NLS: Talking Book Topics

In Brief

New NLS publications

NLS announces the publication of three new catalogs, available in large print and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/catalogs/>.

Cassette Books 2002 is an annotated listing of recorded books produced by NLS during 2002, arranged by subject and indexed by author and title.

Braille Books 2001-2002 is an annotated listing of all braille books produced by NLS during the two-year period, arranged by subject and indexed by author and title. Braille Books 2001-2002 will be produced in braille in the near future.

Instructional Cassette Recordings Catalog: Music and Musicians is an annotated guide to instructional music cassettes available as of July 2002. It is subdivided into eighteen sections by category. This catalog will be produced in an audio edition in the near future.

Magazine change revisited

NLS will offer a cassette edition of Horticulture magazine beginning with the March-April issue. Horticulture, published six times a year, replaces Flower and Garden, which has ceased publication. Flower and Garden was originally selected to replace New Choices, which ceased publication last year. Patrons who would like to subscribe should contact their cooperating talking-book library.

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, fill out the order form and send it to 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

Take It from the Big Mouth: The Life of Martha Raye      RC 49037
by Jean Maddern Pitrone
read by Larry Shapiro
2 cassettes
Biography of the actress, comedienne, singer, and dancer who died in 1994. Describes her beginnings with her vaudeville family, her multifaceted career, and her commitment to entertaining military troops. Also discusses her lack of education, substance abuse, suicide attempts, seven failed marriages, and problems with her only daughter. 1999.

Gray Dawn: How the Coming Age Wave Will Transform America--and the World      RC 49510
by Peter G. Peterson
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
Warns of an impending demographic time bomb that threatens the economic and political stability of the developed world in the twenty-first century. Argues that the combination of an aging baby boom population, increased longevity, and low fertility rates portends a mounting crisis. Discusses some remedial strategies. 1999.

Inside the Halo and Beyond: The Anatomy of a Recovery      RC 51632
by Maxine Kumin
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
On a perfect midsummer day in Vermont in 1998, poet and experienced horsewoman Kumin broke her neck when her horse-drawn carriage overturned. She records the medical, physical, and emotional details of the long recovery process, and tells how her family, friends, and love of poetry sustained her during the ordeal. 2000.

Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis      RC 51684
by Ian Kershaw
read by Roy Avers
9 cassettes in 2 containers
This sequel to Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris (RC 51683) reconstructs the dictator's world war, including his use of ethnic cleansing while maintaining a totalitarian state inside Germany. The country heads for self-destruction as their leader pursues his quest for complete dominance of Europe. Violence. 2000.

True Stories of Baseball's Hall of Famers      RC 51860
by David Kellogg
read by Graci Ragsdale
1 cassette
Sixty brief accounts of baseball's most productive players from the early 1900s to 1980. Includes well-known players such as Cy Young, Connie Mack, Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

The Secret of Happiness      RC 51861
by Billy Graham
read by Don Nelson
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Offers advice on how to apply the simple yet revolutionary formulas of the King James Version of the Beatitudes in everyday life in order to achieve serenity and contentment. 1955.

Why Forgive?      RC 51864
by Johann Christoph Arnold
read by Phil Regensdorf
1 cassette
A pastor relates anecdotes about the power of forgiveness in everyday life. Includes stories of unhappy families, failed business deals, and victims of crime who find peace within themselves and with their offenders. 2000.

Let Evening Come: Reflections on Aging      RC 51868
by Mary C. Morrison
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
Quaker-inspired views on aging; advice for growing old gracefully and peacefully. Suggestions for relating to family and friends and learning to accept death. Preface by Morris L. West. 1998.

Never Eat Your Heart Out      RC 52055
by Judith Moore
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
A grab bag of autobiographical sketches in which Moore relates food's major role in her life. She recalls the mud pies she made as a young child, the dinners she planned as a bride, the dog food pet-té she made for unsuspecting friends, and the special meals she concocted while having an affair. 1997.

Ten Fun Things to Do before You Die      RC 52327
by Karol Jackowski
read by Peg Gilleland
1 cassette
A nun offers advice on making a life of contentment. She includes suggestions on having fun, improving your personality, treating yourself right, spending time alone, thinking about nuns, and living like there is nothing to lose. 1989.

The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod      RC 52331
by Henry Beston
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette (Reissue)
In 1926-1927 a French-Irish writer extended a two-week vacation into a year of observing nature--the sea and land, the birds, and the seasons--at his cottage on Cape Cod. Beston's future wife, the author Elizabeth Coatsworth, insisted on the publication of his musings, which became an environmental classic. 1928.

Pro Wrestling: From Carnivals to Cable TV      RC 52332
by Keith Elliot Greenberg
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
This history of professional wrestling chronicles its transformation into popular televised entertainment by promoter Vince McMahon and others. Mentions past and current superstars, notes the role of women and the impact of scandals and controversy, and describes the sport in Japan. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems, 1988-2000      RC 52339
by Lucille Clifton
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
A collection of poetry about the human condition personalized through the voice of an African American woman. She shares observations about lynching, race, being female, menstruation, illness, celebrations, and the puzzles of existence. Some strong language. National Book Award. 2000.

Breast Cancer      RC 52346
by Janet Majure
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Discusses the symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention of breast cancer. Also presents a history of the disease and ongoing research while stressing the importance of self-examination and early detection. For senior high and older readers. 2000.

Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx      RC 52600
by Stefan Kanfer
read by Gary Telles
4 cassettes
Biography of one of the Marx brothers--Groucho, Harpo, Zeppo, Chico, and Gummo--vaunted comedians of the vaudeville age and later Hollywood. Traces the life of Julius (Groucho) in a family of performers led by his stage mother, Minnie. Discusses his unhappy marriages, his estrangement from his children, and his professional dissatisfaction. 2000.

Conversations with Susan Sontag      RC 52752
edited by Leland Poague
read by Celeste Lawson
3 cassettes
Twenty-four interviews conducted with American novelist and critic Sontag between 1969 and 1993, in which she is frequently asked to comment on her published writings. Sontag is questioned about aesthetic, political, and sexual issues by Edwin Newman, Joe David Bellamy, Jonathan Cott, Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber, Amy Lippman, and Nadine Gordimer, among others. 1995.

Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay      RC 52940
by Nancy Milford
read by Kimberly Schraf
5 cassettes
Biography of the twentieth-century American poet--the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize--whose life mirrored her verses: "My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends-- It gives a lovely light!" Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Raising a Smarter Kid by Breaking All the Rules      RC 53116
by Roger Schank
read by Bruce Nelson
2 cassettes
Founder of Northwestern's Institute for the Learning Sciences posits that schools of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries do not support children with a thirst for knowledge. Parents wanting to help their children become successful should nurture their traits of inquisitiveness, gumption, creativity, verbal proficiency, analytical ability, and ambition. 2000.

Five-Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History      RC 53117
by Helene Stapinski
read by Barbara Rappaport
2 cassettes
Memoir about growing up in the 1970s in a family of petty criminals in Jersey City. The author explores her Italian-Polish roots in the context of an industrial city overrun by fraud and political corruption. She escapes for college but returns as a reporter for the Jersey Journal. Some strong language. 2001.

Roots: The Saga of an American Family      RC 53160
by Alex Haley
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
6 cassettes (Reissue)
Seven generations of the author's family, from 1767, when Kunta Kinte is captured in The Gambia, West Africa, and transported to Virginia as a slave. Chronicles Haley's ancestors' resettlement in Tennessee following the Civil War, reconstructs his birth in 1921, and describes his genealogical research. Some violence. Bestseller 1976.

Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five      RC 53167
by Penelope Leach
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
5 cassettes
British psychologist explains the physical and emotional needs of babies and toddlers until they reach school age. Describes the child's thinking and feeling capabilities at different stages of development. Discusses dilemmas of parenting, including choosing daycare and preventing sudden infant death syndrome. 1997.

God Save the Sweet Potato Queens      RC 53170
by Jill Conner Browne
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes
Continues the advice offered in The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love (RC 53169). Browne, leader of the group of Southern women who sport green sequins and towering red hairdos, offers guidance on marriage, pregnancy, vacations, and dating for the advanced or advancing. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze      RC 53238
by Peter Hessler
read by Tom Burch
3 cassettes
Memoir of an American Peace Corps volunteer who taught English literature in a teachers' college in rural southern China from 1996 to 1998. Intersperses reminiscences of daily events with descriptions of local landscape, history, and people. Discusses the difficulties of a Westerner trying to understand Chinese culture. 2001.

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic      RC 53274
by Mark Wilson
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
Well-known magician describes more than three hundred tricks and illusions. He reveals the secrets of preparing for and performing a variety of stunts using props such as rope, cards, handkerchiefs, and balls. 1973.

American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military, from the Revolution to Desert Storm      RC 53330
by Gail Buckley
read by Bob Moore
5 cassettes
Chronicles two centuries of African American military experience. Drawing on interviews and primary sources, Buckley contends that the pressures of necessity opened military service to blacks. She describes the bravery and sacrifice of black soldiers despite discrimination against them and frequent minimization or denial of their achievements. 2001.

Southeast Asia: A Concise History      RC 53455
by Mary Somers Heidhues
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Covers the history, from prehistoric times to the late twentieth century, of the mainland states of Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, as well as of the maritime nations: Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Explores the region's politics, economics, culture, religion, and armed conflicts. 2000.

How to Win Friends and Influence People      RC 53469
by Dale Carnegie
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Originally published in 1937 and revised in 1981 to "clarify and strengthen the book for a modern reader," this guide provides fundamental techniques in handling people. Includes how to make people like you, how to win them to your way of thinking, and how to be a leader without offending or arousing resentment. 1981.

The Best Loved Poems of the American People      RC 53495
selected by Hazel Felleman
read by Janis Gray
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Anthology of 575 poems popular in early twentieth-century America. Arranged by themes such as love and friendship, inspiration, story, faith and reverence, home and family, patriotism, humor, and nature. Selected from requests for favorite poems sent to a column in the New York Times Book Review. 1936.

Jewish American Literature: A Norton Anthology      RC 53581
edited by Jules Chametzky and others
read by Robert Blumenfeld
13 cassettes in 3 containers
Selections from American writing, ranging from 1656 through the end of the twentieth century, featuring fiction, poetry, drama, memoir, letters, song lyrics, and humor by "authors who admit, address, embrace, and contest their Jewish identity." Includes entries by Edna Ferber, Groucho Marx, Stanley Kunitz, Leo Rosten, Irwin Shaw, and Allegra Goodman. 2001.

Fierce Pajamas: An Anthology of Humor Writing from the New Yorker      RC 53620
edited by David Remnick and Henry Finder
read by Kimberly Schraf
4 cassettes
Two New Yorker editors select their favorite comic pieces from the magazine's first seventy-five years. Includes parodies, sketches, and verses by more than seventy contributors, including such literary humorists as Robert Benchley, James Thurber, Dorothy Parker, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Garrison Keillor, and Ogden Nash. Bestseller 2001.

The Age of Terror: America and the World after September 11      RC 53622
edited by Strobe Talbott and Nayan Chanda
read by John Hammock
2 cassettes
Collection of eight essays, edited by coheads of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, examines the causes and effects of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001. Discusses Muslim motivations, non-Muslim antecedents, the communication revolution, bioterrorism, post-Cold War politics, and the failure of U.S. intelligence. 2001.

Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden      RC 53623
by Peter L. Bergen
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
A journalist for CNN who interviewed Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1997 investigates al-Qaeda, the Islamic terrorist organization. Describes its objectives, its past crimes including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and its worldwide reach. Traces bin Laden's past and his relationship to the Taliban. Bestseller 2001.

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture      RC 53639
by Ross King
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Discusses the intermittent construction during the 1300s of a cathedral in Florence that would require the largest dome in the world. Explains how this led to the 1418 competition for solving the architectural puzzle; how it was won by Filippo Brunelleschi, a clockmaker; and how he achieved engineering marvels. 2000.

Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News      RC 53649
by Bernard Goldberg
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist describes how his exposé of his fellow reporters' liberal bias led to his own ostracism and rejection. Offers examples of how media interpretations of current events affect the social climate of the country. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

The Birds of Heaven: Travels with Cranes      RC 53665
by Peter Matthiessen
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Wilderness traveler reports on the status of the world's crane population and his adventures with fellow naturalists in the birds' habitats. Celebrates the declining species and local landscape as he journeys to sites in Asia, Africa, western Europe, and the United States. 2001.

The Universe in a Nutshell      RC 53668
by Stephen Hawking
read by Lou Harpenau
1 cassette
Theoretical physicist explains for laymen the underlying principles that control the universe. With updated knowledge acquired since his earlier book A Brief History of Time (RC 26996), Hawking discusses theories of the origin, structure, and evolution of the cosmos. Bestseller 2001.

Alistair Cooke: The Biography      RC 53684
by Nick Clarke
read by Vanessa Maroney
6 cassettes
Authorized life of the man best known as a commentator on American culture and politics and the host of PBS's Masterpiece Theater. Born Alfred Cooke in 1908 in northern England, he legally changed his name to Alistair on his twenty-second birthday and became a U.S. citizen in 1941. 1999.

Creating Emotionally Safe Schools: A Guide for Educators and Parents      RC 53731
by Jane Bluestein
read by Kristin Allison
4 cassettes
While explaining how academic institutions can be safer, an educational counselor examines factors that contribute to a school's emotional climate. Bluestein offers a plan to return schools to havens of nurturing and learning, including strategies for instruction, family involvement, and early development. 2001.

A Convenient Spy: Wen Ho Lee and the Politics of Nuclear Espionage      RC 53741
by Dan Stober and Ian Hoffman
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Analyzes the U.S. case against computer scientist Wen Ho Lee, a naturalized Taiwanese, who was accused of espionage while working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Presents the evidence of Lee's misdeeds, the FBI mistakes leading to his acquittal, and the politics that drove the investigation. 2001.

In Search of the Lost Cord: Solving the Mystery of Spinal Cord Regeneration      RC 53744
by Luba Vikhanski
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Science reporter summarizes the historical and current research being conducted throughout the world on spinal cord regeneration. Describes twentieth-century advances in medicine and technology, and possible scientific breakthroughs. 2001.

Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood      RC 53751
by Oliver Sacks
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Neurologist and author of such bestselling books as Awakenings (RC 33438) recalls his childhood during World War II in London and at boarding school. Explains how his fascination with science was fostered by his large family, especially his uncle, who manufactured lightbulbs with tungsten wire filaments. 2001.

Shadow Warriors: Inside the Special Forces      RC 53774
by Tom Clancy
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
Traces growth of Special Forces in the United States military from their conceptual origins through actual transformation into elite units. Clancy teams with retired general Carl Stiner, former chief of USSOCOM (U.S. Special Operations Command), in discussions of specific military missions, exclusive of the 2001-2002 Afghanistan campaign. Bestseller 2002.

Stupid White Men: And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation!      RC 53775
by Michael Moore
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Author of Downsize This! (RC 45054) criticizes the U.S. government of the twenty-first century. Laments that "nothing seems to work" and rants against the 2000 election and the administration's policies. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up: Twelve Winning Secrets from the War Room RC 53777
by James Carville and Paul Begala
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Two political strategists translate campaign tactics into rules for success in everyday life. Their purpose is to make the reader a winner by becoming "faster, smarter, and more aggressive." They provide "practical, applicable strategies" to beat the competition. Bestseller 2002.

Cannibals and Kings: The Origins of Cultures      RC 53817
by Marvin Harris
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
An anthropologist examines a broad variety of cultural behaviors--from primitive civilizations to advanced societies--as adaptations to particular ecological conditions. Harris maintains that social life so far has evolved in predictable arrangements. 1977.

Did Adam and Eve Have Navels? Discourses on Reflexology, Numerology, Urine Therapy, and Other Dubious Subjects      RC 53818
by Martin Gardner
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Science writer and rationalist Gardner examines cases of pseudoscience, whether maverick or mainstream. Debunks astrology, UFOs, and quack remedies, and attacks religious fundamentalism and Freud's dream theories. Previously published as regular columns in the Skeptical Inquirer. 2000.

Bad Bet on the Bayou: The Rise of Gambling in Louisiana and the Fall of Governor Edwin Edwards      RC 53821
by Tyler Bridges
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Account of the corruption in the state of Louisiana, where legalized gambling led to the conviction of four-time governor Edwin Edwards in 2000. Recalls the tumultuous political, social, and economic history of the state. 2001.

A Matter of Dignity: Changing the Lives of the Disabled      RC 53824
by Andrew Potok
read by Tom Burch
2 cassettes
The author of Ordinary Daylight (RC 16674) portrays activists, technicians, health professionals, and others working to improve the everyday lives of people with disabilities through technological progress or advances in public policy and awareness. Potok discusses independence, quality of life, and dignity, relating these issues to his own experience with retinitis pigmentosa. 2002.

The Complete Jesus      RC 53825
compiled by Ricky Alan Mayotte
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
This compilation of sayings and teachings attributed to Jesus has been gathered from various versions of the New Testament (King James, Revised Standard, etc.), Christian Gnostic writings, and New Testament Apocrypha. They are presented in nine sections, including commandments, parables, teachings and proverbs, hymns and prayers, and doctrines. 1997.

American Vintage: The Rise of American Wine      RC 53826
by Paul Lukacs
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
Traces the history of the wine industry in the United States and the people instrumental in its development. Discusses why it takes so long to produce truly great wine and why America rose so quickly to prominence as a major wine-making country. 2000.

Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church      RC 53828
by Thomas J. Reese
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
A Jesuit scholar/political scientist examines the inner workings of the papal institution in Rome. Draws on more than one hundred interviews with Vatican officials to form insights into the governance of the Catholic church. Analyzes the pope's role in both religious and secular events. 1996.

French Huguenots in English-Speaking Lands      RC 53831
by Horton Davies and Marie-Hélène Davies
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Chronicle of France from 1685 to 1782, when the Protestant Huguenots, persecuted for their beliefs, were forced to emigrate. Describes causes of the unrest, the character of the believers, and Huguenot cultural contributions in Great Britain and North America. 2000.

Heart Attack! Advice for Patients by Patients      RC 53832
by Kathleen Berra and others
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Heart specialists explain the diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks and eleven survivors give anecdotal advice. Includes information on risk factors, diet, reversal of coronary artery disease, and rehabilitation programs. 2002.

Nearest Star: The Surprising Science of Our Sun      RC 53835
by Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Solar scientists profile the Sun's history and physics for nonscientists. The authors discuss the origin of the Sun's light and heat, how the Sun evolved, and how it affects Earth. They present cutting-edge research on the Sun's outer atmosphere and explain sunspots and gigantic explosive events. 2001.

The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need      RC 53840
by Joanna Martine Woolfolk
read by Carol Dines
4 cassettes
Astrology columnist updates her 1982 work on the movement of celestial bodies and their possible influence on humanity. Describes the various Sun and Moon signs, the placement of the planets, the twelve zodiac houses, and the mechanics of setting up a birth chart. 2001.

Unjust Enrichment: How Japan's Companies Built Postwar Fortunes Using American POWs      RC 53847
by Linda Goetz Holmes
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
Using archival materials classified until long after World War II ended and interviews with survivors, a historian recounts the mistreatment of American prisoners of war by Japanese companies that used the men as slave labor. Contends that the businesses should have been prosecuted soon after the war and that survivors should be reimbursed. 2001.

Sorcerer's Apprentice      RC 53851
by Tahir Shah
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Author explains why he left the comforts of London to travel to India to become a magician. Describes his trip to Calcutta and his apprenticeship with Hakim Feroze, a master conjuror. Describes his subsequent journeys across India to witness firsthand the art of illusion. 1998.

Stroke-Free for Life: The Complete Guide to Stroke Prevention and Treatment      RC 53853
by David Wiebers
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Renowned Mayo Clinic neurologist describes strokes, prevention, and emergency treatments with drugs and surgery. Advocates lifestyle changes, including the reduction of stress. Also provides a stroke risk assessment test. 2001.

Samuel Huntington, President of Congress Longer than Expected: A Narrative Essay on the Letters of Samuel Huntington, 1779-1781      RC 53857
by George Kelsey Dreher
read by David Myers
2 cassettes
Interpretive account of the life and work of Samuel Huntington, a lawyer from Connecticut and signer of the Declaration of Independence, who became the first president of the Continental Congress between 1779 and 1781. Dreher shows how Huntington's personality and religious background equipped him to lead the new nation. 1996.

One Hundred Questions and Answers about Hypertension      RC 53858
by William M. Manger and Ray W. Gifford
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Physicians address the common condition of hypertension (high blood pressure, or "the silent killer"), including its cause, risk factors, and treatment; medical options; lifestyle changes; complications; and coexisting conditions. Explains how this common and treatable condition can be managed. 2001.

Hoyle's Rules of Games: Descriptions of Indoor Games of Skill and Chance, with Advice on Skillful Play; Based on the Foundations Laid Down by Edmond Hoyle, 1672-1769      RC 53859
edited by Philip D. Morehead and others
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
Revised and updated guide to rules, strategies, and odds for more than two hundred fifty games. Card games include bridge, cribbage, pinochle, poker, and solitaire--and their variations. Also contains instructions for backgammon, dominoes, Scrabble, children's games, and some computer games. 2001.

GED Basics 2002: Updated for the All-New GED!      RC 53866
by Nancy Lawrence
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Introductory guide to the revised General Educational Development (GED) exam, required for a high school equivalency diploma. Offers practice exercises for adult basic knowledge in language arts (writing and reading), social studies, science, and mathematics. Provides study tips, strategies, and techniques for scoring high. 2002.

Knitting in Plain English      RC 53868
by Maggie Righetti
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
A practical guide for beginning and intermediate knitters. Using a good-humored, commonsense approach, provides patterns and easy-to-follow lessons to complete projects. Offers simple tips to facilitate the process and solutions to frequently asked questions. 1986.

Power to the Patient: The Treatments to Insist on When You're Sick      RC 53891
by Isadore Rosenfeld
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Physician and author of Live Now, Age Later (RC 48603) outlines the medical tests, causes, and treatments for thirty-nine common ailments. Topics include diabetes, Parkinson's, gallstones, cancer, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and sexual diseases. 2002.

Bare Fists: The History of Bare-Knuckle Prize-Fighting      RC 53905
by Bob Mee
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Sports journalist presents three centuries of gloveless-boxing greats from both sides of the Atlantic. Begins with the 1720s career of James Figg and ends with the 1990s fad of "Ultimate Fighting," an unregulated sport. Includes the 1860 "fight of the century" between America's John Heenan and Britain's Tom Sayers. 2001.

Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee      RC 53911
by Brenda Lee
read by Robin Miles
3 cassettes
Autobiography of rockabilly singer who was born in poverty in Georgia in 1944. Lee began performing professionally when she was seven and was soon supporting her family. She reminisces about the entertainers she has known, from her early days in rock 'n' roll through country music superstardom. Some strong language. 2002.

Ultimate Journey: Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk Who Crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment      RC 53912
by Richard Bernstein
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
At age fifty-five, a New York Times writer fulfills a yearning for travel and change by following the route of seventh-century Buddhist monk Hsuan Tsang's pilgrimage for wisdom across China, south through India, and back to China. Along the way he compares his observations with those recorded by Hsuan Tsang. 2001.

The Southern Gates of Arabia: A Journey in the Hadhramaut      RC 53919
by Freya Stark
read by Yolande Bavan
2 cassettes
Chronicles the 1934 adventures of an erudite and intrepid British explorer in Yemen. Stark's goal was to be the first European to reach Shabwa, the ancient frankincense capital, traveling along centuries-old caravan routes. She describes her stays with sultans and her enchantment with the region. 1936.

Almost a Woman      RC 53924
by Esmeralda Santiago
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
This coming-of-age memoir continues the account begun in When I Was Puerto Rican (RC 38181). Recalls author's difficulties of moving to New York without speaking English, being accepted at the High School for Performing Arts, and having her first love affair--all before reaching age twenty-one. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

Every Tongue Got to Confess: Negro Folktales from the Gulf States      RC 53958
by Zora Neale Hurston
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
African American folklore that Hurston collected from oral tradition in the late 1920s, published for the first time. Hurston arranged the material by themes such as god tales, devil tales, witch and hant, tall tales, neatest trick, mistaken identity, and talking-animal tales. Some strong language. 2001.

Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus      RC 53983
by Rick Perlstein
read by Jake Williams
5 cassettes
Describes the consolidation and resurgence of the conservative political movement after the devastating defeat of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater in 1964. Traces the development of divisions and shifts that broke up the liberal majority and led to Ronald Reagan's election in 1980. Some strong language. 2001.

Ancient Encounters: Kennewick Man and the First Americans      RC 53986
by James C. Chatters
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Discussion of the anthropological and legal debate surrounding the 1996 discovery of 9,500-year-old skeletal remains in Kennewick, Washington. The bones have provoked controversy between the scientists who hope to investigate their origins and local Native Americans who claim ancestral reburial rights. 2001.

The Warden of English: The Life of H.W. Fowler      RC 53987
by Jenny McMorris
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Biography of the British grammarian and lexicographer Henry Watson Fowler (1858-1933), author of works on English language usage. Chronicling the eccentric's personal as well as professional life, reveals his dedication to detail in both spheres. Discusses how his love of language became the cornerstone of his career. 2001.

The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture, Society, and Politics      RC 54009
by Bruce J. Schulman
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Historian portrays life in the United States in the 1970s, and shows how the decade transformed American popular beliefs and cultural attitudes. Analyzes presidential politics, national policies, and the shift of economic power. Describes the many social changes, including racial integration, the graying of America, and the women's movement. 2001.

Crescent and Star: Turkey between Two Worlds      RC 54015
by Stephen Kinzer
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
A New York Times correspondent intersperses essays on cultural, social, and political events in Turkey with recollections of his personal experiences there between 1996 and 2000. Analyzes a country caught between its Muslim heritage and its desire to westernize and join the European Union. 2001.

The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family      RC 54027
by Mary S. Lovell
read by Lisette Lecat
4 cassettes
The lives and times of six aristocratic British sisters, exploring family relationships, artistic successes, scandals, and tragedies. Traces their involvements in clashing political ideologies between the World Wars. One of them, Diana, married British fascist Oswald Mosley and became "the most hated woman in England," spending most of World War II in prison. Bestseller 2001.

The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton      RC 54028
by Joe Klein
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
Political analyst and author of bestselling Primary Colors (RC 41822) reassesses Clinton's presidency. Argues that despite personal failings, Clinton ran a "serious, disciplined, responsible presidency," with lasting effects on the economy and on the American people. Klein examines the historical record and attempts to put it into perspective. Bestseller 2002.

Get with the Program! Getting Real about Your Health, Weight, and Emotional Well-Being      RC 54029
by Bob Greene
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Bestselling author of Make the Connection (RC 43178) presents a four-phase program requiring physical and emotional commitment to change behavior and attitude. Offers advice on dieting, exercising, and achieving the mindset to gain long-lasting effects. Bestseller 2002.

Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson      RC 54030
by Kenneth R. Timmerman
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
Muckraking journalist investigates the career of controversial civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, contending that Jackson has consistently "manipulated the truth to build a false portrait of himself." Timmerman accuses Jackson of abusing power, misusing tax-exempt funds, threatening boycotts to extort donations from corporations, supporting African dictators, and espousing a subversive domestic agenda. Bestseller 2002.

Report from Ground Zero      RC 54031
by Dennis Smith
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
Retired New York City firefighter and author of Report from Engine Co. 82 (RC 48762) reports on the heroic rescue efforts that took place at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and the following months. Includes eyewitness accounts from firemen, policemen, and emergency personnel. Bestseller 2002.

The Mothman Prophecies      RC 54034
by John A. Keel
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Record of a sympathetically disposed journalist's investigation of reported paranormal phenomena, including sightings of a flying red-eyed humanlike creature called the "Mothman," that occurred in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1966 and 1967. In a brief 2001 afterword, Keel gives an approving nod to the popular movie based on his work. Bestseller 1975.

Knight: My Story      RC 54038
by Bob Knight
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Autobiography by Indiana University's controversial basketball coach, fired in September 2000 after twenty-nine seasons. Describes his days as a player before moving to teaching positions and explains the circumstances that led to his dismissal. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential      RC 54039
by Caroline Myss
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Intuitive healer and author of Anatomy of the Spirit (RC 45739) postulates that everyone is born with a higher purpose or mission and should channel energy constructively by living in accord with that sacred contract. Presents exercises, charts, and a chakras map to help readers identify archetypes for spiritual self-examination. Bestseller 2001.

A Song Flung Up to Heaven      RC 54044
by Maya Angelou
read by Gail Nelson
1 cassette
In this sixth volume of her memoirs, Angelou documents her life in the 1960s when she returned to America from Ghana to participate in the civil rights movement. Discusses the impact of the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. on her, personally and professionally. Bestseller 2002.

A Cook's Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal      RC 54047
by Anthony Bourdain
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Chef's journey pairs food and travel for adventures--if not perfection--in eating. Bourdain eats duck in the Mekong Delta with Vietnamese war heroes, attends a pig slaughter in Portugal, and retraces childhood summers in France. His quest is associated with a Food Network TV series. Strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Love, Greg and Lauren      RC 54052
by Greg Manning
read by Tom Burch
3 cassettes
A World Trade Center burn victim's recovery, told in her husband's day-by-day account that "began as e-mails advising our friends on Lauren's condition; it grew into a diary of our lives." Lauren Manning, mother of a ten-month-old, was burned over 82 percent of her body but left the hospital ninety days later. Bestseller 2002.

The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership      RC 54057
by Steven B. Sample
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
The president of the University of Southern California delivers his thoughts on leaders and leadership from an unconventional perspective. Considers the art of leadership as a process of artistic evolution. Includes case studies, anecdotes, and frequent quotes from historical and contemporary leaders. Bestseller 2002.

The Bridge at No Gun Ri: A Hidden Nightmare from the Korean War      RC 54074
by Charles J. Hanley and others
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Detailed account of a massacre of hundreds of South Korean civilians by United States soldiers in the early days of the Korean War. The reporters, who interviewed survivors on both sides and conducted extensive research, won a Pulitzer Prize for their work. Violence. 2001.

Death in the Afternoon      RC 54078
by Ernest Hemingway
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Classic treatise on all phases of bullfighting from the raising and training of the animals to sketches of bullfighters. Descriptions of bravery, cowardice, pageantry, and history are enlivened by Hemingway's comments on life and literature. Some strong language. 1932.

Becoming Mona Lisa: The Making of a Global Icon      RC 54099
by Donald Sassoon
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Assesses the appeal of the Renaissance masterpiece painted by Leonardo da Vinci and viewed by millions annually at the Louvre in Paris. Discusses the origins of this portrait of an enigmatically smiling woman and explains how it became the best-known painting in the world. 2001.

Rites of Spring: The Great War and the Birth of the Modern Age      RC 54100
by Modris Eksteins
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
History professor traces the origins, the impact, and the influence of World War I. Discusses how the death and destruction of the Great War marked a turning point in the cultural history of Western society, changed its psychological viewpoint, and led to the spirit of the modern age. 1989.

Zoya's Story: An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom      RC 54106
by Zoya
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
An Afghan woman recounts growing up during the Russian oppression, the chaotic period of transition when the Russians left, and women's suppression under Taliban rule. Describes her association with the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). Some violence. 2002.

The Prophet      RC 54107
by Kahlil Gibran
read by Fred Major
1 cassette (Reissue)
Prose-poem reflections by the Lebanese mystic poet, Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931). Meditations on such subjects as love, marriage, joy and sorrow, crime and punishment, pain, and self-knowledge. 1923.

The American Yoga Association's Easy Does It Yoga: The Safe and Gentle Way to Health and Well-Being RC 54110
by Alice Christensen
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
A beginning breathing, exercise, and meditation program for older adults and those with medical conditions or a sedentary lifestyle. Discusses nutrition, meditation, philosophy, and stress-reducing techniques. Lists routines that can be used in a wheelchair or bed. 1999.

Bowling for Beginners: Simple Steps to Strikes and Spares      RC 54112
by Don Nace
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Explains equipment, scoring, techniques, and etiquette of the game of bowling. Also gives tips on how to improve one's score and how to prepare oneself mentally in order to win. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2001.

The Aging Eye      RC 54126
by Sandra Gordon
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Discusses the natural aging of the eye, how to protect one's vision, and the three most common disorders in later life: cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Describes the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments available for these conditions. 2001.

The Essential Microwave Handbook: The Complete Guide to Microwave Cooking      RC 54127
by Carol Bowen
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
A collection of more than eighty microwavable recipes, including appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Discusses the advantages of microwave cooking, factors affecting cooking, and required cookware and utensils. Presents cooking and defrosting charts. Suggests foods best for microwave preparation and those to avoid. 2001.

It's Only a Game      RC 54130
by Terry Bradshaw
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Autobiography of celebrated Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and television broadcaster. Bradshaw discusses his rise to fame in football, his struggles with attention deficit disorder, his three divorces, and his strong belief in God. 2001.

The Sensitive Gut      RC 54136
by Michael Lasalandra and Lawrence S. Friedman
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Offers advice on coping with numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including reflux problems, dyspepsia, irritable bowel and related syndromes, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and food allergies. Includes information on aging and psychological factors as well as appropriate drug and alternative treatments. 2001.

The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children      RC 54168
by Wendy Mogel
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Child psychologist advises parents on how to instill values in children by using traditional Jewish teachings that are appropriate to all faiths. Offers examples to improve parenting skills and expectations and to raise happier offspring. Bestseller 2001.

Love Stories: Stories of True Romance      RC 54217
edited by Jennifer Soong
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Short reminiscences from teenage couples who describe how they met and fell in love. Includes tales of instant attraction, deepening friendship, and tragedy, and tidbits from Hollywood celebrities. For senior high readers. 2001.

Hoop Roots      RC 54230
by John Edgar Wideman
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Combining memoir, fictional homage, and social commentary, an African American novelist reflects on his lifelong relationship with basketball. Associates the game with culture, race, and family love. Some strong language. 2001.

Sounds of the River: A Memoir      RC 54246
by Da Chen
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Continuation of the autobiographical tale begun in Colors of the Mountain (RC 51314). At university in Beijing, the author studies English and comments on the growing Western influence on China as well as on his personal thoughts and habits. Some strong language. 2002.

Wake of the Coasters      RC 54254
by John F. Leavitt
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
An informal history of late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century life aboard New England coasting schooners used for trade. This "haphazard series of recollections of men, vessels, and ports--of a way of life now vanished and almost forgotten"-- focuses mostly on Maine. 1970.

Silas Talbot: Captain of Old Ironsides      RC 54256
by William M. Fowler
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
History professor illustrates the life and times of Silas Talbot (1751-1813), who was not only a Revolutionary War hero and U.S. Navy captain in command of the frigate Constitution, but also a privateer, prosperous landowner, and a New York state representative. 1995.

Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America      RC 54260
by Yossef Bodansky
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
Biography of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and the radical militant Islamic movement he helped create. Provides background on fundamentalism in the Arab world before the 2001 strikes against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Discusses attacks on American targets in the 1990s and bin Laden's pursuit of unconventional weapons. Bestseller 1999.

Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics      RC 54261
by Martin Ewans
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Former British diplomat provides an overview of the ancient and modern history of the troubled Central Asian country. Discusses Afghanistan's conflicting tribal traditions, the absence of a central government, and its centuries of warfare and foreign occupation. 2002.

Fatal Choice: Nuclear Weapons and the Illusion of Missile Defense      RC 54263
by Richard Butler
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Australian diplomat and advocate of arms control addresses the global challenge of nuclear weapons. He proposes a series of measures to restrict their proliferation and reduce the threat of their use. Butler is the author of The Greatest Threat (RC 52515). 2001.

Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of the City      RC 54285
by Andrew Kirtzman
read by Peter Johnson
3 cassettes
The administration of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in a reporter's account that includes the destruction at the World Trade Center. Describes the ex-prosecutor's policies, personality, bitter rivalries, and family problems. Illustrates how the city recovered from decades of crime and corruption. Some strong language. 2000.

Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word      RC 54316
by Randall Kennedy
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Harvard Law School professor provides a history of the motives and effects of the use of the word "nigger." Kennedy analyzes social and legal implications of the word's employment in modern professional, academic, and artistic environments, as well as between and within races. Strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Last Man Down: A Firefighter's Story of Survival and Escape from the World Trade Center      RC 54321
by Richard Picciotto
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Fire chief Richard "Pitch" Picciotto of the Eleventh Battalion describes being trapped in the north tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, when it collapsed. Relates how he and other firefighters dug their way out when they realized rescue was nearly impossible. Strong language. 2002.

You Cannot Be Serious      RC 54346
by John McEnroe
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Autobiography of notorious tennis champion who dominated the game in the 1980s. Dubbed "Super-Brat" by journalists, McEnroe reminisces about his athletic success as a child in Queens, New York, his famous matches, and failed marriage to actress Tatum O'Neal. Describes his current marriage to singer Patty Smyth. Bestseller 2002.

Fear Less: Real Truth about Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism      RC 54356
by Gavin de Becker
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
The author of The Gift of Fear (RC 44931) guides readers to "a true, informed feeling of safety that comes from understanding violence, risk, intuition, [and] fear" during a period of threatened national security. Describes terrorist plots foiled by the U.S. government. Discusses air travel and the prospect of biological warfare. 2002.

Not Out of Africa: How Afrocentrism Became an Excuse to Teach Myth as History      RC 54362
by Mary Lefkowitz
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Professor of classics disputes the afrocentric claims that black Egyptians brought civilization to Greece and are therefore the true founders of western culture. She decries the politicizing of education. Epilog refutes author's critics. 1997.

Hurricane Watch: Forecasting the Deadliest Storms on Earth      RC 54368
by Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
A meteorologist and a science journalist present the history of devastating storms in the United States, giving a scientific explanation of such weather. Includes information on the pioneers of hurricane study and the authors' firsthand experiences during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. 2001.

Artificial Paradises      RC 54380
by Charles Baudelaire
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
A modern English translation of the works of Baudelaire, a nineteenth-century French symbolist poet, writing on the effects of hashish, opium, and wine--the mind-altering drugs of his era. Contains Baudelaire's response in 1860 to Thomas De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (RC 24561). 1996.

My Greatest Day in Football: The Legends of Football Recount Their Greatest Moments      RC 54384
edited by Bob McCullough
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Twenty-nine players and coaches relive their best moments in football. Includes Don Shula and the "perfect season," Bart Starr and the "Ice Bowl," Y.A. Tittle and the day he was traded to the New York Giants, and Leroy Kelly making it into the Hall of Fame. Some strong language. 2001.

Timebomb: The Global Epidemic of Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis      RC 54396
by Lee B. Reichman
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
According to Reichman, "More people are dying of tuberculosis today than ever before in history." He examines the worldwide incidence of tuberculosis at the close of the twentieth century, the origins of multi-drug-resistant TB strains, and society's shifting attitude toward the disease--from merely a health problem to an economic problem. 2001.

Witnesses at the Creation: Hamilton, Madison, Jay, and the Constitution      RC 54399
by Richard B. Morris
read by John Hammock
2 cassettes
Describes how three American statesmen collaborated on a series of newspaper articles to convince the newly created thirteen states to adopt the Constitution. The eighty-five letters, compiled as The Federalist in 1787, led to the formation of the union and the election of George Washington as its first president. 1985.

Central and East Africa: 1880 to the Present, from Colonialism to Civil War      RC 54411
by Daniel E. Harmon
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
Describes the land, people, geography, and wildlife of east-central Africa. Includes the countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Somalia, and Uganda. Focuses on their European colonization and subsequent independence. For junior and senior high readers. 2002.

Scheherazade Goes West: Different Cultures, Different Harems      RC 54580
by Fatema Mernissi
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
A Moroccan sociologist examines the western misconception of a harem as a group of voluptuous sex slaves at the male's command. She provides personal insights on Muslim perceptions of the traditional women's quarters and explores European attitudes in works of art and philosophy. 2001.

The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq      RC 54856
by Kenneth M. Pollack
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
A Persian Gulf expert, formerly a CIA and National Security Council analyst, argues that the United States should invade Iraq, destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, oust Saddam Hussein, and establish a new government. Examines two decades of U.S.-Iraqi relations, Iraq's arsenal, terrorism, and policy options. Bestseller 2002.

Cassettes Fiction

A Veiled Reflection: Westward Chronicles, Volume 3      RC 51117
by Tracie Peterson
read by Gillian Green
2 cassettes
Because she wants to get married, Judith Danvers convinces her twin sister, Jillian, to replace her as a Harvey Girl in Arizona. But when Jillian begins work, she faces one disaster after another, including a doctor's seeing through her charade. Sequel to Hidden in a Whisper (RC 51116). 2000.

Rehearsal for Love      RC 51744
by Faith Baldwin
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
New York City. Kathleen Roberts falls in love with her boss, Pat Bell. Disenchanted by his work ethics, she calls off their engagement. Playwright Paul McClure, a man she never considered, has been waiting in the wings. During a hurricane, the two men face off. 1940.

The Brideship      RC 51859
by Joan Weir
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
England, 1862. When fifteen-year-old Sarah, her cousin Maud, and friend Lizzie are chosen to leave the horrid orphanage and travel to western Canada, they are thrilled. Then the girls learn that they are to become mail-order brides. Can they escape their fate? For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Pictures, 1918      RC 51871
by Jeanette Ingold
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Asia is a high school junior in a small Texas town during World War I. As her feelings for her neighbor, Nick, grow, Asia also becomes enamored of a new hobby--photography. Meanwhile, she worries about her grandmother's growing forgetfulness and Nick's unsettling cousin. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

Tribute to Another Dead Rock Star      RC 52330
by Randy Powell
read by Phil Regensdorf
1 cassette
Fifteen-year-old Grady returns to Seattle for a rock concert honoring his late mother, a heavy-metal icon. Grady needs a new place to live but thinks his mentally disabled half-brother Louie's large Christian family won't accept him. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

Carolina Autumn      RC 52340
by Carol Lynch Williams
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
As she begins high school, fourteen-year-old Carolina is grieving over the death of her father and sister, while dealing with difficult relationships with her mother and her best friend. Each step forward helps Carolina learn to rely on her own strength and courage. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

Cotton Comes to Harlem      RC 52599
by Chester Himes
read by Chuck Young
2 cassettes
Con artist Deke O'Hara swindles $87,000 from residents of Harlem in a back-to-Africa scheme. When O'Hara is robbed by two white men, detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones handle the case. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1965.

The Body of Christopher Creed      RC 52758
by Carol Plum-Ucci
read by Bruce Nelson
2 cassettes
Torey Adams, a high school junior with a perfect life, struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the class outcast. As he searches for answers, he analyzes his own behavior and discovers secrets in the victim's family. Some strong language. For senior high readers. Michael L. Printz Honor. 2000.

Second to None: Richard Bolitho Novels, Volume 24      RC 52775
by Alexander Kent
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
1815. Sequel to Sword of Honour (RC 52774). Lady Catherine, Sir Richard Bolitho's mistress, needs another protector after his death during a sea battle. His nephew Adam is given command of a new frigate, fighting back pirates and slavers off the coast of Africa. And Napoleon stages a comeback. 1999.

Sea of Silver Light: Otherland, Volume 4      RC 52927
by Tad Williams
read by Erik Sandvold
8 cassettes in 2 containers
The band of virtual explorers trapped in Otherland now realize that their survival lies at the heart of Otherland's virtual world. But bizarre events hamper their getting there. Speed is especially important because the real world may not exist much longer. Sequel to Mountain of Black Glass (RC 52926). Violence and strong language. 2001.

A Step from Heaven      RC 53115
by An Na
read by Celeste Lawson
1 cassette
Young Ju and her parents move to California from Korea when she is small. They struggle with a strange language and culture, but Young Ju becomes a top student. Over the years her father becomes more and more abusive. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2001.

More Stories from My Father's Court      RC 53129
by Isaac Bashevis Singer
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
Twenty-seven more stories evoking the Jewish community in early-twentieth-century Warsaw. The stories are drawn from Singer's childhood recollections of the men and women who came to his father, the rabbi, for advice and opinion on Jewish law. Sequel to In My Father's Court (RC 53128). 2000.

The Miocene Arrow      RC 53131
by Sean McMullen
read by Suzanne Toren
4 cassettes
Sequel to Souls in the Great Machine (RC 53130). In the fortieth century the former lands of Australia and America are at war. The Americans, led by Sair Feydamor, not only have to fight the Call but also thwart attack from orbiting satellites known as the Sentinels. 2000.

A Murder, a Mystery, and a Marriage      RC 53185
by Mark Twain
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
A previously unpublished story by Mark Twain, written in 1876. Set in small-town Missouri, the tale involves an arranged marriage, a mysterious stranger, and a convenient murder and has a twist at the end. The foreword and afterword by Roy Blount Jr. explain the book's literary significance. 2001.

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse      RC 53273
by Louise Erdrich
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
From 1912 to 1996 Agnes De Witt has presented herself to the Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota as a benevolent priest, Father Damien, all the while concealing her female identity. She recalls her life story while debating what to reveal to a Vatican envoy investigating a nun's alleged miracles. Some descriptions of sex. 2001.

Captain from Castile      RC 53334
by Samuel Shellabarger
read by Peter Gil
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Spain, 1518. Young aristocrat Pedro de Vargas leaves behind his family, the injustices of the Inquisition, and a beautiful gypsy girl to travel to New Spain to seek his fortune. There he joins Hernán Cortés's Conquistadors to overcome the infidels in Mexico. Some violence. 1945.

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Fourteenth Annual Collection      RC 53339
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
read by Mary Kane
6 cassettes
Following an overview of the genre in the year 2000, this collection of forty-four stories and nine poems ranges from fairy tales to gothic horror, from magical realism to dark tales. Includes works by Louise Erdrich, Tanith Lee, Stewart O'Nan, and Neil Gaiman. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001.

The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century      RC 53349
edited by Tony Hillerman
read by Ted Stoddard
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Anthology of short crime stories of the twentieth century. Includes classic authors like O. Henry, Raymond Chandler, William Faulkner, and Ellery Queen and contemporary writers like Sue Grafton, Lawrence Block, and Dennis Lehane. Foreword by Otto Penzler. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Thirteenth Annual Collection      RC 53404
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
read by L.J. Ganser
6 cassettes
Following an overview of work published in the genre in 1999, this collection of thirty-seven stories, ten poems, and one essay offers tales of magic, romance, horror, and fantasy. Includes works by Neil Gaiman, Gene Wolfe, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Steven Millhauser. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

The Ring of Five Dragons: The Pearl Saga, Book 1      RC 53463
by Eric Van Lustbader
read by Gary Tipton
5 cassettes
The Kundalan people have been enslaved for a century by the V'ornns. People pray that the goddess Miina will save them. Fifteen-year-old twins Giyan and Bartta, novices to the goddess and her sorcery, and Dar Sala-at, a V'ornn, help find the Pearl to fulfill a prophecy. Some violence. 2001.

A River Out of Eden      RC 53481
by John Hockenberry
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Biologist Francine Smohalla, half-Chinook Native American, stocks the Columbia River with salmon. She meets Duke McCurdy, a member of the Aryan Nation, when they discover a murdered federal worker. More deaths occur with evidence pointing to a member of Francine's tribe. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2001.

The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, Volume 12      RC 53486
edited by Stephen Jones
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Selection of twenty-two short stories and novellas from the year 2000, with an introductory overview of the year in horror fiction writing and publishing. Also includes "Necrology: 2000," which lists writers, artists, and performers contributing to the horror genre, who died in 2000. 2001.

The Bat, The Haunted Lady, The Yellow Room: Three Complete Novels by America's Mistress of Mystery RC 53494
by Mary Roberts Rinehart
read by Madelyn Buzzard
4 cassettes
Works by an early-twentieth-century mystery writer (1876-1958), whose sons later established the Farrar & Rinehart publishing company. In The Bat a serial killer preys on the wealthy for blood and money, finally trapping Dale Ogden and her aunt in a country house during a storm. 1995.

Karyn's Memory Box: Keepsake Legacies, Volume 2      RC 53516
by Stephanie Grace Whitson
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
1997. Reagan Bishop buys a crock at an antique auction and discovers a memory box belonging to Karyn Ensinger. Reagan locates Karyn's granddaughter Irene, who relates the story of how Karyn came to America in 1880 and, with faith and courage, built a new life there. Sequel to Sarah's Patchwork (RC 53515). 1999.

The Shunning: Heritage of Lancaster County, Volume 1      RC 53518
by Beverly Lewis
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Katie Lapp has always felt she does not belong in the Amish community of Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania. Then on the eve of her wedding to widower Bishop John, a startling announcement by her parents begins to unravel the only world Katie has ever known. Prequel to The Confession (RC 53519). 1997.

The Confession: Heritage of Lancaster County, Volume 2      RC 53519
by Beverly Lewis
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Sequel to The Shunning (RC 53518). Katie, now Katherine Mayfield, searches for her birth mother. The journey takes her to the Finger Lakes region of New York and into a world of compassion and greed, mercy and betrayal. Meanwhile, Katie's first love, Daniel, wants to rekindle their relationship. 1997.

The Pillars of Creation: The Sword of Truth, Book 7      RC 53660
by Terry Goodkind
read by Nick Sullivan
4 cassettes
Jennsen Daggett, controlled by dark forces, seeks revenge against Lord Richard Rahl for killing her mother. Meanwhile, Rahl and his wife, Kahlan, must face their own demons in a strange and desolate land. Sequel to Faith of the Fallen (RC 50941). Violence. 2001.

Anthony Adverse      RC 53696
by Hervey Allen
read by Mark Ashby
9 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)
Vast, popular historical romance charting the fortunes of a young man born out of wedlock in 1775, raised in an Italian convent, and apprenticed to a merchant. Adverse becomes wealthy as a trader in Africa, Napoleonic Europe, and America. Through many adventures he carries a Madonna figure that belonged to his dead mother. 1933.

The Years with Laura Díaz      RC 53699
by Carlos Fuentes
read by MaryBeth Wise
4 cassettes
Born in 1898, Laura grows up with the new century, her personal story intermingled with the turbulent history of Mexico. Among her friends she numbers Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, who paints her image into one of his murals. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

The Knight of the Sacred Lake: Guenevere, Volume 2      RC 53707
by Rosalind Miles
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country (RC 53706), peace is restored to Guenevere's kingdom after years of strife. But the goddess cult on the sacred isle of Avalon is threatened. And Guenevere continues to betray Arthur by loving Lancelot. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.

The Child of the Holy Grail: Guenevere, Volume 3      RC 53708
by Rosalind Miles
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
This sequel to The Knight of the Sacred Lake (RC 53707) completes the Guenevere trilogy. Encompasses the quest for the Holy Grail and the fall of Camelot, while Guenevere endures and rises to fulfill her destiny. Some descriptions of sex. 2001.

Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt      RC 53723
by Wilbur Smith
read by David Hartley-Margolin
5 cassettes
In this sequel to River God (RC 37819), Taita retreats to the desert to study magic after the death of his lover and queen. Years later, when the queen's teenage grandson, Nefer, becomes pharaoh, Taita returns to protect him from intrigue. Violence, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 2001.

Bamboo and Lace      RC 53748
by Lori Wick
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Lily Walsh has grown up under the guidance of her missionary father in a remote village in a small Asian country. When her brother Jeff, who lives in Hawaii, invites her to visit, their father reluctantly agrees. In Hawaii Lily meets her brother's friend, Gabe, and soon finds herself torn between two very different worlds. 2001.

On Basilisk Station: Honor Harrington, Volume 1      RC 53759
by David Weber
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Begins a series chronicling the career of spaceship naval officer Honor Harrington, accompanied by her six-legged telepathic cat. Having antagonized her male superiors, Honor is exiled to the galactic outpost Basilisk Station, from where she proves her mettle and military prowess. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1993.

American Front: The Great War, Book 1      RC 53761
by Harry Turtledove
read by Fred Major
5 cassettes
In this alternative history of World War I, President Theodore Roosevelt and the United States join Germany, while President Woodrow Wilson and the Confederate States of America back France and England. The war is fought in trenches on American soil. Violence and strong language. 1998.

Justifiable Means: Sun Coast Chronicles, Volume 2      RC 53764
by Terri Blackstock
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Detective Larry Millsaps--Evidence of Mercy (RC 53763)--is investigating the rape of Melissa Nelson. Bothered by her extensive knowledge regarding evidence needed to convict her attacker, Millsaps finds himself falling in love with her while he tries to uncover her real reasons for wanting a prime suspect behind bars. 1996.

Ulterior Motives: Sun Coast Chronicles, Volume 3      RC 53765
by Terri Blackstock
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Detectives Tony Danks and Larry Millsaps investigate the murder of art dealer Louis Dubose. Their main suspect is Ben Robinson, but Ben's ex-wife, Sharon, is not convinced of his guilt. Faith in Jesus holds them all together on a search for kidnapped children--who may hold the crimes' answers. Sequel to Justifiable Means (RC 53764). 1996.

Under Fire: The Corps, Book 9      RC 53772
by W.E.B. Griffin
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Korea, 1950. Captain Ken McCoy is drummed out of the Marine Corps for warning his superiors that North Korea may attack. The newly formed CIA hires McCoy, and American war veterans are recalled as the invasion begins. Sequel to In Danger's Path (RC 47698). Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Widow's Walk      RC 53773
by Robert B. Parker
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Boston private investigator Spenser is hired in a case involving a young wife suspected of shooting her millionaire husband. Spenser's sleuthing seems to stir up trouble, and, after six more murders, he calls in his bodyguard, Hawk. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Southampton Row: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Mystery      RC 53780
by Anne Perry
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes
London, 1892. A politician's wife is a suspect in the murder of a popular spiritualist. Inspector Pitt, having been involuntarily transferred after The Whitechapel Conspiracy (RC 53266), thinks his enemy, Charles Voisey, is guilty--especially since Voisey is running for office against the accused's husband. Bestseller 2002.

A Century of Great Suspense Stories      RC 53801
edited by Jeffery Deaver
read by John Polk
5 cassettes
A collection of thirty-six short mystery and suspense stories from twentieth-century masters including Lawrence Block, Erle Stanley Gardner, Tony Hillerman, John D. MacDonald, Sara Paretsky, Ellery Queen, and Rex Stout. 2001.

Up at the Villa      RC 53803
by W. Somerset Maugham
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Thirty-year-old English widow Mary Panton, mending her spirits at a borrowed Italian villa, receives two marriage proposals--one from a friend of her late father and another from a ne'er-do-well. When tragedy strikes, Mary uncovers the true character of each suitor. 1940.

Evolution's Darling      RC 53806
by Scott Westerfeld
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Thanks to the loving care of a spaceship captain's daughter, an astronavigational computer achieves sentience. Two centuries later, the machine secures a body of its own as it tracks down rare art works and seeks the answer to the riddle of its being. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1999.

Lord of the Far Island      RC 53827
by Victoria Holt
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes (Reissue)
At the turn of the century, orphaned Ellen Kellaway is raised by wealthy cousins in London as a companion to their daughter. Although Ellen is courted by fun-loving Philip, son of a powerful family, she senses impending doom as a recurrent nightmare haunts her. 1975.

Yankee Doodle Dead: A Death on Demand Mystery      RC 53834
by Carolyn Hart
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Annie and Max Darling, proprietors of a bookshop on a South Carolina island, investigate the murder of retired Brigadier General Bud Hatch, a Yankee transplant. Hatch took over the running of the library board and the Fourth of July festivities. He was killed during the fireworks. Some strong language. 1998.

The Highlander's Touch      RC 53836
by Karen Marie Moning
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Lisa Stone, a twenty-first-century woman, is transported back to fourteenth-century Scotland after she touches a rare museum artifact. She meets the immortal laird Circenn Brodie, who has pledged to kill the bearer of the flask. Brodie instead falls in love with the beautiful stranger. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

The Great Legend      RC 53837
by Rex Stout
read by Brian Conn
2 cassettes
Ancient Troy. Young warrior Idaeus, his brother killed in battle, becomes a kesten (scribe) for the king. Palace life ensnares him in the daily doings of royalty, secret missions, and political intrigue--while he falls in love with a slave. First serialized in All-Story Weekly. 1916.

American Tabloid      RC 53838
by James Ellroy
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
Three former lawmen become immersed in the political corruption that leads to President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Hired killer Pete Bondurant works for Howard Hughes, ex-FBI agent Ward Littell becomes a mob lawyer, and CIA operative Kemper Boyd pimps for Kennedy. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1995.

The Stainless Steel Rat      RC 53845
by Harry Harrison
read by John Polk
1 cassette (Reissue)
Slippery Jim can rob a bank in any solar system, con a space captain out of his ship, and start or stop a war, whichever pays him more. So when the cops catch him, the only sensible thing to do is make him a policeman on the Special Forces Squad. 1961.

Halfhyde and the Chain Gangs      RC 53846
by Philip McCutchan
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
The Home Secretary has commissioned an unwilling Halfhyde "to embark convicts for South Africa and to take command of a prison ship." These dangerous criminals will be sworn in as soldiers against the Boer upon arrival, when and if Halfhyde delivers them. Followed by Halfhyde Goes to War (RC 28556). 1985.

The Grand Complication      RC 53849
by Allen Kurzweil
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
An eccentric collector inveigles assistance from reference librarian Alexander Short to track the whereabouts of an antique watch known as the Grand Complication. To the detriment of his marriage and career, Short becomes obsessed with the search. Some strong language. 2001.

Alder Gulch      RC 53850
by Ernest Haycox
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
When Jeff Pierce jumps ship at Portland, the last thing he wants is to be involved with a woman. But runaway Diana Castle figures differently, and they head east for the gold prospectors' new boom town--Alder Gulch, Montana. 1941.

The Last Jew      RC 53852
by Noah Gordon
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
During the Spanish Inquisition, Yonah Ben Helkias's father and brother are killed--by the same person, he suspects. Drifting through the country, Yonah resists becoming a "converso" (Catholic convert) and makes a living as a laborer, an armorer, and, finally, a physician, until at last he makes peace with his memories. Some violence. 2000.

House of Dreams      RC 53854
by Brenda Joyce
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Isabel de Warenne, who was burned at the stake in 1555, has haunted generations of England's de Warennes and Spain's de la Barcas. As Cass de Warenne and Antonio de la Barca search for answers, Isabel again seeks revenge. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

Collected Stories      RC 53855
by Saul Bellow
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Thirteen stories by the American 1976 Nobel laureate. In "What Kind of Day Did You Have?" a renowned but now aging critic makes exorbitant demands of his mistress; though she complies at considerable personal hardship, he fails her at a critical juncture. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Up in the Air      RC 53856
by Walter Kirn
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Ryan Bingham travels from city to city across America performing a job he hates--firing people. He is a citizen of "Airworld," a parallel universe of airplanes, airports, chain food, rent-a-cars, and suite hotels. He is close to attaining his frequent-flier goal--one million bonus miles--before he quits or is fired himself. Some strong language. 2001.

The Baked Bean Supper Murders      RC 53861
by Virginia Rich
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Widow Eugenia Potter's neighbors are being killed in the Maine fishing village where she lives part-time, and she suspects she might be next. Between community suppers and lobster cook-offs, she investigates. 1983.

Suspicion of Vengeance      RC 53862
by Barbara Parker
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Miami attorney Gail Connor helps a family friend whose grandson is about to be executed for a murder he didn't commit. Gail and her cousin Jackie--a cop in Stuart, Florida, where the crime occurred--investigate. They uncover skeletons in their family that may be linked to the case. Violence and strong language. 2001.

Edge of Victory I: Conquest; Star Wars: The New Jedi Order      RC 53872
by Greg Keyes
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Not content with the destruction they have already rendered, the Yuuzhan Vong now want the heads of all Jedi. The most vulnerable are the young students at the Jedi academy. Anakin Solo sets out to rescue them, but may be too late. Followed by Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (RC 53873). Some violence. 2001.

Just Say No!      RC 53900
by Omar Tyree
read by Bill Quinn
4 cassettes
African American buddies Darin Harmon and John Williams of North Carolina receive college scholarships, Darin for sports and John for music. When Darin receives a career-ending injury he becomes John's manager. Successful, John struggles with the temptations of fame--and his bipolar condition. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2001.

The Cardinal      RC 53913
by Henry Morton Robinson
read by David Hartley-Margolin
5 cassettes (Reissue)
Stephen Fermoyle, an Irish American from a working-class family, becomes a parish priest and eventually a cardinal. He learns the politics of a city rectory and bishop's office and, later, those of the Vatican during the first half of the twentieth century. Basis for 1963 movie. 1949.

Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express      RC 53920
by Stuart M. Kaminsky
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Russian police inspector Porfiry Rostnikov is sent on the Trans-Siberian Express to intercept a historical document from czarist times. He leaves behind in Moscow the investigation of the disappearance of a skinhead rock star and the case of a female serial killer. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

A Flash of Green      RC 53921
by John D. MacDonald
read by Chuck Benson
3 cassettes
Widowed Kat Hubble desperately tries to save the bay in her small Florida town of Palm City from being filled in. But politicians and developers conspire to make millions. Reporter James Wing falls in love with Kat and joins her cause. Some violence and some strong language. 1962.

The Captive Queen of Scots      RC 53922
by Jean Plaidy
read by Jamie Horton
3 cassettes (Reissue)
In this sequel to Royal Road to Fotheringay (RC 42082), Mary Stuart is imprisoned in 1567 in Lochleven Castle. She escapes and attempts to recapture Scotland, but she loses a battle at Langside and, fleeing to England, is made a captive by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth. 1963.

The Arms of Hercules: Book of the Gods, Volume 3      RC 53925
by Fred Saberhagen
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Hercules recounts his own story: how he learns of his true parentage, accounting for his magical strength, and how his combat with various monsters leads him to the ultimate challenge. Sequel to Ariadne's Web (RC 49938). For senior high and older readers. 2000.

A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax      RC 53927
by Dorothy Gilman
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Spymaster Mrs. Pollifax enters a Swiss health spa to track down a missing package of plutonium. But her adventure really begins when she meets Robin, a young jewel thief. 1973.

Down among the Dead Men      RC 53929
by Patricia Moyes
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes (Reissue)
While on holiday with his wife, Emmy, Chief Inspector Henry Tibbett of Scotland Yard is plunged into a murder investigation involving buried treasure. 1961.

The Murder at the Murder at the Mimosa Inn      RC 53930
by Joan Hess
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Bookstore owner Claire Malloy and her fourteen-year-old daughter, Caron, attend a mystery weekend at a friend's inn nearby. A real murder occurs during the costumed, staged event. 1986.

Many Deadly Returns: An Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery      RC 53933
by Patricia Moyes
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Lady Balaclava, an eccentric socialite with a huge fortune, is about to celebrate her seventieth birthday. When her Ouija board warns of danger, she takes a special precaution and asks Detective Chief Superintendent Henry Tibbett and his wife to attend the party. But the lady dies before their eyes. 1970.

Shadowland      RC 53957
by Peter Straub
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes (Reissue)
At an Arizona prep school in 1958, Tom Flanagan and Del Nightingale, both intrigued by magic, become fast friends. Del's uncle, master magician Coleman Collins, selects Tom as his apprentice and tests him by leading him into the nine levels of black magic. Some strong language. Bestseller 1980.

Star Wars: The Approaching Storm      RC 53974
by Alan Dean Foster
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
The Republic continues to crumble and the galactic government increasingly needs the Jedi to maintain order. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are sent on a vital mission to a world called Ansion. Precedes Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (RC 53975). For senior high and older readers. 2002.

Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones      RC 53975
by R.A. Salvatore
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
This tale begins ten years after the events of The Phantom Menace (RC 50064) and traces the downfall of Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi who later becomes Darth Vader. Based on the screenplay for the film of the same name. For senior high and older readers. Bestseller 2002.

The Stone Monkey: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel      RC 53976
by Jeffery Deaver
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Paralyzed criminologist Lincoln Rhyme and policewoman Amelia Sachs pursue a sociopath in New York City. Kwan Ang, "the Ghost," scuttled a ship smuggling illegal immigrants to prevent its capture by the authorities. Now he's tracking down survivors in order to eliminate witnesses. Violence and strong language. 2002.

The Mallen Lot      RC 53977
by Catherine Cookson
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes (Reissue)
In this sequel to The Mallen Girl (RC 51110), Barbara Bensham has an illicit affair with her first love while her triplet sons--now young adults--also find romance. Some strong language. 1974.

Shayla's Double Brown Baby Blues      RC 53980
by Lori Aurelia Williams
read by Gail Nelson
2 cassettes
Continues Shayla's story begun in When Kambia Elaine Flew in from Neptune (RC 52125). Shayla is thirteen, still sorting out her feelings about her undependable father. Now she has to learn the difficulty of supporting her problematic friends, Kambia and Lemm. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

Phantom Waltz      RC 53982
by Catherine Anderson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Rancher Ryan Kendrick of Oregon falls in love with paraplegic Bethany Coulter. Bethany was injured during a barrel-racing contest eight years ago and resists romance. But Ryan puts aside all of her obstacles and continues pursuing her. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Murphy      RC 53985
by Samuel Beckett
read by Graeme Malcolm
1 cassette
Early novel by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright and novelist who died in 1989. With grim humor, verbal showmanship, and playful erudition--very different from his later works--Beckett explores the deterioration of an alienated Irishman in London. Murphy attempts to disengage himself from everyday life, finally taking refuge in an asylum. Some strong language. 1938.

The Cottage      RC 53988
by Danielle Steel
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Seventy-year-old film idol Coop Winslow is broke and forced to take in boarders to keep his mansion. Newly divorced Mark Friedman and widowed Jimmy O'Connor bring new life to the estate, especially when Mark's teenagers move in. Coop gradually rekindles his interest in the world around him. Some strong language. 2002.

The Thistle and the Rose      RC 53989
by Jean Plaidy
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes (Reissue)
In this sequel to The Sixth Wife (RC 52377), the marriage of James IV of Scotland and Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's younger sister, gets off to a shaky start when she discovers that James not only has many mistresses but numerous illegitimate offspring. 1963.

The Matlock Paper      RC 53990
by Robert Ludlum
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Dr. James Matlock, a professor at a prestigious Connecticut college, is recruited by the U.S. Justice Department to find the key to a mysterious Corsican document. He becomes involved with drugs, a conspiracy, and the Mafia. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 1973.

Johnny under Ground      RC 53995
by Patricia Moyes
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes (Reissue)
At a reunion of officers who had served at Dymfield airfield during WWII, Emmy, wife of Chief Inspector Henry Tibbett of Scotland Yard, is persuaded to research the station's history, including the mysterious death of a pilot--raising a number of ghosts. 1965.

Hard Road: A Cat Marsala Mystery      RC 53996
by Barbara D'Amato
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Reporter Cat Marsala and her six-year-old nephew, Jeremy, are enjoying Chicago's Oz Festival when they witness a murder and flee for their lives. Unfortunately the main suspect is Jeremy's father. Includes an essay by Brian D'Amato on the works of L. Frank Baum. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

Swear by the Moon      RC 53997
by Shirlee Busbee
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
London, 1798. American Patrick Blackburne is visiting his mother in England. She asks him to stop a blackmailing scheme. As Patrick investigates, he meets notorious heiress Thea Garrett, who had endured a scandal as a young debutante and now has new troubles. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

Maigret and the Madwoman      RC 54006
by Georges Simenon
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
A little old lady with trusting eyes has a strange tale to relate to Inspector Lapointe, who is sure she is suffering from a persecution mania. A few days later she is found strangled. 1972.

The Surgeon      RC 54007
by Tess Gerritsen
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
Trauma surgeon Catherine Cordell left Savannah after escaping from a serial murderer whom she managed to kill. A copycat is now stalking her in Boston while finding other victims, and Catherine falls in love with the detective on the case. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

The Scotswoman      RC 54013
by Inglis Fletcher
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
4 cassettes
Flora MacDonald, who saved the life of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) decades earlier, joins other Highlanders in the colony of North Carolina. Many Scots who side with the Loyalists are killed or captured at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in 1776. 1954.

The Stake      RC 54014
by Richard Laymon
read by Chuck Benson
3 cassettes
While day-tripping in backcountry California, two couples come upon a ghost-town hotel. Larry, who is writing a vampire novel, and Pete decide to explore. Discovering a female body with a stake through her heart, they unleash unexpected horrors. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1991.

The Good Men: A Novel of Heresy      RC 54022
by Charmaine Craig
read by Frank Coffee
3 cassettes
In fourteenth-century southern France, Pierre Clergue, a village priest, is torn between desires of the spirit and the flesh. His clandestine affairs with three generations of women and his sympathy for the Good Men--a heretical sect--cause him anguish during the Inquisition. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Atonement      RC 54023
by Ian McEwan
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
England, 1935. Cambridge graduates Cecilia and Robbie fall in love, defying class distinctions. But a greater crime is perpetrated by Cecilia's melodramatic thirteen-year-old sister, Briony. Her willful misconstruction of events she witnesses leads to the disintegration of her upper-class family and a lifetime of recriminations. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Spies      RC 54025
by Michael Frayn
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Following one of their mothers around the neighborhood, two British schoolboys during World War II imagine that she is a German spy. Stephen and Keith soon enter the world of grownups and become entangled in events beyond their comprehension. Bestseller 2002.

A Multitude of Sins: Stories      RC 54026
by Richard Ford
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Nine stories and a novella about love and relationships inside and outside marriage. In "Dominion," a young Canadian businesswoman, married with one son, has a long-term affair with an older divorced American. Now both want to end the intimacy, and they search for exit lines. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

The Nanny Diaries      RC 54032
by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Satirical take on rich New Yorkers who hire caregivers to be substitute parents. An NYU student majoring in child development opts for a part-time nanny job to pay her rent and winds up with more family involvement than she anticipated. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Fool's Errand: The Tawny Man, Book 1      RC 54033
by Robin Hobb
read by Jack Fox
5 cassettes
In the first volume of a trilogy, thirty-five-year-old FitzChivalry Farseer leaves his semiretired seclusion to confront the two magics that divide him and the kingdom. The disappearance of young Prince Dutiful galvanizes Fitz into a quest requiring all his skills. 2002.

Princess in Love      RC 54037
by Meg Cabot
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
New York ninth-grader Mia Thermopolis continues her diary detailing her life with a boyfriend she does not love, impossible algebra tests, a pregnant mother, and princess lessons from her strict grandmère. Sequel to Princess in the Spotlight (RC 52779). For junior and senior high readers. 2002.

Thursday's Child      RC 54040
by Sandra Brown
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Genetic scientist Allison Leamon reluctantly agrees to trade places with her identical and flamboyant twin, Ann, while Ann undergoes cosmetic surgery to surprise her fiancé, Davis. But events get complicated when Allison and Davis's best friend fall in love at first sight. Explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1985.

Kaleidoscope: A Countess Karitska Novel      RC 54041
by Dorothy Gilman
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes
New adventures in the world of crime as Madame Karitska The Clairvoyant Countess (RC 12703) teams up again with Detective Lieutenant Pruden. The psychic calls on him after an attaché case full of diamonds is thrown in her lap on the New York subway. 2002.

Pendragon      RC 54043
by Catherine Coulter
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
England, 1823. Continues the Sherbrooke family saga. Meggie Sherbrooke's heart breaks when she learns that Jeremy, the man she has spent her youth admiring, is engaged. She agrees to a hasty match with Thomas and enters the dangerous world of Pendragon. Follows The Scottish Bride (RC 51685). Descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Mortal Prey      RC 54049
by John Sandford
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Minneapolis cop Lucas Davenport teams up with the FBI to track down his old enemy, hit woman Clara Rinker from Certain Prey (RC 48436). Plot involves an inept sniper, Mexican drug lords, the St. Louis mob, and the ever wily Rinker. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 2002.

The Gates of Sleep      RC 54050
by Mercedes Lackey
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
Cornwall, England. When Marina Rosewood was a baby, her parents placed her under the care and tutelage of elemental magicians. They took this sacrificial step to avoid the curse of her evil Aunt Arachne. As Marina's fateful eighteenth birthday approached, so did the threat of the deadly prophecy. 2002.

My Lady's Temptation      RC 54053
by Denise Hampton
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
England, King John's reign. Bastard knight Josce FitzBaldwin travels to Nottingham to avenge the murders of his father and two little half-sisters. He immediately suspects that the sheriff, Reiner du Hommet, is involved but nevertheless falls in love with the sheriff's daughter, Elianne. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.

April Fool Dead: A Death on Demand Mystery      RC 54054
by Carolyn Hart
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
In her South Carolina island hometown, bookstore owner Annie Darling distributes fliers advertising an author's book signing. Then someone plays a vicious joke with counterfeit fliers accusing residents of various crimes. Annie ties the bogus fliers into the murders of a teacher and, later, a student. 2002.

Child of the Prophecy: The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 3      RC 54055
by Juliet Marillier
read by Gabriella Cavallero
4 cassettes
Sequel to Son of the Shadows (RC 53288). Final book of the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Fainne, devoted daughter of Niamh of the Sevenwaters clan of Ireland, faces the prophecy of her lineage. To end her father's torture, she must endure the tests of sorcery devised by her evil grandmother. 2002.

Reunion in Death      RC 54061
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
New York City, 2059. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas and her assistant, Peabody, investigate the serial murders of wealthy old men. Their case centers on released convict Julianna Dunne and forces Eve to face her own childhood nightmare of abuse. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

The Snow Garden      RC 54064
by Christopher Rice
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Atherton freshman Randall Stone is having an affair with Professor Eric Eberman. Scandal erupts on this northeastern campus when Eberman's wife suspiciously drowns. Stone and his friends play private investigators against a backdrop of sexual experimentation, college angst, and crimes of the past. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller 2001.

Vitals      RC 54065
by Greg Bear
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
In the near future, scientist Hal Cousins seeks the key to immortality by studying prehistoric undersea bacteria. On the brink of success, he encounters a shady corporation and killers bent on possessing his research. Fighting back, Cousins learns a dark secret about his discovery and its devastating potential. Strong language. 2002.

Everything's Eventual: Fourteen Dark Tales      RC 54067
by Stephen King
read by John Polk
4 cassettes
Fourteen short tales of horror and dread, including "Riding the Bullet"--first published on the Internet--in which Alan Parker, hitchhiking through Maine to visit his ailing mother, is picked up by a living corpse in a Mustang. In "In the Deathroom," a reporter is tortured for information. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy      RC 54075
by Rumer Godden
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Lise, an English-born Parisian former prostitute, who had been jailed for the murder of her pimp, enters a religious community of the Béthanie, a Dominican order of French women founded in the 1860s. 1979.

Tortilla Flat      RC 54076
by John Steinbeck
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Danny returns from World War I to discover he has inherited two houses in Monterey, California. He promptly invites all his friends--local denizens of mixed Spanish, Indian, Mexican, and Anglo extraction--to move in. They are a group of generally amoral idlers, with soft hearts and no scruples, who resist honest toil. 1935.

The Sheik      RC 54081
by E.M. Hull
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Influential early-twentieth-century popular romance. When Englishwoman Diana Mayo recklessly embarks on a desert outing, she is kidnapped by Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, ravished, and held hostage in his camp. But over time Diana falls in love with the handsome ruler. Some violence and some strong language. 1921.

A Personal Devil      RC 54084
by Roberta Gellis
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
London, 1139. Beautiful brothel-keeper Magdalene la Bâtarde enlists the help of her admirer, Sir Bellamy, when blind prostitute Sabina, one of Magdalene's former employees, needs assistance. Sabina's lover, Master Mainard the saddle maker, has been accused of murdering his nagging wife. Some descriptions of sex. 2001.

When I Fall in Love      RC 54088
by Iris Rainer Dart
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Life is good for Lily Benjamin. She is mother to a wonderful teenager, Bryan; has a great job as a comedy writer; and is engaged to a respected doctor. Then Bryan is shot and paralyzed, and Lily learns to listen to her heart. Some strong language. 1999.

The King of the Castle      RC 54089
by Victoria Holt
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Gothic novel set in the south of France at the turn of the century. Dallas Lawson is hired to restore the art collection of the aloof but attractive Comte de la Talle, who is rumored to have murdered his wife. Dallas finds herself involved in danger as well as romance. 1967.

Madam Ambassador      RC 54091
by Ned Calmer
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes (Reissue)
The State Department would prefer to see a seasoned diplomat be ambassador to France in 1977. So the appointment of a beautiful and strong-willed heiress, who proceeds to overturn conventions, causes a great ruckus in both the American and French governments. Some strong language. 1975.

The Search of Mary Katherine Mulloy      RC 54096
by Carole Bolton
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Driven from Ireland by the potato famine of the 1840s and the loss of most of her family, Mary Katherine Mulloy and her younger brother, Joe, arrive in New York to search for Mary's betrothed, Alan O'Dugan--who, they discover, has left for the California gold fields. For senior high and older readers. 1974.

The War Trail North: The Real People, Book 7      RC 54102
by Robert J. Conley
read by L.J. Ganser
1 cassette
The day when Young Puppy goes on his first hunt alone, his older brother is clubbed to death by Hiadeoni, a vengeful warrior of the People of the Great Hill. Now it is Young Puppy's turn for revenge, even though his journey into enemy territory could spark tribal warfare. 1995.

Trouble at Quinn's Crossing      RC 54104
by Nelson Nye
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
When Horatio Gill rides into Quinn's Crossing to sell the first barbed wire in the area, he stirs up hard feelings about fencing off access to water. Hoping to play the inhabitants' hostility to his advantage, Gill winds up in the middle of a heated dispute. Some strong language. 1971.

The Power of the Dog      RC 54111
by Thomas Savage
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Montana, 1920s. Brothers Phil and George Burbank have run their family ranch together for years. Then at thirty-eight, George marries Rose, a widow who brings her son to live with them. She is unaware that Phil was instrumental in her husband's suicide. Some strong language. 1967.

Red Stick: The White Indian, Book 26      RC 54117
by Donald Clayton Porter
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
As Tecumseh rises up in the West, Little Hawk, son of the White Indian, ponders taking up arms against the British. Meanwhile Gao, the White Indian's courageous nephew, marries and vows revenge on the soldiers who scorned him. Sequel to War Clouds (RC 39184). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1994.

Troy      RC 54118
by Adèle Geras
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Told from the point of view of the women of Troy, the tale recounts the last weeks of the Trojan War, when women are sick of tending the wounded, men are tired of fighting, and bored gods and goddesses find ways to stir things up. Some violence. For senior high and older readers. 2000.

The Touch of Fire      RC 54119
by Linda Howard
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
Arizona territory, 1871. Physician Annie Parker moves to Silver Mesa to establish a medical practice. She does not expect to fall in love with Rafe McCay after he kidnaps her, and she treats his gunshot wounds. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1992.

Shotgun Wedding      RC 54124
by Olivia Rupprecht
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Established New York artist Aaron Breedlove, returning to Appalachia when his father dies, marries beautiful Addy McDonald to keep peace between their feuding clans. Then he brings Addy back to the city, where they struggle to trust each other. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1994.

Saints and Sinners      RC 54125
by Olivia Rupprecht
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Small-town preacher Matthew Peters takes more than pastoral interest in his new neighbor, single mother Delilah Sampson. Although obviously responsive to him, Dee has secrets from her past and two children to protect. But the physical attraction between them gradually compels decisive action. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1992.

Dead Sleep      RC 54133
by Greg Iles
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
In a Hong Kong museum photojournalist Jordan Glass spots a painting of her identical twin's dead body and reopens the investigation into her murder. Glass is joined by FBI agents Daniel Baxter and Dr. Arthur Lenz from Mortal Fear (RC 44276). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

Vineyard Shadows: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery      RC 54137
by Philip R. Craig
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
Retired cop J.W. Jackson's wife, Zee, kills a deadly intruder. The gangster has been looking for Jackson's first wife's husband, Tom. When Tom shows up asking for help, Jackson's loyalties are torn. But out of respect for his ex-wife he assists Tom--who turns out to be devious. Some strong language. 2001.

Fortress in the Eye of Time      RC 54145
by C.J. Cherryh
read by Michael Scherer
5 cassettes
Mauryl, an ancient wizard near death, has one last matter to resolve. With his magical power, Mauryl creates a Shaping--a youth named Tristen--to right the wrongs of a long-ago wizard war. First in a fantasy quartet by Hugo Award-winning author. Precedes Fortress of Eagles (RC 54146). 1995.

Fortress of Eagles      RC 54146
by C.J. Cherryh
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Continues Tristen's tale begun in Fortress in the Eye of Time (RC 54145). Brought to life by a now deceased wizard, Tristen discovers unexpected prowess in war while he serves the young King Cefwyn, who dreams of a united and peaceful Ylesuin. 1998.

Black Water      RC 54160
by T. Jefferson Parker
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
On Gwen Wildcraft's twenty-sixth birthday, she dies by gunshot in her bathroom and her policeman husband, Archie, lies wounded in the yard. Most think it's a murder/attempted suicide, but detective Merci Rayborn investigates a different angle. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Me Times Three      RC 54164
by Alex Witchel
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
1980s, Manhattan. Sandra Berlin is engaged, ambitious, and expecting a storybook future. Her hopes are dashed after she learns her fiancé has deceived her. Thrown back into the singles' pool, she endures dating disasters. Her fears and epiphanies increase when her best friend becomes ill. 2002.

The Loner      RC 54170
by Joan Johnston
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Following The Texan (RC 52110) the modern-day feud between the Blackthornes and Creeds continues until love intervenes. Billy Coburn returns home to Bitter Creek and enters into a marriage of convenience with Summer Blackthorne. The two uncover family secrets and a suicide. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Face the Fire      RC 54171
by Nora Roberts
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Sam Logan returns to Three Sisters Island after a decade to reclaim Mia Devlin, a white witch. But Mia resents him for abandoning her. Sequel to Heaven and Earth (RC 53664). Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

The Short Forever      RC 54172
by Stuart Woods
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Attorney Stone Barrington accepts a job offer in England from John Bartholomew, who wants to separate his niece, Erica, from her drug-dealing boyfriend. Once there Stone reconnects with former lover Sarah Buckminster (whose fiancé mysteriously drowns) and uncovers an espionage plot. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787      RC 54181
by Winston Graham
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Captain Ross Poldark returns to Cornwall from the lost war in the American colonies to find his father dead and his small estate in ruins. Worse, his wealthy cousin Francis is betrothed to the girl he had intended to marry. Followed by Demelza (RC 54182). 1951.

Shades of Simon Gray      RC 54191
by Joyce McDonald
read by Lee Look
1 cassette
After Simon Gray, high school computer nerd, falls into a coma, strange events begin to happen in his New Jersey town. Simon's friends worry about the discovery of their cheating, while Simon is visited by the ghost of a man hanged in 1798. For senior high readers. 2001.

Behind Closed Doors      RC 54196
by Olivia Rupprecht
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Sisters Faith and Gloria secretly arrange for Faith to bear Gloria's baby. After Gloria dies of cancer, her husband, Myles, discovers his paternity and insists on marrying Faith. Although she has loved him for years, Gloria's memory could stand between them. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1991.

Stargirl      RC 54207
by Jerry Spinelli
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
When formerly home-schooled tenth-grader Stargirl enters Mica High School, her classmates shun her as an eccentric. Her boyfriend, Leo, urges her to stop playing the ukulele and conform, so she'll fit in. He learns only too late that popularity isn't what matters most. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

What You Owe Me      RC 54231
by Bebe Moore Campbell
read by Kimberly Schraf
4 cassettes
After World War II African American Hosanna Clark and Holocaust survivor Gilda Rosenstein meet while working as maids. After they develop and market a hand lotion, Gilda takes off with their profits and starts a successful cosmetic company. Hosanna's daughter, Matriece, eventually joins the company, seeking revenge. Some strong language. 2001.

The Gourmet Club: A Sextet      RC 54236
by Jun'ichiro Tanizaki
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Six stories representative of different phases of this early twentieth-century Japanese writer's work, originally published between 1911 and 1955. In the title piece, an overindulged gourmand goes to extreme lengths to pique the jaded appetites of his fellow club members. 2001.

Gateway House: A Western Story      RC 54242
by Wayne D. Overholser
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Rancher Ed Morgan rides to see his dying brother, Ben, recently released from prison. Ben gives Ed a map to his buried gambling money and asks him to share it with Ben's girlfriend, Honey Travers. But others want the loot. Some violence and some strong language. 1952.

About the Author      RC 54248
by John Colapinto
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
After his roommate Stewart Church dies in a bicycling accident, struggling writer Cal Cunningham steals Stewart's manuscript and publishes it as his own novel. Becoming rich and famous, he marries Stewart's girlfriend. Problems arise when one of Cal's former lovers blackmails him. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

Summer in Baden-Baden      RC 54249
by Leonid Tsypkin
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
Fictional recreation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's western European travels with his new wife, Anna, in 1867. Depicts his intense passions and obsessions--jealousy, gambling, his health, the constant humiliation of limited funds, and his anti-Semitism. Portrays the intimacy of the couple's conjugal love and Anna's profound grief at Dostoyevsky's deathbed. Some strong language. 1987.

The Body in the Moonlight: A Faith Fairchild Mystery      RC 54268
by Katherine Hall Page
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Faith Fairchild caters First Parish's fund-raising mystery dinner, where a beautiful young lady--of whom her minister husband is fond--dies of poison. Soon the body of the lady's fiancé is found on the moonlit sidewalk. While the village gossips, Faith's husband becomes distant. Some strong language. 2001.

The Sunroom      RC 54270
by Beverly Lewis
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
When she was twelve, Rebekah Owens, a minister's daughter from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, made a pact with God to keep her critically ill mother alive. Now, as an adult, Rebekah rereads the journal she kept when her mother was in the hospital and revisits her childhood surroundings. 1998.

The Rubber Band: A Nero Wolfe Mystery      RC 54272
by Rex Stout
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The orchid-growing detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant puzzle out a mystery that started in 1918 among a group of Nevada miners known as "The Rubber Band." Blackmail, lynching, and murder, as well as an English marquis and a beautiful woman, are involved. 1936.

The Horsemasters      RC 54277
by Joan Wolf
read by Catherine Byers
3 cassettes
In Cro-Magnon southern France a horde of horseback riders threaten the tribe of the Kindred in this sequel to Daughter of the Red Deer (RC 37125). The exiled warrior Ronan, his lover, Nel, and other renegades fight to halt the invaders. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1993.

Dying to Please      RC 54306
by Linda Howard
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Butler and bodyguard Sarah Stevens works for a retired judge. When he is murdered, Sarah is investigated and when her next employers are also killed, she becomes the main suspect. With the help--and love--of detective Thompson Cahill, Sarah discovers a deranged stalker. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2002.

The Last Chance Café      RC 54320
by Linda Lael Miller
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
When Hallie O'Rourke receives a package at her stepfather's wake, she finds her life and the lives of her twin daughters in jeopardy. Fleeing Phoenix, Hallie takes refuge at Nevada's Last Chance Café. There she meets Chance Qualtrough, who is unaware of the danger she brings. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2002.

Eden Burning      RC 54325
by Elizabeth Lowell
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In Hawaii's lush tropical landscape Chase Wilcox and Nicole Ballard struggle to come to terms with the passion blossoming between them. Nicole, whose stage name is Pele, the goddess of fire, is in truth afraid of men. Chase hopes to change her. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Lady Sophia's Lover      RC 54333
by Lisa Kleypas
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Victorian London. Impoverished Lady Sophia Sydney takes a job as a clerk/housekeeper to Bow Street magistrate Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal is to harm him, the man who sent her brother to prison and an early death--but he's not the monster she imagined. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Magic Can Be Murder      RC 54366
by Vivian Vande Velde
read by Vanessa Maroney
1 cassette
A tale that combines good witches who cast spells (teenage Nola and her mother), a murder mystery, and a love story. Nola sees a murder through her magic ability and is afraid to reveal herself as a witch to the attractive young investigator. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

Coldwater      RC 54367
by Mardi McConnochie
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
1847. Three sisters modeled on the Brontës live in Coldwater, a penal colony off the coast of Australia. They attempt to make enough money to escape their father's rule by writing novels. One young woman develops a dangerous relationship with the man their father has chosen for his model prisoner. 2001.

The Associate      RC 54369
by Phillip Margolin
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Lawyer Daniel Ames becomes the scapegoat in a lawsuit involving a pharmaceutical company accused of causing birth defects. After being fired Ames is suspected of murdering his boss. Investigator Kate Ross and attorney Amanda Jaffe help Ames research the case. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

The Bulgari Connection      RC 54387
by Fay Weldon
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Doris, the young and greedy second wife of British millionaire Barley Salt, becomes obsessed with a Bulgari necklace and the good fortune of Salt's first wife, Grace. Doris desperately attempts to own the necklace and ruin Grace's life in the process. 2000.

Beyond Bingo      RC 54403
by Joan Drummond Miller and others
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Three elderly California women feel revitalized when they buy some marijuana and bake it in brownies to help a friend who has cancer manage her pain. Before long, supplied by Mafia drug dealers, they are providing illegal relief to other customers. Then a dismembered corpse spoils the fun. Some strong language. 2000.

Whispers      RC 54404
by Dean Koontz
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Hilary Thomas, successful Hollywood screenwriter, is haunted by a violent, isolated childhood. When she is stalked by someone she knows, old fears come flooding back. Lieutenant Tony Clemenza wants to help her, but he needs her trust first. Violence and strong language. 1980.

Chopping Spree      RC 54456
by Diane Mott Davidson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz is hired by her old college buddy, mall manager Barry Dean, to handle a party for his wealthiest shoppers. At the end of the event Goldy discovers Barry stabbed to death with one of her knives. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell      RC 54470
by M.C. Beaton
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Just as newlyweds Agatha Raisin and James Lacey discover that they are irreconcilably incompatible, James's former mistress is murdered, and he disappears. Agatha and her friend Sir Charles Fraith investigate. 2001.

Relentless Pursuit: Richard Bolitho Novels, Volume 25      RC 54471
by Alexander Kent
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Off the coast of Africa, 1815. In this sequel to Second to None (RC 52775), Captain Adam Bolitho still mourns the death of his uncle, Richard, but heeds the call to duty. The British admiralty sends him into southern waters to halt slave running. 2001.

The Coelura      RC 54559
by Anne McCaffrey
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
In the twenty-second century young Lady Caissa refuses to act as the heir to the planet of Demeathorn, rejects marriage to a chosen man she despises, and flees into the forbidden zone. There she encounters a different life-form and falls in love. 1983.

Q Is for Quarry      RC 54825
by Sue Grafton
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Eighteen years ago, California policemen Stacey Oliphant and Con Dolan investigated the murder of a Jane Doe. The case was never resolved. Now retired and in ill health, they ask Kinsey Millhone for help as they try one last time to solve the case. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Books for Children

Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection.

Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, fill out the order form and send it to your cooperating library.

Cassettes Nonfiction

Locating and Evaluating Information on the Internet      RC 51186
by Art Wolinsky
read by Carolyn Hecker
1 cassette
An overview of the Internet and the development of the World Wide Web. Suggestions for formulating questions and finding answers quickly. Introduces search engines, subject trees, and Boolean logic. Advises young researchers to evaluate results by checking sources and questioning their authenticity. For grades 4-7. 1999.

Blame It on El Niño      RC 52324
by Susan Dudley Gold
read by Janet Daley
1 cassette
Examines the weather event known as El Niño, beginning with facts and fantasies about it. Discusses the local and global effects of this warm current of water that sometimes occurs off the west coast of Ecuador around Christmas. Also includes information on its cooler counterpart, La Niña. For grades 5-8. 2000.

The Place My Words Are Looking For: What Poets Say about and through Their Work      RC 52326
selected by Paul B. Janeczko
read by Peggy Gilleland
1 cassette
A collection of poems by thirty-nine poets who also comment on why they write--their inspiration, memories, and enjoyment of playing with words. For grades 4-7. 1990.

Kate and the Beanstalk      RC 52337
by Mary Pope Osborne
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
In this version of the classic tale, a girl climbs to the top of a huge beanstalk, where she uses her quick wits to outsmart a monstrous giant and to make a fortune for her mother and herself. For grades K-3 and older readers. 2000.

Living with Epilepsy      RC 52338
by Patsy Westcott
read by Graci Ragsdale Miller
1 cassette
Introduces four school-age youngsters who have epilepsy--a condition that results in various types of seizures. Explains the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this disorder and shows how it affects these children and their families. For grades 3-6. 1999.

Clean and Healthy      RC 52341
by Angela Royston
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Discusses germs and the importance of hand washing. Includes information on topics such as blood and wounds, head lice, pets and wild animals, and sunblock. Encourages vaccinations and regular medical and dental checkups. For grades 2-4. 2000.

Safety First      RC 52342
by Angela Royston
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Explains basic safety rules for daily living. Includes tips for crossing the street, riding a bicycle, and swimming. Offers advice on dressing appropriately for the weather, on kitchen safety, and on calling for help in an emergency. For grades 2-4. 2000.

A Healthy Body      RC 52343
by Angela Royston
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Explains the importance of exercise in order to stay healthy. Discusses the roles of muscles, joints, lungs, and the heart in maintaining a fit body. Encourages bending, stretching, running, and balancing as part of playing. For grades 2-4. 2000.

Eat Well      RC 52344
by Angela Royston
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Presents the food pyramid and discusses the basic food groups that are important for a healthy diet. Includes a warning about food allergies. For grades 2-4. 2000.

My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States      RC 52592
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
read by Graci Ragsdale Miller
1 cassette
Collection of poems depicting the ever-changing landscape of the United States, its people, and its natural wonders. Hopkins divides the country into seven unique regions, plus Washington, D.C. He also provides interesting facts about each state and the District of Columbia. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2000.

Meteorite! The Last Days of the Dinosaurs      RC 52593
by Richard Norris
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
A scientist uncovers evidence that a significant meteorite plunged to Earth in prehistoric times. It had a huge impact on fauna and flora and may have caused mass extinction of animal life--including the dinosaurs. For grades 5-8. 2000.

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World      RC 52932
by Faith McNulty
read by Russ Weinstein
1 cassette (Reissue)
A child takes an imaginary eight-thousand-mile journey through the center of the Earth and discovers what's inside. For grades K-3. 1979.

On My Way      RC 53114
by Tomie De Paola
read by Bruce Nelson
1 cassette
The author-illustrator continues his childhood recollections in this sequel to Here We All Are (RC 50343). He recounts the family's concern when his baby sister got pneumonia, their trip to the 1939 World's Fair, his dance recital, and starting first grade. For grades 2-4. 2001.

Odd Jobs      RC 53175
by Ellen Weiss
read by Graci Ragsdale Miller
1 cassette
Highlights twelve unusual occupations and the training needed to achieve them. Includes an alligator wrestler, armpit sniffer, storm chaser, building blaster, sound effects engineer, and a roller coaster designer. For grades 4-7. 2000.

Stone Girl, Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning      RC 53189
by Laurence Anholt
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
A brief biography of a young English fossil hunter in the early 1800s. Describes how Mary Anning learns about treasures in the rocks and how at age twelve she makes an important scientific discovery--bones of a sea monster that are 165 million years old. For grades K-3. 1998.

The Ultimate Balloon Book: Forty-Six Projects to Blow Up, Bend, and Twist      RC 53843
by Shar Levine and Michael Ouchi
read by Lou Harpenau
1 cassette
This how-to guide offers practical advice on supplies needed, techniques, and safety tips. Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a full range of designs from beginner to advanced levels. Projects include balloon animals, hats, airplanes, plants, bracelets, decorations, and games. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2001.

American Heritage Book of Great American Speeches for Young People      RC 54016
edited by Suzanne McIntire
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Over one hundred speeches, spanning almost four centuries of American history--from Powhatan's warning to Captain John Smith in 1609 through Susan B. Anthony's "Are Women Persons?" in 1873 to Senator Charles S. Robb's thoughtful reflections on the meaning of the flag in 2000. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2001.

Hope through Heartsongs      RC 54063
by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
A third collection of poems by a young boy with an incurable disease, who cherishes hope even as he faces adversity and personal challenge. In September 2001 he wrote "For Our World," wishing that everyone would pray for peace. For grades 3-6 and older readers. Bestseller 2002.

Vincent van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist      RC 54108
by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Biography of the unconventional Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Describes the artist's passion for painting; how moving from wet, cold Holland to warm southern France influenced his work; and how he became famous only after his death. For grades 6-9. Siebert Honor. 2001.

Joseph Pulitzer and the New York World      RC 54122
by Nancy Whitelaw
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
Biography of the "father of tabloid journalism," who used sensationalism to sell newspapers at the end of the nineteenth century. Discusses his career, his deteriorating vision, and his establishment of journalism prizes in his name. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

The Kid Who Invented the Trampoline: More Surprising Stories about Inventions      RC 54135
by Don L. Wulffson
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
Fifty brief accounts of how better products or procedures were discovered. Includes the development of the baby bottle (originally a dried cow's udder); the invention of Post-it notes; and the evolution of an eighth-grader's woodshop project into the snowboard. Companion to The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle (RC 46619). For grades 4-7. 2001.

Food: How We Hunt and Gather It, How We Grow and Eat It, How We Buy and Sell It, How We Preserve and Waste It, and How Some Have Too Much and Others Have Too Little of It      RC 54206
by Milton Meltzer
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
An informal historical overview of food and eating. Short segments address such topics as "How the Conquistadors Brought Chocolate to the World" and "How Pizza Came to America." For grades 5-8. 1998.

A Braid of Lives: Native American Childhood      RC 54371
edited by Neil Philip
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
Autobiographical accounts about Native American youths recorded mostly during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many focus on developing adulthood skills such as a boy's first kill in hunting and a girl's success in growing food. They also discuss playing games and attending boarding schools. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

Thanksgiving      RC 54375
by Alice K. Flanagan
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Discusses harvest festivals in other times and places leading to the Pilgrims' and Wampanoag Indians' American Thanksgiving in 1620. Explains why Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Suggests ways to show thanks on this national holiday. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Volcanoes      RC 54573
by Vincent Bunce
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Describes the nature and causes of volcanoes and lists some major eruptions through history. Tells of ways people have adapted to life near volcanoes and explains the state of earthquake prediction. For grades 4-7. 2000.

Baa! The Most Interesting Book You'll Ever Read about Genes and Cloning      RC 54576
by Cynthia Pratt Nicolson
read by Jacinda Bronaugh
1 cassette
An overview of genetics and cloning. Presents basic facts and underlying principles by discussing Mendel's pea experiments, inherited characteristics, the DNA code, faulty human genes, successful cloning of animals, and the implications of human cloning. For grades 4-7. 2001.

Cassettes Fiction

As Ever, Gordy      RC 48020
by Mary Downing Hahn
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
In this sequel to Following My Own Footsteps (RC 50424), Gordy Smith and his sister June are forced to return to their Maryland hometown. Gordy's old classmates and teachers still label him a "juvenile delinquent from a bad family." Gordy starts slipping into trouble again, until he realizes there are people who care about him. For grades 5-8. 1998.

Beetles, Lightly Toasted      RC 48783
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
Andy really wants to win a fifth-grade essay contest on conservation, and he especially wants to beat his cousin Jack. Andy's idea involves testing recipes using handy critters--like beetles and worms--on unsuspecting eaters. The results surprise him. For grades 3-6. 1987.

The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South      RC 51584
retold by Robert D. San Souci
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
Creole folktale about a poor widow and her two daughters, Rose and Blanche. Rose is cross and mean, while Blanche is sweet and kind. When Blanche treats an old witch kindly, she is rewarded. When Rose tries, she is not so lucky. For grades K-3. Coretta Scott King Award. 1989.

What Happened on Planet Kid      RC 51589
by Jane Leslie Conly
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
In the late 1950s twelve-year-old Dawn spends the summer in the country with her relatives while her mother undergoes an operation. Dawn and her new friend, Charlotte, whose father is abusive, create an imaginary world to escape their real-life problems. For grades 6-9. 2000.

Sports Stories      RC 51857
selected by Alan Durant
read by Gary Roan
2 cassettes
Twenty-one short sports stories, including extracts from some notable works such as National Velvet and Tom Brown's School Days. The stories feature soccer, tennis, basketball, hockey, go-cart racing, and other popular pastimes. Authors include Walter Dean Myers, Julius Lester, Matt Christopher, and Thomas J. Dygard. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Driving Lessons      RC 51862
by Catherine Dexter
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
Fourteen-year-old Mattie resents being sent away to spend the summer in her mother's hometown in South Dakota. Once there, she meets fellow reject, seventeen-year-old Lester. Mattie decides to vent her anger by getting into trouble. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

The Great Gilly Hopkins      RC 51866
by Katherine Paterson
read by Phil Regensdorf
1 cassette (Reissue)
Eleven-year-old Gilly has developed a prickly exterior to deal with being a foster child. But when she moves in with big-hearted Maime Trotter and foster brother William Ernest and meets blind Mr. Randolph, the next-door neighbor, Gilly learns to care about others. Some strong language. For grades 5-8. Newbery Honor. 1978.

The Christmas Rat      RC 51867
by Avi
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Eric Andrick stops feeling bored during Christmas vacation when he becomes deputy to exterminator Anjela Gabrail. Eric swears to attack all rats in his vicinity or to pay the penalty. When Eric has second thoughts about killing the rat in his basement, Anjela reveals the penalty. For grades 4-7. 2000.

One Small Dog      RC 51870
by Johanna Hurwitz
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
After his parents divorce, Curtis thinks having a dog will make him happy. But he finds that taking care of a twelve-week-old puppy can make him sad, especially when the dog bites. Easy chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2000.

Chasing Bears: A Canoe Country Adventure      RC 51873
by Earl Fleck
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old Danny joins his competitive older brother and reckless father on a canoeing trip into the Canadian wilderness. The bears, bad storms, and difficult portages frighten him, but when the older guys are injured in a freak accident, it is up to Danny to find help. For grades 5-8. 1999.

Last Look      RC 51874
by Clyde Robert Bulla
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
From the start, Monica doesn't particularly like the new girl in her class. But when she receives a mysterious note stating that Rhoda is in danger, she must decide if she wants to help. For grades 2-4. 1979.

Fever, 1793      RC 51967
by Laurie Halse Anderson
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Philadelphia, 1793. Fourteen-year-old Matilda works in her widowed mother's busy coffeehouse along with her grandfather and their cook, Eliza--a freed slave. When a yellow fever epidemic hits the city, people panic and flee, and Matilda's life turns upside down. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

Crescent Moon      RC 52107
by Alden R. Carter
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Living in the logging area of northern Wisconsin during the early 1900s, thirteen-year-old Jeremy helps his uncle carve a statue of a Chippewa maiden as a tribute to the vanishing culture of her people. For grades 6-9. 1999.

A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt      RC 52328
by C. Coco De Young
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Margo is in fifth grade during the Great Depression, and feels bad about everyone's money problems. When her family is in danger of losing their house, Margo writes a letter to the president's wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. She asks for her help to save their home. For grades 3-6. 1999.

Goodbye, Amanda the Good      RC 52333
by Susan Shreve
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Seventh-grader Amanda dyes her hair and spends time with Slade, a ninth-grader with a bad reputation. Amanda finds her world changes when members of a popular and exclusive clique want her to join "The Club." For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2000.

Katy and the Big Snow      RC 52335
by Virginia Lee Burton
read by Don Nelson
1 cassette (Reissue)
Katy, the red crawler tractor, is big and strong. When the entire city is buried under a blizzard and all the other snowplows break down, the people count on Katy to save them. For grades K-3. 1943.

Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World      RC 52336
by Margret Rey and H.A. Rey
read by Don Nelson
1 cassette
In search of new stories for his radio program, Whiteblack the penguin sets out on a journey. Whiteblack has a series of adventures meeting ostriches and a camel before returning home. For grades K-3. 1937.

Nory Ryan's Song      RC 52345
by Patricia Reilly Giff
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
When Ireland's potato crop fails in 1845 and twelve-year-old Nory Ryan's family often goes hungry, she dreams of taking them to Brooklyn, in America. But in the meantime she learns healing from the herbalist Anna Donnelly and scrounges the countryside for food. For grades 4-7. 2000.

Winning      RC 52347
by C.S. Adler
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Average eighth-grade student Vicky discovers that she is good at tennis--a game she loves. Ignored by her mother and older brother, she makes the team--but alienates her only friend, Reggie. And her new partner wants her to cheat. For grades 6-9. 1999.

A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor      RC 52594
by Harry Mazer
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
December 7, 1941. Fourteen-year-old Adam lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his father is stationed on a battleship. Adam and two of his classmates are fishing in a rowboat when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. Although wounded, Adam is conscripted to help the survivors. For grades 6-9. 2001.

The Forgotten Helper: A Christmas Story      RC 52596
by Lorrie Moore
read by Cyn Delafield
1 cassette
One Christmas, Santa's grouchiest elf is left behind at the house of a very bad little girl. He must now find a way to improve her behavior so Santa will return the following Christmas and take him back to the North Pole. For grades 3-6. 1987.

The Luckiest Girl      RC 52739
by Beverly Cleary
read by Jennifer Mendenhall
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Shelley Latham is eager for new experiences when her parents let her spend her junior year of high school with family friends in sunny California. She enjoys dating a popular basketball player until he fails biology and loses his place on the team. For grades 6-9. 1958.

Sleds on Boston Common: A Story from the American Revolution      RC 52751
by Louise Borden
read by John Lescault
1 cassette
Nine-year-old Henry plans to sled down the hills of the Boston Common until he realizes that British troops have camped in the middle of the runs. He complains to the royal general, and a compromise is reached. For grades 3-6. 2000.

Jean and Johnny      RC 52756
by Beverly Cleary
read by Jennifer Mendenhall
1 cassette (Reissue)
Jean Jarrett invites popular Johnny Chessler to the Girls' Association dance despite her family's warning about not chasing him. She learns from bittersweet experience that having a crush on a boy doesn't ensure that he has one on her too. For grades 6-9. 1959.

Choo Choo: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away      RC 52931
by Virginia Lee Burton
read by John Fulks
1 cassette (Reissue)
Once upon a time there was a little engine named Choo Choo who became tired of pulling heavy coaches from the little town to the big city and back again. Choo Choo ran away but when the excitement wore off, she was happy to be found. For grades K-3. 1937.

Gerald McBoing Boing      RC 52933
by Dr. Seuss
read by John Fulks
1 cassette
A rhyming story about Gerald McCloy, a little boy who makes only weird sounds, like "boing, boing," and doesn't speak words. This upsets his parents, his teachers, and even his classmates. But there is one man who appreciates Gerald's talent. For grades K-3. 1950.

Summer with Elisa      RC 52934
by Johanna Hurwitz
read by John Fulks
1 cassette
During the summer between first and second grades, Elisa struggles to write to her brother Russell at camp. Then she enjoys a family vacation in the country. For grades 2-4. 2000.

A Wolf at the Door: And Other Retold Fairy Tales      RC 53007
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
read by Celeste Lawson
1 cassette
A collection of thirteen tales by science fiction and fantasy authors. In "Hansel's Eyes," by Garth Nix, a blind, spiderlike witch captures Hansel and Gretel in a computer game store. Other writers include Jane Yolen, Michael Cadnum, Gregory Maguire, and Patricia A. McKillip. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2000.

The Underground: Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 6      RC 53127
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
The Young Tribulation Force plans to publish a newspaper for their fellow classmates, even if it is illegal. Their ingenious method of distribution makes it available to every student. But one of them is called to pay the price. Sequel to Nicolae High (RC 53126). For grades 5-8. 1999.

In the House of Queen's Beasts      RC 53180
by Jean Thesman
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
After undergoing surgery to repair her scarred face, fourteen-year-old Emily looks forward to starting a new life in a new neighborhood. Drawn to the tree house in her backyard, she meets her next-door neighbor, Rowan, who has been using it as a refuge. For grades 6-9. 2001.

The Girls      RC 53281
by Amy Goldman Koss
read by Peg Gilleland
1 cassette
Candace, popular leader of a middle school clique, manipulates and ostracizes other kids. Her former friends (each telling her story) are hurt and embarrassed, but gradually realize that there are more important issues than being cool. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Ben, King of the River      RC 53630
by David Gifaldi
read by Larry Shapiro
1 cassette
Chad describes his family's first camping trip with his five-year-old brother Ben, who has a developmental disability and many allergies. Chad tells about the hard time he has dealing with Ben's needs and how much he cares about his sibling. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2001.

The Cuckoo Tree      RC 53653
by Joan Aiken
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes (Reissue)
As the result of an accident, Dido Twite is faced with the responsibility of foiling a Hanoverian plot to put St. Paul's Cathedral on rollers and send it into the River Thames during the coronation of James IV. Sequel to The Stolen Lake (RC 53652). For grades 5-8. 1971.

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles      RC 53916
by Kathryn Lasky
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
Fictionalized diary begins in 1769 as the thirteen-year-old Austrian archduchess is being groomed to become the queen of France. During the following two years she moves to Versailles, meets her shy and pudgy young husband, and tries to adjust to the odd etiquette of her new country. For grades 5-8. 2000.

The Edge on the Sword      RC 53994
by Rebecca Tingle
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Ninth-century Britain. During Flaed's fifteenth year she proves herself a worthy eldest daughter of King Alfred. Betrothed to her father's political ally Ethelred of Mercia, Flaed rises to the challenge to fulfill her duties. She even learns the combat skills of a man. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2001.

Stranded      RC 54001
by Patricia H. Rushford
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Jennie McGrady and her grandmother are flying to a ski resort when their small plane crashes. They are rescued but stranded in a religious compound. With her grandmother injured, Jennie befriends Eric and the two uncover drug dealing among the members. For grades 6-9. 2001.

Lord of the Nutcracker Men      RC 54005
by Iain Lawrence
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
During World War I, ten-year-old Johnny believes that the battles he enacts with his toy soldiers at home in London also control the real-life battles that his father is fighting on the western front in France. For grades 5-8. 2001.

The Gentleman Outlaw and Me--Eli: A Story of the Old West      RC 54079
by Mary Downing Hahn
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
In the late 1800s twelve-year-old Eliza Yates and her dog, Caesar, head west toward Colorado to locate her missing father. After disguising herself as a boy to travel more safely, she teams up with teenage Calvin Featherbone, who calls himself "The Gentleman Outlaw." For grades 5-8. 1996.

Gracie's Girl      RC 54105
by Ellen Wittlinger
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
As she starts middle school, Bess volunteers to work on the school musical in hopes of fitting in with the popular crowd. But when she and a friend get to know an elderly homeless woman, Bess changes her mind about what values are really important. For grades 4-7. 2000.

And Sometimes Why      RC 54109
by Mame Farrell
read by Brian Conn
1 cassette
Christy (Chris) and Jack have been best friends since first grade. But Jack is confused when he discovers that, during the summer before they start high school, his jock buddy is turning into a beautiful girl. For grades 6-9. 2001.

Betsy Zane, the Rose of Fort Henry      RC 54113
by Lynda Durrant
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
In 1781 upon the death of her great-aunt, twelve-year-old Betsy leaves Philadelphia to return to her brothers' homestead in Zane Station, near Fort Henry. When the Indians join the British effort against the Americans, she endangers her life to save the fort in the Revolution's final battle. For grades 5-8. 2000.

The Other Ones      RC 54123
by Jean Thesman
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
High school sophomore Bridget is torn between accepting her powers of witchcraft, like her Aunt Cait, or trying to fit in like an ordinary human to please her parents. But when the boy next door is abandoned by his father, she realizes that she has no choice. For grades 6-9. 1999.

Journey to the River Sea      RC 54235
by Eva Ibbotson
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
In 1910, Maia, an orphan, leaves London with her new governess to live with her only relatives, the Carter family, on their rubber plantation in Brazil. Maia endures many hardships, but makes several friends before fulfilling her dream. For grades 5-8. 2001.

The Ropemaker      RC 54240
by Peter Dickinson
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
When the magic that protects their Valley starts to fail, Tilja and her companions journey into the evil Empire to find the ancient magician, Faheel, who originally cast those spells. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Printz Honor Book. 2001.

Aquamarine      RC 54269
by Alice Hoffman
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old best friends Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together before Claire moves away. They find a mermaid named Aquamarine trapped in a pool at the deserted Capri Beach Club. The mermaid's predicament leads the girls to adventures and discoveries about the secrets of the heart. For grades 5-8. 2001.

Owen Foote, Super Spy      RC 54281
by Stephanie Greene
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
After devising a camouflage outfit, Owen and three of his friends decide that spying on their school principal, Mr. Mahoney, would be the ultimate test of their abilities. Beginning chapter book. Sequel to Owen Foote, Money Man (RC 51158). For grades 2-4. 2001.

The Recess Queen      RC 54344
by Alexis O'Neill
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Mean Jean is the biggest bully on the school playground until new girl Katie Sue arrives and challenges Jean's status as recess queen. For grades K-3. 2002.

Marvin Redpost: Super Fast, Out of Control!      RC 54359
by Louis Sachar
read by Rick Rohan
1 cassette
Afraid of riding his new mountain bike, third-grader Marvin finds himself in a desperate situation when he accepts a challenge to ride down Suicide Hill. For grades 2-4. 2000.

A Mammoth Mix-Up: A Brian and Pea Brain Mystery      RC 54395
by Elizabeth Levy
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
In this easy chapter book, Brian and Penny "Pea Brain" Casanova find a mammoth tusk in their backyard. Brian decides to use it for his science project but someone steals it. The kids search for the thief. For grades 2-4. 1995.

Angel on the Square      RC 54409
by Gloria Whelan
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
St. Petersburg, Russia; 1913. Twelve-year-old Katya and her mother are wealthy aristocrats whose world is overturned by war and revolution. By the time the girl is eighteen she has lost everything, yet finds hope for a different future. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2001.

Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch      RC 54447
by Barbara Park
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
First-grader Junie B. is thrilled when Mrs. Gutzman asks her to help in the school cafeteria. But she has to learn the hard way that a helper is not the boss. A beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2002.

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business      RC 54482
by Barbara Park
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Through a misunderstanding, Junie B. thinks that her new baby brother is really a baby monkey. When she reports this to her kindergarten class during show-and-tell, she causes a lot of excitement and a problem for her teacher. For grades K-3. 1993.

Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth      RC 54483
by Barbara Park
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Job Day is approaching, and Junie B.'s kindergarten classmates are excited. Junie B. shoots off "her big fat mouth" once too often, claiming she'll have "the bestest job" to present and then realizing she hasn't figured out what it is yet. For grades K-3. 1993.

Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying      RC 54484
by Barbara Park
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Being curious about her kindergarten teacher's private life, Junie B. sneaks up on her in the grocery store and spies on her. Junie B. is surprised by what she sees and doesn't want to get her teacher in trouble. For grades K-3. 1994.

Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl      RC 54545
by Barbara Park
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Junie B. Jones has just turned six and is looking forward to her kindergarten graduation. But when she won't leave her white gown in the box, she gets grape-juice stains on it. And trying to fix things makes them worse. For grades K-3. 2001.

Foreign Language Books

The following cassette titles are available in the languages designated.

Spanish

Rumbo al Sur, Deseando el Norte: Un Romance en Dos Lenguas (Heading South, Looking North: A Bilingual Journey)      RC 52983
por Ariel Dorfman
leído por Juan Ramírez
3 cassettes
El escritor latinoamericano habla de su vida como desterrado y de sus peregrinaciones entres países, culturas e idiomas que le dejaron sin país o idioma a cual aferrarse. Dorfman nació en la Argentina mudando después a Nueva York con sus padres rusos judíos. En 1973 vivía en Chile cuando presenció el derrocamiento de Allende, el cual representó el punto crucial de su propria desarrollo político y social. Contiene lenguaje injurioso. (Memoir of a Latin American author and playwright in exile. Born in Argentina to Russian and Jewish parents who moved to New York, he recalls his frequently shifting political and linguistic allegiances. Recounts how Chile's 1973 military coup served as a turning point in his development. Some strong language.) 2001.

El Halcón y la Joya (The Hawk and the Jewel)      RC 52989
por Lori Wick
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Perdido como niña en los tormentosos mares de Arabia, Shani crece a ser la favorita de la casa de Ahmad Khan. Ahora Shani ha de regresar a su nativa Inglaterra, y el Capitán Brandon Hawkesbury viene a embarcar a la joven mujer, observando que no sería fácil para que la inquieta muchacha acepte un nueva vida...una nueva familia...una nueva fe. (Though English, Shani is the most favored child in Ahmad Khan's household. Thus she is perplexed when he sends her back to England. On the voyage, Captain Hawkesbury tells Shani about her family and about life in England, but cannot prepare her for the turmoil she soon faces.) 1996.

Disparo en la Catedral (Shot in the Cathedral)      RC 52991
por Mario Bencastro
leído por Juan Ramírez
1 cassette
Rogelio Villaverde es un hombre ordinario que saca empleo como asistente de redacción en un diario de San Salvador. Al mismo tiempo prescencia la violencia de un golpe de estado que resulta en el asesino de un clérigo popular. Rogelio se hace reportero y entonces héroe--llegando a comprender personalmente los efectos de la guerra y su violencia. Descripciones de violencia y lenguaje injurioso.(Rogelio Villaverde, employed as a newspaper assistant, witnesses a military coup in El Salvador that results in the assassination of a popular archbishop. Rogelio becomes a reporter, then a hero, as he experiences firsthand the cruel, impersonal nature of war. Some violence and some strong language.) 1997.

Ramona la Chinche (Ramona the Pest)      RC 52990
por Beverly Cleary
leído por María Pino
1 cassette
Ramona conoce a otros alumnos interesantes en su clase de kindergarten. A Davy le gustaría besar si puede, y a Susan quiere tirarle los tentadores rizos de cabello. Para grados 2 a 4 y lectores mayores.(Ramona meets interesting people in kindergarten class, such as Davy, whom she keeps trying to kiss, and Susan, whose springy curls seem to ask to be pulled. For grades 2-4 and older readers.) 1984.

El Mensaje (The Message)      RC 52992
por K.A. Applegate
leído por Juan Ramírez
1 cassette
Cassie, Tobías, Rachel y Marco continuan empleando sus poderes de transformarse en animal para luchar contra los invasores extraterrestres. Cassie y Tobías comparten el mismo sueño en que siempre aparece alguien pidiendo ayuda. ¿Es un mensaje, o una trampa de los extraterrestres? Sigue a El Encuentro (RC 52979). Para grados 4 a 7 y lectores mayores. [Cassie, Tobias, Rachel, and Mark transform themselves into animals to fight against alien invaders of Earth. Cassie and Tobias are plagued by a recurring dream of someone needing help. Is it a message or the aliens' deadly trap? Sequel to El Encuentro (RC 52979). For grades 4-7 and older readers.] 1998.

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 Appetit (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 World, monthly)

Diabetes Forecast (monthly)

Discover (monthly)

Ebony (monthly)

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (11 issues)

Flower and Garden (6 issues)

Foreign Affairs (6 issues)

Good Housekeeping (monthly plus special issues)

Health and Nutrition Newsletters (includes Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, Healthline, The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter--Health after Fifty, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and Nutrition Action Healthletter, monthly)

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 World (for children and teens, on one cassette with Cricket, monthly)

National Review (25 issues)

The New York Times Book Review (weekly)

Outdoor Life (10 issues; combined issues June-July, December- January)

People Weekly (weekly plus special issues)

QST (monthly)

Quarterly Music Magazine (quarterly)

Selecciones del Reader's Digest (Spanish; monthly)

Selections 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)

Teen People (10 issues)

Travel Holiday (10 issues)

True West (monthly)

U.S. News and World Report (weekly)

The Writer (12 issues)

Young Adult Magazine of the Month (monthly)