Talking Book Topics January-February 2008 Volume 74, Number 1 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 2007 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, August/September 2007, volume 3, issue 8 Production of digital cartridge approaches Step by step, each piece of the digital system is coming to fruition for patrons. One area of major progress is the cartridge, which will house the digital book. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, has finalized the cartridge design and is currently preparing to contract for production. To some, designing a cartridge is a seemingly mundane manufacturing process. But designing a cartridge for blind and physically handicapped patrons is no easy task, as it requires truly unique design and testing methods. In fact, products for NLS patrons typically undergo more rigorous usability testing than most commercial consumer products. The production plan Cartridge production is a multiphase process. Developers approach each stage of production with a strong dedication to meeting patron's needs for the cartridge. The first step is to finalize its interior design. While the cartridge's functional requirements have been determined, some internal components—such as circuitry and software—will be defined by the manufacturer. Once the internal components are designed, the manufacturer will build cartridge prototypes. The prototypes will then undergo testing to ensure they meet NLS specifications and that they function properly. Next the manufacturer will develop production line tooling—the metal mold that plastic is poured into to form the cartridge's casing. Before full production begins, the manufacturer will conduct verification tests on prototypes. These tests will evaluate whether the cartridge meets requirements for mechanical tolerance, electrical specifications, and the Federal Communication Commission's requirements for electromagnetic compatibility. These evaluations ensure that each aspect of the device performs optimally for patrons that will use it. Testing will also assess whether books can be recorded to the cartridge at a predetermined speed, which will be evaluated again while titles are actually duplicated onto cartridges. This helps assure that the books read properly. Additionally the cartridge must be able to rerecord a minimum number of times and meet durability requirements, which specify the number of times it should withstand insertion into the player. These steps will help ensure that the cartridge meets patrons' needs. Full production of the cartridge is slated to begin in the spring of 2008. NLS anticipates producing 17,500 cartridges in the initial run and between one to two million cartridges each year into the future. Libraries within the NLS network, as well as other organizations, will be able to buy blank cartridges to record local or specialty books for their readers. Blank cartridges will be available once full production starts. Benefits for patrons A lot of care went into designing a cartridge that would be fully accessible to patrons. The cartridge was designed to be easily inserted into the player, especially for readers with reduced dexterity. It has beveled edges as well as a large finger hole in the corner which will make it easier to grip and load into the player. Its wedge design allows it to be inserted into the player in only one direction. It was also important to NLS that all users found the cartridge's label readable. For that reason, the label includes both braille and large- print characters. The cartridge has many other benefits that will enhance patrons' reading experience. It will deliver crisper, clearer audio quality. One cartridge will hold most titles, which adds extra convenience to the reading experience. The cartridge also plays through on one side; there's no need to flip the cartridge like one would with a cassette tape. Readers will also enjoy the cartridge's improved navigation features. Once inserted into an advanced player, the cartridge has markers that will track exactly where patrons are in the book, allowing the patron to pick up right where he or she left off. The cartridge's compact design also offers users greater portability. Unlike bulky cassettes, the cartridge is about the size of a credit card. The device will also be more reliable, since it has no moving parts to risk breaking and repairing. Unlike cassettes, it also has no tapes to tangle. Patrons will find the cartridge to be extremely durable. To ensure the cartridges hold up to patron use and transit, they were subjected to intense durability testing. Cartridges were exposed to extreme temperatures to confirm they would not melt, freeze, crack, or become unusable. They were also dropped from varying heights onto different surfaces to verify they would not break, chip, or scratch. The cartridge will also serve patrons longer. Since flash memory is rewritable, the cartridge can be reused many times to load new books onto it. This capability makes it very cost efficient for libraries as well. Patrons will enjoy the flexibility the digital book has to offer. Using a USB flash drive, users will be able to download books onto their personal computers. They can essentially build a library of their favorite titles. All of the digital system's features will empower patrons and take their reading experience to the next level. Patrons will ultimately get more out of the talking-book program than ever before. A look back The journey to produce a cartridge beneficial to all users was a long one, but essential in delivering an optimal result. Considerable time was spent to systematically design, develop, and test all the cartridge's features. The process started with a series of user-needs tests to reveal the qualities and features patrons desired most in a digital talking-book medium. User-needs tests were followed by a series of usability tests to refine cartridge models and prototypes and to test the functionality of the device. Most notably, the preliminary design review conducted in June 2006 tested the cartridge's usability, portability, and durability. The design review team examined the ease of handling and inserting the cartridge. It also reviewed the adequacy of its large-print and braille labeling. The next stage in the development process was to produce functional prototypes. These also went through usability testing in September 2006. Patrons validated the cartridge's design through numerous tests under real-world reading scenarios in homes, libraries, and retirement centers. Further usability testing was conducted in February 2007. This past spring, the cartridge's technical specifications were finalized during engineering design review and critical design review. While the digital transition has been a lengthy process, patrons can be sure that the product will be worth the wait. ### Flash, October 2007, volume 3, issue 9 Library of Congress expands digital download pilot The digital download project, launched in October 2006, has evolved well beyond the hopes of its architects. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, recently expanded the download project's scope, allowing more patrons to participate in downloading and reading digital talking books and offering those patrons improved services. The project has also shifted its focus from testing the usability of digital audiobooks to now concentrating on optimizing the functionality of the download web site. As the download project improves, so too will the capabilities offered by the download project when it officially launches in late 2008. This effort is the second stage in a three-phase process to implement a digital system. The first stage involves replicating the current program with mail order digital books. This is followed by finalizing the digital download project, which is a new feature of the NLS program. The third stage is focused on duplication-on-demand, whereby digital titles are produced when requested by users. Cartridges are recycled during this process, making it a very cost efficient mode. "More patrons now have a voice in shaping the digital download program. We will utilize patron comments and the lessons learned during this experimental effort to build a robust download program," said NLS research and development officer Neil Bernstein. Patron comments are essential to improving the download program, which is why NLS recently relaxed the pilot's enrollment requirements. To date six hundred patrons participate. Patrons enrolling in the program must be active readers in good standing, have access to a commercially available digital player compatible with NLS materials, have an e-mail address, and have access to a high-speed Internet connection. Interested eligible patrons must fill out an online application at www.nlstalkingbooks.org/dtb. Once NLS confirms their eligibility, patrons may set up a username and password and learn how to download digital books. The player's manufacturer will also be notified to provide the patrons with the authorization key to activate their players. When these steps are completed, patrons will be able to download a title from NLS's download site to their computers, and from their computers to commercial flash cards, which can then be inserted into the players for reading. Pilot improvements The download program offers patrons instant access to more titles than ever before. The download collection has grown to more than seven thousand books and thirteen magazines and includes children's titles and Spanish-language books. NLS recently added books converted from analog tape masters, whereas before the site only featured materials originally recorded in digital format. Larger books are also offered. On August 31, NLS revamped the existing download web site. The robust new venue offers patrons more features to improve their digital download experience. Users can set their preferences, such as e-mail addresses or passwords, password recovery features, and the number of search results displayed. An intelligent web site, it automatically recognizes newly posted materials and makes these available to patrons. It also offers technical support. The web site embodies various administrative functions used by NLS staff who manage the project. These functions are not accessible to patrons. For example, the web site will generate and e-mail circulation statistics to libraries on a monthly basis. The statistics, specific to each library, will include the monthly total of patrons who are using the download program as well as a breakdown of the numbers of downloaded books and magazines. Libraries may also access download circulation figures. The site shares information among libraries, NLS, and third-party hardware vendors. NLS employees, with the help of this interactive web site, process applications, send authorization e-mails to new enrollees, and notify the network when they are approved to participate. NLS also notifies the digital player distributor to activate the patron's player. While the web site has improved, it is still a work in progress. It will be enhanced continually until the final web site is launched in late 2008. Patron input is crucial at this stage. The first improvement will be to add page numbers to each page of search listings. Rather than listing search results in one continuous page, patrons will jump from page to page. Users will also have the option of receiving automatic daily or weekly notifications of new titles added to the site. Eventually the site will offer access to all NLS digital resources, such as Web-Braille. Patrons enjoy independence Participant input on the digital download project is overwhelmingly positive. Though patrons are no longer required to complete a survey for each title they read, they continue to be very vocal on the web site's message board and in e-mails to NLS. Because the digital project is no longer focused on evaluating the usability of digital books and players, input now relates to the operation and content of the download web site. Patrons praise both the download concept as well as its web site. They enjoy the instant access to titles, and find downloading titles more convenient than mail order. The scope and range of choice is also significant: one participant remarked, "I feel as though I am in a library for the first time in my life." Other participants praised the detail and care that went into developing an accessible web site: "My compliments to all of you involved in this project. The site is well organized and easy to use. Obviously thought has been given to the bandwidth required for a site of this nature. This project will be a great boon to many of us." Patrons also value the sense of independence and connection afforded by downloadable reading. One participant considers the downloadable book to be "a revolutionary opportunity… to those of us wanting to be current on the news, needing the same extensive level of information to live life independently and successfully as sighted folks do." According to Bernstein, one of the greatest benefits of the talking-book program, and especially the download initiative, is empowerment. "That's what we do at NLS, we promote patrons' ability to serve themselves," said Bernstein. Digital talking-book (DB) milestones Completed --Defined and prioritized DB features --Coordinated development and publication of Specifications for the Digital Talking Book (ANSI/NISO Z39.86) --Simulated a DB player using a personal computer --Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis (LCC) model for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems --Developed computer software for DB production and presentation --Developed software to test conformance of players and DBs with the ANSI/NISO standard --Conducted user survey --Conducted player transition study --Conducted distribution flash-cartridge study --Awarded player and flash-cartridge design contract --Awarded distribution-system design contract --Acquired distribution-system design contract Phase I and II --Conducted preliminary design review --Developed player and flash-cartridge --Designed DB containers and labels --Concluded Web-Magazine pilot --Launched Web-Book pilot --Designed digital data management system --Contracted flash cartridge In process --Distribution-system implementation --Flash-cartridge production --Flash-cartridge duplication --Initial lot of DB containers and labels manufactured --Full player production 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 ### Collection Development Advisory Group seeks advice The members of the Collection Development Advisory Group wish to thank fellow patrons and librarians for their input concerning the NLS program. Ideas and suggestions from readers are key components in the success of the program and are thoroughly discussed in the committee's deliberations. Please continue to assist us by contacting committee members or your cooperating braille or talking-book library with your suggestions. The group will meet again at NLS on May 21–23, 2008. Representatives from consumer organizations: American Council of the Blind (ACB) Cindy Van Winkle 6686 Capricorn Lane, N.E. Bremerton, WA 98311 cindy.vw@msn.com Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Pete Davis 615 South Adams Street Arlington, VA 22204 lottie.pete@verizon.net National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Anil Lewis 315 West Ponce De Leon Avenue, Suite 603 Decatur, GA 30030 alewis@nfbga.org Readers-at-large: Midlands Region—includes: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Teresa Haifley 414 South 3rd Avenue Washington, IA 52353-1502 teresahaifley@iowatelecom.net Northern Region—includes: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. Randy Pierce 109 E. Glenwood Street Nashua, NH 03060 alaric02@sprynet.com Southern Region—includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Virgin Islands. Lula M. Brooks 723 Egret Bluff Lane Jacksonville, FL 32211 jerryr@coj.net (Write "For Lula Brooks" in subject line.) Western Region—includes: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Donna Ryan 1237 W. Granite Street Butte, MT 59701 cliffhouse@in-tch.com Librarians: Midlands René Perrance Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library 388 SE 6th Avenue Faribault, MN 55021-6340 (507) 333-4828; fax (507) 333-4832 rene.perrance@state.mn.us Northern Carol A. Taylor Connecticut State Library Library for the Blind and Handicapped 198 West Street Rocky Hill, CT 06067 (860) 721-2020; fax (860) 721-2056 lbph@cslib.org Southern Patricia Schubert Manatee Talking Book Library 6081 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 (941) 742-5914 or (941) 484-0308 fax (941) 751-7098 patricia.schubert@mymanatee.org Western Scott Scholz Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service The Atrium 1200 N. Street, Suite 120 Lincoln, NE 68508-2023 (402) 471-6553 sscholz@nlc.state.ne.us Children's/Young Adult Rachel Gould Braille and Talking Book Library Perkins School for the Blind 175 North Beacon Street Watertown, MA 02472-2790 (617) 972-7240; fax (617) 972-7363 rachel.gould@perkins.org ### Magazine of the Month selections for 2008 Two NLS programs offer readers samples of magazines not otherwise available through network libraries. Subscribers to Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the Month receive a different magazine on audiocassette each month. For a free subscription to either program, contact your cooperating talking-book library. Subscribers may expect to receive some of the following: Magazine of the Month -Air & Space–Smithsonian -American Cowboy -American Spectator -The Believer -Diabetic Living -Inc.: The Handbook for the American Entrepreneur -No Depression -North & South: The Official Magazine of the Civil War Society -Parabola: Myth, Tradition, and the Search for Meaning -Running Times: The Runner's Best Resource -Skeptic -Urban Influence Alternates: Backwoodsman, Blue & Gray Magazine: For Those Who Still Hear the Guns, Body & Soul, Dirty Linen, Dissent, Essence, Harper's, Naval History, Runner's World, Skeptical Inquirer: The Magazine for Science and Reason, Smart Money, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review Young Adult Magazine of the Month -Cicada -Hot Rod -LàTeen -Listen: Journal of Drug-Free Living for Teens -Realms of Fantasy -Reptiles -Rock & Ice: The Climber's Magazine -Teen Strings -Teen Vogue -Wired -XXL -Young Rider: The Magazine for Horse and Pony Lovers Alternates: American Songwriter, Cosmo Girl, E: The Environmental Magazine, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Grit: American Life and Traditions, Gumbo: A Magazine of the Arts, Horse & Rider, Latina Style: A National Magazine for the Contemporary Hispanic Woman, Motor Trend, Predator Xtreme, Teen Ink, Vibe ### 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 Reflections: The Life and Writings of a Young Blind Woman in Post- Revolutionary France RC 57874 by Thérèse-Adèle Husson read by Miriam Wagner 1 cassette Essay written in 1825 by twenty-two-year-old woman hoping to gain admittance to a Paris hospital that provided aid to blind people. Addressed to the institution's director, Husson's personal account affords insight into blind people's lives and reveals growing solidarity in their advocacy for education and independence. 2001. RC 57874 ## Playback: From the Victrola to MP3, One Hundred Years of Music, Machines, and Money RC 58582 by Mark Coleman read by Eric Synnestvedt 2 cassettes New York City journalist examines the recording industry from the start in the 1900s to 2004. Describes its growth, personalities, and intrigues as it evolved from Edison's cylinder to twenty-first-century technology and musical format. Explores the quagmire of computer-based advancements that have prompted numerous legal battles. 2003. RC 58582 ## The Power of a Positive Teen RC 60940 by Grace Ladd, Joy Ladd, and Karol Ladd read by Miriam Wagner 2 cassettes A Christian mother and her two daughters turn to the Scriptures for guidance on growing up. Focusing on principles of confidence, responsibility, relationships, faith, attitude, courage, and integrity they demonstrate ways teens can make positive choices in their lives. Includes Bible passages. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 60940 ## Lone Star Literature: From the Red River to the Rio Grande RC 61228 edited by Don Graham read by L.J. Ganser 5 cassettes Anthology of short pieces representing the diversity, scope, and complexity of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Texas. Includes over sixty essays, stories, excerpts, and memoirs by writers such as Elmer Kelton, Molly Ivins, and O. Henry. Foreword by Lonesome Dove (RC 22959) author Larry McMurtry. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003. RC 61228 ## New Orleans: The Making of an Urban Landscape RC 61426 by Peirce F. Lewis read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Study in historical geography surveys New Orleans, Louisiana, from its origins as a 1700s European town to its evolution as a modern metropolis. Includes both the first, 1976 edition, which discusses the city's unique en- vironmental challenges, and a 2003 revision, which chronicles later transformations in culture, architecture, and politics. 2003. RC 61426 ## Patches of Godlight: Father Tim's Favorite Quotes RC 61575 compiled by Jan Karon read by Gary Tipton 1 cassette Collection of favorite quotes and passages that have a special meaning for fictional Father Tim. They are drawn from the works of poets, humorists, clerics, philosophers, and others. Companion to A Continual Feast (RC 62403). 2001. RC 61575 ## Helen Keller: Selected Writings RC 61696 edited by Kim E. Nielsen read by Isabel Keating 3 cassettes Collection of letters, articles, speeches, and book excerpts written throughout Keller's life. Arranged chronologically, the writings express Keller's love for the written word, explain her book writing process, and demonstrate her interest in social, political, and theological issues. Companion to The Radical Lives of Helen Keller (RC 57987). 2005. RC 61696 ## The Sword of the Prophet: Islam; History, Theology, Impact on the World RC 61980 by Serge Trifkovic read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes Journalist contends Islam is not "a religion of peace" but one of "violence and cruelty." Analyzes Islamic theology and practice set forth by teachings of the prophet Muhammad (born circa 570) and the Koran to demonstrate the historical roots of jihad and Islamic militancy. Foreword by Ambassador James Bissett. 2002. RC 61980 ## The Three-Hour Diet: How Low-Carb Diets Make You Fat and Timing Makes You Thin RC 62004 by Jorge Cruise read by Ralph Lowenstein 2 cassettes Author of Eight Minutes in the Morning (RC 55750) tells how to lose up to two pounds per week without counting calories or sacrificing carbohydrates. Explains the theory of the body's "starvation protection mechanism" and ways to defeat it. Includes exercise tips, recipes, and testimonials. 2005. RC 62004 ## Coast of Dreams: California on the Edge, 1990-2003; Americans and the California Dream RC 62009 by Kevin Starr read by Jeremy Gage 6 cassettes University of Southern California professor continues his series on California's history, chronicling the trends of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Discusses gangs, urban growth, budget crises, gay culture, environmental disasters, immigration, and the dot- com phenomenon. 2004. RC 62009 ## A Hungry Heart: A Memoir RC 62034 by Gordon Parks read by Bill Quinn 3 cassettes African-American artist Parks (1912-2006) continues reminiscing about his life since Voices in the Mirror (RC 33413). Chronicles his career path that includes work as a fashion photographer, photojournalist, author, film director, and composer. Discusses his several marriages and numerous children. Strong language and some violence. 2005. RC 62034 ## The Black Veil: A Memoir with Digressions RC 62036 by Rick Moody read by Lewis Grenville 3 cassettes Award-winning author of Garden State (RC 38568) and Demonology (RC 52304) recalls his descent into clinical depression. He explores his paternal heritage, seeking genetic clues to the origins of his illness and traces of a troubled presumptive ancestor said to have inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil." Some strong language. 2002. RC 62036 ## Mirror to America: The Autobiography of John Hope Franklin RC 62047 by John Hope Franklin read by Bill Quinn 3 cassettes African American historian and professor (born 1915) recounts his life- his childhood in segregated Oklahoma, education at Fisk and Harvard, numerous positions in government service, and work in civil rights for which he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Some strong language. Hurston/Wright Legacy award. 2005. RC 62047 ## New Orleans, Mon Amour: Twenty Years of Writings from the City RC 62097 by Andrei Codrescu read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Essays from a Romanian-born National Public Radio commentator about his adopted city of New Orleans. Includes some pieces written after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Describes the Big Easy and its inhabitants, food, cemeteries, eccentrics, neighborhoods, Mardi Gras, and crime. 2006. RC 62097 ## The Unknown American Revolution: The Unruly Birth of Democracy and the Struggle to Create America RC 62119 by Gary B. Nash read by Ralph Lowenstein 5 cassettes Professor from UCLA contends that the American Revolution was actually a chaotic civil war and portrays the conflict through the eyes of common folk-immigrants, slaves, farmers, women, and natives. Depicts George Washington's efforts to defeat the British-allied Iroquois and discusses the post-war plight of African Americans. 2005. RC 62119 ## The Rosary: Prayer Comes Round RC 62121 by Garry Wills read by Peter Johnson 1 cassette The author of Why I Am a Catholic (RC 54804) traces the history of the rosary as prayer beads and analyzes each of its elements including the four prayers and the mysteries associated with it. Discusses the biblical scriptures behind the rosary and the human need for contemplation. 2005. RC 62121 ## Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England RC 62232 by Alison Weir read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes British historian recounts the life of Isabella of France (1292-1358), who wed homosexual King Edward II of England when she was twelve. Chronicles how, after bearing four children, Isabella escaped to France, became the lover of exiled traitor Roger Mortimer, and successfully invaded England to overthrow her husband. 2005. RC 62232 ## Mamaji RC 62312 by Ved Mehta read by Yolande Bavan 2 cassettes (Reissue) Biographical portrait of the blind author's high-caste Hindu mother and her circle of family, friends, and neighbors. Discusses the contrast between her background and that of the debonair, English-educated doctor she married, who loved her while regarding her religious practices as superstitions. Companion to Daddyji (RC 31252). 1979. RC 62312 ## Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix RC 62315 by Charles R. Cross read by L.J. Ganser 3 cassettes The author uses primary sources to depict the life of guitarist Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970). Describes his poverty- stricken childhood in Seattle, years on the "Chitlin' Circuit," emergence on England's music scene, success at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, and death at age twenty-seven. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 62315 ## A War like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War RC 62318 by Victor Davis Hanson read by George Holmes 4 cassettes The author of Ripples of Battle (RC 58695) analyzes the twenty-seven- year-long Greek civil war that ended with Athens's loss to Sparta in 404 B.C. Chronicles the conflict's roots and its legacy, comparing it to twentieth-century wars. Details the savage battles, plague, famine, and sieges. 2005. RC 62318 ## Good Poems for Hard Times RC 62393 selected by Garrison Keillor read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes Anthology of 185 poems by American and British poets from John Donne and William Blake to Carl Sandburg and Charles Simic. Selected by Keillor from works he recited on the public radio show The Writer's Almanac. Companion to Good Poems (RC 57059). 2005. RC 62393 ## A Continual Feast: Words of Comfort and Celebration, Collected by Father Tim RC 62403 compiled by Jan Karon read by Gary Tipton 1 cassette Words of wisdom, faith, and encouragement, as well as lively ideas, humor, commonsense advice, and more, that fictional Father Tim of Mitford has collected over the years from writers, philosophers, and the Bible. Companion to Patches of Godlight (RC 61575). 2005. RC 62403 ## Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel RC 62472 by Jane Smiley read by Robert Blumenfeld 5 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning author examines the nature of the novel. Probes psychological, artistic, and moral aspects of writing, offers a novelist's primer, and critiques one hundred books including Anna Karenina (RC 49499), Don Quixote (RC 57711), The Great Gatsby (RC 55714), and The Tale of Genji (RC 53582). 2005. RC 62472 ## Blood on the Sea: American Destroyers Lost in World War II RC 62488 by Robert Sinclair Parkin read by Peter Ganim 4 cassettes Descriptions of the seventy-one U.S. destroyers that were lost in World War II with eyewitness accounts of their final hours. Relates the ships' launchings and namings, their tours of duty, and the causes of their destruction. 1995. RC 62488 ## The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast RC 62506 by Douglas Brinkley read by Ted Stoddard 5 cassettes Tulane history professor details a week in August 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi-Alabama Gulf coast. Highlights individual tales of heroism and rescues, describes the man- made faults that led to breached levees, and criticizes local and federal governments for failing to protect their citizens. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62506 ## Mark Twain: A Life RC 62510 by Ron Powers read by Robert Sams 7 cassettes in 2 containers Biography of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), the writer from Missouri whose pen name was Mark Twain. Discusses his life on the Mississippi River during the golden age of steamboats and his newspaper career, courtship of Olivia Langdon, financial plights, novels and letters, and tours as a literary celebrity. 2005. RC 62510 ## The Cold War: A New History RC 62511 by John Lewis Gaddis read by Alexander Strain 2 cassettes Yale historian analyzes the power struggle that occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1991 and its effect on world events. Uses archives from Eastern Europe, Russia, and China to describe the tension of nuclear armament and the leaders behind the weapons. 2005. RC 62511 ## Financial Strategies for Today's Widow: Coping with the Economic Challenges of Losing a Spouse RC 62516 by David W. Latko read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Financial counselor's guide to developing a lifelong security plan for widowed women of all ages. Provides matter-of-fact, reassuring advice on selling a home, establishing credit, handling taxes, choosing insurance, accessing assets, managing day-to-day expenses, avoiding scams, and more. 2003. RC 62516 ## The Best American Recipes 2005-2006 RC 62553 edited by Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Two cookbook editors along with a celebrity chef select more than one hundred recipes from a wide range of food writers and illustrious cooks. Choosing dishes for being tasty, intriguing, and easy to make, they include starters, soups, salads, brunches, main dishes, breads, desserts, and drinks. Recipes provide test kitchen notes. 2005. RC 62553 ## Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different RC 62558 by Gordon S. Wood read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes Character studies of America's founding fathers, including Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution (RC 36630) contends that a generation of that caliber will never be replicated. Discusses the concept of "character" that defined these men. 2006. RC 62558 ## Beyond Cholesterol: Seven Life-Saving Heart Disease Tests That Your Doctor May Not Give You RC 62564 by Julius Torelli read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes A cardiologist, who has had a heart attack and who runs a clinic that offers conventional and holistic medicine, explains the condition of heart disease, its predictors, and seven tests that reveal problems. Includes information on medications and lifestyle changes to consider after learning test results. 2005. RC 62564 ## ReadyMade: How to Make (Almost) Everything; a Do-It-Yourself Primer RC 62571 by Shoshana Berger and Grace Hawthorne read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes ReadyMade magazine founders provide step-by-step instructions for more than thirty projects using recycled wood, paper, plastic, metal, glass, and fabric. Includes directions for a shopping bag rug, clothespin doormat, water bottle planter, hubcap fountain, coat hanger wine rack, and more. Lists necessary tools and estimated completion times. 2005. RC 62571 ## Is Bill Cosby Right? Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind? RC 62585 by Michael Eric Dyson read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Professor rebuts Bill Cosby's 2004 NAACP speech criticizing indigent African Americans. Dyson discusses racism, crime, family, education, self-identity, and other factors that may contribute to the actions of the poor and defends the culture of the lower classes. Some strong language. 2005. RC 62585 ## Truth and Beauty: A Friendship RC 62610 by Ann Patchett read by Barbara Caruso 2 cassettes Author reminisces about her long-term friendship with Lucy Grealy, whom she met in college at Sarah Lawrence and who wrote Autobiography of a Face (RC 40052) describing her battle with facial cancer. Patchett describes their relationship until Grealy's 2002 death from a heroin overdose. 2004. RC 62610 ## The Woman at the Washington Zoo: Writings on Politics, Family, and Fate RC 62649 by Marjorie Williams read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Posthumous essays from the Washington Post and Vanity Fair columnist Marjorie Williams (1958-2005). Contains observations of the powerful social and political movers and shakers of Washington, D.C. Includes a memoir of her cancer diagnosis. Introduction by her husband Timothy Noah. 2005. RC 62649 ## President Reagan: The Triumph of Imagination RC 62702 by Richard Reeves read by Mark Ashby 4 cassettes The author of President Nixon (RC 55252) and President Kennedy (RC 37423) uses archives and anecdotes to portray Ronald Reagan's presidency. Covers the 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan's life and his meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. Discusses Reagan's management style and achievements, highlighting his determination and negotiation skills. 2005. RC 62702 ## The One Percent Doctrine: Deep inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies since 9/11 RC 62715 by Ron Suskind read by Ralph Lowenstein 3 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Price of Loyalty (RC 57591) interviews former officials to describe U.S. counterterrorism efforts at the CIA, FBI, and NSA. Criticizes the George W. Bush administration's policy of treating even the smallest threat as a reason for attack. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62715 ## Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons RC 62716 by Tim Russert read by Gordon Gould 2 cassettes Collection of letters Russert received after publication of a memoir about his father, Big Russ and Me (RC 58298). Includes correspondence from Americans recounting relationships with their fathers, along with Russert's interviews and memories. Recalls generational differences and relates ways fathers have passed on wisdom to their children. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62716 ## Raw Food Made Easy for One or Two People RC 62722 by Jennifer Cornbleet read by Catherine Byers 1 cassette Dozens of no-cook recipes using all-natural, unprocessed ingredients such as vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, nuts, and seeds to save time and maximize nutritional value. Offers suggestions for beverages, cereals, soups, sauces, entrées, desserts, and more. Includes raw food basics, sample menus, and tips on avoiding bad carbohydrates and fats. 2005. RC 62722 ## Dying to Live: Near-Death Experiences RC 62729 by Susan Blackmore read by Catherine Byers 3 cassettes Psychologist examines psychological, biological, and medical aspects of death and dying. Evaluates two theories behind near-death experiences (NDEs): the afterlife hypothesis, which contends NDEs are the soul's glimpse of the afterlife, and the dying brain hypothesis, which posits that NDEs are chemical and physiological in origin. 1993. RC 62729 ## Danica-Crossing the Line RC 62730 by Danica Patrick read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes Autobiography of a young woman who competes in the male-oriented sport of car racing. Patrick describes driving go-karts as a child, the ups and downs of her professional racecar career, and being named the 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Foreword by Bobby Rahal. 2006. RC 62730 ## Cooking with Convection RC 62732 by Beatrice Ojakangas read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Recipes for convection ovens, which use a fan to circulate hot air around food to cook more evenly and in less time at lower temperatures than conventional ovens. Includes general cooking guidelines, useful tips, and more than 150 suggestions for appetizers, pizza, meat, poultry, shellfish, vegetables, breads, and desserts. 2005. RC 62732 ## Women Who Risk: Profiles of Women in Extreme Sports RC 62750 by Marilyn Olsen read by Catherine Byers 1 cassette Eleven exceptional female athletes share sports experiences including inspirations, obstacles, and achievements. Provides practical information on training, expenses, and equipment. Profiles triathlete Heather Hedrick, surfer Jodie Nelson, and women in wakeboarding, auto racing, rock climbing, dogsledding, skydiving, mountain biking, and more. For senior high and older readers. 2001. RC 62750 ## The Incas and Their Ancestors: The Archaeology of Peru RC 62751 by Michael E. Moseley read by Lewis Grenville 3 cassettes A general introduction to the history and civilization of the Incan Empire, based on archaeological evidence and research. Discusses the cultural practices of ancient Peru: mummification of the dead and other burial customs, Andean agriculture, Nazca line drawings, architecture, weaving, and ceramics. 2001. RC 62751 ## The Places In Between RC 62788 by Rory Stewart read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Afghanistan, 2002. Scotsman Rory Stewart recounts his solitary walk from Herat to Kabul, straight through the central mountains, after the fall of the Taliban. He recalls strangers' hospitality, a dog's companionship, and his adventures on the road. Comments on local history and customs. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004. RC 62788 ## American Vertigo: Traveling America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville RC 62806 by Bernard-Henri Lévy read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes A French journalist, philosopher, and filmmaker relates a year spent exploring, observing, and analyzing the United States in the spirit of Alexis de Tocqueville's 1835 journey described in Democracy in America (RC 61828). Lévy describes encounters with ordinary and illustrious citizens and visits to prisons, an Amish town, and other diverse places. 2006. RC 62806 ## God Wants You to Roll: The $21 Million "Miracle Cars" Scam-How Two Boys Fleeced America's Churchgoers RC 62807 by John Phillips III read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Recounts the scheme of nineteen-year-old California security guards Robert Gomez and James Nichols, con artists who claimed to be heirs to millions and sold nonexistent automobiles to church congregations. Describes how they laundered money through casinos and led investors on for years until their 2003 conviction. Strong language. 2005. RC 62807 ## Pressure Perfect: Two-Hour Taste in Twenty Minutes Using Your Pressure Cooker RC 62809 by Lorna Sass read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Instructional guide and cookbook for using safe, modern pressure cookers. Highlights techniques for tenderizing meat and cooking different foods simultaneously. Offers more than two hundred recipes for soups, meat, poultry, fish, rice, risotto, pasta, beans, vegetables, desserts, and more. Includes timing charts, mail order sources, and a troubleshooting section. 2004. RC 62809 ## Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut RC 62819 by Mike Mullane read by Jake Williams 4 cassettes Autobiography of one of the first space shuttle astronauts. Mullane, a West Point graduate, aeronautical engineer, and Vietnam veteran, describes with humor and candor his selection process, training program, and space flight experiences. Recounts three missions and discusses NASA's role in the 1986 Challenger disaster. Some strong language. 2006. RC 62819 ## Hunger: An Unnatural History RC 62824 by Sharman Apt Russell read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Examines the biological, psycho-emotional, political, and cultural aspects of hunger. Describes the experience of going without food for eighteen to thirty-six hours and for a week and longer. Discusses the differences between fasting, famine, and starvation. Considers ways to end world hunger. 2005. RC 62824 ## 1968: The Year That Rocked the World RC 62834 by Mark Kurlansky read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes The author highlights the pivotal year of 1968, during which seminal events-including the Tet Offensive in Vietnam and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy-occurred. Describes the civil rights movement and student protests. Examines the impact of same-day television broadcasting on public opinion. Strong language. 2004. RC 62834 ## Alzheimer's Essentials: Practical Skills for Caregivers RC 62835 by Bretten C. Gordeau and Jeffrey Hillier read by Jake Williams 1 cassette Concise, comprehensive guide for caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments. Discusses handling patients' daily needs, coping with behavioral changes, and assuring proper nutrition. Also covers financial, safety, and end-of-life issues. Does not provide medical advice. Includes resources. 2005. RC 62835 ## A Gospel of Shame: Children, Sexual Abuse, and the Catholic Church RC 62836 by Frank Bruni and Elinor Burkett read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Award-winning journalists analyze the breadth and implications of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests and the Church's response. Documents scores of cases and addresses possible root causes, including the Church's secretive, hierarchical structure and institutional celibacy. Updated edition of investigation first published in 1993. Some descriptions of sex. 2002. RC 62836 ## The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez RC 62844 by Philip Carlo read by Jim Zeiger 5 cassettes The background, crimes, capture, and trial of the serial rapist and murderer dubbed "Night Stalker," who terrorized Los Angeles in 1985. Original 1996 edition with supplemental transcript of a 2005 death-row interview in which Ramirez discusses his groupies-one of whom he married. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1996. RC 62844 ## Into the Water: The Story of Serial Killer Richard Marc Evonitz RC 62848 by Diane Fanning read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Account of Navy veteran Richard Marc Evonitz, who stalked and killed young girls in Virginia in the 1990s, including sisters Kristin and Kati Lisk. Describes his 2002 capture when, after returning to live in his home state of South Carolina, Evonitz abducted a fifteen-year-old who escaped and alerted authorities. 2004. RC 62848 ## Cockeyed: A Memoir RC 62851 by Ryan Knighton read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Canadian professor's account of going blind in adolescence from retinitis pigmentosa. Describes attending college in the early 1990s, living with a deaf girl, and teaching English to children in South Korea. Offers his assessment of others' perceptions of his disability. Strong language. 2006. RC 62851 ## The Irish Game: A True Story of Crime and Art RC 62853 by Matthew Hart read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Journalist author of Diamond (RC 55703) examines the 1986 heist at Ireland's Russborough House during which Dubliner Martin Cahill stole eighteen paintings including Vermeer's Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid. Chronicles Scotland Yard's investigations and the sting that uncovered illicit drug connections and a stunning art discovery. 2004. RC 62853 ## Coping with Vision Disorders RC 62855 by Debbie Stanley read by Jill Ferris 1 cassette Provides a brief overview of eye conditions that can cause vision impairment or blindness, such as retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, papilledema, macular degeneration, and traumatic injury. Discusses treatment options, physical and emotional impact, and ways to accommodate vision disorders. For senior high and older readers. 2001. RC 62855 ## Confronting Iran: The Failure of American Foreign Policy and the Next Great Crisis in the Middle East RC 62901 by Ali M. Ansari read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes British professor analyzes the historical relationship between Iran and the United States. Focuses on 1953 to 2005 and the failure of American administrations to implement a coherent policy toward the Islamic republic of Iran. Offers solutions to overcome the conflict of cultures and avoid a nuclear standoff. 2006. RC 62901 ## Robert E. Lee: Virginian Soldier, American Citizen RC 62915 by James I. Robertson Jr. read by Frank Coffee 1 cassette In-depth biography of Confederate Civil War general. Chronicles Lee's family life, studies at West Point, military service in the Mexican War, and leadership of the Southern forces. Analyzes his decision to join Virginia's secession from the Union and describes his life after the war. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 62915 ## The Holocaust Lady RC 62947 by Ruth Minsky Sender read by Suzanne Toren 1 cassette Author of previous memoirs The Cage (RC 29061) and To Life (RC 29574), Holocaust survivor Ruth Minsky Sender recalls coming to America in 1950 burdened with nightmares and becoming a teacher of Jewish history to keep the truth alive. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1992. RC 62947 ## Taking Care of Your Smile: A Teen's Guide to Dental Care RC 63001 by Autumn Libal and Christopher Hovius read by Annie Wauters 1 cassette Explains the physical and emotional importance of dental hygiene. Includes techniques for caring for your teeth and combating decay and stains by brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Examines the history of dentistry and provides information on orthodontic work like braces, porcelain veneers, and crowns. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 63001 ## What Do I Have to Lose? A Teen's Guide to Weight Management RC 63003 by Elizabeth Bauchner read by Annie Wauters 1 cassette Explains ways to determine one's ideal weight according to height, body type, gender, and age. Describes the body's method of processing food and the importance of proper nutrition and exercise. Offers information on obesity health risks, eating disorders, and workout schedules. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 63003 ## Right on Schedule: A Teen's Guide to Growth and Development RC 63004 by Jean Ford read by Annie Wauters 1 cassette Examines the physical, emotional, and social changes associated with adolescence in girls and boys. Describes what to expect during puberty, such as hair growth and acne. Explains the importance of maintaining proper hygiene. Also covers dating and sex, self-esteem issues, and peer pressure. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 63004 ## Dying for Acceptance: A Teen's Guide to Drug- and Alcohol-Related Health Issues RC 63008 by Joan Esherick read by Annie Wauters 1 cassette Explains why teens choose to use drugs and alcohol recreationally and how these chemicals affect the brain. Describes health risks and consequences associated with abusing substances such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, prescription and over-the-counter medications, steroids, heroin, and club drugs like Ecstasy. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 63008 ## The Path: A One-Mile Walk through the Universe RC 63013 by Chet Raymo read by Steven Carpenter 1 cassette Author of An Intimate Look at the Night Sky (RC 57521) describes his daily stroll to the Massachusetts college where he teaches physics and astronomy. Raymo's enlightening commute, which illuminates the landscape's multifaceted history and nature, becomes not just a walk but "a thread that ties one human life and the universe together." 2003. RC 63013 ## Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind RC 63017 by David Quammen read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Quammen explores myths, symbols, and traditions surrounding humans' natural enemies: lions, tigers, bears, and crocodiles. Predicts their extinction, except in captivity, by 2150 because of habitat destruction. Suggests that their disappearance from the ecosystem will cause mankind to lose a certain perspective on its own place in the universe. Some strong language. 2003. RC 63017 ## April Blood: Florence and the Plot against the Medici RC 63022 by Lauro Martines read by Laura Giannarelli 3 cassettes Florence, 1478. Reconstruction of the political and social feuds in Renaissance Italy that led to the assassination of Giuliano de' Medici and wounding of his brother Lorenzo the Magnificent. Describes the machinations of the Pazzi and de' Medici families, as well as those of the papacy and other powerful state rulers. Some violence. 2003. RC 63022 ## Plundering Paradise: The Hand of Man on the Galápagos Islands RC 63025 by Michael D'Orso read by Steven Carpenter 2 cassettes Journalist's multifaceted portrait of the human inhabitants of the isolated Pacific island ecosystem immortalized by Charles Darwin's evolutionary theories. D'Orso, author of Like Judgment Day (RC 46947), relates to Galápagos history his observations of modern economic, political, and ecological challenges faced by natives and assorted immigrants. 2002. RC 63025 ## Sex the Measure of All Things: A Life of Alfred C. Kinsey RC 63033 by Jonathan Gathorne-Hardy read by Michele Schaeffer 4 cassettes Analyzes the study of human sexuality conducted by bisexual entomologist Alfred Kinsey at Indiana University beginning in the 1930s. Discusses Kinsey's personal and scientific background and his publication of Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (RC 16493) and a later female study (RC 16503). Explicit descriptions of sex. 1998. RC 63033 ## Family Circle: The Boudins and the Aristocracy of the Left RC 63039 by Susan Braudy read by Mary Kane 4 cassettes Portrait of political activist Kathy Boudin who, as a member of the Weather Underground and one of the FBI's ten most wanted, pled guilty to a 1981 armored-truck robbery and murder. Braudy attributes her college associate Boudin's radicalism to a turbulent relationship with her father, a noted civil-rights lawyer. Some strong language. 2003. RC 63039 ## Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now: Ninety Devotions for Living at Your Full Potential RC 63057 by Joel Osteen read by Richard Hauenstein 2 cassettes Christian pastor offers a devotional as a companion to his bestselling Your Best Life Now (RC 59330). Presents ninety days of motivational and inspirational messages and scripture intended to strengthen belief in God. 2005. RC 63057 ## Happy Days: 1880-1892 RC 63090 by H.L. Mencken read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes (Reissue) Lighthearted autobiographical account of the muckraking journalist's happy boyhood in 1880s Baltimore, covering his introduction to music, genesis as a bookworm, adventures as an athlete, and first steps in theology. 1936. RC 63090 ## The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More RC 63130 by Chris Anderson read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Editor in chief of Wired magazine examines the fragmentation of the media and entertainment industries due to the virtually limitless inventory offered by Internet retailers. Discusses the impact of online sellers like Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and eBay on the traditional marketplace and consumer culture. Bestseller. 2006. RC 63130 ## Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics; the History of the Explosive That Changed the World RC 63136 by Jack Kelly read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Chronicles the evolution and cultural impact of the ancient propellant made from a volatile mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. Traces gunpowder's nine-hundred-year history from its tenth-century invention in China to its peak military use in Europe and America and its eventual replacement by modern synthetic explosives. 2004. RC 63136 ## The Eldercare Handbook: Difficult Choices, Compassionate Solutions RC 63152 by Stella Mora Henry read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Long-term care specialist's advice on navigating the emotional and logistical aspects of caring for aging loved ones. Covers recognizing and managing dementia, coping with denial and changing family roles, avoiding caregiver burnout, transitioning to an assisted living facility, and handling legal and financial matters such as Medicare and Medicaid. 2006. RC 63152 ## A Death in Belmont RC 63160 by Sebastian Junger read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Examines the 1963 arrest, trial, and conviction of African American Roy Smith for the murder of Boston-area resident Bessie Goldberg. Describes how Smith's case was later called into question by the dubious confession of the Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 63160 ## Man of Letters: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Literary Impresario Rupert Hart-Davis RC 63163 by Philip Ziegler read by Constance Crawford 3 cassettes Biography of British editor and publisher Rupert Hart-Davis (1907- 1999). Relates his upper-class childhood, his initial attempt at a career in the theater, and his success in the world of manuscripts that led to a knighthood in 1967. 2004. RC 63163 ## Conservatives without Conscience RC 63177 by John W. Dean read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes John Dean, former counsel to President Richard Nixon and author of Worse than Watergate (RC 58240), criticizes the Republican party and Christian fundamentalists. Posits that leaders with ruthless authoritarian personalities have taken over the conservative movement and illustrates his premise with research studies. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 63177 ## To Save the Wild Bison: Life on the Edge in Yellowstone RC 63179 by Mary Ann Franke read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes National Park Service volunteer examines the debate over the management of Yellowstone's buffalo herds. Critiques federal and state policies attempting to balance human needs with wildlife autonomy and the competing interests of Native Americans, environmentalists, ranchers, and landowners. Contends domestication, not extinction, poses the largest threat to wild bison. 2005. RC 63179 ## Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express RC 63187 by Christopher Corbett read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Journalist's revisionist history of the Wild West mail service (1860- 1861) that ended with the onset of the Civil War and the invention of the telegraph. Corbett attempts to discern fact from fabrication by piecing together events and examining individuals like Buffalo Bill, who later embellished the riders' experiences. 2003. RC 63187 ## The First Year: Age-Related Macular Degeneration; an Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed RC 63206 by Daniel L. Roberts read by Ralph Lowenstein 2 cassettes Visually impaired educator and musician offers a month-by-month guide to coping with this progressive retinal disease and related conditions. Discusses causes and characteristics, strategies for slowing its progression, and treatment options. Covers lifestyle issues such as traveling, staying healthy, combating boredom and depression, and navigating daily tasks. Includes resources. 2006. RC 63206 ## River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West RC 63264 by Rebecca Solnit read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Biography of eccentric landscape photographer and father of the modern motion picture industry Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904), who invented high-speed motion photography. Depicting post-Civil War California society, recounts his work during the 1873 Modoc Indian war and his trial for the murder of his wife's lover. National Book Critics Circle Award. 2003. RC 63264 ## The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution RC 63302 by Richard Dawkins read by Lou Harpenau 5 cassettes Patterned after Chaucer's tales, Dawkins's chronicle of human evolution describes ancestor "pilgrims" in Earth's four-billion-year continuum of organic life. Journeying backward in time and meeting at specified rendezvous points are Neanderthals, marsupials, amphibians, fungi, and dozens more. Covers genetics, heredity, sexual selection, biochemistry, and evolutionary theory and research. 2004. RC 63302 ## Uphill Both Ways RC 63610 by Seth C. Macon read by Robert Sams 3 cassettes North Carolina businessman Seth Craven Macon (born 1919) reminisces about his life, from his Depression-era boyhood to his successful forty-four-year career in insurance. Recalls his marriage to his college sweetheart, service in World War II, and religious devotion. Describes overcoming hardships and the joys of family love. 2005. RC 63610 ## ### 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 That Summer RC 59017 by Joan Wolf read by Mary Beth Wise 2 cassettes Veterinarian Anne Foster, home for her father's funeral, reunites with her childhood crush, Liam, a thoroughbred farm manager. Anne hopes for love despite a decade-old crime, recently unearthed, of which Liam is still suspected. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003. RC 59017 ## The Complete Stories of Truman Capote RC 59446 by Truman Capote read by Gary Roan 2 cassettes Short fiction written between 1943 and 1982 by the author of In Cold Blood (RC 22726) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (RC 58223). Includes the early classics "A Tree of Night" and "House of Flowers" as well as the later "Mojave." Introduction by novelist Reynolds Price. 2004. RC 59446 ## The House by the Medlar Tree RC 60511 by Giovanni Verga read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Italian classic by a student of Balzac, Flaubert, and Zola portrays the Malavoglia family, community, and house, which symbolizes tradition and unity. Grandfather buys cargo on credit, setting off a chain of catastrophic deaths and property losses, while the grandson pursues a journey of alienation. 1881. RC 60511 ## The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm RC 60897 edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling read by Nicola Daval 3 cassettes Anthology of short stories by fantasy writers including Delia Sherman, Holly Black, and Neil Gaiman. In "Screaming for Faeries" a girl reluctantly accepts the faeries' advice to communicate truthfully with her boyfriend. In "Elvenbrood" a teenager seeks an explanation for his odd new home. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2004. RC 60897 ## In a Lonely Place RC 60948 by Dorothy B. Hughes read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Classic mystery views life through the eyes of a serial murderer who preys on young women in post-World War II Los Angeles. Veteran Dix Steele falls for sexy neighbor Laurel Gray while on his killing spree. Basis for the 1950 Humphrey Bogart film noir. Some strong language. 1947. RC 60948 ## Magic Street RC 61713 by Orson Scott Card read by Bill Quinn 3 cassettes Los Angeles. Thirteen-year-old African American Mack Street slips through a secret house into Fairyland, where time and reality are skewed. Struggling to understand himself and his special powers, Mack engages in a battle between good and evil. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 61713 ## Rebels of Babylon: An Abel Jones Mystery, Book 6 RC 61860 by Owen Parry read by Nick Sullivan 3 cassettes During the Civil War, federal special agent Abel Jones journeys to occupied New Orleans to investigate the murder of wealthy abolitionist Susan Peabody. Jones races through the sinful city, surviving multiple attempts on his life with the help of Mr. Barnaby. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 61860 ## Acts of Faith RC 61893 by Philip Caputo read by John Horton 5 cassettes American Douglas Braithwaite, a former mercenary, starts a charter airline in Africa with partner Wesley Dare. Braithwaite and his multiracial operations manager, Fitzhugh Martin, become involved in gunrunning during the civil war in Sudan. Meanwhile, missionary Quinette Hardin marries a rebel commander. Violence and strong language. 2005. RC 61893 ## The Best American Short Stories, 2005: Selected from U.S. and Canadian Magazines RC 62003 selected by Michael Chabon read by Ken Kliban 4 cassettes Twenty stories from the New Yorker and other periodicals. In Tom Perrotta's "The Smile on Happy Chang's Face" a Little League umpire copes with regret in life and indecision on the field. Includes works by Joyce Carol Oates, Charles D'Ambrosio, and others. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 62003 ## Code Name: Princess RC 62027 by Christina Skye read by Barbara Caruso 2 cassettes Undercover hotel investigator Jess Mulcahey bribes an employee so she can move to a room occupied by Navy SEAL Hawk Mackenzie. Jess and Hawk attempt to recover a kidnapped koala bear, Princess. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004. RC 62027 ## The Avenging Chance and Other Mysteries from Roger Sheringham's Casebook RC 62057 by Anthony Berkeley read by George Holmes 2 cassettes Nine short stories by Anthony Berkeley, pen name of Anthony Berkeley Cox (1893-1971), a founder of London's Detection Club during the golden age of mystery writing. Includes the classic "The Avenging Chance," in which clues to a murder lead amateur criminologist Roger Sheringham and Scotland Yard to multiple possibilities. 2004. RC 62057 ## The Legacy: A Joseph Antonelli Novel RC 62069 by D.W. Buffa read by John Haag 3 cassettes San Francisco. Police accuse African American premed student Jamaal Washington of killing U.S. senator and presidential hopeful Jeremy Fullerton. Portland, Oregon, defense attorney Joseph Antonelli flies in to defend Jamaal and pursues rumors that Jeremy was linked to the Russian KGB. Some violence and some strong language. 2002. RC 62069 ## Somewhere in Time RC 62109 by Richard Matheson read by Jonathan Davis 2 cassettes California, 1971. Richard Collier, a young writer with a brain tumor, becomes obsessed with nineteenth-century actress Elise McKenna and travels back in time to woo her. Originally published as Bid Time Return. Basis for the film starring Christopher Reeve. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1980. RC 62109 ## Dunkirk Crescendo: Zion Covenant, Volume 9 RC 62122 by Bodie Thoene and Brock Thoene read by Catherine Byers 3 cassettes 1940. Associated Press journalist Josie Marlow undertakes a dangerous mission that could save the lives of many children. And her friend French colonel Andre Chardon receives a coded message that no one believes. Sequel to Paris Encore (RC 61934). 1994. RC 62122 ## Fifty Degrees Below RC 62127 by Kim Stanley Robinson read by Catherine Byers 4 cassettes Fresh water from the melting polar ice cap has stalled the Gulf Stream, threatening to trigger another ice age. National Science Foundation socio-biologist Frank Vanderwal races to prevent an ecological catastrophe. Sequel to Forty Signs of Rain (RC 61935). Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2005. RC 62127 ## Son of a Wanted Man RC 62134 by Louis L'Amour read by Richard Davidson 2 cassettes (Reissue) Ben Curry wants to turn over his outlaw kingdom to his adopted son, Mike Bastian. As treachery emerges among Ben's riders, a pair of lawmen-Borden Chantry and Tyrel Sackett- close in on the gang, and Mike must choose between his loyalty to Ben and his yearning for a different life. 1984. RC 62134 ## Transgressions RC 62174 edited by Ed McBain read by Annie Wauters 6 cassettes Ten novellas of mystery and suspense by bestselling authors Donald E. Westlake, Anne Perry, Joyce Carol Oates, Walter Mosley, Sharyn McCrumb, Ed McBain, Stephen King, John Farris, Jeffery Deaver, and Lawrence Block. Some strong language. 2005. RC 62174 ## Dead Soul: A Charlie Moon Mystery RC 62196 by James D. Doss read by Gregory Gorton 3 cassettes Ute elder Oscar Sweetwater asks former policeman Charlie Moon to investigate the unsolved murder of fellow tribesman Billy Smoke, killed during an attack that left Billy's boss, Colorado senator Patch Davidson, severely injured. Meanwhile, Charlie's shaman aunt encounters a young woman in trouble and urges Charlie to help her. 2003. RC 62196 ## The Light of Western Stars: A Romance RC 62310 by Zane Grey read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes New York socialite Madeline Hammond's western adventures begin with her late night arrival at the train station in El Cajon, New Mexico, where a drunken cowboy tries to marry her. Frontier life and cattlemen appeal to her more than effete Easterners, so she buys a ranch. 1914. RC 62310 ## Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt: A Midnight Louie Mystery RC 62323 by Carole Nelson Douglas read by J.P. Linton 3 cassettes Las Vegas. Midnight Louie, cat detective, and his human owner Temple Barr investigate the murder of a small-time con artist who was Matt Devine's evil stepfather. Matt's rival, magician Max Kinsella, also joins the search, while Midnight Louie becomes infatuated with a feline performer. 1998. RC 62323 ## Ambush of the Mountain Man RC 62343 by William W. Johnstone read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes Colorado. Vowing revenge for his son's death, Angus MacDougal sends out a posse to apprehend gunslinger Smoke Jensen. Angus's daughter Sarah eager to avenge her brother, lures Smoke into a trap. Once Sarah learns that Smoke isn't a cold-blooded killer, she helps him escape. Violence and some strong language. 2003. RC 62343 ## Justice of the Mountain Man RC 62344 by William W. Johnstone read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes Gunfighter Smoke Jensen heads to Fort Worth, Texas, to negotiate a cattle deal. While Smoke argues with outlaw James Slade, a.k.a. the Durango Kid, outside a saloon, someone shoots the Kid. Marshal Bill Tilghman arrests Smoke but Smoke escapes to track the real killer. Violence and some strong language. 2000. RC 62344 ## Pride of the Mountain Man RC 62346 by William W. Johnstone read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes Gunslinger Smoke Jensen and his hands Cal and Pearlie drive a herd of steers to Dodge City, Kansas, hoping to sell them to eastern cattle buyers. When bandit "Bloody Bill" Anderson robs the town's two banks, Smoke helps marshal Wyatt Earp recover the money. Violence and some strong language. 1998. RC 62346 ## Vineyard Prey: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery RC 62353 by Philip R. Craig read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Retired cop J.W. Jackson and his family are spending a quiet winter on Martha's Vineyard when former Vietnam War buddy Joe Begay seeks help. An unknown terrorist called the Easter Bunny is killing members of Joe's government undercover team that includes Kate MacLeod. J.W.'s family becomes vulnerable. 2005. RC 62353 ## Watchdog: A Melanie Travis Mystery RC 62362 by Laurien Berenson read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Sleuthy single mom Melanie Travis wants nothing to do with her brother Frank's latest money-making scheme to convert an old store into a coffee bar. When Frank's partner, wealthy developer Marcus Rattigan, turns up dead, Melanie draws on her dog show connections to clear Frank's name. Some strong language. 1998. RC 62362 ## A Detective in Love: A Harriet Martens Mystery RC 62369 by H.R.F. Keating read by Corrie James 2 cassettes Detective Superintendent Harriet Martens a.k.a., the "Hard Detective," investigates the fatal stabbing of nine- teen-year-old tennis star Bubbles Xingara. While tracking suspects including a French gangster, Harriet falls for a subordinate officer and considers an affair that could jeopardize the case-and her marriage. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001. RC 62369 ## 'Salem's Lot RC 62402 by Stephen King read by Steven Carpenter 4 cassettes Updated edition of King's 1975 novel about Jerusalem's Lot, a small Maine town where the residents turn into vampires. Features previously unpublished material including deleted and alternate scenes, two short stories, and an introduction by the author. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 62402 ## Chasing Destiny RC 62450 by Eric Jerome Dickey read by Melissa Maxwell 3 cassettes Pregnant Billie's lover Keith returns to his wife Carmen for the sake of his fifteen-year-old daughter, Destiny. But Destiny rebels, falls in with the wrong crowd, and is raped. Ashamed, Destiny runs away while the three adults search for her. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62450 ## Vanished RC 62482 by Karen Robards read by Gabra Zackman 3 cassettes South Carolina. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Mason rescues nine- year-old Angie during a convenience-store robbery. Later Sarah receives disturbing phone calls about her daughter, Lexie, who vanished seven years ago. While PI Jake Hogan races to find connections-and Lexie- Angie disappears. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. RC 62482 ## Cold Case: A Carlotta Carlyle Mystery RC 62503 by Linda Barnes read by Madelyn Buzzard 3 cassettes Adam Mayhew hires Boston cop-turned-private investigator Carlotta Carlyle to find out whether teen prodigy Thea Janis, who presumably committed suicide twenty-four years ago, could have written a new manuscript. While researching Thea's disappearance, Carlotta uncovers Adam's true identity and the dark secrets of Thea's prominent family. Some strong language. 1997. RC 62503 ## Suite Française RC 62505 by Irène Némirovsky read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes When the Germans invade France in 1940, Parisians flee to the countryside amid chaos. The following year, the Nazis occupy a provincial village, where a woman-who is hiding another villager wanted for the murder of an enemy soldier-falls in love with a German officer. Published posthumously in 2006. Bestseller. 1942. RC 62505 ## The Lone Star Ranger RC 62538 by Zane Grey read by L.J. Ganser 2 cassettes (Reissue) Buck Duane becomes a fugitive after killing a man in self-defense. Texas Ranger Captain MacNelly, skeptical of Buck's criminal reputation, offers him a pardon. In exchange, Buck must join the Rangers and go undercover to help eliminate outlaw bands along the Rio Grande- beginning with the notorious rustler Cheseldine. 1915. RC 62538 ## Black and White RC 62540 by Paul Volponi read by Bill Quinn 1 cassette Long Island. Black Marcus Brown and white Eddie Russo, best friends and high school basketball stars, stick up people for easy money. When a holdup leads to an accidental shooting, the two find unequal justice in a biased system. Strong language and some violence. For senior high readers. 2005. RC 62540 ## Sapphire RC 62542 by Rosemary Rogers read by Yolande Bavan 3 cassettes 1830s. West Indian beauty Sapphire Fabergine arrives in London to claim her inheritance as the earl of Wessex's daughter. But the earl's title has passed to distant cousin Blake Thixton. Blake whisks Sapphire to America and offers a choice-become his mistress or his maid. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 62542 ## Death Is Forever RC 62548 by Elizabeth Lowell read by Gabra Zackman 3 cassettes Erin Windsor inherits an Australian diamond mine with cryptic clues to the claim's location. To find it, Erin must trust ex-marine Cole Blackburn, a prospector hired by her CIA father, and another more sinister party. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1992. RC 62548 ## The Phantom Bandit: Western Stories RC 62549 by Frank Bonham read by Richard Davidson 2 cassettes Eight short tales published in the 1940s and 1950s. In "Wanted!" a former army officer convicted of embezzling escapes custody and pursues the real culprit. Also includes "Hell in Dakota" and the title piece, a fictionalized account of safe-robber and would-be poet Black Bart. Foreword by Bill Pronzini. 2005. RC 62549 ## The Witch's Tongue: A Charlie Moon Mystery RC 62561 by James D. Doss read by Gregory Gorton 3 cassettes Ute tribal policeman Charlie Moon investigates a break-in at a local museum, the wounding of an antiques merchant, and the murder of an Apache. He also becomes interested in FBI agent Lila Mae McTeague, who arrives to assist him. Violence and some strong language. 2004. RC 62561 ## Nothing but Trouble: A Kevin Kerney Novel RC 62562 by Michael McGarrity read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes His retirement pending, Santa Fe police chief Kevin Kerney takes a working vacation to serve as technical advisor for a western movie. He also helps U.S. Customs agents investigate immigrant smuggling and cares for his three-year-old son while his career-army wife, Sara, travels overseas on special assignment. Strong language. 2005. RC 62562 ## Comanche Crossing: The Trailsman RC 62565 by Jon Sharpe read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Texas, 1860. Frontiersman Skye Fargo rescues three beautiful French nuns from Mexican federales and Moroccan Arabs. Skye agrees to escort them to Cowtown, but when Comanche warriors join the pursuit he begins to doubt the women's true mission. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1990. RC 62565 ## Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea RC 62567 by Nancy Atherton read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes England. Lori Shepherd's attorney husband, Bill, receives death threats, presumably from a vengeful former client. While Bill stays in London to help Scotland Yard, Lori and her twin sons seek refuge at a remote Scottish island estate, where she relies on Aunt Dimity's supernatural help to investigate mysterious occurrences. 2006. RC 62567 ## Regeneration: Species Imperative, Book 3 RC 62570 by Julie E. Czerneda read by Mary Kane 4 cassettes Biologist Mackenzie "Mac" Connor believes the alien Ro are using the extraterrestrial Dhryn race to eradicate life throughout the universe. Mac travels offworld to prove the Ro are the true enemy while her colleague Emily Mamani searches for legendary survivors of the interstellar assault. Sequel to Migration (RC 61083). 2006. RC 62570 ## Wedding Ring: Shenandoah Album, Book 1 RC 62580 by Emilie Richards read by Lindsay Ellison 3 cassettes High school English teacher Tessa MacRae helps her mother and grandmother clean out the family homestead in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. While restoring a tattered heirloom wedding ring quilt, Tessa mends generational bonds, contemplates her failing marriage, and confronts her grief over her daughter's death. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 62580 ## Endless Chain: Shenandoah Album, Book 2 RC 62582 by Emilie Richards read by Lindsay Ellison 3 cassettes Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Minister Sam Kinkade hires Elisa Martinez as church sexton to help run a Hispanic outreach program. Though Sam is engaged and Elisa hides her true identity as a Guatemalan political refugee, they fall in love-jeopardizing Sam's career and their safety. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. RC 62582 ## The Island RC 62587 by Heather Graham read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes Florida. While camping on Calliope Key, Beth Anderson finds a skull that may be linked to some missing boaters. Her investigation draws warnings from diver Keith Henson and threats from a stalker who appears at a yacht- club party. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006. RC 62587 ## The Defense: A Joseph Antonelli Novel RC 62589 by D.W. Buffa read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Oregon. At Judge Leopold Rifkin's request, attorney Joseph Antonelli defends Johnny Morel, who is accused of raping his own stepdaughter. Johnny is acquitted, but years later is killed. His wife, Denise, is convicted for his murder and then found dead-in Rifkin's study. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1997. RC 62589 ## The Witness RC 62590 by Dee Henderson read by Don Feldheim 3 cassettes For years Amanda Griffin has been on the run from her dead bookie boyfriend's former client, Richard Wise. When Amanda's sisters Marie and Tracey-who think Amanda is dead- unexpectedly become millionaires, police chief Luke Granger fears for all three women's lives and races to find Amanda before Richard does. 2006. RC 62590 ## The Christmas Scrapbook: A Harmony Novel RC 62595 by Philip Gulley read by Derald Breneman 1 cassette Pastor Sam Gardner, determined to give his wife, Barbara, a special Christmas gift, enrolls in a scrap-booking class. Barbara becomes suspicious of his "men's meeting" every Wednesday night and fears he is either cheating on her or secretly getting medical treatment. Suddenly all of Harmony believes Sam is dying. 2005. RC 62595 ## Dead Watch RC 62600 by John Sandford read by Nick Sullivan 2 cassettes After someone murders Lincoln Bowe, a former Republican U.S. senator from Virginia, the White House asks operative Jake Winter to investigate. Lincoln's wife, Madison, suspects rival Democratic governor Arlo Goodman and his henchmen. Jake uncovers backroom political conspiracies as he falls for Madison. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62600 ## Cover Your Assets: A Tucker Sinclair Mystery RC 62612 by Patricia Smiley read by Lindsay Ellison 2 cassettes After her experiences in False Profits (RC 62129), financial consultant Tucker Sinclair operates her own firm from the beachfront bungalow she shares with her mother and dog. When her ex-boyfriend is murdered, Tucker reluctantly agrees to help Cissy, his accused wife and her former best friend. Some strong language. 2005. RC 62612 ## Holy Skirts RC 62616 by René Steinke read by Suzanne Toren 3 cassettes A fictional account of Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, who describes her many lovers as her career progresses from cabaret performing in 1904 Berlin to film acting with Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray in Greenwich Village. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. National Book Award finalist. 2005. RC 62616 ## Purity of Blood: The Adventures of Captain Alatriste, Book 2 RC 62618 by Arturo Pérez-Reverte read by John Horton 2 cassettes Madrid, 1623. A desperate father hires swordsman Diego Alatriste to rescue his daughter from a convent run by a lascivious priest threatening to expose the girl's Jewish heritage. When the mission fails and the Inquisition captures Qñigo, Alatriste's thirteen-year-old ward, Alatriste must save the boy from execution. Some violence. 1997. RC 62618 ## The Huntsman RC 62622 by Whitney Terrell read by Bill Quinn 3 cassettes Kansas City. When the body of white debutante Clarissa Sayers is fished from the Missouri River, police suspect her lover, African American ex- con Booker Short. A former army commander seeking to right a wrong helps expose the true killer. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2001. RC 62622 ## Last Call for Blackford Oakes: A Blackford Oakes Novel RC 62623 by William F. Buckley Jr. read by L.J. Ganser 2 cassettes U.S. president Ronald Reagan sends veteran CIA agent Blackford Oakes to Moscow to investigate a rumored assassination plot against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Oakes falls for Soviet urologist Ursina Chadinov and engages in a deadly struggle with British diplomat-turned- communist agent Kim Philby. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. RC 62623 ## The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther RC 62624 by Rebecca Kohn read by Suzanne Toren 2 cassettes Fictionalized portrait of biblical Esther, who, orphaned, goes to live with her cousin Mordechai, an official in the Persian Empire. Concealing her Jewish heritage, she becomes King Xerxes' concubine, then queen. When Xerxes decrees that Jews be slaughtered, Esther courageously intervenes. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2004. RC 62624 ## The Dream Life of Sukhanov RC 62629 by Olga Grushin read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes Russia, 1985. The wealthy family life and secure position of art critic Anatoly Pavlovich Sukhanov begin to unravel as bizarre events occur. Memories and dreams assail him, reminding him of the youthful artistic ambitions he gave up for the Soviet Party, as his hold on the present slips. 2005. RC 62629 ## It's Kind of a Funny Story RC 62633 by Ned Vizzini read by Jonathan Davis 2 cassettes A tongue-in-cheek account of what leads high-achieving New York teenager Craig Gilner to check himself into a psychiatric hospital and how he comes to terms with depression while staying in the adult ward. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. For senior high readers. 2006. RC 62633 ## The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime RC 62658 by Jasper Fforde read by Erik Sandvold 3 cassettes Detective Inspector Jack Spratt of the Reading Police Department Nursery Crime Division investigates the untimely demise of Humpty Dumpty-ex-con, womanizer, alcoholic, and philanthropist-found shattered to death. When the pieces add up to foul play, Jack and his partner, Mary Mary, sort through Humpty's secret, sordid past. Some strong language. 2005. RC 62658 ## Thieves of Mercy: A Novel of the Civil War at Sea RC 62659 by James L. Nelson read by David Hartley-Margolin 3 cassettes Mississippi River, 1862. Confederate naval lieutenant Samuel Bowater heads to Memphis to command the ironclad Tennessee-which, to his dismay, remains under construction. Meanwhile, his sweetheart Wendy Atkins attempts to escape Norfolk. Sequel to Glory in the Name (RC 61521). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005. RC 62659 ## The Hard Way: A Jack Reacher Novel RC 62686 by Lee Child read by Ted Stoddard 3 cassettes Former military cop Jack Reacher is hired by mercenary Edward Lane to find his kidnapped wife and stepdaughter. Reacher hooks up with ex-FBI agent Lauren Pauling, who investigated Lane's first wife's disappearance. Together they uncover the truth about Lane's past and his family's whereabouts. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62686 ## A Burnt-Out Case RC 62690 by Graham Greene read by David Cutler 2 cassettes Colonial-era Belgian Congo. Querry, a European architect with a lurid background, retires to an African leper colony run by clergy and an atheist doctor. He develops a saintly reputation by using his expertise to improve facilities until the arrival of an unscrupulous journalist threatens to expose his past. 1960. RC 62690 ## Any Rich Man Will Do RC 62691 by Francis Ray read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Divorced and disgraced, Jana Franklin wanders into Olivia Sanders's Dallas boutique. Olivia offers Jana a job and a home against her brother Tyler's advice. Jana eventually wins Tyler's trust-and love-by confronting past mistakes. Companion to Like the First Time (RC 62376). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005. RC 62691 ## The Ruins of California RC 62694 by Martha Sherrill read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes 1970s. Inez Garcia Ruin divides her childhood between her mother's second generation Hispanic world in L.A. and her bohemian father's society circles in San Francisco. In this permissive lifestyle, Inez and her half-brother grow up too fast, until Inez chooses to change. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62694 ## The Wrong Hostage RC 62704 by Elizabeth Lowell read by Annie Wauters 3 cassettes Federal judge Grace Silva's fifteen-year-old son, Lane, is kidnapped in Mexico by drug kingpin Hector Osuna. Apparently Grace's ex-husband, Ted Franklin-whereabouts unknown-owes Hector money. Grace contacts onetime lover Joe Faroe, a former DEA agent, for help. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62704 ## Water for Elephants RC 62718 by Sara Gruen read by Nick Sullivan 3 cassettes 1931. Veterinary student Jacob Jankowski's world comes crashing down when his parents die in a car accident. Broke, Jacob joins the circus, falls for Marlena, a married circus star, and cares for animals like Rosie the elephant. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62718 ## Piece of My Heart: An Inspector Alan Banks Mystery RC 62719 by Peter Robinson read by Graeme Malcolm 3 cassettes An English rock band, the Mad Hatters, is the link between two murders committed decades apart. In 2005, Detective Alan Banks investigates the death of a music journalist researching the group. In 1969, Detective Stanley Chadwick investigates a killing at a music festival featuring the band. Some strong language. 2006. RC 62719 ## The Man from Stone Creek RC 62721 by Linda Lael Miller read by L.J. Ganser 2 cassettes 1903. Ranger Sam O'Ballivan has come to Haven, Arizona, to catch a band of rustlers. Posing as the new schoolteacher, he will have a bunch of unruly kids to put in order, including the brother of the charming postmistress, Maddie Chancelor. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2006. RC 62721 ## The Building of Jalna: Whiteoak Chronicles, Book 1 RC 62723 by Mazo de la Roche read by Terry Donnelly 3 cassettes (Reissue) 1850s. Philip Whiteoak, an English army officer stationed in India, yearns for the freedom of the New World. He and his Irish wife, Adeline, and infant daughter, Augusta, emigrate to Canada where, after an eventful voyage, they construct a homestead in the Ontario wilderness, calling it Jalna. 1944. RC 62723 ## I Know I've Been Changed RC 62724 by ReShonda Tate Billingsley read by Melissa Maxwell 2 cassettes Houston news anchor and talk-show host Rae Rollins is enjoying her hard-earned success and new husband, city councilman Myles Jacobs, when her dysfunctional Arkansas family arrives in town for a reunion. Reluctant to confront painful memories, Rae avoids relatives until Myles's unexpected betrayal prompts reconciliation with them. 2006. RC 62724 ## The Bluebird and the Sparrow: Women of the West RC 62727 by Janette Oke read by Barbara Caruso 2 cassettes When Berta Berdette's baby sister Glenna arrives, Berta's entire world is upset. As the girls grow into young women, Berta resents the lovely Glenna and vows to be her complete opposite. Berta drives a wedge between herself, her family, and her God until a family tragedy changes her attitude. 1995. RC 62727 ## A Bit on the Side RC 62728 by William Trevor read by Terry Donnelly 2 cassettes Twelve short stories by an Irish writer that deal with personal struggles. In the title piece a married man ends an affair to maintain his lover's reputation. In "Sitting with the Dead" two sisters who do charity work listen to a widow lament her marriage to a nasty husband. 2004. RC 62728 ## Through a Glass, Darkly: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery RC 62738 by Donna Leon read by Peter Ganim 2 cassettes Venetian detective Guido Brunetti investigates threats being made at a Murano Island glass factory. Soon after, the factory's night watchman Giorgio Tassini-who blamed the factory's toxic chemicals for his daughter's birth defects-is found dead. Tassini's annotated copy of Dante's Inferno may hold clues to his demise. 2006. RC 62738 ## Rachel's Holiday RC 62739 by Marian Keyes read by Patricia Kilgarriff 4 cassettes Twenty-seven-year-old drug addict Rachel Walsh is in denial. She returns home to Ireland and checks into an upscale treatment center. Through self-examination and group therapy Rachel confronts her addiction and memories of her ex-boyfriend, beginning the road to recovery-and perhaps new love. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 1998. RC 62739 ## Greatest Indian Stories RC 62740 by Zane Grey read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Four tales, "Siena Waits," "The Haunted Spring," "Daughter of the Moon," and "Nophaie's Redemption," that speak out for Native Americans. They range historically from pre-Columbian North America to World War I. Includes the frontier story about the legendary Indian hunter Lewis Wetzel, called the Wind of Death. 1975. RC 62740 ## Inspector Queen's Own Case: November Song; an Inner Sanctum Mystery RC 62747 by Ellery Queen read by Jeremy Gage 2 cassettes (Reissue) Vacationing at a Connecticut beach house, retired NYPD inspector Richard Queen investigates the attempted kidnapping of the wealthy Humffrey family's infant son Michael, whom they adopted under dubious circumstances. The Humffrey's nursemaid, Jessie Sherwood, later discovers Michael dead. Richard tracks the killer while protecting Jessie-a potential romantic interest. 1956. RC 62747 ## We Are All Welcome Here RC 62748 by Elizabeth Berg read by Gail Nelson 2 cassettes Tupelo, Mississippi; 1964. Thirteen-year-old Diana, raised by her quadriplegic mother and their African American caregiver Peacie, yearns for freedom. Life changes for all three that summer when a social worker investigates and Peacie's boyfriend becomes involved in civil rights. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62748 ## Shades of Gray RC 62754 by Jacquelin Thomas read by Gail Nelson 2 cassettes African American Sela Barnes loses her Caucasian husband of twenty years to illness. Her relationship with his parents deteriorates as they try to gain custody of Sela's six children. Sela renews her faith in God and with the help of her pastor finds the strength to forgive. 2006. RC 62754 ## Morning at Jalna: Whiteoak Chronicles, Book 2 RC 62755 by Mazo de la Roche read by Terry Donnelly 2 cassettes (Reissue) South Carolina planter Curtis Sinclair, his wife Lucy, and their slaves seek refuge from the Civil War at Jalna, the Canadian home of Philip and Adeline Whiteoak. But the Whiteoaks don't know that their guests are secretly members of a Confederate resistance movement looking to further the Southern cause. 1960. RC 62755 ## The Taming of the Duke: Essex Sisters, Book 3 RC 62757 by Eloisa James read by Patricia Kilgarriff 2 cassettes England, 1817. Imogen, the widowed Lady Maitland, returns to the country estate of her former guardian Rafe, the duke of Holbrook. She fancies having an affair with the duke's illegitimate half-brother Gabe, but is distracted by helping Rafe become sober. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 62757 ## Between, Georgia RC 62771 by Joshilyn Jackson read by Joshilyn Jackson 2 cassettes Sign-language interpreter Nonny was born to a teenaged Crabtree girl but raised by a deaf/blind Frett woman in a small Georgia town. A family feud brings Nonny home, where she makes peace with her family and changes her lifestyle. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. RC 62771 ## Cover of Night RC 62774 by Linda Howard read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes Gunmen raid widow Cate Nightingale's Idaho bed-and-breakfast seeking a guest who mysteriously vanished. Ex-marine handyman Calvin Harris repels the invaders, but they return and take the whole town hostage. Cate, Cal, and Cal's former comrades plan a rescue operation. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62774 ## Murder at the Nightwood Bar: A Kate Delafield Mystery RC 62777 by Katherine V. Forrest read by Lindsay Ellison 2 cassettes Los Angeles police detective Kate Delafield investigates the killing of nineteen-year-old Dory Quillin outside the Nightwood Bar, a lesbian hangout. Seeking answers, Kate interviews potential witnesses like enigmatic bar patron Andrea Ross, for whom she develops a powerful attraction. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1987. RC 62777 ## Bloodstone RC 62812 by Nate Kenyon read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Compelled by nightmares, ex-con Billy Smith kidnaps Angel, a prostitute with similar visions, and heads to White Falls, Maine-a town beset by a shadowy terror. A murderer's son obtains an amulet that could hold the key to the evil. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. RC 62812 ## Just Rewards: Emma Harte Saga, Book 6 RC 62813 by Barbara Taylor Bradford read by Jill Ferris 3 cassettes Four of Emma Harte's great grandchildren carry on the family traditions. Linnet, just married, begins taking the helm of the Harte empire, while Tessa, India, and Evan plan their weddings. Into their midst comes the Hartes' archenemy Jonathan Ainsley. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. RC 62813 ## The Little Lady Agency RC 62840 by Hester Browne read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Twenty-seven-year-old Londoner Melissa Romney-Jones opens Little Lady Agency, a consulting firm dedicated to helping bachelors navigate their personal and social lives. Melissa dons a wig and assumes the professional identity of "Honey," but when sparks fly with American client Jonathan Riley, Melissa wonders whether he loves her or Honey. 2005. RC 62840 ## Without Mercy: Sean Dillon Series RC 62860 by Jack Higgins read by David Hartley-Margolin 2 cassettes Following the death of Russian oil czar Josef Belov in Dark Justice (RC 58861), British agents Sean Dillon and Charles Ferguson are shocked when wounded colleague Hannah Bernstein is murdered. They vow revenge and complete the mission of keeping the world's oil out of Russian hands. Some violence. 2005. RC 62860 ## Nail Biter: A Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery RC 62862 by Sarah Graves read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Eastport, Maine. Do-it-yourself enthusiast Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree, a former Manhattan finance expert, answers a tenant repair call and discovers the corpse of local derelict Eugene Dibble on her waterfront bungalow property. The renters, a coven of witches, deny involvement but turn to Jake when one of their own disappears. 2006. RC 62862 ## Witches Abroad: A Discworld Novel RC 62864 by Terry Pratchett read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Fairy godmother Desiderata dies, leaving her charge in the hands of manipulative Lilith, who is determined to marry the girl to a prince. Reluctant witch foster godmothers Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick must stop Lilith before her "happy ending" destroys the kingdom. For senior high and older readers. 1991. RC 62864 ## Twelve Sharp: A Stephanie Plum Novel RC 62872 by Janet Evanovich read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes New Jersey. A woman claiming to be a bond enforcement agent's wife stalks bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. When someone kills the stalker, Stephanie helps the agent, known as Ranger, to locate his kidnapped daughter-and finds herself attracted to him. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62872 ## Danse Macabre: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter RC 62873 by Laurell K. Hamilton read by Victoria Gordon 4 cassettes Federal marshal and vampire executioner Anita Blake fears she may be pregnant. Anita continues her amorous escapades while trying to figure out which of her several preternatural lovers could be the father-among them werewolf Richard and master vampire Jean-Claude. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62873 ## The Seduction of His Wife: The Loggers, Book 1 RC 62874 by Janet Chapman read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes In Maine, Alex Knight's father turns to his housekeeper Sarah Banks for help after Alex is presumed murdered in Brazil. Sarah marries Alex by proxy in order to adopt his children, but then Alex returns and complications arise. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006. RC 62874 ## The Englisher: Annie's People, Book 2 RC 62875 by Beverly Lewis read by Mary Kane 2 cassettes Annie, from The Preacher's Daughter (RC 62283), promised her father she would give up her forbidden art for six months and join the Amish church, but she falls in love with outsider Ben Martin. Meanwhile, Annie's pen pal Louisa decides to go home, and an Amish mother chooses excommunication. 2006. RC 62875 ## Cat in a Quicksilver Caper: A Midnight Louie Mystery RC 62883 by Carole Nelson Douglas read by Faith Potts 3 cassettes Las Vegas's New Millennium Hotel hires Temple Barr to handle public relations for an exhibition of Russian artifacts including Czar Alexander's scepter. When two acrobats die during an accompanying aerial magic show and the scepter vanishes, feline sleuth Midnight Louie identifies possible suspects, one intimately close to Temple. 2006. RC 62883 ## Specials RC 62890 by Scott Westerfeld read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Fifteen-year-old Tally, from Pretties (RC 62180), her boyfriend Zane, and their boss Shay have been reconstructed into super-strong paramilitary "specials." When they are sent to capture rebels who want to return to an unaltered state of mind, part of Tally wants to resist her programming. For senior high readers. 2006. RC 62890 ## Angels Fall RC 62893 by Nora Roberts read by Margaret Strom 4 cassettes Traumatized by a shooting in Boston, Reece Gilmore flees across the country. She stops in Angel's Fist, Wyoming, and takes a job as a fast- order cook. When she witnesses a murder, only reporter-turned-author Brody believes her. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62893 ## One False Move: A Myron Bolitar Mystery RC 62894 by Harlan Coben read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes Sports agent Myron Bolitar's first duty for his new client, African American pro basketball player Brenda Slaughter, is to find her missing father. While trying to protect Brenda, Myron uncovers connections to the mob and a decades-old scandal involving gubernatorial candidate Arthur Bradford. Strong language and some violence. 1998. RC 62894 ## A Hole in Juan: An Amanda Pepper Mystery RC 62895 by Gillian Roberts read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes Halloween pranks at Philly Prep turn sinister when science teacher Juan Reyes is seriously injured in a chemistry lab explosion shortly after complaining of being harassed by his students. To find the culprit, English teacher Amanda Pepper enlists the aid of her new PI husband, C.K. Mackenzie. 2006. RC 62895 ## Dead in Vineyard Sand: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery RC 62896 by Philip R. Craig read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Ex-cop J.W. Jackson and his golfing buddies discover a corpse in a fourth-hole sand trap. It's the body of Henry Highsmith, a pro cyclist and environmentalist with whom J.W. has feuded. Accused of murder, J.W. investigates Henry's enemies and relatives as well as an island drowning. Includes recipes. 2006. RC 62896 ## Black Order: A Sigma Force Novel RC 62904 by James Rollins read by Richard Davidson 3 cassettes Painter Crowe and Grayson Pierce of Sigma Force investigate strange, simultaneous occurrences-a plague in Nepal, a killer beast preying in South Africa, and the purchase of Darwin's Bible in Denmark. They uncover a Nazi experiment involving evolution, quantum physics, and a lost baby. Violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62904 ## Under Pressure RC 62914 by Frank Herbert read by John Horton 2 cassettes The United States secretly steals oil from underwater deposits in enemy territory. But the last twenty missions have all been lost, and command suspects a traitor. Ensign John Ramsey goes undercover aboard a four- man subtug to find the saboteur. Formerly titled The Dragon in the Sea. Some strong language. 1955. RC 62914 ## Death of a Dreamer: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery RC 62923 by M.C. Beaton read by Steven Crossley 2 cassettes Scottish Highlands constable Hamish Macbeth investigates the suicide of artist Effie Garrard. Effie claimed to be engaged to painter Jock Fleming, who denies their relationship and involvement in her death. When an American tourist is murdered, Hamish tracks the killer but becomes distracted by personal affairs-including his ex-fiancée's arrival. 2006. RC 62923 ## Terror Town: An Abe Lieberman Mystery RC 62943 by Stuart M. Kaminsky read by Richard Davidson 2 cassettes Jewish detective Abe Lieberman connects three diverse cases: extortion committed by a religious maniac, the beating of a former Cubs player, and the murder of a young mother in the south Chicago neighborhood called Terror Town. Meanwhile, someone stalks the family of Abe's partner. Strong language and some violence. 2006. RC 62943 ## At Risk RC 62949 by Patricia Cornwell read by Margaret Strom 1 cassette Massachusetts district attorney Monique Lamont sends state police investigator Winston Garano to Knoxville, Tennessee, to learn the latest in crime scene investigation. He's also ordered to solve a twenty-year-old murder that took place there. But another crime occurs back in Cambridge. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 62949 ## Dark Voyage of the Mittie Stephens: A Western Story RC 63016 by Johnny D. Boggs read by Ted Stoddard 2 cassettes Post-Civil War Louisiana. Professional gambler Bobby Randow, suffering from transient amnesia, meets belle-on-the-run Laura Kelley aboard the Mittie Stephens bound for Jefferson, Texas. Unbeknownst to most passengers, the ship carries ex-confederate thieves from Bobby's past, who seek the vessel's concealed gold payroll, and enforcement officers in pursuit of Laura. 2004. RC 63016 ## The Work of Wolves RC 63021 by Kent Meyers read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes South Dakota. Cruel landowner Magnus Yarborough hires Carson Fielding to train the Yarborough horses and teach his wife, Rebecca, to ride. But Magnus, suspecting infidelity, takes his anger out on Rebecca's horses. Carson and friends plot to free the animals by stealing them. Some violence and some strong language. 2004. RC 63021 ## Angels Watching Over Me: Shenandoah Sisters, Book 1 RC 63027 by Michael Phillips read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Shenandoah County, North Carolina; 1860s. When Confederate soldiers murder her family, fifteen-year-old slave Mayme Jukes seeks refuge at Rosewood plantation. She befriends the white owner's daughter Katie, orphaned by a similar attack. The girls vow to protect each other and Rosewood. Some violence. For senior high and older readers. 2003. RC 63027 ## The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes RC 63029 by Caleb Carr read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate two deaths at the royal palace in Edinburgh, once home to Mary, Queen of Scots. Holmes's brother, Mycroft, fears these killings are part of an assassination plot while Sherlock links them to the three-centuries-old murder of Mary's confidante, Italian secretary David Rizzio. 2005. RC 63029 ## Hit on the House: A Detective Sergeant Mulheisen Mystery RC 63060 by Jon A. Jackson read by Ray Foushee 2 cassettes Detective Sergeant Mulheisen investigates the slaying of several mobsters around Detroit. He discovers that millions of dollars in drug money are missing. He also runs into high school heartbreaker Bonny Wheeler, who's married to a computer geek with ties to the mob. Violence and strong language. 1993. RC 63060 ## Man with an Axe: A Detective Sergeant Mulheisen Mystery RC 63061 by Jon A. Jackson read by Ray Foushee 2 cassettes Detroit cop Fang Mulheisen finds the notebooks of his late partner Grootka. The story he reads leads him to investigate Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance as well as that of black jazz saxophonist Tyrone Addison, who helped Hoffa avoid an assassination attempt. Violence and strong language. 1998. RC 63061 ## Miss Julia Stands Her Ground RC 63070 by Ann B. Ross read by Mitzi Friedlander 2 cassettes Miss Julia is happily residing with her new spouse Sam, her late husband's son Little Lloyd, and his mother Hazel Marie. When Hazel Marie's busybody uncle Brother Vernon Puckett doubts Little Lloyd's paternity, Miss Julia sets about gathering DNA evidence to prove it. 2006. RC 63070 ## Beginning Operations: A Sector General Omnibus, Volume 1 RC 63073 by James White read by Jack Fox 4 cassettes Contains the first three volumes in the Sector General series written between 1957 and 1971: Hospital Station (comprising five stories), Star Surgeon (one novelette and one novella), and Major Operation (five novelettes). Follows young Dr. Conway's adventures as he treats alien patients aboard the galaxy's largest multienvironment, interplanetary hospital. 2001. RC 63073 ## Pet Peeve: Xanth RC 63074 by Piers Anthony read by Sharon Murray 2 cassettes While searching for an appropriate abode for an obnoxious bird (the Pet Peeve), Goody Goblin encounters a horde of robots invading Xanth. To repel the intruders, Goody rallies dragons, zombies, centaurs, demons, and elves, among others, and finds an unexpected ally, Gwenny Goblin. For senior high and older readers. 2005. RC 63074 ## Sleeping Lady: An Alaska Mystery RC 63075 by Sue Henry read by Gary Tipton 2 cassettes After the Alaskan spring thaw, Rochelle Lewis hurries to the site of her missing husband's small plane, where bullet holes and a woman's beaten corpse are discovered. State trooper Alex Jensen investigates the mishap while someone begins stalking Rochelle. Some violence and some strong language. 1996. RC 63075 ## Malpractice in Maggody: An Arly Hanks Mystery RC 63078 by Joan Hess read by Madelyn Buzzard 2 cassettes A California cosmetic surgeon transforms the Maggody, Arkansas, retirement home into a celebrity rehab clinic. When a receptionist and a doctor are found dead, police chief Arly Hanks questions eccentric patients, uncooperative staff members, and local citizens who may have something to hide. Some strong language. 2006. RC 63078 ## War Drums: The White Indian Series, Book 13 RC 63083 by Donald Clayton Porter read by Roy Avers 2 cassettes Seneca warrior Renno, descendant of the legendary White Indian, joins Captain Andrew Jackson against the Chickasaw and Spanish in a battle that could decide the fate of frontier America. Meanwhile Renno's wife Emily, after giving birth, finds the Indian lifestyle challenging. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1986. RC 63083 ## The Bartered Bride: Bride Trilogy, Book 3 RC 63084 by Mary Jo Putney read by Mitzi Friedlander 3 cassettes East Indies, 1834. When young widow Alexandra's ship is captured en route to England, Alexandra is condemned to a life of servitude. A rescue by Gavin Elliott changes both their lives. Sequel to The China Bride (RC 52269). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002. RC 63084 ## Ready or Not: An All-American Girl Novel RC 63085 by Meg Cabot read by Erin Jones 2 cassettes Now a high school junior, Samantha Madison tries to decide whether she is ready to have sex with her boyfriend, David, who happens to be the U.S. president's son. Sequel to All-American Girl (RC 55299). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. RC 63085 ## A Covington Christmas: Ladies of Covington RC 63087 by Joan Medlicott read by Mitzi Friedlander 2 cassettes The new pastor in Covington, North Carolina, discovers that his predecessor was never ordained-leaving five older couples' marriages in limbo. With the church building in need of repair, friends Grace, Hannah, and Amelia take charge and organize a joint wedding in time for the holidays. Includes recipes and discussion questions. 2005. RC 63087 ## Capitol Threat: A Ben Kincaid Mystery RC 63110 by William Bernhardt read by Stephen Hoye 3 cassettes Following Capitol Murder (RC 61327), Oklahoma attorney Ben Kincaid takes on another case in Washington, D.C. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007. RC 63110 ## The Prisoner of Guantánamo RC 63134 by Dan Fesperman read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Guantánamo, Cuba. FBI interrogator Revere Falk is gaining the confidence of Yemeni teenager Adnan al-Hamdi. After an American soldier is washed ashore on Cuban soil, Adnan is taken away by the CIA. Falk is caught in a cat-and-mouse game of espionage that exposes his own secret past. Strong language. 2006. RC 63134 ## Tattoo for a Slave RC 63138 by Hortense Calisher read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Fictional family history spanning two centuries. Author of Sunday Jews (RC 56942) portrays the eccentric interplay of a Jewish woman's gentlemanly Virginia father, German- immigrant mother, and array of relatives. She broods about the probability that ancestors owned slaves. Evokes the era of the father's late-nineteenth-century relocation to New York. 2004. RC 63138 ## Monkey Beach RC 63141 by Eden Robinson read by Gabriella Cavallero 2 cassettes The tragedy of losing her brother Jimmy at sea prompts memories of Lisa's childhood in British Columbia. She remembers haunting visions from the Haisla spirit world and the sorrow she felt at the deaths of her Native American activist uncle, her teenage boyfriend, and her tradition-loving grandmother. Some strong language. 2000. RC 63141 ## Sourcery: A Novel of Discworld RC 63143 by Terry Pratchett read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes As the eighth son of a wizard, young Coin is a sourcerer-a source of magic. Coin claims the title of Unseen University Archchancellor, the official leader of all wizards. The situation threatens to destroy Discworld and only honorary assistant librarian Rincewind can help. For senior high and older readers. 1988. RC 63143 ## Dead Wrong: A Joanna Brady Mystery RC 63146 by J.A. Jance read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Pregnant Cochise County, Arizona, sheriff Joanna Brady handles two tough cases. A border patrol officer finds the mutilated body of Brad Evans, an ex-con convicted of killing his wife, whose remains were never found. Also, an animal control officer is brutally beaten while on stakeout. Some strong language. 2006. RC 63146 ## Death of an Ordinary Man RC 63148 by Glen Duncan read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Recently deceased British teacher Nathan Clark rejoins the ongoing lives of his family as an omniscient observer. As he uncovers the circumstances of his passing, Nathan confronts his wife's affair and his daughter's violent death, intimately connected with his own. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2004. RC 63148 ## Dirty White Boys RC 63159 by Stephen Hunter read by Jim Zeiger 3 cassettes Lamar Pye breaks out of an Oklahoma prison with his retarded cousin Odell and artist Richard, pursued by highway patrolman Bud Pewtie. The convicts hide out on the farm of disturbed Ruta Beth Tull and raise havoc until they are cornered. Violence and strong language. 1994. RC 63159 ## Chéri and The Last of Chéri RC 63165 by Colette read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Two novels concerning a love affair between a successful but aging courtesan, Léa de Lonval, and her spoiled young lover called Chéri. The intensity of their feelings is revealed when Chéri marries eighteen- year-old Edmée. Originally published in 1920 and 1926; 2001 introduction by Judith Thurman. 1951. RC 63165 ## The Retreat RC 63166 by Patrick Rambaud read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes June 1812. The French army enters Russia expecting a quick victory but soon discovers a desolate and abandoned Moscow. With winter approaching, Napoleon orders his frozen and starving forces to retreat, suffering thousands of casualties. Sequel to The Battle (RC 56662). Violence. 2000. RC 63166 ## The New Woman: A Staggerford Novel RC 63168 by Jon Hassler read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Eighty-seven-year-old retired teacher Agatha McGee grudgingly moves into the Sunset Senior Apartments and becomes embroiled in intrigue. She searches for valuables mistakenly buried in a coffin and babysits a kidnapped five-year-old girl. Agatha also starts a mental health support group that swells to include many citizens of Staggerford, Minnesota. 2005. RC 63168 ## Talk Talk RC 63173 by T. Coraghessan Boyle read by Erik Sandvold 3 cassettes When thirty-three-year-old Dana Halter runs a stop sign, she's arrested for crimes committed by a man using her name. Dana's plight is complicated by her deafness. Then Dana and her boyfriend, Bridger, begin a cross-country manhunt for the identity thief. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. RC 63173 ## Man of War RC 63188 by Alexander Kent read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes 1817. Captain Adam Bolitho, the late Sir Richard Bolitho's nephew, joins Vice-Admiral Bethune's command as flag captain of the seventy- four-gun Athena. Bolitho voyages to the West Indies, encountering slave traders and a Portuguese renegade seeking Brazilian independence. Meanwhile, Bolitho's sweetheart awaits his return in England. Some descriptions of sex. 2003. RC 63188 ## Soul Music: A Novel of Discworld RC 63194 by Terry Pratchett read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes When Death goes missing, his sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Susan, reluctantly leaves school to run the family business. Meanwhile in Ankh-Morpork, aspiring musician Imp-unaware of his scheduled termination-finds some success with a magical guitar. Susan hears his music and decides, problematically, to spare him. For senior high and older readers. 1995. RC 63194 ## Ricochet RC 63205 by Sandra Brown read by Frank Coffee 3 cassettes Detectives Duncan Hatcher and DeeDee Bowen are determined to bring crime lord Robert Savich to justice, even though judge Cato Laird lets him go. They become suspicious of the judge after being called to Laird's home when his wife shoots an intruder. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2006. RC 63205 ## Smitten RC 63208 by Janet Evanovich read by Judith Ann Gantly 1 cassette Desperate for work (and the know-how to fix up her home), divorced single mother Lizabeth Kane applies to be a carpenter for builder Matt Hallahan. Though skeptical of Lizabeth's technical skills, Matt hires her and begins to fall for his new, albeit unlikely, employee. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1990. RC 63208 ## Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do RC 63215 by Pearl Cleage read by Melissa Maxwell 2 cassettes Just out of rehab and broke, Regina Burns leaves Washington, D.C., for Atlanta, where her late fiancé's mother, motivational speaker Beth Davis, offers her a consulting job. Regina becomes involved with community activist Blue Hamilton and uncovers Davis family secrets while struggling to regain control of her life. 2003. RC 63215 ## Aphrodite RC 63260 by Russell Andrews read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes While investigating a journalist's murder, Long Island detective Justin Westwood finds links to the victim's last story, an obituary of a little-known actor. Encountering lies, more homicides, and suspicious FBI agents, Westwood uncovers a secret fountain-of-youth project run by a sinister cabal. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2004. RC 63260 ## Fluke; or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings RC 63266 by Christopher Moore read by Erik Sandvold 3 cassettes While studying humpbacks off Maui's coast, biologist Nathan Quinn spots the words "bite me" on a whale's tail fluke. Afterwards, Nate's office is ransacked and his research destroyed. Nate and crew-including a flirtatious assistant, a stoned teenage surfer, and Nate's lesbian ex- wife-begin searching for clues above and below the ocean. Strong language. 2003. RC 63266 ## The Ecstatic; or, Homunculus RC 63269 by Victor LaValle read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Anthony, a twenty-three-year-old, 315-pound college dropout suffering from dementia, returns home to live with his dysfunctional family in Queens, New York. He experiences surreal adventures involving his housecleaning job, correspondence with a militant Japanese convict, and an unrelenting pack of vicious dogs. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002. RC 63269 ## The Mammoth Cheese RC 63272 by Sheri Holman read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Three Chimneys, Virginia, recently gained national attention for an eleven-infant multiple birth that ended sadly. Now in the limelight is Margaret Prickett, a near-bankrupt local cheesemaker. By sending a 1,235- pound cheese wheel to Washington, D.C., to support a pro-farm candidate the citizens regain their pride and unity. Strong language. 2003. RC 63272 ## The Proud and the Free RC 63274 by Howard Fast read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Elderly veteran Jamie Stuart relates his adventures as a twenty-two- year-old sergeant in the Continental Army's Pennsylvania Line during the revolt of 1781, when his brigade of European immigrants rose up against the officer gentry. Stuart also reflects on his love for Molly Bracken and the sobering realities of life and war. 1950. RC 63274 ## Swan RC 63275 by Frances Mayes read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Swan, Georgia; July 1975. Archaeologist Ginger Mason and her reclusive brother, J.J., reunite when their mother's body is mysteriously exhumed nearly twenty years after her apparent suicide. New investigations unearth long-buried family secrets as the siblings confront tragic childhood memories. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002. RC 63275 ## The Night Gardener RC 63285 by George Pelecanos read by Richard Davidson 3 cassettes A teenage boy's body is discovered in a community garden in Washington, D.C., recalling similar murders of twenty years ago. Retired detective T.C. Cook, disgraced ex-cop Dan "Doc" Holiday, and working detective Gus Ramone join forces to investigate. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2006. RC 63285 ## Twice Kissed RC 63296 by Lisa Jackson read by Anne Hancock 3 cassettes Maggie McCrae reluctantly agrees to help her ex-brother-in-law, rancher Thane Walker, search for her missing twin sister, Denver television personality Marquise. Maggie is suspicious of Thane, especially since they were once lovers, but she falls for him anyway. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 1998. RC 63296 ## First Impressions RC 63381 by Nora Roberts read by Victoria Gordon 2 cassettes Sharpsburg, Maryland. Wealthy Vance Banning retreats to the countryside for peace and quiet and anonymity while neighbor Shane Abbot transforms her grandmother's house into an antique shop. Vance resists his physical attraction to Shane and her cheerful optimism as long as he can. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1984. RC 63381 ## Blind Spot RC 63510 by Terri Persons read by Coleen Marlo 2 cassettes FBI agent Bernadette Saint Clare's unusual gift enables her to see a crime scene through the killer's eyes. On Bernadette's latest assignment in St. Paul, Minnesota, colleague Tony Garcia questions her skills while her neighbor offers a clue to a murder. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2007. RC 63510 ## No Safe Place RC 63511 by JoAnn Ross read by Susan Denaker 2 cassettes Chicago homicide detective Kate Delaney begins her own investigation into the death of her estranged sister in New Orleans after the local cops fail to pursue the truth. She enlists the help of a private investigator, ex-cop Nick Broussard. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007. RC 63511 ## I Heard That Song Before RC 63795 by Mary Higgins Clark read by Madelyn Buzzard 2 cassettes Twenty-eight-year-old Englewood, New Jersey, librarian Kay Lansing and wealthy businessman Peter Carrington fall in love and marry after Kay approaches him about a fundraiser. Later Peter is arrested for the murder of a teenaged neighbor that took place twenty-two years ago. Kay believes Peter is innocent and investigates. Bestseller. 2007. RC 63795 ## ### Books for Children These books were recently sent to cooperating libraries. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Cassettes Nonfiction Women of Adventure RC 57695 by Jacqueline McLean read by Peg Sylvester 1 cassette Profiles seven courageous women of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Includes Mary Kingsley, a Victorian woman who traveled alone in Africa; Alexandra David-Neel, who risked prison to explore remote regions of Tibet; and Marguerite Baker Harrison, a journalist turned spy, who went on missions to Germany and Russia. For grades 6-9. 2003. RC 57695 ## People with Mental Illness RC 57879 by Gail B. Stewart read by Carolyn Hecker 1 cassette Presents the personal stories of four people with different mental illnesses and discusses how they handle the daily demands of family, social life, and medical treatments. Describes the effects of their conditions on their families and friends. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003. RC 57879 ## You Must Be Joking! Lots of Cool Jokes RC 58214 compiled by Paul Brewer read by Russ Weinstein 1 cassette Not only a collection of over two hundred jokes and riddles but also tips on writing, memorizing, and telling them. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 58214 ## Magic Hoofbeats: Horse Tales from Many Lands RC 60393 retold by Josepha Sherman read by Nicola Daval 1 cassette Eight folktales about magical horses with special powers to help their riders triumph, gathered from North America, India, Russia, Iran, and Europe. Includes information about the different breeds of horses that live in these places. For grades 3-6. 2004. RC 60393 ## George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides RC 60394 by Rosalyn Schanzer read by Laura Giannarelli 1 cassette Explores the character and beliefs of King George III of Great Britain and George Washington, commander-in-chief of the colonial army. Discusses the reasons they went to war and why there are no kings of the United States. For grades 4-7. 2004. RC 60394 ## Endangered Plants RC 60941 by D.M. Souza read by Gary Roan 1 cassette Discusses the role of plants in the ecosystem and the importance of their survival. Describes species threatened with extinction in the United States and outlines efforts to protect them. For grades 5-8. 2003. RC 60941 ## Why Are People Refugees? RC 62120 by Cath Senker read by Judith Ann Gantly 1 cassette Explains the distinctions between a refugee and an internally displaced person or economic migrant as defined by the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. Discusses war, persecution, economic hardship, and natural disasters as reasons people leave their homelands. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 62120 ## Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX, the Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America RC 62136 by Karen Blumenthal read by Gabra Zackman 1 cassette History and future of the Title IX law passed in 1972 that bans gender discrimination in U.S. schools receiving federal funding. Profiles female athletes and legislators. Follows the women's movement and depicts political support and opposition for Title IX over three decades. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 62136 ## Outrageous Women of the Renaissance RC 62474 by Vicki León read by Patricia Kilgarriff 1 cassette Profiles of fifteen outstanding European women from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries who broke barriers and achieved remarkable feats. Begins with Joan of Arc (1412-1431), a French peasant girl who led an army, and features queens, artists, rebels, and scientists. For grades 5-8. 1999. RC 62474 ## Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit RC 62515 by Eric L. Haney read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes A retired command sergeant major recounts his experiences as a founding member of a specialized army unit. Discusses the unit's rigorous selection process and strenuous physical and mental training. Expresses his pride in serving with his fellow soldiers in Delta Force. For grades 6-9. 2006. RC 62515 ## Knights, Castles, and Warfare in the Middle Ages RC 62850 by Fiona Macdonald read by Jill Ferris 1 cassette Explains who became knights and what their duties to the king were. Covers training, armor, horses, weapons, battle tactics, jousts, and tournaments. Discusses the design and construction of castles and the changes that occurred between A.D. 500 and 1500, the long period called the Middle Ages. For grades 5-8. 2006. RC 62850 ## How Dinosaurs Took Flight: The Fossils, the Science, What We Think We Know, and the Mysteries Yet Unsolved RC 62880 by Christopher Sloan read by Robert Sams 1 cassette Discusses the discovery in eastern China of the fossils of dinosaurs with feathers and wings. Focuses on the scientific investigations that led to the hypothesis that birds are descendants of ancient dinosaurs. Covers the evolution of feathers, flight, and birds. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 62880 ## Whale Rescue: Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife RC 62898 by Erich Hoyt read by Margaret Strom 1 cassette Discusses different varieties of whales, explaining their habitats, behavior, and habits. Surveys the history of whaling, the threat of extinction, and the work of conservationists. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 62898 ## The Friendly Four RC 63006 by Eloise Greenfield read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette Drummond, called Drum, worries that he'll have a bummer summer, but then a new girl, Dorene, moves in down the street. The two meet Louis and the three meet Rae. Now the four friends share vacation fun. A story in free-verse poetry. For grades K-3. 2006. RC 63006 ## American Medical Association Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen RC 63009 by Kate Gruenwald Pfeifer read by Margaret Strom 1 cassette Advice for preteen girls on the physical and emotional changes experienced during puberty. Discusses acne, menstrual cramps, health, exercise, and weight issues. Also addresses resisting peer pressure to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, use drugs, and become sexually active. For grades 5-8. 2006. RC 63009 ## Haiti RC 63099 by Roseline NgCheong-Lum and Leslie Jermyn read by Kristin Allison 1 cassette An overview of the Caribbean island nation of Haiti, the world's first black independent republic. Describes geography, environment, language, culture, heritage, lifestyle, religion, and food. Chronicles Haiti's turbulent history and examines the twentieth-century economic and political situation, including challenges posed by poverty and internal strife. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 63099 ## Interrupted Journey: Saving Endangered Sea Turtles RC 63200 by Kathryn Lasky read by Dan Bloom 1 cassette Follows volunteers in Massachusetts, Florida, and Mexico as they rescue endangered sea turtles, known as Kemp's ridley turtles. Tells about finding stranded turtles on a cold beach, emergency treatment by veterinarians, and returning survivors to the ocean. For grades 3-6. ASPCA Award. 2001. RC 63200 ## When the Wall Came Down: The Berlin Wall and the Fall of Soviet Communism RC 63217 by Serge Schmemann read by Gordon Gould 1 cassette Covers German history leading to the creation and later dismantling of the Berlin Wall, symbol of the division between Communist and Western ideologies. Presents the author's eyewitness account of the wall's 1989 opening and subsequent events, with corresponding articles from the New York Times archives. For grades 6-9. 2006. RC 63217 ## Switched On, Flushed Down, Tossed Out: Investigating the Hidden Workings of Your Home RC 63301 by Trudee Romanek read by Megan Burnett 1 cassette Explains everyday household systems for electricity, water, waste, and heat. Presents facts, questions, and discussion about clean water supply, hot water, drainpipes, garbage and recycling, electric power lines, television, telephones, furnaces, air-conditioning, and saving energy. For grades 3-6. 2005. RC 63301 ## The Founders: The Thirty-nine Stories behind the U.S. Constitution RC 63361 by Dennis Brindell Fradin read by John Polk 1 cassette Biographical sketches of the thirty-nine men who wrote and signed the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. Biographies are arranged by the twelve states represented. Includes the full text of the Constitution. Companion to The Signers: The Fifty-six Stories behind the Declaration of Independence (RC 56435). For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 63361 ## ### Books for Children These books were recently sent to cooperating libraries. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library. Cassettes Fiction Nothing Wrong with a Three-Legged Dog RC 57582 by Graham McNamee read by Don Hagen 1 cassette Shy and the only white kid in his fourth grade class, Keath is an easy target for bullies. His friendship with classmate Lynda and her three- legged dog, Leftovers, helps Keath cope with visiting his beloved stroke-victim grandmother and stand up to his major tormentor in school. For grades 3-6. 2000. RC 57582 ## Hear the Wind Blow RC 57694 by Mary Downing Hahn read by Bruce Nelson 2 cassettes A compassionate act by thirteen-year-old Haswell Magruder toward a wounded Confederate soldier provokes the fury of the Yankees, who burn his family home, leaving Haswell and his seven-year-old sister, Rachel, to find refuge in wintry, war-torn Virginia. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2003. RC 57694 ## Saving Lilly RC 58216 by Peg Kehret read by Peggy Gilleland 1 cassette Sixth-graders Erin and David have researched the topic of circus animal abuse, so when their teacher schedules a field trip to the Glitter Tent Circus they refuse to go. Instead they raise money to send a mistreated elephant, Lilly, to an animal sanctuary. For grades 3-6. 2001. RC 58216 ## The Journal of Sean Sullivan: A Transcontinental Railroad Worker RC 59434 by William Durbin read by Rick Wiseman 1 cassette In 1867 fifteen-year-old Sean Sullivan experiences both hardship and satisfaction when he joins his father in Omaha, Nebraska, to work on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. For two years they toil under harrowing conditions until the country's two coasts are connected by rail. For grades 4-7. 1999. RC 59434 ## Nutcracker RC 59454 retold by Susanne Koppe read by Nicola Daval 1 cassette Godfather Drosselmeier gives young Marie a nutcracker for Christmas. When Marie finds herself in a magical realm, she saves a boy from an evil curse. A retelling of the 1816 German story by E.T.A. Hoffmann. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 59454 ## Ida B . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World RC 59693 by Katherine Hannigan read by Grace Ragsdale 1 cassette Ida B enjoys home-schooling and playing in her family's apple orchard, so she feels frustrated and angry when her mother's illness changes things. Ida B rebels against the sale of family land and attending public school until she learns the power of an apology. For grades 4-7. 2004. RC 59693 ## The Journal of Jedediah Barstow: An Emigrant on the Oregon Trail; My Name Is America RC 60054 by Ellen Levine read by Richard Magesis 1 cassette 1845. Thirteen-year-old orphan Jedediah describes in his diary his wagon train journey to Oregon. He travels across rivers and sandy plains and confronts bears, rattlesnakes, and the challenges of living with the other settlers. For grades 4-7. 2002. RC 60054 ## The Comic Book Mystery: A Boxcar Children Mystery RC 60056 by Gertrude Chandler Warner read by Rick Wiseman 1 cassette Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny find a strange note inside a Captain Fantastic comic book. When the note is stolen, the children meet with the comic's creator, Sid, and learn that someone is selling fake copies. Sid hires them to help find the counterfeiter. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 60056 ## The Tattletale Mystery: A Boxcar Children Mystery RC 60061 by Gertrude Chandler Warner read by Miriam Wagner 1 cassette Someone called the Tattletale sends the Alden children strange notes hinting at an art-related mystery. When the Greenfield art gallery hosts its annual contest, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny connect the letters to a talented new painter who could be an imposter. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 60061 ## A Confused Hanukkah: An Original Story of Chelm RC 60392 by Jon Koons read by Barbara Rappaport 1 cassette When the rabbi is out of town as the time for celebrating Hanukkah approaches, the villagers of Chelm don't remember what to do. So Yossel travels down the road and returns with a new version of the Festival of Lights. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 60392 ## The Last of the Roundup Boys RC 60396 by Debra Seely read by Neil Berman 1 cassette Following Grasslands (RC 56393), Thomas Hunter, now seventeen, hires on as a cowboy on a cattle ranch in Kansas. He learns the challenges of herding work and begins a forbidden romance with the owner's sixteen- year-old daughter, Evie. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004. RC 60396 ## Avram's Gift RC 60942 by Margie Blumberg read by Rick Wiseman 1 cassette Mark doesn't like the photograph of his stern looking great-great- grandfather Avram that is a family heirloom. But he changes his mind at Rosh Hashanah when his Grandpa Morris tells stories about this beloved ancestor and the gift Avram gave Morris when he departed Russia. For grades 3-6. 2003. RC 60942 ## Criss Cross RC 61389 by Lynne Rae Perkins read by Jill Fox 1 cassette Debbie-first met in All Alone in the Universe (RC 49604)-wishes something good would happen to her. She and other young teens in her hometown experience new thoughts and feelings, question their identities, and connect and disconnect as they search for meaning in life and love. For grades 6-9. Newbery Medal. 2005. RC 61389 ## My Guardian Angel RC 61395 by Sylvie Weil read by Gillian Green 1 cassette Eleventh-century France. Elvina, the twelve-year-old granddaughter of renowned Jewish rabbi Solomon ben Isaac, recounts what happens when she risks helping a runaway Crusader, one of the enemy. Relying on her guardian angel to protect her, Elvina proves to be self-reliant and an independent thinker nonetheless. For grades 5-8. 2001. RC 61395 ## The Pearl of the Soul of the World: The Darkangel Trilogy, Volume 3 RC 61862 by Meredith Ann Pierce read by Suzanne Toren 2 cassettes With the aid of a shimmering pearl, Aeriel battles the White Witch, reunites briefly with her husband Irrylath, and discovers her true destiny. Sequel to A Gathering of Gargoyles (RC 26582). For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1990. RC 61862 ## Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie RC 62064 by David Lubar read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes In Scott's first year of high school, he longs for more sleep, writes a journal for his sibling who will soon be born, and joins many school activities to attract freshman goddess Julia. Along the way, Scott loses old friends and makes unlikely new ones. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 62064 ## The Claidi Collection: Book 1, Wolf Tower; Book 2, Wolf Star; Book 3, Wolf Queen RC 62463 by Tanith Lee read by Terry Donnelly 4 cassettes Sixteen-year-old Claidi confides in a journal her thoughts about being a slave and maid to Lady Jade Leaf. When she escapes with a captive prince, her adventures begin, unlocking secrets of her past and leading to the love of her life. For grades 6-9. 1998. RC 62463 ## Alice on Her Way RC 62502 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor read by Kerry Dukin 2 cassettes While Alice is adjusting to her new stepmother and changes at home, she and her girlfriends manage an unchaperoned night out on a school trip to New York City. Sequel to Including Alice (RC 58564). Some descriptions of sex and some violence. For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 62502 ## Wizards at War RC 62556 by Diane Duane read by Patricia Kilgarriff 3 cassettes Nita and Kit team up when a strange darkness of the mind and heart overcomes the older wizards, stealing away their power and thereby forcing the younger wizards into a war to save the world. Sequel to Wizard's Holiday (RC 61210). For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 62556 ## The Traitor: Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1885 RC 62592 by Laurence Yep read by Derald Breneman 2 cassettes Wyoming Territory, 1885. Chinese American Joseph Young makes friends with town outcast Michael Purdy, despite the prejudices and racial tensions in their coal-mining community of Rock Springs. The Westerners' resentment toward the Chinese explodes, testing the unlikely friendship between Michael and Joseph. For grades 6-9. 2003. RC 62592 ## A Bear Named Trouble RC 62598 by Marion Dane Bauer read by Walter Dixon 1 cassette Ten-year-old Jonathan likes to imagine himself as various animals in the Alaska zoo where his father works. But when a wild brown bear kills his favorite white goose, Jonathan reports the incident to the media without thinking of the consequences to the bear. For grades 4-7. 2005. RC 62598 ## The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane RC 62599 by Kate DiCamillo read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette A proud toy rabbit named Edward, presented to Abilene Tulane on her seventh birthday, does not appreciate Abilene's love until he is lost at sea. As he passes from one owner to the next, he begins to open his heart and learns to love. For grades 3-6. 2006. RC 62599 ## Nicholas RC 62698 by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé read by Steven Carpenter 1 cassette The escapades of a French schoolboy, Nicholas, who turns ordinary events into disasters. Clean, combed boys become fist-fighting ruffians before the class photograph is taken, players bicker on the soccer field, and Nicholas entices home a dog that is not a stray. For grades 4-7. Batchelder Honor Book. 1959. RC 62698 ## Web of Lies RC 62700 by Beverley Naidoo read by Anne Flosnik 2 cassettes In this continuation of The Other Side of Truth (RC 54378), Sade's twelve-year-old brother, Femi, becomes involved with a criminal gang at their school in London. When Femi is arrested on possible murder charges, the Nigerian family's refugee status is again in jeopardy. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 62700 ## The Only One Club RC 62701 by Jane Naliboff read by Colleen Delany 1 cassette Jennifer is the only one in her class making decorations for Hanukah instead of Christmas. So she starts the "Only One Club" with a glitzy badge. When her friends want to join, Jennifer realizes that they are all "only one" in different ways. For grades K-3. 2004. RC 62701 ## A Ring of Endless Light RC 62741 by Madeleine L'Engle read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes (Reissue) Sixteen-year-old Vicky Austin confronts her feelings about death when she and her family spend the summer with her seriously ill grandfather on an island off the New England coast. Three young men vie for her attentions, and one introduces her to a pod of dolphins. For grades 6- 9. Newbery Honor Book. 1980. RC 62741 ## Gossamer RC 62745 by Lois Lowry read by Judith Ann Gantly 1 cassette A young dream-giver with a gossamer touch tries to save an eight-year- old boy whose anger at his abusive parents is made worse by a Sinisteed, an inflicter of nightmares. The dream-giver also bestows dreams on the lonely woman who provides a foster home to the boy. For grades 5-8. 2006. RC 62745 ## Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride: Mercy Watson, Book 2 RC 62778 by Kate DiCamillo read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette On Saturdays Mr. Watson likes to go for a drive in his convertible with his pig, Mercy. But one Saturday Mercy jumps onto Mr. Watson's lap, takes over the steering wheel, and surprises a policeman. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2006. RC 62778 ## I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials RC 62878 by Lisa Rowe Fraustino read by Colleen Delany 1 cassette Twelve-year-old Deliverance Trembley writes in her diary about the fears and doubts that arise concerning the witch hunt and trials in Salem Village, Massachusetts, during the winter of 1691-1692. She is deeply affected when her pious friend, Goody Corey, is condemned as a witch. For grades 5-8. 2004. RC 62878 ## Figgs and Phantoms RC 62884 by Ellen Raskin read by Colleen Delany 1 cassette Chronicles the fantastic adventures of the Figg family after they leave show business and settle in the town of Pineapple. Young Mona's favorite relative is her Uncle Florence, a book dealer who is leaving soon for mysterious Capri. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. 1974. RC 62884 ## The Prophet of Yonwood RC 62892 by Jeanne DuPrau read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes Yonwood, North Carolina. Eleven-year-old Nickie figures out how to identify both good and evil when she witnesses the townspeople's reactions to the apocalyptic visions of their neighbor, Althea Tower. Prequel to City of Ember (RC 59907) and People of Sparks (RC 60098). For grades 5-8. 2006. RC 62892 ## The Patch RC 62922 by Justina Chen Headley read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Five-year-old Becca, a budding ballerina, comes to school wearing glasses, a patch to correct her lazy eye, and her brother's pirate costume. She has such creative answers to questions about her eye patch that all her classmates want eye patches, too. For grades K-3. 2006. RC 62922 ## Archer's Quest RC 63007 by Linda Sue Park read by Robert Sams 1 cassette Dorchester, New York. Kevin is home alone doing homework when an arrow pins his baseball cap to the wall. The stranger in his bedroom introduces himself as Koh Chu-mong-a famous archer from first-century- B.C. Korea. Kevin must help the archer return to his own time. For grades 4-7. 2006. RC 63007 ## Princess Academy RC 63020 by Shannon Hale read by Anne Flosnik 2 cassettes When it is decreed that Prince Steffan of Danland will choose a bride from remote Mount Eskel, Miri and all the village girls-including newly arrived Britta-attend a princess academy to prepare them for the potential honor. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor Book. 2005. RC 63020 ## The Will of the Empress RC 63054 by Tamora Pierce read by Madelyn Buzzard 3 cassettes On a visit to her devious cousin Empress Berenene, sixteen-year-old Sandry relies on her former friends and fellow mages, Daja, Tris, and Briar, to protect her from the Empress's plot to keep her in Namorn. Companion to the Circle of Magic quartet (RC 49333-RC 49336). For grades 6-9. 2005. RC 63054 ## Boys Rock! RC 63069 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor read by John Polk 1 cassette The Hatford brothers write a historical town newspaper for their summer project. Joining forces with the Malloy sisters leads to the usual rivalry plus ghost rumors, a news scoop, fact-checking mistakes, and a surprising historical find. Sequel to Girls Rule! (RC 60175). For grades 3-6. 2005. RC 63069 ## Only You Can Save Mankind: The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy, Book 1 RC 63153 by Terry Pratchett read by Erik Sandvold 1 cassette England, early 1990s. Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell plays a computer war game called Only You Can Save Mankind while his television displays the ongoing Gulf War. To Johnny, the two wars blend together as he becomes involved in the plight of the alien ScreeWee. For grades 5-8. 1992. RC 63153 ## On the Other Side of the Hill: The Rose Years, Book 4 RC 63178 by Roger Lea MacBride read by Martha Harmon Pardee 1 cassette In the early 1900s, young Rose Wilder and her pioneer family struggle with a series of natural disasters, including a cyclone, on their farm in Missouri. Sequel to In the Land of the Big Red Apple (RC 42000). For grades 4-7. 1995. RC 63178 ## Zahrah the Windseeker RC 63190 by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu read by Gabriella Cavallero 2 cassettes Ooni Kingdom. Although born with the special sign of vines in her hair, Zahrah feels like a normal thirteen-year-old girl until her best friend Dari is bitten by a snake. Searching the Forbidden Greeny Jungle for an antidote, Zahrah finds courage, knowledge, and hidden powers. For grades 5-8. 2005. RC 63190 ## Alice in the Know RC 63360 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor read by Kerry Dukin 1 cassette Alice fills the summer before her junior year of high school with a job at the mall. She's also coping with a friend who has cancer, her brother's romantic breakup, and staying true to herself when some of her friends make bad choices. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2006. RC 63360 ## Martin Bridge: Ready for Takeoff! RC 63371 by Jessica Scott Kerrin read by Madelyn Buzzard 1 cassette Three stories about Martin at home and at school. "Riddles" is about school bus drivers, "Faster Blaster" concerns telling lies, and "Smithereens" tells about exploding friendships and rockets. A beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2005. RC 63371 ## Martin Bridge: On the Lookout! RC 63459 by Jessica Scott Kerrin read by Madelyn Buzzard 1 cassette Three of Martin's adventures. In "Yesterday's Party" Laila mistakenly arrives a day late for Martin's birthday party. In "Field Trip" Martin forgets his permission slip for the class outing to a dinosaur exhibit. In "Polly" he accidentally lets the class parakeet escape. A beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2005. RC 63459 ## ### Foreign Language Books The following cassette titles are available in the languages designated. Spanish Leonardo da Vinci RC 61057 por Sara Cuadrado leído por Maria Pino 1 cassette Biografía del famoso pintor y genio del Renacimiento, conocido por su obra "La Ultima Cena" y otras pinturas así como por sus investigaciones científicas que anticiparon los descubrimientos e inventos modernos. Traza la vida de Leonardo da Vinci desde su nacimiento en 1452 hasta su muerte en 1519. (Biography of the famous painter and genius of the Renaissance best known for "The Last Supper" and other artworks, as well as for scientific investigations that reflect reasoning far ahead of its time. Covers da Vinci's life from his birth in 1452 to his death in 1519.) 2005. RC 61057 ## ### 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) Odyssey (9 issues September–May) 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)