Braille Book Review March-April 2011 Volume 80, Number 2 About Braille Book Review Braille Book Review is published bimonthly in braille, large-print, and online formats and distributed at no cost to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress reading program. It lists braille books and magazines available through a network of cooperating libraries and carries news of developments in library services. The braille edition also lists NLS audiobooks appearing in Talking Book Topics with brief annotations. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including bestsellers, classics, biographies, romance novels, mysteries, and how-to guides. Some books in Spanish are also available. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, access the NLS International Union Catalog online at loc.gov/nls or contact your local cooperating library. Braille Book Review is available online in HTML and plain text at www.loc.gov/nls/bbr. Patrons enrolled in the Web-Braille service may download contracted braille files for use with braille output devices. About Web-Braille Most books and all magazines listed in Braille Book Review are available for download for use with braille output devices. To use the Web-Braille service contact your cooperating library. Music scores and instructional materials Individuals registered for NLS music services may receive braille and large-print music scores, texts, and instructional recordings about music and musicians through the NLS Music Section. For more information about the NLS music collection call 1-800-424-8567, send an e-mail to nlsm@loc.gov, or visit www.loc.gov/nls/music/index.html. Where to write Order braille books through your local braille-lending library. To change or cancel a Braille Book Review subscription complete the form on the inside back cover and mail it to your local braille-lending library. To find your library check the last pages of this magazine or go online to www.loc.gov/nls/find.html. Patrons who are American citizens living abroad may request delivery to foreign addresses by contacting the overseas librarian by phone at (202) 707-5100 or e-mail at nls@loc.gov. Readers who are deaf-blind may contact cooperating libraries by TTY or by a state relay service. To contact NLS by TTY, dial (202) 707-0744. Send correspondence about editorial matters to: Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington DC, 20542-0002. Library of Congress, Washington 2011 Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Braille Magazines ### In Brief NLS celebrates its 80th anniversary Patrons, librarians, advocates for blind people, and others joined the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) on March 3, 2011, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Pratt-Smoot Act. The legislation, signed by President Herbert Hoover on that date in 1931, led to the creation of what would become NLS. It established a national program, administered by the Library of Congress, to distribute embossed books—a predecessor to braille—through a network of regional libraries. Two years later, the Act was amended to include talking books. The national celebration featured a news conference at the Library’s main building in Washington, D.C. Many libraries in the NLS network also will hold events this year to raise awareness about the talking-book program. Today the NLS network includes more than one hundred libraries that distribute digital talking books and braille books to a readership of more than 850,000. Patrons can choose from more than 320,000 titles in the NLS International Union Catalog. NLS ships final audiocassette title Two years after it began producing talking books on digital cartridges, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has shipped its last book on cassette tape. The NLS collection currently includes 2.5 million copies of more than 4,000 titles on digital cartridge. All new NLS audiobook titles are now produced on digital cartridges (DBs). These titles also may be downloaded from the Internet through the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service, which currently offers more than 20,000 digital talking-book titles and 1,800 hundred issues of digital audio magazines. By the end of this year Talking Book Topics will announce only DB titles. If you do not already have a digital talking-book player, please request one from your network library. Newsstand The following announcement 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 item mentioned, however, is not part of the NLS program, and its listing does not imply endorsement. Finding films with descriptive audio Two websites help people who are blind find theaters equipped with the Descriptive Video Service Theatrical (DVS) system, which provides narrated details of key visual elements in a movie via headsets. The website www.mopix.org lists theaters equipped with the technology and current films that have descriptive narration, while www.captionfish.com allows users to search for accessible theaters by ZIP code and also lists showtimes. DVD and Blu-ray versions of many popular movies also have an optional DVS track. For a complete list, see www.describedmovies.org. ### _Books for Adults_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Note:_ For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of violence, strong language, or explicit descriptions of sex. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Adult Nonfiction One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week by Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good BR 18086 by Regina Leeds 4 volumes A professional organizer presents monthly projects, divided into weekly tasks, to streamline every part of the house. There are also instructions for planning a trip, moving, keeping up with correspondence, paying bills, preparing for school, and handling the holidays. Suggests techniques, such as journaling, to stay on track. 2008. BR 18086 ## Good Germs, Bad Germs: Health and Survival in a Bacterial World BR 18091 by Jessica Snyder Sachs 3 volumes Discusses people’s use of sanitation and antibiotics in their war against pestilence and explains the resulting evolution of drug-resistant superbugs. Warns of the importance of maintaining the body’s natural microflora defense and explores ways that scientists can help do that. 2007. BR 18091 ## Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son BR 18160 by James Baldwin 2 volumes Essays drawn from Baldwin’s personal experiences in America and Europe. Baldwin writes about race relations, the writer’s role in society, a Paris conference of black artists and writers, and his association with novelists Richard Wright and Norman Mailer. Sequel to Notes of a Native Son (BR 17402). 1954. BR 18160 ## Estate Planning for People with a Chronic Condition or Disability BR 18392 by Martin M. Shenkman 3 volumes Attorney reviews the basics of estate planning for people who are ill or disabled. Discusses granting power of attorney and access to medical records, creating living wills and trusts, and assigning guardianship for minor children. Covers situations for those with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s,and Huntington’s diseases, and others. 2009. BR 18392 ## Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas BR 18543 by Benson Bobrick 4 volumes Biography of Virginia-born Union general George Thomas (1816–1870), who was compared to George Washington by his officers and soldiers. Discusses Thomas’s family life, his decision to stay in the federal army, his successful military campaigns, and his marginalization by rivals Ulysses Grant and William Sherman. Some strong language. 2009. BR 18543 ## Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac: Projects for Each Month of the Year BR 18547 by Elizabeth Zimmermann 2 volumes British-born author penned this knitting guide while living in a one-room schoolhouse in the woods. Presents monthly projects ranging from an Aran sweater in January to a last-minute December pullover. Includes anecdotes, tips, and alternate suggestions, along with patterns for mittens, hats, socks, baby items, and “nether garments.” 1981. BR 18547 ## It’s Not That I’m Bitter . . . ; Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying about Visible Panty Lines and Conquered the World BR 18548 by Gina Barreca 2 volumes Forty essays exploring women’s tendency to linger over self-image instead of other productive pursuits. Includes analysis of women as “cougars” and worriers, and delves into the female aging process. Discusses “guys we don’t like to work with” (GWDLTWW), lessons learned by age fifty-one, and more. 2009. BR 18548 ## Beating Gout: A Sufferer’s Guide to Living Pain Free BR 18553 by Victor Konshin 2 volumes Guide to managing gout, a painful formof arthritis caused by uric acid crystals forming within joints. Describes the four stages of the disease: asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute attacks, intercritical periods, and advanced gout. Details associated health risks and treatment options, including medications, diet, and lifestyle choices. 2009. BR 18553 ## All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space! BR 18588 by Mel Bartholomew 3 volumes In this update to Square Foot Gardening (BR 05870), the author advises using six-inch-deep boxes containing soil that requires no digging or fertilizing and vertical frames for climbing plants. Recommends creating wider aisles and elevating boxes for easier access. Gives plant-by-plant suggestions for extending the growing season. 2005. BR 18588 ## Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table BR 18604 by Sara Roahen 3 volumes Food writer explores the cuisine and culture of her adopted city, New Orleans. Discusses the history of Creole and Cajun cooking, various approaches to making the perfect gumbo, and traditions linked to such dishes as crawfish, po’boys, and red beans and rice. Considers the impact of Hurricane Katrina. 2008. BR 18604 ## Union Oyster House Cookbook: Recipes and History from America’s Oldest Restaurant BR 18606 by Jean Kerr and Spencer Smith 1 volume Presents a brief history of Boston’s Union Oyster House and sixty of its traditional recipes. Offers appetizers, soups and chowders, stocks and sauces,and entrées, many of which feature seafood. Side dishes include Boston baked beans and cornbread. Among the desserts are Boston cream pie and Indian pudding. 2008. BR 18606 ## Darwin Slept Here: Discovery, Adventure, and Swimming Iguanas in Charles Darwin’s South America BR 18613 by Eric Simons 2 volumes An American admirer of Charles Darwin (1809–1882) chronicles his own journeys to South America with Darwin’s diary in hand. Compares the youthful naturalist’s enthusiastic impressions of Brazilian forests, Patagonian plains, a gold mine, and other sites with the author’s twenty-first-century perspective. 2009. BR 18613 ## Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter BR 18615 by Alison Hansel 3 volumes Clothing from Harry Potter movies inspires patterns designed for some beginning knitters, but mainly for intermediate through advanced knitters. Projects include the Weasley sweater, wizard robe, invisibility shawl, Quidditch socks, elf hats, Hermione’s cable-and-bobble mittens, Harry’s red cable sweater, and other selections. 2007. BR 18615 ## The Pampered Chef: The Story of One of America’s Most Beloved Companies BR 18707 by Doris Christopher 2 volumes A stay-at-home mom describes starting a small kitchen-tool business from the basement of her home and growing the company into a billion-dollar corporation ultimately purchased by Warren Buffett. Discusses her family’s commitment to the business and reveals the challenges associated with its expansion. Offers strategies to help start-up entrepreneurs. 2005. BR 18707 ## The Happiness Project; or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun BR 18710 by Gretchen Craft Rubin 3 volumes Author’s personal reflections on a monthly plan to improve her quality of life by the end of one year. Analyzes missteps, challenges, and successes in reaching her goals and shares the often unexpected lessons she learned. Bestseller. 2009. BR 18710 ## One Hundred Questions and Answers about Myeloma BR 18790 by Asad Bashey and others 2 volumes Two hematologist/oncologists and a patient give advice on dealing with myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. Discusses symptoms, the progression of the disease, and treatment options, as well as side effects, complications, stem-cell transplantation, and support systems. 2009. BR 18790 ## First Apartment Smarts: Get Smart with Your Money BR 18794 by Ann Byers 1 volume Guide for first-time renters. Suggests creating a plan to address needs, wants,and concerns and constructing a practical budget. Offers housing-search strategies, resources, checklists, tips for moving in, and more. For senior high and older readers. 2010. BR 18794 ## Adult Fiction New Moon BR 18147 by Stephenie Meyer 4 volumes Following Twilight (BR 18146), vampire Edward Cullen and his family leave Bella and her town to prevent themselves from devouring humans. Brokenhearted Bella turns to adventure-seeking Jacob and motorcycles. Meanwhile, a pack of werewolves tries to protect Bella from a vindictive vampire. For senior high readers. 2006. BR 18147 ## One Day at a Time BR 18149 by Danielle Steel 3 volumes Dogwalker Coco Barrington, the black sheep of her Hollywood family, falls in love with British movie star Leslie Baxter. Although Coco’s mother dates a younger man and Coco’s sister Jane’s partner is pregnant, they disapprove of Coco’s relationship. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009. BR 18149 ## Run for Your Life: A Michael Bennett Mystery BR 18151 by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge 2 volumes NYPD hostage negotiator Michael Bennett is struggling to find a serial killer who calls himself the Teacher and who randomly targets people in the city. While texting with the sociopath, Mike tends to his ten adopted and newly motherless kids, who all have the flu. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. BR 18151 ## Bridesmaids Revisited: An Ellie Haskell Mystery BR 18152 by Dorothy Cannell 2 volumes England. Ellie Haskell receives a letter from her grandmother Sophia’s friends Rosemary, Thora, and Jane—collectively called the bridesmaids—informing her that Sophia would like to make contact. But Sophia has been dead for years. Ellie travels to Cambridgeshire for an adventure involving séances, a hidden diary, and a long-ago murder. 2000. BR 18152 ## To the Lighthouse BR 18163 by Virginia Woolf 2 volumes During summer visits to the Scottish coast, members of the Ramsey family reveal their personal challenges and innermost thoughts. Youngest child James must forfeit a yearned-for visit to the lighthouse. Ten years later, James, surviving family members, and former guests complete the long-delayed outing. Includes Eudora Welty’s 1981 foreword. 1927. BR 18163 ## The Perry Mason Casebook: The Case of the Sulky Girl, The Case of the Careless Kitten, The Case of the Fiery Fingers BR 18417 by Erle Stanley Gardner 6 volumes Perry Mason makes his first court appearance in The Case of the Sulky Girl (1933). In The Case of the Careless Kitten (1942) the defendant is Mason’s secretary Della Street. The Case of the Fiery Fingers features two trials, including one that hinges on the admissibility of deathbed statements. 1951. BR 18417 ## Cold Light: A Charlie Resnick Mystery BR 18427 by John Harvey 3 volumes As detective Charlie Resnick deals with the usual Christmas crime wave, a social worker is reported missing. When the evidence points to a psychopathic kidnapper, Resnick is off on a race against time to rescue the victim. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. BR 18427 ## The Witches of Eastwick BR 18429 by John Updike 3 volumes (Reissue) Eastwick, Rhode Island; 1960s. Thirty-something divorced witches Alexandra,Jane, and Sukie would eventually like to conjure up new husbands for themselves. But their powers remain largely unfocused until a rich, vulgar, sexy stranger moves to town. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1984. BR 18429 ## A Christmas Grace BR 18452 by Anne Perry 1 volume Christmas, 1895. Thomas Pitt’s sister-in-law Emily Radley reluctantly leaves her family before the holidays to take care of her dying aunt Susannah on the west coast of Ireland. Emily not only encounters suspicious townsfolk, she also learns about an unsolved village murder and tries to determine the culprit. 2008. BR 18452 ## The Lost Symbol BR 18529 by Dan Brown 5 volumes Peter Solomon, friend and mentor of professor Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code (BR 17772), invites Langdon to speak at the U.S. Capitol. When Solomon is kidnapped, Langdon races to save him by uncovering the ancient secrets within Washington, D.C. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2009. BR 18529 ## Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina BR 18531 by Robert Graves 5 volumes Fictionalized autobiography. Roman emperor Claudius I describes his reign, intrigues, and betrayal. Sequel to I, Claudius (BR 18530). Some violence. 1935. BR 18531 ## Dying Bites: The Bloodhound Files, Book 1 BR 18540 by D.D. Barant 3 volumes David Cassius, NSA agent and vampire, transports confused FBI profiler Jace Valchek into a parallel universe where less than one percent of the population is human. David demands that, before Jace can return home, she must track down a mentally unstable killer. Some violence and some strong language. 2009. BR 18540 ## These Thousand Hills BR 18544 by A.B. Guthrie 3 volumes 1880s. Lat Evans, a good-hearted cowboy with a restless spirit, sets out on a cattle drive from Oregon to Montana, where he dreams of owning a ranch. Lat gradually learns that life’s perils—and human nature—can interfere with the best intentions. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1956. BR 18544 ## Alive Day BR 18545 by Tom Sullivan 2 volumes Blind psychiatrist Brenden McCarthy treats marine corporal Antwone Carver, an Iraq War veteran who is paralyzed from the waist down. Antwone struggles with his disability but finds inspiration with the help of therapy, medi-cation, and Brenden’s lovable guide dog Nelson. Sequel to Together (BR 17900). 2009. BR 18545 ## A Touch of Grace BR 18546 by Linda Goodnight 2 volumes New Orleans. The Reverend Ian Carpenter runs a mission that caters to runaways and street kids. When a drug addict named Maddy is found dead near the facility, Maddy’s sister, reporter Gretchen Barker, investigates Ian’s charity. Gretchen regains her faith in God while falling in love. Rita Award. 2007. BR 18546 ## The Shimmer BR 18550 by David Morrell 3 volumes Police officer Dan Page tracks his missing wife to Rostov, Texas, where a mysterious light phenomenon attracts spectators nightly. When a crazed gunman opens fire on the captivated tourists, Dan investigates the source of the shimmer. Violence and strong language. 2009. BR 18550 ## Wed Him before You Bed Him: The School for Heiresses BR 18551 by Sabrina Jeffries 3 volumes England, 1824. Charlotte Harris, headmistress and owner of a struggling school for young ladies, relies on a mysterious benefactor called Cousin Michael—who is really David Masters, the viscount Kirkwood, the man she wronged years ago. Love soon complicates David’s plan for revenge. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2009. BR 18551 ## Don’t Bargain with the Devil: The School for Heiresses BR 18552 by Sabrina Jeffries 3 volumes England, 1824. Teacher Lucy Seton tries to save Charlotte Harris’s School for Young Ladies from magician Diego Montalvo’s plans to build a scandalous pleasure garden next door. But Diego’s secret mission is to discover if Lucy is the lost granddaughter of a Spanish nobleman. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009. BR 18552 ## Dakota BR 18612 by Martha Grimes 3 volumes Kingdom, North Dakota. Amnesiac drifter Andi Oliver takes a job at Klavan’s hog farm, where she tries to rescue cruelly treated animals. As she uncovers the operation’s dark secrets, a stranger from her past surfaces—as does a killer. Sequel to Biting the Moon (BR 12407). Violence and strong language. 2008. BR 18612 ## Miss Julia Delivers the Goods BR 18614 by Ann B. Ross 3 volumes After breaking up with J.D. Pickens, Hazel Marie, the former mistress of Miss Julia’s late husband, discovers that she is expecting. While Miss Julia scrambles to reconcile Hazel Marie and J.D., someone breaks into the office of Miss Julia’s husband, lawyer Sam Murdoch, and steals his files. 2009. BR 18614 ## The Sheltering Sky BR 18617 by Paul Bowles 3 volumes Three American travelers, Tunner and young couple Kit and Port, are adrift in the deserts and cities of North Africa after World War II. The trio’s inability to comprehend the foreign culture mirrors their personal psychological frailty—and ultimately leads to their downfall. Includes 1998 preface by the author. 1949. BR 18617 ## Fragile Eternity BR 18618 by Melissa Marr 3 volumes Summer Queen Aislinn and her mortal boyfriend Seth, from Wicked Lovely (BR 17597), struggle with their relationship since she’s immortal—and the Summer King’s partner. Seth must find a way to keep Aislinn for himself. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2009. BR 18618 ## Prayers for Sale BR 18622 by Sandra Dallas 2 volumes Depression-era Middle Swan, Colorado; 1936. Elderly Hennie Comfort befriends newcomer Nit Spindle, a newly married seventeen-year-old. Hennie, a natural storyteller, entertains the lonely girl by reminiscing about the seventy years she has spent in the mountains while the menfolk mined for gold. 2009. BR 18622 ## Shatter BR 18624 by Michael Robotham 4 volumes When a naked woman talking on a cell phone jumps from a bridge to her death, psychologist Joe O’Loughlin, from Suspect (BR 15893), suspects she was coerced over the phone. Joe, who tried to talk her down, investigates. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2008. BR 18624 ## Main Street BR 18625 by Sinclair Lewis 4 volumes Nobel Prize-winner’s novel of small-town America. Carol Milford, an idealistic young librarian from the city of St. Paul, marries country doctor Will Kennicott. They settle in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota, where Carol launches a crusade against the narrow-mindedness of her fellow residents. Includes 2008 introduction. 1920. BR 18625 ## Secrets to Happiness BR 18630 by Sarah Dunn 2 volumes Manhattan writer Holly Frick listens to her friends complain about their problems as she copes with her unrequited love for her ex-husband and adopts Chester, a shelter dog with a brain tumor. Holly dates a Buddhist and a college student while seeking a cure for Chester. 2009. BR 18630 ## Clea: The Alexandria Quartet, Book 4 BR 18691 by Lawrence Durrell 3 volumes The final volume of the quartet finds the narrator Darley, a retired Irish schoolteacher, back in Egypt some years after his liaisons with Melissa and Justine. Darley becomes involved with Clea, a bisexual painter, adding another layer of complexity to all that went before. Sequel to Mountolive (BR 18690). 1960. BR 18691 ## A Princess of Landover: The Magic Kingdom of Landover BR 18692 by Terry Brooks 3 volumes Mistaya, daughter of Landover’s high lord Ben Holiday, is suspended from school in the natural world after scaring a classmate with magic. Banished to Libris, the royal library, Mistaya discovers an evil magician is threatening Landover. Sequel to Witches’ Brew (BR 11451). 2009. BR 18692 ## The Right Wedding Gown BR 18704 by Shirley Hailstock 2 volumes After living in a dysfunctional family, National Archives employee Samara Scott is adamant that she will never marry—until she falls in love with attorney Justin Beckett. Justin wants to wed but can’t convince Samara to take a chance and risk emotional involvement. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009. BR 18704 ## The Rock and the River BR 18709 by Kekla Magoon 2 volumes Chicago, 1968. Sam respects the teachings of his peaceful civil-rights activist father. But when Sam and his girlfriend Maxie witness a friend’s brutal beating by white police officers, Sam questions waiting versus action. And his brother joins the Black Panther Party. Some violence. For junior and senior high readers. Coretta Scott King Award. 2009. BR 18709 ## Marsbound BR 18802 by Joe Haldeman 2 volumes Eighteen-year-old Carmen Dula and her family embark on a six-month journey to Mars. After her initial hesitation to leave Earth, Carmen finds normalcy living underground on the red planet—until an accident leaves her with a warning message from another life-form. Some strong language. 2008. BR 18802 ## A New Kind of Bliss BR 18813 by Bettye Griffin 3 volumes After her father’s death, divorcée Emily Yancy reluctantly moves home to Euliss, New York, to care for her mother. Emily dates handsome, widowed doctor Aaron Merritt. But as their relationship cools, she finds herself turning to childhood crush Teddy Simms. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009. BR 18813 ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Children’s Nonfiction Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World BR 18027 by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page 1 volume Facts about various mammals, birds, fish, insects, and reptiles focus on relationships between young animals born to the same mother. Discusses bat twins, armadillo quadruplets, cannibalistic black widow spiders, wild turkey brothers, cichlid and cuckoo catfish stepchildren, and whiptail lizard sisters, among others. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. 2008. BR 18027 ## Up Close: Robert F. Kennedy BR 18433 by Marc Aronson 1 volume Biography of the U.S. attorney general who later became a senator and was assassinated while campaigning for the presidency. Describes Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968) as a member of a Catholic family dynasty, a politician who cut deals, and a brother of President John Kennedy. For grades 6-9. 2007. BR 18433 ## Sesame Street: C Is for Cooking; Recipes from the Street BR 18542 by Susan McQuillan 1 volume More than fifty kid-friendly recipes for parents wanting to introduce young children to food preparation, with jokes and tips from Big Bird, Grover, and other Sesame Street friends. Covers drinks, breakfast, lunch, soups, family dinner, side dishes, and desserts. Includes tips on age-appropriate tasks and kitchen safety. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 18542 ## Children’s Fiction A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing BR 18166 by Avi 1 volume Avon the snail decides to become a writer with the help of his friend Edward the ant. This project leads them to close encounters with an anteater, a tree frog, and a hungry fish. Sequel to The End of the Beginning (BR 15790). For grades 2-4. 2008. BR 18166 ## Orphan Ahwak BR 18172 by Raquel Rivera 1 volume The sole survivor of an attack on her village, young Inuit girl Aneze heads north into the Canadian wilderness. Renamed Orphan Ahwak, the hunter, she contends with cold temperatures, wild animals, hunger, and people of another culture while becoming a strong woman. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2007. BR 18172 ## Things That Are BR 18173 by Andrew Clements 1 volume Still adjusting to being blind, Alicia, first met in Things Not Seen (BR 17135), must outwit an invisible man following Bobby, once invisible himself. This man’s demands threaten Bobby, Alicia’s family, and perhaps global security. Sequel to Things Hoped For (BR 17136). For grades 6-9. 2008. BR 18173 ## Greener Grass BR 18549 by Caroline Pignat 2 volumes Ireland, 1847. Young Kathleen “Kit” Byrne’s comfortable childhood ends abruptly when the potato blight hits. As the privileged class watches the workers starve and evicts them from their homes, Kit’s anger grows until her hatred against the family’s landlord explodes in a rash act. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2008. BR 18549 ## Where the Mountain Meets the Moon BR 18712 by Grace Lin 3 volumes Minli, an adventurous girl, lives in a poor Chinese village near Fruitless Mountain. Inspired by her father’s stories, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon to restore the mountain’s bounty. Along the way, Minli encounters magical creatures, including a helpful dragon. For grades 3-6. Newbery Honor Book. 2009. BR 18712 ## Crocodile Tears: An Alex Rider Adventure BR 18792 by Anthony Horowitz 3 volumes British spy agency MI6 sends fourteen-year-old Alex Rider to investigate a food company that is experimenting with genetically modified seeds. Alex uncovers a plot to poison millions in Kenya and steal the world aid that would come for their relief. For grades 6-9. 2009. BR 18792 ## The True Gift: A Christmas Story BR 18795 by Patricia MacLachlan 1 volume While spending Christmas on their grandparents’ farm, Lily and Liam seek a companion for the only animal left in the field—a lonely white cow. The kids meet Thomas, whose brown calf has been sold for meat. But Liam finds a way to buy the little one. For grades 2-4. 2009. BR 18795 ## The Last Newspaper Boy in America BR 18810 by Sue Corbett 2 volumes Twelve-year-old Wil, who is about to take over his brother’s paper route, learns that the local newspaper publisher has decided to discontinue home delivery. Wil launches a campaign to restart the service and also solves a mystery at the county fair. For grades 4-7. 2009. BR 18810 ## ### Braille Magazines The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that send you braille materials. Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Conundrum (British monthly) Cooking Light (11 issues) ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly) Harper's (literary; monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter; monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (11 issues) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; monthly) Muse (for children; 9 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Print Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting Early Years (11 issues) Parenting School Years (11 issues) PC World (personal computing; monthly) Playboy (11 issues) Poetry (11 issues) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues) Science News (26 issues) Seventeen (for teens; 10 issues) Short Stories (British monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (9 issues) Stone Soup (children's writings; 6 issues) Update (NLS quarterly) The following sports schedules are also available: American Baseball League Schedule National Baseball League Schedule National Basketball Association Schedule National Football League Schedule National Hockey League Schedule Women's National Basketball Association Schedule ###