a mysterious closet in their school that has been locked for decades. Includes a recipe for making a volcano. Beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2004.

Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit RC 59347
by Paula Danziger
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Amber has trouble coping with fourth grade now that her parents are divorced and her mother has a new boyfriend named Max. But with help from Max and her teacher, Amber picks up her grades, her room, and her spirits. For grades 2-4. 1996.

The Scream Museum: P.C. Hawke Mysteries, Case 1 RC 59353
by Paul Zindel
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
New York City. The Museum of Natural History's head of research is found murdered at work. High school sleuth P.C. Hawke and his classmate Mackenzie come to the defense of their friend Tom Boggs, the museum's assistant custodian, when he is accused of the crime. For grades 4-7. 2001.

Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy: A Sammy Keyes Mystery RC 59363
by Wendelin Van Draanen
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Thirteen-year-old Sammy was abandoned by her mom, Dominique, who followed dreams of stardom to Hollywood. Sammy and her friend Marissa take a bus to find Sammy's mom. But when one of Dominique's roommates is murdered, Sammy investigates and discovers seedy characters and backstabbing actors. For grades 5-8. 2001.

Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic: American Girl History Mysteries RC 59374
by Sarah Masters Buckey
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
In 1925, after witnessing gangster violence in Philadelphia, twelve-year-old Emily accompanies her older sister on a trip to the New Jersey shore. To her horror, Emily discovers that the thugs she saw are now staying at her hotel and that they are bootleggers. For grades 4-7. 2003.

The Chase: Lionboy, Book 2 RC 59382
by Zizou Corder
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Sequel to Lionboy (RC 58007). Charlie's adventures continue as he travels to Venice with a pride of lions. With the evil lion trainer Maccomo in pursuit, Charlie tries to protect the lions while he looks for his kidnapped parents. For grades 4-7. 2004.

Pearl and Wagner: Three Secrets RC 59390
by Kate McMullan
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Pearl, a rabbit, and Wagner, a mouse, are best friends. Together they take a class trip to an ice cream factory and to an amusement park birthday party. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004.

Lovingly Alice: Young Alice RC 59577
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Fifth grade is difficult for Alice as she learns about puberty, her best friend moves, her cat dies, and her father starts dating. On the plus side, her family buys a house and her brother gets his first car. Sequel to Alice in Blunderland (RC 57438). For grades 4-7. 2004.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince RC 60262
by J.K. Rowling
read by Erik Sandvold
4 cassettes
Sequel to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (RC 56062). Harry and his friends return for their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Evil Voldemort's power increases daily, and Harry encounters a prince. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2005.

Foreign Language Books

Spanish

El Bosque de los Pigmeos: Aventura de Jaguar y Aguila, Libro 3 (The Forest of the Pygmies: Jaguar and Eagle Adventure, Book 3) RC 58966
por Isabel Allende
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Alexander Cold, su abuela periodista Kate, y su amiga Nadia andan en busca de una nueva aventura, y deciden viajar a Africa donde no tardan en descubrir un tribu de pigmeos que sufre de corrupción, crueldad y esclavitud. Sigue a El Reino del Dragón de Oro (RC 58103). Para alumnos de enseñanza secundaria y lectores mayores. (Alexander Cold accompanies his journalist grandmother Kate and his friend Nadia on a new adventure to Africa, where they discover a tribe of pygmies suffering corruption, cruelty, and slavery. Sequel to El Reino del Dragón de Oro (RC 58103). For junior and senior high and older readers.) 2004.

Mi Vida (My Life) RC 58960
por Bill Clinton
leído por Juan Ramírez
12 cassettes en 2 cases
Detallada autobiografía de William Jefferson Clinton, el cuadragésimo segundo presidente de los Estados Unidos. Contiene lenguaje injurioso y descripciones explícitas de índole sexual. (Detailed autobiography of William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second American president. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.) 2004.

NLS: Talking Book Topics

In Brief

Flash, October 2005, volume 1, issue 11

Found: Digital talking-book distribution solution

A winning combination

Bridge to the future

Hybrid highlights

Flash, November 2005, volume 1, issue 12

An update on digital talking-book features

Balancing act

Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones

Completed

Start 1/12/04 - Finish 10/1/08

Collection Development Advisory Group seeks advice

American Council of the Blind

Blinded Veterans Association

National Federation of the Blind

Readers-at-large representatives:

Midlands Region

Northern Region

Southern Region

Western Region

Librarians:

Midlands

Northern

Southern

Western

Children's and Young Adult Librarian:

Magazine of the Month selections for 2006

Magazine of the Month

Alternates:

Young Adult Magazine of the Month

Alternates:

Books for Adults

Cassettes Nonfiction

Cassettes Fiction

Books for Children

Cassettes Nonfiction

Cassettes Fiction

Foreign Language Books

Spanish