NLS/BPH: Talking Book Topics, September through October, 2006

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

Flash, June 2006, volume 2, issue 7

Digital Long-Term Planning Group assures smooth transition to digital talking books

Understanding that the best ideas often emerge during discussion among knowledgeable parties, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, created the Digital Long-Term Planning Group (DLTPG). The group provides thoughtful counsel, helps to identify problems, and offers options to possible problems, thus helping NLS with the transition to a digital technology.

"The Digital Long-Term Planning Group heightens NLS's awareness of all possible effects the transition will have on talking-book patrons, state librarians, and the 138 libraries in our network," said NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke. "The group is assisting in the development of an efficient, cost-effective system that continues to prioritize patrons' needs and enhance their reading experiences."

Putting patrons first

NLS knows that the most practical and constructive feedback comes from individuals who possess firsthand experience with the program and digital expertise. Because of the digital transition's scope, complexity, and potential impact on the blind and physically handicapped community, NLS involved all affected parties as much as possible throughout the planning process.

NLS created the digital group in 2001 to guide planning for the digital talking-book (DTB) transition. The sixteen- member committee includes state and regional librarians, representatives from national consumer groups, such as the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB), and NLS staff.

Because librarians and consumer representatives are familiar with the current talking-book system and many are aware of new trends in digital technology, their recommendations are important.

"The librarians have a unique perspective and consumers have a perspective librarians don't have," said Karen Keninger, regional librarian at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Iowa. "The ability to talk out ideas has been very valuable to the digital conversion process."

Many members are also patrons. They have personal stakes in the process. "We're the ones who work and live with talking books day-to-day," said David Andrews, a representative of the National Federation of the Blind. "We provide input on what will and will not work."

Sound advice

The selection of flash technology as the medium for book delivery is just one area where the DLTPG involvement yielded a realistic recommendation. The group reviewed several delivery options for talking books—flash, CD-ROM, and a magnetic hard-drive system—and concurred with NLS that flash technology simplified audiobook use and was durable. It also made the most economical and logistical sense.

The group also commented on issues ranging from the design of the digital talking-book player to distribution, an issue that has received considerable focus.

Introducing the Digital Long-Term Planning Group

State Librarians
Irene Padilla
Maryland State Department of Education
Division of Library Development Services

Regional/Subregional Librarians
Barbara Goral
Retired, Colorado Talking Book Library

Meredith Beckhardt
Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services

Karen Keninger
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Iowa Department for the Blind

Kim Charlson
Massachusetts Braille and Talking Book Library
Perkins School for the Blind

Richard J. Smith
Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Missouri

Kathleen Kappel
Pennsylvania Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

QA develops first fully qualified DTB

Robert Norton, head of the Quality Assurance Section and Avi Shapiro, QA software engineer, were commended along with the entire NLS Materials Development Division staff for developing the first fully qualified digital talking book, Joan Didion's Where I Was From, recorded by Carolina Talking Books. The book, narrated by Constance Crawford, was completed on May 18, 2006.

Flash, July 2006, volume 2, issue 8

A look back at the origins of the digital project

More than fifteen years ago the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, along with other talking-book programs worldwide faced the realization that analog cassettes would eventually become an outdated and ineffective technology for audio reading materials. In a meeting organized by NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke, world figures in the field of library services for the blind gathered to discuss the future of talking books. It was time they considered what form the next-generation talking book would take.

In early April 1990, librarians and talking-book experts convened at the P.V. Doyle House in Dublin, Ireland to formulate an action plan to guide development of future talking-book technology. The group included Ian Bruce, director general of the United Kingdom's Royal National Institute for the Blind; Cylke; Euclid Herie, managing director of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind; and Desmond Kenny, chief executive officer of Ireland's National Council for the Blind. These leaders and their policy and technical staff exchanged information on existing and emerging audiobook technology as well as thoughts on improving the library experience for blind and physically handicapped readers.

"This conference was a defining moment in the history of talking books," says Cylke. "We concluded that it was beneficial to work together to improve our programs and to explore technological advances that could provide patrons with better audiobooks in the future."

The group discussed such issues as cassette utilization, playback machine inventory, book and machine production data, and research and development surrounding future talking-book technology. User needs were addressed as were means of involving appropriate consumers, libraries, associations, and other stakeholders in planning next- generation talking-book systems. One thing was clear—any future system would need to be designed with users in mind. Chief among user priorities was equipment that would be easy-to-use, reliable, flexible, and portable and the audiobook system would need to meet the full range of needs both of blind and of physically handicapped readers.

Going digital

NLS has a long history of incorporating technological innovations in the development of its products and services. (NLS pioneered the use of the 33-1/3 rpm long- playing phonograph record.) After considerable research, NLS determined in 1996 that flash-memory was the optimal technology to replace analog cassettes. A digital solution would offer substantial improvements in the patron reading experience, including enhanced audio quality, portability, and book navigation features. Further, with their large memory capacity, flash cartridges would enable most audiobooks to be housed on a single cartridge—a vast improvement over the multiple cassettes that one book requires.

NLS has long sought to provide its patrons with the best service possible, and this often involves staying abreast of new technologies. From the phonograph records used in the 1930s to analog cassettes and the digital flash cartridges of the future, NLS remains dedicated to providing all talking-book patrons with a user-friendly system that enhances their reading pleasure while keeping up with the pace of change.

Mapping new territory

Given its advantages, flash-memory technology was identified as the NLS system of choice; but implementing the conversion process required more planning. Based on thorough research, NLS set out to develop a comprehensive strategy for digital conversion. The mission would be guided by user needs and the goal of optimizing the talking-book reading experience.

The project has worked toward a 2008 deadline, with key implementation milestones along the way. In 1997, NLS's Digital Talking Book Standards committee and the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) began creating a technical standard to define features of the digital talking book and its player as well as file specifications, production issues, and copyright protection schemes. In 2002, NLS began producing all recorded book masters exclusively in a digital format. In 2004, NLS started converting analog files to a digital format. By 2008, NLS plans to have 50,000 digital talking-book machines ready for distribution to patrons. In addition, NLS will have 10,000 new titles in digital format and another 10,000 existing analog titles converted to digital by that date.

Throughout the planning stages of the digital talking- book system, NLS has sought the expertise of accessible- technology engineers, such as HumanWare and Battelle, as well as input from patrons and librarians. What better way to ensure a successful digital transition than to involve the very people most affected by the change?

The Digital Audio Development (DAD) committee, created in September 1998, has been very influential in planning and guiding the transition. It initiated the project by outlining twenty steps that are essential to designing and implementing the digital talking-book system. Design activities included prioritizing digital talking-book features, simulating a digital talking book using a personal computer, developing multiple player prototypes, and building digital talking-book computer software. Implementation activities included narrowing the player media choices, beginning full-scale production and deployment of digital equipment, and establishing methods for continuous patron evaluation of the digital system.

To ensure that digital-talking book machines are designed with users in mind, NLS conducted a series of eight user-needs and usability tests. Participants were asked to assess such issues as the layout of the player's controls and their size, shape, and tactility. The participants also responded to the player's navigation features. Feedback during these sessions was essential, and influenced refinements to the final design of the machine.

NLS also sought input from the Digital Long-Term Planning Group. Consisting of consumer representatives and state and regional librarians, the group was established in 2001 to provide feedback and guidance throughout the transition process. The members offered insight on such issues as player design and digital talking-book distribution systems.

Stepping closer to a digital future

This August, NLS will pass a long-anticipated milestone. This is when a functional prototype will be introduced. Based on the usability test results, approval was granted to proceed with a working prototype. While the machine will require further testing before it is mass produced, the prototype is an exciting step toward the digital future.

Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones

Completed

Start 1/12/04—Finish 10/1/08

Milestone	Start Date
Web-Magazine Pilot	1/12/2004
Digital data management system development	11/1/2004
Player and flash cartridge development	3/1/2005
Distribution system design and transition planning—Phase II	9/19/2005
Design DTB containers and labels	6/1/2005
Web-Book pilot	6/1/2005
Prepare DTBs for distribution	10/1/2005
Distribution system implementation	10/1/2006
Flash cartridge production	3/1/2007
Flash cartridge duplication	5/1/2007
Manufacture initial lot of DTB containers and labels	8/1/2007
Full player production	9/1/2007

To view the Strategic Business Plan on the Web visit:
www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/2003.html

To view the Flash newsletters on the Web visit:
www.loc.gov/nls/newsletters/flash/archive.html

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.

Dialogue magazine published bimonthly

Dialogue magazine provides news, information, and resources to people experiencing vision loss. The magazine, which was published quarterly, is now available bimonthly (every two months) in order to increase the number of practical articles related to living with low vision, assistive technology, and careers, as well as to provide timely updates on the latest aids and devices. Highlights from recent issues include stories of people who are blind and successfully employed and articles on finding support groups, driving with low vision, adapting the home environment, and purchasing the best tech tools. For more information or to subscribe, call 800-860-4224 or visit www.blindskills.com. The magazine is available in large print, braille, cassette, diskette, and e-mail formats.

New magazine available on NFB-NEWSLINE

Diabetes Self-Management magazine has just been added to NFB-NEWSLINE, bringing the total number of available magazines to four. AARP the Magazine, the Economist, and the New Yorker are also available in audio format from NFB-NEWSLINE. AARP the Magazine appears bimonthly and offers information on current events, travel, arts, and medicine to senior citizens. Diabetes Self-Management is a bimonthly magazine containing up-to-date, practical information on nutrition, exercise, new drugs, medical advances, self- help, and many other topics people need to know to optimize their health. The Economist, a weekly magazine, focuses on trade, finance, science, and technology. The New Yorker is a weekly magazine popular for its editorials, cultural news, and acclaimed fiction.

NFB-NEWSLINE is a free service provided by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and NLS. NFB-NEWSLINE converts printed content to synthetic speech, which readers may access twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by using a touch-tone telephone. Patrons of NLS can register by calling their cooperating network library and asking to subscribe to NFB-NEWSLINE.

Books for Adults

Adult: Cassettes Nonfiction

The Mystery of Courage RC 59268
by William Ian Miller
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Meditations on the historical perceptions and philosophical meanings of courage, as evidenced in western civilization. Discusses a broad range of perspectives—from ancient Greece to the U.S. Civil War and Vietnam, from fiction and poetry to soldiers' memoirs—to elucidate this generally admired but difficult-to-define virtue. 2000.

Charles Darwin: The Power of Place; Biography of Charles Darwin, Volume II RC 59280
by Janet Browne
read by Anne Flosnik
6 cassettes
Focuses on the second half of Darwin's life, largely dedicated to writing and publishing his theories, most notably in 1859's On the Origin of Species. Browne examines the "Darwinian Revolution" in Victorian England, subsequent public debate, and Darwin's family life. Sequel to Charles Darwin: Voyaging (RC 59259). National Book Critics Circle Award. 2002.

Space Odyssey: The First Forty Years of Space Exploration RC 59478
by Serge Brunier
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
French journalist chronicles the landmark achievements of humankind's space ventures from Yuri Gagarin's inaugural flight and Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon to twenty-first-century Mars probes. Discusses Russian and American missions, technological developments, the International Space Station, challenges posed by deep space exploration, and more. 2000.

Alice Walker: A Life RC 59554
by Evelyn C. White
read by Gabra Zackman
3 cassettes
Chronicles the life of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple (RC 58842). Traces Walker's experiences as the daughter of Georgia sharecroppers, an acclaimed writer, and wife of a white NAACP lawyer. Explores her feminist and civil rights activism. Strong language. 2004.

Career Comeback: Eight Steps to Getting Back on Your Feet When You're Fired, Laid off, or Your Business Venture Has Failed—and Finding More Job Satisfaction than Ever RC 59630
by Bradley G. Richardson
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Columnist provides an action plan for a professional and emotional comeback from a job loss. Includes handling the initial crisis, learning from experience, creating support systems, and finding employment that is more satisfying. 2004.

Will Our Love Last? A Couple's Road Map RC 59640
by Sam R. Hamburg
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Clinical psychologist and marital therapist explains how to eliminate the guesswork in choosing a romantic partner. Hamburg proposes that the key to a happy marriage is "picking the right person in the first place," someone deeply compatible in three dimensions: sex, daily life, and beliefs. 2000.

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century RC 59644
by Barbara W. Tuchman
read by Constance Crawford
6 cassettes (reissue)
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian portrays a period in European medieval history through the eyes of French knight Enguerrand de Coucy VII (1340–1397). Tuchman reveals horrors of the Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, and the revolt of the peasants and proletariat. National Book Award. 1978.

Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival RC 59646
by Dean King
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
King blends two first-hand accounts with copious research to recount the 1815 wreck of the U.S. merchant ship Commerce off the west coast of Africa and the crew's captivity. Describes the desert climate, local customs, nomadic life, heatstroke, starvation, and cruel enslavement endured by the sailors. 2004.

Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy SEAL RC 59647
by Chuck Pfarrer
read by Don Feldheim
3 cassettes
Screenwriter recounts his most memorable assignments throughout his eight-year naval special forces career. Chronicles missions in Central America and the Middle East where he and his team performed combat patrols, reconnaissance, and counterterrorist operations. Describes the personal challenges he faced. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004.

The Future for Investors: Why the Tried and the True Triumph over the Bold and the New RC 59661
by Jeremy J. Siegel
read by Stephen Hoye
2 cassettes
The author of Stocks for the Long Run (RC 55718) suggests strategies for building wealth in the twenty-first century. Advises against investing in recent technologies and fast-growing sectors because rapid expansion his-torically has been a poor indicator of market earnings. Instead recommends buying traditional stocks in slow-growth industries. 2005.

Emperors and Idiots: The Hundred Year Rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox, from the Very Beginning to the End of the Curse RC 59678
by Mike Vaccaro
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
Sports columnist chronicles the legendary baseball competition between the New York and Boston teams from 1903, before the Sox were "cursed" by trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Describes memorable match-ups and players until the 2004 season, when the Sox beat the Yankees and advanced to the World Series. Strong language. 2005.

Fodor's Escape to Nature without Roughing It RC 59715
edited by Constance Jones
read by Brian Conn
5 cassettes
Guide to 250 secluded resorts, inns, and lodges in the United States and Canada where guests can enjoy the outdoors in comfort and luxury. Offers a variety of natural settings and accommodations in all price categories and provides information on facilities, recreation, services, and rates. Includes special tips. 2004.

A Theatergoer's Guide to Shakespeare RC 59745
by Robert Thomas Fallon
read by Fred Major
4 cassettes
In the author's own words, "Here will be found a careful survey of plots to the many plays, together with helpful comments on their abundant themes, characters, and puzzles, all written in plain though not inelegant English, and intended to enhance the gentle reader's enjoyment of a performance." 2001.

The Heretic in Darwin's Court: The Life of Alfred Russel Wallace RC 59785
by Ross A. Slotten
read by Annie Wauters
5 cassettes
Physician traces the life of nineteenth-century British naturalist and explorer Alfred Wallace (1823–1913), a colleague of Charles Darwin. Examines Wallace's lower-class background, self-education, and socialist views. Discusses his acceptance of spiritualism, environmentalism, and other ideologies scientists typically avoided. Also covers his research travels into dangerous tropical jungles. 2004.

What Is Gnosticism? RC 59795
by Karen L. King
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Religious historian reexamines the concept of Gnosticism, attempting to sort out conflicting interpretations of these controversial beliefs in early Christian history. Drawing on the Nag Hammadi texts discovered in Egypt in 1945, King maintains that understanding of Gnosticism has been distorted by hostile commentaries of early orthodox church partisans. 2003.

The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers after the Expedition RC 59816
by Larry E. Morris
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Traces the 1803 Corps of Discovery members through 1870. Uses primary documents to focus on Meriwether Lewis's death, George Drouillard's murder trial, the antagonism between William Clark and his slave, York, and the killing of John Collins. Also discusses the mysterious fate of guide Sacagawea. 2004.

Rising from the Rails: Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class RC 59817
by Larry Tye
read by David Toney
3 cassettes
History of industrialist George Pullman's recruitment of African Americans as porters for his rail cars during post- Civil War Reconstruction. Through first-person accounts and archival material, Tye addresses the porter monopoly's first trade union, unique culture, and contribution to the evolution of a black middle class. Some strong language. 2004.

Queen: The Life and Music of Dinah Washington RC 59865
by Nadine Cohodas
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Biography of African American pop, blues, and jazz diva Dinah Washington (1924–1963), who sang with Lionel Hampton's band at age eighteen as Ruth Jones. Cohodas uses archives and family interviews to highlight Washington's career, recording sessions, struggles with racism, seven marriages, and personal life. Some strong language. 2004.

Shades of Hiawatha: Staging Indians, Making Americans, 1880–1930 RC 59872
by Alan Trachtenberg
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Examines public perceptions of the American Indian during a period of increasing U.S. immigration. Discusses within the shifting cultural and social context of the early twentieth century the transformation of the Indian's image from that of noble savage to one of downtrodden outcast in need of assimilation. 2004.

The Ticket Out: Darryl Strawberry and the Boys of Crenshaw RC 59877
by Michael Sokolove
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
Author of Hustle (RC 32946) provides an in-depth look at the 1979 south-central L.A. high school baseball team that produced professional players Darryl Strawberry, Chris Brown, and others. Details the fate of Strawberry and his teammates and the false hope sports offers poor, urban black teens. Some strong language. 2004.

Girl Trouble: The True Saga of Superstar Gloria Trevi and the Teenage Sex Cult That Stunned the World RC 59893
by Christopher McDougall
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Recounts Mexican singer Gloria Trevi's rise to fame and subsequent fall amid accusations of fronting for a sex-slave operation. Details Trevi's and her manager Sergio Andrade's alleged crimes, including recruiting girls for underage sex and brainwashing and torturing them. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2004.

Mencius RC 59900
translated by David Hinton
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Compilation of teachings of Chinese sage Mencius, who trained under a grandson of Confucius in the fourth century B.C.E. Fourteen chapters highlight Mencius's central belief in the inherent goodness of human nature. Introduction by translator David Hinton provides historical background information. 1998.

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed RC 59909
by Jared Diamond
read by Ted Stoddard
5 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel (RC 46548) presents a comparative study of societies that have collapsed from ecological problems. Studies ancient civilizations including the Maya and the Anasazi as well as modern countries like Haiti and Rwanda and proposes global solutions. Bestseller. 2005.

Strength and Honor: The Life of Dolley Madison RC 59939
by Richard N. Côté
read by Mary Beth Wise
3 cassettes
Uses primary sources to document the life of first lady Dolley Madison (1768–1849), from her Quaker youth to her death in genteel poverty. Traces the genealogy of her maternal family. Highlights her marriage to James Madison and roles as White House hostess and heroine of the War of 1812. 2005.

Selected Poetry of Ogden Nash: 650 Rhymes, Verses, Lyrics, and Poems RC 59949
by Ogden Nash
read by Peter Gil
3 cassettes
Collection of the highly original American's characteristic work introduced by Archibald MacLeish. Writing between 1931 and 1970, Nash skewered the banalities of society in his own deft fashion. His poetry is gathered under subjects like "Love and Matri-Moaning," "The Animal Kingdom," "Senescence and Obsolescence," and "Modern Life—and Mind Your Manners!" 1995.

The Turkish Lover RC 59959
by Esmeralda Santiago
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Puerto Rico-born Santiago continues the memoir begun in Almost a Woman (RC 53924). Recounts rebelling against her controlling mother and running off with Ulvi Dogan, a domineering Turkish filmmaker seventeen years her senior. After seven unhappy years she freed herself from Dogan's possessiveness and graduated from Harvard. 2004.

The Twenty-five Best World War II Sites: European Theater; the Ultimate Traveler's Guide to the Battlefields, Monuments, and Museums RC 59977
by Chuck Thompson
read by Ralph Lowenstein
4 cassettes
Guidebook to more than 500 World War II battle sites scattered around the globe. Includes detailed histories, in-depth travel information, and accommodation resources. Covers Normandy, Belgium, Italy, Auschwitz, Berlin, North Africa, and more. 2004.

Complete Poems RC 59983
by Claude McKay
read by Bill Quinn
4 cassettes
The collected poems of Jamaican-born writer Claude McKay (1889–1948), a key figure in the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, noted for his militant social commentary and restless travel. Over three hundred verses, many previously unpublished, represent a broad spectrum of black culture. Edited with an introduction by William J. Maxwell. 2004.

Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy RC 60026
by Elizabeth R. Varon
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Scholar's biography of Union spy Elizabeth Van Lew (1818–1900), whose Virginia roots conflicted with her strong antislavery beliefs. Drawing on her diaries and other historical sources, chronicles her contributions to the Union cause: comforting and sneaking messages to northern prisoners, aiding and sheltering escapees, providing intelligence, and assisting emancipation efforts. 2003.

Deadly American Beauty: A True Story of Passion, Adultery, and Murder RC 60041
by John Glatt
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Investigative reporter's account of twenty-four-year-old Kristin Rossum, a San Diego toxicologist, accused of poisoning her spouse with drugs brought home from her office. Reveals Rossum's long-term drug addictions, adulteries, and possible motives for murdering husband Greg de Villers in 2001. 2004.

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke RC 60072
by Suze Orman
read by Colleen Delany
3 cassettes
Financial advisor, author of The Road to Wealth (RC 52889), explains money basics to twenty- and thirty-year-olds. Discusses FICO scores, credit cards, student loans, retirement, investing, home and car ownership, and relationship money-mergers. Provides information to a younger audience that can use time to their advantage. Bestseller. 2005.

The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life RC 60073
by Tom Reiss
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Biography of Lev Nussimbaum, a Russian Jew born in Azerbaijan in 1905. Describes his pattern of reinventing himself, eventually becoming known in the publishing world and to his wife as a swashbuckling Muslim writer. Reiss tracks identities Nussim-baum used in Europe's powerful intellectual and political circles between the World Wars. 2005.

By Myself and Then Some RC 60081
by Lauren Bacall
read by Barbara Pinolini
5 cassettes
Award-winning actress recaps her early years, Hollywood career, marriage to Humphrey Bogart, and widowhood first explored in Lauren Bacall by Myself (RC 13275). Summarizes the later part of her life including her marriage to Jason Robards and reminisces about lifelong friends and her work in the theater. Bestseller. 2005.

Love in the Lead: The Miracle of the Seeing Eye Dog RC 60083
by Peter Brock Putnam
read by Mark Delgado
2 cassettes
History of The Seeing Eye organization of Morristown, New Jersey, founded in 1929 for the education of blind individuals and guide dogs. Second edition adds information to the 1979 original on developments in the breeding, raising, and training of seeing eye dogs. 1997.

Some Memories of a Long Life, 1854–1911 RC 60091
by Malvina Shanklin Harlan
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Malvina Shanklin Harlan's diary, begun the day she met John Marshall Harlan and continued until 1911, the year he died. Her memoir, with extensive anecdotes and insights into the Harlan family, addresses politics in Kentucky, Washington, D.C., and the Supreme Court, to which Harlan was appointed in 1877. 2001.

Reckless: Millionaire Record Producer Phil Spector and the Violent Death of Lana Clarkson RC 60101
by Carlton Smith
read by Mark Delgado
2 cassettes
Probes the 2003 murder of a forty-year-old actress in the California home of eccentric music producer Phil Spector. Traces the rock 'n' roll mogul's childhood, family life, and successful career. Details Spector's long-standing psychological problems and evaluates a possible motive for his alleged crime. 2004.

The Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, and the Story of Golf RC 60103
by Mark Frost
read by Erik Synnestvedt
4 cassettes
Biography of Bobby Jones (1902–1971) of Atlanta who in 1930 became the only amateur golfer to win four major tournaments in one year: the British Open, the British Amateur, the U.S. Open, and the U.S. Amateur. Describes Jones's rise to sports celebrity and retirement due to stress. Bestseller. 2004.

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond RC 60108
by Essie Mae Washington-Williams and William Stadiem
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
African American Essie Mae Washington describes her teen years when she discovered that her father was white South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond, a leading voice for racial segregation. She discusses her relationship with Thurmond and her struggle with his public image. 2005.

Al-Jazeera: The Inside Story of the Arab News Channel That Is Challenging the West RC 60109
by Hugh Miles
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
British journalist analyzes the twenty-four-hour Arab television news channel Al-Jazeera. Observing the Qatar agency, Miles concludes that "the story of this news network is, in fact, the story of the upheavals that have taken place in that troubled region in recent years." Discusses terrorism, Iraq, Afghanistan, and free speech. 2005.

Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life RC 60111
by Henri J.M. Nouwen
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Catholic priest and author of The Road to Daybreak (RC 30895) outlines three stages of spiritual growth: reaching out to one's self, then to others, and, finally, to God. Offers examples from literature, scripture, and life to help readers through struggles with inner restlessness, relationships, and questions of faith. 1975.

The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer RC 60116
by Renée Fleming
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Grammy-winning American soprano's autobiography traces her rise from an upstate New York childhood as the daughter of two music teachers through years of vocal training to an eventual operatic career. Includes discussion of her mentors, various roles, and private life. 2004.

Everybody's Normal till You Get to Know Them RC 60119
by John Ortberg
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Teaching pastor deconstructs the illusion of normalcy, urging readers to accept human imperfection as a fundamental, theological truth. Discusses the "porcupine's dilemma"—getting close to others without being hurt—and explains how to create and sustain relationships through tolerance, empathy, and forgiveness. Cites scripture and real-life examples. Includes discussion questions. 2003.

Air Power: The Men, Machines, and Ideas That Revolutionized War, from Kitty Hawk to Gulf War II RC 60141
by Stephen Budiansky
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
Journalist surveys military applications of powered flight from the Wright brothers to World Wars I and II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Traces evolution of aerial combat tactics, weaponry, and aircraft. Draws on combat memoirs, letters, diaries, archives, and eyewitness accounts to depict soldiers' perspectives. Some strong language. 2004.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy RC 60148
edited by Roger W. Harms
read by Kerry Cundiff
5 cassettes
Month-by-month outline of changes in mothers and fetuses during pregnancy, and a compendium of information on labor, delivery, newborns, postpartum care, and possible maternal health complications. Includes guidelines for making informed decisions on such topics as genetic screening, doctor selection, circumcision, and feeding. 2004.

The Eighth Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness RC 60159
by Stephen R. Covey
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Author follows up The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (RC 32592) with an eighth habit: finding one's own voice and inspiring others to find theirs. Contends early-twenty-first-century challenges call not merely for effectiveness, but greatness. Holistic approach outlines ways to excel in personal, professional, and communal lives. 2004.

Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe RC 60171
by Simon Singh
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
A history of scientific thought on the birth of the universe, focusing on the "big bang" theory's gradual acceptance during the twentieth century. Covers the role of telescopes and modern technology in gathering data and developing methodical proof. Includes profiles of subject specialists, outlining their debates on fundamental issues. 2004.

An African American Cookbook: Traditional and Other Favorite Recipes RC 60178
by Phoebe Bailey
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Hundreds of recipes, traditional and others, many discovered or used by descendants of participants in the Underground Railroad or those who lived nearby. Includes main dishes, vegetables, salads, breads, cakes, and sweets. Also contains songs and lessons learned at the dinner table. 2002.

Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy RC 60179
by Max Hastings
read by John Polk
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Military historian chronicles World War II's Operation Overlord, the June 1944 Allied invasion of France that spelled the beginning of the war's end for Germany. Draws on personal accounts of participants from both sides to reconstruct infantry tactics and performance during the pivotal ten-week campaign. 1984.

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking RC 60186
by Malcolm Gladwell
read by Malcolm Gladwell
2 cassettes
Writer for the New Yorker examines making choices in an instant—in the blink of an eye. Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point (RC 50027), draws on neuroscience and psychology data to analyze how people make snap judgments and concludes that individuals can learn to make better quick decisions. Bestseller. 2005.

Under the Weather: How the Weather and Climate Affect Our Health RC 60236
by Pat Thomas
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
Examines scientific evidence of a weather/health link and discusses specific environmental influences affecting human behavior and physical and mental well-being. Topics include the seasons, global warming, storms, heat waves, winds, and such artificial temperatures as heating and air-conditioning. 2004.

A Deficit of Decency RC 60271
by Zell Miller
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
In a companion to A National Party No More (RC 57170), former U.S. senator from Georgia laments the lack of moral values in America and urges returning to a basic sense of duty. Describes supporting President George W. Bush and takes on cultural issues. Foreword by Sean Hannity. 2005.

Come Thirsty RC 60272
by Max Lucado
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Minister and author of numerous books on religious topics offers his program for hydrating your soul. The plan describes four essential actions: accept God's work, rely on God's energy, trust God's leadership, and receive God's love. Includes a reader's guide with related Bible passages and questions for discussion groups. 2004.

What if It's Not Alzheimer's? A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia RC 60276
edited by Lisa Radin and Gary Radin
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Manual by medical professionals and caregivers on attending to patients with progressive, neurodegenerative brain disorders known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Doctors explain medical facts, research, and therapeutic and rehabilitation interventions. Caregivers discuss managing daily aid, socialization, nursing homes, and financial and legal concerns. 2003.

Polio: An American Story RC 60283
by David M. Oshinsky
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Account of the twentieth-century search for a polio vaccine and the rivalries that developed between competing medical researchers, notably Jonas Salk, Albert Sabin, and Hilary Koprowski. Traces the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis campaigns and the public health experiment involving Salk's vaccine. Evokes the widespread panic over the disease. 2005.

Sean Penn: His Life and Times RC 60286
by Richard T. Kelly
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Oral history of the Academy Award-winning actor's career. Uses interviews with Penn and his friends, family, and coworkers to chronicle the star's happy childhood, marriages to Madonna and to Robin Wright, and professional successes. Also explains Penn's political positions and antiwar views. Some strong language. 2004.

The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us RC 60305
by Martha Stout
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Harvard psychologist contends that 4 percent of the population of the United States are sociopaths—people without conscience who freely manipulate those around them for their own benefit. Uses composite case studies to explain how to recognize such individuals and deal effectively with them. 2005.

My Soul Looks Back in Wonder: Voices of the Civil Rights Experience RC 60316
by Juan Williams
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Thirty-three oral histories of individuals transformed by the civil rights movement. Includes memoirs of African Americans struggling for integration and activists fighting for the rights of Latinos, Asians, gays, and people with disabilities. Foreword by David Halberstam. Afterword by Marian Wright Edelman. Strong language. 2004.

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century RC 60317
by Thomas L. Friedman
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author of The Lexus and the Olive Tree (RC 48435) explores what he calls the world's "flattening"—a leveling of the "global competitive playing field" driven by technology and an increasingly diverse population. Examines other causes as well as foreign policy and economic implications. Bestseller. 2005.

Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life RC 60325
by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Psychology professor examines the problem of excessive brooding or ruminating, especially by women. Discusses its causes and negative consequences. Offers a three-step plan: break free using constructive techniques and positive emotions, move to higher ground and gain new perspective, and avoid future traps. 2003.

Sylvia Browne's Book of Angels RC 60326
by Sylvia Browne
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
Psychic and author of Life on the Other Side (RC 51334) relies on personal experience and research facilitated by her spirit guide to discuss various forms, functions, and levels of angels. Describes Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, Virtues, Dominions, Thrones, and Principalities. Includes contributors' stories and frequently asked questions. 2003.

Savage Summit: The True Stories of the First Five Women Who Climbed K2, the World's Most Feared Mountain RC 60346
by Jennifer Jordan
read by Erin Jones
3 cassettes
Journalist profiles the first five female mountaineers to summit K2, nicknamed "Savage Mountain" for its reputation as the world's most dangerous and second-highest peak. Portrays the background, abilities, motivations, and remarkable climbs of three women who died descending K2 and two who perished on other mountains. Some strong language. 2005.

The Bonus Army: An American Epic RC 60347
by Paul Dickson and Thomas B. Allen
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
Recounts the 1932 march on Washington, D.C., of the Bonus Army comprising thousands of veterans lobbying Congress for immediate payment of their wartime-service cash bonus promised eight years earlier. Discusses the demonstrators' violent expulsion, subsequent rallies, and broader veteran compensation issues. 2004.

Angel Animals: Exploring Our Spiritual Connection with Animals RC 60348
by Allen Anderson and Linda Anderson
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Gathering of personal reports on the depth of the bond between animals, both wild and domestic, and humans. Contributors demonstrate the many ways that creatures positively influenced their lives and taught them how to cope with relationships, life's challenges, and loss. Includes biographical information and ideas for meditation. 1999.

How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls RC 60352
compiled by Donna Dale Carnegie
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
The author brings the method developed by her father in How to Win Friends and Influence People (RC 53469) to teenage girls. Offers advice on peer pressure, popularity, avoiding arguments, learning from mistakes, and making good choices. For senior high readers. 2005.

Heloise and Abelard: A New Biography RC 60356
by James Burge
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Details one of history's greatest love affairs. Examines epistolary evidence concerning twelfth-century lovers Abelard, an eminent theological philosopher in Paris, and Heloise, his intellectually gifted young pupil. Discusses in the context of medieval French culture the relationship's significant events, including Heloise's pregnancy, Abelard's castration, and their separate religious exiles. 2003.

Get Crafty: Hip Home Ec RC 60359
by Jean Railla
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Author embraces both feminism and her self-declared "inner craftiness" by putting a creative spin on traditional domestic arts. Offers tips on finding the right craft, creating personal space, buying items secondhand, conducting simple home improvements, cleaning, cooking, and entertaining. Includes project instructions, journal exercises, collage ideas, recipes, and more. 2004.

Parkinson's Disease: Three Hundred Tips for Making Life Easier RC 60360
by Shelley Peterman Schwarz
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Columnist with multiple sclerosis offers time- and energy-saving suggestions to improve quality of life and promote independence for those with Parkinson's and other chronic conditions. Encourages readers to adapt, modify, and simplify with tips on making homes safe and accessible, handling medical issues, traveling, exercising, and more. Includes resources. 2002.

Best of Regional African Cooking RC 60362
by Harva Hachten
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Frequent visitor to Africa presents more than two hundred recipes for dishes that offer the unique and dramatic flavors of North, East, West, Central, and South Africa. Hachten shows the French, Spanish, and British nfluences on the cuisine, opting for the version that works best with American products. 1970.

Tea: Addiction, Exploitation, and Empire RC 60366
by Roy Moxham
read by Bruce Huntley
2 cassettes
The author describes his five-year stint managing a tea plantation in Nyasa-land (now Malawi) and explains how England's love of tea and its desire for an empire led to devastating repercussions around the world. Some violence. 2003.

Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages RC 60368
by Frances Gies and Joseph Gies
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Traces the development of the medieval European family from 500 A.D. to the fifteenth century, from roots where Germanic, Roman, and Christian influences blended. Discusses family size and definition, marriage laws and customs, gender attitudes, and more. Considers social class and the impact of the Black Death. 1987.

Why England Slept RC 60372
by John F. Kennedy
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Study of Britain's failure to rearm in the 1930s as German militarism threatened. Analyzes influences on British disarmament policy, including financial instability, the pacifist movement, and internal politics. Draws a warning from the disastrous repercussions of Britain's unpreparedness for war. Written while Kennedy was a Harvard senior in 1940. 1961.

The Reality of God RC 60373
by Louis Cassels
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette (Reissue)
Religion columnist analyses arguments for and against God's existence in a book intended "for wistful agnostics and reluctant atheists." Attributes the roots of skepticism to science, secularism, cultural conditioning, and the failing credibility of religious institutions. Asserts that direct personal experience can verify the reality of God. 1971.

Bloodsworth: The True Story of the First Death Row Inmate Exonerated by DNA RC 60374
by Tim Junkin
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Lawyer examines the nine-year legal ordeal of Kirk Bloodsworth, a Maryland waterman wrongly convicted of a young girl's 1984 murder. Reconstructs the case and the efforts of Bloodsworth's attorney to introduce genetic evidence that eventually set Bloodsworth free and identified the real killer. Some strong language. 2004.

Children at War RC 60375
by P.W. Singer
read by Dan Willems
2 cassettes
Examines the increasing recruitment of children in warfare and terrorism around the globe. Discusses the origins and causes of this practice, its social significance, and possible preventive measures. Includes adult soldiers' reactions to facing armed children and accounts by child soldiers. Violence. 2005.

Beating Diabetes: The First Complete Program Clinically Proven to Dramatically Improve Your Glucose Tolerance RC 60378
by David M. Nathan and Linda M. Delahanty
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
A Harvard physician and a nutritionist offer a way to treat and prevent diabetes through modest lifestyle changes without drugs. The easy-to-follow program includes simple eating and activity level changes. Study participants describe their successes. 2005.

A Dancing People: Powwow Culture on the Southern Plains RC 60381
by Clyde Ellis
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
A social history of the powwow's significance that focuses on changes to the custom since the 1950s. Discusses the origins of traditional songs and dances, past opposition by government advocates of assimilation, and the continuity of Indian cultural identity expressed in the contemporary phenomenon. Spur Award finalist. 2003.

Delights and Shadows RC 60382
by Ted Kooser
read by Richard Hauenstein
1 cassette
Some fifty verses by the U.S. poet laureate about simple but remarkable aspects of everyday life. Includes "Walking on Tiptoe," "A Winter Morning," "Old Lilacs," "Garage Sale," "A Jar of Buttons," and "Surviving," in which Kooser reflects on the ways his fear of death has illuminated life. Pulitzer Prize. 2004.

Come, Tell Me How You Live RC 60386
by Agatha Christie Mallowan
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Famous mystery writer draws on travels with her archaeologist husband to offer a glimpse of the Arab world between world wars. Records excavations, encounters, and observations of customs and people in a book she calls "full of everyday doings and happenings." 2000 introduction by David Pryce-Jones. 1946.

Thayer's Life of Beethoven, Volume 1 RC 60403
by Alexander Wheelock Thayer
read by Gordon Gould
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Thayer's classic biography of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), revised and edited by Harvard music professor Elliot Forbes, incorporating research accomplished after the work's original 1921 publication. Volume one covers Beethoven's life and work up to 1814. 1967.

Thayer's Life of Beethoven, Volume 2 RC 60404
by Alexander Wheelock Thayer
read by Gordon Gould
5 cassettes
Thayer's classic biography of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), revised and edited by Harvard music professor Elliot Forbes, incorporating research accomplished after the work's original 1921 publication. Volume two covers Beethoven's life and work from 1815 until his death in 1827. Follows Thayer's Life of Beethoven, Volume 1 (RC 60403). 1967.

Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy inside the Mind of a Manager RC 60409
by Buzz Bissinger
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
The author of Friday Night Lights (RC 32152) shadows St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa during the 2003 baseball season. Observations culminate in an insider's view of a three-game series with archrival Chicago Cubs. Describes the changes in the game over previous decades. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

AARP Crash Course in Estate Planning: The Essential Guide to Wills, Trusts, and Your Personal Legacy RC 60413
by Michael T. Palermo
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
AARP offers advice on planning an estate. Covers wills and trusts, executors and trustees, provisions for heirs including those with disabilities, charitable donations, and distribution solutions for beneficiaries. Emphasizes consulting an estate attorney to prevent family feuds. Foreword by Ric Edelman. 2005.

Down Came the Rain RC 60414
by Brooke Shields
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Actress recounts experiencing postpartum depression following the 2003 birth of her daughter, who was conceived after fertility treatments. Recalls her detachment and thoughts of suicide. Discusses her treatment and recovery with proper medication and therapy, and her newfound happiness as a mother. Lists resources. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Storage Solutions RC 60420
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Step-by-step instructions for simple home improvements to control clutter and get organized. Includes directions for revamping closets, garages, and laundry rooms, upgrading kitchen and bathroom space, and assembling and installing cabinets and shelves. Provides tips on preparation and clean-up, choosing the right tools, purchasing materials, and personalizing finished projects. 2004.

Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand RC 60426
by Anne Graham Lotz
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Daughter of evangelist preacher Billy Graham offers a guide to using faith to triumph over crisis, based on the story of Lazarus's death in the Book of John. Selects lessons from scripture and her own life to help those struggling to make sense of injustice, suffering, and death. 2004.

Desire Street: A True Story of Death and Deliverance in New Orleans RC 60436
by Jed Horne
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
Analyzes the five trials of Curtis Kyles for the 1984 murder of sixty-year-old New Orleans housewife Delores Dye. Discusses political and legal maneuvering in the case, reversal by the U.S. Supreme Court, subsequent retrials, and the unsolved status of the crime. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

The Gnostic Gospels RC 60458
by Elaine Pagels
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Religion professor discusses the effect the Gnostic gospels have had on Christianity since their discovery in 1945. Explains the gospels' view of the life and teachings of Jesus, which differs from that of the New Testament, and deliberates questions raised, such as the gender of Jesus. National Book Award. 1979.

Joy at Work: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job RC 60465
by Dennis W. Bakke
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Cofounder and former president and CEO of energy giant AES broadens the definition of business success beyond profits. Contends "the workplace should be fun and fulfilling" to enable employees to work to their potential. Describes his upbringing in rural Washington state and the evolution of his unorthodox organization. 2005.

Angry Wind: Through Muslim Black Africa by Truck, Bus, Boat, and Camel RC 60490
by Jeffrey Tayler
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Journalist recounts his four-thousand-mile journey across western and central Africa taken between the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Traveling through countries beset by poverty, civil war, corruption, and religious antagonism, Tayler encountered generous and patient people as well as desperation and anti-Westernism. 2005.

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence RC 60493
by Deepak Chopra
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Physician and bestselling author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success (RC 40751) contends "every coincidence is a message" that requires attention. Chopra explains ways to recognize meaning in ostensibly random occurrences using the seven principles of synchrodestiny. Includes exercises and specific techniques. 2003.

Whose Bible Is It? A History of the Scriptures through the Ages RC 60509
by Jaroslav Pelikan
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Kluge Prize-winning historian and author of Jesus through the Centuries (RC 24344) traces the evolution of the Jewish and Christian Bibles from early Hebrew, Greek, and Latin texts to modern versions. Examines the formation of the New Testament, influences of the Renaissance and Protestant Reformation, and the canonization process. 2005.

Walking the Big Wild: From Yellowstone to the Yukon on the Grizzly Bears' Trail RC 60530
by Karsten Heuer
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
Wildlife biologist and park warden documents his eighteen-month journey along the Rocky Mountains to assess the health of the ecosystem and the feasibility of a wildlife reserve network. Chronicles his personal and wilderness adventures over thousands of miles by foot, skis, and canoe with his border collie, Webster. 2004.

How to Avoid Falling: A Guide for Active Aging and Independence RC 60547
by Eric Fredrikson
read by Ray Childs
1 cassette
Accident avoidance specialist offers a guide to preventing falls—the leading cause of injuries to U.S. seniors. Provides information on fall-proofing the home; negotiating stairs; avoiding hazards such as escalators, uneven sidewalks, and ice; choosing a cane or walker; and recovering after a fall. Includes exercises and useful web sites. 2004.

Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare RC 60621
by Philip Short
read by Ken Kliban
5 cassettes
British reporter and author of Mao (RC 52446) uses archives and extensive interviews to investigate Cambodian leader Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Observes how Cambodia's history, culture, geography, and politics led to the regime's 1970s genocide that killed one and a half million people. Violence. 2004.

Gus Grissom: The Lost Astronaut RC 60634
by Ray E. Boomhower
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Biography of one of the seven original Mercury astronauts, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom. Follows Grissom's selection by NASA in 1959 and his missions in space. Describes the catastrophic fire in the Apollo 1 spacecraft that killed him, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee on January 27, 1967, at Cape Kennedy. 2004.

Imperial Grunts: The American Military on the Ground RC 60647
by Robert D. Kaplan
read by John H. Mayer
4 cassettes
Veteran journalist claims that stationing U.S. troops around the world to promote democracy represents a form of imperialism. Describes elite units and their missions in seven countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Argues that establishing political and social reforms in these areas may take decades. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey RC 60664
by Candice Millard
read by Paul Michael
3 cassettes
Former writer with National Geographic recounts the adventurous travels of Theodore Roosevelt and his son Kermit through South America in 1913–1914. Relates the expedition's threats from cannibals, flesh-eating bacteria, wildlife, and rapids. Journey was first described by Roosevelt in Through the Brazilian Wilderness(RC 53848). 2005.

The Planets RC 60665
by Dava Sobel
read by Lorna Raver
1 cassette
Author of Galileo's Daughter (RC 48871) describes the origins and oddities of the planets in our solar system. Each planet inspires the author's reflections on art, culture, or astrology, as well as scientific knowledge. In her essay on the sun Sobel opines on the birth of the universe. 2005.

The City of Falling Angels: A Venice Story RC 60672
by John Berendt
read by Holter Graham
3 cassettes
A tour of Venice, Italy, by a writer intrigued with its millennium of history, art, architecture, canals, and inhabitants. Berendt investigates the fire that destroyed the opera house just before his arrival in 1996. By the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (RC 38077). 2005.

A Briefer History of Time RC 60679
by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow
read by Erik Davies
1 cassette
An updated and more accessible version of A Brief History of Time (RC 26996). Emphasizes the concept of a dynamic cosmos, incorporating scientific knowledge from research and space exploration—by the Hubble Space telescope and satellites—not available in the 1988 publication. 2005.

Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times RC 60681
by H.W. Brands
read by John H. Mayer
5 cassettes
A biographical study of Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) from his South Carolina upbringing and years as a lawyer and Tennessee congressman to his military exploits and contributions as president. Portrays his respect for states' rights while being devoted to preserving the Union. Violence and some strong language. 2005.

The FairTax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS RC 60683
by Neal Boortz and John Linder
read by Dan Willems
1 cassette
Talk radio host and attorney Boortz and Congressman Linder offer a plan to phase out the current income tax system and replace it with a simpler retail sales tax. They posit that the U.S. tax base could be increased by eliminating the Internal Revenue Service. Bestseller. 2005.

Sylvia Plath: Voice of the Poet RC 60730
by Sylvia Plath
read by Sylvia Plath
1 cassette
American poet (1932–1963) and author of The Bell Jar (RC 21558) reads twenty-one of her own poems, many of which were written while she was married to British poet Ted Hughes. Contains "Lady Lazarus," a piece about self-loathing and hatred for men. 1999.

Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend RC 60737
by Mitchell Zuckoff
read by Grover Gardner
2 cassettes
Account of the 1920 get-rich-quick scam devised by charismatic Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi of Boston that led to the loss of millions by investors. Uses original sources to document Ponzi's rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul investment pyramid and its unmasking by Boston Post newspaper editor Richard Grozier. Some strong language. 2005.

Randall Jarrell: Voice of the Poet RC 60745
by Randall Jarrell
read by Randall Jarrell
1 cassette
Randall Jarrell (1914–1965) reads some of his poems, including "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" and "Eighth Air Force," which reflect his World War II experiences in the Air Force. Also available by Jarrell: The Complete Poems (RC 40083). 2001.

Copy This! Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic Who Turned a Bright Idea into One of America's Best Companies RC 60750
by Paul Orfalea
read by Michael Paul
2 cassettes
The author, a dyslexic who was repeatedly expelled from school, describes successfully founding Kinko's copy shops. Offers business advice along with autobiographical anecdotes. 2005.

John Ashbery: Voice of the Poet RC 60765
by John Ashbery
read by John Ashbery
1 cassette
Avant-garde experimental American poet John Ashbery (born 1927) reads sixteen short and long selections, including the entire "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror." 2001.

Conduct under Fire: Four American Doctors and Their Fight for Life as Prisoners of the Japanese 1941–1945 RC 60766
by John A. Glusman
read by Arthur Morey
5 cassettes
The author describes how his father and three other Navy doctors kept fellow prisoners of war alive during three years of WWII captivity. Discusses their professional dedication in extreme circumstances, factors that affected their survival, cultural differences with their captors, and the brutality of war. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

William Carlos Williams: Voice of the Poet RC 60780
by William Carlos Williams
read by William Carlos Williams
1 cassette
American poet who rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s reads from his own work celebrating the myth of America by capturing details of everyday lives. 2005.

W.H. Auden: Voice of the Poet RC 60785
by W.H. Auden
read by W.H. Auden
1 cassette
Among twenty-three selections of his own work, British poet Wystan Hugh Auden (1907–1973) reads "The Wanderer," the elegy In Memory of W.B. Yeats, the ballad "As I Walked Out One Evening," and three sonnets from In Time of War. 2004.

e.e. cummings: Voice of the Poet RC 60788
by e.e. cummings
read by e.e. cummings
1 cassette
Twentieth-century American poet e.e. cummings (1894–1962) reads his own work. Selected poems explore the traditional subjects of love, materialism, and nature. Also available by cummings: Complete Poems, 1913–1962 (RC 21554). 2005.

Elizabeth Bishop: Voice of the Poet RC 60789
by Elizabeth Bishop
read by Elizabeth Bishop
1 cassette
Presents twenty-three poems culled from six different readings between 1947 and 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winner Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979). Includes such masterworks as "At the Fishhouses" and "The Moose" as well as lesser-known pieces. Also available by Bishop: Complete Poems (RC 36371). 2000.

Feet on the Street: Rambles around New Orleans RC 60791
by Roy Blount Jr.
read by Paul Boehmer
1 cassette
Author of Roy Blount's Book of Southern Humor (RC 47634) takes the reader on a walking tour of New Orleans, Louisiana, describing its history, weather, food, and colorful residents. Speculates on problems that could occur because the city is situated below sea level. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

A Jackson Man: Amos Kendall and the Rise of American Democracy RC 60793
by Donald B. Cole
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
The author of The Presidency of Andrew Jackson (RC 37228) chronicles the life of Amos Kendall (1789–1869), Jackson's political advisor and postmaster general. Relates Kendall's efforts to establish a market economy, capital investments in projects like the telegraph, and sponsorship of the institution that became Gallaudet University. 2004.

Giants of Jazz RC 60829
by Studs Terkel
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Collective biography of thirteen American jazz greats: Joe Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Bix Beiderbecke, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane. Portraits blend musicians' life stories with information about the evolution of jazz. Includes discography. 1957.

Shakespeare: The Biography RC 60905
by Peter Ackroyd
read by Simon Vance
4 cassettes
The author of London (RC 54610) and The Life of Thomas More (RC 49033) explores the legendary playwright Shakespeare amidst the social, economic, literary, and political heyday of sixteenth-century England. Describes how the events of the extraordinary time Shakespeare inhabited affected and inspired the scribe. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005.

Character Is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember RC 60907
by John McCain
read by Arthur Morey
3 cassettes
Senator and author of Why Courage Matters (RC 58324) profiles heroes of exemplary character. Includes professional football player Pat Tillman, who gave up a lucrative career to serve his country in Afghanistan, and a Catholic priest at Auschwitz, who offered to change places with a condemned prisoner. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

The Google Story RC 60908
by David Vise
read by Stephen Hoye
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Bureau and the Mole (RC 53651) details the founding of the Silicon Valley Internet company Google. Describes the 1998 collaboration between grad school dropouts Sergey Brin and Larry Page and their use of computer wizardry to develop a search engine. 2005.

Dean and Me (A Love Story) RC 60909
by Jerry Lewis and James Kaplan
read by Stephen Hoye
2 cassettes
Comic Jerry Lewis reminisces about his professional and personal relationship with entertainment partner Dean Martin. Anecdotally describes their New York City meeting in 1945, overwhelming success in movies and nightclubs, break up ten years later, and prolific solo careers. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being RC 60915
by Andrew Weil
read by Andrew Weil
2 cassettes
Physician and author of Eight Weeks to Optimum Health (RC 44268) explains the aging process and describes ways to keep healthy while growing older. Covers nutrition, physical activity, vitamins, rest, stress reduction, and maintaining a social and spiritual life. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.

The Sweet Potato Queens' Wedding Planner/Divorce Guide RC 60927
by Jill Conner Browne
read by Jill Conner Browne
2 cassettes
Tongue-in-cheek advice for big weddings followed by big divorces. Covers topics such as "making a bride in just 365 days," "dressing the bridesmaids and the groom," "the greed (oops, the gifts)," "vow, pre-nups, and kiss-offs," "pre-d," "on matters legal and mannerly," "the divorce party," and "delousing the ring." Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Informant: A True Story RC 60928
by Kurt Eichenwald
read by Arthur Morey
5 cassettes
Investigative reporter recounts a white-collar crime of shifting loyalties and deceptions. Describes the FBI's investigation of international price-fixing at powerful Archer Daniels Midland corporation and the unraveling of the case when the inside informant, a senior executive, proved to have a secret personal agenda. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

Adults: Cassette Fiction

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure; the "Good Parts" Version, Abridged RC 58817
by William Goldman
read by Bruce Nelson 3 cassettes (Reissue)
The most beautiful woman in the world falls in love with Westley, the perfect man. Their pending romance, however, is interrupted by fate and the wicked prince Humperdinck, ruler of Florin. Thirtieth anniversary edition of the classic fairy tale spoof features a 2003 introduction. 1973.

Magic Time RC 58818
by W.P. Kinsella
read by Michael Kramer
2 cassettes
Struggling former college all-star Mike Houle accepts an offer to play for the Cornbelt League in Grand Mound, Iowa. He adjusts to small town life and even falls in love, but soon grows suspicious of his new team. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Seduced by Moonlight RC 59265
by Laurell K. Hamilton
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Immortal princess Meredith NicEssus, heir to the Unseelie Court, seeks a husband. Competing for the throne with sadistic Prince Cel, she must conceive, preserve alliances, survive assassination, and reckon with her magic powers. Sequel to Caress of Twilight (RC 59892). Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2004.

The Holcroft Covenant RC 59302
by Robert Ludlum
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes (Reissue)
In 1945 a stolen German fortune is left to the sons of three Nazis to raise a Fourth Reich in the 1970s. American Noel Holcroft knows nothing of the plot and is to be killed after his signature is obtained. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1978.

Island: The Complete Stories RC 59309
by Alistair MacLeod
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
A collection of the Canadian author's sixteen short stories written before 1999. Many are set on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, and convey a sense of isolation or loss. In "To Every Thing There Is a Season," an eleven-year-old boy describes nostalgically the first family Christmas when he was counted as an adult. 1999.

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam RC 59686
by M.C. Beaton
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Agatha Raisin follows a fortune-teller's advice and rents a cottage in the village of Fryfam, where she hopes to stifle her obsession with neighbor James Lacey and find true love. Instead she encounters homicide, jealousy, blackmail, and peculiar lights in her garden that locals claim are fairies. 2000.

Phoenix and Ashes: The Elemental Masters, Book 4 RC 59788
by Mercedes Lackey
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
London. After Eleanor Robinson's father is killed in World War I, she finds herself under the spell of her stepmother, an Elemental Master of Earth. Eleanor's only hope is longtime friend Reggie, but his Elemental powers seem to have vanished when he was injured in the war. Some violence. 2004.

Man's Hope RC 59793
by André Malraux
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Spain, 1936. When civil war breaks out, Ramos, secretary of the railroad workers' union, and his friend Manuel guide their membership against the fascists led by Franco. Ramos and his fellow revolutionaries debate their political and ideological beliefs while fighting against right-wing alliances. Violence and strong language. 1938.

Dark Voyage RC 59801
by Alan Furst
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
1941. Captain DeHaan and the crew of the Dutch merchant freighter Noordendam join the war effort on behalf of the British navy. With the Noordendam disguised as a neutral Spanish ship, they prowl European waters on dangerous clandestine missions. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004.

The Zero Hour RC 59874
by Joseph Finder
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
Fugitive billionaire Malcolm Dyson hires convicted murderer and terrorist Henrik Baumann and breaks him out of a South African prison to bomb a major New York City bank. As Baumann orchestrates his attack, FBI agent Sarah Cahill leads the manhunt. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

In the Shadow of the Ark RC 59881
by Anne Provoost
read by Constance Crawford
2 cassettes
Re Jana, an adolescent girl, recounts her family's involvement in the building of Noah's ark. She falls in love with Ham, Noah's son, and questions God's intention to destroy the whole human race. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

The Sistahood of Shopaholics RC 59903
by Leslie Esdaile and others
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Tales of four women whose passion for shopping leads them to meeting the men of their dreams. One woman needs to produce a groom-to-be. Another meets a car salesman who tries to help her cure a shopping addiction. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

Apache Ransom: A Tall Man Western RC 59906
by Clay Fisher
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Ben Allison, from The Tall Men (RC 31490), promises a dying mother that he will escort her son home to his father, the governor of Texas. But Apache warriors capture the boy and demand weapons for his release. Some strong language. 1974.

The Last Kingdom RC 59910
by Bernard Cornwell
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Ninth-century Britain. Ten-year-old Uhtred is captured in battle by Danish chieftain Earl Ragnar. Uhtred's loyalties are torn between Ragnar and King Alfred of Wessex. Discovering his true allegiance, Uhtred leaves to claim his birthright and settle a blood feud. Violence and some strong language. 2005.

Liberty: A Jake Grafton Novel RC 59922
by Stephen Coonts
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
A Russian general sells four nuclear warheads to an international terror network. When the U.S. president gives Rear Admiral Jake Grafton unprecedented authority to stop the perpetrators, Grafton fights bureaucratic red tape, corrupt politicians, and the terrorists to prevent the unthinkable. Strong language and some violence. 2003.

Random Harvest RC 59925
by James Hilton
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Englishman Charles Rainier, heir to an industrial empire, left Cambridge University during World War I for trench warfare in France, where a head wound stole his memory of 1917–19. Years later he recounts battling amnesia to reclaim his life and a woman's love. Some violence. 1941.

Narcissus in Chains: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter RC 59933
by Laurell K. Hamilton
read by Victoria Gordon
4 cassettes
Vampire executioner Anita Blake is trying to choose between two lovers, a vampire and a werewolf, when she receives an urgent message. The shapeshifters have kidnapped Nathaniel, her wereleopard friend, from a seedy club called Narcissus in Chains. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2001.

Ramage and the Freebooters: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 3 RC 59961
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Lieutenant Ramage takes command of the brig Triton and her mutinous crew. Although sympathetic to their grievances, Ramage knows if he cannot deliver sealed dispatches to admirals in Brest, Cádiz, and the West Indies, he'll make a convenient scapegoat. Sequel to Ramage and the Drumbeat (RC 59853). Some violence. 1969.

Pegasus in Space: The Pegasus Series RC 59974
by Anne McCaffrey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Rhyssa Owen Lehardt and her prize student, Peter Reidinger, a paralyzed teenager with strong telekinetic talent, thwart a mutiny at the Padrugoi Space Station's inauguration. Peter and other psychics battle saboteurs threatening Earth's colonization efforts. Sequel to Pegasus in Flight (RC 34796). Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2000.

Dead Water: A Benjamin January Mystery RC 59978
by Barbara Hambly
read by Frank Coffee
2 cassettes
New Orleans freedman Benjamin January, posing as white friend Hannibal Sefton's slave, is hired to follow Oliver Weems, a bank official suspected of stealing over $100,000 in gold and securities. Weems is murdered, the list of suspects grows, and January's position becomes more tenuous. Strong language. 2004.

The Old Spanish Trail: Trail Drive Series, Book 11 RC 59981
by Ralph Compton
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Santa Fe, 1862. Texas cattleman Don Webb and his cowboys arrive with their longhorn herd but discover that the buyer is dead. With few options and trailed by vengeful outlaws, they begin a drive west to gold-fevered California across mountains, desert, and hostile Indian territory. 1998.

Captain Alatriste: The Adventures of Captain Alatriste, Book 1 RC 60007
by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
read by John Horton
1 cassette
Madrid, Spain; 1620s. Swordsman Diego Alatriste is hired to stage a midnight robbery of two Englishmen. But Father Bocanegra of the Spanish Inquisition tells him to kill the gentlemen. Because these aren't ordinary travelers, however, Alatriste becomes caught in a maze of intrigue. Strong language and some violence. 1996.

Oathbreakers: Vows and Honor, Book 2 RC 60027
by Mercedes Lackey
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
Idra, leader of the Sunhawks, fails to return from her quest for a magical sword that will reveal which of her two brothers should become king. Warrior Tarma and mage Kethry set out to find her, while Idra's older brother usurps the throne. Sequel to Oathbound (RC 59626). 1989.

Casting the First Stone RC 60028
by Kimberla Lawson Roby
read by Gail Nelson
2 cassettes
Tanya has everything: a husband, Curtis, who is pastor of a wealthy Chicago African American church, a job she loves, a beautiful home, and a daughter. But life becomes more turbulent as Curtis succumbs to the temptations of running a rich congregation. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.

The Accidental Hunter: A D. Hunter Mystery RC 60029
by Nelson George
read by John Haag
2 cassettes
Music manager Ivy Greenwich hires African American security specialist "D" Hunter to pay a ransom and free a kidnapped singer. After that assignment, Hunter, who is HIV positive, becomes the bodyguard for white entertainer Bridgette Haze. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2004.

The Severing Line RC 60033
by Sara Cardiff
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes (Reissue)
New York fashion model Andrea winters in rural Vermont while recuperating from hepatitis. She reunites with her former lover, horse breeder Judson Cole, who is now engaged. Andrea's presence also complicates another relationship. It soon becomes clear that someone wants her gone—or even dead. Some violence. 1974.

Deep Freeze RC 60039
by Lisa Jackson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Former movie star Jenna Hughes moves to Oregon to avoid fame and to provide a quieter life for her two daughters. But a psychotic fan causes unrest in their new community, women disappear, and Jenna receives threatening notes. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Christmas in Harmony: A Harmony Novel RC 60043
by Philip Gulley
read by Derald Breneman
1 cassette
As Quaker minister Sam Gardner and other Harmony citizens prepare to celebrate Christmas, eccentric church elder Dale Hinshaw devises an unusual nativity scene involving the whole town. Despite his unconventional congregation and an argument with his wife, Sam reflects on family and the meaning of the holidays. 2002.

Ya-Yas in Bloom RC 60065
by Rebecca Wells
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (RC 45768), Vivi, Teensy, Necie, and Caro spill more tales of their lifelong friendship. Meanwhile their offspring bond, forming new generations: the Petites Ya-Yas and the Très Petites Ya-Yas. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

The System of the World: The Baroque Cycle, Volume 3 RC 60068
by Neal Stephenson
read by Robert Sams
8 cassettes in 2 containers
1714. Daniel Waterhouse returns to England to mediate a dispute between Isaac Newton and Gottfried von Leibniz. He uncovers a plot to kill Natural Philosophers and to destroy the monetary system. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Sequel to The Confusion (RC 59272). 2004.

Caxton: Sparrowhawk, Book 3 RC 60077
by Edward Cline
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
Virginia colony, 1759. Former indentured servant Jack Frake, from Sparrowhawk, Book 1 (RC 55242), and exiled British aristocrat Hugh Kenrick, from Sparrowhawk, Book 2 (RC 57731), meet when they acquire adjoining plantations. Although separated by class, they hold similar political views and vow to contest restrictive colonial laws. 2003.

The Memory of Running RC 60088
by Ron McLarty
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Overweight, forty-three-year-old toy company supervisor and army veteran Smithy Ide loses both parents and then learns his long-lost sister, Bethany, is also dead. Distraught, Smithy mounts his bicycle and journeys cross country, dredging up memories and contemplating Bethany's mental illness. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

Florence of Arabia RC 60105
by Christopher Buckley
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Satire of American-Arab relations. U.S. Foreign Service employee Florence Farfaletti secretly visits the Middle Eastern emirate of Matar to start a cable TV channel aimed at emancipating Arab women. Her program's success leads to disastrous results thanks to French meddling and a coup. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

The Preacher's Son RC 60106
by Carl Weber
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Queens, New York. Family indiscretions threaten to derail African American bishop T.K. Wilson's campaign for borough president. His son Dante finds love with a former stripper, while daughter Donna hides her affair with T.K.'s protégé. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour: The Frontier Stories, Volume 2 RC 60143
by Louis L'Amour
read by Jack Fox
4 cassettes
Thirty frontier tales including "More Brains than Bullets," in which Texas Ranger Chick Bowdrie must solve a murder, a bank robbery, and a frame-up. In "Trail to Pie Town," wandering cowboy Dusty Barron rescues a woman in trouble. 2004.

Death in Venice and Other Tales RC 60162
by Thomas Mann
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Death in Venice relates the story of a lonely German artist in search of spiritual fulfillment in Venice, where he becomes spellbound by a beautiful Polish boy. Includes eleven other stories displaying the Nobel-Prize-winning writer's use of irony, subtle characterizations, and complex plots. Uncensored 1998 translation by Joachim Neugroschel. 1911.

Sixteen: Stories about That Sweet and Bitter Birthday RC 60172
edited by Megan McCafferty
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Sixteen short stories by various authors about the conflicts and confusion of being a teenager. The editor's "Fifteen Going On . . . " brings back the characters from Sloppy Firsts (RC 58148). Strong language and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

The Renegade: The White Indian Series, Book 2 RC 60174
by Donald Clayton Porter
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
1690. Conflict escalates between the French and English for control of the New World colonies. Twenty-two-year-old white Seneca warrior Renno travels to London as an ambassador to enlist King William III's support. Renno forges an alliance at court with French Huguenot Adrienne Bartel. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 1980.

And a Puzzle to Die On: A Puzzle Lady Mystery RC 60183
by Parnell Hall
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Attorney Becky Baldwin asks amateur sleuth Cora Felton to investigate the twenty-year-old case of Darryl Daigue, who is serving a life sentence for a teenager's murder. When more deaths occur, the "Puzzle Lady" puts together a convoluted theory. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

Governor Ramage, R.N.: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 4 RC 60193
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Commanding the Triton, Lieutenant Ramage escorts a merchant-ship convoy to Jamaica. While he protects some French aristocrats and prepares for a hurricane, he faces a vengeful rear-admiral and a mysterious interloper. Ramage even temporarily governs a Spanish island. Sequel to Ramage and the Freebooters (RC 59961). Some violence. 1973.

If There Be Thorns: The Dollanganger Family, Book 4 RC 60196
by V.C. Andrews
read by Barbara Caruso
3 cassettes (Reissue)
A sinister old woman and her butler living next door lure nine-year-old Bart from his loving home. Soon the neighbors' dreadful stories about the boy's parents lead him to shocking acts of violence. Sequel to Petals on the Wind (RC 34341). 1981.

Something Rotten: A Thursday Next Novel RC 60197
by Jasper Fforde
read by Yolande Bavan
3 cassettes
Swindon, England; 1988. Detective Thursday Next, from The Well of Lost Plots (RC 58070), leaves BookWorld's policing agency with two-year-old son Friday and Prince Hamlet. Thursday convinces Goliath Corporation to reactualize her missing husband and connects Swindon's croquet team to a politician's evil scheme. Some strong language. 2004.

Bone Walker: The Anasazi Mysteries, Book 3 RC 60198
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
American southwest, twelfth and twenty-first centuries. A prophet's murder foretells doom for War Chief Browser's beleaguered Anasazi people. Nine hundred years later when another killing occurs among Anasazi ruins, archaeologist Dusty Stewart investigates. Sequel to The Summoning God (RC 56152). Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

Hard Truth: An Anna Pigeon Mystery RC 60206
by Nevada Barr
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Paraplegic Heath Jarrod finds two of three missing girls battered and wandering near her campground. Ranger Anna Pigeon, new to Rocky Mountain National Park, continues the search for the third child. Anna trails many kidnapping suspects including the children's fundamentalist youth group leader. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Mosaic RC 60214
by Soheir Khashoggi
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Half-Lebanese New Yorker Dina Ahmad and her Jordanian husband, Karim, have a gay teenage son and eight-year-old twins. Dina, shocked when Karim takes the twins home to live in Jordan, hires lawyers and detectives in hopes of recovering her children. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

The King of Dreams: Majipoor Cycle, Book 7 RC 60218
by Robert Silverberg
read by Nick Sullivan
4 cassettes
Upon Confalume's death, Lord Prestimion becomes pontifex, and Prince Dekkeret succeeds him as coronal. The new monarchy must contend with rebel Count Mandralisca, who has acquired a dream-controlling device, spreading madness and death. Sequel to Lord Prestimion (RC 54991). Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2001.

Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil RC 60221
by James Luceno
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Separatists and the Republic continue the war begun in Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones (RC 53975). Jedi knights Obi-Wan and Anakin, pursuing Viceroy Nute Gunray, find an unexpected prize that could lead to their ultimate quarry—the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death RC 60224
by M.C. Beaton
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
A water bottling company looking to tap the historic Ancombe spring incites controversy among town residents and the parish council. When the still uncommitted council chairman turns up dead, feisty amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin, who is also the company's new public relations woman, investigates. 1998.

Doctored Evidence: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery RC 60226
by Donna Leon
read by Peter Ganim
2 cassettes
The Romanian housekeeper is shot dead by police as she flees the scene of a miserly old woman's murder. When a witness speaks out on the housekeeper's behalf, Venetian detective Guido Brunetti investigates, hindered by bureaucratic indifference, inept colleagues, nosy neighbors, and greedy heirs. 2004.

Ramage's Prize: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 5 RC 60229
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Jamaica. Mail vessels, vital links between England and the West Indies in the war against France, mysteriously vanish—threatening to upset both war and trade. Lieutenant Lord Ramage, suspecting French privateers, sets out to uncover treachery. Sequel to Governor Ramage, R.N. (RC 60193). Some violence. 1974.

The Ha-Ha RC 60248
by Dave King
read by Jeremy Gage
3 cassettes
Veteran Howie Kapostash is unable to speak, read, or write since being injured in Vietnam. He cares for his former girlfriend's nine-year-old son while she's in rehab. Finding unexpected joys in his new responsibilities, Howie dreads Sylvia's inevitable return. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

Hoax: A Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi Mystery RC 60267
by Robert K. Tanenbaum
read by Gregory Gorton
4 cassettes
New York's interim district attorney, Butch Karp, prosecutes a rapper for a nightclub murder—and learns his own twin sons were at the scene. Meanwhile wife Marlene and daughter Lucy are relaxing in New Mexico but get caught up in local crime. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Sympathy between Humans: A Detective Sarah Pribek Novel RC 60268
by Jodi Compton
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Minneapolis detective Sarah Pribek comes under investigation for a murder suspect's death that left her ex-partner exiled and her cop husband imprisoned. Meanwhile, Sarah takes the cases of a teenager searching for her brother and an unlicensed paraplegic doctor. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

Secondhand Bride: The McKettrick Brothers, Book 3 RC 60269
by Linda Lael Miller
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Jeb McKettrick, discovering that his bride, Chloe, is married, returns to the Triple M ranch convinced that he'll never inherit it. But an unexpected reunion and a dangerous interloper give the couple another chance. Sequel to Shotgun Bride (RC 57177). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004.

Private Practices: An Alan Gregory Novel RC 60277
by Stephen White
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Storming into psychologist Alan Gregory's office, a gun-wielding husband shoots his wife, Claire, her divorce lawyer, and himself. Claire was slated to testify before a grand jury and when a fellow witness dies, detective Sam Purdy enlists Alan's help. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1993.

Trickster's Queen: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 2 RC 60278
by Tamora Pierce
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
In the sequel to Trickster's Choice (RC 59928), Aly plays a major role in determining who will be the next queen. But she is so caught up in court intrigue and her own romance that she fails to foresee the dangers that await. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Hosts: A Repairman Jack Mystery RC 60279
by F. Paul Wilson
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Repairman Jack's sister Kate seeks assistance when her lover, Jeanette, joins a cult after recovering from a brain tumor. Jack discovers other medical survivors have also joined the organization and seeks to find the connection. He also contends with a nosy reporter threatening his anonymity. Violence and strong language. 2001.

Going for the Record RC 60284
by Julie A. Swanson
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Seventeen-year-old Leah's recruitment to the Olympic developmental soccer team becomes unimportant when she learns that her father has terminal cancer. With the help of her religious family, Leah realizes that relationships are more valuable than sports. Together they cope with tragedy. For senior high readers. 2004.

Hideaway: A Hideaway Novel, Book 1 RC 60288
by Hannah Alexander
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
On forced leave and facing a lawsuit after her sister's death, Dr. Cheyenne Allison retreats to the Ozark village of Hideaway, where Dane Gideon runs a ranch for troubled teens. Cheyenne is drawn into a feud between Dane and the mayor, who thinks the kids are vandals. Christy Award. 2003.

A Darkness at Sethanon: Riftwar Saga, Volume 4 RC 60290
by Raymond E. Feist
read by Anne Flosnik
4 cassettes
Nighthawk assassins infiltrate the Kingdom of the Isles. Staging his own death, Prince Arutha slips away and undertakes a perilous journey north to confront his evil nemesis, Murmandamus, in a battle for the fate of their world. Sequel to Silverthorn (RC 56404). Violence and some descriptions of sex. 1986.

The Thomas Berryman Number RC 60291
by James Patterson
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Zebulon, Kentucky; 1974. The violent deaths of African American mayor Jimmie Horn, Tennessee trooper Martin Weesner, and madman Bert Poole, who was Horn's assassin, prompt newspaperman Ochs Jones to investigate. Obsessed, Ochs chronicles the manhunt that eventually leads to criminal mastermind Thomas Berryman. Strong language and some violence. Edgar Allan Poe Award. 1976.

Just Add Children RC 60297
by Elise Title
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Three novels in which single men and women find themselves unexpectedly caring for children: a young business owner accepts responsibility for her cousin's baby, a single pediatrician takes custody of her deceased friend's school-age kids, and a globe-trotting bachelor becomes guardian of his niece and nephew. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1988.

Blind Lake RC 60299
by Robert Charles Wilson
read by Victoria Gordon
2 cassettes
Minnesota. During a lengthy unexpected lockdown at Blind Lake National Laboratory, tensions rise among quarantined scientists observing lobster-like aliens on another planet. Dr. Marguerite Hauser contends with her menacing ex-husband, while embedded journalist Chris Carmody finds the story and the woman of a lifetime. Strong language and some violence. 2003.

The Dark: New Ghost Stories RC 60302
edited by Ellen Datlow
read by Colleen Delany
3 cassettes
Award-winning anthology of sixteen tales exploring boundaries between the living and the dead. Features authors Glen Hirshberg, Ramsey Campbell, Jeffrey Ford, Stephen Gallagher, Jack Cady, Joyce Carol Oates, and others. Includes editor's commentary and biographical information about authors. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003.

Full Bloom: Full Series RC 60318
by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Jamie and Max are getting married at Annie Fortenberry's Peachtree Bed and Breakfast in Beaumont, South Carolina. The plans are going smoothly until a handsome stranger arrives and the body of Annie's missing husband turns up. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close RC 60319
by Jonathan Safran Foer
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Precocious nine-year-old Oskar Schell discovers a mysterious key labeled "Black" belonging to his father, who was killed in the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks. Oskar roams New York City on a quest to find the matching lock. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

A Thousand Tomorrows RC 60320
by Karen Kingsbury
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
All bull rider Cody Gunner cares about on the Pro Rodeo Tour is his brother with Down syndrome and winning the national championship. Then he meets barrel racer Ali Daniels, who hides having cystic fibrosis. Their burgeoning love is made even stronger when Ali reveals her condition. 2005.

War Chief: The White Indian Series, Book 3 RC 60339
by Donald Clayton Porter
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
White Seneca war chief Renno, in Virginia to facilitate peace between colonists and Pimlico Indians, finds a wife. The newlyweds are not together long before Renno is drawn into a struggle for Florida pitting Seminoles against Spanish pirates. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1980.

Brimstone: A Pendergast Mystery RC 60350
by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
read by John Polk
4 cassettes
FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, last seen in Still Life with Crows (RC 57038), investigates serial murders that appear to be the work of the devil, complete with cloven hoofprints and odors of brimstone. Pendergast follows the killings to Italy. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Angelica: Samaria, Book 4 RC 60384
by Sharon Shinn
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Following The Alleluia Files (RC 60154), the people of the planet Samaria have disbanded into groups and the nomadic Edori are isolated. When the god Jovah arranges a marriage between archangel Gaaron and Edori Susannah, the couple encounter many difficulties. For senior high and older readers. 2003.

The Baker's Daughter RC 60418
by D.E. Stevenson
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Beilford, Scotland; 1930s. Young Sue Pringle becomes a cook for English artist John Darnay and his wife. When Mrs. Darnay leaves her husband, Sue stays on. After John also departs, Sue embarks on a mission of love to the art worlds of London and Amsterdam to find him. 1938.

Star Wars: Episode III; Revenge of the Sith RC 60480
by Matthew Stover
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
As the Republic falters, Jedi Obi-Wan undertakes a perilous mission to destroy Separatist general Grievous. Meanwhile, Jedi Anakin Skywalker grows increasingly tormented by fear, and Darth Sidious prepares to ordain a new Sith Lord—Darth Vader. Sequel to Labyrinth of Evil (RC 60221). For senior high and older readers. Bestseller. 2005.

Holiday in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery RC 60483
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
New York, 2058. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is stressed out before the holidays. A make-believe Santa Claus is actually a serial killer who is working his murderous way through "The Twelve Days of Christmas" theme. Clues lead Eve to an elite matchmaking agency. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 1998.

Ramage and the Guillotine: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 6 RC 60484
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
London, 1801. After a year in the West Indies, Lieutenant Ramage briefly reunites with his family and beloved Gianna before Nelson orders him to spy on the French invasion fleet. Failure could jeopardize English forces and send Ramage to Bonaparte's guillotine. Sequel to Ramage's Prize (RC 60229). Some violence. 1975.

Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery RC 60486
by Donna Leon
read by Peter Ganim
2 cassettes
Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice police investigates the death by cyanide of famous German conductor Maestro Helmut Wellauer at the opera house. Brunetti never imagines that he might aid and abet a criminal. 1992.

Star Wars: A Clone Wars Novel; The Cestus Deception RC 60487
by Steven Barnes
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
One year after the attack of the clones, battle-droid manufacturing is banned throughout the Republic. But on Ord Cestus, leaders refuse to honor the ban and prepare to sell hoards of techno-organic Jedi-killers. As Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi's diplomacy fails, the Republic plans devastating retribution for the disloyal planet. 2004.

The Viscount Who Loved Me: A Bridgerton Novel RC 60489
by Julia Quinn
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Contrary to gossip columnist Lady Whistledown's reports, London's most eligible bachelor, Anthony Bridgerton, has decided to marry and begins courting Edwina Sheffield. Determined to protect her from the notorious viscount, Edwina's half-sister, Kate, schemes to thwart their betrothal—and falls in love with Anthony herself. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

Bitter Recoil: A Posadas County Mystery RC 60491
by Steven F. Havill
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Posadas County, New Mexico. Sixty-two-year-old undersheriff Bill Gastner, still recovering from bypass surgery, travels north to visit his former detective, Deputy Estelle Reyes-Guzman. However, the vacation and reunion are interrupted by the apparent hit-and-run death of a pregnant woman. Bill helps investigate when other murders follow. Some violence. 1992.

The Dakota Trail: A Ralph Compton Novel; Trail Drive Series, Book 14 RC 60495
by Robert Vaughan
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Returning home after the Civil War, Confederate soldier Dick Hodson finds his Texas town destitute and the surviving ranches, including his family's, nearly in ruins. To save them, Dick plans a cattle drive north with a party of greenhorns. One dangerous man's fortune, however, rests on their failure. 2001.

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham RC 60497
by M.C. Beaton
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
After discovering a few gray hairs and then accidentally dyeing her hair purple, Agatha Raisin heads for the new Evesham hairdresser, Mr. John, who works his magic on Agatha's hair and her heart. When the hairdresser dies of food poisoning, Agatha investigates. 1999.

The Alamosa Trail: A Ralph Compton Novel; Trail Drive
Series, Book 15 RC 60500
by Robert Vaughan
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Unemployed after a deadly blizzard, the wranglers of Trailback Ranch accept infamous gunslinger Clay Allison's job offer: herd some horses from Mexico to Colorado. Trouble waits in Mexico, where the Federales mistake the cowboys for kidnappers. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2002.

Ramage's Diamond: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 7 RC 60501
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Lord Ramage, now a captain, commands the neglected frigate Juno for another seemingly impossible mission. Dispatched to the Caribbean islands Martinique and Diamond Rock, Ramage intends to barricade the French within Fort Royal, but first he must recondition an undisciplined crew. Sequel to Ramage and the Guillotine (RC 60484). Some violence. 1976.

Clouds of Witness: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery RC 60502
by Dorothy L. Sayers
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes (Reissue)
On holiday in France, Lord Peter Wimsey learns his brother, the Duke of Denver, is charged with murdering their sister's fiancé. Lord Peter returns to England and assumes the unpleasant duty of clearing his brother's name by painstakingly following every clue with humor and ingenuity. 1927.

The Duke and I: A Bridgerton Novel RC 60504
by Julia Quinn
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Simon Basset, the new duke of Hastings, and Daphne Bridgerton stage a courtship to keep society matchmakers at bay. But when the charade becomes all too real for Daphne, Simon must either marry her or risk ruining her reputation and breaking her heart. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

A Noble Radiance: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery RC 60508
by Donna Leon
read by Peter Ganim
2 cassettes
Two years after he was kidnapped, Roberto Lorenzoni's remains are found in a farmer's field. Venetian inspector Guido Brunetti notifies the victim's wealthy family and discovers that Count Lorenzoni's shady business dealings in Eastern Europe may have contributed to his son's death. 1998.

Summer's Child RC 60522
by Luanne Rice
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Fleeing an abusive husband, Lily Malone settles in Nova Scotia and bears a daughter, Rose. Now eight, Rose needs surgery for a heart defect, forcing Lily to confront both the past and her conflicted feelings for marine biologist Liam Neill. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

One Shot: A Jack Reacher Novel RC 60580
by Lee Child
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Former military policeman Jack Reacher travels to Indiana to assist ex-Gulf War sniper James Barr, who's accused of randomly killing five people. When Barr is beaten into a coma in jail and suffers amnesia, he can't help his attorney Helen Rodin or Reacher. Violence and some strong language. 2005.

Now Picture This: Sierra Jensen, Book 9 RC 60586
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
As relatives gather at the Jensen household for Thanksgiving, Sierra wants privacy to reflect on Paul's recent letter. Sierra avoids the chaos by dreaming of being Paul's girlfriend, but then she begins to wonder if it's OK with God to ignore her family. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Manhattans and Murder: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery RC 60587
by Donald Bain
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Jessica Fletcher is in New York City during the Christmas season to promote her latest mystery. When she observes a street corner Santa Claus being murdered—a man she recognizes as a former Cabot Cove resident—Jessica begins to investigate. 1994.

Brandy and Bullets: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery RC 60588
by Donald Bain
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Cabot Cove, Maine. A mansion is converted into a luxurious retreat for authors, artists, and musicians. Mystery writer Jessica Fletcher soon has real-life inspiration when the new residents find creative ways to die. After one apparent suicide, another attempt, and a disappearance, Jessica investigates the facility's disturbing secrets. 1995.

The Revelation: Abram's Daughters, Book 5 RC 60595
by Beverly Lewis
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Jonas Mast returns to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and declares his love for Leah Ebersol. But marriage must wait until Jonas confesses before the church and performs his penitence. Meanwhile a new man in town attracts Sadie's attention, and Lydiann joins the Mennonite church. Sequel to The Prodigal (RC 60280). 2005.

Eleven on Top: A Stephanie Plum Novel RC 60607
by Janet Evanovich
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum quits her job, tired of being mistreated. While trying her hand at various menial occupations, she receives threatening notes from a criminal who is supposed to be dead. Stephanie investigates with the help of former colleague Ranger. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2005.

How We Are Hungry: Stories RC 60628
by Dave Eggers
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Fifteen contemporary stories by the author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (RC 49737). Several works feature Americans abroad. In "The Only Meaning of the Oil-Wet Water," single friends meet for a vacation interlude in Costa Rica. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Sacred Stone: The Oregon Files RC 60631
by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Juan Cabrillo, of Golden Buddha (RC 57099), and the Corporation, his shadowy organization of ex-military and intelligence operatives, accept a mission to recover an iridium-comprised meteorite—an ingredient for a "dirty" bomb. While terrorists plot to steal the orb, a nuclear weapon goes missing. Some violence and some strong language. 2004.

School Days: A Spenser Novel RC 60663
by Robert B. Parker
read by Joe Mantegna
1 cassette
Jared Clark's grandmother hires Boston private investigator Spenser to defend her grandson. The boy is accused of conspiring with a friend in the murder of seven people at school. Spenser becomes suspicious when Jared's parents are not interested in their son's predicament. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

Sails on the Horizon: A Novel of the Napoleonic Wars RC 60669
by Jay Worrall
read by John Lee
2 cassettes
1797. When his superior officers aboard HMS Argonaut die in battle, twenty-five-year-old Charles Edgemont assumes command. Awarded both prize and promotion, Charles returns to London and falls in love with Quaker Penelope Brown, but their courtship is interrupted when Charles is recalled to duty. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Color of Law RC 60671
by Mark Gimenez
read by Stephen Hoye
3 cassettes
Wealthy Dallas attorney A. Scott Fenney is appointed to represent Shawanda Jones, an African American prostitute who killed the drug-addicted son of an ambitious senator. Fenney's world and belief system slowly dissolve as he investigates Jones's claim of self-defense. Violence and strong language. 2005.

The March RC 60676
by E.L. Doctorow
read by Joe Morton
2 cassettes
This Civil War saga portrays the complex nature of General William Tecumseh Sherman as he leads Union troops through Georgia and the Carolinas. Describes the carnage and destruction that occur as well as the tender feelings that arise as the soldiers proceed. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

The Seduction of an English Scoundrel: Boscastle Trilogy, Book 1 RC 60677
by Jillian Hunter
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
When Lady Jane Welsham is left standing at the altar, the cousin of her intended takes charge. Grayson Boscastle, the marquess of Sedgecroft, vows to help Lady Jane reenter society. They become the talk of the town as they play a game of seduction. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Crusader's Cross: A Dave Robicheaux Novel RC 60682
by James Lee Burke
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Dave Robicheaux rejoins the New Iberia, Louisiana, police department to catch a serial killer while investigating the fate of a prostitute he and his half-brother knew decades ago. The wealthy Chalons family attempts to stop Robicheaux from succeeding. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005.

Cupidity RC 60712
by Caroline Goode
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Senior Laura Sweeney, a mythology buff, prays to Jupiter for a boyfriend. The Roman gods at the Mount Olympus retirement home heed Laura's call and send Cupid disguised as a beautiful girl (Cupidity) to help Laura. Cupidity, however, causes more havoc than Laura can handle. For senior high readers. 2005.

A Penny Urned: A Den of Antiquity Mystery RC 60716
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
When antiques shop owner Abigail Timberlake inherits her previously unknown aunt's estate, she travels with her mother to Savannah, Georgia, to receive the decedent's ashes. Abigail finds a valuable coin attached to the urn and suspects her aunt was killed for her collection. Some strong language. 2000.

Straight into Darkness RC 60733
by Faye Kellerman
read by Paul Michael
3 cassettes
Munich, Bavaria; 1929. In an atmosphere of unemployment, civil unrest, and harassment by Nazi hooligans, homicide inspector Axel Berg investigates the murder of socialite Anna Gross. When other female victims are discovered, Berg suspects a serial killer is on the loose. Explicit descriptions of sex and violence. 2005.

Rococo RC 60736
by Adriana Trigiani
read by Stephen Hoye
2 cassettes
1970. Bachelor Bartolomeo di Crespi is the renowned interior decorator of Our Lady of Fatima, New Jersey, where he lives amongst his large Italian clan. When Bartolomeo is hired to redo the local church, he gets stained glass artisans Rufus McSherry and Pedro Alarcon to help. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Traveler: Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 1 RC 60740
by John Twelve Hawks
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
In a centuries-old battle, Harlequin warriors assist the Travelers, prophets able to journey to parallel universes, against the Tabula organization, which aims to control the populace through government surveillance and technology. Harlequin Maya arrives in L.A. to protect Travelers Michael and Gabriel Corrigan. Violence. 2005.

Dance of Death: A Pendergast Mystery RC 60742
by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
read by Scott Brick
3 cassettes
FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, of Brimstone (RC 60350), convinces police lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta to help him find his brother Diogenes, a serial killer intent on murdering those closest to them both. But Aloysius is framed for the crimes—and is on the run. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Lunar Park RC 60743
by Bret Easton Ellis
read by James Van Der Beek
2 cassettes
Celebrity author Bret Ellis attempts to straighten out his life by giving up drugs and alcohol and moving his family to the New York City suburbs. But things only get worse when copycat murders and child abductions occur, threatening ghosts appear, and Ellis's family falls apart. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

In the Shadow of the Law RC 60744
by Kermit Roosevelt
read by Craig Wasson
3 cassettes
Attorneys at Peter Morgan's prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm are assigned to controversial cases. First-year associate Mark Clayton takes on a pro bono death-penalty case while Katja Phillips defends a negligent chemical company from a lawsuit. The two eventually question their choice of careers. Some strong language. 2005.

The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery RC 60748
by M.C. Beaton
read by Donada Peters
1 cassette
Agatha Raisin investigates two murders. She finds the dead body of missing teen Jessica Bradley and offers to take the case pro bono. Then when someone poisons Agatha's former client Robert Smedley, Smedley's young widow employs Agatha to find his killer. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005.

The Patriot's Club RC 60753
by Christopher Reich
read by Michael Kramer
3 cassettes
Successful Wall Street businessman Thomas Bolden, who grew up orphaned on the raw streets of Chicago, chases muggers who rob his girlfriend but is instead abducted by them. After escaping, Bolden investigates the group, a centuries-old organization of powerful men with a political agenda. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Oh My Stars RC 60757
by Lorna Landvik
read by Cassandra Campbell
3 cassettes
Depression-era Kentucky, 1937. Eighteen-year-old seamstress Violet Mathers leaves by bus to commit suicide after losing part of her arm in an accident. Stranded in North Dakota she meets musician Kjel, who forms a band that hits it big. Violet becomes their manager as they swing through the South. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005.

Life Sentences RC 60760
by Alice Blanchard
read by Susan Denaker
3 cassettes
Boston neurogenetics specialist Daisy Hubbard pursues cures for brain disorders. When her schizophrenic sister Anna disappears in Los Angeles, Daisy joins detective Jack Makowski in the search. While falling in love, they learn that Anna's lover is a serial killer. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Belle Ruin: An Emma Graham Mystery RC 60762
by Martha Grimes
read by Kim Mai Guest
3 cassettes
Twelve-year-old Emma Graham, from Hotel Paradise (RC 44447) and Cold Flat Junction (RC 51763), waitresses at her mother's crumbling resort. Emma discovers a burned-down hotel in the woods near town and tries to uncover the truth about a decades-old kidnapping. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005.

The Nosy Neighbor RC 60767
by Fern Michaels
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Lucy Baker gives up being a New York lawyer, moves to the suburbs, and becomes engaged. As she makes wedding plans and gets acquainted with neighbors, including handsome Wylie Wilson, the FBI confronts her with shocking news about her fiancé. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

No Country for Old Men RC 60768
by Cormac McCarthy
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Texas welder Llewelyn Moss, hunting near the Rio Grande, stumbles upon a car full of dead men, heroin, and millions in cash. After taking the money, Moss is pursued by the drug cartel and a psychopathic killer while Sheriff Bell tries to help him. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Ramage's Mutiny: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 8 RC 60769
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Captain Ramage receives orders to recover the British ship Jocasta, which her mutinous crew has surrendered to the Spanish. Aboard the French-built frigate Calypso, Ramage approaches Santa Cruz's heavily fortified port with a reckless scheme involving a "mutiny" of his own. Sequel to Ramage's Diamond (RC 60501). Some violence. 1977.

The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery RC 60770
by M.C. Beaton
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
After a trip to Paris, where she was mugged, Agatha Raisin returns to the Cotswolds to open her own detective agency. Agatha's first "real" case involves a death threat that Mrs. Laggat-Brown's daughter had received. Sir Charles Fraith, Agatha's old friend, helps her in the investigation. 2004.

The Green River Trail: Trail Drive Series, Book 12 RC 60771
by Ralph Compton
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
1853. After four years of prospecting in California, Lonnie Kilgore and his companions return to Texas to purchase a herd of cattle, marry their women, and head for Utah's Green River to settle there. On the way they fend off Indians, rustlers, and, finally, Mormons occupying their land. 1999.

The Color of Magic: A Novel of Discworld RC 60775
by Terry Pratchett
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
First Discworld novel, containing four episodic novellas. In the title story, a being from the mythical Counterweight Continent visits the twin city of Ankh-Morpork and hires Rincewind the wizard as his guide. Other adventures follow. 1983.

The History of Love RC 60776
by Nicole Krauss
read by Richard Davidson
2 cassettes
New York. Jewish octogenarian Leo Gursky learns that the novel he wrote to his true love when he was a young man in Poland was plagiarized and published by a Chilean. Meanwhile teenaged Alma Singer researches the book's main character—her namesake—discovering Gursky and the truth. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Fade RC 60790
by Kyle Mills
read by Dean Robertson
2 cassettes
Arab American Salam al Fayed—"Fade"—is an ex-navy SEAL who was treated shabbily by the military. Therefore, his initial reaction is negative when former colleague Matt Egan approaches Fade for a Homeland Security assignment. But the two soon begin an undercover operation in the Middle East. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Hold On Tight: Sierra Jensen, Book 10 RC 60832
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
With high school graduation fast approaching, Sierra accompanies her brother and some friends on a college scouting trip to southern California. Sierra worries about important decisions that lie ahead involving friendship and college, but she trusts God to help her through. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Closer than Ever: Sierra Jensen, Book 11 RC 60846
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Sierra is excited to learn that Paul will be visiting Portland, Oregon, and that her friend Randy has been accepted by the same college she plans to attend. But on graduation night, news of a terrible accident interrupts their celebration. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

Forever Odd RC 60911
by Dean Koontz
read by David Aaron Baker
2 cassettes
The title character from Odd Thomas (RC 56919), a young man who can communicate with the dead, meets a new challenge in the desert town of Pico Mundo. While searching for a missing childhood friend, Thomas encounters evil. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

The Grace That Keeps This World RC 60913
by Tom Bailey
read by Tom Bailey
2 cassettes
Vietnam vet Gary Hazen and his wife eke out a hardscrabble life off the land in the rural Adirondacks. Gary's two grown sons, who question their parents' values and harbor secrets, join him on the first day of a hunting season that will bring adversity. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt RC 60914
by Anne Rice
read by Josh Heine
2 cassettes
Fictionalized story of Jesus's childhood based on the gospels and New Testament research. Violence and strong language. 2005.

S Is for Silence: A Kinsey Millhone Mystery RC 60925
by Sue Grafton
read by Judy Kaye
3 cassettes
California PI Kinsey Millhone is hired by Daisy Sullivan to investigate her mother's disappearance. Violet Sullivan never returned from a Fourth of July fireworks display thirty-four years ago when Daisy was six. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

Blindfold Game RC 60929
by Dana Stabenow
read by Bernadette Dunn
2 cassettes
A hijacked Russian freighter sails into the Bering Sea, where it is intercepted by the Coast Guard cutter USS Sojourner Truth. A CIA analyst investigating sales of black market plutonium realizes that a terrorist attack is underway in Alaska. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2006.

The Life All around Me, by Ellen Foster RC 60930
by Kaye Gibbons
read by Kaye Gibbons
1 cassette
In this sequel to Ellen Foster (RC 44846), the orphaned girl, now fifteen and feeling teenage turmoil, examines her prospects in her small North Carolina town. Poetry-loving Ellen appreciates the nurturing home Laura provides but makes a bold move to attend Harvard University. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2006.

Cell RC 61241
by Stephen King
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Clayton Riddell is in Boston celebrating the sale of his graphic novel when the Pulse, a phenomenon that turns cell-phone users into murderous zombies, strikes people around him. Clayton begins the long walk back to his family in Maine, joined by other normal humans. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2006

Books for Children

Children: Cassettes Nonfiction

Tales from Shakespeare RC 59818
retold by Tina Packer
read by Kate Kiley
1 cassette
Ten of Shakespeare's best-known plays retold as stories: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Much Ado about Nothing, Macbeth, The Tempest, Othello, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, and King Lear. Includes a brief introduction to Shakespeare's life and times. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Powerful Words: More than Two Hundred Years of Extraordinary Writing by African Americans RC 60070
by Wade Hudson
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
A collection of speeches and writings by African Americans, with commentary about the authors' lives, their historical period, and public reaction to their words. Includes Dred Scott, Marcus Garvey, Thurgood Marshall, and Barbara Jordan, among others. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004.

Black Elk: Native American Man of Spirit RC 60089
by Maura D. Shaw
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Introduces Black Elk (1863–1950), an Oglala Lakota Sioux, and describes his life and Sioux traditions. Explains that a biography written about him by his friend John Neihardt in 1931 fulfilled Black Elk's childhood spirit dream and helped preserve Native American culture. Includes several activities. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Our Fifty States RC 60177
by Mark H. Bockenhauer and Stephen F. Cunha
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Presents concise geographic information on the U.S. states, organized by region: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. Describes each state's natural features, resources, and industries and lists statistics and historical events. For grades 4-7. 2004.

Railroad Fever: Building the Transcontinental Railroad, 1830–1870 RC 60243
by Monica Halpern
read by Lindsay Ellison
1 cassette
Traces the development of the railroad system that first linked the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States in 1869. Describes the difficulties of the race between two companies starting from opposite directions to lay the most track and to connect in Utah. For grades 4-7. 2004.

A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson RC 60256
by Michelle Y. Green
read by Constance Crawford
1 cassette
Mamie Johnson recalls her playing days, stating she was one of three women to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues. Depicts Johnson's overcoming racism and sexism in 1948 to pitch at age twelve for an all-white boys' team and at eighteen for the Indianapolis Clowns. For grades 4-7. 2002.

Mother Teresa RC 60303
by Demi
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
Biography of the Catholic nun known throughout the world as Mother Teresa (1910–1997). Explains her decision to spend her life serving "the poorest of the poor" in Calcutta, India, and the reasons she is being considered for sainthood. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2005.

A Kid's Guide to Creating Web Pages for Home and School RC 60389
by Benjamin Selfridge and Peter Selfridge
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Step-by-step guide to the basics of HTML, the underlying technology used to construct web pages. Explains the actual mechanics of files, folders, and applications. Gives practical advice for creating an online journal, a photo album, and a complete web site. Includes a section on JavaScript. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Hoaxes RC 60531
by Judith Herbst
read by Ray Childs
1 cassette
Describes popular mysteries that were actually hoaxes, including photographs of fairies, a buried stone giant, a lost tribe of primitive people (the Tasa-days), a newspaper account of life on the moon, and crop circles in England. For grades 4-7. 2005.

My Mexico/México Mío RC 60578
by Tony Johnston
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
Eighteen short poems about living in Mexico. The subjects range from the bright colors of "Houses"/"Casitas" and the big fields in "Corn"/"Maíz" to selling "Iguanas on the Taxco Road"/"Iguanas en el Camino a Taxco." Bilingual book in English and Spanish. For grades 2-4. (Presentan dieciocho poemas juveniles acerca de la vida en México. Reflejan temas como las casitas de colores, los grandes campos de maíz y la venta de iguanas en el camino a Taxco. Para grados 2 a 4. En inglés y español.) 1996.

Air Force One RC 60722
by Andrew Santella
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
History of presidential airplanes designated Air Force One, from propeller jets of the 1940s to modern jumbo jets. Identifies the first U.S. president to use a plane while in office and chronicles the development of chief executive air travel through President George W. Bush. For grades 5-8. 2003.

American Sign Language RC 60798
by Deborah Kent
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Explores the history of American Sign Language and deaf culture. Discusses ongoing controversies within the modern deaf community such as the manual communication versus speech debate. For grades 3-6. 2003.

Children: Cassette Fiction

Leon and the Spitting Image RC 59875
by Allen Kurzweil
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
Leon, a fourth grader at the Classical School, tries to outwit the school bully and learn how to sew for fanatical teacher Miss Hagmeyer. He has unexpected help from his final project, a doll with magical powers. For grades 3-6. 2003.

The Last Treasure RC 59883
by Janet S. Anderson
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
Distant cousins Ellsworth and Jess spend the summer looking for hidden treasure at the old clan homestead, where an ancestor's spirit still roams. Along the way the teens also uncover family secrets. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery RC 60035
by John Feinstein
read by Pat Bottino
2 cassettes
Eighth-graders Steven Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson have won a sports writing contest with a prize trip to New Orleans for the Final Four college basketball tournament. Their reporting becomes sleuthing when they discover that a talented player is being blackmailed into throwing the final game. For grades 6-9. 2005.

Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? Mostly Ghostly, Book 2 RC 60040
by R.L. Stine
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
Phears, an evil ghost, wants human boy Max's help to capture Tara and Nicky, the two ghosts who befriended Max. Because Tara and Nicky's parents once trapped Phears, he wants revenge. He sends a Berserker Ghoul to possess Max and convince him to obey. For grades 3-6. 2004.

Wizards of the Game RC 60045
by David Lubar
read by Constance Crawford
1 cassette
Eighth-grader Mercer, totally involved in the fantasy role-playing game Wizards of the Warrior World, wants to host a tournament for a school fund-raiser. A fundamentalist religious group strongly opposes this event and magic in general. Then four dangerous wizards, trapped on Earth, need Mercer's help. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Neela: Victory Song RC 60069
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
1939, Bengal. Neela, a twelve-year-old Hindu girl, becomes involved in India's struggle for independence from England. Neela's father disappears after attending a rally supporting Gandhi, and then Neela meets a young freedom fighter. Meanwhile Neela's mother is arranging a marriage for her. For grades 6-9. 2002.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy RC 60079
by Gary D. Schmidt
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
In 1911 Turner Buckminster hates being the son of the new minister in Phippsburg, Maine. Things improve for awhile when he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a girl from the poor, nearby Malaga Island community founded by former slaves. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Honor, Printz Honor. 2004.

The Giant Rat of Sumatra; or, Pirates Galore RC 60107
by Sid Fleischman
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
California, 1846. A pirate ship docks in San Diego while the United States is at war with Mexico. Shipwreck, the twelve-year-old American cabin boy, must decide whether to stay with his Mexican captain or return to his mother in Boston. For grades 4-7. 2005.

Jonathan Swift's Gulliver RC 60112
retold by Martin Jenkins read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
The voyages of eighteenth-century Englishman Lemuel Gulliver carry him to such strange places as Lilliput, where people are six inches tall, and Brobdingnag, a land inhabited by giants. A retelling of Gulliver's Travels, which was published in 1726. For grades 3-6. 2004.

A Different Kind of Beauty RC 60205
by Sylvia McNicoll
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Now a freshman in high school and soon to become an aunt, Elizabeth is raising her second guide dog, Beauty II. Her story alternates with that of Kyle, who struggles to cope with his loss of sight. Sequel to Bringing Up Beauty (RC 52424). For grades 4-7. 2004.

Who Goes Home? Ormingat Trilogy, Book 3 RC 60219
by Sylvia Waugh
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Secret Ormingat agent Steven assists fellow aliens Nesta and her parents as well as Thomas and Patrick from Space Race (RC 59831). Steven has also informed his thirteen-year-old half-earthling son, Jacob, about this mission. Jacob's curiosity eventually has unexpected results. Sequel to Earthborn (RC 59957). For grades 4-7. 2003.

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts RC 60230
by Richard Peck
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Rural Indiana, 1904. After Miss Myrt Arbuckle, the mean old teacher, "hauled off and died" in August, fifteen-year-old Russell figures the one-room schoolhouse will close. His dreams of quitting school and joining a wheat-threshing crew are disrupted when his older sister fills the vacancy. For grades 6-9. 2004.

One Night in Doom House: Mostly Ghostly, Book 3 RC 60237
by R.L. Stine
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
Child ghosts Tara and Nicky are searching for their parents with help from their live friend, eleven-year-old Max. But Max's hunch about a haunted house doesn't go the way he hoped. For grades 3-6. 2005.

I Am David RC 60238
by Anne Holm
read by Constance Crawford
1 cassette
A twelve-year-old boy who has spent most of his childhood in a concentration camp seizes an opportunity to escape. Facing tremendous obstacles he heads toward Denmark, running by night, stowing away on a boat, hitchhiking, and always fearing recapture. Formerly titled North to Freedom. For grades 5-8. 1963.

National Velvet RC 60250
by Enid Bagnold
read by Constance Crawford
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Classic story of a girl and her horse. Fourteen-year-old Velvet Brown is determined to turn the unruly piebald horse she won in a raffle into a champion. But it will take more than just hard work and dedication to win the Grand National steeplechase. For grades 6-9. 1935.

The Attack of the Two-Inch Teacher: I Was a Sixth Grade Alien RC 60281
by Bruce Coville
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Alien Pleskit Meenom and his friend Tim borrow a shrinking ray to teach the annoying tease Jordan Lynch a lesson. Their plan goes awry when they accidentally shrink themselves and their teacher Ms. Weintraub. For grades 3-6. 1999.

The Star of Kazan RC 60293
by Eva Ibbotson
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Vienna under Emperor Franz Joseph's reign entices twelve-year-old Annika, a foundling raised by two women servants. Though happy, she longs for her real mother. When an aristocrat claims her and whisks her away to a decrepit mansion, Annika discovers all is not as it seems. For grades 5-8. 2004.

The Akhenaten Adventure: Children of the Lamp, Book 1 RC 60307
by P.B. Kerr
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
When twins Philippa and John are twelve, they discover that they are descended from a long line of djinn. Their Uncle Nimrod takes them to Cairo, Egypt, to learn about their extraordinary powers. While searching for the tomb of pharaoh Akhenaten, they encounter evil djinn. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Tales of Don Quixote RC 60311
retold by Barbara Nichol
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
A retelling of Don Quixote, published by Cervantes in 1604. Describes how an older man, somewhat frail of mind, decides to be a knight. And so he sets forth in rusty armor, on a decrepit horse, with an imaginary lady love, to right the world's wrongs. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two RC 60312
by Joseph Bruchac
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
At the white man's school, Ned Begay is taught that Navajo is a useless language. But when the United States enters World War II, the Marines recruit Ned and other Navajo as code talkers sending messages based on their native language and unknown to the enemy. For grades 6-9. 2005.

The Xanadu Adventure: Vesper Holly Adventures RC 60323
by Lloyd Alexander
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Vesper Holly, her boyfriend "the Weed," her guardians, and the twins set out in 1876 for the archaeological digs at Troy. But on the way Vesper's enemy, Dr. Helvitius, takes them prisoner in the palace of Xanadu. For grades 5-8. 2005.

Peanut Butter Lover Boy: I Was a Sixth Grade Alien RC 60324
by Bruce Coville
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
In his eagerness to sample all things earthling, especially foods, alien Pleskit discovers peanut butter. He loves it, but unfortunately develops an allergic reaction that makes him try to kiss girls at school, upsetting them and the principal. For grades 3-6. 2000.

Iris and Walter and the Field Trip RC 60474
by Elissa Haden Guest
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Best friends Iris and Walter are partners on the class field trip to an aquarium until she loses him in the crowd. Iris is so worried that the teacher lets Iris help find Walter, who didn't even know he was lost! Easy chapter book. For grades K-3. 2005.

Forgotten: Jennie McGrady Mystery, Book 13 RC 60498
by Patricia H. Rushford read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Waiting to meet friends for a day of hiking, Jennie McGrady is kidnapped and held hostage by a fugitive bank robber. Jennie fears for her life and realizes her only hope of escape may be through the help of the criminal's sympathetic fourteen-year-old nephew, Zack. For grades 6-9. 2000.

The Clue in the Crumbling Wall: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, Book 22 RC 60503
by Carolyn Keene
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette (Reissue)
A policewoman asks Nancy Drew to help find a professional dancer named Juliana Johnson who disappeared ten years earlier. Clues lead to a large but now neglected estate that Juliana stands to inherit—if she can claim it in time. For grades 3-6. 1945.

Abandoned: Jennie McGrady Mystery, Book 12 RC 60506
by Patricia H. Rushford
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Jennie McGrady's classmate, Annie Phillips, suspects someone is stalking her and asks Jennie for help. Later, a malicious article in the school paper reports that Annie was abandoned in a trash can as a baby—and Annie disappears. Jennie wonders if recent pro-life advocates' murders are connected. For grades 6-9. 1999.

Little Camp of Horrors: Mostly Ghostly, Book 4 RC 60524
by R.L. Stine
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
Max hates summer camp, especially Camp Snake Lake, where his pesky older brother Colin has gone with the pendant Max's ghost friends Nicky and Tara need to find their parents. When Colin flings the necklace into that nasty lake, Max has to swim for it. For grades 3-6. 2005.

Blood Red Horse: De Granville Trilogy, Book 1 RC 60526
by K.M. Grant
read by Yolande Bavan
2 cassettes
1190s. In England, young William de Granville chooses a small, red, charismatic stallion, Hosanna, as his warhorse for King Richard's crusade to the Holy Land. Hosanna profoundly affects William, his brother Gavin, and also a young Muslim, Kamil, who is Saladin's lieutenant. Violence. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2004.

Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor Is In! RC 60568
by Megan McDonald
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Judy is all excited about becoming a doctor, especially when her third-grade class studies the human body and visits a hospital. But she learns about being a patient after she catches tonsillitis from her younger brother Stink. For grades 2-4. 2004.

Judy Moody Saves the World! RC 60569
by Megan McDonald
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
When Judy Moody gets serious about protecting the environment, her younger brother Stink thinks she is overdoing it. But she inspires her third-grade classmates to undertake an award-winning, environment-saving project. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Judy Moody Declares Independence RC 60570
by Megan McDonald
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
After learning about the American Revolution on a family trip to Boston, Massachusetts, Judy Moody makes her own declaration of independence. When her parents do not immediately grant her seven "freedoms," Judy tries to prove that she is responsible enough to have them. For grades 2-4. 2005.

Too Many Aliens: I Was a Sixth Grade Alien RC 60572
by Bruce Coville
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Maktel, Pleskit's pen pal from his home planet, is coming for a visit. Pleskit hopes that his earthling friend Tim and Maktel will get along. Another alien, trader Ellico vec Bur, is also visiting and may be a dangerous enemy. For grades 3-6. 2000.

Out Standing in My Field RC 60573
by Patrick Jennings
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Although Ty Cutter is named after baseball great Ty Cobb, he is the worst player on the Brewers team, which happens to be coached by his overly competitive father. For grades 4-7. 2005.

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception RC 60583
by Eoin Colfer
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Teen criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl's memory is erased of fairy knowledge thus making him vulnerable to the schemes of his archenemy, the evil pixie Opal Koboi. Sequel to Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code (RC 56252). For grades 5-8. 2005.

There's an Alien in My Underwear: I Was a Sixth Grade Alien RC 60591
by Bruce Coville
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Tim is worried after he discovers prankster Beebo, a little orange-skinned alien, sitting on his desk. When Tim's underwear appears on the school flagpole, he wonders if this is good fun or part of an evil plot. For grades 3-6. 2001.

Gooney Bird Greene RC 60725
by Lois Lowry
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
A most unusual new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teacher and fellow second-graders by telling absolutely true stories about herself. She mentions diamond earrings, jail, and a palace, but starts with explaining how she got her name, Gooney Bird. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Foreign Language Books

Cassette: Spanish Language

México Mío/My Mexico RC 60578
por Tony Johnston
leído por Peter Gil
1 cassette
Presentan dieciocho poemas juveniles acerca de la vida en México. Reflejan temas como las casitas de colores, los grandes campos de maíz y la venta de iguanas en el camino a Taxco. Para grados 2 a 4. En inglés y español. (Eighteen short poems about living in Mexico. The subjects range from the bright colors of "Houses"/"Casitas" and the big fields in "Corn"/"Maíz" to selling "Iguanas on the Taxco Road"/"Iguanas en el Camino a Taxco." Bilingual book in English and Spanish. For grades 2-4.) 1996.

Criando a Su Niño con Orgullo Latino: Cómo Ayudarle a Su Hijo a Valorar Su Cultura y a Triunfar en el Mundo de Hoy (Parenting with Pride, Latino Style) RC 60954
por Carmen Inoa Vázquez
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Una psicóloga y madre latina recomienda un sistema de siete pasos para criar niños en un ambiente bicultural y bilingüe. Ofrece una manera eficaz de preservar los valores hispanos de familia, lealtad y cortesía mientras enseña cómo reevaluar las nociones del autoritarismo tradicional. (Both a psychologist and a Latina mother, Vázquez recommends a seven-step system for raising children in a bicultural and bilingual environment. She presents her method for preserving Hispanic values of family, loyalty, and courtesy while reevaluating traditional ideas of authority in the home.) 2004.

¿Por Qué Lloras? Una Mirada en Serio a la Vida, el Amor, y la Risa (Why Are You Crying?) RC 60959
por George López
leído por Luis Alfonso Omana
2 cassettes
El comediante chicano y estrella de televisión cuenta cómo llegó desde una niñez difícil hasta el gran éxito que tiene como adulto. Habla de sus luchas contra el alcohol, la depresión, y la discriminación, así como de su matrimonio, su pasión por el golf, y la felicidad de su carrera hoy en día. (Comedian and prime-time television star George López's autobiography tells of his rise to success from a difficult childhood. Discusses his battles with alcohol, depression, and prejudice against Chicanos as well as his marriage, golf game, and current career enjoyment.) 2004.

La Vida Secreta de las Abejas (The Secret Life of Bees) RC 60970
por Sue Monk Kidd
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Novela ambientada en Carolina del Sur en 1964. Lily rescata a Rosaleen, su madre postiza negra, que se encuentra en el hospital después de ser batido por racistas al tratarse ella de votar. Lily y Rosaleen escapan a un pueblo seguro—el mismo lugar que guarda el secreto de la difunta madre de Lily—donde reciben alojamiento de un excéntrico trio de hermanas negras apicultoras. Algunas lenguaje injurioso. (South Carolina, 1964. Fourteen-year-old Lily rescues her African American housekeeper—and substitute mother—Rosaleen, from the hospital. Rosaleen was beaten for trying to register to vote. They flee to the safe place where Lily's late, battered mother also fled—a beekeeping operation run by three black sisters. Some strong language.) 2002.

La Condición Hispánica: Vistas al Futuro de un Pueblo (The Hispanic Condition: Views of the Future of a People) RC 60972
por Ilán Stavans
leído por Juan Ramírez
3 cassettes
Investigación sobre temas de herencia cultural y de identidad en América. El autor, nacido en México, ofrece observaciones desde su ventaja multicultural. Afirma que por el arte y la litera-tura todos los hispanos tienen en común sus antecedentes culturales e históricos a pesar de su pais natal. (Explores themes of heritage and identity in the United States. Using art and literature as criteria, the Mexican-born author argues that all Hispanics share a common cultural and historic past independent of their country of origin. Offers insights from his multicultural vantage point.) 2001.

Transportes González e Hija (González and Daughter Trucking Co.) RC 60974
por María Amparo Escandón
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Encarcelada en una prisión mexicana, Libertad González lee novelas a sus compañeras de prisión. Pero la historia que narra es siempre la misma—la de Joaquín González, un conductor de camión de carga, quien cría a su pequeña hija haciendo de su hogar la cabina de su camión de dieciocho ruedas. (While incarcerated in a Mexican jail, Libertad González reads novels to the other inmates. But the story she narrates is the same every time: that of trucker Joaquín González, who raises his infant daughter on the road in the cab of his eighteen-wheeler.) 2005.

Apocalipsis sin Velo (Revelation Unveiled) RC 60975
por Tim LaHaye
leído por Juan Ramírez
4 cassettes
El coautor de la serie Los Dejados Atrás explica los fundamentos bíblicos del Apocalipsis, el último libro de la Biblia, en que se basa las novelas de Los Dejados Atrás. Incluye los temas del rapto, la tribulación, los siete sellos, el regreso de Cristo, y la batalla final contra Satanás. (The coauthor of the Left Behind series explains the scriptural foundation for the novels as found in the final book of the Bible. Includes references to the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, the Seven Seals, the Return of Christ, and the Final Battle against Satan.) 2000.

Zorro RC 60976
por Isabel Allende
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Una nueva interpretación de la leyenda de Zorro. A principios del siglo XIX, Diego de la Vega deja su tierra natal de California y viaje a España donde ha de recibir su educación formal. Aquí se junta con la resistencia que se opone a la ocupación militar de Napoleón y, disfrazado de Zorro, lucha contra la opresión a los indefensos. Algunas descripciones de índole sexual y de violencia. (Retelling of the legend of Zorro. In the early 1800s, Diego de la Vega leaves Southern California and travels to Napoleonic Spain for his formal education. There he joins an underground resistance movement and, disguised as Zorro, fights for the oppressed. Some descrip-tions of sex and some violence.) 2005.

Guerra en la Penumbra: Cuentos (War by Candlelight: Stories) RC 60977
por Daniel Alarcón
leído por Luis Alfonso Omana
2 cassettes
El autor peruano presenta nueve historias de personas traumatizadas y marginalizadas por guerras, desastres, y un mundo que cambia constantemente. En el cuento del título, un guerrillero peruano, poco antes de ser matado, contempla a su hija, su familia y su vida pasada. Violencia y lenguaje injurioso. (The Peruvian-born author presents nine stories depicting characters traumatized and forever marginalized by turmoil, disaster, and a world in constant flux. In the title story a Peruvian guerrilla recalls his past life and relationships just before he is killed, leaving his daughter fatherless. Violence and strong language.) 2005.

Búscame una Cita (Make Me a Match) RC 60981
por Alice Sharpe
leído por María Pino
1 cassette
Mientras la madre y la abuela de Lora Gifford intentan emparejarle con hombres solteros, Lora se defiende tratándose de emparejarles a su madre y a su abuela para que la dejen en paz. Lora busca al veterinario Dr. Reed como possible pareja para su madre, pero las cosas se complican cuando Lora conoce al Dr. Jon Woods, el joven asistente de Dr. Reed. (Lora Gifford, her mother, and her grandmother are all trying to fix one another up with men. Lora has eyes on veterinarian Dr. Reed for her mother, but things get complicated when Lora meets Reed's young re-placement, Dr. Jon Woods.) 2004.

La Joven de la Perla (Girl with a Pearl Earring) RC 60985
por Tracy Chevalier
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Novela que se basa en el famoso retrato del pintor Johannes Vermeer del siglo diecisiete que inmortaliza a una muchacha adornada con un pendiente de perla. A los dieciséis años, Griet, una joven protestante, viene a trabajar como doméstica para la familia católica de Vermeer. Con el tiempo, la oportunidad de trabajar en el estudio del artista contrapesa el penoso trabajo cotidiano. Algunas descripciones de índole sexual. (Fictional account behind the seventeenth-century artist Vermeer's portrait of a young woman wearing a pearl earring. When sixteen-year-old Griet, a Protestant, be-comes a maid in Vermeer's Catholic household, the drudgery of her duties is offset by working in the painter's studio. Some descriptions of sex.) 2002.

El Destino la Esperaba (Destiny Awaits) RC 60986
por Corín Tellado
leído por María Pino
1 cassette
Al terminar sus estudios, Natalia vuelve a casa, y poco a poco sus padres comienzan a presionarla con un posible casamiento con Geroge, el hijo del vecino. Pero sin esperarlo nadie, Natalia termina enamorándose de Sam, un viudo guapo. El problema es que Sam es el hombre más huraño y menos sociable de todo el condado. (When Natalia returns home after her studies, her parents pressure her to marry their neighbor's son, George. Instead Natalia unexpectedly falls for handsome widower Sam, who is unfortunately the most sullen, reclusive, and anti-social man in the whole county.) 1963.

NLS: Talking Book Topics

September and October, 2006

In Brief