Site Map      Search the Catalog      Kids Zone      Find a Library      FAQ       Sign Up      Contact Us

Home > Talking Book Topics > July-August, 2006

NLS: Talking Book Topics

July and August, 2006

• In Brief
• Books for Adults
  • Adults: Cassette Nonfiction
  • Adults: Cassette Fiction
• Books for Children
  • Children: Cassette Nonfiction
  • Children: Cassette Fiction
• Foreign Language Books
  • Cassette: Spanish Language

In Brief

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, April 2006, volume 2, issue 5

NLS defines its needs for a digital asset management system

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is committed to ensuring that its digital talking-book (DTB) collection is easily accessible. Organization is a key in facilitating usability. During the next year, NLS will focus on developing a Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) to arrange and store its digital titles. NLS is currently defining the system's requirements, which will guide the selection of a contractor to build the system.

Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director, perceives that "the Digital Asset Management System is a major piece of the digital project. In order to manage the digital collection with the same efficiency as the cassette collection, we are taking advantage of new technology that will support digital management."

DAMS consists of multiple functions that operate together to form a system. It is essentially advanced software that electronically manages large volumes of information or data like the digital talking-book collection for maximum efficiency and ease of handling. DAMS will also engage in various functions central to sustaining a digital collection. NLS automation officer Michael Martys, DAMS project manager, is currently working on defining requirements.

How it will work

DAMS will serve many needs. In addition to managing the collection's content, the system must also facilitate collection accessibility and some aspects of DTB production.

"DAMS is a complex system with a simple goal to make DTBs easily accessible to NLS patrons and librarians,"says Martys. "All of its various functions ultimately work together to achieve that end."

DAMS will support online access to the collection, estimated to be in excess of about 20,000 titles. When patrons submit a title download request, the software will communicate with other NLS computer information systems to fill that order.

Another important DAMS task will be to archive the digital collection. The archive will include both a playable version of the DTB and the master recordings. Efficient archiving provides organized, secure, and centralized storage.

According to Martys, some of the project's top challenges have been finding a storage mode that could accommodate NLS's sizable collection as well as afford users immediate access to the collection. It's a tall order, but DAMS will be customized in an effort to meet those needs.

It will also serve the communication and production needs of a duplication-on-demand (DOD) system, in which titles are duplicated by request at special centers. The program will collect special orders from network libraries and forward them to DOD centers for fulfillment. The DOD centers will then download the requested titles from the DAMS and duplicate copies onto flash- memory cartridges for the libraries.

DAMS will also provide NLS personnel with statistics and data on its internal operations. NLS will use this information to monitor and maintain the system and ensure that it runs smoothly.

Next steps

DAMS will be a focal point in the NLS digital project over the next two years. Once Martys and his team finish defining the system's requirements, they will begin the important work of finding the right contractor to do the job. That search will continue through the end of the year. In early 2007, focus will shift to installing DAMS.

Pilot project to test DAMS functions

Recently NLS began a research and development project to create software that will emulate some of the functions of the Digital Asset Management System (DAMS). The project will test fundamental concepts involved in the development of DAMS. Facilitating title download, production, distribution, and archiving are among DAMS functions that will be tested.

Loading NLS's digital collection, stored on an estimated 160,000 CDs, onto a computer is one of the greatest challenges automation officer Michael Martys and his team face. "If we stacked these CDs one on top of the other, the pile would tower nearly three hundred feet over the Washington Monument," said Martys. NLS engineers are considering the possibility of using robots to help in this process.

Once the titles are loaded and checked by a specially designed computer program, they are encoded with AMR-WB+, a software tool that can compress files to one-thirtieth of their original size with virtually no perceptible loss of sound quality. After the files are loaded and encoded, the system applies copyright protection and converts the files into ZIP format for easy download from the Web.

Flash, May 2006, volume 2, issue 6

NLS conference highlights key features of digital talking-book player

Curl up with a good book, drift off to sleep worry-free the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, has you covered. Sleep mode a new feature available on the digital talking-book machine (DTBM) will enable patrons to set a timer that automatically turns off the player after a specified period. This feature is one of many innovative improvements to the player that were discussed at an NLS conference in Portland, Maine, earlier this month.

"As we approach 2008, the player is drawing nearer to its final form and it's important that we update patrons and librarians on the progress of its design,"says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "The conference offered a great opportunity to discuss key features of the player and collect librarian feedback. We're very pleased by the machine's positive reception."

Several player issues were discussed, including usability, portability, and durability. Users can look forward to a machine designed to meet their needs in all those areas. But can a player this versatile still be user-friendly? NLS wouldn't have it any other way.

"Our goal in designing the new players and in conducting usability tests has been not only to enhance the machine's performance but also to determine which features can best simplify its use," says Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director. "Without question, our patrons' input has been absolutely essential to this process."

A machine that does more than play books

The digital talking-book system affords numerous advantages to users. Chief among these are enhanced audio quality and navigation features. Users will experience crisper, clearer sound when reading their favorite books.

The easy-to-use players offer various navigation features to meet different user requirements and reading styles. Thanks to the automatic bookmark function, patrons need not be concerned with losing their place when they stop reading. The bookmark remembers where users left off in the book even if the machine is turned off. Not even removing the flash cartridge from the player will disrupt this function.

Instructions and audio prompts, available in English or Spanish, are embedded in all machines. The network librarian will select the correct language before sending the players to the users. Users can access instructions any time they need assistance. Machine buttons are very easy to press and will identify themselves and their functions when patrons enable the key-identifier function.

Each time users turn on the power or load new cartridges, the player will announce the book's title. Patrons can also check the machine to determine approximately how much of the book they've read and how much remains. Should readers wish to skip ahead or review what they've read, they can fast-forward or rewind through text quickly. The player announces these actions when they occur. In addition, advanced readers can move instantly from chapter to chapter.

To facilitate usability, cartridge labels will include key information in braille and very large print. Users will also say goodbye to lugging around numerous cassettes containing their reading materials. Almost any title in the NLS collection will fit on a single flash cartridge.

The player's new look will also accommodate readers who are on the go. The streamlined dark charcoal gray machine is smaller and lighter one-third the size and less than half the weight of the current player and includes a built-in handle designed to be easily grasped. This portability will make enjoying books in different locations more convenient.

Players will also operate on rechargeable batteries that support fifteen hours of play time. The machine will verbally warn readers to charge the batteries when they are low to avoid an unexpected loss of power. Patrons can also check the device at any time to determine how much battery time remains.

Serving a diverse audience

Refinements to the digital talking-book machine are guided by an understanding of patrons' diverse preferences. "The improved design and features,"notes Moodie, "will enable DTBMs to better respond to the needs of all patrons and greatly enhance their reading pleasure."

Furthermore, patrons can read as quickly or slowly as they wish by adjusting the machine's speed control. Narration pitch will not change regardless of speed selected.

Color-coding makes the new players more user-friendly to those with low vision. High-contrast color will be applied to frequently used controls, such as volume, play, stop, rewind, and fast- forward, and to a standard-sized stereo headphone jack. Tactile markings and braille labels will also make buttons easily distinguishable. Color-coding extends to flash cartridges, which are white to contrast with the charcoal gray machines. The cartridges will be slightly smaller than cassettes and easy to load into the player.

NLS additionally requires that the new players be compatible with remote control devices so that physically handicapped users may read with more ease. Devices to make remote control possible can be attached through a special USB port.

Built to last

Patrons wouldn't benefit much if the new players required frequent repairs. Durability is therefore an absolute must. Built to survive ten years of daily use without repair, the players will not disappoint. Sealed controls prevent liquids from entering, making players spill-resistant. The dark materials and smooth construction of the players provide the added benefit of not easily trapping or showing dirt.

Machines will even withstand a three-foot drop on all sides and edges onto a concrete floor not to be tried at home. Durability extends to the flash cartridges, which also resist breaking and survive temperature extremes they're subjected to when delivered by mail in hot and cold climates.

Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones

Completed

• Defined and prioritized DTB features.
• Coordinated development and publication of "Specifications for the Digital Talking Book" (ANSI/NISO Z39.86).
• Simulated a DTB player using a personal computer.
• Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis (LCC) model for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems.
• Developed computer software for DTB production and presentation.
• Developed software to test conformance of players and DTBs with the ANSI/NISO standard.
• User survey
• Player transition
• Distribution medium study
• Player and medium design contract awarded
• Distribution system design contract awarded
• Distribution system design contract Phase I completed

Start 1/12/04—Finish 10/1/08

For information on the NLS digital project contact:

Newsstand

The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. Items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement.

InfoEyes online reference service

Network librarians are now available online to answer reference questions. InfoEyes is a cooperative project in which NLS network librarians from eight states Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington work together to respond to patrons' questions over the Internet. InfoEyes assists a diverse population, including students, teachers, parents who are helping children with homework, and curious general readers.

Any eligible patron with a computer and an Internet connection can visit the InfoEyes web site at www.InfoEyes.org . Upon accessing the site, visitors may ask a question by e-mail or set up a time to chat live with a reference librarian. To e-mail a question, select that link on the web page, enter your e-mail address and question, and click the "Ask" button. An InfoEyes librarian will respond to your question.

To chat live with a librarian, you must have a computer with a sound card, microphone, speakers, and the free, special voice-chat software. You can also communicate with a librarian via text- chat. After selecting the live option, you will be able to schedule a time to meet with a librarian one-on-one in an online chat room. Once you are in the chat room, the librarian will discuss your question, help you find sources, and even browse web pages with you.

Books for Adults

Cassettes—Nonfiction

Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress      RC 58851
by Olympia Dukakis
read by Miriam Wagner
2 cassettes
Academy Award-winning actress, director, and producer looks back on her life and decades-long career. Dukakis, a first generation Greek American born in 1931, discusses balancing two cultures and defying ethnic and gender bias to succeed, most notably in her breakout role in Moonstruck, for which she won an Oscar in 1988. 2003.

The Life and Times of Mexico       RC 59103
by Earl Shorris
read by Peter Gil
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Author of Latinos (RC 37272) provides a history of Mexico from the Aztecs to the "telenovelas." Using the Mexican concepts of head (Tonalli), heart (Teyolia), and liver (Ihiyotl), separate sections examine history and philosophy; art, literature, and family; and education, politics, economics, and survival. 2004.

The Elephants of Style: A Trunkload of Tips on the Big Issues and Gray Areas of Contemporary American English      RC 59150
by Bill Walsh
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Washington Post national news copy chief presents a guide to major elements of writing style that cause disagreement in the educational community. Covers the basics of grammar and usage including spelling, capitalization, abbreviations, punctuation, subject-verb agreement, plurals, possessives, and more. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Red Sky at Morning: America and the Crisis of the Global Environment       RC 59168
by James Gustave Speth
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Study by professor and environmental policy advisor to presidents Carter and Clinton contends that international treaties and negotiations have proved unsuccessful in protecting the global environment. Offers eight steps to counter U.S. leadership failures and combat such ecological threats as climate change and deforestation. 2004.

Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite: Twenty-one Timeless Skills Every Child Should Know (and Any Parent Can Teach!)      RC 59169
by Jeffrey Lee
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Family doctor offers step-by-step instructions for teaching children various skills. He advises parents to think like beginners and to know their children and what they are ready to do. Includes lessons for riding a bike, baking bread, eating with chopsticks, spinning a yo-yo, and juggling. 2004.

Strangely like War: The Global Assault on Forests; a Politics of the Living Book      RC 59441
by Derrick Jensen and George Draffan
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
Conservation activists address the ecological crisis posed by large-scale, worldwide deforestation. The authors expose various governments' roles in abetting corporate irresponsibility, debunk myths perpetuated by the timber industries, link the practice to globalization, and speculate on the future. Also includes a list of resources for getting involved. 2003.

The Cyanide Canary      RC 59498
by Joseph Hilldorfer and Robert Dugoni
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Account of a healthy twenty-year-old's experience of near death and severe brain damage after being forced to clean a storage tank containing cyanide. Describes the circumstances surrounding the incident and recounts environmental crime specialist Hilldorfer's investigation of the case. Also reports on the subsequent EPA efforts to enforce industrial pollution laws. 2004.

What Keeps Me Standing: A Black Grandmother's Guide to Peace, Hope, and Inspiration      RC 59539
by Dennis Kimbro
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Collection of letters, poems, and prayers of African American matriarchs, compiled by a motivational speaker whose topical observations begin each chapter. Writing for future generations, the diverse women share their thoughts on faith, family, education, and overcoming adversity. 2003.

Tomorrow's God: Our Greatest Spiritual Challenge      RC 59546
by Neale Donald Walsch
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
As in his other "With God" books, Walsch presents material in the form of a conversation with God. Topics include a new concept of the deity, humanity's not-too-distant future, and the author's belief in each individual's capacity to change the course of history by creating a "new world." 2004.

Go It Alone! The Secret to Building a Successful Business on Your Own     RC 59638
by Bruce Judson
read by Don Feldheim
2 cassettes
Expert in marketing and entrepreneurship offers advice on launching a business without substantial capital or employees but with "energy, determination, and discipline." Drawing on his own companies' success, Judson debunks start-up myths. Also discusses conceptualizing, limiting risk, avoiding failures, and surviving in the competitive business market. 2004.

Wedding Chic: The Savvy Bride's Guide to Getting More while Spending Less     RC 59643
by Nina Willdorf
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Practical information on planning a classy wedding without overspending. Includes advice on saving money on dresses, receptions, flowers, entertainment, photographers, honeymoons, and more. 2004.

Sara and Eleanor: The Story of Sara Delano Roosevelt and Her Daughter-in-Law, Eleanor Roosevelt     RC 59652
by Jan Pottker
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Chronicles the life of Sara Delano Roosevelt, mother of President Franklin Roosevelt, and her relationship with Franklin's wife, Eleanor. Portrays Sara as one of America's beloved women from the 1920s to the 1940s, who guided her son with Victorian values, supported the family financially, and raised the grandchildren. 2004.

A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America      RC 59682
by Stacy Schiff
read by Susan Denaker
4 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer reconstructs Benjamin Franklin's seven-year sojourn in France. Chronicles the political and social intrigues of eighteenth-century Paris. Claims Franklin's negotiated French-American alliance led ultimately to the colonies' independence from Britain and a bond with France that lasted two centuries. 2005.

The Stories of English      RC 59720
by David Crystal
read by Phyllis Fabara
6 cassettes
Linguistics professor traces the diverse forces that have shaped the English language. Presents a chronology of its development from Old and Middle English to the modern language in its many variants. Interweaves accounts of dialects, creoles, and vernaculars used in speech and writing around the world. 2004.

The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery      RC 59721
edited by Linda Garland Page and Eliot Wigginton
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
More than five hundred Appalachian recipes for beverages, game, vegetables including hominy and poke, breads, and desserts. Describes mountain food as unpretentious, solid, and filling. Considers meal preparation as a friendship-cementing event rather than a chore. Includes tips on fireplace and woodstove cooking and feeding crowds. 1984.

No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting      RC 59722
by Anne L. Macdonald
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Historian and lifelong knitter presents a history of knitting in America from colonial times to the 1980s. Using magazine articles, knitting brochures, and responses from knitters around the country, Macdonald shows how needlework as a necessity, or for pleasure, shaped the lives of women throughout the years. 1988.

Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook: Everyday Meals, Easy as 1-2-3      RC 59730
by Betty Crocker
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
One hundred forty recipes from Betty Crocker and the International Diabetes Center, with medical and nutritional information from an endocrinologist and two registered dietitians. Includes recipes for meals and snack time and a week of suggested menus. 2003.

Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder      RC 59735
by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Physicians and authors of Driven to Distraction (RC 43288) continue their study of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and suggest ways of managing it. Discusses diagnosis, medication, nutrition, and other therapies. Includes testimonies by patients and the authors, who have ADD themselves. 2005.

And if I Perish: Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II     RC 59736
by Evelyn M. Monahan and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee
read by Jill Fox
4 cassettes
Based on interviews, two Vietnam-era military nurses document the contributions of their counterparts in the World War II African and European theaters. Provides background information on the battles and graphically describes the primitive conditions under which the women worked. Violence. 2003.

Simply Einstein: Relativity Demystified     RC 59742
by Richard Wolfson
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Physicist explains for nonscientists the underlying principles of Einstein's theory of relativity. Explores the history of ideas that culminated in Einstein's vision of a four-dimensional universe of relativistic space-time. The author anticipates frequently asked questions by discussing time travel, curved space, black holes, and new meanings for past and future. 2003.

Foods of the Americas: Native Recipes and Traditions      RC 59743
by Fernando Divina and Marlene Divina
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Introduces culinary practices of the Western Hemisphere, from indigenous customs to the use of local ingredients. Provides recipes for preparing exotic dishes with modern cooking techniques. Includes appetizers, relishes, soups, wild game, fish/seafood, breads, desserts, and beverages. 2004.

Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944–1945     RC 59750
by Max Hastings
read by Dan Willems
5 cassettes
Military historian details the collapse of the Third Reich from the perspectives of the western Allies, the Soviets, and the Germans. Uses Russian archival material and interviews with veterans to explain strategic blunders on all sides and document atrocities committed against both soldiers and civilians. Violence. 2004.

A Question of Loyalty: Gen. Billy Mitchell and the Court-Martial That Gripped the Nation     RC 59755
by Douglas Waller
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Reconstructs the 1925 insubordination trial of World War I brigadier general Billy Mitchell, the "intellectual father" of the Air Force. Describes the aviation hero both as a brilliant and innovative officer and also as an egotistic opportunist whose public condemnation of his superiors led to his downfall. 2004.

The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time: Wit and Wisdom from the Popular "On Language" Column in the New York Times Magazine      RC 59758
by William Safire
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
Grammatical musings by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, wordsmith, and author of Watching My Language (RC 45911). Safire expounds on the origins and meanings of contemporary phrases and linguistic trends pulled from politics, current events, science and technology, entertainment, and daily life. Arranged alphabetically. Also includes readers' responses to his columns. 2004.

Start Late, Finish Rich: A No-Fail Plan for Achieving Financial Freedom at Any Age: The Finish Rich Series      RC 59768
by David Bach
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
The author of The Automatic Millionaire (RC 57712) and Smart Women Finish Rich (RC 58949) advises people who have neglected to manage money. Outlines saving, cutting credit card debt, budgeting, creating a self-directed retirement account, investing in the stock market, owning a home, getting a raise, and more. Bestseller. 2005.

Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe      RC 59786
by Laurence Bergreen
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Chronicles the epic sixteenth-century voyage of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who sailed from Spain to find a route to the Spice Islands and a passageway through the Americas. Details hardships and adventures during the three-year odyssey, which Magellan himself did not survive. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2003.

The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith     RC 59787
by Marcus J. Borg
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Historian and professor of religion examines Christianity in the twenty-first century. Contrasts an emerging paradigm produced by Christianity's encounter with the modern world that allows transformation and salvation in the here and now with an earlier paradigm that demands belief for the sake of salvation later. 2003.

Winning the Future: A Twenty-first Century Contract with America     RC 59797
by Newt Gingrich
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (1994–1998) outlines challenges to the United States ten years after his original Contract with America. Suggests ways to guard the country against terrorism and reform domestic programs like Social Security, the courts, Medicare, and others. Bestseller. 2005.

Seven Steps to Stop a Heart Attack      RC 59805
by Bob Arnot
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Physician makes recommendations for preventing heart attacks. Explains warning signs, risk factors, diagnostic tests, medications, and lifestyle changes necessary to avoid sudden death. 2005.

Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver      RC 59807
by Scott Stossel
read by Mark Ashby
5 cassettes
Biography covering Shriver's World War II navy service and 1960s leadership of the Peace Corps, War on Poverty, and other programs. Details his cofounding of the Special Olympics with his wife, the former Eunice Kennedy, appointment as ambassador to France, and political career. Foreword by Bill Moyers. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

Cuba: A New History      RC 59813
by Richard Gott
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
British journalist provides a European perspective on the history of the Caribbean island nation of Cuba from its pre-Columbian origins to the early twenty-first century. Discusses Spanish occupation, independence, the early Cuban republic, and the rise and rule of Fidel Castro, emphasizing Cuba's revolutionary past and racial divisions. 2004.

Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul: Stories about Life, Death, and Overcoming the Loss of a Loved One      RC 59815
by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
read by Mary Beth Wise
2 cassettes
Accounts of people who have lost a loved one. Each story details the particular death and explains how the author dealt with grief and found the courage to go on. Sections include "Final Gifts," "Coping and Healing," "Special Moments," and "Living Again." 2003.

Nasser: The Last Arab      RC 59827
by Sand K. Aburish
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Freelance journalist's portrait of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970). Asserts that Nasser's multiple failures, including not reconciling his pro-Western inclinations with the people's needs, not developing durable political organizations, and not reining in the House of Saud, led to the collapse of his dream of pan-Arab unity. 2004.,

Green River, Running Red: The Real Story of the Green River Killer—America's Deadliest Serial Murderer      RC 59828
by Ann Rule
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Crime journalist analyzes the twenty-two-year search for a serial killer who terrorized the Seattle area and murdered more than fifty prostitutes. Traces the victims' lives while assessing the police investigation that led to Gary Ridgway's confession in 2003. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2004.

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior     RC 59860
by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson
read by Constance Crawford
3 cassettes
Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures(RC 43272), theorizes that autistic individuals experience the world as animals do—through direct sensory perception rather than abstract thinking. Grandin, herself autistic, and Johnson combine insights about autistic people with animal facts and anecdotes to reinterpret he capabilities and strengths of both groups. Bestseller. 2005.

The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy      RC 59899
by T.R. Reid
read by Todd Scofield
3 cassettes
Washington Post reporter and National Public Radio commentator posits that the twenty-five nations (each briefly described) comprising the European Union will surpass the United States as the leading world power in the twenty-first century. Reid explores international economics, Europe's welfare society, and American preoccupation with military power. 2004.

Brave New World Revisited      RC 59911
by Aldous Huxley
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
Series of essays in which the author examines various threats to human freedom predicted in his 1930s satirical novel Brave New World (RC 47108). Discusses overpopulation, government propaganda, brainwashing, chemically induced as well as subconsciously suggested persuasion, and education, along with possible countermeasures. 1958.

We Are All the Same: A Story of a Boy's Courage and a Mother's Love      RC 59919
by Jim Wooten
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Award-winning television news correspondent's biography of Nkosi Johnson, a Zulu boy born with AIDS who was adopted by a white South African. Tells how Nkosi held to his mantra "we are all the same" and raised worldwide awareness of AIDS, apartheid, and prejudice before he died at age twelve. 2004.

The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror      RC 59921
by Natan Sharansky
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
The Israeli cabinet minister, a former Soviet dissident and author of Fear No Evil (RC 28440), posits that democracy is possible in Arab cultures. Advises free countries not to lose moral clarity while advancing peace and security. Calls for a new international institution of free nations. Bestseller. 2004.

God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It      RC 59930
by Jim Wallis
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Evangelical columnist offers his vision for the role of faith in politics. Examines the polarizing debate between right-wing religious groups and secular fundamentalists. Contends separation of church and state does not require eliminating faith-based discourse from public forums, especially regarding international relations, economic justice, and social issues. Bestseller. 2005.

One Hundred Words Every High School Freshman Should Know      RC 59931
by American Heritage Dictionaries
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Selected vocabulary organized from A to Z includes straightforward terms and typical items from textbooks for grades 7 and 8. Definitions are accompanied by example sentences from familiar authors. Includes a few exercises to build vocabulary. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge      RC 59940
by Jim Schutze
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Journalist investigates the 1993 Florida slaying of twenty-year-old Bobby Kent at the hands of seven young people. Depicts the lifestyle of the victim and his killers as suburban and middle-class but decadent. Describes the trial that followed, including the "urban psychosis" defense theory. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1997.

Real Men Work in the Pits: A Life in NASCAR Racing      RC 59941
by Jeff Hammond
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
TV commentator Hammond describes his life and career at the racetrack, from a boyhood spent fixing race cars to his work with famous NASCAR drivers Junior Johnson and Darrell Waltrip. Discusses technological advances and changing policies in the auto racing business since the 1970s. 2005.

One Hundred Words Almost Everyone Confuses and Misuses      RC 59951
by American Heritage Dictionaries
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
This guide to the most troublesome words in the English language clearly explains everyday pitfalls such as the difference between "flaunt" and "flout." Examples of proper usage include many quotations from well-known authors. Companion to One Hundred Words Every High School Graduate Should Know (RC 58357). 2004.

Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America      RC 59952
by Mark R. Levin
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Legal scholar asserts that the U.S. Supreme Court is subverting the constitution in favor of a liberal agenda. Documents cases where the justices took sides in the culture war, gave rights to terrorists and illegal immigrants, legislated from the bench, and eroded states' rights. Introduction by Rush Limbaugh. Bestseller. 2005.

One Hundred Two Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive inside the Twin Towers     RC 59954
by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Reporters interview survivors and read radio transcripts, phone messages, e-mails, and other accounts to describe conditions inside the World Trade Center between the first terrorist attack and the towers' collapse on September 11, 2001. Documents communication problems, agency in-fighting, and architectural structural failures that caused unnecessary deaths. Bestseller. 2005.

My Life So Far      RC 59956
by Jane Fonda
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Autobiography of Academy Award-winning actress who describes a childhood shaped by her father's acting fame and her mother's mental illness. Covers her film career, marriages, controversial political activism during the Vietnam War, and philanthropic work. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness      RC 59965
by Dave Ramsey
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Radio talk-show host offers his optimistic, comprehensive plan to "get out of debt, regain control, and build wealth." Debunks money myths about debt consolidation, car leases, credit cards, cash advances, and other schemes. Discusses ways to save money for emergencies, college funds, and retirement. Includes success stories. 2003.

America's Top One Hundred Jobs for People without a Four-Year Degree: Great Jobs with a Promising Future      RC 59966
by Ronald L. Krannich and Caryl Rae Krannich
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Former university professors and authors of career books present a guide to finding secure positions with opportunities for advancement. Covers nine major fields, including medicine, computers, science, construction, sports, and travel. Profiles the salary, nature of work, and working conditions for each category. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction      RC 59971
by Damien Keown
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Concise guide to Buddhism as a religion and a way of life. Examines the life and teachings of Buddha, the development of Buddhist thought and practice, and the relevance of the faith to contemporary issues. Explores key topics of karma, rebirth, meditation, ethics, Buddhism in the West, and more. 1996.

The Case for Israel      RC 59972
by Alan Dershowitz
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Famed Harvard law professor and author of The Vanishing American Jew (RC 45524) justifies Israel's "right to exist, to protect its citizens . . . and to defend its borders." Reviews the history of Middle East conflict and refutes what he claims are "contentious and one-sided accusations" that vilify Israel and its culture. 2003.

Naming Beckett's Unnamable      RC 59973
by Gary Adelman
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Professor examines the major prose of Nobel Prize-winning Irish-born novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett (1906–1989). Includes criticism of works published from 1946 to 1970: How It Is (RC 52613), Texts for Nothing, The Lost Ones, and Complete Short Prose (RC 55580). 2004.

Teachings of the Hindu Mystics      RC 59985
edited by Andrew Harvey
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Anthology of Hindu poems, meditations, and philosophical texts emphasizing Tantric tradition and the yoga of devotion. Includes writings of Mirabai (circa 1498–1546), Ramprasad (1718–1775), and Aurobindo (1872–1950) and excerpts from sacred scriptures The Upanishads (RC 59044), The Bhagavad Gita (RC 44109), and The Rig Veda (RC 57924). 2001.

Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books      RC 59987
by Aaron Lansky
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
Founder and president of the National Yiddish Book Center reflects on his three-decade quest to locate and preserve surviving texts of central and eastern European Jews. Lansky relates his most memorable salvage missions while examining the roots, cultural relevance, notable writers, and literary heritage of the Yiddish language. 2004.

Monster Careers: How to Land the Job of Your Life      RC 60010
by Jeff Taylor
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Step-by-step guidebook with updated basics of job searching for first-timers, career changers, and those over fifty. Topics include the right attitude, your job-search portfolio, the resume that sells, and best-deal negotiation. Discusses networking, interviewing, and defining what you want to do. 2004.

Atkins Diabetes Revolution: The Groundbreaking Approach to Preventing and Controlling Type 2 Diabetes      RC 60011
by Mary C. Vernon and Jacqueline A. Eberstein
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Two colleagues of Atkins apply the late physician's principles to the care of diabetes. They suggest diet and lifestyle changes to alter the body's metabolism, in contrast to the American Diabetes Association's emphasis on a high-carb diet and medications. Includes meal plans, recipes, and fitness programs. 2004.

Love and Death in Kathmandu: A Strange Tale of Royal Murder      RC 60015
by Amy Willesee and Mark Whittaker
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
Award-winning journalists examine the June 2001 massacre of the Nepalese royal family by twenty-nine-year-old crown prince Dipendra, who gunned down the king, queen, and others before shooting himself. Authors attribute the tragedy to a rift caused by Dipendra's forbidden love affair with a beautiful aristocrat. Some violence. 2003.

Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big      RC 60020
by Jose Canseco
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Cuban-born former baseball player reveals his and his teammates' steroid use during his time with the Oakland Athletics and other clubs. Claims he "single-handedly changed the game of baseball" by introducing steroids in 1985. Details his career, the 1994 strike, racism, and his personal life. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

The Abu Ghraib Investigations: The Official Reports of the Independent Panel and Pentagon on the Shocking Prisoner Abuse in Iraq      RC 60032
edited by Steven Strasser
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
1 cassette
Former Newsweek editor presents excerpts from the Final Report of the Independent Panel to Review Department of Defense Detention Operations and from Major General Fay's investigation of U.S. troops' abuse of Iraqi prisoners in 2003. Includes official military interrogation policies and an introductory essay by Craig R. Whitney. 2004.

It's My Party Too: The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of America      RC 60090
by Christine Todd Whitman
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Former head of the Environmental Protection Agency and governor of New Jersey posits that the Republican Party has shifted too far to the right. Advocates a return to basic issues of fiscal restraint and small government. Recalls her career in politics and past party successes. 2005.

City Room      RC 60092
by Arthur Gelb
read by Michael Scherer
6 cassettes
New York Times journalist recalls his career at the paper where he started in 1944 as a copyboy and retired as managing editor forty-five years later. Reminisces about the old city room, New York's scandals and social scene, the paper's evolution as a workplace, and its internal politics. 2003.

I'm Too Young to Have Breast Cancer! Regain Control of Your Life, Career, Family, Sexuality, and Faith      RC 60099
by Beth Leibson-Hawkins
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Breast cancer survivors under the age of forty offer advice on coping with daily issues that confront young women diagnosed with the disease. Sixteen voices volunteer information on work, family and sexual relationships, future pregnancies, support groups, and spirituality. 2004.

Kit Carson and His Three Wives: A Family History      RC 60102
by Marc Simmons
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Historian's biography of frontiersman Christopher "Kit" Carson and his marriages to Arapaho woman Waa-nibe, Cheyenne native Making Out Road, and New Mexican Josefa Jaramillo. Simmons stresses the tensions between Carson's struggle to be a family man and his wanderlust. 2003.

George Balanchine: The Ballet Maker      RC 60117
by Robert Gottlieb
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Biography of George Balanchine by dance critic and former member of the New York City Ballet board of directors. Describes Balanchine's accidental enrollment in the Imperial School of Ballet and Theater and eventual success as a choreographer for ballets, movies, and Broadway musicals. 2004.

Blood Will Tell      RC 60118
by Carlton Smith
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Describes the 2000 murder of Palo Alto music teacher Kristine Fitzhugh. Traces the investigation that followed, beginning with the immediate identification of a suspect, the victim's husband of thirty-three years, although he had no apparent motive. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.

Dear Valued Customer, You Are a Loser: And Over One Hundred Other Embarrassing and Funny Stories of Technology Gone Mad      RC 60130
by Rick Broadhead
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Author, literary agent, and entrepreneur presents a selection of more than one hundred anecdotes documenting humorous, bizarre, or unfortunate incidents enabled by technology. He recounts e-mail gags and gaffes, banking blunders, high-tech hoaxes, telecom snafus, media mistakes, and government glitches. 2004.

For Younger Readers: Braille and Talking Books, 2000—2001      RC 60131
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Catalog of books for children, from preschool to high school, produced in braille and audiocassette formats by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped during 2000 and 2001. Includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, and young adults. 2001.

Helping Your Teenager Beat Depression: A Problem-Solving Approach for Families      RC 60138
by Katharina Manassis and Anne Marie Levac
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
A child psychiatrist and a family nursing specialist offer parents a program to help them assist their teens in fighting depression. Involves four steps: label their own thoughts about their teen's behavior, empathize with teen's perspective, apply alternative responses, and pick a time to evaluate and plan ahead. 2004.

Home-Based Business for Dummies      RC 60139
by Paul Edwards and Sarah Edwards
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Self-employment and business experts offer practical advice for launching and managing a business from your home. Includes tips on starting from scratch or buying a franchise, marketing, pricing, avoiding scams, setting up an office, choosing health care coverage, utilizing the Internet, and more. Also discusses legal, financial, and tax concerns. 2000.

A Deadly Game: The Untold Story of the Scott Peterson Investigation      RC 60149
by Catherine Crier
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Former judge analyzes the California murder case and evidence that Scott Peterson murdered his pregnant wife, Laci, on December 24, 2002, because he had a sociopathic personality. Reconstructs the police investigation, Peterson's suspicious behavior, family dynamics, and the trial that sent Scott to death row. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Lyrics, 1962—2001      RC 60150
by Bob Dylan
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Compilation of song lyrics from twenty-eight albums by the influential and sometimes cryptic singer-songwriter. Ranges from his first album, Bob Dylan (1962), through 2001's Love and Theft, with some additional material. 2004.

Jim Tolpin's Woodworking Wit and Wisdom: Thirty Years of Lessons from the Trade      RC 60151
by Jim Tolpin
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Cabinetmaker offers sixty essential lessons he learned from decades in the woodworking business and gleaned from expert carpenters and boat builders. Discusses shops, tools, design, and working with wood. 2004.

Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly: Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker      RC 60157
by Phyllis Pellman Good
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
More than 500 recipes for foods prepared using slow cookers. Includes main courses, soups, vegetables, desserts, appetizers, beverages, breads, and more. Companion to Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook (RC 54912). 2004.

Twenty Tellable Tales: Audience Participation Folktales for the Beginning Storyteller      RC 60164
by Margaret Read MacDonald
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Master storyteller shares twenty classic multicultural tales adapted to oral presentation with chants, songs, and repeating lines. Offers tips on memorization, rehearsal, and performance as well as suggestions for developing style, finding new tales, creating variations, and involving listeners. Stories include explanatory notes. 2005.

The Sweet Potato Queens' Field Guide to Men: Every Man I Love Is Either Married, Gay, or Dead      RC 60173
by Jill Conner Browne
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
The author follows up her previous guide, The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love (RC 53169), with a manual on understanding the habits of men. She divides men into eight "spud" categories and discusses their care, feeding, and maintenance. Also includes several recipes. Strong language. 2004.

Nightmare in Wichita: The Hunt for the BTK Strangler      RC 60180
by Robert Beattie
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Lawyer chronicles the more-than-three-decade search for the self-named serial killer BTK (bind, torture, kill), who terrorized Wichita, Kansas, residents. Begins with the 1974 discovery of the first-known victims, summarizes the murderer's media correspondence, and follows the case through the 2005 arrest of Dennis Rader. Violence. Bestseller. 2005.

One Soldier's Story: A Memoir      RC 60181
by Bob Dole
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Former U.S. senator from Kansas describes his enlistment into the elite U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division as a lieutenant during World War II. Chronicles the April 14, 1945, battle in Italy that paralyzed him, his long recovery, first marriage, and entry into civilian life and the political sphere. Bestseller. 2005.

Cut and Carve Candles: Beautiful Candles to Dip, Carve, Twist, and Curl      RC 60182
by Dana Marie Brooks
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Techniques for creating fanciful candles using a dipping process to add multiple layers of colored wax to a handmade or store-bought candle, then carving the wax to create a sculpture. Includes step-by-step instructions for more than twenty projects and tips on incorporating other materials like shells and decals. 2004.

One Magical Sunday (but Winning Isn't Everything)     RC 60329
by Phil Mickelson
read by Phil Mickelson
1 cassette
Golfer Mickelson recalls his life and the events of Sunday, April 11, 2004, when he won the Masters at Augusta, Georgia. Formerly known as the "best player never to have won a major championship," he examines influences from family and career as he recounts the tournament hole by hole. 2005.

1776      RC 60330
by David McCullough
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian chronicles the struggles of the Continental Army during the disastrous year of 1776. Highlights George Washington's failed New York campaign and the retreat across New Jersey. Assesses the political, economic, and social problems the young nation encountered during the turbulent months from August to December. Bestseller. 2005.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man      RC 60331
by John Perkins
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Former international economic consultant deplores the practice of extending foreign loans that foster the interests of American government, banks, and corporations and that lead to U.S. control of third world economies. Alleges the impoverishment of millions through such globalization in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and South America. Bestseller. 2004.

A Lotus Grows in the Mud      RC 60332
by Goldie Hawn
read by Megan Burnett
3 cassettes
Memoir of movie and TV actress Goldie Hawn. Discusses her childhood in a Washington, D.C. suburb, her career start in New York, role on the 1960s comedy series Laugh-In, and subsequent film roles. Also reminisces about her private life and search for enlightenment. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise      RC 60333
by Ruth Reichl
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Nineteen-nineties New York Times food critic describes putting on character disguises to maintain anonymity during restaurant visits. She reveals the ways different personas unexpectedly affected her reviews and taught her lessons about character, expectations, and appetites. Includes recipes. Sequel to Comfort Me with Apples (RC 52508). Bestseller. 2005.

For Younger Readers: Braille and Talking Books, 2002—2003      RC 60335
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Catalog of books for children, from preschool to high school, produced in braille and audiocassette formats by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped during 2002 and 2003. Includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, young adults, and books in Spanish. 2005.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything     RC 60337
by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Writer Stephen Dubner explains the offbeat issues that intrigue award-winning economist and coauthor Steven Levitt. Explores everyday riddles such as the link between legalized abortion and the crime rate, the effect of parents' income and ethnicity on naming babies, and the motivations of real estate agents. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety     RC 60353
by Judith Warner
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Author of Hillary Clinton (RC 37186) provides a cultural critique of twenty-first-century American motherhood using 150 interviews with middle- and upper-middle-class mothers. Posits that stresses from overparenting poison contemporary motherhood and that sociological changes and government programs would help support families. 2005.

Jack: The Great Seducer; the Life and Many Loves of Jack Nicholson     RC 60357
by Edward Douglas
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
In this biography of Academy Award-winning movie star Jack Nicholson, Edwards calls Nicholson "the leading American actor of his time, with seventy-eight movies in forty-five years." Describes Nicholson's New Jersey childhood, film career, womanizing ways, and family secrets. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

You Drive Me Crazy: Love Poems for Real Life     RC 60369
edited by Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Vélez
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
A gathering of love poems treating various stages of long-term relationships: initial ecstasy, stability, monotony, uncertainty, misery, and clarity. The editors' essays introduce classics by John Donne, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson and modern pieces by Dorothy Parker, Donald Hall, and Louise Glück, among others. 2005.

Poetry and Prose     RC 60405
by Heinrich Heine
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
Selected poetic works and essays by the German writer Heinrich Heine (1797–1856). His lyric poetry is presented in the original German followed by an English translation. Two works of narrative prose, "The Harz Journey" and "Ideas: Book Le Grand," and the epic poem "Germany: A Winter's Tale" are in English only. 1982.

Sex and Love for Grownups: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Life of Passion     RC 60412
by Sallie Foley
read by Sharon Murray
1 cassette
Certified marital and sex therapist answers questions written to the "Modern Love" column in AARP The Magazine for middle-aged people. Topics include finding new love, maintaining sexual health, understanding dating etiquette, and resolving conflicts between couples. Includes resources. Some descriptions of sex. 2005.

No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah     RC 60649
by Bing West
read by Robertson Dean
3 cassettes
Coauthor of The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division (RC 57350), a former marine who became an imbedded journalist, analyzes the battle of Fallujah, Iraq, in March 2004. Describes the political and military maneuvering that led to this intense confrontation. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned     RC 60651
by Alan Alda
read by Marc Cashman
2 cassettes
Memoir of the M*A*S*H actor recalls his life onstage and off. Describes his bittersweet upbringing backstage by his burlesque actor father and mentally ill mother, major turning points in his career, and lessons he's learned along the way. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

My Detachment: A Memoir     RC 60658
by Tracy Kidder
read by Tracy Kidder
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who joined the ROTC while a student at Harvard, describes his one-year army intelligence service during the Vietnam War. He assesses the military culture and bureaucratic machinations at the rear base camp where, as a lieutenant, he commanded eight enlisted men. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Adults: Cassette Fiction

One More Time: Just for the Fun of It! Notes from FairAcres    
RC 57532
by Effie Leland Wilder
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Miss Hattie, in this sequel to Older but Wilder (RC 56395), continues her anecdotes about the South Carolina retirement home she lives in. The residents enjoy the simple pleasures of remembering the old days and starting their own band. 1999.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant     RC 58805
by Anne Tyler
read by Celeste Lawson
3 cassettes (Reissue)
When her flamboyant husband deserted their Baltimore family in 1944, Pearl Tull was forced to raise young Cody, Ezra, and Jenny on her own. Now, even after her death at age eighty-five, Pearl continues to influence the disjointed lives of her middle-aged children. Some strong language. 1982.

The Color Purple     RC 58842
by Alice Walker
read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Follows two black sisters-Nettie, a missionary, and Celie, raped by her father and married to a cruel man. Nettie's letters do not reach Celie, and Celie's shame is so great that she writes only to God. Anniversary edition includes Walker's 1992 preface. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Pulitzer Prize. 1982.

Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles     RC 59052
by Cathy Hopkins
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Nesta's London friends accuse her of being shallow for liking only boys with good looks. When she falls in love with Luke, a gorgeous guy in her acting class, her father forbids her to see him. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.

Moon of Bitter Cold     RC 59067
by Frederick J. Chiaventone
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
A novelization of the frontier conflict known as Red Cloud's War (1866-1868). Red Cloud-a controversial figure in Lakota history-watches as settlers and soldiers flood the West. To drive them back the warrior forges an alliance among the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and his own people-an unprecedented act of resistance. Strong language and some violence. Wrangler Award. 2002.

The Bug     RC 59120
by Ellen Ullman
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
1984. A Superbowl ad introduces the Mac, opening doors to home computing. And bugs. Roberta, a linguist and quality assurance specialist, discovers UI-1017, an elusive computer virus that wreaks havoc on the lives of its inadvertent creators and on the Silicon Valley industry. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

The Marine: A Novel of War from Guadalcanal to Korea     RC 59170
by James Brady
read by Don Hagen
3 cassettes
In 1950, nearly five years after his Pacific tour of duty in WW II, U.S. marine Lieutenant Colonel James T. "Oliver" Cromwell travels to Seoul as the mbassador's military attaché. He finds himself in combat again when South Korea is invaded by the North. Some strong language. 2003.

A Perfect Day     RC 59231
by Richard Paul Evans
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
When Robert Harlan is fired from his job, he takes the opportunity to pursue his dream of writing a novel, with his wife Allyson's blessing. His book becomes a bestseller, and, with Robert constantly on the road, their marriage suffers. Then a stranger tells Robert he will soon die. Bestseller. 2003.

The Photograph     RC 59232
by Penelope Lively
read by Kate Kiley
2 cassettes
Southern England. Sifting through long-buried files, Glyn Peters discovers a compromising photograph that suggests that his late wife, Kath, had an affair with her sister Elaine's husband, Nick. With years of intimate relationships now in question, Glyn, Elaine, Nick, and others reexamine their lives and previously hidden secrets and deceits. Some strong language. 2003.

The Grand Tour; or, The Purloined Coronation Regalia: Being a Revelation of Matters of High Confidentiality and Greatest Importance, Including Extracts from the Intimate Diary of a Noblewoman and the Sworn Testimony of a Lady of Quality     RC 59247
by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
read by Corrie James
3 cassettes
1817. English cousins Cecelia and Kate have a double wedding and joint honeymoon during which they become entangled in a mysterious plot to create a magical Emperor of Europe. Sequel to Sorcery and Cecelia (RC 57183). For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

The Ring of the Slave Prince     RC 59308
by Bjarne Reuter
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Caribbean, 1639. Fourteen-year-old Tom O'Connor rescues a shipwrecked castaway and a slave. He learns there's a large reward for returning the slave, a prince, to Africa. When the two disappear, Tom embarks on a dangerous quest to recapture them and make his fortune. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

The Accusers: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery     RC 59321
by Lindsey Davis
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Ancient Rome. Convicted of corruption, senator Rubirius Metellus appears to have killed himself to protect his family's fortune. Metellus's former prosecutor hires private informer Marcus Didius Falco, last seen in The Jupiter Myth (RC 58581), to prove Metellus's death was murder. While investigating, Falco becomes tangled in upper- class scandal. 2003.

The Hot Flash Club     RC 59327
by Nancy Thayer
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
Four menopausal women collaborate to solve their problems. Paleobiologist Marilyn mistrusts her son's fiancée. Thrice-divorced masseuse Shirley hopes to open a spa-retreat. African American executive Alice senses younger colleagues want her job. Widowed artist Faye worries that her son-in-law cheats. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

Jacob Have I Loved     RC 59388
by Katherine Paterson
read by Nicola Daval
1 cassette (Reissue)
Louise has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful twin sister on a tiny Chesapeake Bay island. Tomboy Louise grows up hating delicate Caroline, who robs her of her friends, her hopes for schooling, and even the boy she loves. For junior and senior high readers. Newbery Medal. 1980.

The Best American Mystery Stories 2004     RC 59424
edited by Nelson DeMille
read by Lindsay Ellison
4 cassettes
An anthology of twenty mystery, crime, and suspense short stories. In "Harvey's Dream," Stephen King writes about the telephone call that every parent dreads. In "Bet on Red," Jeff Abbott explores Las Vegas and a redhead's trap. In Angela Zeman's "Green Heat," a bounty hunter is upstaged by shamans. Strong language. 2004.

Behold, Here's Poison     RC 59427
by Georgette Heyer
read by Jennifer Mendenhall
2 cassettes
When wealthy Gregory Matthews dies mysteriously at his English estate, his family doctor, servants, and assorted squabbling relatives insist acute indigestion caused his death. Scotland Yard detective-superintendent Hannasyde must determine the truth in this classic detective novel. 1936.

Shoulder the Sky: A World War I Novel     RC 59439
by Anne Perry
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Chaplain Joseph Reavley, from No Graves as Yet (RC 57506), journeys to the Flanders war front in 1915 to help the wounded. When a hated military correspondent is murdered, Reavley probes into the mystery of his own parents' deaths caused by the unknown "Peacemaker." Some violence. 2004.

Less of a Stranger     RC 59458
by Nora Roberts
read by Nicola Daval
1 cassette
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Handsome, arrogant stranger "Katch" Katcherton annoys yet stirs Megan Miller when he tries to pick her up. She attempts to resist his charms, especially after learning he aims to acquire her grandfather's amusement park. But Katch wants more than roller coasters. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1984.

One Hundred Years of Solitude     RC 59490
by Gabriel García Márquez
read by Peter Gil
3 cassettes (Reissue)
1820s to 1920s. Latin American epic tale follows seven generations of the Buendía family through triumphs and disasters that parallel the fortunes and misfortunes of their utopian town, Macondo. By the Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1967.

The Face of the Assassin     RC 59503
by David Lindsey
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
In projecting a face onto a mysterious skull, forensic artist Paul Bern sees a likeness to himself and learns he is reconstructing the image of his twin, a murdered CIA operative. Soon Paul is caught in a deadly terrorist plot while impersonating his brother. Violence and some strong language. 2004.

O'Hara's Choice     RC 59533
by Leon Uris
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Two decades after the Civil War, the U.S. marines are in danger of becoming obsolete. Like his legendary father, Zachary O'Hara joins the corps. When industrialist's daughter Amanda Kerr tests his dedication, Zach must choose between soldiering and love. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Bright Eyes: The Coulter Family, Book 5     RC 59542
by Catherine Anderson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Natalie Patterson's son Chad vandalizes neighbor Zeke Coulter's property. Since she can't pay for the damages, Zeke allows Chad to work off the debt. Zeke soon becomes attracted to the entire family. Sequel to Blue Skies (RC 57957). Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Separations: Two Novels of Mothers and Children     RC 59544
by Massimo Bontempelli
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Two family dramas by Italian novelist, playwright, journalist, and composer Massimo Bontempelli (1878-1960) in the "magic realism" literary style he defined. In The Life and Death of Adria and Her Children (1930) an aging mother abandons her family and cloisters herself in Paris. Also includes The Boy with Two Mothers (1929). 1930.

Double Shot: A Culinary Mystery     RC 59547
by Diane Mott Davidson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
After caterer Goldy Schulz's ex-husband John Richard Korman is released from prison, Goldy is attacked and her kitchen sabotaged. Later, Korman is found shot to death in the home of his stripper girlfriend, and Goldy looks like the prime suspect. Recipes are included. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

Murder at Union Station     RC 59549
by Margaret Truman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Washington, D.C. The subject of Richard Marienthal's latest book, mobster-turned-informant Louis Russo, is murdered at the train station before he can testify for the government. Marienthal realizes that material in his manuscript threatens to expose secrets in high places and endanger his fiancée and himself. Some strong language. 2004.

Swell Foop: Xanth     RC 59618
by Piers Anthony
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Demon Earth has disappeared and must be rescued before his magic of gravity fades destroying both Earth and Xanth. Assigned this monumental task by the Good Magician, Cynthia Centaur and her companions search for the mysterious Swell Foop and the Six Rings of Xanth, which only zombies can find. 2001.

Maggody in Manhattan: An Arly Hanks Mystery     RC 59619
by Joan Hess
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Maggody, Arkansas, police chief Arly Hanks's mother, Ruby Bee, wins a Manhattan trip as a cook-off finalist. When Ruby Bee ends up in jail, Arly reluctantly rescues her and meets another unlikely contestant, dashing but mysterious Durmond Pilverman, who helps investigate a murder. Some strong language. 1992.

Till the Old Men Die: A Jeri Howard Mystery     RC 59620
by Janet Dawson
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
California. Four months after Professor Manibusan's murder, a Filipino woman claiming to be his widow demands his effects, which have already been dispersed to Manibusan's nephew Alejandro. PI Jeri Howard hunts down the truth and a mysterious brown envelope Manibusan gave to Jeri's father before he died. Some violence. 1993.

Dead on the Dance Floor     RC 59649
by Heather Graham
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
3 cassettes
Miami. An apparently accidental overdose kills dancer Lara Trudeau. Lover patrolman Doug O'Casey, suspecting foul play, persuades his former-cop brother Quinn to go under cover and take dance lessons. Quinn falls for the studio manager, Shannon Mackay, who may be the next victim. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004.

The Sunday Wife     RC 59651
by Cassandra King
read by Constance Crawford
3 cassettes
Dean accompanies her overbearing preacher husband, Ben, to his new post. She befriends Augusta, a free spirit who encourages Dean to break loose from her complacent life. Tensions precede tragedy as Dean becomes increasingly estranged from Ben and the church. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2002.

The Motive: A Dismas Hardy Mystery     RC 59710
by John Lescroart
read by Ray Foushee
3 cassettes
Former homicide cop Abe Glitsky, now an administrator, investigates the arson murders of businessman Paul Hanover and his shady fiancée, Missy D'Amiens. The main suspect turns out to be attorney Dismas Hardy's high school girlfriend: Hanover's daughter-in-law Catherine. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour: The Frontier Stories, Volume     RC 59711
by Louis L'Amour
read by Jack Fox
4 cassettes
Thirty-five short western stories in which good triumphs over evil. In "The Gift of Cochise," Angie Lowe defends her children against Apaches and wins the respect of their leader. In "A Husband for Janey," a Texas boy arrives in California gold mining territory and helps a mother and daughter. 2003.

The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great     RC 59725
by Steven Pressfield
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Alexander of Macedonia relates the story of his battles and passions to his young brother-in-law, Itanes, as his weary army readies to invade India. The king reflects on his illustrious father, Philip, and his homeland, as well as his conquest of the known world. Violence and strong language. 2004.

You Know Better     RC 59732
by Tina McElroy Ansa
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Three generations of African American women relate encounters with spirits. Lily searches Mulberry, Georgia, for her missing granddaughter, eighteen-year-old hoochie-mama LaShawndra. LaShawndra's mother, Sandra, is preoccupied with her realty business and pastor boyfriend. Ghostly visits provide epiphanies each woman needs. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood     RC 59737
by Ann Brashares
read by Ein Jones
2 cassettes
Following Second Summer of the Sisterhood (RC 56256), lifelong friends Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby graduate from high school and look forward to attending four different colleges. Over the summer, amid family and boyfriend problems, they treasure their friendship. For senior high readers. 2005.

Cold Case Squad     RC 59738
by Edna Buchanan
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Miami cold-case specialist police sergeant Craig Burch, from The Ice Maiden (RC 57137), investigates a woman's claim that her ex-husband's death in an explosion twelve years before was no accident. Burch considers the possibility that the man isn't dead. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2004.

The Danger Zone and Other Stories     RC 59754
by Erle Stanley Gardner
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Eleven previously uncollected tales by mystery writer Erle Stanley Gardner (1889–1970), creator of lawyer-detective Perry Mason. The stories, most from the 1930s, feature such characters as unorthodox PI Snowy Shane, gentleman burglar George Brokay, and an ex-con who utilizes his "talents" for good. Introduction by Bill Pronzini. Some violence. 2004.

The Destroyer Goddess: In Fire Forged, Part 2     RC 59756
by Laura Resnick
read by Richard Hauenstein
4 cassettes
Liberated from Valdani rule, Sileria is now threatened by Kiloran and the Waterlords, who control the water supply. Sorceress Mirabar, her new husband Baran (once Kiloran's second-in-command), Silerian warrior Tansen, and Tansen's adopted son lead the rebellion. Sequel to The White Dragon (RC 59599). Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Drive Me Crazy     RC 59763
by Eric Jerome Dickey
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
African American "Driver," an ex-con and L.A. chauffeur, is trying to forget his affair with Lisa, his boss's unstable wife. Lisa pays Driver $15,000 to kill her husband, and her thugs come to collect when Driver backs out. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2004.

Suspect     RC 59810
by Michael Robotham
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
Fortyish London psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin, recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, stands accused of murdering his troubled former patient Catherine McBride. As detective inspector Vincent Ruiz develops a case and his marriage and health deteriorate, O'Loughlin begins his own investigation. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

Shadowmarch: Shadowmarch, Volume 1     RC 59812
by Tad Williams
read by Anne Flosnik
6 cassettes
The Shadowline marks the boundary between the land of humans and the enemy Qar. Generations of the Eddon family have kept Southmarch free of Qar. But now the king has been captured and the prince killed, so only a princess and her sickly twin are left to stop them. 2004.

Unexpected Blessings: Emma Harte, Book 5     RC 59820
by Barbara Taylor Bradford
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Emma Harte's four great-granddaughters seek fulfillment in this sequel to Emma's Secret (RC 57943). Evan Hughes discovers her Harte heritage while living in London, Linnet tries to prove herself worthy of running the Harte stores, Tessa faces divorce, and India falls for an artist. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Prince of Fire     RC 59822
by Daniel Silva
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Following A Death in Vienna (RC 57796), a bomb destroys the Israeli embassy in Rome. Israeli secret agent Gabriel Allon, an art restorer, assembles a team for revenge. The bomber may also be the man responsible for the death of Allon's son. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Stands a Calder Man: The Calder Saga, Volume 2     RC 59825
by Janet Dailey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Cattle rancher Webb Calder fights the homesteaders who flock to Montana claiming his herds' grazing grasslands. He finds among the newcomers the only woman he has ever wanted, but unfortunately she's married. Sequel to This Calder Range (RC 59051). Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1983.

Going Postal: A Novel of Discworld     RC 59826
by Terry Pratchett
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Convicted criminal Moist von Lipwig is reprieved from hanging by Lord Havelock Vetinari on the condition that he reform Ankh-Morpork's moribund post office. Moist deals with musty mounds of undelivered mail, two eccentric employees, a golem watchdog, ghosts of postmen past, a crafty cat, and the dysfunctional communications system. 2004.

Grant Comes East: A Novel of the Civil War     RC 59834
by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
read by Nick Sullivan
4 cassettes
Continues the alternative CivilWar history begun in Gettysburg (RC 58880). Confederate general Robert E. Lee prepares to march on the Union capital after his Pennsylvania victory. General Ulysses S. Grant, fresh from seizing Vicksburg, races east as defiant President Lincoln mobilizes the Washington garrison. Some violence. 2004.

Conspiracy in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery     RC 59846
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
New York, 2059. Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates murders by a medically skilled killer who harvests defective organs from homeless "sidewalk sleepers." She also loses her badge over the death of a fellow officer. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 1999.

The Fugitive Queen: An Ursula Blanchard Mystery     RC 59847
by Fiona Buckley
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Ursula, royal chambermaid and spy from A Pawn for a Queen (RC 58087), travels to Yorkshire ostensibly to marry off a wayward maid of honor. Ursula must also deliver a confidential message to the Queen's cousin, Mary Stuart, who fled Scotland amid accusations she murdered her husband, Lord Darnley. 2003.

The Time of Our Singing     RC 59851
by Richard Powers
read by Bill Quinn
6 cassettes
Jewish physicist David Strom and African American singer Delia Daley raised their three children, Jonah, Joseph, and Ruth, to love music and transcend race. Growing up during the 1950s to 1960s civil-rights era, the mixed-heritage siblings strive for social harmony. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003.

Loyalty in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery     RC 59855
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
New York, 2059. Millionaire J. Clarence Branson and munitions expert "The Fixer" are murdered. The motives become clear after lieutenant Eve Dallas receives a tape that threatens to destroy Eve, her closest associates, and the entire city. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1999.

Wait until Midnight     RC 59858
by Amanda Quick
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Adam Hardesty is being blackmailed. Someone has the diary that could expose his dark secrets. His search takes him first to the home of a medium, whom he finds dead, and then to author Caroline Fordyce, whom he finds attractive. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Crow Lake     RC 59867
by Mary Lawson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
After their parents die, teens Matt and Luke Morrison give up their own university plans to raise two young sisters, Kate and Bo, in the northern Ontario badlands. Twenty years later, Kate, now a professor, returns to resolve past differences at a family reunion. Some strong language. 2002.

Killing Kelly    RC 59871
by Heather Graham
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Soap opera star Kelly Trent plays a deadly diva on screen, but when her life is threatened she flees to the Florida Keys to make a music video. Although danger lurks, she falls in love with cop-turned-dancer Doug O'Casey. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

Scruples     RC 59873
by Judith Krantz
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Billy Ikehorn Orsini, ugly duckling-turned-swan, lives a sensual life. After her wealthy, older husband dies, she marries a film producer and creates the glamorous Beverly Hills boutique "Scruples" for the super rich and super sexy people of the film and fashion worlds. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 1978.

The Wedding Dress     RC 59879
by Virginia Ellis
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Post-Civil War Virginia. Three sisters, Julia, Victoria, and teenage Claire, work their ravaged farm. To hearten Claire, Victoria and Julia sew her a wedding dress, hoping a groom appears. A soldier brings Julia her husband's dying words. Victoria's husband returns blind from battle. For senior high and older readers. 2002.

Runway Zero-Eight     RC 59882
by Arthur Hailey and John Castle
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette (Reissue)
On a flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver, pilots, passengers, and crew are suddenly stricken with food poisoning. Dr. Bruno Baird and flight attendant Janet Benson attend the sick, while retired WWII fighter pilot George Spencer attempts to land the plane, although he has not flown in thirteen years. 1985.

Kiss Me Again     RC 59884
by Lisa Jackson, Debbie Macomber, and others
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Four short stories about women who find love in different ways. In " Marrying Kind" by Debbie Macomber, Jason Ingram meets his first true love a few days before his wedding. In "The Brass Ring" by Lisa Jackson, Dr. Shawna McGuire's fiancé has amnesia. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Known Dead: A Carl Houseman Mystery     RC 59894
by Donald Harstad
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
A botched drug raid leaves a small-time marijuana dealer and a narcotics agent mysteriously dead. State and federal agencies wrestle for jurisdiction while Iowa deputy sheriff Carl Houseman, from Eleven Days (RC 59474), and investigator Hester Gorse scope out a possible connection to local extremists. Violence and strong language. 1999.

The Forgotten Man: An Elvis Cole Novel     RC 59895
by Robert Crais
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Elvis Cole, from The Last Detective (RC 55647), investigates a dead man who claimed to be his unknown father. Partner Joe Pike and LAPD cop Carol Starkey help dig into the man's past while one of the deceased's associates stalks Cole seeking revenge. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood     RC 59901
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Hollywood, New Mexico; 1960s. Sammy Santos lives in an unglamorous neighborhood where he faces many challenges: gringo racism, the Vietnam War, poverty, and barrio violence that kills Juliana, his first love. Strong language and some violence. For senior high readers. 2004.

Kafka on the Shore     RC 59914
by Haruki Murakami
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
After teenager Kafka Tamura runs away, his father, a famous sculptor, is murdered. This crime links Kafka and an elderly illiterate man in inexplicable ways. Both journey separately to a private library where their destinies overlap. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2002.

A Cold and Silent Dying: A Marti MacAlister Mystery     RC 59923
by Eleanor Taylor Bland
read by Mary Beth Wise
2 cassettes
African American detective Marti MacAlister, from Fatal Remains (RC 57561), risks her job to uncover the truth when her superiors dismiss a homeless woman's death. Marti also contends with her new boss and a homicidal maniac from the past. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

Trickster's Choice: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 1     RC 59928
by Tamora Pierce
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
When pirates capture sixteen-year-old Aly (Alianne), she becomes a slave to the Balitangs, a noble family in the Copper Isles. Aly relies on her wit and courage to survive conspiracy and intrigue involving the Trickster, the patron god of the Isles. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.

The Zenith Angle     RC 59935
by Bruce Sterling
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
When Dr. Derek Vandeveer, a noted computer scientist, exposes global digital security weaknesses, he inadvertently closes the door on his cushy, geek life. The September 11, 2001, terrorism forces Vandeveer into a new cyberwarrior/spy role to ensure the integrity of U.S. technology and uncover a powerful unknown enemy. Some strong language. 2004.

Daniel, Half Human: And the Good Nazi     RC 59938
by David Chotjewitz
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Hamburg, Germany; 1933. The friendship of two thirteen-year-old boys is tested when Daniel discovers that he is half Jewish, while Armin joins the Hitler Youth group. After the war, they meet again. Some violence and some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. Batchelder Honor Book. 2000.

The Bishop and the Three Kings: A Blackie Ryan Mystery     RC 59942
by Andrew M. Greeley
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Cologne. Bishop Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan and nephew Peter investigate a theft at the cathedral. The city's loss of important relics-the remains of the gift-bearing Three Kings-could create a scandal that would reverberate throughout Germany. Descriptions of sex. 1998.

Missing Persons: An Alan Gregory Novel     RC 59944
by Stephen White
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Boulder, Colorado, psychologist Alan Gregory discovers his colleague Hannah Grant dead. Meanwhile, one of Hannah's patients, a fourteen-year-old girl, disappears on Christmas Day, exactly eight years after another child was murdered. Gregory commits ethical violations when some of his clients become entwined in the case. Violence and strong language. 2005.

To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War     RC 59955
by Jeff Shaara
read by Graeme Malcolm
5 cassettes
1917. General "Black Jack" Pershing struggles to keep his troops independent after the United States enters the global conflict. Meanwhile American pilot Raoul Lufbery and the German "Red Baron" experiment with aerial combat, and marine private Roscoe Temple endures trench warfare. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Rapture in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery     RC 59960
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Mid twenty-first century. Recently married police lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the apparent suicides of a brilliant engineer, an infamous lawyer, and a controversial politician, who had no reason for killing themselves. They all died with smiles on their faces. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1996.

The Dance House: Stories from Rosebud     RC 59962
by Joseph Marshall III
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Thirteen essays and short stories about mystic experiences, Native American cultures, affinity for horses, ranching, and hard life on the plains of South Dakota's Rosebud Indian Reservation. "Pride" and "The Dance House" intertwine Lakota oral traditions and autobiography to portray the relationship between Indian tribes and the federal government. 1998.

Acorna's Triumph: The Adventures of the Unicorn Girl     RC 59964
by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Sequel to Acorna's Rebels (RC 56129). Acorna locates missing lifemate Aari, but discovers he has no memory of their love. She delays her grief to recover stolen sacred gems and to defeat, once and for all, a vicious Khleevi onslaught. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Death's Jest-Book: A Dalziel/Pascoe Mystery     RC 59968
by Reginald Hill
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Yorkshire. Chief Inspector Pascoe receives eerie letters from sociopathic ex-con Franny Roote, hinting at murder plans. After Roote delivers a paper on "Death's Jest-Book" at Cambridge, he stalks Pascoe, who in turn pursues Roote. Strong language. 2003.

Uniform Justice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery     RC 59975
by Donna Leon
read by Peter Ganim
2 cassettes
Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venetian police investigates a student's death at an elite military academy. He realizes that the boy was murdered, but the school and the boy's father maintain it was suicide. As Brunetti digs further he uncovers political corruption and injustice. 2003.

Ceremony in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery     RC 59976
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
While investigating the death of a fellow police officer, Eve Dallas discovers she is dealing with witchcraft. And a dead body dumped outside her home has Eve questioning her concept of right and wrong. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1997.

Maigret Goes to School: An Inspector Maigret Mystery     RC 59979
by Georges Simenon
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
French chief inspector Maigret travels to the seaside to help clear a village teacher of murder. He encounters a town full of suspicious peasants, including the schoolchildren, who hinder his investigation. 1954.

High Country Fall: A Deborah Knott Mystery     RC 59980
by Margaret Maron
read by Barbara Caruso
2 cassettes
North Carolina judge Deborah Knott's engagement stirs up such a furor that she leaves town for the mountains to substitute for a vacationing magistrate. A young man stands accused in the case of a murdered doctor. But when another prominent citizen turns up dead, Deborah investigates. Some strong language. 2004.

Sisters of the Raven     RC 59986
by Barbara Hambly
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Yellow City faces drought as the wizards responsible for calling the rain lose their powers. Equally alarming and against all tradition, some women are learning magic. These Sisters of the Raven, like young Raeshaldis, who attends the Sun Mages' college, face unspeakable danger. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden     RC 59988
by M.C. Beaton
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Following a run-in with a vengeful hairdresser, amateur detective Agatha Raisin retreats to the seaside resort of Wyckhadden to recuperate. Local "witch" Francie Juddle sells her hair restorer and a love potion and then dies. Agatha investigates while balancing the amorous attentions of police inspector Jimmy Jessop. 1999.

Lady Whistledown Strikes Back: A Bridgerton Novel     RC 59989
by Julia Quinn and Suzanne Enoch
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
1816. Four novellas portray the romantic adventures of London's social set amid speculation about Lady Neeley's stolen ruby bracelet. Lady Whistle-down's gossip columns tie the stories together. Some descriptions of sex. 2004.

The Closers: Detective Harry Bosch     RC 60009
by Michael Connelly
read by Len Cariou
2 cassettes
Harry Bosch's first "cold case" involves a DNA blood match on a gun used to kill a biracial teenage girl seventeen years ago. The detective investigates the white supremacist suspect linked to the weapon and uncovers the far-reaching effects of the murder. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

All the Rage: A Repairman Jack Mystery     RC 60064
by F. Paul Wilson
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Pharmaceutical researcher Nadia Radzminsky suspects Serbian gangster Milos Dragovic is blackmailing her boss, Dr. Luc Monnet, and hires Repairman Jack to investigate. Jack uncovers an illegal drug that causes extreme aggressiveness in its users, and then he accidentally takes some. Violence and strong language. 2000.

Rite of Conquest     RC 60066
by Judith Tarr
read by Corrie James
3 cassettes
The Saxons have ruled England for five hundred years. Now William of Normandy, the bastard son of a duke and a druid mother, is poised to conquer England. To succeed he must accept the help and love of French noblewoman Mathilda, who has her own powers. Some descriptions of sex. 2004.

The Darling     RC 60074
by Russell Banks
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
Hannah Musgrave, fifty-nine, former radical Weather Underground member, recounts her life as a fugitive in 1980s Liberia. She recalls her chimpanzee sanctuary, her involvement with warlord Charles Taylor, her husband's beheading, and the defection of her sons as the country is devastated by internal strife. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

Saturday     RC 60075
by Ian McEwan
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
London. Neurosurgeon Henry Perowne has a fender bender during an antiwar rally and publicly humiliates Baxter, the driver of the other car, by announcing that he has an incurable medical condition. Later Baxter and his crew show up at Perowne's family reunion to seek revenge. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Prom     RC 60085
by Laurie Halse Anderson
read by Victoria Gordon
1 cassette
Eighteen-year-old Ashley has no plans for college and wants nothing to do with the senior prom at her urban high school. When disaster strikes and her desperate friend Natalia needs help, Ashley's involvement transforms her life. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2005.

Dream of the Red Chamber     RC 60086
by Hsueh-chin Tsao
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Eighteenth-century China. In the extensive House of Chia, five generations and their servants live in two mansions according to custom. Young Pao-yu is ordered to marry Precious Virtue even though he's in love with Black Jade. Translated by Chi-Chen Wang. 1754.

Pearl     RC 60087
by Mary Gordon
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
The State Department informs Maria Meyers that her twenty-year-old daughter, Pearl, studying in Ireland, has begun a hunger strike while chained to the U.S. embassy flagpole in Dublin. Maria and her friend Joseph fly to Dublin to be with Pearl and to reassess their lives. Some strong language. 2005.

Not Even for Love     RC 60095
by Sandra Brown
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
American Jordan Hadlock lives in Switzerland, where she runs a newsstand. One stormy night Reeves Grant knocks on her door seeking shelter, and they fall in love. But at a party industrialist Helmut Eckherdt announces his engagement to Jordan, even though she has not agreed. Some descriptions of sex. 1982.

The Thirty-seventh Hour: A Detective Sarah Pribek Novel     RC 60104
by Jodi Compton
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Minneapolis detective Sarah Pribek's husband, Mike Shiloh, is scheduled for training at the FBI academy in Virginia when he disappears. Sarah and her ex-partner, whose daughter was murdered by a man later freed on a technicality, race to find Mike. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004.

With No One as Witness: An Inspector Thomas Lynley Mystery     RC 60132
by Elizabeth George
read by Mitzi Friedlander
5 cassettes
London. Inspector Thomas Lynley and coworkers Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata investigate the gruesome murders of teenage boys-most of them racial minorities. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2005.

Hot Dog: A Melanie Travis Mystery     RC 60133
by Laurien Berenson
read by Megan Burnett
2 cassettes
Dog breeder Melanie Travis's life is tangled enough. She has an off-again, on-again relationship with lover Sam, while her guilty-feeling ex-husband overcompensates toward their son, Davey. Then strange incidents spell real danger: a local newswoman hounds Melanie, an enemy violates her home, and things go missing-including a prize-winning dachshund. 2002.

White Indian: The White Indian Series, Book 1     RC 60134
by Donald Clayton Porter
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
1800s. Ghonka, Great Sachem of the Seneca nation, captures a white infant, names him Renno, and raises him as his own. As a young warrior, Renno rescues sixteen-year-old English colonist Deborah Alwin from Huron abductors. Renno desires Deborah, but her fate is uncertain. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 1979.

The Serpent on the Crown: An Amelia Peabody Mystery     RC 60142
by Elizabeth Peters
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Egypt, 1922. Archaeologist Amelia Peabody Emerson and her family are at their house on the Nile when author Magda Petherick arrives with an ancient statue she believes is cursed. When Magda is murdered, Amelia and her husband and son investigate the crime as well as the relic's history. 2005.

Hear No Evil: A Jack Swyteck Mystery     RC 60144
by James Grippando
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Lindsey Hart wants Miami attorney Jack Swyteck to defend her against charges of murdering her marine husband at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Jack, suspicious and having no knowledge of military legal procedures, balks until Lindsey claims she's the adoptive mother of his deaf biological son. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

The Silent War: Asteroid Wars, Book 3     RC 60145
by Ben Bova
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Martin Humphries, villainous leader of Humphries Space Systems, schemes to sabotage rival Astro Corporation for control of asteroid belt resources. While others plot to exploit the conflict, renegade space pirate Lars Fuchs pursues a personal vendetta against Humphries. Sequel to The Rock Rats (RC 56767). Some strong language. 2004.

Long Spoon Lane: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Mystery     RC 60152
by Anne Perry
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes
Victorian London, 1893. Detective Thomas Pitt investigates the death of an anarchist, a young radical who was also the son of a member of Parliament. Pitt, his wife Charlotte, and his former enemy Sir Charles Voisey uncover a secret sect that schemes to obtain vast power. 2005.

Hush Puppy: A Melanie Travis Mystery     RC 60153
by Laurien Berenson
read by Megan Burnett
2 cassettes
Searching for a painting at the Howard Academy, special-needs tutor and dog trainer Melanie Travis encounters caretaker Eugene Krebbs arguing with an unknown girl. When Krebbs is murdered with a pitchfork, Travis and her poodle risk their lives to investigate. Meanwhile, Travis's relationship with fiancé Sam turns prickly. 1991.

The Alleluia Files: Samaria, Book 3     RC 60154
by Sharon Shinn
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Archangel Bael battles the Jacobites, who believe the god Jovah is a spaceship directing the angels that guard the planet Samaria. As the Jacobites search for missing files to prove this theory, two enemies fall in love. Sequel to Jovah's Angel (RC 59565). For senior high and older readers. 1998.

Almost a Bride     RC 60161
by Jane Feather
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
When Jack Fortescu, duke of St. Jules, achieves revenge against the earl of Dunston, he acquires the earl's house and its contents, including his sister, Arabella Lacey. Needing a wife, the duke proposes a marriage of convenience to Arabella, but she suspects an ulterior motive. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Shane     RC 60163
by Jack Schaefer
read by John Polk
1 cassette (Reissue)
Wyoming territory, 1889. A mysterious stranger named Shane rides into the Starretts' ranch and learns of trouble between cattle baron Fletcher and the homesteaders. Shane decides to stay and help the family keep their stake. Some violence. For senior high and older readers. 1949.

The Blue Girl     RC 60166
by Charles de Lint
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Imogene appreciates having a fresh start in a new high school and makes friends with straight-A introvert Maxine. After receiving warnings that soul-eaters are threatening her life, Imogene enlists the help of Maxine and Adrian, a boy ghost who haunts the school. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Double Homicide: Boston and Santa Fe     RC 60192
by Jonathan Kellerman and Faye Kellerman
read by various narrators
2 cassettes
Two short mysteries set in different locations. In Still Life, Santa Fe detectives investigate the murder of a wealthy but shady art gallery owner. The novella In the Land of Giants, set in Boston, features the death of a college basketball player. Some strong language. 2004.

Cat in an Orange Twist: A Midnight Louie Mystery     RC 60204
by Carole Nelson Douglas
read by J.P. Linton
3 cassettes
Las Vegas public relations specialist Temple Barr is overseeing the grand opening of a trendy new furniture showroom featuring design diva Amelia Wong. When gunfire disrupts the launch and another interior designer's body is found in a car, Temple and her crime-fighting cat, Louie, investigate. 2004.

Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders: A Rumpole Mystery     RC 60208
by John Mortimer
read by Graeme Malcolm
1 cassette
Shocked that his colleagues have never heard of the case that launched his career, British barrister Rumpole puts it to pen. Rumpole interceded when a son convicted of murdering his father, a decorated war hero, headed to the gallows. Rumpole also met his future wife and the infamous Timson family. 2004.

Scandal Takes a Holiday: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery     RC 60209
by Lindsey Davis
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Italy, A.D. 76. Private informer Mar-cus Didius Falco, from The Accusers (RC 59321), investigates the disappearance of Daily Gazette gossip columnist Infamia. Rumors of a smuggling/kidnapping racket run by displaced pirates and clues of a mysterious middleman lead Falco to one of his disreputable relatives. 2004.

Requiem for a Realtor: A Father Dowling Mystery     RC 60210
by Ralph McInerny
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
Stanley and Phyllis Collins's marriage was never blessed by the church. Now she wants a divorce. Stanley consults Father Dowling, a canon lawyer, about the situation. When Stanley is killed in a hit-and-run accident, the good Father suspects murder but cannot tell detective Phil Keegan. Some strong language. 2004.

Magic Seeds     RC 60211
by V.S. Naipaul
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
After wandering twenty years in England, Africa, and Berlin, Willie Chandran joins an underground movement in his native India and is imprisoned. Released, Willie returns to London and comes to recognize his statelessness. Sequel to Half a Life (RC 53063). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

Eventide     RC 60217
by Kent Haruf
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Following Plainsong (RC 49056), Harold and Raymond McPheron escort nineteen-year-old Victoria and her daughter to Fort Collins so Victoria can start college. In Colorado, tragedy awaits the brothers returning to their cattle ranch in rural Holt. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004.

Philippa: Friarsgate Inheritance, Book 3     RC 60223
by Bertrice Small
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
1519. Young Philippa Meredith, heir to Friarsgate, is devastated when her childhood intended, Giles FitzHugh, becomes a priest. Returning to the court of Queen Katherine of Aragon, Philippa meets Crispin St. Claire, a more appropriate suitor. Sequel to Until You (RC 59491). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order; Force Heretic II, Refugee     RC 60227
by Sean Williams and Shane Dix
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Sequel to Force Heretic I, Remnant (RC 56615). Disguised enemies who deflect Han and Leia from their diplomatic mission to form new alliances also put them in the path of Yuuzhan Vong. Luke Skywalker scours the Unknown Regions for the rogue planet Zonama Sekot, but to no avail. 2003.

Sisterchicks on the Loose!     RC 60270
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Middle-aged friends Penny and Sharon take a long-anticipated trip to Finland, leaving their husbands and children at home. Penny finds comfort in discovering her roots and relies on God to make things run smoothly. Sharon comes home determined to make peace with her mother- in-law. 2003.

The Prodigal: Abram's Daughters, Book 4     RC 60280
by Beverly Lewis
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Leah Ebersol raises siblings Lydiann and Abe and prepares Lydiann for her "rumschpringe," the traditional period of freedom during which teens test their religious commitment. Leah also copes with the return of her shunned sister, Sadie, and a startling revelation about Sadie's baby. Sequel to The Sacrifice (RC 59512). 2004.

The Beauty and the Spy: Spies and Lovers Trilogy, Book 2     RC 60287
by Gayle Callen
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
London, 1844. Shortly before her year of mourning ends, Charlotte Sinclair discovers her father's journals describing his exploits as a spy. Then while eavesdropping at a party, Charlotte is kidnapped by Nick Wright, a spy for England. Sequel to No Ordinary Groom (RC 60120). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Without a Doubt: Sierra Jensen, Book 5     RC 60292
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
With her crush, Paul, away in Scotland, Sierra's life gets complicated. Her buddy Randy and Drake, the guy her friend Amy likes, show romantic interest in Sierra. When a snowstorm strikes during a backpacking trip, Sierra seeks God's help in unraveling her emotions. For junior and senior high readers. 1997.

Murder in Moscow: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery     RC 60308
by Donald Bain
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Maine mystery writer Jessica Fletcher travels to Washington, D.C., and Moscow on a U.S. government trade mission to help develop the Russian publishing industry. In D.C., a mysterious man approaches her with a dubious request, then turns up dead. Things get worse overseas when Jessica witnesses another crime. 1998.

Red Sky at Night, Lovers' Delight     RC 60309
by Jane Aiken Hodge
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes (Reissue)
England, 1811. Kate Warrender and her mother lose their estate to an American cousin and take positions as governess and housekeeper at the home of the rakish Lord Hawth. As the threat of war looms between England and America, Kate is swept up in intrigue, adventure, and romance. 1977.

With This Ring: Sierra Jensen, Book 6     RC 60321
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Sierra visits southern California to attend Doug and Tracy's wedding. Amid the celebrations, Sierra thinks about love and the vow she made to save herself for her future mate. She also worries that her friend Amy may be flirting too much. For junior and senior high readers. 1997.

4th of July: A Women's Murder Club Mystery     RC 60328
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
read by Carolyn McCormick
2 cassettes
San Francisco police lieutenant Lindsay Boxer retreats to her sister's house in Half Moon Bay while fighting a charge of police brutality. But a killer is loose, and Lindsay enlists the help of the Women's Murder Club to catch him. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency     RC 60334
by Alexander McCall Smith
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Gaborone, Botswana. Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, is beset by challenging cases and personal crises: an intruder breaks into her home; her new husband, mechanic J.L.B. Matekoni, is overburdened with work; and a man from the past forces her to confront a secret. Bestseller. 2004.

The Hot Kid     RC 60336
by Elmore Leonard
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Oklahoma, 1930s. Young U.S. marshal Carlos "Carl" Webster loves chasing felons and savors the publicity. While searching for rich-boy-gone-bad Jack Belmont, Carl falls for gun moll Louly Brown. Hack writer Tony Antonelli tags along looking for new material. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

The Rising: Antichrist Is Born before They Were Left Behind; Countdown to the Rapture, Book 1     RC 60479
by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
A prequel to the Left Behind series relating events leading up to the Rapture. Nicolae Carpathia is born to a woman who allows herself to become a chosen vessel for the birth of evil. Rayford Steele avoids taking over the family business by becoming a pilot. Bestseller. 2005.

City of Night: Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book 2     RC 60514
by Dean Koontz
read by John Bedford Lloyd
2 cassettes
Following Prodigal Son (RC 59699), Victor Helios (aka Frankenstein) cannot stop the engineered killers he has set loose in New Orleans. Detectives Carson O'Connor and Michael Madison join forces with Helios to end the carnage. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

Shadows     RC 60517
by Edna Buchanan
read by Robertson Dean
2 cassettes
Miami police officers Craig Burch, Sam Stone, and Pete Nazario, from Cold Case Squad (RC 59738), reopen the 1961 murder of a former mayor before a historic waterfront mansion is bulldozed. Preservationists struggle to save the estate from destruction while the cops discover hidden corpses. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Seventy-two-Hour Hold     RC 60518
by Bebe Moore Campbell
read by Pamela D'Pella
3 cassettes
African American divorced mom Keri struggles to help her bipolar daughter Trina, who's heading to Brown University in the fall. After traditional treatments don't benefit Trina, Keri turns to a radical group that eschews psychiatric methods and models itself after the Underground Railroad. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

Open Your Heart: Sierra Jensen, Book 7     RC 60581
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
When Christy Miller receives a scholarship from a Swiss university, she invites Sierra to Europe with her. Accompanied by Christy's Aunt Marti, the girls befriend a Russian college student who is a fellow Christian. But Aunt Marti tries to stifle any romance. For junior and senior high readers. 1997.

Time Will Tell: Sierra Jensen, Book 8     RC 60582
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Entering her high school senior year, Sierra worries about her friends: buddy Randy violates an academy rule; best friend Amy isn't talking to her; potential boyfriend Paul hasn't answered her letters. Anxious, Sierra knows time will reveal God's plan. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Haunted: A Novel of Stories     RC 60642
by Chuck Palahniuk
read by various narrators
3 cassettes
Satirical novel about some aspiring writers who participate in a three- month-long "retreat" to create a masterpiece. Convinced their "plight" will sell as a television miniseries, they resort to debauchery, depravity, and cannibalism. Intermixed are the characters' stories and poems. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Miracle     RC 60644
by Danielle Steel
read by Glenn Fitzgerald
1 cassette
A fierce storm hits San Francisco on New Year's Eve, bringing together three people who form a unique friendship. Each gradually reveals his or her personal problems to the group and finds strength in the growing camaraderie. And in the end, love blossoms for all. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Dating Is Murder: A Wollie Shelley Novel     RC 60655
by Harley Jane Kozak
read by Bernadette Dunne
2 cassettes
West Hollywood greeting card designer Wollie Shelley, of Dating Dead Men (RC 59695), is starring in a reality television show called Biological Clock when nineteen-year-old au pair Annika disappears. When the incident is dismissed by the LAPD, Wollie launches her own search and lands in the middle of an FBI investigation. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

The Myth of You and Me     RC 60657
by Leah Stewart
read by Staci Snell
2 cassettes
Mississippi. Thirty-year-old Cameron Wilson lives in seclusion as research assistant to elderly historian Oliver Doucet. Cameron ignores a letter from her estranged best friend Sonia-until Doucet dies, leaving a final request that Cameron deliver Sonia a package. Cameron's quest retraces their complex friendship. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2005.

Maybe a Miracle     RC 60659
by Brian Strause
read by Jesse Berns
3 cassettes
Monroe Anderson discovers his eleven-year-old sister, Annika, face down in the swimming pool on the night of his senior prom. After being resuscitated Annika remains in a coma, but soon miracles begin to happen and the faithful deluge the Ohio family with visits and prayers. 2005.

Ordinary Heroes     RC 60666
by Scott Turow
read by Edward Herrman
3 cassettes
After his father's death, Stewart Dubinsky discovers a packet of letters written during World War II that reveal a secret past. Further investigation uncovers details of the desperate battlefield decisions his father made that led to a court-martial and imprisonment. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan     RC 60738
by Lisa See
read by Janet Song
2 cassettes
Nineteenth-century China. A matchmaker pairs young Lily and Snow Flower in a lifelong friendship. For years they communicate using a secret code written on a fan, sharing their joys and sorrows until a misunderstanding threatens to destroy their bond. Descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

The Undomestic Goddess     RC 60741
by Sophie Kinsella
read by Rosalyn Landor
3 cassettes
London attorney Samantha's fast-track career ends abruptly after a major error. She flees the city and inadvertent-ly winds up as a housekeeper in the country—forgetting she's never cooked, cleaned, or ironed. But Samantha gets help and support from unexpected sources. Descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Vanish     RC 60781
by Tess Gerritsen
read by Susan Denaker
2 cassettes
Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and pregnant detective Jane Rizzoli stumble upon human trafficking when they assist a young woman from Belarus. Jane's husband, FBI agent Gabriel Dean, uncovers the mastermind behind the international sex scandal after Jane is held hostage. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Books for Children

Cassettes—Nonfiction

A Look at Pluto     RC 58230
by Salvatore Tocci
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Describes the discovery of Pluto, the ninth planet from the Sun. Includes a timeline of major developments in Pluto's exploration and study; highlights observations about its orbit, makeup, and moon. Features contributing scientists and includes a glossary. For grades 5- 8. 2003.

Driving around the USA: Automobiles in American Life     RC 58235
by Martin W. Sandler
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
Traces the development of the auto-mobile and its importance in twentieth-century America. Highlights such offshoots of the auto industry as car repair shops and hotels. Discusses issues of pollution control and computerization. Includes historical timeline. For grades 4-7. 2003.

Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude     RC 58850
by Louise Borden
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Explains in free verse how eighteenth-century Englishman John Harrison, a village clockmaker, invented the chronometer that enabled sea captains to avoid veering off course on their long voyages. For grades 2-4. 2004.

Mexico and Central America: A Fiesta of Cultures, Crafts, and Activities for Ages Eight to Twelve     RC 59475
by Mary C. Turck
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette
Describes a variety of Mexican and Central American cultures, including the Mayan and Aztec civilizations. Covers issues of sweatshops and illegal emigration. Features dozens of activities, from plays and poems to arts, crafts, and cookery. Includes instructions for making an "eye of God" and a piñata. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Madam President     RC 59696
by Catherine Thimmesh
read by Victoria Wei Gordon
1 cassette
Brief biographical sketches highlight the evolution of women in politics, both in the United States and abroad. Stresses the achievements and importance of twenty-three women and includes accompanying quotations. Profiles Abigail Adams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Margaret Thatcher, among others. For grades 4- 7. 2004.

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales     RC 59991
retold by Virginia Hamilton
read by Melissa Maxwell
1 cassette
Animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom shape this anthology of retold African American folktales, born of slaves' sorrow but passed on in hope. Includes several stories where Bruh Rabbit triumphs. For grades 4-7 and older readers. Coretta Scott King Award. 1985.

Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age     RC 60080
by Caroline Arnold
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Overview of scientists' discoveries about the huge flying reptiles that lived more than sixty-five million years ago. Discusses Pterosaurs' relationship to dinosaurs, their physical appearance and behavior, and possible causes of their extinction. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Days to Celebrate: A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating Facts, and More     RC 60093
by Lee Bennett Hopkins
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
A calendar lists each month's birthdays—of people, inventions, or historical events. Facts and poems for specific dates follow. For example, November 10, 1903, cited for the invention of the windshield wiper, is accompanied by Rebecca Kai Dotlich's poem "Windshield Wipers." For grades 4-7. 2005.

Outside and Inside Killer Bees     RC 60122
by Sandra Markle
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Discusses the many similar physical characteristics of honeybees and killer bees that make it difficult to identify killer bees without examining their DNA. Explains the main difference: behavior. For grades 3-6. 2004.

A Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968     RC 60128
by Diane McWhorter
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Concise history of the civil rights struggle by a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who in 1963 was a sixth-grader living in Birmingham, Alabama. The author recalls events from the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 2004.

Emily Post's The Guide to Good Manners for Kids     RC 60129
by Peggy Post and Cindy Post Senning
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
A comprehensive guide to good manners based on respect, consideration, and honesty. Explains everyday etiquette for thank-you letters, introductions, e-mail and other computer tasks, cell phone use, school and social events, as well as hospital, religious, and travel occasions. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004.

For Younger Readers: Braille and Talking Books, 2000-2001     RC 60131
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Catalog of books for children, from preschool to high school, produced in braille and audiocassette formats by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped during 2000 and 2001. Includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, and young adults. 2001.

For Younger Readers: Braille and Talking Books, 2002-2003     RC 60335
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Catalog of books for children, from preschool to high school, produced in braille and audiocassette formats by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped during 2002 and 2003. Includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, young adults, and books in Spanish. 2005.

World War II for Kids: A History with Twenty-one Activities     RC 60136
by Richard Panchyk
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Describes the causes and history of World War II. Includes excerpts from letters of soldiers, nurses, and civilians. Suggests activities related to the war effort, such as making a bandage or a ration kit, playing a mortar game, and planting a victory garden. For grades 5-8. 2002.

Curse of the Pharaohs: My Adventures with Mummies     RC 60137
by Zahi Hawass
read by John Polk
1 cassette
True accounts of archaeology and excavated treasures told by the director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt. His discussion of curses on tombs includes reports on the series of bad events and sudden deaths that occurred after the discovery of King Tut's burial site. For grades 4-7. 2004.

Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks     RC 60155
by Kenneth Mallory
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Marine biologist Pete Klimley, an expert on all nine types of hammerhead sharks, explains how he studies and tracks them. Discusses Klimley's theories about hammerhead navigation and describes the making of an IMAX documentary called Island of the Sharks near Costa Rica. For grades 4-7. 2001.

The Bug Scientists     RC 60167
by Donna M. Jackson
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Profiles three entomologists, whose careers involve the study of insects. Combines biographical information about the scientists with facts about insects and their behavior. Discusses monarch butterflies; the life cycle of blow flies, which are used in forensics; ant colonies; and handling insects featured in movies. For grades 4-7. 2002.

Mysteries of History     RC 60176
by Robert Stewart
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Examines evidence surrounding legendary unsolved mysteries. Includes the building of Egypt's pyramids, the question of King Arthur's existence, skepticism about Marco Polo's travels, the El Dorado riddle, suspicions about Napoleon's death, the truth behind Custer's "last stand," and theories about President Kennedy's assassination. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003.

Haiku: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids     RC 60202
by Patricia Donegan
read by Lewis Grenville
1 cassette
Introduces the form of Japanese poetry known as haiku, explores the seven keys to writing it, and provides instructions for projects including making a book. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2003.

Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs; a Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents     RC 60203
compiled by Sarah Conover and Freda Crane
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Traditional stories based on the Qur'an, folktales, and heroes of the Muslim world, imparting ethical and spiritual values. In "The Castle in Cordoba," a judge uses a donkey and a bag of dirt to teach a king a lesson about justice. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004.

Between Heaven and Earth: Birds Tales from around the World     RC 60354
by Howard Norman
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Five stories from Australia, Norway, Sri Lanka, China, and Matabeleland (in Africa) featuring birds that complicate human lives. In "The Bird Who Sang like a Warthog," a young husband is jealous of his blind brother-in-law's ability to recognize bird calls and tries to cheat him. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Sickle Cell Disease     RC 60361
by Oliver Gillie
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Explains this inherited disease—when and how it was first diagnosed, its effects on the body, and practical measures for controlling it. Discusses treatment and research and includes personal accounts from sickle cell anemia sufferers. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Antarctica: Journeys to the South Pole     RC 60370
by Walter Dean Myers
read by Richard Hauenstein
1 cassette
Discusses exploration of the icy continent from James Cook's voyage in 1772 to the expeditions of Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Roald Amundsen in the early 1900s. Describes the dangers caused by hazardous travel conditions and limited equipment, provisions, communication, and scientific knowledge. For grades 6-9. 2004.

The Behavior Survival Guide for Kids: How to Make Good Choices and Stay out of Trouble     RC 60401
by Tom McIntyre
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Explains the meaning of behavior disorders, or BD. Focuses on learning to take charge of your own behavior and developing skills to manage emotions and obtain fair treatment from teachers, family, and friends. Includes personal accounts of handling difficult situations. For grades 5-8. 2003.

Children: Cassette Fiction

Play Ball! Scrappers, Book 1     RC 57687
by Dean Hughes
read by Rick Wiseman
1 cassette
When Trent and Robbie miss the application deadline to join the middle school summer baseball league, their only option is to quickly organize a full team of their own. But finding enough players, a sponsor, and a coach is not the end of their problems. For grades 3-6. 1999.

Trouble in the Barkers' Class     RC 57884
by Tomie De Paola
read by Ligaya Romero
1 cassette
Carole Anne, the new girl in twins Morgie and Moffie's class, is a bully, and the kids ignore her. But Morgie discovers why Carole Anne misbehaves and finds a way to help her. For preschool-grade 2. 2003.

It Came from beneath the Bed!     RC 57885
by James Howe
read by Peggy Gilleland
1 cassette
Wirehaired dachshund Howie, with help from his Uncle Harold, writes a story about how he, Howie, saves the world from human owner Pete's science experiment gone awry. For grades 3-6. 2002.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm     RC 58856
by Kate Douglas Wiggin
read by Celeste Lawson
2 cassettes (Reissue)
High-spirited Rebecca leaves her widowed mother and six siblings at Sun-nybrook Farm to live with her two spinster aunts in Riverboro. She brings zest and grace into their gloomy home and dull lives. For grades 3-6. 1903.

A Boy No More     RC 59432
by Harry Mazer
read by Neil Berman
1 cassette
After his father is killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adam, his mother, and sister are evacuated to California. Adam deals with his feelings about the war, Japanese internment camps, and his own identity. Sequel to Boy at War (RC 52594). For grades 6-9. 2004.

Saba: Under the Hyena's Foot; Girls of Many Lands     RC 59435
by Jane Kurtz
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Ethiopia, 1846. Twelve-year-old Saba and her brother, Mesfin, are kidnapped from their poor country grandmother and brought to the royal palace. They learn that their great-uncle is the emperor and that Saba is to be married. For grades 6-9. 2003.

The Mystery of the Mummy's Curse: A Boxcar Children Mystery     RC 59436
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
read by Rick Wiseman
1 cassette
The Alden children help out behind the scenes at the Greenfield Museum's new exhibit on ancient Egypt and learn about life thousands of years ago. But when bad luck strikes, the siblings think it could be the mummy's curse. For grades 3-6. 2002.

The Stuffed Bear Mystery: A Boxcar Children Mystery     RC 59443
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Grandfather James takes Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny to the Teddy Bear Jamboree, where they learn how the stuffed animals are made and repaired. But when a valuable bear is stolen from the toy hospital, the kids begin an investigation. For grades 3-6. 2002.

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds: The Donner Party Expedition     RC 59447
by Rodman Philbrick
read by Dave Corey
1 cassette
In this fictionalized chronicle, fifteen-year-old orphan Douglas Deeds keeps a journal of his wagon train journey with the ill-fated Donner party. The settlers become stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the winter of 1846-1847 and resort to cannibalism to survive. For grades 4-7. 2001.

A Perfect Father's Day     RC 59456
by Eve Bunting
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
For Father's Day, four-year-old Susie treats her dad to a series of special activities that just happen to be all her own favorite things to do. For preschool-grade 2. 1991.

Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe     RC 59552
by Bette Greene
read by Melissa Maxwell
1 cassette (Reissue)
African American schoolgirl Beth Lambert loves Philip Hall, the cutest, smartest boy in class, but feels confused when he doesn't invite her to his birthday party. During a run-in with turkey thieves and other adventures on her family's Arkansas farm, Beth tries to understand Philip's friendship. For grades 5-8. 1974.

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci: The Time Warp Trio     RC 59856
by Jon Scieszka
read by Ray Hagen
1 cassette
In a time travel adventure to Renaissance Italy, Fred, Joe, and Sam da Brooklyn meet the artist, scientist, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Their escapades threaten to land them in a toilet-scrubbing detail for the sixteenth-century Italian army. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Jackie's Wild Seattle     RC 59876
by Will Hobbs
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Fourteen-year-old Shannon and her little brother, Cody, who is still coping with witnessing the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on New York City, spend the summer helping their uncle Neal at a wildlife rescue center in Washington state. For grades 5-8. 2003.

Who Let the Ghosts Out? Mostly Ghostly, Book 1     RC 59885
by R.L. Stine
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
Max the Brainimon suddenly finds himself haunted by two friendly child ghosts, Tara and Nicky. The ghosts need Max's help to fight Phears, an evil ghost, but Max is reluctant to become involved until Tara and Nicky make him an offer he can't turn down. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Things I Learned in Second Grade     RC 59886
by Amy Schwartz
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Andrew Henry Smith describes his achievements in Ms. Jones's class, the books he read, the friends he made, and ways he changed during the year. Andrew is curious about many things, including what he will learn in third grade. For grades K-3. 2004.

The Conch Bearer: The Brotherhood of the Conch, Book 1     RC 59926
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Twelve-year-old Anand's family has fallen on hard times, so now he works as a tea stall boy in Kolkata, India. Anand's adventure begins when a healer asks him to safely return a magical conch shell to its rightful home high in the Himalayan mountains. For grades 5-8. 2003. RC 59926

The Best Halloween Ever     RC 60024
by Barbara Robinson
read by Constance Crawford
1 cassette
The Herdman children create mayhem every year, so the town mayor cancels Halloween and trick-or-treating. Instead, the principal plans a safe, controlled holiday party at school, under-estimating the Herdmans, who make their own plans. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Wishing on the Midnight Star: My Asperger Brother     RC 60025
by Nancy Ogaz
read by Ray Childs
1 cassette
Shy thirteen-year-old Alex Stone wants to impress his classmate Brianna Santos, avoid the neighborhood bully, and be a normal teenager, but he has to watch over Nic, his older, autistic brother. That complicates everything until he realizes how much he loves Nic. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Mouse's Halloween Party     RC 60030
by Jeanne Modesitt
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Mouse is excited about having a Halloween party. He invites Pig, who bursts into tears because she was also planning a party for the same day. Mouse feels sad until he figures out how he and Pig can both be happy. Includes instructions for two games. For grades K-3. 2004.

Gifts     RC 60031
by Ursula K. Le Guin
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
The Uplands. Orrec and Gry, friends since childhood, choose to deny their powerful inherited abilities. Orrec prevents his glance from unleashing destruction by covering his eyes, and Gry refuses to call animals to their death. Orrec's decision disrupts the balance between rival family talents. For grades 6-9. 2004.

Six Haunted Hairdos: The Hamlet Chronicles     RC 60036
by Gregory Maguire
read by Lindsay Ellison
1 cassette
With the help of their teacher Miss Earth, the all-boy Copycats and the all-girl Tattletales clubs decide to cooperate for once! The students want to assist the ghosts of a baby elephant and a herd of mastodons that appear near their small town of Hamlet, Vermont. For grades 3-6. 1997.

The People of Sparks     RC 60098
by Jeanne DuPrau
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Lina and Doon, from The City of Ember (RC 59907), help relocate fellow underground Ember inhabitants to the surface town of Sparks. At first residents of Sparks and Ember share food and shelter. But when resources become scarce, the two groups begin to fight. For grades 5-8. 2004.

My Kindergarten     RC 60156
by Rosemary Wells
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Explores the exciting world of kindergarten, progressing month by month through the school year. Includes holiday and seasonal information, poems, and rhymes. Describes learning activities such as adopting a tree, performing on musical instruments, measuring, and playing a variation of the animal/mineral/vegetable game. For pre-school-grade 2. 2004.

Savage Sam     RC 60165
by Fred Gipson
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette (Reissue)
1870s. An Apache war party captures Travis Coates, his brother Arliss, and their neighbor Lisbeth and takes them far from their Texas home. The children's only hope of rescue lies in Savage Sam, a trailhound and son of Old Yeller (RC 47404), catching their scent. For grades 5-8. 1962.

Girls Rule!     RC 60175
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by John Polk
1 cassette
The Hatford boys and the Malloy girls have only two weeks to earn the twenty dollars they each need to participate in the June Strawberry Festival Parade. Their cooperative venture does not go as planned. Sequel to Boys in Control (RC 59589). For grades 3-6. 2004.

It's a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook     RC 60212
by Stephanie Spinner
read by Suzanne Toren
1 cassette
This is Owen's first year to light the Hanukkah candles on the menorah. On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah his grandmother tells him a bedtime story. The last story makes him especially happy. Includes the Hanukkah legend and blessings and a glossary. For grades K-3. 2003.

Leyla: The Black Tulip     RC 60213
by Alev Lytle Croutier
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
1720, Caucasus Mountains. Twelve-year-old Muslim Leyla sells herself to Turkish marriage brokers to support her fatherless family. But she learns that instead of becoming a bride she is headed for slavery in an Istanbul har-em. There she develops her gardening and painting talents. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Desperate Measures: Jennie McGrady Mystery, Book 11     RC 60220
by Patricia H. Rushford
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Jennie visits a mink farm where her friend Scott Chambers, an animal rights activist, has recently started working. When mink from a neighboring fur farm are intentionally released and the farmer disappears, Jennie fears Scott is responsible. For grades 6-9. 1998.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book     RC 60228
by Cynthia Rylant
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Since he has to stay indoors during a snow storm, Mr. Putter decides to write a mystery novel. But writing a book isn't as easy as he thought. His neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, likes the list he wrote instead and cheers him up. Easy chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004.

Robert and the Back-to-School Special     RC 60234
by Barbara Seuling
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Robert refuses a barbershop haircut before school starts, but having his best friend Paul cut his hair becomes a disaster. While his hair grows out, he makes a friend in a nursing home. Best of all, his father helps him plan a Halloween party. Chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2002.

The Search for Belle Prater     RC 60282
by Ruth White
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Virginia, 1950s. Seventh-graders Woodrow, his cousin Gypsy, and their new friend Cassie, who is gifted with second sight, set off to find Wood-row's missing mother. They encounter some unlikely and intriguing coincidences along the way. Sequel to Belle Prater's Boy (RC 45802). For grades 5-8. 2005.

The Golden Goose     RC 60313
by Dick King-Smith
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Farmer Skint and his family on Woebegone Farm have fallen on hard times. Finally their luck improves with the arrival of a special golden goose they name Joy. First Farmer Skint wins a lottery, and then things get even better. For grades 2-4. 2003.

Sky     RC 60343
by Pamela Porter
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Blackfeet Reservation, northern Montana; 1964. Eleven-year-old Georgia Salois is living with her grandparents when a dam breaks, sweeping away their home, barn, and sheep. After the flood, Georgia finds a foal she names Sky that helps her recover. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries     RC 60344
by Donna Jo Napoli and Robert Furrow
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Sly, also known as Sylvia, starts a detective agency, Sleuth for Hire. Her first case is to figure out why Kate's cat is so fat when Kate feeds her so little. Sly solves this problem and two other mysteries involving pets, friends, and neighbors. For grades 2-4. 2005.

Figs and Fate: Stories about Growing Up in the Arab World Today     RC 60355
by Elsa Marston
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Five stories portraying teenagers in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and a Palestinian refugee camp. In "Faces" Suhayl overcomes his own sadness about his parents' divorce by preparing his mother a surprise meal in hopes of bringing a smile to her face. For grades 6-9. 2005.

Foreign Language Books

Spanish

Un Héroe entre Nosotros (Let's Roll! Finding Hope in the Midst of Crisis)     RC 58979
por Lisa Beamer
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
La viuda de Todd Beamer habla de su esposo que murió luchando contra los terroristas del 11 de septiembre de 2001 en el Vuelo 93, que al fin cayó en Pennsylvania. Habla de la vida de Todd, cristiano de valores tradicionales, que se sacrificó por otros, y también habla de su propria vida después de ese aterradora día. (The widow of Todd Beamer, who led fellow passengers against terrorists onboard Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, describes her late husband's life. Todd, a devout Christian family man, was raised with traditional values that enabled him to risk his life for others.) 2002.

Jugando con Chicos (Playing with Boys)     RC 60953
por Alisa Valdés-Rodríguez
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Tres improbables amigas latinas buscan el éxito en Los Angeles. Alexis es representante de músicos, Marcella es actriz de televisión y Olivia es escritor. Las tres se reunen con sus talentos diversos para realizar una obra dramática de revolucionarios salvadoreños. Y al mismo tiempo encuentran el amor. (An unlikely threesome of Latina women combine their distinct talents to take Los Angeles by storm. Talent agent Alexis wants to cast soap opera star Marcella in screenwriter Olivia's play about Salvadoran revolutionaries. And then there are the men in their lives.) 2004.

Las Siete Creencias: Una Guía para Ayudar a las Latinas a Reconocer y Superar la Depresión (The Seven Beliefs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help Latinas Recognize and Overcome Depression)     RC 60961
por Belisa Lozano-Vranich y Jorge Petit
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Dándose cuenta que la comunidad latinoamericana no se acostumbra enfrentarse a los problemas mentales, la autora anima a las latinas mismas a buscar ayuda profesional contra la depresión. Presenta siete creencias para conseguir una vida equilibrada, y describe las experiencias de pacientes, ofrece puntos motivacionales, hace sugerencias terapeúticas y cita otras lecturas y recursos al respecto. (Discusses the Latin American community's perceived reluctance to deal with mental health issues and encourages Latinas to seek professional help for depression. Suggests seven beliefs necessary for a balanced life. Includes testimonials, motivational tips, therapy options, recommended readings, and lists of organizations and other re-sources.) 2004.

Los Monstruos Ovíparos de Marte: Escalofríos (Egg Monsters from Mars: Goosebumps)     RC 60963
por R.L. Stine
leído por María Pino
1 cassette
Durante la fiesta de cumpleaños de su hermanita, Dennis toma parte en una cacería de huevos y, sin esperar, encuentra un huevo grande y verde con venas azules y pulsantes. Puesto que quiere ser científico, Dennis lleva el huevo, esperando con mucha anticipación hasta que abra-pero lo que sale no parece a ninguna criatura que conoce. Para grados 3 a 6. (During an egg hunt at his younger sister's birthday party, Dennis finds a large green egg with pulsing veins. As a budding scientist, Dennis eagerly waits for it to hatch, but what comes out looks like no known creature. For grades 3-6.) 1996.

Ramona Empieza el Curso (Ramona Quimby, Age Eight)     RC 60964
por Beverly Cleary
leído por María Pino
1 cassette
Ramona empieza el tercer grado, mientras que su padre regresa a la universidad para estudiar el arte. La vida de la familia se pone difícil con la madre que trabaja y el padre que estudia, pero los Quimby quedan unidos a pesar de todo. Para grados 3 a 6. (As Ramona enters third grade, her father returns to college to become an art teacher. Having a working mother and a student father is tough on the family, but the Quimbys stick together through good times and bad. For grades 3-6.) 1981.

Milagros de Tu Diario Vivir (Miracles: Inviting the Extraordinary into Your Life)     RC 60965
por Richard Webster
leído por Juan Ramírez
2 cassettes
Describe los milagros religiosos y curativos y las técnicas para atraerlos a su vida. Enseña las herramientas como el ritual hawaiano para realizar los deseos del corazón tanto como la escritura automática para recibir dirección de su yo superior. También habla de la magia, de hechizos y del sistema de chakras. (Author discusses religious and healing miracles and suggests techniques for realizing them. De-scribes learning tools, including the Hawaiian ritual for achieving desires and automatic writing for receiving higher guidance. Also covers magic, the chakra system, and amulets.) 2004.

Gloria Estefan     RC 60969
por Rebecca Stefoff
leído por Juan Ramírez
1 cassette
Biografía de la valiente estrella cantante que superó muchos obstáculos para llegar a la cima del mundo músico latino. Habla de sus raíces cubanas, su traslado a Miami, su matrimonio, su carrera y el espantoso accidente que casi le costó la vida. Para alumnos de escuela secundaria y lectores mayores. (Biography of the famous singer, born in Cuba, and her rise to the top of the Latin pop music world. Discusses her family's move to Miami and her marriage, career, and courage in re- covering from a horrible accident that almost ended her life. For junior and senior high and older readers.) 1995.

Diarios de Motocicleta: Notas de Viaje por América Latina (The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey)     RC 60971
por Ernesto "Che" Guevara
leído por Juan Ramírez
2 cassettes
En 1952, Guevara, un estudiante de medicina de veintitrés años, hizo un viaje por los caminos de América Latina. En su diario describe las experiencias de un joven de la clase privilegiado argentino que disfruta de un viaje de ocio de casi un año. Pero a la vez, revela los pensamientos nacientes del futuro revolutionario en que iba a transformarse. (Guevara's diary of his 1952 trip through Latin America when he was a twenty-three-year-old Argentinian medical student. Among the musings of a privileged youth taking a year off for a road trip, he also reveals hints of the revolutionary he was to become.) 2004.

Library of Congress Home      NLS Home      Comments about NLS to nls@loc.gov

About this site      Comments about this site to the NLS Reference Section

Posted on 2011-01-10