### Talking Book Topics May-June 2007 Volume 76, Number 3 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Talking Book Topics is published bimonthly in large-print, cassette, and computer diskette formats and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists recorded books and magazines available through a network of cooperating libraries and covers news of developments and activities in library services. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. To order books, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to: Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542 Library of Congress, Washington 2005 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 60-46157 ISSN 0039-9183 Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Cassettes--Nonfiction Cassettes--Fiction Books for Children Cassettes--Nonfiction Cassettes--Fiction Foreign Language Books Spanish Talking Book Magazines ### In Brief The following information is reprinted from two issues of NLS Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals. Flash, December 2006, volume 3, issue 1 NLS forms advisory committee for digital transition With the design and development of digital talking books, machines, and containers nearly complete, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, is planning the next stage of the digital project- implementation. Beginning in 2008, NLS will phase in the production and distribution of digital talking books and players while phasing out recorded cassettes and C-1 analog talking-book machines. NLS has organized the Digital Transition Advisory Committee to advise the process during its pivotal first three years. The committee, made up of consumer representatives and regional and state librarians, will meet for the first time on January 30, 2007, in Washington, D.C., to discuss key issues. "We have reached an important point in the digital project. Our focus is shifting from design and development to production and distribution," said Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "We are eager to get digital audiobooks into the hands of our patrons." The advisory committee will serve three primary purposes. First, it will be a channel for informing user groups, the network of cooperating regional libraries, and state librarians about NLS's plans for distributing digital talking books and players. Key stakeholders will thus know what to expect when implementation begins. Second, committee participants will review distribution plans to ensure that no significant considerations are overlooked. Finally, members will offer new and emerging ideas for improving the transition process. This Digital Transition Advisory Committee succeeds the Digital Long-Term Planning Group, which was tasked with advising NLS on the design and development process for digital talking books and players. The planning group completed its assignment. The advisory committee will help to move the transition process forward. The fourteen-member committee includes consumer representatives from the American Council of the Blind, the Blinded Veterans Association, and the National Federation of the Blind. Regional librarians representing the Midlands, Northern, Southern, and Western Conferences and a representative from the Consortium of User Libraries will also serve on the committee. Additionally, the group includes six state librarians from different parts of the country. Taking the lead Carolyn Sung, chief of the NLS Network Division, will chair the advisory committee. The Network Division offers direct service and support to NLS's network of cooperating libraries. Because it maintains regular contact with the libraries, it is the most logical choice for channeling communication about the digital transition. "The role of the Network Division is ultimately to help librarians to do their work and to provide them with the resources they need," said Sung. "Our goal is to ensure that librarians nationwide continue to be informed about the transition so that they can adequately prepare to provide digital offerings to patrons in 2008." The Network Division has been engaged in the digital project from the beginning. Steve Prine, assistant chief of the Network Division, serves on NLS's Digital Audio Development (DAD) executive committee, which has focused on the development of the player and cartridge, and he, along with Sung, will be presenting relevant issues to the implementation committee at the inaugural meeting. Implementation issues The advisory committee will be presented with a full progress report on the development of the digital player, cartridge, and container. The state of the digital book download project and other automation concerns will also be addressed. The main focus of the meeting, however, will be to discuss distribution plans. After the transition period in 2012, NLS will revisit the distribution system issues. The organization will consider whether to continue mass-duplication of all digital titles or adopt a hybrid system, in which the most popular titles will be mass produced and less popular titles will be duplicated on demand. The cost of digital duplication is expected to decrease steadily over the next years, and implementation of a hybrid system may not be cost-efficient by 2012. Among the transition issues to be discussed at the advisory committee meeting are book and player distribution, shelving, duplication, circulation system modifications, machine distributing and monitoring issues, and copy allotment. According to Prine, successful implementation across the network is based on librarians fully understanding the new dynamics and processes associated with the digital program. "The digital transition will be a complex process, but we're confident that with adequate preparation the implementation will be seamless," noted Prine. [Sidebar] Members of the Digital Transition Advisory Committee Consumer groups - Chris Gray, American Council of the Blind - George Brummell, Blinded Veterans Association - David Andrews, National Federation of the Blind Network libraries - Lissa Shanahan, Indiana Regional Library, Midlands Conference - Jill Lewis, Maryland Regional Library, Northern Conference - Ruth Hemphill, Tennessee Regional Library, Southern Conference - Bessie Oakes, Utah Regional Library, Western Conference - Karen Keninger, Iowa Regional Library, Consortium of User Libraries State libraries - Irene Padilla, Maryland State Department of Education Division of Library Development and Services - Robert Maier, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners - Michael York, New Hampshire State Library - Doris Ott, North Dakota State Library - Peggy Rudd, Texas State Library and Archives Commission - Donna Jones Morris, Utah State Library Division ### Flash, January 2007, volume 3, issue 2 NLS submits request to fund digital transition As the digital transition project progresses toward its 2008 initiation date, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, is pursuing its plan for a successful launch. A formal funding request has been submitted to Congress by the Library of Congress to support a four-year transition plan. NLS has requested $76.4 million to support the production and distribution of digital talking books (DTBs), digital players, flash-memory cartridges, and containers. If approved, funds will be disbursed in four equal increments. "This funding request is based on the thorough research and analysis of projected costs by NLS experts, our consultants, and contractors working on the digital program. Careful assessment of the upcoming stages of the program led to the conclusion that $76.4 million will be required to support the transition through completion, ensuring little disruption in service to patrons," said Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "We are hopeful that our request will be met so that we may successfully achieve the project's goals." The digital project, in progress for more than a decade, will update talking-book technology by replacing cassette books and players with flash-based digital talking books and players. Three main factors spurred the transition to digital-improved patron service, patron expectations, and cassette obsolescence. Digital talking books will greatly enhance the reading experience, offering users crisper, clearer audio; significant navigation capabilities; and greater convenience. The new players are lighter and smaller and, in 95 percent of cases, one cartridge will hold a complete book. Finally, NLS is moving toward digital because analog technology has become outdated, and cassettes and player parts are increasingly expensive and difficult to locate. Unlike the cassette player, the digital player contains no moving parts, making it more reliable and less susceptible to mechanical failure. Benefits of digital technology Digital technology offers multiple benefits! The player's smaller and lighter frame makes the machine more portable and provides patrons more options in where they choose to read. The machine is also user-friendly, because of the shape, tactility, and color markings of the player's buttons; the ease with which cartridges may be inserted and ejected; and optimal audio help features. This last function enables patrons to access audio instructions on machine use at the touch of a button, allowing them to read independently. Equipped with an extended-life battery, the digital player also runs longer-approximately sixteen hours-and is more cost efficient for NLS to maintain and repair. The flash platform can be easily adapted for use by basic, advanced, and download users. Readers are likely to enjoy the digital talking book's superior audio quality. The system's improved navigation capabilities will offer patrons greater control over the reading process. The digital talking-book cartridge can sustain a surprising degree of abuse and still continue to function efficiently. Furthermore, once a title is no longer in high demand, cartridges may be reloaded and recirculated with no degradation in sound quality or performance. To ensure that the digital player meets the needs of its users and to guarantee compliance with intellectual property law, NLS has chosen to provide a player built to its own specifications. The digital player and flash cartridge are based on open standards developed by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) so that NLS can obtain products from a number of sources instead of a single provider, ensuring that the devices are always available. While the system complies with open standards, it adheres to a legislated special format to protect its intellectual property. The digital machine also has the advantage of being significantly more durable than the cassette player, resulting in a longer lifespan. Built to endure rough handling and transit through the mail system, even three-foot drops, the player also features easy-to-clean surfaces so it is easy for patrons to maintain and may be reissued over its long lifespan. The player's controls facilitate use by both blind and physically handicapped readers. The buttons are easy to discover and appropriately sized. In most cases the shape denotes their function and they are labeled in both print and braille. Digital production and distribution Taking the digital player from concept to manufacturing was a team effort. NLS has engaged the expertise of industry leaders in product design and development and in the fields of blindness and physical disability research to ensure the best player for our users. The process has involved extensive user testing of the player's hardware and software. As the digital talking-book's design and development stage draws to a close, NLS is planning for the production and distribution phase. Over the course of four years, NLS will phase out cassette books and players as it phases in digital talking books and digital players. In 2008, NLS will initiate production of flash-memory machines as well as duplication and distribution of digital talking-book cartridges. From 2009 to 2010, NLS will increase production of digital books while continuing to provide some cassette titles. NLS will stop producing cassette books entirely in 2011. NLS plans to produce enough digital titles and players between 2008 and 2011 to sustain the digital program without service disruptions. [Sidebar] [picture of the digital talking-book player] [Caption] Weighing only 2 pounds, the new digital talking-book machines are smaller and lighter than current cassette players. The tactile buttons, color-coded and shaped to facilitate user ease, are just one feature that will enhance reading pleasure. The basic model shown here varies only slightly from the advanced version, which includes additional buttons for the advanced navigation functions. The flash cartridge featured on the right will, in 95 percent of cases, hold an entire book, reducing the number of moving parts to keep track of. [Sidebar] Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones Completed -- Defined and prioritized DTB features -- Coordinated development and publication of Specifications for the Digital Talking Book (ANSI/NISO Z39.86) -- Simulated a DTB player using personal computer -- Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis(LCC) model for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems -- Developed computer software for DTB production and presentation -- Developed software to test conformance of players and DTBs with the ANSI/NISO standard -- User survey -- Player transition study -- Distribution flash cartridge study -- Player and flash-cartridge design contract awarded -- Distribution-system design contract awarded -- Distribution-system design contract Phase I and II -- Preliminary design review -- Player and flash cartridge developed -- Designed DTB containers and labels -- Web-Magazine pilot concluded -- Web-Book pilot launched -- Digital data management system designed START 1/12/04 - FINISH 10/1/08 The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses. Distribution system implementation 10/1/06 Flash-cartridge production 3/1/07 Flash-cartridge duplication 5/1/07 Manufacture initial lot of DTB containers and labels 8/1/07 Full player production 9/1/07 [Sidebar] For information on the NLS digital project Contact: Jean M. Moss Digital Projects Coordinator jemo@loc.gov Fax: (202) 707-1690 To view the Strategic Business Plan on the Web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2006.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. Free Mystic Seaport passes The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has renewed its membership with Mystic Seaport's association of public libraries and is once again offering NLS patrons use of a free one-day seaport pass. The seaport is a world-renowned, not-for-profit historical and educational institution occupying thirty-seven acres on the Mystic River, near New London, Connecticut. Highlights of the site include restored tall ships, tours by shipwrights and craftsmen, and a variety of exhibit galleries. The pass entitles two adults and three children or grandchildren under eighteen to free admission to Mystic Seaport on the day of the week specified on the pass. The opportunity is available year-round. The pass will be sent by express delivery and will include a prepaid return envelope. If interested, e-mail jphi@loc.gov or fax (202) 707-0712, attention Mystic Pass Coordinator, Publications and Media Section. Include your name, street address, telephone number, and the date and day of the week you wish to visit Mystic Seaport. For visitor information, including accessibility details, membership opportunities, directions, lodging, and more, go to www.mysticseaport.org. EMAX software lets users read and respond to e-mail over the phone EMAX, a new service available from Electronic Virtual Assistant or EVA, reads e-mail messages to users over the telephone. Users may respond to e-mail messages verbally, and these responses will be recorded and sent as digital sound files. To avoid listening to spam or unwanted e-mails, subscribers may set up a "wanted" e-mail list for EMAX to read. The EMAX service is available to subscribers at the price of $19.95 per month with a thirty-day free trial. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.evanow.com/emax/ or by phone at 1-877-447-3382. ### Books for Adults Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Cassettes Nonfiction The Jewish War RC 59890 by Josephus read by Don Feldheim 5 cassettes Account of the failed first-century Jewish rebellion against Rome, written by rebel leader Josephus (c. 37-100 A.D.), later a captive who changed loyalties. Details Judaean life under Roman rule, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, and the resistance at Masada. Portrays Herod, Emperor Vespasian, and others. Violence. 1970. RC 59890 ## Between Good and Evil: A Master Profiler's Hunt for Society's Most Violent Predators RC 60390 by Roger L. Depue read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Autobiography of the former head of FBI behavioral sciences unit, which profiles serial killers. Describing his career, Dupue covers law enforcement, infamous cases, and post-retirement consulting work. Relates entering a Catholic seminary upon his wife's death and eventually counseling prisoners. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 60390 ## The Best American Sports Writing 2004 RC 60391 edited by Richard Ben Cramer read by Erik Synnestvedt 3 cassettes Twenty-six sports and general-interest magazine articles. In "Swimming to Antarctica," Lynne Cox describes her swimming career. "The Race of Truth" chronicles a Scottish cyclist's manic depression and competitive edge, and "Growing up Mantle" describes Mickey Mantle's sons' upbringing in the shadow of their famous father. Strong language. 2004. RC 60391 ## Bring Me a Unicorn: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1922-1928 RC 60406 by Anne Morrow Lindbergh read by Kate Kiley 2 cassettes (Reissue) Collected writings by the daughter of a prominent New Jersey family and wife of pilot Charles Lindbergh. Records her education at Smith College, family trips, struggles to become an author, and courtship with Charles, whom she met in Mexico City in 1927 following his landmark transatlantic flight. Includes introduction. 1971. RC 60406 ## The Path to Victory: The Mediterranean Theater in World War II RC 60601 by Douglas Porch read by Gregory Gorton 6 cassettes The author of The French Secret Services (RC 43366) outlines the battles in Africa, Greece, Syria, Tunisia, and Italy during World War II. Asserts the importance of this theater of military operations that kept Italy out of the war and Spain and Turkey neutral while diverting German assets south. 2004. RC 60601 ## I Feel Good: A Memoir of a Life of Soul RC 60883 by James Brown read by Chuck Young 2 cassettes Autobiography of the outspoken "Godfather of Soul." Brown describes his childhood in the segregated South, personal life, legal troubles, and career in the music business. Assesses his impact on American culture during the 1960s civil rights movement. Introduction by Marc Eliot. Some strong language. 2005. RC 60883 ## Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln RC 61162 by Doris Kearns Goodwin read by Robert Sams 7 cassettes in 2 containers Pulitzer Prize-winner illustrates the political acumen of Abraham Lincoln. Highlights the careers of Lincoln's three prime competitors in the Republican party-William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates, men more qualified and educated, whom he beat for the 1860 nomination for chief executive. Discusses their subsequent appointments to the cabinet. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61162 ## One Hundred Great Poems of the Twentieth Century RC 61179 edited by Mark Strand read by Kimberly Schraf 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize winner and former poet laureate of the United States Mark Strand presents poems that he has "continued to feel strongly about over the years." Most were written by poets born before 1927 and represent Europe and North and South America. 2005. RC 61179 ## A Tale of Love and Darkness RC 61238 by Amos Oz read by Ken Kliban 5 cassettes Israeli author's literary memoir of growing up in war-torn Jerusalem in the 1940s and 1950s. Describes his multilingual, book-loving, Jewish family of European background while examining events including the Holocaust. Contemplates his mother's suicide when he was twelve as a pivotal event ending his childhood. 2003. RC 61238 ## SPIN: Twenty Years of Alternative Music; Original Writing on Rock, Hip-Hop, Techno, and Beyond RC 61272 edited by Will Hermes read by Mark Ashby 4 cassettes Articles from SPIN magazine that highlight artists and musical movements since 1985. Includes essays and interviews on Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Courtney Love, Phish, Eminem, Tupac, and OutKast as well as grunge, goth, rap-rock, Britpop, Napster, and other trends. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 61272 ## The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time RC 61279 by John Kelly read by Michael Russotto 3 cassettes The author uses fourteenth-century records to document the epidemic that swept through Eurasia-killing a third of the population in Europe as well as livestock. Describes daily life, steps taken to avoid contagion, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the social and economic effects of the catastrophic loss of life. 2005. RC 61279 ## John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights RC 61280 by David S. Reynolds read by Ted Stoddard 5 cassettes Author of Walt Whitman's America (RC 41371) presents a cultural biography of abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859). Argues that Brown's most violent activities, like the Harper's Ferry raid, were inspired by nineteenth-century America's social and political conditions. Traces Brown's family origins and his posthumous influence. Some violence. 2005. RC 61280 ## Rounding the Horn: Being the Story of Williwaws and Windjammers, Drake, Darwin, Murdered Missionaries, and Naked Natives-A Deck's-Eye View of Cape Horn RC 61283 by Dallas Murphy read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Journalist and author of Apparent Wind (RC 35271) recounts his voyage in 2000 to Cape Horn, South America's southernmost point and the gateway of the Drake Passage. Murphy describes his adventures along with those of mariners and explorers from past history. 2004. RC 61283 ## Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service RC 61291 edited by Tom Wiener read by Steven Carpenter 2 cassettes Veterans recall experiences of battle from World War I to the war in Iraq. Soldiers' letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral histories provide personal accounts of D-Day, the Tet offensive, heroic actions, and sinking ships. Includes an interview with Senator John McCain about his captivity in Vietnam. 2005. RC 61291 ## Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States RC 61296 edited by Lori Marie Carlson read by Peter Gil 1 cassette Poems in English, Spanish, or a blend of both speak to themes of identity, neighborhoods, love, family, memories, and victory. Contains an introduction by Oscar Hijuelos, a glossary of selected Spanish terms, and biographical notes on the poets. In English and Spanish. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 61296 ## A Life of Discovery: Michael Faraday, Giant of the Scientific Revolution RC 61302 by James Hamilton read by David Cutler 4 cassettes Art historian chronicles the life and accomplishments of British chemist and physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867), known for his discoveries relating to electricity. Portrays Faraday in a cultural rather than scientific context, highlighting his interests including religion, drawing and painting, and a desire to teach others about natural scientific laws. 2002. RC 61302 ## A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire RC 61303 by Amy Butler Greenfield read by Anne Flosnik 3 cassettes Cultural history of red dye going back centuries. Traces the color's significance in various societies, the difficulty in finding a natural source in Europe, and Spain's economic triumph in locating and monopolizing the cochineal supply from Mexico for several hundred years. Describes other nations' attempts to penetrate cochineal's mysteries. 2005. RC 61303 ## The Joslin Guide to Diabetes: A Program for Managing Your Treatment RC 61317 by Richard S. Beaser and Amy P. Campbell read by Madelyn Buzzard 3 cassettes Revised and updated edition of physician's and nutritionist's comprehensive guide to diabetes self-care. Discusses understanding the disease; monitoring blood glucose and administering insulin; treating diabetes with nutrition, exercise, and medications; adjusting treatment programs for possible complications; meal planning; and living well. Includes appendix of food choice lists. 2005. RC 61317 ## Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors Who Can Make-or Break-Your Child's Future RC 61344 by Rosalind Wiseman read by Lee Adams 3 cassettes Author of Queen Bees and Wannabes (RC 55407) advises parents to model good behavior in difficult situations to set an example for their children. Explains the unspoken rules of being a perfect parent and describes ways to achieve a balance between overprotection and passivity. 2006. RC 61344 ## Mao: The Unknown Story RC 61346 by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday read by Robertson Dean 6 cassettes Chang, author of Wild Swans (RC 34458), and university researcher Halliday detail the exploits of Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung (1893-1976), who they claim is responsible for more than seventy million deaths. Drawing on archives, published works, and interviews with Mao's former associates, the biographers portray a ruthless dictator. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61346 ## Sex and the Seasoned Woman: Pursuing the Passionate Life RC 61347 by Gail Sheehy read by Kate Reading 3 cassettes The author of Passages (RC 43929) and Understanding Men's Passages (RC 46534) examines the way women of the baby boom generation are awakening to a "second adulthood" and are reevaluating the roles of sex, love, romance, and marriage in their lives. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006. RC 61347 ## Dr. Gavin's Health Guide for African Americans RC 61423 by James R. Gavin III read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes President of the Morehouse College School of Medicine offers guidelines for controlling health problems common among African Americans such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disorders. Advocates making incremental lifestyle changes to eat healthier, exercise more, and reduce stress. An American Diabetes Association publication. 2004. RC 61423 ## The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School RC 61439 by Stacy DeBroff read by Anne Hancock 3 cassettes Parental guide to enhancing a child's educational experience by taking a proactive role at home and school. The author, a parenting expert, addresses common behavioral, academic, and social issues and offers advice on bolstering student-teacher relationships, coping with learning disabilities, helping a child who is struggling academically, and more. 2005. RC 61439 ## Hip: The History RC 61445 by John Leland read by Constance Crawford 3 cassettes Former SPIN columnist traces the origins of "hipness" to the era of American slavery. Discusses "hip" movements in music, literature, and fashion in the twentieth century. Examines the roles of cultural and racial identity in the perception of what is cool. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2004. RC 61445 ## Nanofuture: What's Next for Nanotechnology RC 61457 by J. Storrs Hall read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes Scientist examines trends and possible future developments in nanotechnology, the emerging science of designing and manufacturing machines at the molecular and atomic levels. Explains quantum engineering principles and uses for engines, computers, space exploration, artificial intelligence, medicine, and transportation. Explores potential dangers and possible effects on humanity and society. 2005. RC 61457 ## Dove RC 61462 by Robin Lee Graham read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes (Reissue) Author's true account of adventure when, at age sixteen, he set sail from California for a solo, around-the-world voyage aboard his twenty-four-foot sloop, Dove. Chronicles the five-year, 36,000-mile trip during which he met and fell in love with American Patti Ratterree-his future wife. For senior high and older readers. 1972. RC 61462 ## When I Was a Soldier RC 61463 by Valérie Zenatti read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette French-born Israeli immigrant Valérie Zenatti recounts her compulsory military service from ages eighteen to twenty. Describes her conflicting emotions about national identity, being a soldier, homesickness, breaking up with her boyfriend, and training to shoot to kill. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2002. RC 61463 ## Flag: An American Biography RC 61466 by Marc Leepson read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes A look at what's behind the special feeling Americans have for their flag. Traces its history from the Revolutionary War to its twenty-first-century role in the war against terrorism. Leepson describes the events and personalities that created the flag and made it a symbol of pride for the nation. 2005. RC 61466 ## The Apache Indians: In Search of the Missing Tribe RC 61467 by Helge Ingstad read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Account by Norwegian explorer Ingstad (1899-2001) of his 1930s search for a band of Apache Indians believed to have fled U.S. reservations for Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains. Describes his sojourn among White Mountain Apaches in Arizona and his quest to find their "lost" brethren. Translated by Janine K. Stenehjem. 1945. RC 61467 ## The Glass Castle: A Memoir RC 61540 by Jeannette Walls read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Reporter for MSNBC.com looks back on her unsettled life. Describes growing up in a dysfunctional family, which was always on the move. She recalls her father's dream of building a "glass castle," and relates how she and her siblings escaped to make lives of their own. Strong language. 2005. RC 61540 ## The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America, 1500-2000 RC 61545 by Fred Anderson and Andrew Cayton read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes Professors reinterpret the history of North America, emphasizing the centrality of wars and expansionism to U.S. development. Traces patterns of imperialism over five centuries by focusing on eight individuals from Samuel de Champlain to Colin Powell. Some violence. 2005. RC 61545 ## White House Pets RC 61550 by Margaret Truman read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette (Reissue) President Truman's daughter provides anecdotes about the domestic and wild animals kept by first families. Discusses dogs, cats, horses, and sheep as well as pigmy hippos and lion cubs received as gifts from foreign officials. Covers Washington's horses and hounds, Teddy Roosevelt's zoo, FDR's dog Fala, and Kennedy's menagerie. 1969. RC 61550 ## The Heart of a Soldier: A True Story of Love, War, and Sacrifice RC 61551 by Kate Blaise read by Kerry Cundiff 3 cassettes Account of Missouri high school sweethearts Kate and Mike Blaise. Describes their decision to join the army together and their deployment to Iraq in March 2003. Discusses their family life, training, seven-year marriage, and Mike's tragic death while piloting a helicopter. Some violence. 2005. RC 61551 ## Sex and the City RC 61552 by Candace Bushnell read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Collection of pieces from Bushnell's "Sex and the City" column originally published in the New York Observer. Essays discuss the relationships of Bushnell and women friends, who have what she describes as "a never-ending series of freakish and horrifying experiences with men." Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2001. RC 61552 ## Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer RC 61573 by Scott Eyman read by Robert Sams 5 cassettes Author of Mary Pickford (RC 31374) provides a biography of film producer and MGM studios founder. Details Mayer's life (1885-1957) from his birth into a devout Russian Jewish family to his powerful, four-decade career as a star-maker. Describes MGM's organization, values, and roster of stars. 2005. RC 61573 ## Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond: Treatments, Resources, Self-Help, Good News, Updates RC 61574 by Delthia Ricks read by Barbara Pinolini 3 cassettes A medical reporter at Newsday describes breast cancer therapies including radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone treatment. Discusses diagnosis, risks, recurrence, research, and clinical trials. Includes first-person accounts from patients, caregivers, and others and provides pointers and resources for gathering more information. 2005. RC 61574 ## Buster Keaton: Tempest in a Flat Hat RC 61581 by Edward McPherson read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes Biography of multitalented actor Buster Keaton (1895-1966). Traces Keaton's career from his start in vaudeville to his success in silent film, work in talking pictures, and rise as a television pioneer. Covers the period in the 1930s when Keaton's dismissal from MGM intensified his struggles with alcohol and depression. 2004. RC 61581 ## The Beatles: The Biography RC 61584 by Bob Spitz read by Steven Carpenter 7 cassettes in 2 containers Music journalist pens a history of the British rock 'n' roll band that launched a cultural revolution. Uses primary sources to trace each band member's family history, recording sessions, concerts, and business deals. Also discusses fast-lane lives of drugs, sex, and excess. Strong language. 2005. RC 61584 ## Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory RC 61588 by Michael Christopher Carroll read by Mary Kane 3 cassettes Charts from 1954 the history of New York's Plum Island, home of the federal Animal Disease Center and what the author claims are Earth's "deadliest germs." Details the center's experimental breakthroughs and blunders, links to Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and post-September 11, 2001, research into biological warfare. 2004. RC 61588 ## Assassination Vacation RC 61591 by Sarah Vowell read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes Journalist visits sites associated with the first three assassinated American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley. Relates pieces of historical trivia, including the fact that Robert Todd Lincoln was present at all three shootings. 2005. RC 61591 ## Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America RC 61597 by James Webb read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes The former Secretary of the Navy examines the Scottish-Irish heritage in the United States. Posits that the Celtic fighting spirit and attitudes of egalitarianism, individualism, and personal honor form the bedrock of America's working-class culture. Traces the immigration of his forebears from the eighteenth century. 2004. RC 61597 ## My Life in France RC 61606 by Julia Child read by Kimberley Farr 2 cassettes The chef who changed America's culinary habits writes about the years after World War II that she spent in France. Julia Child recalls the difficulty of being an American in a French cooking school and the hard-won publication of her book on French cooking for Americans. 2006. RC 61606 ## It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good RC 61613 by Rick Santorum read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes U.S. senator from Pennsylvania describes his own conservative political views in terms of the founders' vision for the country. Discusses social capital, prosperity, morals, pop culture, and education. Offers proposals for initiatives to enable every family to succeed economically and morally. 2005. RC 61613 ## An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World RC 61617 by Pankaj Mishra read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes Indian author of the novel The Romantics (RC 52514) presents his autobiographical journey on the subcontinent exploring Buddhist philosophy. Describes his search to understand Buddha's relevance in the modern world by discussing the personal and social issues that Buddha addressed and their impact on twentieth-century politicians. 2004. RC 61617 ## Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution RC 61620 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser read by Lou Harpenau 4 cassettes Washington Post reporters in Moscow trace the rise of Vladimir Putin and the changes in Russia since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Posits that the former KGB officer plans to return the country to its authoritarian past. Relates citizens' accounts of problems experienced under Putin's leadership. 2005. RC 61620 ## Extreme Sports: In Search of the Ultimate Thrill RC 61624 by Joe Tomlinson read by John Polk 1 cassette Discusses a wide range of extreme sports and leading figures in those fields. Covers air, land, and water sports including bungee jumping, hang gliding, skydiving, mountain biking, snowboarding, scuba diving, and surfing. For junior and senior high readers. 2004. RC 61624 ## Bad Childhood-Good Life: How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy Childhood RC 61636 by Laura Schlessinger read by Mary Kane 2 cassettes Radio talk-show host addresses the concerns of adults still suffering with childhood pain and offers advice on becoming more secure. Uses examples from her callers to admonish readers to not remain "victims" but to take charge and change their behavior and attitudes. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61636 ## The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq RC 61640 by George Packer read by Mark Ashby 4 cassettes Writer for the New Yorker surveys the causes and course of the war in Iraq. Analyzes the liberal and neoconservative political arguments that led to the conflict and their consequences. Interviews civilians, soldiers, and returning émigrés to portray the rebuilding of Iraq. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 61640 ## The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood RC 61648 by David Thomson read by Robert Sams 4 cassettes Film critic profiles Hollywood from its creation in the 1900s to the early twenty-first century. Depicts studio heads like Louis B. Mayer and David O. Selznick, their stars, and their films. Also describes the growth of the Los Angeles area and the work of developers like William Mulholland. 2004. RC 61648 ## The Next Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting It Right RC 61650 by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes The authors of The Age of Sacred Terror (RC 55953) contend that U.S. military interventions are jeopardizing the war against radical Islamists. Describes terrorists' use of the Internet to spread their ideology, the role of Christian evangelism in foreign policy, and the influence of Muslims in America. 2005. RC 61650 ## The Other Side of Me RC 61653 by Sidney Sheldon read by Bob Moore 2 cassettes An award-winning screenwriter, playwright, and novelist reminisces about his rags-to-riches life, from an impoverished childhood in Depression-era Chicago to success in Hollywood and on Broadway. Describes the celebrities he has worked with, his personal tragedies, and his lifelong struggle with manic depression. 2005. RC 61653 ## The Science and Fiction of Autism RC 61673 by Laura Schreibman read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes California psychologist and researcher offers a comprehensive guide to autism in the context of historical and contemporary controversies surrounding the disorder. Evaluates conflicting information regarding causes, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatments while maintaining that autism is biological in origin and not a result of parental behavior. 2005. RC 61673 ## Mimi and Toutou's Big Adventure: The Bizarre Battle of Lake Tanganyika RC 61690 by Giles Foden read by George Holmes 2 cassettes Africa, 1915. Relates the World War I mission of the oldest lieutenant commander in the British Royal Navy, who with twenty-eight men and two gunboats-Mimi and Toutou-was dispatched 2,500 miles overland to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. Their mission: to sink the German steamers that patrolled this vast lake. 2004. RC 61690 ## Tower of Babble: How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos RC 61712 by Dore Gold read by Lewis Grenville 2 cassettes Author of Hatred's Kingdom(RC 55888) and former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations asserts that the organization has failed to stop aggression and protect human rights. Outlines the U.N.'s policies in Rwanda and Bosnia, inability to stop terrorism, and lack of moral clarity. 2004. RC 61712 ## The Lost German Slave Girl: The Extraordinary True Story of Sally Miller and Her Fight for Freedom in Old New Orleans RC 61720 by John Bailey read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Australian historian describes the nineteenth-century trial between German immigrants and a slave owner. Using court transcriptions and newspaper articles Bailey details the Schuber family's argument that slave Sally Miller was really Salomé Müller, their relative, and that her childhood employer had enslaved and sold the indentured servant. Strong language. 2003. RC 61720 ## Edmund Wilson: A Life in Literature RC 61773 by Lewis M. Dabney read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes Biography of twentieth-century literary and cultural critic and well-known diarist Edmund Wilson (1895-1972), who worked at the New Republic and the New Yorker. Uses Wilson's correspondence and interviews with his friends and colleagues to chronicle his professional and personal life that included four marriages-the third to writer Mary McCarthy. 2005. RC 61773 ## Strong at the Heart: How It Feels to Heal from Sexual Abuse RC 61782 by Carolyn Lehman read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette Personal accounts of nine survivors of rape, molestation, or incest at young ages. They discuss their experiences and the people who helped them reclaim their lives. Lists resources including assistance hotlines, books, movies, organizations, and web sites. Explicit descriptions of sex and violence. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 61782 ## Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth RC 61787 by Andrew Smith read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Journalist tracks down the nine surviving Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972. Interviews each spaceman-from the first to land on the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong, to the last, Gene Cernan-to learn what they felt about their missions and how they reconciled with Earthbound life. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61787 ## The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance RC 61788 by Henry Petroski read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes A professor and civil engineer's history of the pencil. Presents it as a product of immense complexity and sophistication and as a "paradigm for the engineering process generally." Petroski examines the creation, craftsmanship, engineering, manufacture, and business of producing pencils on both sides of the Atlantic. 1989. RC 61788 ## Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima RC 61800 by Diana Preston read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes British historian and author of Lusitania (RC 55923) chronicles five decades of scientific discovery culminating in the 1945 atomic bomb detonation over Japan. Describes the work of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Ernest Rutherford, Manhattan Project leader J. Robert Oppenheimer, and others who unlocked the secrets of nuclear physics. 2005. RC 61800 ## Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge RC 61803 by Thomas Fleming read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Historian, using primary documents, describes how General George Washington kept the ragged Continental Army intact in Pennsylvania during the winter of 1777-1778. Argues that after the British captured Philadelphia, Washington's rivals conspired to have him removed, but he "outmaneuvered his political enemies, and rescued the Revolution from extremism." 2005. RC 61803 ## The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia's Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail RC 61811 by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters chronicle the life of Mary Clarke, twice-divorced mother of seven who, at age fifty, abandoned an affluent lifestyle, donned a habit, and moved to Tijuana's notorious La Mesa prison. Describes twenty-seven years of her humanitarian work and efforts to improve the Mexican justice system. 2005. RC 61811 ## The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends RC 61852 by Helen Fitzgerald read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette Grief counselor and author of The Mourning Handbook (RC 49619) offers practical suggestions for teens coping with loss. Discusses scenarios including illness, death, funerals, and mourning. Describes ways to resume life and deal with the future. For senior high and older readers. 2000. RC 61852 ## The Pet Lover's Guide to First Aid and Emergencies RC 61875 by Thomas K. Day read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Veterinarian explains how to recognize and treat dogs' and cats' common medical emergencies including heatstroke, broken bones, lacerations, poisoning, allergic reactions, and skin, ear, and eye conditions. Provides instructions for performing CPR and preparing a first aid kit. Guide is organized by symptom and severity level, not clinical diagnosis. 2006. RC 61875 ## Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul's The Real Deal: School-Cliques, Classes, Clubs, and More RC 61880 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Anecdotes by teens about the highs and lows of high school life and about peer pressure, bullying, stress, gossip, moving, and cliques. Provides encouragement and advice on making positive changes and good choices. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61880 ## Misquoting Jesus: The Story behind Who Changed the Bible and Why RC 61941 by Bart D. Ehrman read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Biblical historian posits that scribes' alterations to New Testament manuscripts reflect both human error and the influence of theology, culture, and politics. Explores the development of written scripture from the Greco-Roman era, the effect of inconsistencies on doctrine and later versions, and attempts to reconstruct original text. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61941 ## No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer RC 61948 by Rachael Scdoris and Rick Steber read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Twenty-one-year-old author discusses her Oregon childhood, her experience with low vision, and her determination to become a professional sled dog racer. Describes being introduced to the sport by her father, becoming the youngest athlete to win a five-hundred-mile race, and the obstacles she overcame to qualify for the Iditarod. 2006. RC 61948 ## Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race RC 61956 by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes The authors posit that the only candidate who can successfully defeat New York senator Hillary Clinton for the U.S. presidency in 2008 is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. They compare the two women's past accomplishments, experience, character, and reputations, and speculate on the type of leader each could become. 2005. RC 61956 ## The Brave Women of the Gulf Wars: Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom RC 61960 by Karen Zeinert and Mary Miller read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Traces the roots of the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and the subsequent U.S. military operations in Iraq. Discusses the roles of women in modern warfare-as soldiers, correspondents, medics, and prisoners of war-as well as their peace efforts on the home front. For junior and senior high readers. 2006. RC 61960 ## The Battle for Social Security: From FDR's Vision to Bush's Gamble RC 61961 by Nancy J. Altman read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes A pension rights advocate and former Harvard professor outlines the history of the Social Security Administration since its establishment in 1935 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Details George W. Bush's plan to implement private retirement accounts and offers suggestions to strengthen the program as it exists during the Bush presidency. 2005. RC 61961 ## I'd Rather Be Working: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Self-Support for People with Chronic Illness RC 61969 by Gayle Backstrom read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Author with fibromyalgia offers a guide to finding a job that can accommodate a chronic illness or disability. Discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act, government programs, education and training, assistive technology, and self-employment opportunities. Provides real-life examples and resources and includes exercises to assess abilities and limitations. 2002. RC 61969 ## A Guide to Korean Cultural Heritage RC 61979 by Korean Overseas Information Service read by Robert Blumenfeld 1 cassette An overview of Korean cultural heritage includes descriptions of traditional customs, sports, religion, music, gardening, dress, food, and arts and crafts. 2003. RC 61979 ## The Best American Spiritual Writing 2005 RC 62010 edited by Philip Zaleski read by Gordon Gould 2 cassettes Thirty-four essays, short stories, and poems previously published in magazines. "Passed On" by Thomas Lynch explores a young man's reason for becoming a funeral director. In "Kaddish," Richard Chess prays for peace, safety, humility, and life for all. Kenneth Woodward discusses Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ. 2005. RC 62010 ## Do You Speak American? RC 62014 by Robert MacNeil and William Cran read by Dennis Rooney 2 cassettes Authors of The Story of English (RC 25965) recount their travels across the United States to study regional dialects and assess the state of contemporary American English. They report their findings on speech homogenization, declining grammatical standards, African American and Spanish vernaculars, and the influence of technology and media. 2005. RC 62014 ## The Best American Science Writing, 2005 RC 62017 edited by Alan Lightman read by Dennis Rooney 3 cassettes Physicist and author of Einstein's Dreams (RC 36166) presents twenty-six articles that he believes demonstrate ideal science writing with "clear, captivating, intelligent, provocative, imaginative . . . and funny" prose. Jim Holt examines end-of-the-world scenarios while Philip Alcabes critiques the bioterrorism scare. Other topics include genetic engineering and stem-cell research. 2005. RC 62017 ## Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church RC 62032 edited by Louise I. Gerdes read by Peter Johnson 1 cassette Sixteen essays by journalists, professors, psychiatrists, a victim, and a priest explore sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. Discusses issues of celibacy, homosexuality, Church hierarchy, and policy towards victims. Includes a message from Pope John Paul II and offers possible solutions to the problem. For senior high readers. 2003. RC 62032 ## Simple Courage: A True Story of Peril on the Sea RC 62150 by Frank Delaney read by Frank Delaney 2 cassettes Uses archives and interviews to document the December 1951 disaster befalling the freighter SS Flying Enterprise while it crossed the Atlantic. Describes thirty-seven-year-old captain Kurt Carlsen's effort to transfer all the passengers and crew to lifeboats and his refusal to abandon ship after it was damaged in a storm. Strong language and some violence. 2006. RC 62150 ## Overcoming Life's Disappointments RC 62155 by Harold S. Kushner read by Arthur Morey 2 cassettes Rabbi Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, cites the biblical tale of Moses as inspiration for persevering in the face of adversity. Also examines other role models-real and fictional-for their resilience, faith, and boldly daring to dream. 2006. RC 62155 ## Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling RC 62202 by Wayne W. Dyer read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Educational counselor and author of The Power of Intention (RC 58050) explains ways to lead an inspired life by recognizing and cultivating one's inner spirit. Uses personal examples to show how anyone can tap inherent inspirational powers, bring creativity and energy to daily activities, and find purpose. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62202 ## The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think about the Rest of Your Life RC 62226 by Lee Eisenberg read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Former Esquire magazine editor examines financial plans and strategies for ensuring security and comfort in retirement. Eisenberg avoids specific mathematical formulas. Instead, he recommends evaluating "the life you want, the life you don't, and the costs of each." Strong language. 2006. RC 62226 ## Your Name in Print: A Teen's Guide to Publishing for Fun, Profit, and Academic Success RC 62234 by Elizabeth Harper and Timothy Harper read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Journalist father and his college-age daughter offer teenagers, their parents, and their teachers advice on the different types of writing for publication. The two also guide would-be writers through the steps that are needed to get their work into print. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 62234 ## Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives RC 62238 by Tanya Biank read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Journalist follows the experiences of four army wives with husbands of various ranks at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 2000 to 2002. Describes successes and hardships-one woman loses a son, another a husband, and a third is murdered-as they struggle to balance family and military demands. Strong language. 2006. RC 62238 ## ### Books for Adults Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Cassettes Fiction The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, Volume 15 RC 59648 edited by Stephen Jones read by Lindsay Ellison 5 cassettes Selection of 2003's twenty-five exceptional tales of horror and the super- natural by Ramsey Campbell, Steve Nagy, Jay Lake, Joyce Carol Oates, Scott Emerson Bull, Charles Coleman Finlay, and others. Some violence. 2004. RC 59648 ## When Christmas Comes RC 59692 by Debbie Macomber read by Mimi Bederman 1 cassette Emily Springer wants to be near her daughter in Boston for Christmas, while Charles Brewster seeks a quiet place to work on his book. The two strangers swap homes over the Internet, and surprises follow at their respective houses as unsuspecting holiday visitors arrive. 2004. RC 59692 ## The Tattooed Girl RC 60408 by Joyce Carol Oates read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Writer Joshua Seigl hires as his assistant Alma Busch, a shy, sensuous young woman covered with crude, disfiguring marks. Although Seigl, unaware of her anti-Semitism and painful history, is stirred by her demeanor, his naive altruism leads to tragedy. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003. RC 60408 ## The Cassandra Compact: A Covert-One Novel RC 60510 by Robert Ludlum and Philip Shelby read by Don Hagen 3 cassettes Covert-One operative Jon Smith travels to Venice to meet high-ranking Russian medical intelligence official Yuri Danko. When Yuri is assassinated, Jon uncovers a plot to smuggle smallpox into America. Jon, former British agent Peter Howell, and CIA agent Randi Russell track the bio-weapon. Some violence and some strong language. 2001. RC 60510 ## Mildred Pierced: A Toby Peters Mystery RC 60618 by Stuart M. Kaminsky read by John Lescault 2 cassettes 1944. Hollywood private investigator Toby Peters comes to the defense of his friend, dentist Sheldon Minck, who was jailed for murdering his wife. When Toby questions the sole witness, movie star Joan Crawford, she hires him to stifle publicity. A survival group, meanwhile, wants Minck free but for different reasons. Some strong language. 2003. RC 60618 ## Life Studies: Stories RC 60890 by Susan Vreeland read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Seventeen short stories about creating art and about art's influence on people, by the author of Girl in Hyacinth Blue (RC 49678). In "A Flower for Ginette," Monet's gardener wants to keep a scrap of painted canvas so that his wife will always have a flower in her room. 2005. RC 60890 ## The Tarnished Eye RC 60893 by Judith Guest read by Kate Kiley 2 cassettes Rural sheriff Hugh DeWitt investigates the slaughter of a family-Edward Norbois, his wife, and four children-at their summer cabin on Lake Michigan. Meanwhile, in the Norbois's hometown of Ann Arbor, the police must deal with the serial murders of coeds. Strong language and some violence. 2004. RC 60893 ## Shalimar the Clown RC 61121 by Salman Rushdie read by Ken Kliban 4 cassettes After the illegitimate daughter of former ambassador Max Ophuls witnesses his murder at the hands of his Muslim chauffeur, she uncovers a complex family history. The threads involve her mother's escape from a narrow life as a Kashmiri dancer and the reaction of the mother's scorned husband, Shalimar. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61121 ## Lone Calder Star: Calder Saga, Volume 9 RC 61125 by Janet Dailey read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Chase Calder of Montana sends his grandson Quint Echohawk to the family's ranch in Texas to prevent a takeover by millionaire Max Rutledge. Quint, a former ATF agent, encounters trouble but gets help from Empty Garner and his beautiful granddaughter Dallas. Some violence. 2005. RC 61125 ## A Breath of Snow and Ashes: Outlander Series, Book 6 RC 61201 by Diana Gabaldon read by Suzanne Toren 11 cassettes in 2 containers Jamie Fraser and his time-traveling wife, Claire, are caught in the conflict between Great Britain and its American colonies. Jamie knows from Claire that Britain loses, but he tries to keep North Carolina loyal. Sequel to The Fiery Cross (RC 53366). Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61201 ## Reflex RC 61207 by Steven Gould read by Lindsay Ellison 3 cassettes A mysterious organization kidnaps National Security Agency operative Davy Rice to use his teleportation powers. Davy's wife, Millie, searches frantically for him with her own newfound teleporting skills. Sequel to Jumper (RC 37465). Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. For senior high and older readers. 2004. RC 61207 ## Mystic Quest: The Bronze Canticles, Book 2 RC 61259 by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman read by Kristin Allison 3 cassettes Three bands of heroes, linked through dreams, undertake daring quests for the salvation of their worlds. War-weary mystic Caelith Arvad leads his companions in search of a legendary lost empire. Elsewhere, goblin Thux and a small fellowship of Fae embark on similar journeys. Sequel to Mystic Warrior (RC 59628). 2005. RC 61259 ## Red Light Wives RC 61278 by Mary Monroe read by Victoria Gordon 3 cassettes San Francisco. Six diverse women down on their luck feel they have no choice but to work for pimp Clyde Brooks. The women bond together despite their problems and help Clyde raise his handicapped daughter Keisha-until tragedy strikes. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004. RC 61278 ## The Best American Mystery Stories, 2005 RC 61295 edited by Joyce Carol Oates read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes Twenty short stories of mystery, crime, and suspense. Includes Dennis Lehane's "Until Gwen" as well as work by Scott Turow, Edward P. Jones, George V. Higgins, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Laura Lippman, and others. Selected and introduced by Joyce Carol Oates. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005. RC 61295 ## Legends: A Novel of Dissimulation RC 61304 by Robert Littell read by Michael Scherer 3 cassettes So that his Israeli daughter can obtain a Jewish divorce, an ex-KGB agent hires private detective Martin Odum, formerly a CIA operative, to find the agent's son-in-law. Martin takes on the task but uncovers shady arms dealings and terrorists in the search. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. RC 61304 ## Rebel Angels RC 61311 by Libba Bray read by Vanessa Maroney 3 cassettes London, Christmastime 1895. Sixteen-year-old Gemma and friends Felicity and Ann from the Spence Academy return to the realms to destroy Gemma's foe Circe. Gemma must bind the magic that was released when she shattered the runes. Sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty (RC 58201). For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61311 ## The Razor's Edge RC 61313 by W. Somerset Maugham read by David Cutler 3 cassettes (Reissue) Twenty-year-old WWI aviator Larry Darrell leaves Chicago and heads to Paris seeking truth and meaning. In Larry's prolonged absence, his fiancée, Isabel, marries wealthy broker Gray Maturin. Ruined by the depression years later, Isabel and her family re-locate to Paris, where she and Larry reassess life and love. 1943. RC 61313 ## The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana RC 61314 by Umberto Eco read by Ted Stoddard 3 cassettes Milan, Italy. Antiquarian book dealer Yambo awakens from a coma unable to recognize his wife, Paola, or to recall his personal history but able to remember everything he's ever read. He returns to his family home hoping artifacts from his past will restore his memory. Some descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 61314 ## Criminal Intent: A Ben Kincaid Mystery RC 61325 by William Bernhardt read by Stephen Hoye 3 cassettes Tulsa attorney Ben Kincaid defends liberal Episcopalian priest Daniel Beale, accused of murdering three conservative vestrywomen. Kincaid has previously defended the Reverend Mr. Beale's renegade views but now faces surprising obstacles, including the minister's own shocking testimony. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002. RC 61325 ## Abide with Me RC 61330 by Elizabeth Strout read by Bernadette Dunne 2 cassettes Maine, 1950s. Clergyman Tyler Caskey despairs after his wife's death and cannot respond to his daughter's needs. He has little support from community parishioners, who gossip about Tyler's possible affair with his housekeeper. By the author of Amy and Isabelle (RC 48913). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 61330 ## Intuition RC 61340 by Allegra Goodman read by Kathe Mazur 3 cassettes When the Philpott Institute of cancer research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, needs grant money, Cliff Bannaker's experiments producing remission in mice provide the perfect justification. But his scrupulous coworker-and girlfriend- Robin Decker goes public with her suspicions of fraud. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. RC 61340 ## Dark Watch: The Oregon Files RC 61355 by Clive Cussler read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes Juan Cabrillo and his crew aboard the spy ship Oregon are hired by Japanese shipping magnates to protect commercial freighters after several are stolen by pirates on the seas off Southeast Asia. Cabrillo discovers an international plot behind the thefts. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. RC 61355 ## Act of War: A Major Jason Richter Adventure RC 61366 by Dale Brown read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes When the Environmental Movement Combat Alliance begins targeting multinational energy companies with nuclear weapons, Army engineer major Jason Richter and his high-tech military unit are dispatched to destroy them. As he tracks the terrorists, Richter uncovers a mole in the U.S. government. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2005. RC 61366 ## Field of Honor RC 61387 by D.L. Birchfield read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Oklahoma, 1976. After deserting his marine unit in Vietnam, Lance Corporal Patrick McDaniel, a half-Choctaw with a psychiatric condition, discovers a secret underground Choctaw civilization. Struggling for his own survival, Patrick becomes ensnared in politics and romance. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Spur Award. 2004. RC 61387 ## People of the Raven: The First North Americans, Volume 12 RC 61406 by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear read by Jim Zeiger 4 cassettes Pacific Northwest, 9,300 years ago. Evening Star, a red-haired slave born to the North Wind People, escapes and seeks refuge with Chief Rain Bear's Raven People even though the two tribes are mortal enemies. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. For senior high and older readers. Spur Award. 2004. RC 61406 ## Thud! A Novel of Discworld RC 61415 by Terry Pratchett read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork Watch contends with a crew of dwarfs, trolls, werewolves, golems, and humans and now must take on a vampire. With the anniversary of an ancient battle between dwarfs and trolls looming, a murder occurs and a painting that holds a secret is stolen. 2005. RC 61415 ## Seven Ways from Sundown RC 61416 by Clair Huffaker read by Richard Davidson 1 cassette (Reissue) Young greenhorn Seven Smith has been a ranger for only nine days when he's sent out to capture fugitive outlaw Jim Flood. With Jim in custody, the two men develop a strange friendship, but Sundown still has to turn him in. Some violence and some strong language. 1960. RC 61416 ## Burned: A Regan Reilly Mystery RC 61425 by Carol Higgins Clark read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Los Angeles private investigator Regan Reilly, about to be married, joins her girlfriend Kit Callan in Hawaii for a last fling. When the body of the resort's social director, Dorinda Dawes, washes ashore, the hotel manager persuades Regan to investigate. Suspects include assorted guests and a local millionaire. 2005. RC 61425 ## Glory in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery RC 61428 by J.D. Robb read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes New York City, 2058. Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the murders of a prosecutor and an actress. The only initial evidence linking them is their relationship to Eve's enigmatic boyfriend, Roarke. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1995. RC 61428 ## Crown of Slaves: Saganami Island, Book 1 RC 61441 by David Weber and Eric Flint read by Derald Breneman 5 cassettes When the Star Kingdom's ally Erewhon grows restive, Queen Elizabeth of Manticore dispatches her niece on a diplomatic mission led by Captain Anton Zilwicki. The envoy is undermined by deception, skullduggery, and radical freed-slave organization leader Jeremy X. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003. RC 61441 ## The Sot-Weed Factor RC 61442 by John Barth read by Geoffrey Centlivre 7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue) Sprawling pastiche of an eighteenth-century historical romance. Ebenezer Cooke, a chaste London poet, travels to Maryland in the late 1600s to manage his father's tobacco plantation and write an epic poem about the colony. His misadventures involve pirates, Indians, and a fetching prostitute. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1960. RC 61442 ## Choose Me RC 61444 by Xenia Ruiz read by Constance Crawford 3 cassettes Divorced Afro-Puerto Rican mother Eva is celibate because of a renewed interest in religion. African American Adam, suffering from cancer, is cautious about dating. When the two meet they gradually work out a relationship with the help of God. 2005. RC 61444 ## The Cinder Path RC 61449 by Catherine Cookson read by Pat Bottino 2 cassettes (Reissue) England. After his father's death, sixteen-year-old Charlie MacFell manages his family's farm. He experiences little hardships and disappointments until a doomed marriage, conscription into the army during World War I, and a violent cathartic act force Charlie to learn the meaning of life, death, and love. Some violence. 1978. RC 61449 ## By the Sword: Kerowyn's Tale RC 61451 by Mercedes Lackey read by Anne Hancock 4 cassettes Story of Kerowyn, the granddaughter of the sorceress Kethry, that connects the author's various books on Valde-mar. Young Kerowyn chases after bandits who attacked the family keep and killed her father, wounded her brother, and kidnapped his fiancée. 1991. RC 61451 ## Leavin' Trunk Blues: A Nick Travers Mystery RC 61452 by Ace Atkins read by John Haag 2 cassettes Musician Nick Travers leaves New Orleans for Chicago to help blues singer Ruby Walker prove she didn't kill her lover, record producer Billy Lyons. Although Ruby has been imprisoned for forty years, Travers hopes to find the true culprit. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000. RC 61452 ## Thirteen Steps Down RC 61454 by Ruth Rendell read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes Fitness equipment repairman Mix Cellini lodges in the crumbling London mansion of elderly Gwendolen Chawcer. Mix obsesses about serial killers and supermodel Nerissa Nash, while Gwendolen lives in the past. Gradually Mix becomes more and more unhinged until he commits murder and the police close in. Some violence. 2004. RC 61454 ## Murder by Tradition: A Kate Delafield Mystery RC 61455 by Katherine V. Forrest read by Lindsay Ellison 2 cassettes Lesbian LAPD detective Kate Delafield investigates the stabbing death of gay restaurateur Teddie Crawford. The culprit, Kyle Jensen, claims it was self- defense. Kate struggles to remain objective after discovering that Kyle's attorney knows about her sexual identity. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1991. RC 61455 ## The Beverly Malibu: A Kate Delafield Mystery RC 61456 by Katherine V. Forrest read by Lindsay Ellison 2 cassettes Lesbian Los Angeles police detective Kate Delafield investigates the murder of elderly film director Owen Sinclair. Kate uncovers Owen's role in the 1950s anticommunist movement, but her attraction to witness Aimee Grant could compromise the case. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1989. RC 61456 ## Autobiography of My Dead Brother RC 61458 by Walter Dean Myers read by Ray Childs 1 cassette Childhood friends Jesse and Rise are growing apart. While fifteen-year-old Jesse develops his interest in art, Rise turns to the Harlem streets under pressure to be cool. When their long-established neighborhood social group becomes a gang, more violence enters their community. Violence. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 61458 ## The Tale of Hill Top Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter RC 61460 by Susan Wittig Albert read by Constance Crawford 2 cassettes Lake District, England; 1905. Author Beatrix Potter, still mourning her fiancé's death, buys a farm in the country. Villagers in nearby Sawrey are suspicious of the sudden passing of local resident Abigail Tolliver. Beatrix and her pets offer to help solve the mystery. 2004. RC 61460 ## "Wicked" Women Whodunit RC 61461 by Mary Janice Davidson, read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Four short mysteries involving unlucky women and their lovers. In "Single White Dead Guy," Lanie's stay at a vacation cabin leads to murder and love. In "Fast Boys," Tess is forced to help NASCAR racer Ark Underwood save his reputation. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005. RC 61461 ## Done Deal: A John Deal Novel RC 61464 by Les Standiford read by John Haag 2 cassettes Someone nearly runs building con-tractor John Deal off the road, stymies his business, and forces his pregnant wife's car off a bridge. John links everything to a Cuban racketeer's plot to bring major league baseball to south Florida. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1993. RC 61464 ## Ghost Walk RC 61468 by Heather Graham read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes New Orleans. Haunted-tour guide Nikki DuMonde's employee Andrea dies from an apparent drug overdose. But after seeing Andrea's ghost, Nikki thinks that Andrea was murdered. Only paranormal investigator Brent Blackhawk believes Nikki and together they track the killer. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 61468 ## The Sunflower RC 61469 by Richard Paul Evans read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Christine Hollister is jilted by her fiancé a week before their wedding. Her best friend, Jessica, signs Christine and herself up for a humanitarian mission to Peru's El Girasol (the Sunflower) orphanage. There Christine meets Paul Cook, an American doctor who must also learn to love again. 2005. RC 61469 ## Hell's Riders RC 61470 by Ralph Cotton read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes Ranger Sam Burrack and prisoner Ted Riley arrive at Clifton Wells, where scalp hunters have just attacked. They find Sheriff Boyd Tackett's betrothed, Greta, dead and her twelve-year-old daughter, Hilda, missing. Tackett, Burrack, and Riley ride out to find the killers and save Hilda. Violence and some strong language. 2004. RC 61470 ## Nobody Loves a Drunken Indian RC 61472 by Clair Huffaker read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes Arizona, 1960s. Hard-drinking Paiutes, led by Flapping Eagle (Flap), get involved in ever wilder schemes to draw national attention to the plight of their poverty-stricken reservation. They steal a train, fight bigoted cops, and take over Phoenix. Basis for movie Flap. Strong language. 1967. RC 61472 ## The Lincoln Lawyer RC 61492 by Michael Connelly read by Adam Grupper 2 cassettes L.A. criminal defense lawyer Mickey Haller defends lowlife clients out of his Lincoln Town Car. He eagerly takes the case of Louis Roulet, a wealthy Beverly Hills man arrested for beating a prostitute, but soon becomes suspicious of his client's behavior. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61492 ## Ramage's Challenge: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 15 RC 61498 by Dudley Pope read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Still grieving over the disappearance of his wife, Sarah, Captain Ramage sails the Calypso into enemy waters off Tuscany to rescue British officers and allies captured by the French. Ramage's first love, Gianna, the Marchesa di Volterra, is among the hostages. Sequel to Ramage's Trial (RC 61379). Some violence. 1986. RC 61498 ## Return Engagement: Settling Accounts, Book 1 RC 61503 by Harry Turtledove read by Jim Zeiger 5 cassettes North America, 1941. The Confederate States of America led by Jake Featherston puts down a black rebellion and resumes the war by attacking the North in Philadelphia. U.S. socialist president Al Smith retaliates, Quebec takes over Canada, and Europe is in turmoil. Violence and strong language. 2004. RC 61503 ## Fame: Firstborn, Book 1 RC 61505 by Karen Kingsbury read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Movie star Dayne Matthews insists on an unknown female lead for his next film. He chooses Christian theater director Katy Hart from Bloomington, Indiana. But after testing the waters in Hollywood, Katy decides that God wants her to return home. 2005. RC 61505 ## The Keeper's Son: A Josh Thurlow Novel, Book 1 RC 61507 by Homer Hickam read by David Hartley-Margolin 3 cassettes North Carolina's Outer Banks, early 1940s. Josh Thurlow continues his family's operation of Killakeet Lighthouse and commands a Coast Guard patrol boat. While hunting German U-boats that target American vessels, Josh confronts someone who could be his long-lost brother. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003. RC 61507 ## The Tale of Holly How: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter RC 61509 by Susan Wittig Albert read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes English Lake District, 1906. Author Beatrix Potter and her pets are busy restoring Hill Top Farm, near the village of Sawrey, when they discover the body of a local shepherd. While investigating they also befriend an orphaned girl who is ignored by her grandmother, Lady Longford. 2005. RC 61509 ## River of Darkness: A John Madden Mystery RC 61517 by Rennie Airth read by David Hartley-Margolin 3 cassettes Surrey, 1920s. Detective Inspector John Madden of Scotland Yard investigates the well-planned murders of a couple and their household help in the quiet countryside. While battling police bureaucracy, Madden, a veteran of the Great War, is assisted by the local bobbies and an attractive woman doctor. 1999. RC 61517 ## Sharpe's Prey: Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Copenhagen, 1807 RC 61519 by Bernard Cornwell read by Erik Sandvold 3 cassettes England. Army lieutenant Richard Sharpe's career has stalled despite his heroics in Sharpe's Trafalgar (RC 54862). Loveless and destitute, Sharpe faces life as quartermaster until a friend recruits him for a secret mission to deliver a bribe to Copenhagen in neutral Denmark. Some violence and some strong language. 2002. RC 61519 ## Glory in the Name: A Novel of the Confederate Navy RC 61521 by James L. Nelson read by David Hartley-Margolin 4 cassettes Civil War, 1861. U.S. Navy lieutenant Samuel Bowater joins the fledgling Confederate Navy and takes command of the armed tug Cape Fear. Meanwhile Mississippi plantation owner Robley Paine, believing his sons were killed in battle, acquires the ironclad Yazoo River and joins the Southern cause. Violence and strong language. 2003. RC 61521 ## The Masque of the Black Tulip RC 61532 by Lauren Willig read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes French spy known as the Black Tulip secretly arrives in Napoleonic England in search of a British agent, the Pink Carnation. He, or she, watches Lady Henrietta Selwick and Miles Dorrington for clues. Sequel to The Secret History of the Pink Carnation(RC 60668). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61532 ## Beyond Black RC 61533 by Hilary Mantel read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes For five years divorcée Colette has lent her business skills to professional psychic Alison, a clairvoyant beleaguered by spirits of the deceased. The women attempt to reinvent themselves in the English countryside, where they face material and metaphysical obstacles including nosy neighbors and ghostly adversaries. Strong language. 2005. RC 61533 ## If You Could See Me Now RC 61534 by Cecelia Ahern read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Thirty-four-year-old Elizabeth spends all her time managing her sister Saoirse's problems and raising Saoirse's quiet six-year-old son Luke in their small Irish town. When Luke develops an imaginary friend named Ivan that Elizabeth believes in, too, Luke becomes more lively and Elizabeth's life improves in unexpected ways. 2006. RC 61534 ## Bruised Hibiscus RC 61543 by Elizabeth Nunez read by Gabriella Cavallero 2 cassettes Trinidad, 1954. After a woman is murdered, two former friends reunite as they pray for the victim. Rosa, a white woman, is married to an abusive black teacher while Zuela has ten children with a drug-addicted Chinese man. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2000. RC 61543 ## A Fountain Filled with Blood: A Reverend Clare Fergusson Mystery RC 61544 by Julia Spencer-Fleming read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson investigates a series of gay bashings after police chief Russ Van Alstyne decides not to publicize the attacks. Clare and Russ try to overcome their mutual attraction as the assaults continue in their rural Adirondack town. Some strong language. 2003. RC 61544 ## Whispers of the Dead: Fifteen Sister Fidelma Mysteries, Book 2 RC 61547 by Peter Tremayne read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Fifteen short stories featuring a seventh-century nun and trained lawyer, Sister Fidelma of Ireland. In the title tale, an unknown peasant woman is discovered dead and Fidelma is challenged to identify her and the cause of death. In "The Banshee," she investigates a death wail. 2004. RC 61547 ## Sharpe's Revenge: Richard Sharpe and the Peace of 1814 RC 61548 by Bernard Cornwell read by Erik Sandvold 3 cassettes Napoleon's defeat ends the war, but peace eludes Major Richard Sharpe, who- having been framed by his old enemy, French commander Pierre Ducos-stands accused of stealing Napoleon's personal treasure. Sharpe escapes custody and attempts to find Ducos, recover the goods, and clear his name. Violence and some strong language. 1989. RC 61548 ## Out of the Deep I Cry: A Reverend Clare Fergusson Mystery RC 61555 by Julia Spencer-Fleming read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Trouble begins after parishioner Mrs. Marshall offers to repair St. Alban's church roof for Reverend Clare Fergusson. Using the trust funds will apparently leave the local free clinic without any budget. When the clinic's doctor disappears, Clare and police chief Russ Van Alstyne investigate. 2004. RC 61555 ## Second Sunday RC 61556 by Michele Andrea Bowen read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes St. Louis, 1975. Pastor Clydell Forbes dies just months before Gethsemane Baptist Church celebrates its centennial, leaving the congregation scrambling for a replacement. Since the search committee hasn't located a suitable minister, party girl Sheba Cochran leads Gethsemane's women on a search of their own. Some descriptions of sex. 2003. RC 61556 ## Empire: Sparrowhawk, Book 4 RC 61568 by Edward Cline read by David Cutler 3 cassettes Virginia colony, 1764. Political unrest results from the restrictive laws passed by the British crown. Hugh Kenrick, a burgess in the legislature, works to repeal the Stamp Act. Meanwhile Kenrick's neighboring plantation owner and friend, Jack Frake, marries Etáin McRae. Sequel to Caxton (RC 60077). 2004. RC 61568 ## Goddess of the Ice Realm: The Lord of the Isles, Book 5 RC 61570 by David Drake read by Michael Scherer 4 cassettes As Prince Garric plans his coronation, the wizard Tenoctris predicts danger. Garric's sister, Sharina, and his friend, Cashel, are transported to other realms by evil magic while Cashel's sister Ilna and her beloved, Chalcus, investigate threats in the north. Sequel to Mistress of the Catacombs (RC 55642). Some violence. 2003. RC 61570 ## A Daughter's a Daughter and Other Novels: A Mary Westmacott Omnibus RC 61576 by Agatha Christie read by Anne Flosnik 4 cassettes Three novels of family and conflict by crime writer Agatha Christie, penned under the name Mary Westmacott. In the title piece, first published in 1952, a daughter's opposition to her mother's plans to remarry threatens to destroy their relationship. Also includes Unfinished Portrait (1934) and The Burden (1956). 1934. RC 61576 ## Green Money RC 61578 by D.E. Stevenson read by Corrie James 2 cassettes (Reissue) Humorous tale of young Englishman George Ferrier, unexpectedly appointed the trustee of Mr. Green's large estate. George's responsibilities include the guardianship of Mr. Green's naive daughter, Elma, who is pursued by cads and fortune hunters. Much to George's chagrin, Elma is also determined to become a "modern" woman. 1939. RC 61578 ## Blinding Light RC 61580 by Paul Theroux read by Gregory Gorton 4 cassettes Fifty-year-old Slade Steadman, a one-time bestselling author, becomes addicted to an Ecuadorian drug that temporarily blinds him but provides illuminary vision to write another book. When the blindness prevails, Steadman loses his cocky attitude. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 61580 ## Thomasina RC 61582 by Paul Gallico read by Corrie James 2 cassettes (Reissue) Scottish Highlands. When her beloved cat, Thomasina, is injured, Mary brings the feline to her veterinarian father, Andrew. Instead of helping Thomasina, Andrew puts her to sleep. After brokenhearted Mary falls ill, Andrew learns the power of love and discovers Thomasina has more lives than one. 1957. RC 61582 ## The Truth-Teller's Tale: The Safe-Keepers, Book 2 RC 61585 by Sharon Shinn read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Seventeen-year-old twins Eleda, who can tell only the truth, and Adele, who cannot reveal others' secrets, are sorely tested by a newly arrived pair of dancing instructors who are not what they seem. Romance and mistaken identity challenge the twins' special gifts. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 61585 ## Bachelor Boys RC 61587 by Kate Saunders read by Anne Flosnik 2 cassettes London. Thirty-one-year-old literary magazine editor Cassie agrees to fulfill the final wish of her terminally ill childhood neighbor-to find wives for her grown sons. Cassie plays matchmaker for unemployed actor Fritz and pianist Ben while falling for Fritz. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004. RC 61587 ## Last Resort: A Hideaway Novel, Book 3 RC 61590 by Hannah Alexander read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Carissa Cooper, age twelve, who has been researching her family's past, suddenly vanishes. Her psychic cousin Noelle Cooper, with help from longtime friend Nathan Trask, eventually finds Carissa, just in the nick of time. As they search for answers, Noelle and Nathan grow closer. Includes discussion questions. 2005. RC 61590 ## Nightmare Academy: The Veritas Project, Book 2 RC 61594 by Frank Peretti read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes Sixteen-year-old twins Elijah and Elisha Springfield go undercover for the Veritas Project to investigate a mysterious school that is sheltering runaway teens for a sinister purpose. Their faith in God helps them through a dangerous situation. For junior and senior high readers. 2002. RC 61594 ## Chill of Fear: Fear Trilogy, Book 2 RC 61598 by Kay Hooper read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes FBI psychic Quentin Hayes, from Hunting Fear (RC 59473), vacations at a Tennessee resort where his childhood friend, Missy, was killed years ago. Quentin meets Diana Brisco, a reluctant medium who sees ghosts. Quentin helps Diana hone her abilities to solve Missy's murder. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. RC 61598 ## Coyote Rising: A Novel of Interstellar Revolution RC 61612 by Allen M. Steele read by John Polk 3 cassettes Coyote moon, 2306. The original colonists who arrived aboard the starship Alabama have abandoned the settlement, which is now threatened by overpopulation, social ills, and repressive government. Those who remain are poised for revolution. Sequel to Coyote (RC 60862). Some violence and some strong language. 2004. RC 61612 ## Cut and Run RC 61615 by Ridley Pearson read by John Polk 2 cassettes Years ago U.S. marshal Roland Larson fell in love with protected witness Hope Stevens, slated to testify against the Romero crime family. Now Hope and the man who encrypted the witness protection list are missing, endangering thousands, including Hope. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61615 ## Sullivan's Justice RC 61616 by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg read by Jill Fox 3 cassettes California probation officer Carolyn Sullivan, from Sullivan's Law (RC 58379), is shocked when her brother Neil is accused of killing his girlfriend. When the murder of another woman occurs nearby, the police fear a serial killer. As Carolyn investigates, she suspects Neil's former lover. Strong language and some violence. 2005. RC 61616 ## The Sunborn RC 61619 by Gregory Benford read by Madelyn Buzzard 3 cassettes Space pilot Shanna Axelrod, the headstrong daughter of billionaire financier John Axelrod, undertakes a daring mission to Pluto. When Shanna and her crew discover intelligent life, famed astronaut couple Julia and Viktor-Shanna's rivals-are deployed to offer supplies and assistance. Sequel to The Martian Race (RC 51423). 2005. RC 61619 ## Company Man RC 61622 by Joseph Finder read by John Polk 3 cassettes After CEO Nick Conover has to lay off half his workers, he is threatened and his house is ransacked. When he kills a disgruntled employee in self-defense, the head of his security department covers it up. But the police dig in for an investigation. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 61622 ## Olympos RC 61626 by Dan Simmons read by Fred Major 6 cassettes The population of terraformed Mars has vanished except for warring Greeks and Trojans, who have temporarily allied to attack Olympos. Resurrected twentieth- century professor Thomas Hockenberry accompanies an expedition to Earth, where humans battle hostile creatures. Sequel to Ilium (RC 56883). Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61626 ## Veronica RC 61634 by Mary Gaitskill read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes Alison retreats to New York when her European modeling career ends. She befriends Veronica Ross, an older bohemian, who contracts and dies from a new disease called AIDS. Decades later the ruined beauty Alison, ill with hepatitis, reminisces about their relationship. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61634 ## Arthur and George RC 61635 by Julian Barnes read by Anne Flosnik 4 cassettes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, champions George Edalji, a half-Indian solicitor falsely accused of writing obscene letters and mutilating cattle. This fictionalized account of a 1903 case involves racism, prejudice, miscarriage of justice, a mid-life love affair, spiritualism, and the social mores of Victorian England. Bestseller. 2005. RC 61635 ## A Texan's Luck RC 61638 by Jodi Thomas read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Texas, 1880s. Captain Walker Larson's father selects fifteen-year-old Lacy in a "wife lottery," to marry his son by proxy. Three years later Lacy and Walker meet but have difficulty accepting each other. Sequel to When a Texan Gambles (RC 57371). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 61638 ## Uglies RC 61639 by Scott Westerfeld read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Tally, at age sixteen, is required to undergo a surgical procedure that would turn her into a beauty. But Tally's new friend, Shay, refuses the operation and runs away. The authorities insist that unless Tally finds Shay, she can't become beautiful. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61639 ## Seven Legends West RC 61641 by Clay Fisher read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Seven tales of the western frontier. In "Pretty Face," trapper Hurd Clinton encounters a beautiful Sioux maiden and suspects a trap. In "The Chug-water Run," Cheyenne renegades ransom an officer's daughter for gunpowder. Also includes "The White Man's Road" and others. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1951. RC 61641 ## The Europa Conspiracy: Babylon Rising, Book 3 RC 61645 by Tim LaHaye and Bob Phillips read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes After The Secret on Ararat (RC 61301), biblical archaeologist Michael Murphy travels to Babylon, where he hopes to decipher the ancient message of the Handwriting on the Wall from the book of Daniel. There Michael faces the evil Talon. 2005. RC 61645 ## Sisterchicks Down Under! RC 61649 by Robin Jones Gunn read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes When her husband travels to Australia on business, California native Kath-leen Salerno goes along. She finds herself in a flip-flopped world with nothing to do until she wanders into the Chocolate Fish and meets fellow Californian Jill Radovich. They quickly form a Sisterchick bond strengthened by their religious beliefs. 2005. RC 61649 ## Hitch RC 61652 by Jeanette Ingold read by Michael Scherer 1 cassette Montana, 1935. Seventeen-year-old Moss Trawnley joins the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression to earn money to help his family back in Louisiana. In the corps, Moss learns to lead the other men while restoring the land. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61652 ## Grind RC 61654 by Eric Walters read by Mark Delgado 1 cassette Phil and Wally are so obsessed with skateboarding that they start a web site featuring their stunts. The more dangerous the action, the more hits on the web site, and the more money they earn. But Wally's risk-taking ends disastrously. A high-interest, low-vocabulary book. For senior high readers. 2004. RC 61654 ## Case of Lies: A Nina Reilly Mystery RC 61656 by Perri O'Shaughnessy read by Mary Kane 2 cassettes A widower hires Lake Tahoe attorney Nina Reilly two years after his pregnant wife was killed outside a motel. The crime's only witnesses, MIT graduate students scheming to cheat the casinos, refuse to testify. Then, someone tries to kill them-and Nina. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 61656 ## Bait RC 61657 by Karen Robards read by Annie Wauters 3 cassettes After surviving a murder attempt, advertising executive Maddie Fitzgerald believes she was the victim of random violence, but FBI agent Sam McCabe thinks she's a serial killer's target. Sam knows there's only one way to stop him-use Maddie as bait. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 61657 ## Sunstroke RC 61662 by Jesse Kellerman read by Faith Potts 2 cassettes Divorced, workaholic West Hollywood secretary Gloria Mendez receives a disturbing voicemail from her boss, Carl Perreira, who is vacationing in Mexico-then discovers he died in a car crash. Gloria goes to retrieve Carl's body but soon questions whether he is really dead. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 61662 ## A Christmas Guest RC 61671 by Anne Perry read by Anne Flosnik 1 cassette Cantankerous Grandmama from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series solves a mystery of her own after a visiting relative is murdered during the holidays. The family's indifference to the death raises Grandmama's suspicions. Along the way she uncovers secrets and discovers the meaning of Christmas. 2005. RC 61671 ## Maigret and the Killer: An Inspector Maigret Mystery RC 61685 by Georges Simenon read by Gordon Gould 1 cassette Inspector Maigret is dining with his doctor when he is called to tend to a wounded man in the street. The victim turns out to be wealthy student Antoine Batille, who dies before revealing his killer. The murderer contacts Maigret during the course of the investigation. 1969. RC 61685 ## In a Dark House: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery RC 61687 by Deborah Crombie read by Terry Donnelly 3 cassettes London. Firefighters responding to an abandoned warehouse fire find a woman's charred body. Detective superintendent Duncan Kincaid investigates while his lover and former partner, Gemma James, looks into the seemingly unrelated disappearances of a hospital attendant and a young girl. They soon discover their cases are linked. Strong language. 2004. RC 61687 ## Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories RC 61697 by Agatha Christie read by Patricia Kilgarriff 2 cassettes Twenty short mysteries featuring indomitable amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple. Includes "The Tuesday Night Club," "Ingots of Gold," "The Bloodstained Pavement," "Motive v. Opportunity," "A Christmas Tragedy," "Death by Drowning," "The Case of the Perfect Maid," "Tape-Measure Murder," "Greenshaw's Folly," and others. 1985. RC 61697 ## The Master RC 61699 by Colm Tóibín read by Robert Blumenfeld 3 cassettes Fictional portrayal of the complex personality of Anglo American writer Henry James. In 1895, James's play fails in London and he gradually returns to fiction. His encounters with the privileged classes in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Florence provide material for his psychologically penetrating novels. 2004. RC 61699 ## The Last Hurrah RC 61700 by Edwin O'Connor read by John Horton 3 cassettes (Reissue) Prizewinning depiction of an Irish American political boss's seedy grandeur in early 1900's Boston. Frank Skeffington, former governor and long-undisputed boss of the city, announces his run for reelection as mayor. Skeffington builds his campaign but faces career-ending defeat when his enemies unite against him. Some strong language. 1956. RC 61700 ## The Rawhide Knot and Other Stories RC 61702 by Conrad Richter read by Jeremy Gage 2 cassettes (Reissue) Pulitzer Prize-winning author presents eight tales of pioneers who are ambushed by love and the challenge of frontier life. In the title story, a group of men bent on devilment attempt to "hatch up a marriage" between an old maid and a young lawyer from back East. 1935. RC 61702 ## Boss Lady RC 61704 by Omar Tyree read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona 2 cassettes California. Vanessa Smith from Philadelphia joins her screenwriter cousin Tracy Ellison, from For the Love of Money (RC 58277). Vanessa attends college and learns the business of producing a movie as Tracy's assistant. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 61704 ## So Wild a Dream: Rendezvous, Book 1 RC 61705 by Win Blevins read by Nick Sullivan 3 cassettes 1820s. Eighteen-year-old Sam Morgan leaves western Pennsylvania seeking adventure and fortune in frontier America. Through his encounters with bandits, soldiers, fur traders, Indians, and such historic figures as William Clark, Sam learns the ways of mountain men. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Spur Award. 2003. RC 61705 ## Breach of Trust: A Joseph Antonelli Novel RC 61708 by D.W. Buffa read by Jeremy Gage 3 cassettes Attorney Joseph Antonelli attends his Harvard class reunion at Manhattan's Plaza Hotel, the scene of a 1965 party during which classmate Annie Malreaux fell to her death. Fearing scandal, U.S. vice president Thomas Browning-then Annie's boyfriend-asks Joseph to defend their fellow alumnus Jimmy Haviland, now charged with Annie's murder. 2004. RC 61708 ## The Million-Dollar Marriage: Whirlwind Weddings RC 61710 by Eva Rutland read by Gabra Zackman 1 cassette Melody Sands is bored-until she notices the new gardener. Intrigued, she takes him a thermos of coffee. Tony Costello is charmed and mystified by this woman he believes is a secretary. After a whirlwind courtship turns into marriage, Tony discovers that Melody is very rich. 1998. RC 61710 ## Homeward Bound RC 61716 by Harry Turtledove read by Nick Sullivan 5 cassettes Concluding volume of Colonization and Worldwar alternate history series. In 2031 Earth is colonized by a race of lizard-like aliens. When Americans launch a starship to the lizards' home-world, the lizards plot a preventive war that could destroy Earth. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2004. RC 61716 ## Out of Range: A Joe Pickett Novel RC 61719 by C.J. Box read by Peter Ganim 3 cassettes Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is temporarily reassigned to ritzy Jackson Hole after colleague Will Jensen's apparent suicide. Though assailed by special-interest groups, Pickett steers clear of politics until further investigation casts suspicion on Jensen's death and doubt on Pickett's own safety. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 61719 ## Ramage at Trafalgar: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 16 RC 61765 by Dudley Pope read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes After reuniting with his beloved wife, Sarah, Captain Lord Ramage joins Admiral Nelson's blockade of the French and Spanish navies in the port of Cádiz. Nelson aims to confront the enemy head-on in the largest naval battle in history. Sequel to Ramage's Challenge (RC 61498). Some violence. 1986. RC 61765 ## The Wedding Night of an English Rogue: Boscastle Trilogy, Book 3 RC 61766 by Jillian Hunter read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes England, 1814. With a former French spy on the loose, intelligence officer Lord Heath Boscastle guards his commander's fiancée, Julia Hepworth, whom he hasn't seen in six years. As their mutual desire reignites, Heath learns Julia was betrayed and determines to win her heart. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61766 ## Maggie without a Clue: A Maggie Kelly Mystery RC 61779 by Kasey Michaels read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Manhattan mystery writer Maggie Kelly's editor, Bernice, awakens beside the corpse of her estranged and long-missing husband. Maggie tracks the man's killer with characters from her Regency-era novels who have come to life-attractive viscount Alexandre Blake (aka Alex Blakely) and Sterling Balder. Sterling is later kidnapped. Some strong language. 2004. RC 61779 ## Palms to the Ground RC 61784 by Amy Stolls read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes The only child of an overprotective mother and a well-meaning father, neurotic eighth-grader Calman Pulowitz travels from Boston to Walla Walla, Washington, to spend a week with his pen pal. He learns a lot about himself while doing things he's never done before. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 61784 ## Dinarzad's Children: An Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Fiction RC 61785 edited by Pauline Kaldas and Khaled Mattawa read by Gabriella Cavallero 3 cassettes Two dozen short stories about cultural and generational issues by Arab Americans including Christians, Muslims, immigrants, and assimilated Americans. In "The New World," a Palestinian woman moves to Philadelphia and uncovers her new husband's secret. In "Arabic Lessons," two teens study with their cousin, a Lebanese nun. Strong language. 2004. RC 61785 ## The Master Tanner Heads West RC 61791 by W.C. Bamberger read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Tanner Jarry Kenninac leaves Rhode Island with his artist wife, Dolley, and two children, in search of the untamed West. They settle in Hugo, where in a matter of weeks Dolley tires of Jarry's romanticism, Jarry befriends some bizarre characters, and the town sheriff turns up dead. Violence. 2005. RC 61791 ## A Good Yarn RC 61808 by Debbie Macomber read by Jill Ferris 3 cassettes Yarn shop owner Lydia Hoffman has several people interested in her class on knitting socks: adults Elise and Bethanne and teenager Courtney. Each has her own personal problems, but in the knitting group they find companionship and comfort. Sequel to The Shop on Blossom Street (RC 58642). 2005. RC 61808 ## The Texan's Reward: The Wife Lottery, Book 4 RC 61827 by Jodi Thomas read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Nell, the "wild child" from the Wife Lottery series, needs a husband to help run her ranch. Jacob Dalton, who keeps rescuing Nell, hopes to prevent her from making a big mistake, but instead falls in love. Sequel to A Texan's Luck (RC 61638). Some descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61827 ## Mission Road: A PI Tres Navarre Mystery RC 61837 by Rick Riordan read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes San Antonio cop Ana DeLeon is gunned down as she prepares to charge her husband, Ralph Arguello, with an eighteen-year-old murder on Mission Road. When Ralph arrives at PI Tres Navarre's home covered in blood but proclaiming self defense, Tres helps him flee authorities. Strong language and some violence. 2005. RC 61837 ## A Toast before Dying: A Mali Anderson Mystery RC 61838 by Grace F. Edwards read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes African American former policewoman Mali Anderson investigates the murder of Harlem bartender Thea Morris. Thea's boyfriend, Kendrick Owen, is accused of killing her, but his sister insists he's innocent. Mali uncovers secrets about Thea's family while researching the case. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1998. RC 61838 ## Cat's Eyewitness: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery RC 61841 by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes "Harry" Haristeen has quit her job as postmistress of Crozet, Virginia. While visiting a monastery, she, her friend, and pets discover a statue of the Virgin Mary shedding tears of blood-a harbinger of crises. Her friend's uncle, a monk, is then found dead. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. RC 61841 ## If I Should Die: A Mali Anderson Mystery RC 61853 by Grace F. Edwards read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes Harlem. En route to her nephew's Uptown Children's Chorus rehearsal, African American ex-NYPD cop Mali Anderson thwarts a kidnapping but discovers the body of chorus tour director Erskin Harding. Mali tracks the killer as anonymous warnings escalate into violence. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1997. RC 61853 ## Bloodlines: An Irene Kelly Mystery RC 61855 by Jan Burke read by Catherine Byers 4 cassettes In 1958 five wealthy Ducane family members, including an infant, go missing while a journalist witnesses an automobile's mysterious burial. In 1978 the car is uncovered with human remains inside. Twenty years later reporter Irene Kelly solves the intriguing case. Strong language and some violence. 2005. RC 61855 ## Blood from a Stone: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery RC 61858 by Donna Leon read by Peter Ganim 2 cassettes Venetian detective Guido Brunetti investigates the assassination of an African street vendor, an illegal alien. After finding uncut diamonds in the victim's room, Brunetti is pulled off the case and other government agencies take over. But Brunetti continues to doggedly pursue his own leads. 2005. RC 61858 ## The Goodbye Body: A Claire Malloy Mystery RC 61861 by Joan Hess read by Suzanne Toren 2 cassettes When fumigation forces Arkansas bookseller Claire Malloy and her daughter from their home, they accept an invitation from Dolly Goforth to stay at her estate while she travels. They soon experience odd occurrences, including a corpse that keeps appearing, then disappearing-and that's only the first body. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61861 ## Death of a Bore: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery RC 61866 by M.C. Beaton read by John Horton 1 cassette Scottish Highlands. An arrogant soap opera writer teaching a seminar on getting published turns up dead after humiliating his students. Constable Hamish Macbeth investigates the would-be authors and his own neighbors, each with a motive, means, and opportunity. The case reunites Hamish with his former girlfriend, reporter Elspeth Grant. 2005. RC 61866 ## Listen for the Whisperer RC 61871 by Phyllis A. Whitney read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes (Reissue) Following her father's death, Leigh Hollins sets out to find her mother, actress Laura Worth, who gave her up at birth. Leigh finds her in Norway, but it is not a happy reunion. Someone is trying to kill Laura, and now Leigh is also in danger. 1971. RC 61871 ## Looking for Alaska RC 61873 by John Green read by Ken Kliban 2 cassettes Entering boarding school in Alabama, sixteen-year-old Miles "Pudge" Halter encounters new experiences: challenging classes, extreme pranks, and Alaska Young, a moody, sexy girl whose death in a car crash might be a suicide. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. For senior high readers. Printz Award. 2005. RC 61873 ## Perfect Nightmare RC 61877 by John Saul read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes As Long Island residents Kara and Steve Marshall plan a move to Manhattan, their seventeen-year-old daughter, Lindsay, vanishes. Police think that she ran away. But after other girls disappear, Kara suspects foul play and vows to find the criminal. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 2005. RC 61877 ## Me, Dead Dad, and Alcatraz RC 61882 by Chris Lynch read by J.P. Linton 1 cassette Elvin Bishop, from Extreme Elvin(RC 49379), discovers that his late father's brother isn't dead but has been in prison and is now released. Uncle Alex, a diabetic, wants to save overweight Elvin from the same fate and begins a physical fitness campaign. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61882 ## The Strong, Silent Type RC 61883 by C. Kelly Robinson read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes African American ex-NFL star Deacon Davis-the son of a civil rights leader-loses his job with a political party because of his stutter. Davis seeks help from a speech clinic, where he falls for therapist Maria Oliver. Together they solve family issues. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 61883 ## My Spy RC 61884 by Christina Skye read by Richard Davidson 2 cassettes Injured while rescuing a busload of schoolchildren, Navy SEAL commander Sam McKade recuperates at therapist Annie O'Toole's California resort. Sam suffers amnesia and doesn't remember his former mission-or his affair with Annie. As Sam heals an enemy stalks them both. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002. RC 61884 ## The Westerners RC 61887 by Zane Grey read by Jeremy Gage 2 cassettes A collection of nine short westerns by acclaimed author Zane Grey. In "The Ranger," Texas lawman Vaughn Medill searches for a rich Mexican acquaintance's missing daughter and finds himself in her kidnappers' clutches. Other stories include "Lightning," "Of Whales and Men," and the title piece. 2000. RC 61887 ## The Tequila Worm RC 61891 by Viola Canales read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Sofia grows up in a loving Mexican American family of storytellers in a barrio in McAllen, Texas. In ninth grade she accepts a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school in Austin. There Sofia's upbringing and traditions help her adjust to her new environment. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 61891 ## The Earth and Sky of Jacques Dorme RC 61894 by Andreï Makine read by Frank Coffee 1 cassette A Russian orphan is befriended by a French nurse, who recalls a passionate affair with pilot Jacques Dorme during World War II. Decades later, her tales inspire the orphan-now a novelist exiled in France-to uncover the pilot's story in Siberia. Companion to Dreams of My Russian Summers (RC 45019). 2003. RC 61894 ## Just My Luck RC 61905 by Tajuana "TJ" Butler read by Suzanne Toren 2 cassettes On the day of her college graduation, thirty-eight-year-old African American Lanita Powers gets a makeover at a Los Angeles salon, where she shares her story of struggle, sacrifice, and success. Lanita's memories of youth and adulthood include becoming a stripper, finding love, and returning to school. Some strong language. 2005. RC 61905 ## Forty Signs of Rain RC 61935 by Kim Stanley Robinson read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Washington, D.C. As the world faces the frightening ecological realities of global warming and climate change, National Science Foundation statistician Anna Quibler and her husband, Charlie, a Senate environmental staffer, must convince political leaders to act. Meanwhile, torrential downpours threaten to flood the city. Some strong language. 2004. RC 61935 ## The Old Wine Shades: A Richard Jury Mystery RC 61939 by Martha Grimes read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes On leave since The Winds of Change (RC 58862), detective Richard Jury is intrigued by a tale physicist Harry Johnson tells at a pub: the family of Johnson's friend disappeared and only the dog returned. Jury is investigating when a body is found. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61939 ## Edge of Evil: An Ali Reynolds Mystery RC 61940 by J.A. Jance read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes When her L.A. network replaces television journalist Alison Reynolds with someone younger, she returns to her childhood home in Sedona, Arizona. There she begins an online therapy blog. After a friend's death is classified as suicide, Alison investigates. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61940 ## The Winning Hand RC 61953 by C.K. Crigger read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Washington state, 1893. Caroline Pruett loses her thoroughbred stallion King to cowhand Micah Sutton in a poker game. Caroline accidentally shoots Micah while stealing King back. Only slightly wounded, Micah sets out after Caroline to retrieve the horse, but Micah isn't the only one after King. Some violence. 2004. RC 61953 ## Breakwater RC 61963 by Carla Neggers read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Quinn Harlowe finds the corpse of a former Department of Justice colleague outside her Chesapeake Bay cottage and investigates. Nearby at Breakwater Security, Huck McCabe seeks to infiltrate a group of mercenaries and joins forces with Quinn. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 61963 ## The Fallen RC 61998 by T. Jefferson Parker read by Richard Davidson 3 cassettes Twenty-nine-year-old San Diego homicide detective Robbie Brownlaw suffers from synesthesia, a restless wife, and a new case. Former internal affairs cop Garrett Asplundh, now a city ethics investigator, is murdered after uncovering corruption in city hall that endangers the municipal bond rating. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 61998 ## The Two-Minute Rule RC 62000 by Robert Crais read by J.P. Linton 2 cassettes After serving ten years in prison, forty-six-year-old bank robber Max Holman is released on parole only to discover his estranged son-an LAPD policeman-has been murdered. Max contacts ex-FBI agent Katherine Pollard-the very agent who arrested him-to help him find his son's killers. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62000 ## Lovers and Players RC 62001 by Jackie Collins read by Gabra Zackman 3 cassettes Nasty billionaire Red Diamond sends for his sons: Chris, an indebted gambler; Max, an engaged real estate tycoon still battling his Russian ex-wife; and model Jett, who's in love with Max's fiancée. The three discover secrets, murder, and half-siblings. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62001 ## After Midnight RC 62002 by Teresa Medeiros read by Terry Donnelly 2 cassettes London, 1820. Caroline, the eldest of the three orphaned Cabot sisters, hastens to the city when her sister Vivienne falls in love with Adrian Kane, Viscount Trevelyan, who is rumored to be a vampire. But sparks fly when the two meet. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 62002 ## At the Mountains of Madness and Other Novels RC 62005 by H.P. Lovecraft read by George Holmes 4 cassettes Collection of three novels and five short stories spanning the years 1919 to 1933. The title piece chronicles a university expedition to Antarctica, where strange fossils and extremely old ruins are found. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is Lovecraft's masterpiece of demonic horror. Introduction includes author biographical information. 1943. RC 62005 ## Waiting for an Angel RC 62008 by Helon Habila read by John Horton 2 cassettes Lagos, Nigeria; 1990s. Follows Lomba and his transformation from apolitical student to political prisoner. While working as a journalist Lomba attends an anti-junta rally and is arrested. His roommate and his first love also must cope with the brutality and poverty around them. Violence. 2002. RC 62008 ## Creepers RC 62011 by David Morrell read by Jonathan Davis 2 cassettes Reporter Frank Balenger, professor Robert Conklin, schoolteacher Vincent Vanelli, and graduate students Rick and Cora Magill-urban explorers-enter an abandoned hotel in New Jersey. But the "creepers" soon discover that they are not alone in the building and must rely on Balenger's army training. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 62011 ## Poirot's Early Cases: A Hercule Poirot Mystery RC 62012 by Agatha Christie read by Robert Blumenfeld 2 cassettes (Reissue) Eighteen short mysteries in which Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and his faithful friend Hastings unmask murderers, swindlers, drug dealers, and thieves. In "The King of Clubs," a missing playing card helps solve a crime. Also includes "Double Sin," "The Lost Mine," "The Veiled Lady," and other tales. 1923. RC 62012 ## Chasing Destiny: A Western Story RC 62015 by Stephen Overholser read by Jeremy Gage 2 cassettes When a prominent Colorado cattleman is robbed and murdered, gunmen kill the suspect and identify the mangled body as that of ne'er-do-well Bobby Eckstrum. Bobby's young daughter, Destiny, believes her father is alive and sets out to find him. Destiny's friend Michael joins her on the trail. Some violence. 2005. RC 62015 ## A Gladiator Dies Only Once: The Further Investigations of Gordianus the Finder; A Roma Sub Rosa Mystery RC 62021 by Steven Saylor read by Jeremy Gage 2 cassettes Nine short stories on the early career of Roman investigator Gordianus the Finder. In "The Consul's Wife," one of Rome's rulers believes his wife might be planning to murder him at the chariot races and hires Gordianus to investigate. In "Poppy and the Poisoned Cake," Gordianus unveils a killer. 2005. RC 62021 ## The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories RC 62023 by Agatha Christie read by Patricia Kilgarriff 2 cassettes Nine short mysteries previously unpublished in the United States from magazines for which the author wrote prior to her success. In the title story, an old friend prevents a family murder; in "The Edge," a romantic rival drives a cheating wife to her suicide. 1923. RC 62023 ## Crooked House RC 62024 by Agatha Christie read by Graeme Malcolm 1 cassette Elderly Greek restaurateur Aristide Leonides dies in his suburban London mansion, presumably poisoned by his much younger wife Brenda, who is rumored to be romantically involved with his granddaughter's tutor. Charles Hayward is hired to investigate the millionaire's death, but now he begins to suspect the entire Leonides family. 1948. RC 62024 ## Thirteen Clues for Miss Marple RC 62025 by Agatha Christie read by Patricia Kilgarriff 2 cassettes (Reissue) Thirteen short mystery stories featuring the indomitable elderly English sleuth Miss Marple. Includes "Tape-Measure Murder," "Strange Jest," "Sanctuary," "Greenshaw's Folly," "The Case of the Perfect Maid," "The Blue Geranium," "The Companion," "The Four Suspects," "The Bloodstained Pavement," "The Herb of Death," and others. 1966. RC 62025 ## The Magic Keys RC 62026 by Albert Murray read by L.J. Ganser 2 cassettes Enrolled in graduate studies at New York University and newly married, musician Scooter frequents libraries, galleries, restaurants, and jazz clubs. He reminisces with old friends Joe States, Taft Edison, and Roland Beasley and contemplates moving back to Alabama. Sequel to The Seven League Boots (RC 46273). Some strong language. 2005. RC 62026 ## Hanukkah Lights: Stories of the Season from NPR's Annual Holiday Special RC 62028 selected by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz read by Suzanne Toren 1 cassette Twelve stories celebrating Hanukkah by contemporary authors Myra Goldberg, Daniel Pinkwater, Harlan Ellison, Dani Shapiro, Elie Wiesel, Mark Helprin, and others. In Anne Roiphe's "The Demon Foiled," a new Jewish mayor attempts to light the family Hanukkah candles while he is being filmed for local TV. 2005. RC 62028 ## Weekend Warriors: Revenge of the Sisterhood, Book 1 RC 62093 by Fern Michaels read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes After a driver with diplomatic immunity kills pregnant Barbara Rutledge, her mother Myra, her best friend Nikki, and five other women form the Sisterhood to help women get the justice and revenge they deserve. Some strong language. 2003. RC 62093 ## Carolina Isle RC 62099 by Jude Deveraux read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes Sara, a working-class New Yorker, and Ariel, a privileged North Carolina belle, are look-alike cousins and pen pals who change identities and companions. Ariel covets Sara's boss while Sara adores Ariel's friend David. When the girls investigate an island resort, danger abounds and old secrets surface. Some strong language. 2006. RC 62099 ## Cycle of the Werewolf RC 62102 by Stephen King read by Nick Sullivan 1 cassette Someone-or something-is attacking residents of rural Tarker's Mills, Maine, during the full moon. Only Marty Coslaw, a ten-year-old who uses a wheelchair, knows the identity of the monster, but no one will believe him. Basis for the 1985 movie Stephen King's Silver Bullet. Strong language and some violence. 1983. RC 62102 ## Slow Man RC 62111 by J.M. Coetzee read by Terry Donnelly 2 cassettes A bicycle accident changes Paul Rayment's solitary, self-sufficient life. Although his right leg is amputated, he refuses a prosthesis. Sixtyish, single, and childless, he must learn to navigate anew, physically and mentally, and he wonders whether he needs to be cared for-or loved. By 2003 Nobel Prize winner. 2005. RC 62111 ## Coming Out RC 62139 by Danielle Steel read by David Garrison 1 cassette Olympia Crawford Rubinstein's careful world is turned upside down when her twin daughters, Virginia and Veronica, are invited to a debutante ball. Virginia and her father are enthusiastic, Veronica and her stepfather refuse to attend, and Olympia's son Charlie has a crisis. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62139 ## Blow the House Down RC 62141 by Robert Baer read by Paul Michael 2 cassettes In June 2001, CIA agent Max Waller loses his job in Langley, Virginia. After the September 11 tragedies, he personally investigates Osama bin Laden to uncover the truth behind the attacks. Meanwhile, someone targets Max. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62141 ## Blue Screen: A Sunny Randall Mystery RC 62142 by Robert B. Parker read by Kate Burton 2 cassettes It is Sunny Randall's job to protect starlet Erin Flint, the lover of sleazy movie producer Buddy Bollen. After Erin's sister Misty is murdered in Buddy's mansion, Sunny works with Jesse Stone, chief of police in Paradise, Massachusetts, to expose a killer. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. RC 62142 ## The Afghan Campaign RC 62143 by Steven Pressfield read by John Lee 2 cassettes In 330 BCE, Alexander the Great continues his conquest of the known world by invading the Afghan kingdoms. Infantryman Matthias describes the hardships he and his comrades endure while they battle proud, religious war lords who use terrorist tactics to defend their homeland. Descriptions of sex, violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 62143 ## Dead Days of Summer: A Death on Demand Mystery RC 62144 by Carolyn Hart read by Kate Reading 2 cassettes South Carolina bookstore owner Annie Darling is worried because her PI husband, Max, failed to return home after beginning a new case. Then the body of a pretty woman is discovered near Max's abandoned car-and the media leaps to conclusions. Annie pursues the truth. Some strong language. 2006. RC 62144 ## End in Tears: A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery RC 62145 by Ruth Rendell read by John Lee 2 cassettes The local media accuse Chief Inspector Wexford and his partner Mike Burden of being too old-fashioned, but the two policemen succeed in tying together the murder of a teenage girl and another killing. Now, Wexford worries about his daughter, a pregnant single mother. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2005. RC 62145 ## The Hot Flash Club Chills Out RC 62147 by Nancy Thayer read by Carrington MacDuffie 3 cassettes Members of the Hot Flash Club house-sit on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, one summer and have adventures. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. RC 62147 ## Sandcastles RC 62148 by Luanne Rice read by Ann Marie Lee 3 cassettes After her husband John leaves her and their three daughters, Honor Dillon moves the family and takes a teaching position at a convent school run by her sister-in-law Sister Bernadette. Eleven years later John returns and family turmoil ensues. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. RC 62148 ## Learning to Kill: Stories RC 62151 by Ed McBain read by Stephen Hoye 3 cassettes For this anthology the author selected twenty-five of his earlier stories published in pulp magazines under the bylines Evan Hunter, Richard Marsten, and Hunt Collins. Written in the 1950s, the tales are filled with damsels in distress, PIs, and cops. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62151 ## The Men I Didn't Marry RC 62152 by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger read by Susan Denaker 2 cassettes Empty-nester Bill abandons his wife Hallie for a fitness trainer. Hallie decides to look up all her old boyfriends: Eric, a millionaire businessman; Barry, a yogi; Kevin, a cinematographer; and, finally, the man who was her life's great lost love. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62152 ## Closing Costs RC 62154 by Seth Margolis read by Susan Denaker 3 cassettes Three tales interweave, revealing intrigue and scandal behind real estate sales in the upscale Manhattan market that is managed by realtor Lucinda Wells. One client flees the country and abandons his wife after being charged with embezzlement. Another becomes the victim of a corporate ouster. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006. RC 62154 ## Happiness Sold Separately RC 62156 by Lolly Winston read by Cassandra Campbell 2 cassettes Elinor and Ted Mackey are the perfect couple in a perfect marriage until they learn that they can't have children. Elinor reacts by retreating into herself while Ted begins an affair with Gina, a single mom with a jealous, violent ex- boyfriend. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. RC 62156 ## Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly RC 62157 by Robert Dalby read by Clarinda Ross 2 cassettes Widow Laurie Lepanto is determined to keep her favorite supermarket in business after the new Mega-Mart opens in Second Creek, Mississippi. She enlists the help of widower and former ballroom dance instructor Powell Hampton and the town's most influential widows to carry out her scheme. Some descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62157 ## Ladies' Man RC 62159 by Suzanne Brockmann read by Kathe Mazur 1 cassette Single mother Ellen Layne falls for handsome NYPD detective Sam Schaefer and begins an affair. When a stalker targets Ellen, she turns to Sam for protection. Sam takes a bullet meant for Ellen while trying to discover who wants to kill her-and why. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. RC 62159 ## Deceit RC 62160 by James Siegel read by Phil Sheridan 2 cassettes Tom Valle, a star reporter at a prominent newspaper, is disgraced after dozens of his stories are proved to be fabricated. Exiled to a small-town paper in California, Tom stumbles upon a conspiracy involving a nuclear reactor-but who will believe him? Strong language and some violence. 2006. RC 62160 ## Star Wars: Outbound Flight RC 62201 by Timothy Zahn read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth heads an ambitious intergalactic expedition to the Unknown Regions. Fearing C'baoth's hidden agenda and the involvement of the Sith, the Jedi Council orders Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan learner, Anakin Skywalker, to join the ill-fated mission. Companion to Survivor's Quest (RC 57972). Bestseller. 2006. RC 62201 ## Mystic Empire: The Bronze Canticles, Book 3 RC 62204 by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman read by Kristin Allison 3 cassettes As the violent binding of three parallel universes foretold by the ancient Bronze Canticles approaches, the inhabitants of each realm-humans, faeries, and goblins alike-face a devastating conflict unless they can coexist. But peace can only be won with a yet undiscovered magic. Sequel to Mystic Quest (RC 61259). 2006. RC 62204 ## The Moon Witch: Sisters of the Sun, Book 2 RC 62208 by Linda Winstead Jones read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Part-wolf Ryn rescues Juliet Fyne, a witch cursed to never know love, from imperial soldiers. Ryn claims Juliet as his wife and takes her home, where desire leads him to defy an ancient prophecy. Sequel to The Sun Witch (RC 61128). Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005. RC 62208 ## Proof of Intent: A Charley Sloan Courtroom Thriller RC 62218 by William J. Coughlin and Walter Sorrells read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Attorney Charley Sloan is called to the home of his client, author Miles Dane, where he discovers the body of Miles's wife, Diana. Despite evidence to the contrary, Charley is convinced that Miles is innocent and proceeds to trial. Violence and strong language. 2002. RC 62218 ## Cherry Cheesecake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery RC 62220 by Joanne Fluke read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Baker Hannah Swensen caters to a movie crew in her Minnesota hometown, preparing director Dean Lawrence's favorite cherry cheesecake. She rekindles a relationship with a producer-to the chagrin of two local suitors-and investigates murder when Dean shoots himself with what should have been a prop gun. Includes recipes. 2006. RC 62220 ## Beach Road RC 62327 by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge read by Billy Baldwin 2 cassettes Attorney Tom Dunleavy defends African American high school basketball player Dante Halleyville against murder charges in the wealthy beach community of East Hampton. Tom recruits help from his ex-lover, lawyer Kate Costello, while dogged Detective Raiborne uncovers startling revelations. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62327 ## The 5th Horseman: A Women's Murder Club Mystery RC 62328 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro read by Carolyn McCormick 2 cassettes Homicide detective Lindsay Boxer and her colleagues in the Women's Murder Club investigate suspicious deaths at the San Francisco Municipal Hospital, where patients in recovery are suddenly dying at an alarming rate. Clues include buttons on the corpses' eyes. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62328 ## Grape Expectations: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery with Recipes RC 62436 by Tamar Myers read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Two Californians planning to build a resort winery in Hernia, Pennsylvania, face stiff opposition from Mennonite residents. When one of the new owners is found entombed in concrete at the resort's construction site, Hernia's new police chief asks innkeeper and recently elected mayor Magdalena Yoder to help investigate. 2006. RC 62436 ## ### Books for Children Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Cassettes Nonfiction The Diary of Ma Yan: The Struggles and Hopes of a Chinese Schoolgirl RC 61465 by Ma Yan read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette The diary of a thirteen-year-old girl from a remote Chinese village relates daily events at school and at home. She protests leaving school to help work for her younger brothers' education, and records the sacrifices made by her illiterate parents to pay for the children's schooling. For grades 6-9. 2002. RC 61465 ## Quicksand RC 61476 by Kris Hirschmann read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette Explains the scientific facts about quicksand, as opposed to the media myths. Describes how it forms, why it's dangerous, and what to do to avoid disasters. For grades 4-7. 2003. RC 61476 ## The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm RC 61577 selected by Lore Segal and Maurice Sendak read by Anne Flosnik 1 cassette Twenty-seven stories translated from the Brothers Grimm collection of German folktales. Features "Hansel and Gretel," "The Fisherman and His Wife," "Rapunzel," and lesser-known tales like the title piece, in which a wicked stepmother is punished for her crime. Some violence. For grades 4-7. 1973. RC 61577 ## Beowulf RC 61595 retold by Rosemary Sutcliff read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette (Reissue) In Denmark long ago, the mighty warrior Beowulf conquers first the monster Grendel and then Sea-Hag-Grendel's mother-in an undersea struggle. Returning to his homeland, Beowulf becomes king and dies protecting his people from the wrath of the Fire-Drake. Narrative version of the Old English epic poem. For grades 5-8. 1961. RC 61595 ## A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children RC 61660 edited by Caroline Kennedy read by Kimberly Schraf 1 cassette Treasury of Caroline Kennedy's best-loved childhood verses about animals, seasons, adventures, and bedtime. Features familiar classics by Shakespeare, Basho, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Ogden Nash as well as contemporary works by Nikki Giovanni, Jack Prelutsky, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Kennedy's mother, Jacqueline Bouvier, among many. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61660 ## The Most Beautiful Roof in the World: Exploring the Rainforest Canopy RC 61661 by Kathryn Lasky read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette Discusses the work of scientist Meg Lowman, who studies leaf-eating insects and enjoys climbing trees. Describes a trip to Belize with her two sons and her brother, during which they explored the tropical canopy, collecting and preserving specimens to analyze back at a Florida research center. For grades 3-6. 1997. RC 61661 ## Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait through Heartsongs RC 61886 by Mattie J.T. Stepanek read by Gordon Gould 2 cassettes Final collection of works by the young poet who succumbed to an incurable disease at age thirteen. His mother selected some two hundred poems to create a window into Mattie's life, mind, and spirit. Sequel to Hope through Heartsongs (RC 54063). For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2005. RC 61886 ## Fires! Ten Stories That Chronicle Some of the Most Destructive Fires in Human History RC 61965 by Tanya Lloyd Kyi read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Presents personal accounts and factual circumstances of ten historic fires. Recounts tales of cowardice and heroism during the blazes of several cities, a factory, theater, blimp, ship, and oil field, from the burning of London in 1666 to a 2003 subway fire in South Korea. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 61965 ## Empire of Ancient Rome RC 62018 by Michael Burgan read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Chronicles the Roman government's growth as a republic, the Caesars' dictatorship, and the decline of the empire and its impact on Roman society. Discusses Rome's engineering feats, daily life, cultural and scientific accomplishments, and legacy of political and legal systems. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 62018 ## Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes RC 62038 by Pamela S. Turner read by Catherine Byers 1 cassette Combines accounts of veterinarians who treat mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda with information about the great apes' behavior and habits. Discusses the ongoing efforts to foil poachers as well as Dian Fossey's work to preserve the species and its environment. For grades 3-6. 2005. RC 62038 ## Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives RC 62206 by Jeanette Farrell read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Discusses the things microbes do for humans daily and people's changing perceptions about these organisms. Examines the simple meal of a cheese sandwich and a chocolate bar to understand how bacteria and fungi help produce, digest, and recycle the food. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 62206 ## Invisible Enemies: Stories of Infectious Disease RC 62243 by Jeanette Farrell read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Discusses the scientific and social history of microbial diseases. Examines the biology and treatment of seven viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections: smallpox, leprosy, plague, tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, and AIDS. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 62243 ## ### Books for Children Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Cassettes Fiction Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia RC 57584 by Barbara O'Connor read by Peggy Gilleland 1 cassette Sixth-grader "Bird" Weaver, an outcast at school, befriends Harlem Tate, the new kid in town, and together they enter the spelling bee. Harlem is considered dumb and difficult to like, but once he gets the eyeglasses he needs he begins to bloom. For grades 4-7. 2003. RC 57584 ## Don't Let the Peas Touch! and Other Stories RC 60052 by Deborah Blumenthal read by Rick Wiseman 1 cassette Three stories about two sisters, Annie and Sophie. In the title piece, Sophie is fussy about the peas touching the omelet on her plate. After she upsets the whole family, her big sister Annie comes up with an original solution. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 60052 ## Enna Burning RC 60327 by Shannon Hale read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Sixteen-year-old Enna, from The Goose Girl (RC 58713), hopes that her new knowledge of wielding fire will help her friend Princess Isi-who can wind speak-confront the enemies of Bayern. But Enna's need to burn is uncontrollable and puts her and others in grave danger. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2004. RC 60327 ## The Boy from the Basement RC 60881 by Susan Shaw read by Bruce Nelson 1 cassette Charlie is locked in the basement for a long time as punishment while his parents continue to live upstairs. When he escapes, Charlie is completely disoriented by the outside world. The boy doesn't know anything about television, school, or the holidays-he just wants to be loved. For grades 6-9. 2004. RC 60881 ## The Leprechaun's Gold RC 60884 by Pamela Duncan Edwards read by Mary Beth Wise 1 cassette Tom, a young, mean-spirited harp player, and Old Pat, his generous teacher, travel together to enter the king's harping contest. A chance encounter with a leprechaun rewards Old Pat's kindness and teaches Tom a lesson. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 60884 ## Kumak's Fish: A Tall Tale from the Far North RC 60886 by Michael Bania read by John Lescault 1 cassette One beautiful Arctic morning, Kumak packs his family and his Uncle Aglu's lucky hooking stick on a sled and goes ice fishing. When Kumak hooks what seems to be an enormous fish, the entire village comes to help him. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 60886 ## The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes RC 60887 by Dubose Heyward read by Nicola Daval 1 cassette When one of the five fleet-footed Easter Bunnies slows down, a country mother of twenty-one cottontail babies proves that she is wise, kind, and swift. Grandfather Bunny chooses her to be a new Easter Bunny! For grades K-3. 1939. RC 60887 ## The Egg Tree RC 60891 by Katherine Milhous read by Kate Kiley 1 cassette (Reissue) A houseful of Pennsylvania Dutch cousins enjoy an exciting Easter egg hunt. Katy's discovery of pretty eggs decorated by her grandmother long ago leads to a new family tradition. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal. 1950. RC 60891 ## I Am the Wallpaper RC 60903 by Mark Peter Hughes read by Laura Giannarelli 1 cassette Floey feels like wallpaper compared to her twenty-one-year-old sister Lillian, even at her own thirteenth birthday party. Floey decides to become fabulous, not realizing that her visiting cousins are spying on her and posting her diary on the Internet. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 60903 ## More Perfect than the Moon RC 60919 by Patricia MacLachlan read by Laura Giannarelli 1 cassette Caleb, from Caleb's Story (RC 53941), has turned over the writing of the family journal to eight-year-old Cassie. Cassie is a watcher and a listener, and she can make herself invisible. But she becomes worried when she spends too much time watching her mother, Sarah. For grades 3-6. 2004. RC 60919 ## From Charlie's Point of View RC 61308 by Richard Scrimger read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Fourteen-year-old Charlie was born blind but that does not deter him from proving his father's innocence in the Stocking Bandit bank robber case. Charlie enlists the help of two friends and a guardian angel to find the real criminal, following leads to a family crypt. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61308 ## One Final Firecracker: The Hamlet Chronicles RC 61453 by Gregory Maguire read by Lindsay Ellison 2 cassettes A giant spider and several other odd creatures from earlier books in the Hamlet Chronicles return as the small Vermont town celebrates a grammar school graduation, Miss Earth's wedding, and the Fourth of July. For grades 3-6. 2005. RC 61453 ## Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Free Throws RC 61459 by Janette Rallison read by Catherine Byers 1 cassette Cami and Josie take turns telling about their freshman year in high school, their competition for basketball awards and boys, and their efforts to remain best friends. For grades 6-9. 2004. RC 61459 ## The Dragon Throne RC 61538 by Michael Cadnum read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette At the behest of Queen Eleanor, newly knighted Edmund and Hubert accompany Ester, a young noblewoman of the royal household, on a perilous pilgrimage. While traveling from England to Rome, Edmund and Ester begin a romance. Sequel to The Leopard Sword (RC 55816). For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2005. RC 61538 ## Inkspell RC 61571 by Cornelia Funke read by Annie Wauters 4 cassettes One year after Meggie's adventures in Inkheart (RC 57116), Dustfinger-the fire-eater brought to life by words-desperately needs to return to the original tale. Meggie, her parents, and Dustfinger's apprentice Farid follow him and soon are caught inside Inkworld, too. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2005. RC 61571 ## A Woman of Her Tribe RC 61646 by Margaret A. Robinson read by Laura Giannarelli 1 cassette Fifteen-year-old Annette has lived all her life in her late Nootka Indian father's rural village on Vancouver Island. Her white mother decides to move to Victoria, British Columbia, for Annette's education. There Annette struggles to assimilate. For grades 6-9. 1990. RC 61646 ## East RC 61655 by Edith Pattou read by Mary Kane 2 cassettes Scandinavia. An enormous white bear that is the victim of cruel enchantment visits young Rose and promises to heal her ailing sister if she accompanies him on a journey. They travel to a distant castle where Rose meets a mysterious stranger and learns the bear's true identity. For grades 6-9. 2003. RC 61655 ## Listening for Lions RC 61659 by Gloria Whelan read by Corrie James 1 cassette Orphaned after the influenza epidemic in British East Africa in 1919, thirteen-year-old Rachel is tricked into assuming a deceased girl's identity. Rachel travels to England to gain her supposed grandfather's affection, but her only dream is to return to Africa and rebuild her parents' mission hospital. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61659 ## Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure RC 61664 by Georgia Byng read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes After eleven-year-old Molly Moon and her parents are reunited, a mysterious turbaned gardener hypnotizes her. Eventually transported to nineteenth-century India, Molly meets not only a maharajah with a speech disability but also former versions of herself. Sequel to Molly Moon Stops the World (RC 61292). For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61664 ## Tiger: The Five Ancestors, Book 1 RC 61777 by Jeff Stone read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette China, 1650. Five orphans, each mastering a kung fu style matching an animal, survive a siege of Cangzhen Temple led by a former companion. To avenge their warrior monk brethren and retrieve the stolen temple scrolls, each boy must find the secret to his past. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 61777 ## Stravaganza: City of Flowers RC 61796 by Mary Hoffman read by Gabriella Cavallero 3 cassettes Seventeen-year-old Sky finds a small blue glass bottle, a talisman of the Stravaganti, that transports him from modern-day London to Renaissance Italy, where political intrigue and mortal danger soon envelop him. Sequel to Stravaganza: City of Stars (RC 57962). For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61796 ## Revenge of the Sith: Star Wars, Episode III RC 61807 by Patricia C. Wrede read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side, emerging as a Sith lord, Darth Vader. He soon faces his teacher, Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, in a fight that threatens to destroy the Jedi. Based on the screenplay for the movie. Sequel to Attack of the Clones: Star Wars Episode II (RC 54480). For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 61807 ## Me Too RC 61819 by Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver read by Jill Ferris 1 cassette (Reissue) Twelve-year-old Lydia Birdsong and her twin sister Lorna, who has mental retardation, are abandoned by their father. Left to look after Lorna all summer while their mother works, headstrong Lydia is determined to make Lorna into a carbon copy of herself. For grades 5-8. 1973. RC 61819 ## Dream-of-Jade: The Emperor's Cat RC 61847 by Lloyd Alexander read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette Five adventures of the Chinese cat Dream-of-Jade, whose good advice to Celestial Emperor Kwan-Yu makes him a favorite. In "How Dream-of-Jade Looked at the Emperor," the feline saves the ruler's life and is honored with the rank of Imperial Cat. For grades 2-4. 2005. RC 61847 ## Hats Off for the Fourth of July! RC 61848 by Harriet Ziefert read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette Celebrates a town's Fourth of July parade as it passes the spectators. In rhyme. For preschool-grade 2. 2000. RC 61848 ## The Angel Experiment: Maximum Ride, Book 1 RC 61892 by James Patterson read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Fourteen-year-old Max and her adopted family-Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel-are part-human, part-bird lab experiments pursued by mutant predators. When Angel is kidnapped, Max leads the flock on a cross-country mission to rescue Angel, find their parents, exact revenge, and save the world. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 61892 ## Tending to Grace RC 61921 by Kimberly Newton Fusco read by Kimberly Schraf 1 cassette Cornelia is shy and withdrawn because of her stutter. She feels even lonelier when her mother drops her off to live with an eccentric great-aunt in a rundown farmhouse. But slowly and warily Cornelia and her aunt learn to share their strengths with each other. For grades 6-9. Schneider Family Book Award. 2004. RC 61921 ## Storm-Blast RC 61975 by Curtis Parkinson read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette When Regan, his sister Carol, and their cousin Matt go snorkeling in the Caribbean, they are unprepared for the big storm that hits. Lost at sea in a dinghy that has no motor, food supplies, or communications equipment, the three teens face thirst, sharks, and fear. For grades 5-8. 2003. RC 61975 ## Alex Ryan, Stop That! RC 61976 by Claudia Mills read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette Class clown Alex Ryan plans a prank for the school's four-day outdoor educational experience. He wants to impress Marcia, his secret crush, but his stunt goes disastrously awry. Sequel to Lizzie at Last (RC 52435). For grades 4-7. 2003. RC 61976 ## Magic Steps: The Circle Opens, Book 1 RC 62207 by Tamora Pierce read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Fourteen-year-old Sandry, a mage who weaves magic as well as cloth, begins training twelve-year-old Pasco, an untutored dancing mage. When a series of murders occur in a wealthy merchant family, Sandry and Pasco combine their skills to combat the evil assassins. For grades 5-8. 2000. RC 62207 ## Two Steps Forward RC 62219 by Rachel Cohn read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette Annabel, from The Steps (RC 56162), is now fourteen and spending her summer vacation in Los Angeles with her blended family, including those from Australia. She contends with step- and half-siblings, grapples with her mother's failing second marriage, and falls in love. For grades 5-8. 2006. RC 62219 ## ### Foreign Language Books The following titles are available in the languages designated. Spanish Todo Es Eventual: Catorce Relatos Oscuros (Everything's Eventual: Fourteen Dark Tales) RC 60998 por Stephen King leído por Peter Pereyra 4 cassettes Catorce cuentos de horror y aprensión, incluyendo "Montado en la Bala," en que un autoestopista intenta visitar a su madre enferma, pero que se halla viajando con un muerto que conduce un automóvil Mustang. En el cuento "En la Habitación de la Muerte," torturan a un reportero para sacarle información. Violencia y lenguaje injurioso. (Fourteen short tales of horror and dread, including "Montado en la Bala" in which a hitchhiker traveling to visit his ailing mother is picked up by a living corpse in a Mustang. In "En la Habitación de la Muerte," a reporter is tortured for information. Violence and strong language.) 2003. RC 60998 ## El Enigma del Cuatro (The Rule of Four) RC 61003 por Ian Caldwell y Dustin Thomason leído por Luis Alfonso Omana 4 cassettes Tom Sullivan y Paul Harris, dos estudiantes de la Universidad de Princeton, descifran los secretos de la Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, un misterioso libro escrito por un noble renacentista. Aplicando el Engima del Cuatro que se revela en el libro, los dos encuentran una cripta desconocida y pronto se enfrentan con revelaciones, eventos bizaros, y hasta la muerte. Contiene descripciones de índole sexual, de violencia, y de lenguaje injurioso. (Princeton seniors Tom Sullivan and Paul Harris unravel the secrets of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a baffling Renaissance text. Using the Rule of Four, they decode a hidden crypt's location and quickly face revelations, bizarre events, and even death. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language.) 2004. RC 61003 ## La Conspiración (Deception Point) RC 61009 por Dan Brown leído por María Pino 4 cassettes El senator Sedgewick Sexton, candidato para la Presidencia, ordena una investigación financiera de la NASA. Justamente, NASA hace un fabuloso descubrimento científico en los hielos del ártico que cambiará el curso de la historia. Pero la hija del senator, Rachel Sexton, una analista de la Casa Blanca, sospecha que se trata de un gran fraude para fines políticos, y empieza su propria investigación por la cual termina corriendo mucho peligro. Algunas descripciones de violencia y de lenguaje injurioso. (Just as NASA is targeted by presidential candidate Senator Sedgewick Sexton's budget investigations, the agency makes an astonishing discovery in the arctic ice. In verifying the news, White House intelligence liaison Rachel Sexton, the senator's daughter, uncovers evidence of scientific trickery. Some violence and some strong language.) 2001. RC 61009 ## Conversación en la Catedral (Conversation in the Cathedral) RC 61010 por Mario Vargas Llosa leído por Juan Ramírez 5 cassettes Novela de corrupción política que pinta la decadencia y las rupturas de la vida urbana bajo una dictatura militar. Por las puertas de "la Catedral," un bar y prostíbulo de Lima, llega la gente que, fragmento por fragmento, cuenta la historia del envilecimiento colectivo de un pueblo entero. Contiene descripciones explícitas de índole sexual y lenguaje injurioso. (A novel of political corruption that captures the decay and breakdown of city life under the rule of a military dictatorship. Through the doors of "the Cathedral," a bar and brothel in Lima, come escapees and ordinary citizens fleeing the violence. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language.) 1969. RC 61010 ## Harry Potter y el Misterio del Príncipe (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) RC 61014 por J.K. Rowling leído por María Pino 4 cassettes Sigue a Harry Potter y la Orden del Fénix (RC 58958). Harry y sus amigos regresan para asistir el sexto curso del Colegio Hogwarts de Magia y Hechicería. El poder del malvado Voldemort aumenta día tras día, y Harry conoce a un príncipe. Para grados 4 a 7 y lectores mayores. [Sequel to Harry Potter y la Orden del Fénix (RC 58958). Harry and his friends return for their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Evil Voldemort's power increases daily, and Harry encounters a prince. For grades 4-7 and older readers.] 2005. RC 61014 ## El Maestro de Esgrima (The Fencing Master) RC 61016 por Arturo Pérez-Reverte leído por Luis Alfonso Omana 2 cassettes Madrid, 1866. Don Jaime Astarloa, hombre de honor y tradición, gana la vida eseñando la esgrima a sus estudiantes ricos. Pero su vida cambia radicalmente cuando una joven mujer hermosa entra al estudio pediéndole lecciones advanzadas de esgrima. Pronto, Don Jaime se ve atrapado en una red de intriga política-y asesino. (Madrid, 1866. Don Jaime Astarloa is an honorable man of tradition who makes his living teaching fencing to wealthy students. But his life changes forever when a beautiful young lady enters his studio requesting advanced lessons. Don Jaime unwittingly becomes embroiled in political intrigue-and murder.) 1988. RC 61016 ## El Paraíso en la Otra Esquina (The Way to Paradise) RC 61017 por Mario Vargas Llosa leído por Juan Ramírez 4 cassettes Biografía fictícia del pintor francés Paul Gauguin y su abuela feminista Flora Tristan. Las dos vidas se desarrollan en capítulos alternantes y eras distintas, pero tienen en común el tema de dos personas que se consumen pasionadamente en busca de sus paraísos personales. (Fictional biography of French painter Paul Gauguin and his feminist grandmother Flora Tristán. Their lives are played out in alternate chapters and different eras, united by the common theme of their passionate search for a personal paradise.) 2003. RC 61017 ## Angeles y Demonios (Angels and Demons) RC 61018 por Dan Brown leído por María Pino 4 cassettes El profesor Robert Langdon, experto en la iconología religiosa, se presenta ante el Vaticano para investigar el asesinato de un científico importante. Los asesinos son los Illuminati, una secta anticatólica que remonta a la edad medieval. Con la ayuda de la hija hermosa de la víctima y un capitán de la Guardia Suiza, Langdon busca las claves ocultas para detener a los asesinos y anular sus planes para la destrucción total de la Iglesia. Lenguaje injurioso y descripciones de violencia. (Professor of religious iconology Robert Langdon is called to the Vatican to investigate the murder of a physicist by the Illuminati, a secret medieval society. Joining Langdon is the victim's beautiful daughter, Vittoria, and scientists from CERN, a Swiss research facility. Some violence and some strong language.) 2004. RC 61018 ## La Fiesta del Chivo (The Feast of the Goat) RC 61019 por Mario Vargas Llosa leído por María Pino 4 cassettes Urania Cabral regresa a la República Dominicana para visitar a su padre moribundo. Durante su viaje, recuerda los tiempos de su juventud bajo la dictadura brutal de Rafael Trujillo. Apodado "el Chivo" por ser mujeriego perverso, Trujillo era para Urania la causa del enajenamiento de cuarenta años entre ella y su padre. Lenguaje injurioso y descripciones de violencia. (Urania Cabral, returning to the Dominican Republic where her father is terminally ill, recalls her youth during the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Called "the Goat" for his depravity with women, Trujillo was the reason for her forty-year estrangement from her father. Strong language and some violence.) 2000. RC 61019 ## La Balsa de Piedra (The Stone Raft) RC 61020 por José Saramago leído por Juan Ramírez 3 cassettes Una serie de eventos ominosos y catastróficos provoca la separación de la Península Ibérica del continente europeo, transformándola en una gran isla flotante. La isla abre camino hacia América del Sur, y los habitantes se unen para enfrentarse con un encuentro incierto entre la gente del nuevo mundo. Una metáfora sobre la comunidad humana. (A series of ominous and catastrophic events causes the Iberian Peninsula to separate from the European continent and drift toward South America. The frantic residents band together to face an unknown future as they travel toward an encounter with the peoples of the new world.) 2001. RC 61020 ## La Silla del Águila (The Eagle's Throne) RC 61021 por Carlos Fuentes leído por María Pino 2 cassettes Cuando un satélite de Estados Unidos corta accidentalmente las comunicaciones de México, el presidente y los ministros mexicanos consolidan sus poderes políticos para abocarse con una nueva realidad. Entre todo, María del Rosario Galván, operadora política y sexual suprema, planea sus próximas jugadas y le dice a su joven amante que él sería el próximo presidente de México. (When a U.S. satellite accidentally knocks out communications in Mexico, the Mexican president and top politicians consolidate power for a new reality. Meanwhile, operative and courtesan María del Rosario Galván jockeys for her own future by telling her younger lover that he will be the next president.) 2002. RC 61021 ## Todos los Nombres (All the Names) RC 61022 por José Saramago leído por Luis Alfonso Omana 3 cassettes Don José es un funcionario subordinado que trabaja en las oficinas mezquinas de la Conservaduría General del Registro Civil. Como extensión de su trabajo aburrido, José se aficiona a coleccionar noticias y estatísticas vitales sobre las personas famosas que aparecen en los ficheros. Y cuando encuentra la ficha de una mujer anónima, empieza a obsesionarse por ella, hasta que, por fin, sale a la ciudad en busca de la mujer desconocida. (Subservient clerk don José works in the decaying offices of the Portuguese Central Registry of Births, Marriages, and Deaths. Even José's hobby-collecting celebrities' vital statistics-is merely an extension of record keeping, until he becomes so obsessed with an unknown woman's file that he ventures into the city to find her.) 1997. RC 61022 ## Las Aventuras de Pinocho (The Adventures of Pinocchio) RC 61024 por Carlo Collodi leído por María Pino 2 cassettes Geppetto modela y fabrica una marioneta de madera y le pone el nombre de Pinocho. Pinocho anda y habla como un muchacho verdadero, pero es travieso y se mete en muchos líos. Clásica historia italiana para niños, publicado originalmente en 1883. Esta edición crítica incluye introducción, biografía del autor, y cronología histórica. Para grados 4 a 7 y lectores mayores. (Geppetto carves a wooden puppet and names him Pinocchio. The rascally marionette walks and talks like a real boy and gets into plenty of trouble. Classic Italian tale originally published in 1883. Critical edition includes introduction, author biography, and historical timeline. For grades 4-7 and older readers.) 2004. RC 61024 ## ### Talking Book Magazines Cassette For a free subscription to these magazines, contact your cooperating library. American Heritage (8 issues) Analog Science Fiction and Fact (11 issues) Asimov's Science Fiction (11 issues) The Atlantic Monthly (11 issues; combined issue July- August) Das Beste aus Reader's Digest (German; 12 issues) Bon Appétit (monthly) Buenhogar (Spanish; monthly) Choice Magazine Listening (on loan from cooperating libraries, bimonthly) Consumer Reports (monthly) Contemporary Sound Track: A Review of Pop, Jazz, Rock, and Country (bimonthly) Cricket (for children, on one cassette with National Geographic Kids, monthly) Diabetes Forecast (monthly) Discover (monthly) Ebony (monthly) Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (11 issues) Foreign Affairs (6 issues) Good Housekeeping (monthly plus special issues) Health and Nutrition Newsletters (includes Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter--Health after Fifty, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and Nutrition Action Healthletter, monthly) Horticulture (6 issues) Journal Français (French; monthly) Magazine of the Month (monthly) Money (monthly plus special issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) The Nation (47 issues) National Geographic (monthly) National Geographic Kids (for children and teens, on one cassette with Cricket, monthly) National Review (25 issues) The New York Times Book Review (weekly) Outdoor Life (10 issues; combined issues June-July, December-January) People Weekly (weekly plus special issues) QST (monthly) Quarterly Music Magazine (quarterly) Selecciones del Reader's Digest (Spanish; monthly) Sélections du Reader's Digest (French; monthly) Smart Computing (monthly) Sound & Vision (10 issues) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Sports Illustrated (weekly plus special issues) Sports Illustrated for Kids (monthly) Talking Book Topics (bimonthly, also contains selections from NLS News irregularly) Travel & Leisure (monthly) True West (monthly) U.S. News and World Report (weekly) The Writer (12 issues) Young Adult Magazine of the Month (monthly)