Site Map Search the Catalog Kids Zone Find a Library FAQ
Sign Up Contact Us Site Map Search the Catalog Kids Zone Find a Library FAQ
Sign Up Contact Us
Home > Talking Book Topics > September and October 2009
The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. The items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement.
Assistive Technology for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment may be purchased from American Foundation for the Blind Press as a print paperback or as ASCII text on a CD-ROM for $49.95. The publication includes an overview of assistive technology for managing information in print or electronic formats. The guide provides tips and insights on working with technology; a summary of laws and regulations about assistive technology; a resource list of assistive technology producers; and reproducible, blank forms for evaluating technology. For more information visit www.afb.org/store 
online or call 1-800-232-3044.
Aurora Ministries offers free audio Bibles to blind, visually impaired, and print-handicapped individuals and to the professionals who work with them. The King James Version, the New King James Version, and the International Children’s Version of the Bible are available in seventy languages on audiocassettes or in MP3 format. For more information visit www.audiobiblesfortheblind.org ; call (941) 748-3031; fax (941) 748-2625; e-mail bibles@auroraministries.org; or write Audio Bibles for the Blind, P.O. Box 621, Bradenton, FL 34206.
This Time, This Place: My Life in War, the White House, and Hollywood RC 63504
by Jack Valenti
read by Joe Wilson
4 cassettes
Autobiography of Jack Valenti (born 1921), the longtime head of the Motion Picture Association of America. Recalls his childhood in Texas, his service as a World War II pilot, his time as a special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson, and his work as a spokesperson for the Hollywood movie industry. 2007.
Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the Continent’s Natural Soul RC 63669
by Scott Weidensaul
read by Derald Breneman
4 cassettes
Fifty years later, a naturalist retraces the cross-country journey of Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher, who published Wild America in 1955. Assesses environmental changes that have taken place and nature’s inherent resiliency. Notes the conservationist policies that have enabled America to remain, in Weidensaul’s words, “a wild country.” 2005.
Armed and Dangerous: The Hunt for One of America’s Most Wanted Criminals RC 64543
by William Queen and Douglas Century
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Vietnam veteran and author of Under and Alone (RC 60481) recalls his career as an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) in Southern California. Describes the 1986 apprehension of drug dealer and survivalist Mark Stephens. Violence and some strong language. 2007.
Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist RC 64583
by Mike Farrell
read by Peter Berkrot
3 cassettes
Autobiography of an actor, producer, and writer best known for his role as B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H. Highlights Farrell’s Irish Catholic working-class childhood in West Hollywood, his break into show business, and his increasing involvement in politics and the human rights movement. Some strong language. 2007.
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life RC 64586
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
read by Don Feldheim
2 cassettes
Guide to achieving a state of “mindfulness”—an awareness of the present moment. Explains traditional Buddhist meditation techniques and exercises, such as postures that help cultivate consciousness. Offers suggestions for incorporating mindfulness into daily life to gain wisdom and find direction. Includes 2005 afterword. 1994.
Creationists: Selected Essays, 1993–2006 RC 64702
by E.L. Doctorow
read by Lindsay Ellison
1 cassette
Collection of musings on creative works—mostly literary—by PEN/Faulkner and National Book Award-winning novelist. Sixteen essays explore the writings of Ernest Hemingway, Herman Melville, Arthur Miller, Edgar Allan Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, and others. Also ponders the comedy of Harpo Marx and the development of the atomic bomb. 2006.
Theodore Dreiser: At the Gates of the City, 1871–1907 RC 65173
by Richard Lingeman
read by John Polk
4 cassettes
First of a two-volume biography of the American novelist, who depicted the social mores of the early twentieth century. Discusses connections between Dreiser’s personal life and his literary works, among them Sister Carrie (RC 25296). Precedes Theodore Dreiser: An American Journey, 1908–1945 (RC 65174). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1986.
Theodore Dreiser: An American Journey, 1908–1945 RC 65174
by Richard Lingeman
read by John Polk
5 cassettes
Second of a two-volume biography tracing the American novelist’s life from his straitened Indiana childhood to his Hollywood demise. Follows Theodore Dreiser: At the Gates of the City, 1871–1907 (RC 65173) and covers his womanizing and his publications. Some descriptions of sex. 1990.
Sinclair Lewis: Rebel from Main Street RC 65179
by Richard Lingeman
read by Jack Fox
4 cassettes
Biographical reappraisal of Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951), America’s first winner of the Nobel Prize for literature (1930). Incorporates correspondence and diaries to assess his merit and trace his development as a writer. Provides critical insight into his work including such novels as Main Street (RC 42189) and Elmer Gantry (RC 22114). 2002.
Arsenals of Folly: Nuclear Weapons in the Cold War RC 65198
by Richard Rhodes
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Following The Making of the Atomic Bomb (RC 25626) and Dark Sun (RC 44281), author Rhodes concludes his history of nuclear weaponry with the unraveling of the arms race in the 1980s. Highlights Mikhail Gorbachev’s and Ronald Reagan’s work to achieve peace by eliminating nuclear arsenals. 2007.
American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic RC 65206
by Joseph J. Ellis
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian chronicles the time period between the American Revolutionary War and the Louisiana Purchase. Discusses the founders’ decision to have an evolutionary revolution by creating a liberal nation gradually, rather than abruptly abandoning traditions. Thus, slavery and hostility to Native Americans were left intact. 2007.
Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal RC 65231
by Ben Macintyre
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Author recounts the exploits of career criminal Eddie Chapman, who trained as a German spy after the Nazis released him from a British jail on the isle of Jersey. Describes how Chapman became a double agent for MI5 and successfully fooled his Axis handlers throughout the war. 2007.
A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom; Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation RC 65232
by David W. Blight
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Yale historian’s dual biography of former slaves Wallace Turnage (1846–1916) and John Washington (1838–1918). Includes their personal accounts of escaping from servitude. Describes each man’s eventual success in reaching Union troops, journey north, reunion with his family, and climb to working-class stability. 2007.
Hog Pilots, Blue Water Grunts: The American Military in the Air, at Sea, and on the Ground RC 65240
by Robert D. Kaplan
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Journalist, author of Imperial Grunts (RC 60647), recounts the five years he spent reporting from U.S. military bases in the Middle East and Central Asia. Describes the work of the men and women who staff the outposts and their efforts to provide humanitarian relief and build infrastructure. Some strong language. 2007.
Southern Africa: Peoples and Cultures of Africa RC 65504
edited by Peter Mitchell
read by Lisette Lecat
2 cassettes
Regional overview of the Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, and Madagascar. Covers politics, geography, biomes, people, cultures, and historical timelines. Concludes with an A-to-Z listing of various topics discussed, including ethnic groups, languages, religions, music, and social customs. For junior and senior high readers. 2006.
Iceman: My Fighting Life RC 65911
by Chuck Liddell
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Autobiography of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC’s) Iceman from Santa Barbara, California. Describes his childhood, college career, and involvement in karate, wrestling, football, professional kickboxing, and later, mixed martial arts and ultimate fighting. Highlights the development of ultimate fighting. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2008.
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War RC 65912
by Drew Gilpin Faust
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
President of Harvard University interprets the significance of the U.S. Civil War’s death toll. States that two percent of the country’s population was killed and many died without proper burials. Analyzes the way those losses transformed American society, culture, and politics through the experience of shared suffering. Violence. Bestseller. 2008.
Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime RC 66081
compiled by Kerry Lorimer
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Guide to nearly one hundred global destinations. Promotes principles of responsible tourism to minimize environmental impact, maximize connections to other cultures, and benefit local communities. Offers information on seeing gorillas in Rwanda, tagging turtles in Australia, and counting macaws in Peru. Includes tips on accom- modations and volunteering. 2006.
Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case RC 66082
by Stuart Taylor Jr. and KC Johnson
read by Ralph Lowenstein
5 cassettes
Chronicles the events surrounding allegations that three white Duke lacrosse players raped a black stripper. Details Durham, North Carolina, district attorney Michael Nifong’s handling of the case, the lack of support from the university, and media condemnation of the students before trial. Strong language. 2007.
Anna of All the Russias: The Life of Anna Akhmatova RC 66087
by Elaine Feinstein
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Biographer details the life of poet Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966) against the backdrop of post-Czarist Russia. Discusses Akhmatova’s political activism, her criticism of Soviet oppression, and the brutality she suffered at the hands of the authoritarian regime that banned her poetry and imprisoned her family. 2005.
Only the Strong Survive: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor RC 66088
by Jerry Butler
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
Autobiography of soul singer Jerry Butler (born 1939). Chronicles his Chicago upbringing, his 1958 rise to fame with the group the Impressions, and his musical success as a solo artist. Highlights musicians and record labels he worked with and discusses the racial tensions in the industry. Some strong language. 2000.
Smoke Jumping on the Western Fire Line: Conscientious Objectors during World War II RC 66103
by Mark Matthews
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Journalist documents the experiences of pacifists who, instead of enlisting in the military, volunteered for the Civilian Public Service to fight fires for the U.S. Forest Service. Describes the jumpers’ reasons (primarily religious) for not going to war and their contributions to wildfire management. Foreword by Senator George McGovern. 2006.
The Boys from Dolores: Fidel Castro’s Schoolmates from Revolution to Exile RC 66104
by Patrick Symmes
read by Lewis Grenville
3 cassettes
Journalist interviews Fidel Castro’s classmates who attended the elite Jesuit boarding school Colegio de Dolores in eastern Cuba in the 1930s and 1940s. Intertwines their recollection of events from Castro’s formative youth with a chronicle of the revolution. Relates the fates of the students themselves. Some strong language. 2007.
Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm RC 66105
by Jon Katz
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Former New Jersey suburbanite and author of The Dogs of Bedlam Farm (RC 62296) relates additional adventures in upstate New York. Reflects on lessons learned from animals and people as he describes the challenges and rewards of rural life and of caring for an ever-growing menagerie. 2007.
Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation RC 66114
by Mike Robbins
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Robbins, a motivational speaker and former professional baseball player, offers strategies for overcoming negative influences to improve relationships, find success and fulfillment, and experience an overall gratitude for life. Discusses five principles of appreciation, the power of positive thinking, and the importance of acknowledging others. Includes exercises. 2007.
Energy: Powering the Past, Present, and Future RC 66138
by Julie Kerr Casper
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Considers Earth’s energy resources. Discusses renewable sources such as water, solar, wind, and biofuels and nonrenewable ones produced from tar sands, fossils, and oil. Focuses on future development of other types of energy including geothermal, hydrogen, and methane. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
An Ocean of Air: Why the Wind Blows and Other Mysteries of the Atmosphere RC 66140
by Gabrielle Walker
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Science writer chronicles the lives and work of explorers and scientists throughout history who have sought to understand Earth’s atmosphere. Describes discoveries by fifteenth-century sailors; Galileo’s seventeenth-century experiments; and twentieth- century studies of greenhouse gases, the jet stream, solar radiation, weather patterns, and other meteorological phenomena. 2007.
Water and Atmosphere: The Lifeblood of Natural Systems RC 66141
by Julie Kerr Casper
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Presents key issues in the management of Earth’s water and atmosphere. Includes discussions of climate change, global warming, renewable resources, aquifers, reservoirs, and surface and groundwater. Covers drinking water, sea levels, pollution, and deep-sea exploration. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
Steve and Me RC 66251
by Terri Irwin
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Former Oregonian wildlife rehabilitator Terri Irwin describes her late husband Steve Irwin’s work rescuing crocodiles and other endangered animals, both as a television personality in The Crocodile Hunter and as an Australian zoo owner. Discusses family life before and after Steve’s 2006 death from a stingray barb. 2007.
Are We Rome? The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America RC 66252
by Cullen Murphy
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Vanity Fair editor at large draws parallels between modern America and ancient Rome, including, in his judgment, a self-centered national capital, a powerful but undermanned and socially disconnected military, privatization of once-public tasks, ignorance of global affairs, and border instability. Ponders ways America might avoid imitating Rome’s decay. 2007.
Sex and Diabetes: For Him and for Her RC 66258
by Janis Roszler and Donna Rice
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
American Diabetes Association’s guide to more rewarding romantic interludes for both male and female patients with diabetes. Describes available medications and other treatment options, explains common physical and emotional sexual complications, and offers suggestions on communicating with professionals and your partner. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007.
The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America RC 66266
by Ronald Brownstein
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Political correspondent posits that “hyperpartisanship” between Republicans and Democrats has impeded the solution of America’s most pressing problems, including immigration, health insurance, and dependence on foreign oil. Chronicles the cycles of conflict and cooperation between the parties from 1896 to the twenty-first century and suggests ways to reach consensus. 2007.
The Perils of Peace: America’s Struggle for Survival after Yorktown RC 66275
by Thomas Fleming
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Focuses on the time period immediately after the 1781 American victory at Yorktown until the 1783 final treaty. Highlights the British, French, and colonial statesmen involved in peace negotiations. Posits that George Washington’s renunciation of absolute power to become a private citizen was the pivotal affirmation of democracy. 2007.
Hate Mail from Cheerleaders: And Other Adventures from the Life of Reilly RC 66283
by Rick Reilly
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Sportswriter and author of Who’s Your Caddy? (RC 56286) presents one hundred memorable entries from his Sports Illustrated column. Includes commentary about Ben Comen, a high school cross-country runner with cerebral palsy, and about disabled golfer Casey Martin, who sued the PGA. Introduction by Lance Armstrong. 2007.
Forests: More than Just Trees RC 66302
by Julie Kerr Casper
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
Explains the importance of forests for life on Earth and discusses ways to conserve and protect them. Describes the steps scientists and politicians can take to maintain healthy ecosystems in rain, temperate, and boreal forests and to avoid deforestation, pests, and wildfires. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
Write It When I’m Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford RC 66303
by Thomas M. DeFrank
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Former White House reporter DeFrank presents “an anecdotal memoir” of U.S. president Gerald Ford’s life in politics, which Ford asked to remain unpublished until after his death. Using interviews from 1991 to 2006, DeFrank highlights Ford’s character and his candid assessments of contemporaries, including Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. 2007.
Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table RC 66340
by Moosewood Collective
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
Dozens of recipes for meals that can be prepared quickly and require only a few nonperishable pantry items and high-quality fresh ingredients. Dishes include pasta, beans, tofu, salads, sandwiches, sauces, grains, and fish. Provides tips on substitutions and variations, cooking techniques, and advance meal preparation as well as suggestions for leftovers. 2005.
Dog-Friendly Gardens, Garden-Friendly Dogs RC 66349
by Cheryl S. Smith
read by Kerry Dukin
2 cassettes
Tips on harmoniously keeping both a garden and a dog. Provides recommendations for bed design and vegetation, including groundcovers and grass, and warns against harmful plants and products. Covers mulches, composts, vegetables, paths, fencing, and some aspects of dog play. Discusses designating pet-digging areas. 2004.
Dogs: A Natural History RC 66357
by Jake Page
read by Andy Pyle
2 cassettes
Author of In the Hands of the Great Spirit: The 20,000-Year History of American Indians (RC 56097) traces sixty million years of canine evolution. Discusses wild relatives such as wolves and the process of domestication. Describes dog behavior, communication, and intelligence and ponders the relationship between dogs and humans. 2007.
Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume RC 66358
edited by Jennifer O’Connell
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Twenty-four female authors recall their memorable experiences with Judy Blume books and discuss Blume’s influence on their lives and writing. In “The M Word,” Lara M. Zeises reveals that reading Deenie (RC 34307) as a ten-year-old made her feel less alone. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2007.
So Sad to Fall in Battle: An Account of War Based on General Tadamichi Kuribayashi’s Letters from Iwo Jima RC 66359
by Kumiko Kakehashi
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Portrait of Japanese lieutenant general Tadamichi Kuribayashi, commander in chief at Iwo Jima during the infamous World War II battle. Draws on interviews with survivors and relatives as well as Kuribayashi’s personal correspondence to recreate the thirty-six-day campaign including Kuribayashi’s defeat and death at the hands of American marines. 2007.
Circling My Mother: A Memoir RC 66360
by Mary Gordon
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Author of Shadow Man (RC 43651) and other works creates a portrait of her Catholic career-woman mother whose ninety-four years were shaped by childhood polio, alcoholism, and senile dementia. Gordon reflects on her bond with her mother and on the blessings and the burdens of loving her. 2007.
The Ten Best of Everything: Passport to the Best; an Ultimate Guide for Travelers RC 66363
by Nathaniel Lande and Andrew Lande
read by Barry Bernson
5 cassettes
Recommendations for many aspects of luxury travel, including airlines, sporting events, products, markets, and lodging. Suggests itineraries for literary and historical journeys, such as exploring the Silk Road and touring English gardens. Provides advice from experts—like Arnold Palmer’s favorite golf courses—descriptions of each selection, and contact information. 2008.
The Teapot Dome Scandal: How Big Oil Bought the Harding White House and Tried to Steal the Country RC 66368
by Laton McCartney
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Journalist uses official documents and newspaper articles to examine political corruption surrounding the 1920 presidential election of Ohio senator Warren G. Harding. Details the investigation into oil leasings, the hearings led by Montana senator Thomas J. Walsh, and the trial of secretary of the interior Albert Fall. 2008.
Happy for No Reason: Seven Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out RC 66372
by Marci Shimoff
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Author presents a holistic approach to finding lasting happiness. Describes a seven-step program corresponding to personal power, mind, heart, body, soul, purpose, and relationships—as well as twenty-one associated “happiness habits” and exercises. Includes inspirational accounts and tips on applying principles to daily life. Foreword by Jack Canfield. 2008.
Mirror of the Arab World: Lebanon in Conflict RC 66374
by Sandra Mackey
read by Peter Ganim
3 cassettes
Journalist who specializes in the Middle East profiles Lebanon as a case study of the Arab world. Discusses the culture, religion, economics, and history of the country. Posits that “most Arabs, Westerners, and Israelis . . . are ignoring the warning signs that three faiths and three cultures . . . are on a collision course.” 2008.
China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power RC 66394
by Rob Gifford
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
NPR’s London bureau chief recounts his three-thousand-mile journey along China’s major east-west thoroughfare, Route 312, from Shanghai and coastal factory towns through the rural countryside and the Gobi Desert to the border of Kazakhstan. Examines changes wrought by globalization and a market economy on China’s people, culture, and landscape. 2007.
The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation RC 66395
by Philip Shenon
read by Christopher Hurt
3 cassettes
New York Times reporter investigates the workings behind the 9/11 Commission Report (RC 58238) and declares shortcomings. Alleges commission conflicts, official interference including the removal of relevant documents from archives, and report distortions and omissions. Discusses the roles of executive director Philip D. Zelikow and the “Jersey Girls” widows. 2008.
The Jewish Americans: Three Centuries of Jewish Voices in America RC 66398
by Beth S. Wenger
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Companion piece to a 2008 PBS television series uses first-person accounts to examine the history, social integration, ethnic relations, and cultural assimilation of Jews in America from 1654 to 2008. Profiles individuals such as Abraham Kohn, a 1840s peddler who voiced the initial disappointment felt by many Jewish immigrants. 2007.
The Hazards of Space Travel: A Tourist’s Guide RC 66404
by Neil F. Comins
read by John Haag
2 cassettes
Scientific facts and fictional log entries from an imaginary astronaut reveal the risks and challenges awaiting tourists in outer space. Discusses air, land, and water problems on other planets; re-entry and impact dangers; equipment failures; and radiation, medical, and mental health issues. Examines likely locations. 2007.
Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress RC 66406
by John Gray
read by Richard Davidson
3 cassettes
Author examines the stressful shift in the roles of men and women and describes what he believes to be physiological gender differences in dealing with the tension. Outlines coping mechanisms for women to help both themselves and their partners improve communication, mood, energy, and levels of attraction. 2008.
The Confident Child: Raising a Child to Try, Learn, and Care RC 66409
by Terri Apter
read by Judith Ann Gantly
2 cassettes
Child psychologist and author of The Myth of Maturity (RC 53165) offers advice to parents on raising a child with self-esteem. Focuses on the years five to fifteen when emotional intelligence is formed. Uses scenarios to cover topics such as discipline, school success, sibling rivalry, friendship, and morals. 1997.
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century RC 66411
by Alex Ross
read by Lewis Grenville
5 cassettes
Music critic for the New Yorker examines the history of the twentieth century through its music during three time periods: 1900 to 1933, 1933 to 1945, and 1945 to 2000. Discusses the composers, the gulf between classical and popular music, and the musical works that defined each era. National Book Critics Circle Award. 2007.
My Tank Is Fight! RC 66462
by Zack Parsons
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
Writer for cult humor web site somethingawful.com examines nineteen World War II inventions that were never completed. Describes technical details and developmental history of weapons from Japan, the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, including an aircraft carrier made of ice and a 1,344-ton gun. 2006.
No Regrets: A Ten-Step Program for Living in the Present and Leaving the Past Behind RC 66488
by Hamilton Beazley
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Self-help expert presents his program for overcoming the burden of pain, guilt, and shame associated with past mistakes, missed opportunities, and failed expectations. Suggests spiritual and psychological tools such as prayer, creative visualization, and journal writing for finding hope in the promise of new possibilities. 2004.
Emily Dickinson: A Biography RC 66501
by Milton Meltzer
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Portrait of reclusive poet Emily Dickinson (1830–1886), who wrote verses on scraps of paper. Describes her education at Amherst Academy and her treasured quiet family life. Examines the universal appeal of her poetry, seen in The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (RC 56797). For junior and senior high readers. 2006.
Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing, and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon RC 66505
by Nick Trout
read by Joe Peck
2 cassettes
Boston veterinary surgeon Trout describes his typical work day, recounting anecdotes about his patients and their owners. Discusses interpreting animal behavior and symptoms to determine a diagnosis, the impact of technology on his practice, human-pet bonds, and the emotional effects on all involved of euthanizing companion animals. 2008.
The Invisible Cure: Africa, the West, and the Fight against AIDS RC 66510
by Helen Epstein
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Molecular biologist chronicles the African AIDS epidemic since 1993, when she first worked on a vaccine project. Compares the slowing infection rates in Uganda with rates in eastern and southern Africa. Posits that underlying social, political, economic, and sexual aspects of different cultures determine the course of the disease. 2007.
Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920’s RC 66513
by Frederick Lewis Allen
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Interpretive account of the tumultuous period between the end of World War I in 1918 and the 1929 stock market crash. Highlights events and figures of the era and their impact on public consciousness. Covers Prohibition, the Harding scandals, labor issues, women’s suffrage, Sigmund Freud, and more. 1931.
The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History RC 66514
by Katherine Ashenburg
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
A history of cleanliness in Western culture from ancient Greece and Rome to medieval Europe and modern-day America. Explores changing standards of personal hygiene and notions of “clean” as related to health, religion, sexuality, and social class. Reflects on archetypal links between dirt and guilt. 2007.
How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals RC 66524
by Edwin P. Hoyt
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Details the strategies and battles of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific fleet during World War II, and those under his direction. Highlights the abilities of admirals William Halsey and Raymond Spruance, and others, at Midway, Guadalcanal, the Aleutians, the Marianas, Leyte, and Okinawa. 2000.
West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War RC 66553
by Heather Cox Richardson
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
History professor focuses on the formation of a middle class in post-Civil War America and asserts that its members defined the nation’s identity at home and abroad for the next century and beyond. Highlights the era’s sectional animosities, racial tensions, booming industrialization, suffragist activism, and westward expansion. 2007.
Happier than God: Turn Ordinary Life into an Extraordinary Experience RC 66565
by Neale Donald Walsch
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Author of the Conversations with God series (RC 44643, RC 44644, RC 47255) offers his formula for lasting happiness, which he calls the Process of Personal Creation. Discusses the principles of this formula, designed to make experiences with God “more present, . . . relevant, and . . . real” using the energy of attraction. 2008.
Rich Dad’s Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money RC 66573
by Robert T. Kiyosaki
read by John Haag
2 cassettes
The author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series explains for laypeople his principles of investing and successfully managing money. Offers five basics of financial intelligence: make more money, protect it, budget it, leverage it, and improve financial knowledge. Provides practical applications. Foreword by Donald Trump. 2008.
Living Well: Twenty-one Days to Transform Your Life, Supercharge Your Health, and Feel Spectacular RC 66579
by Montel Williams
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
Fifty-one-year-old talk-show host describes three epiphanies he had about fitness, nutrition, and living well that led him to refine his habits after his 1999 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Presents a three-week program based on the changes he made, offering a different step to learn and do every day. 2008.
Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope RC 66580
by Richard M. Cohen
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Author of Blindsided (RC 57643) relates his interviews with five people who, like himself, are dealing with chronic illness. They discuss the experiences that helped them to find control, peace, and grace since their diagnoses of ALS, muscular dystrophy, bipolar disorder, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Crohn’s disease. 2008.
How to Be a Christian in a Brave New World RC 66581
by Joni Eareckson Tada and Nigel M. de S. Cameron
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Bioethics research professor Cameron and Tada, the quadriplegic founder of a Christian disability advocacy organization and author of When God Weeps (RC 49793), offer Christian perspectives on biotechnology issues. They discuss the moral and ethical debates surrounding cloning, genetic engineering, in vitro fertilization, stem-cell research, and other developments. 2006.
The Ends of the Earth: An Anthology of the Finest Writing on the Arctic and the Antarctic RC 66582
edited by Elizabeth Kolbert and Francis Spufford
read by John Horton
3 cassettes
Nonfiction and fiction selections by scientists, explorers, and novelists spanning the twentieth century. Includes excerpts from journals of Antarctic explorers Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen, and Robert Falcon Scott. Arctic contributions feature Robert Peary’s disputed account of reaching the North Pole and “Kasiagsak, the Great Liar,” a native legend. 2007.
The Winds of Change: Climate, Weather, and the Destruction of Civilizations RC 66586
by Eugene Linden
read by J.P. Linton
2 cassettes
Environmental journalist posits that climate change contributed to the decline of the Akkadian, Anasazi, Norse, Mayan, and other civilizations. Examines scientific evidence for and against the impact of weather and other geophysical forces, such as El Niño, on humanity. Speculates on implications for modern—and future—society. 2007.
Classics for Pleasure RC 66597
by Michael Dirda
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic introduces roughly ninety literary authors and recommends some of his favorite works of fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, biography, history, and poetry. Contains essays on writers Ovid, Petronius, Agatha Christie, and Philip K. Dick and on Arthurian romances and H. Rider Haggard’s She. 2007.
The Last Lecture RC 66601
by Randy Pausch
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Carnegie Mellon computer professor Pausch provides personal lessons and stories for his young children to learn from as they go through life. Continues the message of his widely circulated taped lecture on achieving childhood dreams that he delivered after he learned he was dying of pancreatic cancer. Bestseller. 2008.
The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music RC 66602
by Steve Lopez
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
Los Angeles Times columnist describes his relationship with Nathaniel Ayers, a former student at Juilliard who became homeless after succumbing to paranoid schizophrenia. Lopez discusses his and his readers’ efforts to expose callous treatment of Ayers and relates Ayers’s attempts at recovery. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Maps and Legends: Reading and Writing along the Borderlands RC 66606
by Michael Chabon
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (RC 50950) pens sixteen essays about his favorite reading matter—which ranges from literature to mysteries and comics—and explains how these works shaped his own writing. Declares that he reads for entertainment and writes to entertain. Bestseller. 2008.
Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death RC 66619
by Irvin D. Yalom
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
Psychiatrist and author of Love’s Executioner (RC 30621) offers anecdotes and methods, from his personal experience and clinical work, for dealing with anxieties about death. Encourages readers to transcend fear and find fulfillment by confronting one’s own mortality, communicating more deeply with loved ones, and appreciating life’s beauty. 2008.
Stories behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter RC 66620
by Ace Collins
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Award-winning author explores historical and religious origins of customs associated with the Christian holiday of Easter. Discusses the roots of Lent, passion plays, sunrise services, Easter parades, Easter eggs, and the Easter bunny as well as the inspiration for such hymns as “He Lives!” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” 2007.
What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding: A Reassuring Month-by-Month Guide for the Father-to-Be, Whether He Wants Advice or Not RC 66622
by Thomas Hill
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
Parody on the What to Expect series offers advice for expectant fathers. Discusses the mother-to-be’s physical changes, symptoms of sympathetic pregnancy, guidelines for sex, what to say—and not say—during labor, and paternal postpartum hair loss. Includes a month-to-month breakdown of necessary purchases, such as Tivo and cigars. 2007.
Rosa’s New Mexican Table RC 66625
by Roberto Santibañez
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
A variety of dishes from the chef of the New York restaurant Rosa Mexicano. Provides information on ingredients, equipment, and cooking techniques often used in Mexican cuisine. Includes recipes for chicken flautas, tortilla soup, red rice, refried beans, crab enchiladas, and poblanos stuffed with spinach and goat cheese. 2007.
Hand-Feeding Backyard Birds: A Step-by-Step Guide RC 66627
by Hugh Wiberg
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Massachusetts author discusses his twenty years of experience patiently feeding wild birds from his hand and gives step-by-step instructions for others to learn to hand-feed. He provides information on each of the bird species he has successfully befriended and includes tips on photographing birds. 1999.
Fine, I’ll Go Online! The Hollywood Publicist’s Guide to Successful Internet Dating RC 66632
by Leslie Oren
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Guide to online dating. Oren draws on her career as a Hollywood publicist to help women create an authentic personal image that Oren says will attract potential candidates. Gives advice on writing a profile, posting photos, responding to e-mails, making initial conversation, and planning a first date. 2007.
Aku-Aku: The Secret of Easter Island RC 66640
by Thor Heyerdahl
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Author of Kon-Tiki (RC 22841) recounts his 1955 expedition to the Southeast Pacific, where he and his team sought the origins of Easter Island’s enormous stone statues. Heyerdahl describes his excavations and experiences uncovering the natives’ closely guarded secrets with help from his aku-aku—his personal guardian spirit. 1958.
Armageddon in Retrospect: And Other New and Unpublished Writings on War and Peace RC 66657
by Kurt Vonnegut
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
Twelve nonfiction and fiction pieces representing Vonnegut’s views on violence and war and his desire for world peace. Contains both a 1945 letter to his family summarizing his prisoner-of-war experience in Germany and his last speech, written in 2007. Introduction by his son Mark Vonnegut. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization RC 66663
by Nicholson Baker
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Bestselling author selected political and social commentary from newspaper articles, diaries, memos, memoirs, and public proclamations, most from 1938 through 1941, to reconsider whether World War II was a “good” war and whether waging it helped those who needed to be rescued. Bestseller. 2008.
Girls like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—and the Journey of a Generation RC 66664
by Sheila Weller
read by Mary Kane
5 cassettes
Intertwined biographies of singer-songwriters of the sixties and seventies. Discusses King’s 1971 Grammy sweep for Tapestry, Simon’s number-one hit “You’re So Vain,” and Mitchell’s self-proclaimed pure opera of the soul in Blue. James Taylor figures as Mitchell’s lover, Simon’s husband, and collaborator for all three. Strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Why Good People Do Bad Things: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy RC 66675
by Debbie Ford
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
The author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers (RC 52168) explores reasons why “good” people sometimes act in self-destructive, inappropriate ways. Posits that acts of self-sabotage arise from one’s “dark side,” which holds weaknesses, flaws, and shortcomings. Offers suggestions for healing and moving on. 2008.
Minerals: Gifts from the Earth RC 66687
by Julie Kerr Casper
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Examines how rocks and minerals form and how they are extracted from the earth. Discusses the critical role they play in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation, communication, art, science, human health, and daily activities. Emphasizes the importance of resource conservation. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
Why Marines Fight RC 66697
by James Brady
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Bronze star recipient and author of The Coldest War (RC 32978) presents forty firsthand accounts of marine combat veterans from World War II to Afghanistan. Profiles Senator James Webb, baseball player Gerald Coleman, and others who describe their motivations, battlefield experiences, and postwar lives. Strong language and some violence. 2007.
Running the Table: The Legend of Kid Delicious, the Last Great American Pool Hustler RC 66701
by L. Jon Wertheim
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Biography of pool player Danny “Kid Delicious” Basavich, who began his career as a hustler but turned pro when he became recognizable. Discusses how the overweight Jewish high school dropout from New Jersey became a legend in the 1990s. Covers the role of his sidekick Bristol Bob. Some strong language. 2007.
The Science of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy RC 66702
by Michael Hanlon
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
Using the cosmology and theoretical physics found in Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books as starting points, the author discusses alien life, parallel universes, instant translation devices, sentient computers, genetic engineering, space tourism, time travel, and related concepts. 2005.
Beyond Reach: The Search for the Titanic RC 66711
by William Hoffman and Jack Grimm
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette (Reissue)
An account of the 1981 search for the wreck of the Titanic financed by Texas oilman and coauthor Jack Grimm. Describes the partially successful attempts of oceanographers, geologists, photographers, and the crew of the Gyre to locate wreckage in the North Atlantic. Also recounts Titanic’s sinking in 1912. 1982.
Spinal Cord Injury and the Family: A New Guide RC 66750
by Michelle J. Alpert and Saul Wisnia
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Guide to adjusting to life with a spinal cord injury (SCI), for patients and families. Covers hospitalization, rehabilitation, and getting back to work and school. Discusses dating and sex, relationship issues, pregnancy, and parenting. Includes a special section on children with SCI as well as case studies and resources. 2008.
Peter Jennings: A Reporter’s Life RC 66757
edited by Kate Darnton and Lynn Sherr
read by Joe Wilson
2 cassettes
A tribute to the Canadian high school dropout who became an ABC news anchor. Comments from friends, family, colleagues, and celebrities are culled from a television program about Jennings that aired shortly after his 2005 death from lung cancer. Also includes Jennings’s own words from speeches, interviews, and newscasts. 2007.
Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath RC 66760
by Michael Paul Mason
read by Guy Williams
2 cassettes
A brain-injury case manager presents examples of patients he has worked with, including people involved in car, bicycle, and snowboarding accidents; those with tumors and viral infections; and wounded soldiers. Highlights the common symptoms of traumatic brain injury as well as the inadequacy of the American medical system. Strong language. 2008.
Mind, Life, and Universe: Conversations with Great Scientists of Our Time RC 66764
edited by Lynn Margulis and Eduardo Punset
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
Candid interviews with thirty-seven leading scientists, who provide insight into their lives and work. Features evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, Nobel Prize winner Sheldon Lee Glashow, chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall, Gaia Theory conceptualist James E. Lovelock, physicist Lisa Randall, and biologist Edward O. Wilson. Includes suggested readings and contributor biographies. 2007.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex RC 66788
by Mary Roach
read by Elisabeth Rodgers
2 cassettes
Author of Stiff (RC 58302) and Spook (RC 62108) offers her take on clinical studies of sexual physiology for achieving arousal and orgasm. Surveys research conducted in the 1900s and the findings of Masters and Johnson, Alfred Kinsey, and others. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
The Diabetes Lifestyle Book: Facing Your Fears and Making Changes for a Long and Healthy Life RC 66790
by Jennifer Gregg and Steven C. Hayes
read by Judith Ann Gantly
2 cassettes
Psychologists offer a guide to coping with the anxieties and emotions that often inhibit the proper self-management of diabetes. Describes the principles and techniques of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), an approach to embracing the lifestyle changes that are necessary to control the disease. Covers diet, exercise, and medication. 2007.
Do All Indians Live in Tipis? Questions and Answers from the National Museum of the American Indian RC 66795
by the National Museum of the American Indian
read by Christopher Hurt
2 cassettes
Reference queries received by the staff of the National Museum of the American Indian. Dozens of questions answered by Native Americans cover history, culture, and language. Topics include ceremonies, totem poles, myths, captivity stories, slavery, clothing, tribal enrollment, and government benefits. For senior high and older readers. 2007.
Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope RC 66796
by Jenna Bush
read by Aimee Jolson
1 cassette
First daughter Jenna Bush portrays an HIV-positive Latin American teenage mother whom she met while working with UNICEF. Relates Ana’s life after her mother’s death—the sexual abuse Ana endured, her health issues, and her daughter’s birth. Offers resources for protecting yourself and others from AIDS. For senior high readers. 2007.
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World RC 66801
by Lucette Lagnado
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Wall Street Journal reporter presents her family’s life in post-World War II Cairo. Lagnado—focusing on her dashing and resilient father Leon—chronicles her Jewish upbringing in Nasser’s Egypt and the political and social upheavals that precipitated the emigration of her family to Paris and subsequently New York. 2007.
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World RC 66811
by Anthony Doerr
read by Frank Coffee
2 cassettes
Prize-winning novelist recounts moving to Italy with his wife and six-month-old twin sons for a yearlong literary fellowship. Describes visiting the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel, and other historical sites; attending the vigil of Pope John Paul II; and learning Italian. Also discusses raising a family. 2007.
Does Outsourcing Harm America? RC 66812
edited by Katherine Read Dunbar
read by Kevin Collins
1 cassette
Discusses the practice of hiring contractors from outside a firm—often outside the country—to perform work less expensively than staff members would. Critics claim that sending work overseas deprives Americans of jobs, while corporations assert that outsourcing is efficient, cost-effective, and necessary in the global marketplace. For senior high readers. 2006.
What Now? RC 66826
by Ann Patchett
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Author of Bel Canto (RC 54190) reflects on life choices in a 2006 commencement address she delivered at Sarah Lawrence College. Draws on her own experiences and offers inspiration to anyone at a crossroads, be it a milestone or an everyday decision. Bestseller. 2008.
Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea RC 66827
by Chelsea Handler
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Personal essays by stand-up comedian and star of the television show Chelsea Lately. Covers her short-lived attempt to get in shape, obsession with midgets, incarceration for using a fake ID, and experiences in London with an overzealous friend. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets RC 66836
by Sudhir Venkatesh
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
Venkatesh, a sociologist profiled in Freakonomics (RC 60337), recounts gaining access to a Chicago-based drug gang in the 1990s when he was a graduate student. Describes his protective relationship with gang leader “J.T.” that allowed Venkatesh to document the organization’s inner workings and illicit activities. Strong language and some violence. 2008.
Gay Artists in Modern American Culture: An Imagined Conspiracy RC 66843
by Michael S. Sherry
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
History professor addresses the influence of gay men on mid-twentieth-century American culture and examines antihomosexual attitudes prevalent then. Discusses the conspiracy theories that a “homosexual mafia” dominated the arts and describes changes in perceptions that occurred after the 1969 Stonewall riots, when gays rebelled against police in New York. 2007.
Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa’s Greatest Explorer RC 66847
by Tim Jeal
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
The biographer of Livingstone (RC 7906) reappraises the character and reputation of adventure traveler Henry Morton Stanley, based on access to previously sealed Stanley family archives. Provides details about Stanley’s expeditions across Africa and examines misperceptions about his public career and intimate life. National Book Critics Circle Award. 2007.
Go Green, Live Rich: Fifty Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying RC 66850
by David Bach
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Financial expert and author of The Automatic Millionaire (RC 57712) describes ways to improve the environment and save money. Suggestions include reducing home utility bills, improving fuel economy, using recycled materials, opting out of junk mail, paying bills online, telecommuting, and investing in socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Bestseller. 2008.
Apollo’s Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination RC 66861
by Michael Sims
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Describes events in a distilled, ideal day as the line of demarcation between darkness and light creeps around the globe. Sims draws on both natural and cultural history to examine such topics as dawn cloud shows, circadian rhythms, high noon, changing shadows, and the three kinds of twilight. 2007.
Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited RC 66863
by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Authors describe learning in their mid-thirties that they are identical twins who as infants were separated by a New York adoption agency. They recount their experiences before and after being reunited and discuss their birth mother and the nature versus nurture study that separated them. Some strong language. 2007.
Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I Went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the Same Woman, the Same Dog, and a Lot Less Hair RC 66864
by Gary David Goldberg
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Award-winning sitcom writer and producer details his personal and professional life before and after he was “discovered” in a writing class in the 1970s. Goldberg describes his work on Family Ties and Spin City and recounts his friendships with celebrities such as actor Michael J. Fox. Some strong language. 2008.
Yum-o! The Family Cookbook RC 66865
by Rachael Ray
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Food Network host Ray suggests ways to make eating healthfully easier, more affordable, and fun for families. Offers recipes designed to encourage children to help prepare meals. Provides ideas for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners, including rollover suppers that make use of leftovers. 2008.
Medical Myths That Can Kill You: And the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend, and Improve Your Life RC 66890
by Nancy Snyderman
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Physician and NBC News chief medical editor dispels seven common myths regarding health, medical care, and longevity. Covers the three leading causes of death—cancer, heart disease, stroke—and the importance of adult vaccinations and annual checkups. Includes medical truths and tips, such as laughing is good for your heart. 2008.
Being Well When We’re Ill: Wholeness and Hope in Spite of Infirmity RC 66901
by Marva J. Dawn
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Theologian with multiple disabilities offers advice on attaining emotional, intellectual, and spiritual wholeness despite physical infirmities. Suggests scripture to deal with the sorrows of loneliness, pain, worry, boredom, depression, and dying and provides practical ideas for persevering in the face of severe or chronic illness. 2008.
America’s Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation RC 66907
by Kenneth C. Davis
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Author of the Don’t Know Much About series describes overlooked episodes in early American history. Includes Queen Isabella’s advice to Columbus to bring pigs to the New World—animals that introduced diseases to the natives—and George Washington’s attack on French soldiers who were on a diplomatic mission. Violence. 2008.
Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science RC 66912
by James D. Watson
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Nobel Prize-winning DNA scientist punctuates his autobiography with irreverent lessons learned along the way, like the one in the title. Discusses his career, highlighting his work at Harvard and with fledgling scientists, and his personal life, including his marriage to a woman who is twenty years his junior. 2007.
The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom RC 66913
by Simon Winchester
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Biography of British biochemist Joseph Needham (1900–1995) discusses his intellectual development, marriage, and long-standing love affair with a visiting Chinese student. Features his travels to China and his investigations into the history of Chinese inventions and technology, including the compass, explosives, and suspension bridges. 2008.
The Day Freedom Died: The Colfax Massacre, the Supreme Court, and the Betrayal of Reconstruction RC 66980
by Charles Lane
read by Jim Bond
3 cassettes
Journalist documents the 1873 murders of nearly one hundred African Americans by white supremacists in Colfax, Louisiana. Analyzes the event and the political, social, and legal atmosphere that led to an 1875 Supreme Court decision denying federal responsibility to protect civil rights. Commercial audiobook. Violence and strong language. 2008.
The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival among America’s Great White Sharks RC 67002
by Susan Casey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Account of the author’s journey to the Farallon Islands, twenty-seven miles from San Francisco, a renowned refuge of great white sharks. Casey, an editor, relates joining scientists Peter Pyle and Scot Anderson as they study the predators in their natural habitat. She describes shark attacks and the archipelago’s beauty. Some strong language. 2005.
Benedict Arnold’s Navy: The Ragtag Fleet That Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the American Revolution RC 67019
by James L. Nelson
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Details the 1775–1776 northern campaigns of the American Revolution involving Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, wealthy shipowner Benedict Arnold, and Major General Philip Schuyler. Highlights the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the march through the Maine wilderness, battles in Canada, and the naval conflict on Lake Champlain. 2007.
When You Are Engulfed in Flames RC 67035
by David Sedaris
read by Nick Sullivan
2 cassettes
Humor essayist recounts his experiences at home and abroad, including his encounter with dingoes in Australia, purchase of a skeleton in France, and attempt to quit smoking in Tokyo. The book title comes from a safety brochure Sedaris found in Hiroshima. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
All for a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora RC 67074
by David Rensin
read by Alec Volz
4 cassettes
Acquaintences and family members discuss Miki “Da Cat” Dora, who died of cancer at age sixty-seven in 2002. They describe Dora as a scam artist who achieved surfing fame in the fifties and sixties in Malibu, roamed the world seeking perfect waves, and tried to avoid arrest. Strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey RC 67075
by Jill Bolte Taylor
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Neuroanatomist chronicles a severe brain hemorrhage she had when she was in her mid-thirties and the eight-year recovery period that followed. She describes the joy of the present moment she felt when she was operating solely with her brain’s right hemisphere and explains ways the experience changed her. Bestseller. 2008.
Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel RC 67077
by Michio Kaku
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Physicist and author of Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the Twenty-first Century (RC 46238) explores impossibilities that may be realized in the future. Includes speculation on scientific advances such as teleportation, psychokinesis, intelligent robots, time travel, invisibility, and precognition. Bestseller. 2008.
Always by My Side: A Father’s Grace and a Sports Journey unlike Any Other RC 67078
by Jim Nantz
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
CBS sportscaster Nantz recounts his career, which has included calling the play-by-plays at the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and the Masters. Offers anecdotes about the athletes and coworkers he’s befriended over the years and memories of his beloved father—his mentor until Alzheimer’s took its toll. Bestseller. 2008.
What’s Wrong with Obamamania? Black America, Black Leadership, and the Death of Political Imagination RC 67079
by Ricky L. Jones
read by Andy Pyle
2 cassettes
Pan-African studies professor chronicles black political leadership in America and questions whether 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama is committed to the “freedom agenda” of past African American activists who sought justice and equality. Criticizes hip-hop culture, wealthy ministers, and the co-optation and compromises of some civil rights figures. 2008.
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments RC 67102
by George Johnson
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Award-winning science writer recounts landmark historic experiments whose simplicity he finds beautiful. Explores discoveries made by Galileo on the laws of motion, William Harvey on blood circulation, Isaac Newton on the color spectrum, Michael Faraday on electromagnetism, and Ivan Pavlov on conditioned responses. 2008.
Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives RC 67110
by Jim Sheeler
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Sheeler recounts the two years he spent shadowing marine major Steve Beck, an officer whose job is to notify the families of fallen soldiers. Sheeler relates the lives of the deceased, Beck’s efforts to comfort the grieving relatives, and the toll on surviving kin. 2008.
Jokes to Go: One Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-six of the Funniest Bits from the Best Comedians RC 67123
edited by Judy Brown
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
One-liners, quips, and humorous observations arranged alphabetically by topic. Includes favorites of Dave Barry, Mel Brooks, Johnny Carson, Bill Cosby, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno, David Letterman, George Lopez, Dennis Miller, and Conan O’Brien, who cover everything from breakups and marriages to sports and taxes. 2003.
The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything RC 67190
by Stephen M.R. Covey
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
Defining trust as confidence, the author explores the concept as it contributes to personal and professional success. Examines the ways trust improves the effectiveness of interactions. Uses anecdotes to illustrate the effect of integrity and competence on credibility and provides tips for inspiring confidence and increasing trust. Bestseller. 2006.
Fleeced: How Barack Obama, Media Mockery of Terrorist Threats, Liberals Who Want to Kill Talk Radio, the Do-Nothing Congress, Companies That Help Iran, and Washington Lobbyists for Foreign Governments Are Scamming Us—and What to Do about It RC 67191
by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Political analysts allege that the actions of lobbyists, credit card companies, subprime real-estate loan providers, Chinese toy manufacturers, and others waste taxpayers’ money. Bestseller. 2008.
Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior RC 67217
by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Organizational expert Ori Brafman and his brother, psychologist Rom Brafman, explore the psychological forces that undermine rational thinking. They use real-life examples to demonstrate that the desire to avoid loss and the inclination to remain committed to initial assessments can influence one’s decision-making process—sometimes with detrimental effects. 2008.
Laughter, the Best Medicine: A Laugh-Out-Loud Collection of Our Funniest Jokes, Quotes, Stories, and Cartoons RC 67219
by Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
Hundreds of quips that poke fun at life, compiled from fifty years of Reader’s Digest magazine. Includes items from both professional comedians and ordinary subscribers. 2008.
Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women’s Rights Movement RC 67259
by Sally G. McMillen
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
History of the 1848 Seneca Falls convention that galvanized the women’s rights movement in America. Highlights the work of suffragists Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone. Describes the social and legal injustices women faced and the Civil War’s effect on the movement. 2008.
The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour RC 67272
by Andrei Cherny
read by Jake Williams
5 cassettes
Recounts the post-WWII Berlin airlift of 1948–1949. Describes the Soviet Union’s attempt to expel British, American, and French troops by blockading sectors of the city—actions that consigned more than two million citizens to starvation. Relates the American response—airlifting food and supplies and parachuting candy to children. Some violence. 2008.
Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics RC 67337
by Joe Biden
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
Autobiography of the U.S. senator from Delaware who was first elected to Congress in 1972 at age twenty-nine. Recalls his Irish Catholic upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington and the tragic deaths of his first wife and daughter. Highlights political and social issues that arose during his tenure. 2007.
You, on a Diet: The Owner’s Manual for Waist Management RC 67442
by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
The authors of You: The Owner’s Manual (RC 60685) explain the physiology and psychology of gaining weight and provide a diet and activity plan. Includes recipes and describes exercises. Appendixes discuss medical options for weight control, such as drugs and surgery. Bestseller. 2006.
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger RC 67484
by Marc Levinson
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Economist traces the development of the shipping container as a cheap means to transport goods beginning in the 1950s. Explains its effects on the economic landscape, such as eliminating longshoremen’s jobs and changing port communities. Features Malcom McLean, a trucking company owner, as the major force in this dynamic. 2006.
The Foreclosure Survival Guide: Keep Your House or Walk Away with Money in Your Pocket RC 67751
by Stephen Elias
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
Bankruptcy attorney discusses legal options available to homeowners facing foreclosure, including negotiating with the lender to keep the house, filing for bankruptcy, obtaining a reverse mortgage, or fighting a foreclosure in court. Explains the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and provides a summary of each state’s laws. 2008.
The Fifth Vial RC 64358
by Michael Palmer
read by Peter Berkrot
3 cassettes
Medical student Natalie Reyes loses a lung in Rio, PI Ben Callahan investigates a suspicious death, and a dying Dr. Joe Anson finishes clinical tests of a new drug. The three become connected when they discover a secret cabal of transplant specialists who buy organs. Violence and strong language. 2007.
The Water’s Lovely RC 64542
by Ruth Rendell
read by Mare Trevathan
2 cassettes
Nine years ago Ismay’s stepfather Guy drowned in the bathtub. Returning home after university, Ismay still wonders what really happened and whether her sister Heather was somehow involved. 2007.
Throne of Jade: The Temeraire Adventures, Book 2 RC 64553
by Naomi Novik
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Chinese dignitaries demand the return of Temeraire, a dragon hatched from an egg seized from a French ship. Temeraire’s human master, Captain Laurence, escorts Temeraire to the Far East to face the intrigues of the Chinese court. Sequel to His Majesty’s Dragon (RC 64445). 2006.
Here and Now RC 64574
by Kimberla Lawson Roby
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
Chicago suburbs, 1990s. Two sisters with very different lives envy each other. Single mother Marcella is struggling to support two children in the projects. Racquel, a teacher, undergoes fertility treatments that strain her marriage and reveal a deep secret. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.
Spark on the Prairie: A Guns and Gavel Novel RC 64703
by Johnny D. Boggs
read by Derald Breneman
3 cassettes
Texas, 1871. General William Tecumseh Sherman brings Kiowa leader Satanta and young brave Big Tree to trial for the murders of seven members of a wagon train. Lawyers Thomas Ball and Joe Woolfolk attempt to save the men from the death penalty. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.
Jane Austen in Scarsdale; or, Love, Death, and the SATs RC 64917
by Paula Marantz Cohen
read by Mimi Bederman
2 cassettes
High school guidance counselor Anne Ehrlich still regrets breaking up thirteen years ago with the love of her life, Ben Cutler. When helping Ben’s nephew apply to college, Anne reconnects with Ben, now a successful travel writer, and wonders if their love can be rekindled. Some strong language. 2006.
Tom Jones RC 65165
by Henry Fielding
read by David Cutler
8 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)
Modernized edition of English comic, picaresque epic. Tom Jones, an orphan taken in by Squire Allworthy, is expelled from Allworthy’s country estate for his wild indiscretions. Thus begins a series of adventures in which Tom loses his money, joins the army, and pursues his beloved to London. 1996 introduction. 1748.
Bridge of Sighs RC 65209
by Richard Russo
read by Jim Zeiger
5 cassettes
Friends Louis Lynch and Bobby Marconi grow up in the blue-collar town of Thomaston, New York. Louis stays in the area and marries his high school sweetheart Sarah, while Bobby changes his name, moves to Venice, Italy, and becomes a famous artist. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2007.
World without End RC 65224
by Ken Follett
read by Jim Zeiger
8 cassettes in 2 containers
Two centuries after The Pillars of the Earth (RC 30999), the populace of Kingsbridge, England, copes with the Black Death and wars with France. Four children share a traumatic experience that influences their lives as they grow up in disparate social circles. Some violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2007.
Tipperary RC 65226
by Frank Delaney
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
Colonial Ireland. Itinerant folk healer Charles O’Brien falls in love with Anglo-Irish heiress April Burke and encourages her to restore Castle Tipperary. April rejects Charles to marry another, while Charles befriends the founders of Sinn Fein and the IRA. Bestseller. 2007.
The Spanish Bow RC 65241
by Andromeda Romano-Lax
read by Jeremy Gage
4 cassettes
Spain, mid-twentieth century. Catalonian cello prodigy Feliu Delargo masters his art and plays for royalty on the eve of the civil war. A year later in Paris, Feliu and his rival, pianist Justo Al-Cerraz, conspire to save Aviva, the Jewish violinist they both love. 2007.
Variable Winds at Jalna: Whiteoak Chronicles, Book 15 RC 65673
by Mazo de la Roche
read by Terry Donnelley
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Renny’s daughter Adeline plans to marry her Irish lover, in spite of her father’s displeasure. Meg and Finch find new loves, and old Nicholas dies, leaving behind various legacies. 1954.
North River RC 65707
by Pete Hamill
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
New York City, during the Great Depression. Lonely Dr. James Delaney returns from tending patients—including gangsters and Tammany chieftains—to find his three-year-old grandson on his doorstep. James hires Rose, a Sicilian housekeeper, and his heart grows lighter even as past secrets endanger his present happiness. Strong language. 2007.
Beyond Seduction: A Bastion Club Novel, Book 6 RC 65852
by Stephanie Laurens
read by Corrie James
3 cassettes
Cornwall, England; 1816. Bastion Club member Gervase Tregarth, earl of Crowhurst, returns to his estate, where his younger sisters suggest he marry local aristocrat Madeline Gascoigne. But Madeline has no interest in romance—until circumstances throw her and Gervase together. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2007.
The Warrior: The Brotherhood of the Sword RC 65855
by Kinley MacGregor
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Lochlan MacAllister rescues a woman from her captors only to learn she is the French king’s illegitimate daughter Catarina, who is fleeing an arranged marriage. Lochlan agrees to help her—but first he must uncover the truth about his presumed-dead brother Kieran. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2007.
Dragon Harper: The Dragonriders of Pern RC 65920
by Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
A deadly flu epidemic sweeps across Pern, killing thousands. Kindan, a young apprentice of the harpers guild who dreams of becoming a dragon-rider, seeks a cure before the virus spreads to the weyrfolk, who are needed to protect the planet from the devastating alien life-form Thread. 2007.
The Ever-Running Man: A Sharon McCone Mystery RC 65930
by Marcia Muller
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
San Francisco PI Sharon McCone is hired by her husband Hy’s security firm RKI to stop the “ever-running man,” a shadowy figure who’s been planting bombs at RKI offices around the world. As the investigation progresses, Sharon begins to question Hy’s secretive role in the company. Some strong language. 2007.
An Affair before Christmas RC 66085
by Eloisa James
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Georgian England. Four years after Poppy and the duke of Fletcher fell for each other, their marriage is in danger due to Poppy’s overbearing mother’s concept of love and duty. Poppy flees to her friend Jemma, the notorious duchess of Beaumont, for advice. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007.
The Summons: A Peter Diamond Mystery RC 66092
by Peter Lovesey
read by Julian Elfer
2 cassettes
Bath, England. Convicted killer John Mountjoy escapes from prison and kidnaps an assistant chief constable’s daughter to use as leverage to clear his name. Ex-CID superintendent Peter Diamond retraces a cold trail to save the hostage—and hopefully get his job back. Some violence and some strong language. 1995.
Lush Life RC 66237
by Richard Price
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
New York, Lower East Side. Frustrated actor-writer Eric Cash claims two teens mugged him and his drinking companions as they stumbled home, shooting Ike, an aspiring writer. But when Ike dies, detectives Matty Clark and Yolonda Bello arrest Eric for homicide. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
Chasing the Devil’s Tail: A Mystery of Storyville, New Orleans RC 66257
by David Fulmer
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
New Orleans, 1907. Creole Valentin St. Cyr, a private detective for state senator Tom Anderson, investigates the murders of several prostitutes in Storyville’s red light district. The chief suspect turns out to be St. Cyr’s childhood friend, jazz musician Buddy Bolden. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Shamus Award. 2001.
So Faux, So Good: A Den of Antiquity Mystery RC 66271
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Abigail Timberlake, owner of a Charlotte, North Carolina, antiques shop, outbids rival dealers for an exquisite one-of-a-kind English tea service that turns out to be a fake. Abby’s search for answers leads to Pennsylvania Dutch country, where she stays at Magdalena Yoder’s inn and encounters murder. Some strong language. 1998.
Agnes and the Hitman RC 66277
by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
South Carolina. After foiling an attempted dognapping with a frying pan, caterer and food columnist Agnes Crandall must deal with a hit-man bodyguard and other unruly characters while she tries to prepare for a wedding in her newly purchased home. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007.
All’s Well That Ends: An Amanda Pepper Mystery RC 66291
by Gillian Roberts
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Philadelphia English teacher Amanda Pepper investigates the apparent—but unlikely—suicide of her friend’s stepmother Phoebe, a serial divorcée and compulsive knickknack collector. Amanda also looks into the disappearance of money from a hurricane-relief fund and rumors of student gambling. 2007.
The Thin Woman: An Epicurean Mystery; Ellie Haskell Mystery RC 66292
by Dorothy Cannell
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Ellie Simons, beautiful but overweight, hires escort Bentley Haskell to pose as her fiancé on a visit to her uncle Merlin’s imposing estate. Ellie encounters unexpected romance and a treasure hunt when Merlin suddenly passes away, leaving his fortune to her and Bentley—provided that she shed sixty pounds. 1984.
The Eternal Husband and Other Stories RC 66300
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
Five short tales by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881). Features “A Nasty Anecdote,” “Bobok,” “The Meek One,” “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man,” and the title piece, in which a widower encounters his deceased wife’s lover. Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. Includes modern preface. 1997.
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey RC 66312
by Alison Weir
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Sixteenth-century England. Jane Grey, King Henry VIII’s great-niece, becomes a royal pawn in the battle for the Crown. Jane’s power-hungry parents and opponents of Jane’s Catholic cousin Mary plot Jane’s ascension, eventually bringing a brief reign—and treason charges. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006.
The Monkey Wrench Gang RC 66361
by Edward Abbey
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Vietnam veteran George Hayduke returns from war to find his beloved southwestern desert threatened by industrial development. George and an unlikely band of activists—libertarian Doc Sarvis, Bronx native Bonnie Abbzug, and Mormon outcast Seldom Seen Smith—declare war on strip miners, clear-cutters, and highway, dam, and bridge builders. Strong language. 1975.
No Man’s Land: The Last Gunfighter, Book 9 RC 66365
by William W. Johnstone
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Kansas. Slaver and whiskey runner Ephraim Swan and his thugs attack a wagon train, killing the men and kidnapping the women. Gunslinger Frank Morgan rescues the survivors—including newly widowed Dixie Carpenter—and heads to Dodge, where he finds help from lawmen Bat and Ed Masterson. Violence and some strong language. 2004.
A Short Walk RC 66367
by Alice Childress
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Half white, half African American Cora James struggles through life in the early twentieth century. Raised by foster parents in Charleston, South Carolina, Cora eventually flees to Harlem and finds a place for herself. Includes 2006 afterword. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1979.
Hard to Handle RC 66369
by Lori Foster
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Mixed martial arts fighter Harley Handleman retreats to a cabin south of Harmony, Kentucky, to train. Harley’s uncle Satch surreptitiously hires Harley’s landlady Stasia Bradley, a life coach, to help Harley balance his affairs. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2008.
The Wedding Dress RC 66389
by Kimberly Cates
read by Elisabeth Rodgers
3 cassettes
American action-hero actress Emma McDaniel travels to Scotland to immerse herself in fourteenth-century history for her next movie. Archaeologist Dr. Jared Butler is hired to train Emma to become a medieval lady. Despite initial hostility, the two discover passion. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2007.
Starburst RC 66400
by Robin Pilcher
read by Terry Donnelly
3 cassettes
A violinist who is stifled by her overbearing manager, a festival director whose new marriage is threatened by past mistakes, and a pyrotechnics expert planning his finale are only a few of the characters whose lives intersect at the Edinburgh International Festival. Some strong language. 2007.
Slam RC 66402
by Nick Hornby
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
England. Although he is not yet sixteen, Sam’s future suddenly looks bleak. His new girlfriend Alicia is pregnant and she wants to keep the baby. Instead of skateboarding and attending art college, he will be changing nappies. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. For senior high readers. 2007.
The Road to Dune RC 66412
by Frank Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
read by J.P. Linton
3 cassettes
Collection of stories, notes, and correspondence revealing the creative process behind the Dune series. Includes previously unpublished chapters from Frank Herbert’s Dune (RC 44126) and Dune Messiah (RC 19126), an alternate version of Dune called Spice Planet by Herbert’s son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson, and four short stories. 2005.
The Bestiary RC 66416
by Nicholas Christopher
read by Nick Sullivan
2 cassettes
Xeno, a lonely youth raised by his grandmother, is fascinated with animals real and imaginary. In school he learns of a legendary lost text describing species—including centaurs and griffins—denied passage aboard Noah’s ark. On his global quest for the bestiary, Xeno finds love and answers to family mysteries. 2007.
The Camel Bookmobile RC 66417
by Masha Hamilton
read by Robin Miles
2 cassettes
American librarian Fiona Sweeney delivers books by camel to remote villages in Kenya. Her patrons include Kanika, a young girl eager to learn, and a shunned teenager nicknamed Scar Boy. But unreturned books threaten the service, and Fiona discovers rivalry between traditionalists and those seeking education. 2007.
Indigara; or, Jet and Otis Conquer the World RC 66422
by Tanith Lee
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
While visiting Ollywood—the movie capital of her Earth-like planet—fourteen-year-old Jet and her robot dog Otis are transported to Indigara, a world of rejected fantasy and science fiction movie pilots. Meanwhile back in their hotel, two shadow facsimiles imperfectly cover for them. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
Critical Space: An Atticus Kodiak Novel RC 66468
by Greg Rucka
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
So far luck has allowed professional bodyguard Atticus Kodiak to elude the assassin code-named Drama, but when Drama experiences a threat to her own life, Atticus’s luck runs out. Drama captures Atticus’s current client as leverage for a deal. Violence and strong language. 2001.
Brasyl RC 66470
by Ian McDonald
read by Jonathan Davis
3 cassettes
Three characters link past, present, and future Brazil. In 2032, impresario Edson participates in illegal quantum computing. In 2006, television producer Marcelina encounters an ancient conspiracy. In 1732, Father Luis makes a discovery in the Amazon, testing his faith and the nature of reality. Strong language and some violence. 2007.
Zapped: A Regan Reilly Mystery RC 66477
by Carol Higgins Clark
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
1 cassette
During a New York City blackout, PI Regan Reilly and her cop husband Jack juggle multiple mysteries. A thief tries to remove a safe from the Reillys’ newly acquired loft—as does the safe’s owner. A disturbed woman is stalking her latest victim, and a SoHo gallery is burglarized. 2008.
Just between Friends RC 66480
by Sandra Steffen
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
After Brooke Valentine discovers her husband’s latest infidelity, she and her daughter return to Brooke’s hometown of Alcott, New Hampshire. Meanwhile Brooke’s friend Sara leaves her abusive husband, and single pal Claudia reassesses her life. The women find solace, hope, and love. Companion to Come Summer (RC 65360). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.
My Mistress’s Sparrow Is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekhov to Munro RC 66489
edited by Jeffrey Eugenides
read by Alexander Strain
4 cassettes
Twenty-seven short romantic pieces. Includes classic works by William Faulkner (“A Rose for Emily”) and Anton Chekhov (“The Lady with the Little Dog”) and stories by William Trevor, James Joyce, Vladimir Nabokov, Denis Johnson, Raymond Carver, and Alice Munro. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
The Year of Endless Sorrows RC 66490
by Adam Rapp
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
1990s. An aspiring young writer leaves the Midwest for New York City. He spends a year dealing with misfit roommates, inane bosses, love interests, and plans gone awry, as well as writing a novel about acute knee pain and the end of the world. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2007.
Deadline: A Detective Ollie Chandler Mystery, Book 1 RC 66492
by Randy Alcorn
read by Patrick Downer
5 cassettes
Oregon. After a car accident injures him and kills two of his childhood friends, journalist Jake Woods teams up with detective Ollie Chandler to investigate the crash’s suspicious circumstances. As Jake reevaluates his beliefs and lifestyle choices, a newfound faith in God sustains him. 1994.
Rosy Is My Relative RC 66509
by Gerald Durrell
read by Alexander Strain
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Fictionalized account of city-dweller Adrian Rookwhistle, who inherits Rosy—an amiable, well-trained elephant with a penchant for strong drink. Seeking a circus home, Adrian and Rosy set out through the countryside on an adventure marked by Rosy’s disruption of a hunt, her imbibitions at a house party, and other entanglements. 1968.
The Age of Shiva RC 66511
by Manil Suri
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Bombay, India. In 1955, at seventeen, Meera Sawhney escapes her oppressive father by marrying musician Dev Arora. Meera is quickly disillusioned by her ultrareligious in-laws and her husband’s alcoholism and retreats to raise her son Ashvin. But later Meera’s obsessive love causes problems. Some violence and some strong language. 2007.
Girls of Riyadh RC 66559
by Rajaa Alsanea
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gamrah, Michelle, Sadeem, and Lamees—four wealthy young university women— have fun and love affairs despite the narrow constrictions of their Islamic society. Their exploits are depicted in fifty e-mails sent, over the course of one year, to the female subscribers of an online chat room. 2005.
There’s No Place like Here RC 66561
by Cecelia Ahern
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Sandy Shortt, owner of a Dublin missing persons agency, disappears in the woods while seeking the brother of her new client Jack Ruttle. Sandy discovers a parallel universe filled with missing people and things. Meanwhile, Jack searches for Sandy, the only woman who understands his pain. 2007.
The Miracle at Speedy Motors: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency RC 66569
by Alexander McCall Smith
read by Robin Miles
2 cassettes
PI Precious Ramotswe of Botswana’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency investigates a case involving a woman seeking family members who may not actually exist. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe’s mechanic husband J.L.B. Matekoni falls under the influence of a secretive doctor who promises to cure their foster daughter’s medical condition. Bestseller. 2008.
The Horizon: The Royal Marines Saga, Book 3 RC 66571
by Douglas Reeman
read by Steven Crossley
3 cassettes
1915. Royal Marine captain Jonathan Blackwood reports to the cruiser Reliant, which is headed to the Dardanelles to support Allied efforts against Turkey and remove pressure from Suez. Two years later Jonathan joins the battle on the Western Front. Sequel to The First to Land (RC 24427). Some violence. 1993.
Killer Market: A Deborah Knott Mystery, Book 5 RC 66575
by Margaret Maron
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
North Carolina district court judge Deborah Knott fills in for a colleague in High Point, which is hosting the International Home Furnishings Market. Frantically seeking lodging, Deborah encounters onetime love Chandler Nolan, now a furniture executive. When he turns up dead with Deborah’s purse nearby, Deborah becomes a suspect. 1997.
Remembered: Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book 3 RC 66576
by Tamera Alexander
read by Catherine Byers
3 cassettes
Willow Springs, Colorado Territory; 1871. After her mother dies in Paris, Véronique Girard journeys to America in search of her long-lost father. She hires widower Jack Brennan to take her to mining communities in the mountains, where gradually, by the grace of God, they fall in love. 2007.
The Armies of Memory RC 66577
by John Barnes
read by Jeremy Gage
3 cassettes
Unknown assassins target Giraut Leones, agent for the Thousand Cultures’ shadowy Office of Special Projects. Giraut’s investigation leads to his native Nou Occitan, where he encounters violence from beings both human and artificial. Sequel to A Million Open Doors (RC 65694). Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2006.
Something Blue RC 66578
by Emily Giffin
read by Elisabeth Rodgers
2 cassettes
Beautiful, self-centered New Yorker Darcy Rhone’s life disintegrates when her friend steals her fiancé and her lover dumps her. Alone and pregnant, Darcy flees to London to stay with her friend Ethan, who criticizes Darcy’s selfish behavior. Sequel to Something Borrowed (RC 66386). Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.
Gym Candy RC 66590
by Carl Deuker
read by Jonathan Davis
2 cassettes
Football fanatic Mick Johnson, whose social and family life suffer because of his obsession, turns to steroids with hopes of improving his game. He experiences all the nasty side effects of the drug, including rage and depression—until he snaps. For senior high readers. 2007.
Them RC 66591
by Nathan McCall
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
African American Barlowe Reed lives in a historically black Atlanta neighborhood where gentrification is bringing unwelcome changes for longtime residents. When young white marrieds Sean and Sandy Gilmore move next door to Barlowe, they forge an awkward, complex friendship amid rising tensions. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2007.
A Pigeon and a Boy RC 66595
by Meir Shalev
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
Israel. Yair Mendelsohn hears of a pigeon handler who, mortally wounded during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, dispatched one last bird with a gift to his beloved. The story leads Yair to the truth about his own conception. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2006.
Bulls Island RC 66604
by Dorothea Benton Frank
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Two decades ago, Elizabeth “Betts” McGee ended her engagement to Charleston golden boy J.D. Langley because of a family feud and moved to Manhattan. Now Betts returns home to South Carolina on business. She wants to reconnect with her family while guarding old secrets. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
A Lady’s Secret: The Malloren Family RC 66605
by Jo Beverley
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
1764. British aristocrat Robin Fitzvitry rescues beautiful Italian nun Petra d’Averio from a dangerous situation in France and escorts her to England to find her birth father. As Petra is pursued by assailants determined to capture her, she and Robin fall in love. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
Manhunt: The Last Gunfighter, Book 10 RC 66608
by William W. Johnstone
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
West Texas. Frank Morgan’s former lover Mercy Monfore summons him to Parker County to battle outlaws targeting her husband and grown daughter Victoria, who could be Frank’s child. Thus preoccupied, Frank fails to notice a growing threat from an assassin seeking fame and fortune. Violence and some strong language. 2004.
Bloodfever: The Chronicles of Mac O’Connor, Book 2 RC 66611
by Karen Marie Moning
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Following Darkfever (RC 66336), American MacKayla Lane, who can see fae, and bookseller Jericho Barrons remain in Ireland seeking a magical book and revenge for Mac’s sister’s murder. Mac must resist dangerous fae and vampires while searching for her true Irish roots. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2007.
Quicksand: An Eve Duncan Novel RC 66615
by Iris Johansen
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Forensic reconstruction sculptor Eve Duncan receives a call from a male serial killer who claims he murdered her daughter Bonnie two years ago. Detective Joe Quinn, Eve’s lover, and psychic Megan Blair, from Pandora’s Daughter (RC 65773), help investigate. Violence, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 2008.
Easier to Kill: A Tamara Hayle Mystery RC 66628
by Valerie Wilson Wesley
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Radio star Mandy Magic hires private investigator Tamara Hayle to look into the murder of Mandy’s stylist, who was also her second cousin. Vandalism and an anonymous note that reads “movin’ on up” may be ominous clues that Mandy is also a target. Some violence and some strong language. 1998.
Twenty Wishes: A Blossom Street Book RC 66637
by Debbie Macomber
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Four widows—Anne Marie, Lillie, Barbie, and Elise—meet at Anne Marie’s bookstore, and each makes twenty wishes to improve her life. Anne Marie assists Ellen, an at-risk child; Barbie meets Mark, who uses a wheelchair; Elise starts a foundation in memory of her husband; and Lillie falls in love. Bestseller. 2008.
Web of Love: Amberley Family, Book 2 RC 66642
by Mary Balogh
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
After her husband is killed at Waterloo, Ellen Simpson cares for his wounded comrade Dominic Amberley, from The Gilded Web (RC 33530). The two fall in love, but Ellen has regrets and returns to England alone. With help from his family, Dominic woos Ellen. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1990.
The Whole Truth RC 66658
by David Baldacci
read by Joe Peck
3 cassettes
Online footage of a murdered Russian’s last moments alive increases fear of global conflict. Nicolas Creel, head of the world’s largest defense conglomerate, exploits the situation, while Shaw, a secretive international law-enforcement agent, risks his life to maintain peace. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Owning It: Stories about Teens with Disabilities RC 66659
edited by Donald R. Gallo
read by Erik Synnestvedt
1 cassette
Ten tales of teens dealing with school, teachers, parents, friends, the opposite sex—and a physical or mental disability. In “See You” two legally blind classmates are bullied. “Brainiac” relates a girl’s return to college after a brain-damaging accident. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high readers. 2008.
Naughty Neighbor RC 66660
by Janet Evanovich
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Washington, D.C. Ambitious thirty-year-old Louisa Brannigan, press secretary to a U.S. senator, is kept awake by her loud, self-indulgent neighbor, scriptwriter Pete Streeter. After Pete causes Louisa to lose her job, they collaborate on his story line involving corruption and drugs in high places. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1992.
Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories RC 66662
by Tobias Wolff
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Thirty-one tales about everyday people—husbands and wives, military men and women, rich kids, poor kids, parents and offspring, academics, and businessmen—at moments of moral reckoning. Includes Wolff’s masterpieces “In the Garden of the North American Martyrs” and “Soldier’s Joy.” Some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Seen It All and Done the Rest RC 66669
by Pearl Cleage
read by Victoria Gordon
2 cassettes
Anti-Americanism sends African American actress Josephine Evans home to Atlanta after a thirty-year career in Europe. Josephine reconnects with her granddaughter Zora, from Baby Brother’s Blues (RC 63550), and the West End community, where she rebuilds her late mother’s house despite threats from developer Greer Woodruff. Strong language. 2008.
Promises to Keep RC 66670
by Charles De Lint
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
Newford, 1972. Art student Jilly Coppercorn encounters Donna Birch, an old friend from her time in the Home for Wayward Girls. The meeting elicits memories of Jilly’s past life on the streets and leads her into a realm where life and death are blurred. Some strong language. 2007.
Mark’s Story: The Gospel According to Peter; the Jesus Chronicles RC 66678
by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Mark, a young man, witnesses the events of Jesus’s last days on earth including Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s denial, and Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. Mark becomes a devout Christian and urges Peter to share his experiences. 2007.
The Privilege of the Sword: Swords of Riverside RC 66681
by Ellen Kushner
read by Alexander Strain
3 cassettes
Country girl Katherine Talbert joins the household of her uncle, the “Mad Duke” Tremontaine of Riverside, to learn the art of swordplay. She also navigates political intrigue, uncovers plots against her uncle, and defends a victimized friend. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Nebula Award finalist. 2006.
Chanda’s Wars RC 66683
by Allan Stratton
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Africa. Chanda, orphaned by AIDS, cares for her younger brother and sister during a civil war. When rebels kidnap her siblings and force them to become soldiers, Chanda tracks the children through the bush to rescue them. Sequel to Chanda’s Secrets (RC 59802). Violence. For senior high readers. 2008.
Off Season: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery RC 66684
by Philip R. Craig
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Tourist season is over, but conflicts are just beginning among animal rights activists, hunters, conservationists, and land developers. When a local hunter is murdered, ex-cop and avid outdoorsman J.W. Jackson investigates. J.W. is only slightly distracted by his impending nuptials to nurse Zee Madieras. Some strong language. 1994.
The Ten-Year Nap RC 66691
by Meg Wolitzer
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
New York. Four educated stay-at-home mothers—some raised by feminists—meet for coffee to support each other. Now, ten years later, Amy, Jill, Roberta, and Karen begin to reassess their decisions. Amy befriends working mom Penny, who seems to have everything—including a secret lover—until tragedy strikes. Strong language. 2008.
Better Off Famous? RC 66694
by Jane Mendle
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Juilliard rejects violinist Annie Hoffman, a teenager from Alabama, but a producer hires her for a television series. Annie becomes a hot celebrity and begins to act the part of a spoiled diva—until a tabloid article forces her to reevaluate her behavior. For senior high readers. 2007.
Now and Forever: Somewhere a Band Is Playing and Leviathan ’99 RC 66698
by Ray Bradbury
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Two novellas. In Somewhere a Band Is Playing a writer investigates the mysteries of an Arizona town where no one seems to age. In Leviathan ’99—a reimagining of Melville’s Moby Dick (RC 34184)—astronaut Ishmael Hunnicut Jones boards a starship whose captain hunts the comet that blinded him. 2007.
Sisterchicks Go Brit! RC 66709
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Fifty-four-year-old friends Liz and Kellie accompany their interior-design client, elderly Englishwoman Opal, to Great Britain to visit Opal’s family. The Americans enjoy the sights, and Kellie finds inspiration to follow her own interests when she returns home. Meanwhile, Opal rekindles an old romance. 2008.
Fleet of Worlds RC 66712
by Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Two hundred years before Ringworld’s discovery, the alien Citizens flee a supernovae chain reaction in their Fleet of Worlds. Spaceship navigator and colonist Kirsten Quinn-Kovacs, a descendent of humans rescued as embryos from an abandoned starship, scouts ahead for danger and uncovers disturbing, long-hidden truths about her ancestors’ origins. 2007.
Compulsion: An Alex Delaware Novel RC 66747
by Jonathan Kellerman
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
LAPD detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware are investigating the murder of a retired teacher when similar murders occur. The only clues are that the apparent serial killer loves disguises and stolen luxury cars. Violence and strong language. 2008.
Odd Hours RC 66749
by Dean Koontz
read by Guy Williams
2 cassettes
After leaving the abbey in Brother Odd (RC 63120), Odd Thomas feels drawn to California’s Magic Beach. A mysterious pregnant woman, an obsessive employer, Frank Sinatra’s ghost, and dreams of a red tide play parts in Odd’s battle to stop an evil plan. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Shadows and Lies RC 66758
by Marjorie Eccles
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
England, 1909. After an accident, thirty-three-year-old Hannah Jackson struggles to recall the past nine years of her life. Meanwhile, an unidentified woman is found murdered at Belmonde, the Chetwynd family’s ancestral home. As Hannah’s past in South Africa comes to light, her connection to the dead woman is revealed. 2005.
Not the Marrying Kind RC 66761
by Hailey North
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
In high school, dumpy Harriet and popular Jake had one night together before he left town. Fifteen years later, Harriet is a well-known New York artist raising Jake’s son Zach, when she, Zach, and Jake are called back to Doolittle, Arkansas, for Christmas. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007.
Landsman RC 66766
by Peter Charles Melman
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
1860s. Implicated in a murder, Jewish orphan Elias Abrams flees authorities by enlisting in the Confederate army. Elias begins a tender, epistolary friendship with Nora Bloom that eventually leads him home to New Orleans to confront his past. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2007.
The Art of Racing in the Rain RC 66787
by Garth Stein
read by Peter Ganim
2 cassettes
Enzo, a mixed-breed dog, believes he will be reincarnated as a human. He stands by his master Denny Swift’s side through Denny’s race-car driving career, the birth of his daughter Zoë, the death of his wife Eve, and a bitter custody battle with Eve’s parents. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Dust on the Sea: The Royal Marines Saga, Book 4 RC 66792
by Douglas Reeman
read by Steven Crossley
3 cassettes
The Mediterranean, 1943. Twenty-five-year-old Royal Marine captain Michael Blackwood goes to Alexandria on a special mission to deliver weapons to Allied resistance units. In Egypt Blackwood finds camaraderie and love with flight officer Joanna Gordon. Sequel to The Horizon (RC 66571). Some violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.
A Light to My Path: Refiner’s Fire, Book 3 RC 66793
by Lynn Austin
read by Gail Nelson
3 cassettes
South Carolina, Civil War era. Kitty, chambermaid and house servant of her master’s daughter Claire, meets and falls in love with Grady, the handsome coachman of a wealthy planter. When Union soldiers threaten the plantation, Kitty must choose between staying with Claire’s family or fleeing to freedom with Grady. 2004.
The Body in the Gallery: A Faith Fairchild Mystery RC 66797
by Katherine Hall Page
read by Elisabeth Rodgers
2 cassettes
Caterer Faith Fairchild helps her friend Patsy Avery, a trustee of a local museum. Patsy suspects someone has replaced a valuable painting with a forgery. Although Faith has promised her husband to stop her amateur sleuthing, she discovers the body of a young woman at the gallery. 2008.
Island of Saints: A Story of the One Principle That Frees the Human Spirit RC 66810
by Andy Andrews
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
A man discovers WWII military artifacts buried behind his Florida home. His investigation into their origins leads him to a married couple, who share with him the knowledge they gained about forgiveness after Helen, a bitter young war widow, rescued Josef, a stranded German U-boat officer in 1942. 2005.
The Marsh Birds RC 66813
by Eva Sallis
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Twelve-year-old Dhurgham and his family are separated after they flee Iraq. Alone in Damascus, Dhurgham is taken in by a pedophile, spends years at an Australian refugee detention camp, and is deported to New Zealand while the authorities debate his fate. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005.
Mothers and Sons: Stories RC 66814
by Colm Tóibín
read by Terry Donnelly
2 cassettes
Nine short stories probe the relationships between mothers and their adult sons. In “The Name of the Game” a son hovers between dependence and autonomy as his widowed mother struggles financially. In “Song” Noel observes a singer from a distance, the mother he has not seen in nineteen years. 2007.
Killer Heat: An Alexandra Cooper Mystery RC 66831
by Linda Fairstein
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Manhattan assistant DA Alexandra Cooper is working a cold rape case during a heat wave when a woman’s body is discovered in an abandoned government building. After more bodies are found, Cooper joins homicide detective Mike Chapman to hunt a serial killer. Violence and strong language. 2008.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy: Gallagher Girls, Book 2 RC 66837
by Ally Carter
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Just as Cammie Morgan is recovering from the breakup with her boyfriend, the all-girls Gallagher Academy is allowing fellow student spies from the Blackthorne Institute for Boys to attend classes. While flirting with Zach, Cammie gets blamed for causing a security breach. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
The Abduction RC 66857
by Mark Gimenez
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Ten-year-old Gracie Brice is snatched after a soccer game while her Internet- billionaire father is distracted by a phone call. As the FBI team assembles and her attorney mother offers a reward and a bounty, Gracie’s Vietnam-vet-sniper grandfather begins his search. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007.
The Elephanta Suite RC 66862
by Paul Theroux
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Three tales of American travelers in India. In “The Gateway of India” a divorced lawyer finds succor in Mumbai’s slums. In “The Elephant God” a woman is stalked by a student from her call-center English class. Also includes “Monkey Hill.” Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2007.
The Bad Girl RC 66877
by Mario Vargas Llosa
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Ricardo Somocurcio recounts his romance with the mysterious woman who captivates him for three decades. He first encounters the metamorphic “bad girl” as teenage Lily in 1950s Peru and is later ensnared by her in the guises of “Comrade Arlette” and “Madame Arnoux.” Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006.
Sister of the Dead: The Noble Dead, Book 3 RC 66879
by Barb Hendee and J.C. Hendee
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Dhampir Magiere and half-elf Leesil are romantically involved when they journey with elf Wynn and dog/fay Chap to find their families. As Magiere reaches the castle where her mother is imprisoned, the group is stalked by former mentor Welstiel and vampire Chane. Some violence. For senior high readers. 2005.
Plague Ship: The Oregon Files RC 66883
by Clive Cussler
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Captain Juan Cabrillo of the spy vessel Oregon discovers a cruise ship with all but one of its passengers dead from a virus. The ship was chartered by a self-help group, the Responsivists, who advocate population control. Cabrillo investigates. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
The Madonnas of Leningrad RC 66887
by Debra Dean
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Decades after surviving World War II in the basement of the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad, Marina—now in Seattle—no longer experiences the present. Marina’s mind retreats to 1941, when only the love of her future husband and memorizing the paintings kept her alive. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006.
Sister’s Choice: Patchwork Circle, Book 2 RC 66891
by Judith Pella
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Oregon, 1882. Maggie Newcomb is busy husband-hunting when newcomer Tamara Brennan threatens her plans. Maggie enlists her friend Evan Parker, a newly graduated lawyer, to help her snag Colby Stoddard even though Evan is busy defending a local boy accused of murder. Maggie learns the meaning of true love. 2008.
The Final Detail: A Myron Bolitar Mystery RC 66893
by Harlan Coben
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Sports agent Myron Bolitar’s friend and partner Esperanza stands accused of killing their client, troubled Yankees pitcher Clu Haid. Against Esperanza’s wishes, Myron tries to clear her name. The investigation leads to a cold missing-persons case and a painful incident from Myron’s past. Some violence and some strong language. 1999.
Santa Fe Dead: An Ed Eagle Novel RC 66898
by Stuart Woods
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
New Mexico attorney Ed Eagle’s ex-wife Barbara escapes custody while on trial for attempting to kill him. In disguise and using an alias, Barbara schemes to marry a widowed billionaire and have Ed and Ed’s actress girlfriend murdered. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2008.
The Front RC 66899
by Patricia Cornwell
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Middlesex County D.A. Monique Lamont sends Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano to neighboring Watertown to solve the forty-five-year-old homicide of an English woman who was blind. He is distracted by bank robberies, stolen copper, and his own missing gym bag. Sequel to At Risk (RC 62949). Some strong language. 2008.
The House at Riverton RC 66900
by Kate Morton
read by Corrie James
3 cassettes
Grace Bradley has long-held secrets about a young poet’s alleged suicide near an English manor in 1924. When a film director contacts ninety-eight-year-old Grace about the tragic incident, she thinks back to the years she worked as the Hartford family maid and was their daughters’ confidant. 2006.
At the City’s Edge RC 66902
by Marcus Sakey
read by Patrick Downer
3 cassettes
Discharged soldier Jason Palmer returns from Iraq to find his widowed older brother Michael fighting a war against gang violence in their Chicago neighborhood. When Michael is murdered, Jason vows to keep Michael’s young son safe and find those responsible. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
The Last Chicken in America: A Novel in Stories RC 66909
by Ellen Litman
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Twelve interconnected stories about Russian Jewish immigrants settling in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In the title story, seventeen-year-old Masha becomes responsible for her unemployed, non-English-speaking parents’ navigation of American ways. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2007.
Shakespeare’s Kitchen: Stories RC 66910
by Lore Segal
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Thirteen interrelated tales, several of which appeared in the New Yorker, about Vienna-born Ilka, newcomer to a Connecticut think tank, as she struggles to befriend her fellow academics, especially institute director Leslie Shakespeare. Includes “At Whom the Dog Barks” and O. Henry Prize winner “Reverse Bug.” Some strong language. 2007.
The O. Henry Prize Stories, 2008 RC 66915
edited by Laura Furman
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Twenty prizewinning stories. In Anthony Doerr’s “Village 113” an Asian woman resists leaving a hamlet doomed by dam construction. Includes Edward P. Jones’s “Bad Neighbors,” Yiyun Li’s “Prison,” and tales by Michel Faber, Alice Munro, and William Trevor. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2008.
Bleeding Kansas RC 66917
by Sara Paretsky
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
Rivalry between the Grellier and the fundamentalist Schapen families escalates when a Wiccan moves into the area, a soldier son dies in Iraq, and a cow begets a perfect red heifer—a Jewish religious omen. Tensions rise as the calf’s fate is decided. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2008.
Unwind RC 66918
by Neal Shusterman
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
In a future world, parents may “unwind,” or disassemble, their offspring between the ages of thirteen and eighteen to harvest their body parts for others’ use. Teens Connor, Risa, and Lev fight to uphold their beliefs and perhaps save their own lives. For junior and senior high readers. 2007.
The Outlaw Demon Wails: A Hollows Novel RC 66923
by Kim Harrison
read by Margaret Strom
4 cassettes
Bounty-hunting witch Rachel Morgan confronts various preternatural crises: her vampire love’s still-unsolved murder, threats from the demon Algaliarept, a friend’s unexpected pregnancy by an unlikely elf, and a journey to the ever after, where she risks her very soul. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2008.
The Risk of Infidelity Index: A Vincent Calvino Crime Novel RC 66925
by Christopher G. Moore
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Bangkok, Thailand. American Vincent Calvino, a disbarred-lawyer-turned-PI, works for several unhappy expatriate wives who, since reading The Risk of Infidelity Index, believe their husbands are cheating on them. While pursuing the case, Vincent discovers connections to the death of another client for whom he investigated drug-piracy activity. Strong language. 2007.
Ice Trap: A Novel of Suspense RC 66932
by Kitty Sewell
read by Alexander Strain
2 cassettes
A thirteen-year-old girl from the Canadian wilderness writes to half-Welsh doctor Dafydd Woodruff claiming he is her and her twin brother’s father. Dafydd worked in Canada fourteen years ago but, despite a positive DNA test result, never slept with their mother, an antagonistic nurse. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.
The Missing Girl RC 66933
by Norma Fox Mazer
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
A middle-aged man secretly stalks the Herbert family’s five sisters, ages eleven to seventeen, as they go about their everyday activities in the small town of Mallory, New York. Then the stranger makes his move, luring Autumn, the youngest, into his house. For junior and senior high readers. 2008.
Blue Smoke and Murder RC 66937
by Elizabeth Lowell
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Arizona river guide Jill Breck receives a death threat shortly after her great-aunt leaves her a dozen unsigned paintings that once belonged to Jill’s grandmother. Jill asks security expert Zach Balfour to investigate the origins of the paintings. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2008.
A Case of Vineyard Poison: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery RC 66940
by Philip R. Craig
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
J.W. Jackson’s bride-to-be Zee discovers an extra hundred thousand dollars in her bank account—a mistake attributed to a computer glitch. Later, cop-turned-fisherman J.W. finds on his driveway the poisoned body of college coed Kathy Ellis, who, coincidentally, had recently withdrawn the same amount of money from her own account. 1995.
Time Is a River RC 66991
by Mary Alice Monroe
read by Mare Trevathan
2 cassettes
After losing her job, battling cancer, and catching her husband committing adultery in Charleston, South Carolina, Mia Landan returns to a North Carolina treatment center. The owner lends Mia a mountain cabin, where she reassesses her life—and discovers a diary. Some descriptions of sex. 2008.
Little Brother RC 67004
by Cory Doctorow
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
After a terrorist attack on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge, the Department of Homeland Security detains high school senior Marcus and his friends without cause. When Marcus is released, he lashes out at the authorities by hacking into the city’s universal electronic surveillance system. For senior high and older readers. 2008.
The Ancient: The Saga of the First King, Book 2 RC 67007
by R.A. Salvatore
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
While seeking a cure for mysterious infirmities, outlaw Bransen Garibond, a.k.a. the Highwayman, is forced to journey to the wild lands of Vanguard, where he is recruited to fight against the brutal Samhaist leader Ancient Badden. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 2008.
The Tale of Hawthorn House: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter RC 67016
by Susan Wittig Albert
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
English Lake District, 1908. After someone leaves a baby girl on the steps of Hill Top Farm during harvesting, Beatrix Potter tries to find the mother. The child is given to the justice of the peace and his sister to mind, while traveling gypsies are questioned. Includes recipes. 2007.
Strike Force: A Patrick McLanahan Thriller RC 67022
by Dale Brown
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
With Russia helping Iran develop nuclear weapon technology, U.S. presidential adviser Lieutenant General Patrick McLanahan assists Iranian rebel leader Major-General Hesarak al-Kan Buzhazi by employing newly developed space planes. But political enemies who want to prevent McLanahan’s plan from succeeding leak information. Violence and strong language. 2007.
Dreamers of the Day RC 67026
by Mary Doria Russell
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
When Ohio schoolteacher Agnes Shanklin receives an inheritance after her entire family dies in a flu epidemic, she decides to travel. Arriving in Egypt during the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference, Agnes befriends Winston Churchill and Lawrence of Arabia while she falls in love with a German spy. 2008.
Tailspin: An FBI Thriller RC 67030
by Catherine Coulter
read by Alice Rosengard
3 cassettes
Rachael awakens just as she is thrown off a pier and left for dead. Fleeing to her Kentucky hometown, she witnesses the crash landing of a small plane. She helps the pilot but must hide her identity when she learns he is FBI agent Jack Crowne. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Chasing Harry Winston RC 67032
by Lauren Weisberger
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
New Yorkers Leigh, Emmy, and Adriana, friends since college, seek changes in their lives as they near thirty. Newly dumped Emmy wants to date lots of men, gorgeous Brazilian Adriana decides to pick a man to marry, and editor Leigh meets a brilliant author. Strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Sunrise over Fallujah RC 67033
by Walter Dean Myers
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Iraq, 2003. Robin “Birdy” Perry joins the army after high school and becomes involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Birdy writes about his experiences to his uncle Richie, a Vietnam War veteran, from Fallen Angels (RC 29775). Violence and strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2008.
Sundays at Tiffany’s RC 67037
by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Thirtysomething Jane is reunited with a sweet, funny, and handsome man from her past named Michael who happens to be her imaginary friend from childhood. But not even Michael knows the real reason they have been brought together. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
A Father’s Law RC 67046
by Richard Wright
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
Chicago, 1950s. African American cop Ruddy Turner becomes police chief of Brentwood Park, an upscale suburb, after the former chief is murdered. Ruddy investigates a string of killings while worrying about his college-age son Tommy. Then Ruddy starts to see a sinister connection. Strong language and some violence. 1960.
Passin’ RC 67051
by Karen E. Quinones Miller
read by Robin Miles
2 cassettes
Personnel passes over blond, blue-eyed, light-skinned African American Shanika Jenkins for a public relations job, but hires her when she reapplies as Nicole Jensen, race unstated. Shanika’s new identity causes problems with her family and her black boyfriend. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2008.
That Summer Place: Old Things, Private Paradise, Island Time RC 67082
by Debbie Macomber, Jill Barnett, and Susan Wiggs
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Three romantic novellas set in a Victorian house on Spruce Island in the Pacific Northwest. In Old Things former lovers reunite after thirty years. In Private Paradise single parents share the lodge. In Island Time a marine biologist falls for a millionaire. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1998.
Sail RC 67084
by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
read by Erin Jones
2 cassettes
Widow Katherine Dunne and her former brother-in-law take her troubled kids, teens Carrie and Mark and ten-year-old Ernie, on a yacht vacation to reconnect as a family. A natural disaster pulls them together—but then an even greater catastrophe occurs. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008.
Almost a Lady RC 67087
by Jane Feather
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Twenty-nine-year-old Englishwoman Meg Barratt is mistaken for a privateer, knocked unconscious, and brought aboard Captain Cosimo’s ship as it heads out to sea. Now he must convince Meg to help with his latest assignment—assassinating General Napoleon Bonaparte! Companion to Almost a Bride (RC 60161). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.
Air Apparent: Xanth RC 67089
by Piers Anthony
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
When the Good Magician’s son Hugo disappears and a dead body is discovered in his place, Hugo’s blind wife Wira attempts to find him. Accompanying her is young Debra, who’s trying to free herself from a curse, and storm spirits Happy and Fray. For senior high and older readers. 2007.
Return to Summerhouse RC 67155
by Jude Deveraux
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Three emotionally wounded women, Amy, Faith, and Zoë, are sent to a therapist’s house in Maine for help in recovering from their painful pasts. The three visit Madame Zoya’s shop, where Zoya and her sister Primrose transport them to eighteenth-century England to change their destinies. Bestseller. 2008.
Gone RC 67156
by Michael Grant
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
In Perdido Beach, California, people fifteen years or older suddenly disappear. Televisions, Internet access, and phones vanish, too. Bullies take over, food runs out, animals mutate, and some kids develop supernatural powers. What will happen to Sam on his fifteenth birthday? Some violence. For junior and senior high readers. 2008.
City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, Book 1 RC 67159
by Cassandra Clare
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
Fifteen-year-old Clary witnesses Jace, Alec, and Isabelle attacking a punk rocker in a Manhattan nightclub. She discovers that the three teens are Shadowhunters, warriors who kill demons. After her mother disappears, Shadowhunters take Clary in, and she learns her family history. Some violence. For senior high readers. 2007.
City of the Sun RC 67163
by David Levien
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Paul and Carol Gabriel’s twelve-year-old son Jamie disappears on his paper route in an Indianapolis suburb. A year later they hire PI Frank Behr, a former cop whose own son has died, to find Jamie. Violence and strong language. 2008.
The Genius RC 67169
by Jesse Kellerman
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Reclusive artist Victor Cracke disappears, leaving behind a cache of disturbing drawings. When Manhattan art dealer Ethan Muller exhibits the sketches, he begins to receive cryptic, vaguely threatening letters and discovers that the portraits may be evidence of long-ago murders. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
Deep in the Heart of Trouble RC 67172
by Deeanne Gist
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
1898. Texas bicycle enthusiast Essie Spreckelmeyer, who was reconciled to spinsterhood in Courting Trouble (RC 66255), now runs her father’s oil company. After Tony Morgan is disinherited, he takes a job working for Essie. The two fall in love and hope that past mistakes do not jeopardize their future. 2008.
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon RC 67174
by Diana L. Paxson
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
2000 B.C.E. Tiriki, a guardian in the Temple of Light, and her husband Micail flee a doomed island in Atlantis and escape to mist-shrouded Britain. When disaster separates her from Micail, Tiriki must find her own path in a new land. Prequel to The Mists of Avalon (RC 18687). 2004.
The Third Lynx RC 67175
by Timothy Zahn
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Aboard the Quadrail interstellar train, Frank Compton meets Mr. Smith, who needs help negotiating the purchase of alien relics. When Smith is murdered, Frank tries to acquire the artifacts before the parasitic Modhri collective can use them as weapons. Sequel to Night Train to Rigel (RC 62671). 2007.
Death Angel RC 67180
by Linda Howard
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Drea Rousseau steals millions from her lover, drug lord Rafael Salinas, and escapes, but Salinas’s assassin catches up with her. Sent back from the afterlife to redeem herself, Rousseau later seeks out the FBI to bring Salinas down—and falls in love. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2008.
Souvenir RC 67185
by Therese Fowler
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Teenagers Meg and Carson were torn apart when Meg wed a rich man to save her family’s Florida farm. Years later still-married Meg, a doctor with a sixteen-year-old daughter, and Carson, a famous rock star, meet again. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2008.
Duke Most Wanted: The Heiress Brides, Book 3 RC 67187
by Celeste Bradley
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Sophie lives a quiet life after her cousins Phoebe and Deirdre are wed—until her friend Graham Cavendish inherits a dukedom and seeks a wealthy wife to restore the estate. Sophie sees a chance to inherit her grandfather’s fortune and begins a campaign to marry Graham. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
Netherland RC 67189
by Joseph O’Neill
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
New York City. After the 2001 terrorist attacks, Dutch-born Hans van den Broek’s British wife Rachel returns to London with their son Jake. Lonely Hans joins a local cricket league and befriends Trinidadian Chuck Ramkissoon, who is a shady businessman but a great pal. Strong language. Pen/Faulkner Award. Bestseller. 2008.
Chasing Darkness: An Elvis Cole Novel RC 67192
by Robert Crais
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Lionel Byrd’s corpse is found with photos of seven murdered women. When Byrd was arrested for one of the killings three years ago, PI Elvis Cole provided proof of his innocence. Now Cole suspects that someone framed Byrd for the murders and killed him. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2008.
Death Song: A Kevin Kerney Novel RC 67208
by Michael McGarrity
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
New Mexico. Lincoln County deputy Tim Riley and his wife Denise are murdered at separate locations within hours of each other. When Santa Fe police chief Kevin Kerney and sergeant Clayton Istee, his son, investigate, they uncover Denise’s shady past and her links to international crime. Some strong language. 2008.
The Sister RC 67220
by Poppy Adams
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Dorset, England; 2007. Seventy-year-old Virginia Stone awaits her younger sister Vivien’s return after an absence of fifty years. When Vivien escaped to London as a teen, Virginia stayed in the decaying Victorian mansion and continued their father’s research into moths. The past disrupts their reunion. Some strong language. 2008.
Obedience RC 67221
by Will Lavender
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
At Winchester University, professor Leonard Williams instructs his logic class to solve the hypothetical murder of a missing teenager. Students Brian, Dennis, and Mary become convinced an actual person may die and use the clues provided to discover the truth. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2008.
Split Estate RC 67226
by Charlotte Bacon
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
After his wife Laura commits suicide, Manhattan attorney Arthur King and his teenage kids Cam and Celia move to the Wyoming ranch owned by Arthur’s mother Lucy. The family reacts self-destructively to Laura’s death while Lucy battles for drilling rights. Some strong language. 2008.
Tropical Depression RC 67262
by Laurence Shames
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Suicidal lingerie magnate Murray Zemelman flees New Jersey for Key West, where he convinces Native American Tommy Tarpon to open a casino. When a crooked politician and a local mobster plot to commandeer the operation, Murray (now on Prozac), Tommy, and their friends—including Murray’s first wife—fight back. Strong language. 1996.
Patriot Hearts: A Novel of the Founding Mothers RC 67267
by Barbara Hambly
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Fictional retelling of the lives of first ladies Dolley Madison, Martha Washington, and Abigail Adams and of president Thomas Jefferson’s slave Sally Hemings. The women handle overly charismatic husbands, alcoholism, family jealousies, and slavery amid political turmoil between 1787 and 1815. Some violence and some strong language. 2007.
Blood Trail: A Joe Pickett Novel RC 67271
by C.J. Box
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
When a Wyoming hunter is murdered and his body treated like game, Governor Spencer Rulon asks Joe Pickett to join the investigation. Because a clue links the case to two other hunters’ deaths, Rulon suspects the killer is an animal activist—but Joe seeks proof. Violence and some strong language. 2008.
The Angel RC 67274
by Carla Neggers
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Boston folklorist Keira Sullivan travels to Ireland to research a Celtic legend about a stone angel. When Keira becomes trapped in ancient ruins, FBI agent Simon Cahill rescues her. Simon and Keira soon realize that her search for the relic has attracted a killer. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
From the Depths RC 67275
by Gerry Doyle
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
A North Korean submarine is found off the U.S. coast, its thirty defecting crew members all dead. Forensic specialist Christine Myers joins a Navy SEAL team onboard to investigate. As she finds evidence of mutiny and bioweapons, the SEALs mysteriously succumb one by one. Strong language and some violence. 2007.
Hot Property RC 67369
by Carly Phillips
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Twenty-five-year-old Amy Stone becomes a publicist for a PR firm for athletes. Her first client is John Roper, a center fielder for the New York Renegades baseball team. As Amy helps John straighten out his life, sparks fly between them. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008.
Slavery and Resistance RC 66005
by Anne Devereaux Jordan
read by Robin Miles
1 cassette
Traces the history of slavery in the United States from its beginnings in colonial Jamestown to the Civil War. Discusses slave protests during the Revolutionary War and describes what life was like for blacks in the North as well as on southern plantations. For grades 5-8. 2007.
Einstein Adds a New Dimension: The Story of Science, Book 3 RC 66124
by Joy Hakim
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
Examines Albert Einstein’s discoveries in the quantum world, the theory of relativity, and nuclear physics. Discusses the way his theories revolutionized scientific thinking about the universe and led to modern inventions, from the atom bomb to cell phones. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2007.
Teens in Canada RC 66126
by Kitty Shea
read by Patrick Downer
1 cassette
Discusses the education, sports, and pastimes of teenagers in Canada, the United States’ large northern neighbor. Covers the ethnic and religious makeup of its citizens, national holidays, winter recreation, and typical family activities. For grades 6-9. 2008.
Teens in Israel RC 66318
by Michael Burgan
read by Patrick Downer
1 cassette
Provides an overview of social customs in modern Israel where people of varied religious, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds live together in a small country. Discusses schools, dress, food, religious practices, mandatory military service, and sports and other activities from a teen perspective. For grades 6-9. 2007.
Teens in Mexico RC 66319
by Brian Baumgart
read by Patrick Downer
1 cassette
Discusses the differences between teenagers who live in the city and those from rural areas who leave school early to work full-time and help support their families. Covers celebrations, religion, poverty, job opportunities, and the lure of crossing the border into the United States. For grades 6-9. 2007.
Real Samurai: Over Twenty True Stories about the Knights of Old Japan! RC 66393
by Stephen Turnbull
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette
Provides brief biographies of brave commanders, such as Minamoto Yoshiie of ancient Japan, as well as warrior monks, wandering swordsmen, and fearless women. Discusses the evolution of the samurai class and describes their training, armor, weapons, horses, and tactics. For grades 3-6. 2007.
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving RC 66401
by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac
read by Judith Ann Gantly
1 cassette
Discusses the 1621 harvest celebration shared by the colonists and the Wampanoag Indians who joined them in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Explains the evolution of the myths about the first Thanksgiving and the historical reality. For grades 3-6. 2001.
Indian Tales RC 66410
by Shenaaz Nanji
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Eight traditional Indian folktales from different regions. Descriptions of local geography and culture introduce each story. In “Hanuman’s Adventures,” a Hindu story from Kerala, the monkey god helps Rama find his kidnapped wife Sita. “Bopuluchi” from Punjab tells of a pretty orphan girl without a dowry. For grades 3-6. 2007.
The Real Benedict Arnold RC 66523
by Jim Murphy
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Exposes some of the rumors and folktales about Benedict Arnold (1741–1801) while highlighting his numerous military contributions to the American Revolution before he switched his loyalty to the British. Discusses his personal qualities, the complex factors that led to his betrayal, and his difficulties after the war. For grades 6-9. 2007.
She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer RC 66527
by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Biography of Laura Bridgman (1829–1889), the first deaf-blind child to receive a formal education—decades before Helen Keller. Discusses the causes of Laura’s deaf-blindness at age two, her sponsorship at Perkins Institution, and her success at learning manual sign language. For grades 4-7. 2008.
The Original Dogs for Kids: Everything You Need to Know about Dogs RC 66624
by Kristin Mehus-Roe
read by Kerry Dukin
3 cassettes
Guide to choosing the right dog for your personality and family living style. Discusses the history of dogs, their general characteristics—hearing and smelling—and specific breeds. Features practical advice on caring for a puppy and training, playing, and vacationing with your dog. Suggests careers working with dogs. For grades 4-7. 2007.
Forensic Science RC 66631
by Ron Fridell
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Explains the work of real-life crime scientists. Uses examples from court cases and history to discuss hard evidence, crime-scene investigation, fingerprinting, DNA profiling, and technological advances. Describes Paul Revere’s 1775 identification of a body by the false teeth he had made for a friend. For grades 4-7. 2007.
Marie Curie RC 66688
by Kathleen Krull
read by Faith Potts
1 cassette
Biography of the only female scientist to win two Nobel Prizes—Marie Curie (1867–1934). Describes her pioneering work discovering the elements polonium and radium, which led to the atomic age. Discusses her private life, dedication to her work, and struggles with nineteenth-century prejudices against career women. For grades 5-8. 2007.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A Forgotten Life RC 66798
by Elaine Landau
read by Judith Ann Gantly
1 cassette
Explains the probable causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for this degenerative brain disorder that deprives many elderly people of memory and reasoning. A medical doctor answers questions commonly asked by family members and caregivers. Contains accounts by people with Alzheimer’s and those close to them. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2005.
Mars RC 66846
by Elaine Landau
read by Erin Jones
1 cassette
Presents facts about the fourth planet from the Sun—Mars. Discusses conditions on the planet’s surface, the materials it is made of, and its moons. Also covers the possibility of life on Mars. For grades 2-4. 2008.
Tree Shaker: The Story of Nelson Mandela RC 66914
by Bill Keller
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
Biography of Nelson Mandela, the idealistic leader who transformed politics in South Africa after he was elected president in 1994. Discusses Mandela’s confrontations with apartheid as well as his strategy of nonviolence, twenty-seven years in prison, and historic presidency. Includes relevant full-text New York Times articles. For grades 6-9. 2008.
Teen Life among the Amish and Other Alternative Communities: Choosing a Lifestyle RC 67027
by David Hunter
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
Presents the benefits and challenges of growing up Amish in rural North America. Discusses religion as the basis of Amish traditions—simple clothing, horses for transportation, prohibition of electricity, schooling ending at eighth grade—and covers the importance of baptism. Briefly mentions communes, kibbutzim, and The Farm. For grades 6-9. 2008.
Hurricanes RC 67184
by Seymour Simon
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Presents scientific information on tropical storms, including the formation and behavior of hurricanes and the names of storms that have caused major disasters. Explains the Saffir-Simpson scale that is used to measure a hurricane’s strength. Discusses weather predictions, warnings, and precautions. For grades 2-4. 2007.
Kit Learns a Lesson—A School Story: An American Girl, Book 2 RC 64079
by Valerie Tripp
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
In this sequel to Meet Kit (RC 63345), Kit learns hard lessons about the Great Depression. At school, Kit fights with a boy who makes fun of her out-of-work father. But a Thanksgiving delivery to a soup kitchen teaches Kit to be thankful. For grades 3-6. 2000.
Technical Foul RC 64745
by Rich Wallace
read by Derald Breneman
1 cassette
Jared is a high-scoring basketball player, but he tends to hog the ball and gets in trouble because of his bad temper. So he’s not happy when his teammate Spencer points out that Jared needs to be more of a team player. For grades 4-7. 2004.
Dragon of the Red Dawn: Magic Tree House, Book 37 RC 64922
by Mary Pope Osborne
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
Merlin the magician is feeling old and full of sorrows, so siblings Annie and Jack time travel to ancient feudal Japan to find one of the four secrets of happiness. In the land of the samurai, Annie and Jack find Basho, the haiku poet. For grades 2-4. 2007.
Takedown RC 64950
by Rich Wallace
read by Derald Breneman
1 cassette
New Jersey. Seventh-grader Donald Jenkins tries out for wrestling but is quickly frustrated at being pounded by more-experienced teammates. He needs to control his temper if he wants to win on the mat. A high-interest, low-vocabulary book. For grades 4-7. 2006.
Grace for President RC 66594
by Kelly DiPucchio
read by Judith Ann Gantly
1 cassette
Grace Campbell learns about campaigning, voting, and the electoral college system when she runs for school president against a popular boy from another class. For grades 2-4. 2008.
Dinosaur Trouble RC 66630
by Dick King-Smith
read by Brian Conn
1 cassette
Nosy, a young pterodactyl who loves flying, and Banty, an apatosaurus who prefers walking, become friends despite their parents’ objections about their differences. But mutual fear of the T. rex helps Nosy and Banty teach their families to get along. Easy chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2005.
Bringing Ezra Back RC 66759
by Cynthia DeFelice
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Ohio, 1840. More of Nathan Fowler’s pioneer adventures, begun in Weasel (RC 32661). Twelve-year-old Nathan sets out with peddler Orrin to rescue his family’s friend Ezra, a mute man held captive and displayed as a “White Injun” by owners of a freak show in western Pennsylvania. For grades 4-7. 2006.
Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories RC 66768
by Carolyn Keene
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette (Reissue)
On a cruise from Holland to New York, Nancy, Bess, and George share their cabin with a young South African woman who is accused of stealing a diamond bracelet. A trunk mistakenly delivered to their cabin provides Nancy’s first clue that jewel thieves are on board. For grades 4-7. 1940.
The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets: An Enola Holmes Mystery, Book 3 RC 66881
by Nancy Springer
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
While still hiding from her older brothers, Enola investigates the disappearance of Dr. Watson. A bouquet of flowers symbolizing death, delivered to Dr. Watson’s home, is her first clue. For grades 6-9. 2008.
Samsara Dog RC 66903
by Helen Manos
read by Corrie James
1 cassette
Samsara Dog has lived many lives—some good, some awful, some short, and some long. Finally he becomes the best friend of a boy who goes blind. And that is when he learns the most important lesson of all—the one that leads him into Nirvana. For grades 3-6. 2006.
Forever Rose RC 67003
by Hilary McKay
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
As Christmas approaches, eleven-year-old Rose, the youngest member of the eccentric Casson family, discovers that life is filled with both catastrophic problems and wonderful surprises. Sequel to Caddy Ever After (RC 62869). For grades 4-7. 2008.
Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories RC 67009
by Carolyn Keene
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette (Reissue)
A friend of Nancy’s father stands accused of sending a truck loaded with explosives to Florida’s Cape Kennedy Space Center. While trying to prove his innocence, Nancy investigates a spooky moss-covered mansion with wild animals roaming the grounds. For grades 4-7. 1971.
Into the Dark: An Echo Falls Mystery RC 67021
by Peter Abrahams
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
When an environmental activist is found dead on thirteen-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill’s grandfather’s farm, the young Sherlock Holmes aficionado investigates to clear her grandfather of murder charges. But Grampy refuses to cooperate or provide an alibi. For grades 6-9. 2008.
Akimbo and the Elephants: Akimbo, Book 1 RC 67045
by Alexander McCall Smith
read by Judith Ann Gantly
1 cassette
Akimbo loves watching the elephants on the game preserve in East Africa where his father works. When Akimbo learns that the authorities cannot catch the poachers who kill elephants for their ivory tusks, he comes up with a plan to save the elephants himself. For grades 2-4. 1990.
The Lion Hunter: The Mark of Solomon, Book 1 RC 67090
by Elizabeth E. Wein
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Twelve-year-old Telemakos is still recovering from his ordeal as a spy, in Sunbird (RC 66876), when his parents send him and his sister to live with Abreha, Himyar’s reputedly dangerous ruler. Telemakos, the half-Ethiopian grandson of British king Artos, also brings Abreha a lion. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2007.
The Battle of the Labyrinth: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4 RC 67158
by Rick Riordan
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
When demonic cheerleaders invade his high school and the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near, Percy Jackson hurries to Camp Half Blood to initiate a quest through the Labyrinth with his demigod friends. Sequel to The Titan’s Curse (RC 65245). For grades 5-8. 2008.
The London Eye Mystery RC 67204
by Siobhan Dowd
read by Alexander Strain
1 cassette
England. When Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim disappears from the London Eye Ferris wheel, even the police are baffled. So Ted, whose brain is wired differently, and his older sister Kat work together to solve the mystery. For grades 5-8. 2007.
Tom Clancy: Op-Center; Estado de Sitio (Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: State of Siege) RC 65959
por Tom Clancy y Steve Pieczenik
leído por Juan Ramírez
3 cassettes
Paul Hood, reciente ex director del Centro de Operaciones, está de vacaciones con su familia en Nueva York, donde su hija ha de participar en un programa de violines ante las Naciones Unidas. Cuando terroristas atacan la ONU, Hood y su familia se encuentran en el edificio. Violencia y lenguaje injurioso. (Op-Center head Paul Hood, facing retirement, takes his family on a vacation to New York, where his daughter is scheduled to perform in a violin ensemble before the United Nations. When terrorists infiltrate the U.N., Hood and his family are in the building. Violence and strong language.) 2001.
Qué Sé Yo de Historia: Todo lo que Necesitas Saber acerca de la Historia de los Estados Unidos (Don’t Know Much about History: Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned) RC 65960
por Kenneth C. Davis
leído por Juan Ramírez
7 cassettes en 2 casos
En un estilo de preguntas y respuestas, el autor cuenta y explica la historia de los Estados Unidos, desde su descubrimiento hasta el juicio del presidente Bill Clinton y las extrañas elecciones del año 2000. (In a question-and-answer format, the author provides facts about people and events in the history of the United States, from the discovery of America to the impeachment of Bill Clinton and the controversial presidential election of 2000.) 2005.
Los Ejércitos (The Armies) RC 65972
por Evelio Rosero
leído por Juan Ramírez
2 cassettes
Ismael, un anciano profesor jubilado, vive con su mujer en un tranquilo pueblo de las montañas colombianas. Cuando unos vecinos desaparecen y se reciben demandas de rescate, el ambiente idílico del pueblo se enrarece. Entonces la llegada de soldados, de no se sabe qué ejército, preludia asuntos aún más graves. Algunas descripciones de violencia. Premio Tusquets. (Ismael, an elderly retired teacher, lives with his wife in a peaceful Colombian mountain village. When some of their neighbors disappear and ransoms are demanded, the tranquillity of the town is destroyed. Then the arrival of unknown soldiers unleashes irrational violence. Some violence. Tusquets Prize.) 2007.
Madre Angélica: La Extraordinaria Historia de una Monja, Su Valor y una Cadena de Milagros (Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles) RC 65975
por Raymond Arroyo
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Biografía de la Madre Angélica, la monja enclaustrada y anfitrión de televisión que fundó la cadena de televisión religiosa más grande del mundo, la Eternal Word (EWTN). Nacida en Ohio en 1923 y criada en la pobreza, la Madre Angélica se dió cuenta del poder de la oración y juró dedicar su vida a Dios. Es la historia de la fé que la impulsó a realizar obras increíbles a pesar de la feroz oposición que ella enfrentó, tanto dentro como fuera de la Iglesia Católica. (Biography of Mother Angelica (born 1923), a cloistered nun, television host, and creator of the world’s largest religious broadcasting organization, Eternal Word Television Network. Describes her impoverished Ohio upbringing, the experiences that guided her faith, and the entrepreneurial spirit that helped her overcome corporate and ecclesiastical challenges.) 2005.
Vengas en Mí Tu Dolor (Don’t Take Revenge on Me) RC 65978
por Corín Tellado
leído por María Pino
1 cassette
Alan Gorman, dueño de una mina importante, es la clase de hombre que se ha hecho a sí mismo. Se enamora de Debbie, la hija mayor de la rica familia Dawson, pero ella lo rechaza. Tras años de despecho silencioso, Alan conoce a Sophia, la hermana menor de Debbie y ahora va a tener la oportunidad de vengar su dolor. (Self-made man and mine owner Alan Gorman falls in love with Debbie, the oldest daughter of the wealthy Dawson family. When she rejects him, he suffers in silence for years. Now Sophia, the youngest Dawson daughter, is coming of age, and Alan sees his chance for revenge.) 2003.
Nada RC 65981
por Carmen Laforet
leído por María Pino
2 cassettes
Andrea, una adolescente pueblerina, llega a la Barcelona grisácea de la postguerra civil. Intenta hacer estudios durante un año y va a vivir con parientes en la casa de la Calle de Aribau. Pero pronto encuentra sofocante la vida de la casa donde hay hambre, sordidez, y secretos amenazantes. Esta edición incluye una introducción (2005) de Mario Vargas Llosa. (Barcelona, post-Spanish Civil War. Eighteen-year-old Andrea moves in with relatives on the Calle de Aribau to study in the city for a year. She begins to feel imprisoned in this house where hunger, squalor, and family secrets predominate. Includes 2005 introduction by Mario Vargas Llosa.) 1945.
Terrorista (Terrorist) RC 65985
por John Updike
leído por María Pino
3 cassettes
Ahmad es hijo de una norteamericana de origen irlandés y de un hombre egipcio. Hace tiempo, el padre de Ahmad lo abandona y ahora a los dieciocho años, Ahmad sigue las enseñanzas de su rigorista imán, el sheij Rachid. En su colegio secundario de New Jersey, Ahmad recibe aliento de su asesor judío, pero no obstante Ahmad está decidido a cometer violencia en el nombre de islam. Lenguaje injurioso y algunas descripciones de índole sexual. (Fatherless eighteen-year-old Ahmad—half Irish, half Egyptian—has been under the influence of imam Shaikh Rashid since he was eleven. Ahmad’s Jewish guidance counselor in his inner-city New Jersey high school offers help, but Ahmad agrees to commit violence for his religious beliefs. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.) 2007.
Agua para Elefantes (Water for Elephants) RC 65994
por Sara Gruen
leído por Juan Ramírez
3 cassettes
1931. Jacob Jankowski es estudiante de la medicina veterinaria cuando sus padres mueren en un accidente de tránsito. Angustiado y arruinado, Jacob encuentra empleo en un circo ambulante donde cuida animales como la traviesa elefanta, Rosie. También, se enamora de Marlena, una estrella del circo y mujer casada. Lenguaje injurioso y algunas descripciones de violencia y de índole sexual. (1931. Veterinary student Jacob Jankowski’s world comes crashing down when his parents die in a car accident. Broke, Jacob joins the circus, falls for Marlena, a married circus star, and cares for animals like Rosie the elephant. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence.) 2007.
Cuentos Naturales (Natural Stories) RC 67952
por Carlos Fuentes
leído por Juan Ramírez
1 cassette
Fuentes presenta seis de sus más celebrados cuentos realísticos, tomados de sus obras importantes y representativos de una trayectoria literaria de cincuenta años: “Vieja Moralidad,” “Las Dos Elenas,” “Un Alma Pura,” “Malintzin de las Maquilas,” “La Sierva del Padre,” y “La Línea de la Vida.” (Six stories from a fifty-year period: “Vieja Moralidad” (“Old Morality”), “Las Dos Elenas” (“The Two Elenas”), “Un Alma Pura” (“A Pure Soul”), “Malintzin de las Maquilas,” (Malintzin of the Factory),” “La Sierva del Padre” (“The Priest’s Slave”), and “La Línea de la Vida” (“The Line of Life”). 2007.
Library of Congress Home NLS Home Comments about NLS to nls@loc.gov
About this site Comments about this site to the NLS Reference Section
Posted on 2011-09-28