Braille Book Review November-December 2010 Volume 79, Number 6 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. 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 2010 Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X 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. 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. Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Braille Magazines ### In Brief LS ending production of recorded cassettes Production of talking books on audiocassettes has ceased. Only digital talking books will be produced from now into the future. Though magazines and older titles in the NLS collection will still be available on audiocassette, by the end of 2011 Talking Book Topics will list only digital talking-book (DB) titles. If you do not already have a digital talking-book player, please request one from your network library. Where to buy cartridges and cables In addition to reading talking books on NLS-produced digital cartridges, patrons may download talking books from the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website. You will need a computer with a high-speed Internet connection, a blank cartridge, a USB cable, and an NLS digital talking-book player or NLS- authorized commercial player. Find out more at https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ApplicationInstructions.html. Cartridges and cables may be purchased from several vendors: * Adaptive Technology, a division of Perkins Products, sells 1 GB cartridges for $10.99 and 2 GB cartridges for $11.99. A USB cable is $5. Shipping is free. Call (978) 462-3817, e-mail adaptivetech@perkins.org, or go to www.perkinsproducts.org (select Talking Book Accessories). * American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH) sells 2 GB cartridges for $12 and cables for $5. Materials are shipped as free matter for the blind. Call (502) 895-2405 or 800-223-1839 toll-free in the United States and Canada, e-mail Marsha Overstreet at moverstreet@aph.org, or go to http://shop.aph.org and search for “cartridge.” * Howell Mobility Products sells 2 GB cartridges for $11 and cables for $3, plus shipping and handling ($3 for up to ten items in the United States). Call (248) 548-1788, e-mail canes@howellmobility.com, or go online to www.howellmobility.com/digitalplayer.html. * The Braille Institute’s Vistas Store sells 2 GB cartridges for $15.95 and cables for $7.95, plus shipping and handling ($8 per order). Call (323) 663-1111. Newsstand The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. The items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize winners Four recent graduates of Northeastern University won the 2010 Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation for building a low-cost braille embosser converted from a standard ink-jet printer. Molly Brown, Ben Braggins, Patrick Cleary, and Jeff Witkowski received the $10,000 prize on September 29, 2010, at the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Northeastern University has applied for a provisional patent for the invention. ### 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 Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President BR 18078 by Edward Steers 3 volumes The author dispels fourteen common myths about U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. Includes rumors about his birthplace and illegitimacy, religious conversion, love affair with Ann Rutledge, homosexual tendencies, and the assassination conspiracy theory. 2007. Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope BR 18080 by Richard M. Cohen 3 volumes Author of Blindsided 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. Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar’s Way to Transform Your Dog—and Your Life BR 18089 by Cesar Millan 3 volumes Dog trainer and author of the bestselling Cesar’s Way (BR 16533) gives tips and techniques for disciplining and training canines. Discusses different breeds and dog psychology. Explains the importance of owners developing the behavior of a leader. Makes suggestions for managing stress in both owner and pet. 2007. Fifty Sensational Crochet Afghans and Throws BR 18132 edited by Bobbie Matela 2 volumes Easy and intermediate level patterns for updated classics; designs using soft, fuzzy yarns; quick-to-make items on large hooks; and blankets for newborns and toddlers. Each project specifies materials for indicated size and gauge, special stitches, and row-by-row instructions. Includes directions for borders and edging. 2007. One Hundred Seventy-five Essential Slow-Cooker Classics BR 18220 by Judith Finlayson 3 volumes Canadian author provides practical advice on using a slow cooker to its best advantage. Presents her favorite recipes for appetizers, fondues, soups, stews, chili, pot roast, vegetarian main and side dishes, and desserts. Lists ingredients and includes step-by-step instructions and preparation tips. 2006. What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope BR 18249 edited by Julie K. Silver 3 volumes Breast cancer survivor and medical doctor uses her experience and the comments of other cancer survivors and specialists to explore aspects of fighting the disease. Discusses the need for adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise. Covers spirituality, intimacy, and the importance of seeking help and balancing work and family. 2008. What to Expect before You’re Expecting BR 18269 by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel 3 volumes Preconception medical advice by the authors of the perennially bestselling primer on childbirth What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Fourth Edition (BR 14234). Authors suggest both women and men prepare their bodies before having a baby to help assure the best probable outcome. Also discusses fertility issues. 2009. A Night Out with Robert Burns: The Greatest Poems BR 18302 by Robert Burns 2 volumes Representative poetry by Scotland’s famous poet Robert Burns (1759–1796) selected and introduced by Scottish author Andrew O’Hagan. Organized in four overlapping categories with biographical and textual notes, the selections include the New Year’s favorite “Auld Lang Syne.” 2008. Knit with Beads: Stunning Shawls and Wraps; Easy Techniques, Fifteen Beautiful Designs BR 18350 by Scarlet Taylor 1 volume Freelance knitting designer presents step-by-step instructions for incorporating beaded embellishments into stitched-yarn garments to add texture and glamour. Describes novel projects for all skill levels, including a tweed poncho, pearl caplet, nautical shrug, argyle wrap, and houndstooth stole. Provides information on blocking and laundering. 2007. Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderry’s Extraordinary Ride BR 18394 by Peter Zheutlin 3 volumes Freelance journalist Zheutlin chronicles his adventurous great-grandaunt Annie Kopchovsky’s much-publicized 1894 bicycle ride around the world. Relates that Annie, going by the name Annie Londonderry and determined to win the ten-thousand-dollar prize, left her husband and three young children to embark upon the fifteen-month-long ride. 2007. Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer BR 18404 by Fred Kaplan 4 volumes Explores the life of Abraham Lincoln through the language of his writings. Posits that Lincoln’s boyhood reading of Burns, Byron, Shakespeare, Aesop’s fables, and the Bible shaped his ideas about liberty, love, and human nature and led to his use of clear, common speech to convey morality and democracy. 2008. Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance BR 18524 by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner 3 volumes Bestselling authors return to the economics of everyday riddles discussed in Freakonomics (BR 16126). They explore the statistics and trends of offbeat topics such as the dangers of walking while intoxicated, the declining costs of prostitution, the worst month to have a baby, and more. Bestseller. 2009. Have a Little Faith: A True Story BR 18525 by Mitch Albom 2 volumes Author Albom discusses his relationships with two men of different faiths. Describes time spent with his New Jersey childhood rabbi Albert Lewis after Lewis asked Albom to write his eulogy, and with African American minister Henry Covington, an ex-con, after Albom offered assistance to Covington’s impoverished Detroit congregation. Bestseller. 2009. The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care BR 18527 by T.R. Reid 3 volumes Washington Post correspondent explores the health-care systems of France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada and suggests borrowing from their practices to reform the U.S. system. Discusses the declining state of medical services in the United States and addresses the issue of universal coverage. Bestseller. 2009. Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write BR 18564 by Victoria Hanley 2 volumes Presents creative-writing tips and exercises, from freewriting to understanding the elements of fiction. Provides examples for character development, motivation, and perspective. Assesses difficult aspects of writing fiction, such as creating the setting and mood, and infusing your style and voice into the story. For junior and senior high readers. 2008. The End of the Long Summer: Why We Must Remake Our Civilization to Survive on a Volatile Earth BR 18566 by Dianne Dumanoski 3 volumes Considers the future sustainability of human life on our planet by exploring the global ecological disruption people have caused. Suggests not only responsible stewardship of the environment but also awareness of Earth’s potentially catastrophic response to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide. 2009. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot’s Guide to the Land of Knitting BR 18572 by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee 1 volume Compulsive knitter and author of Yarn Harlot (BR 18188) offers a light- hearted guide to knitting language (“cast off” or “bind off”), gathering places (yarn shops), social etiquette (in clubs), environmental issues (stash control), natural disasters (left-over stitches), and political debates (acrylic versus natural fibers). 2007. A Great Idea at the Time: The Rise, Fall, and Curious Afterlife of the Great Books BR 18574 by Alex Beam 2 volumes Discusses the Great Books of the Western World, a fifty-four-volume anthology that debuted in 1952 and took the country by storm—generating thousands of book-discussion groups. Examines the men and marketing behind the project and the reasons the series, containing works by dead white males, eventually fell out of favor. 2008. How Sex Works: Why We Look, Smell, Taste, Feel, and Act the Way We Do BR 18580 by Sharon Moalem 3 volumes Neurogeneticist and evolutionary biologist explains sex, physical development and attraction, and genetic evolution from cultural and biological perspectives. Discusses sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, homosexuality, and orgasms. Speculates on ways birth control pills may negatively affect women’s olfactory system, used in determining desirability by scent. 2009. How to Build a Dinosaur: Extinction Doesn’t Have to Be Forever BR 18586 by Jack Horner and James Gorman 2 volumes Paleontologist Horner and science editor Gorman explore the feasibility of re-creating dinosaurs without prehistoric DNA by manipulating genetic codes found in the embryos of modern birds, descendants of dinosaurs. Discusses principles of evolutionary developmental biology, scientific techniques, and ethical issues. 2009. Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale; or, How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat BR 18591 by Gwen Cooper 2 volumes Author describes adopting Homer, a small abandoned kitten whose infected eyes were surgically removed. Details the adventures of spunky, active Homer over the next dozen years—living with two other cats in New York apartments, surviving 9/11, and endearing himself to everyone he met including (eventually) the author’s future husband. 2009. I Used to Know That: Stuff You Forgot from School BR 18680 by Caroline Taggart 2 volumes Handbook of facts, profiles of noted individuals, and more from a variety of subjects taught in school but potentially forgotten in adulthood. Includes instruction in English, literature, math, science, history, geography, and general studies. Bestseller. 2009. ### Adult Fiction Game BR 18088 by Walter Dean Myers 1 volume Harlem. African American high school senior Drew Lawson aims to go to college and play basketball for the NBA despite his mediocre grades. Rivalry begins when Drew’s coach favors Tomas, a new white teammate from Prague. For junior and senior high readers. 2008. Crime and Punishment BR 18145 by Fyodor Dostoevsky 6 volumes An impoverished student, Raskolnikov, convinces himself that he is above the law and murders an elderly pawnbroker. But his subsequent guilt is overwhelming. Acclaimed 1992 English translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky from the 1866 Russian original. Some violence. 1993. Twilight BR 18146 by Stephenie Meyer 4 volumes After seventeen-year-old Bella moves in with her dad in Washington state, she falls in love with high school senior Edward Cullen. Bella discovers that Edward and his adoptive clan are vampires. Though they feast on wildlife rather than humans, Bella is still in danger. For senior high readers. 2005. Everything but a Bride: Everything but . . . , Book 2 BR 18263 by Holly Jacobs 1 volume Erie, Pennsylvania. Noah Salo believes his marriage to Julianna will break his Hungarian family’s wedding curse—until Julianna calls it off. Stuck with honeymoon reservations, Noah convinces Julianna’s stepsister Callie to go with him. They soon discover they are more than friends. Sequel to Everything but a Groom (BR 17766). 2008. Cemetery Dance: A Pendergast Mystery BR 18266 by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 4 volumes New York Times reporter Bill Smithback is fatally stabbed the night of his wedding anniversary. His friends FBI agent Pendergast and Lieutenant D’Agosta investigate the murder and spot Smithback’s creepy neighbor on surveillance tape. But the suspect has been dead for ten days. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. The Lost Quilter: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel BR 18296 by Jennifer Chiaverini 3 volumes Sylvia Bergstorm and her quilting staff find old letters in Elm Creek Manor’s attic. They learn of the travails of slave Joanna North, who had escaped to Pennsylvania only to be recaptured. Joanna survived the Civil War in South Carolina, where she later taught freedmen to quilt. 2009. Deliverance BR 18298 by James Dickey 2 volumes Four men accustomed to city life take a canoe trip down a remote north Georgia river. They run afoul of sinister locals and, after a violent, nightmarish confrontation, find themselves in a fight for survival that changes their lives forever. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1970. Fair Land, Fair Land BR 18356 by A.B. Guthrie 2 volumes Mid-nineteenth century. After mountain man Dick Summers guides a wagon train to Oregon, he heads to the Rockies to marry Teal Eye and seek retribution from ex-friend Boone Caudill. Sequel to The Way West (BR 16478). Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1982. The Magnificent Ambersons BR 18363 by Booth Tarkington 3 volumes George Amberson Minafer is the pampered but pitiful scion of a dynasty spanning three generations. When industrialization transforms his small midwestern town, George finds his family’s fortune threatened not only by a new breed of entrepreneur, but by his relatives’ arrogance and greed. Pulitzer Prize. 1918. Promises of Change: The Ladies of Covington BR 18366 by Joan Medlicott 3 volumes The women of Covington face challenges in their routines after Hannah’s volatile stepson Zachary unexpectedly returns from India with a pregnant wife. Meanwhile Grace helps Randy Banks, a traumatized veteran who has come back from Iraq, and Amelia fears her stepdaughter and grandchild may leave the area. 2009. Blood and Circuses: A Phryne Fisher Mystery BR 18367 by Kerry Greenwood 2 volumes Australia, 1928. Detective Phryne Fisher’s former love interest Alan Lee asks Phryne to investigate vandalism at the circus, including poisoned animals, sabotaged tightropes—and murder. When ex-performer Amelia Parkes is arrested, Phryne goes undercover at the circus to expose the truth. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1994. Larry and the Meaning of Life BR 18372 by Janet Tashjian 2 volumes After high school Josh “Larry” Swensen, from Vote for Larry (BR 15616),delays college and mopes around his stepfather’s house. On a visit to nearby Walden Pond, Larry meets self-proclaimed guru Gus Muldarian, with whom he attempts to obtain enlightenment. For senior high readers. 2008. Here Lies Arthur BR 18373 by Philip Reeve 2 volumes Southwest Britain, A.D. 500. The bard Myrddin brings the destitute girl- child Gwyna under his protection, transforming her into the Lady of the Lake, a boy warrior, and a spy as he schemes to promote Arthur into the great hero King Arthur. Some violence. For senior high readers. Carnegie Medal. 2007. Devil’s Gonna Get Him: A Tamara Hayle Mystery BR 18375 by Valerie Wilson Wesley 2 volumes Newark, New Jersey. Wealthy, arrogant Lincoln Storey hires African American cop-turned-PI Tamara Hayle to trail his stepdaughter’s boyfriend Brandon Pike—Tamara’s former lover. When Lincoln drops dead at a fundraiser, Tamara delves into his sordid personal life and ultimately becomes a target herself. Strong language. 1995. The Boy Who Dared BR 18376 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti 1 volume 1942. Seventeen-year-old Helmuth Hübener is imprisoned for treason. While awaiting execution in his filthy prison cell, Helmuth looks back over his short life, recalling friendships, family, and his courageous endeavor to bring the truthabout Hitler and the war to other Germans. For junior and senior high readers. 2008. What Matters Most BR 18377 by Gwynne Forster 2 volumes Baltimore. African American nursing student Melanie Sparks, who lives with her abusive father, is struggling to pay her tuition. After Melanie falls in love with cardiologist Jack Ferguson, the couple must contend with Jack’s wealthy father—who wants only the best for his son. Some descriptions of sex. 2008. Jerk, California BR 18379 by Jonathan Friesen 2 volumes Isolated at school and tormented by his stepdad, Minnesota high school senior Sam Carrier feels defined by his Tourette syndrome. But long- distance running, his deceased father’s friend George, a girl named Naomi, and a road trip to Jerk, California, change his perspective. Some strong language. For senior high readers. Schneider Family Book Award. 2008. The Day of the Locust BR 18383 by Nathanael West 2 volumes Formerly a fine arts student at Yale, Tod Hackett hopes for success in Hollywood as a set designer. Through his apartment neighbor, aspiring actress Faye Greener, Tod meets a cast of seedy characters and has a series of misadventures. Includes 1983 introduction by Alfred Kazin. Some strong language. 1939. The Golden Bowl BR 18399 by Henry James 5 volumes London. Maggie, daughter of an American millionaire, weds Amerigo, an Italian nobleman who is in love with her friend Charlotte. Despite Charlotte’s later marriage to Maggie’s father, Amerigo and Charlotte continue their affair—of which Maggie learns from a shopkeeper selling a gilded bowl. Includes 1984 introduction by Gore Vidal. 1904. Watchers on the Hill: Pine Ridge Portraits, Book 2 BR 18408 by Stephanie Grace Whitson 2 volumes 1890. Charlotte Bishop, a colonel’s widow, flees her callous in-laws in Detroit and joins her father, Dr. Valentine, at Nebraska’s Fort Robinson. Seeking refuge for herself and her young son, she instead faces situations she never anticipated—including a friendship with widower Nathan Boone and the possibility of new love. 2004. Footprints on the Horizon: Pine Ridge Portraits, Book 3 BR 18409 by Stephanie Grace Whitson 3 volumes Nebraska, 1945. Josephine, daughter of the Reverend Hale, spends the summer on her aunt’s ranch. There she encounters Dieter Brock, a German prisoner of war being held locally at Fort Robinson. Dieter takes an interest in both Jo and her father’s sermons, though the town and Jo’s mother disapprove. 2005. Of Blood and Sorrow: A Tamara Hayle Mystery BR 18410 by Valerie Wilson Wesley 2 volumes New Jersey PI Tamara Hayle rejects a request to help shady Lilah Love reclaim her baby from her sister. Hours later the baby’s paternal grandfather asks Tamara to get the baby for him. But Lilah’s murder changes the case. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2008. Playback: A Philip Marlowe Novel BR 18416 by Raymond Chandler 2 volumes California. A mysterious lawyer hires Philip Marlowe to tail a wealthy young redhead named Eleanor King. As Philip grows closer to Eleanor—who may or may not be telling the truth—he realizes she’s in trouble and begins to question his client’s motives. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1958. Where Evil Sleeps: A Tamara Hayle Mystery BR 18423 by Valerie Wilson Wesley 2 volumes PI Tamara Hayle is vacationing in Jamaica when she meets Lilah Love, also from New Jersey. Tamara reluctantly agrees to go clubbing with Lilah and her obnoxious husband. When the husband is stabbed at the bar, Lilah flees with Tamara’s passport. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1996. Dead to the World: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel BR 18472 by Charlaine Harris 3 volumes Dumped by her vampire lover Bill, Sookie finds Bill’s boss vampire Eric half-naked on the side of the road—acting strangely and with no memory. She investigates to protect Eric but soon realizes her heart is in danger too. Strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004. Definitely Dead: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel BR 18473 by Charlaine Harris 3 volumes Mind-reading waitress Sookie Stackhouse of Bon Temps, Louisiana, heads to New Orleans where the vampire queen of Louisiana has ordered her to clean out the apartment of Sookie’s deceased cousin Hadley. Sookie soon finds herself neck-deep in trouble. Strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. All Together Dead: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel BR 18474 by Charlaine Harris 3 volumes Telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse attends the vampire summit where Louisiana vampire queen Sophie-Anne, whose power is already weakened by Hurricane Katrina, will face murder charges. Sookie and her weretiger lover Quinn contend with shifting alliances, preternatural politics, and more deaths. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007. From Dead to Worse: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel BR 18475 by Charlaine Harris 3 volumes Telepathic cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse becomes embroiled in a struggle for control of Louisiana’s vampire and supernatural community. Sookie also contends with the disappearance of her weretiger love Quinn and the arrival of her great-grandfather—a fairy prince—who reveals to Sookie her true heritage. Some violence and some strong language. 2008. Dead and Gone: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel BR 18476 by Charlaine Harris 2 volumes Wereanimals publicly announce their existence to the human world in the Great Reveal. But when a mutilated werepanther is discovered outside of Merlotte’s bar, Sookie Stackhouse finds herself in the middle of a murder and a creature war. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2009. Prodigal Son: Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein, Book 1 BR 18477 by Dean Koontz and Kevin J. Anderson 3 volumes New Orleans. Detective Carson O’Connor and partner Michael Maddison track a killer who may be a renegade creation of billionaire genius Victor Helios (aka Frankenstein). The cops ally with Deucalion, another of Victor’s prodigies, and discover there are two killers. Violence, descriptions of sex, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. City of Night: Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein, Book 2 BR 18478 by Dean Koontz 2 volumes Following Prodigal Son (BR 18477), Victor Helios (aka Frankenstein) cannot stop the engineered killers he has set loose in New Orleans. Detectives Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison join forces with Helios to end the carnage. Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005. Dead and Alive: Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein, Book 3 BR 18479 by Dean Koontz 2 volumes Victor Helios, from the City of Night (BR 18478), no longer controls the nightmarish creations he’s unleashed on New Orleans. Investigating detectives Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison track Victor and receive help from an unlikely source—Deucalion, Victor’s first monster. Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2009. Untamed: House of Night, Book 4 BR 18482 by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast 3 volumes After events in Chosen (BR 18481), teen vampire Zoey Redbird is ostracized at her new boarding school and abandoned by her former love interests. But Zoey knows that high priestess Neferet’s war on humans is wrong and tries to stop her. Strong language. For senior high readers. 2008. Rough Country BR 18526 by John Sandford 3 volumes Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers, of Heat Lightning (BR 18165), leaves a fishing contest to probe the shooting death of a prominent businesswoman at a mostly lesbian resort. Flowers sifts through motives, suspects, and a possibly related cold case. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2009. A Touch of Dead: Sookie Stackhouse; the Complete Stories BR 18528 by Charlaine Harris 1 volume Collection of five short stories featuring telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. Originally published in other anthologies, they include “Fairy Dust,” from Powers of Detection; “Dracula Night,” from Many Bloody Returns; “One Word Answer,” from Bite; “Lucky,” from Unusual Suspects; and “Gift Wrap,” from Wolfsbane and Mistletoe. 2009. The Scarpetta Factor BR 18556 by Patricia Cornwell 4 volumes Dr. Kay Scarpetta is the senior forensic analyst for CNN in New York and continues her work in the morgue. Scarpetta puzzles over a headlines- making missing-woman case, the perplexing murder of a female jogger, and some threatening events in her personal life. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2009. 7th Heaven: A Women’s Murder Club Mystery BR 18559 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro 2 volumes San Francisco. Detective Lindsay Boxer and her new partner Rich Conklin uncover a lead in the disappearance of a former governor’s teenage son. The two also investigate a rash of house fires that have killed several wealthy couples. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2008. Above Suspicion: An Anna Travis Mystery BR 18571 by Lynda La Plante 4 volumes Detective Chief Inspector Langton chooses Anna Travis, the inexperienced daughter of his mentor, for his murder team. A serial killer has targeted older prostitutes—but a young student appears to be the latest victim. Langton uses Anna to lure their suspect. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001. Soldier of the Mist BR 18573 by Gene Wolfe 3 volumes Ancient Greece. After suffering a head injury, the soldier Latro writes daily on a scroll to record events and recover his memory. His heightened senses provide insights and visions of the gods circulating among mortals. Some violence. 1986. Marcelo in the Real World BR 18579 by Francisco X. Stork 3 volumes Seventeen-year-old Marcelo Sandoval, who has autism, gets a summer job working in the mail room of his father’s law firm. Exposed to real-world situations, Marcelo has encounters with his boss Jasmine that bring romance and a myriad of emotions to the surface. For junior and senior high readers. Schneider Family Book Award. 2009. The Red Dahlia: An Anna Travis Mystery BR 18582 by Lynda La Plante 4 volumes Now a detective inspector, Anna Travis works another case with detective chief inspector James Langton—with whom she had a brief affair in Above Suspicion (BR 18571). A corpse has been laid out to mirror the 1940s Black Dahlia killing—and the victim’s roommate turns up dead. Violence and strong language. 2006. Do Not Deny Me: Stories BR 18584 by Jean Thompson 2 volumes Twelve tales. In the title story, a woman whose boyfriend recently died visits a psychic—and discovers she has a troubling gift. In “Liberty Tax” a young wife denies her husband’s dubious new source of income. “Escape” imagines a feud between a stroke patient and his wife. Some strong language. 2009. ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. ### Children’s Nonfiction Hanni and Beth: Safe and Sound BR 18022 by Beth Finke 1 volume Seeing Eye dog Hanni describes her routine duties to guide and protect her partner Beth, a woman who is blind. Both Hanni and Beth provide personal notes about their background. For grades K-3. ASPCA award. 2007. It Never Rains in Antarctica: And Other Freaky Facts about Climate, Land, and Nature BR 18303 by Barbara Seuling 1 volume Odd facts about geography arranged by such topics as deserts and caves, mountains and islands, and weather and climate. “How the Earth Has Changed” collects info-bytes on fossils, catastrophes, and population—for example: in 6,000 B.C. there were 10 million people; now there are 6.6 billion. For grades 3-6. 2009. Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories BR 18380 by Sandra Markle 1 volume Nine accounts of animals—from trained guide dogs to a cow, a pet cat, dolphins, and a capuchin monkey—that helped humans during accidents and disasters. Discusses Roselle, the guide dog, who led Mike Hingson from the seventy-eighth floor to safety as the World Trade Center tower collapsed. For grades 3-6. 2009. Wild Animals in Captivity BR 18420 by Rob Laidlaw 1 volume Founder of the wildlife-protection organization Zoocheck Canada, biologist Rob Laidlaw examines the behavior of captive animals and debates whether zoos should even exist. Discusses five basic freedoms for animal welfare and suggests ten ways to help wild animals that are kept in confined spaces. For grades 5-8. 2008. Reluctant Heroes: True Five-Minute-Read Adventure Stories for Boys BR 18570 by Kendall Haven 2 volumes Twenty-five short accounts—from history, modern life, and nature—of ordinary people who acted heroically. Told to inspire, entertain, and demonstrate effective storytelling, they cover young people involved in wars, participating in traditional cultural events, and facing wild animals. Includes each tale’s background and recommendations for further reading. For grades 3-6. 2008. Classic Western Stories: The Most Beloved Stories BR 18585 compiled by Cooper Edens 1 volume Western adventures of explorers, cowboys, and Indians are commemorated in poems, songs, and stories. Includes folk legends of Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan, and real-life exploits of Lewis and Clark and Daniel Boone. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2009. ### Children’s Fiction The Penderwicks on Gardam Street BR 18090 by Jeanne Birdsall 2 volumes Four years after their mother’s death, the Penderwick sisters—Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty—are appalled when their aunt Claire arranges a date for their father. Desperate to avoid having a stepmother, the girls hatch their own plan. Sequel to The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (BR 16482). For grades 4-7. 2008. Word Nerd BR 18301 by Susin Nielsen 2 volumes Seventh grader and social misfit Ambrose finds that correspondence courses and lots of free time allow him to finagle recently released criminal Cosmo—the landlord’s son—into joining a Scrabble club. Becoming friends with Cosmo and improving his Scrabble game bring Ambrose unexpected adventures and acceptance. For grades 5-8. 2008. Savvy BR 18369 by Ingrid Law 2 volumes Thirteenth birthdays in the Beaumont family reveal a magical power unique to the honoree. After Fish learns to cause hurricanes and Rocket to make electricity, Mibs eagerly awaits her turn. But Poppa has a terrible accident and all Mibs wants is to save him. For grades 4-7. Newbery Honor Book. 2008. Bambi: A Life in the Woods BR 18421 by Felix Salten 1 volume The story of Bambi, a deer who grows up along the banks of the Danube. Bambi explores his world, makes friends, and learns life lessons from his mother and a great wise stag—none more important than to fear man above any other creature. For grades 4-7. 1928. The Underneath BR 18567 by Kathi Appelt 2 volumes In the alligator-filled bayous between Texas and Louisiana, long-suffering hound dog Ranger welcomes a stray, pregnant calico cat underneath his rundown porch. When his cruel owner Gar Face dispatches the mother cat, Ranger and the calico’s two kittens form an unlikely family. For grades 4- 7 and older readers. Newbery Honor Book. 2008. When You Reach Me BR 18568 by Rebecca Stead 1 volume New York City, 1979. Twelve-year-old Miranda helps her mother prepare to be on a television game show. Meanwhile Miranda tries to understand why her best friend Sal doesn’t want to hang out anymore—and why someone is sending Miranda tiny notes from the future. For grades 5-8. 2009. The Goblin Baby BR 18578 by Berlie Doherty 1 volume Nine-year-old Tam must travel to fairyland to exchange the goblin child in his sister’s crib for his real sister Blue. There are many rules to follow if Tam doesn’t want to turn one hundred when he returns to his world. Beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2004. Into the Mist: The Land of Elyon BR 18581 by Patrick Carman 2 volumes Roland Warvold, captain of the boat Warwick Beacon, tells Alexa and Yipes about the adventures he shared with his brother Thomas in Elyon before the wall went up dividing the world in two. Companion to the first three books in the Land of Elyon series: The Dark Hills Divide (BR 16270), Beyond the Valley of Thorns (BR 16581), and The Tenth City (BR 17195). For grades 4-7. 2007. Notes from the Dog BR 18596 by Gary Paulsen 1 volume At the beginning of summer, middle-schooler Finn, his pal Matthew, and his dog Dylan meet graduate student Johanna, who is undergoing chemo for breast cancer. Finn awkwardly attempts to garden for Johanna, receives anonymous notes of wisdom delivered by his dog, and learns compassion. For grades 6-9. 2009. ### 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 (10 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 (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues) Muse (for children; 10 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC World (personal computing; monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (11 issues) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens; monthly) Short Stories (British monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Stone Soup (children's writings; 5 issues) Update (NLS quarterly) The Washington Post Book World (weekly) 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 ###