Braille Book Review, Vol. 74, No. 6 November-December 2005 Braille Book Review November-December 2005 Volume 74, Number 6 _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large-print, braille, and computer diskette formats and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists braille magazines and books available through a network of cooperating libraries. The braille edition also lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations. News about library services is featured in both editions. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. Readers can receive _Braille Book Review_ and other information through the Internet by accessing the the NLS home page at http://www.loc.gov/nls. To order books or for subscription changes, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. Library of Congress, Washington 2005 Library of Congress 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 The following information is reprinted from two issues of NLS Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals. Flash, August 2005, volume 1, issue 9 The digital transition: a progress report The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, is making significant progress with the audio-to-digital conversion project. Early sketches and models of the player and flash cartridge have been developed; many electronic components have been investigated and identified; a quality-assurance plan to guide the development of the player's software has been created; and more than four thousand books have been digitized. It has not been easy. "In this transition, much of the talking-book program is changing, which means that many complex projects are under way simultaneously," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "Designing players, developing digital talking-book cartridges, and building evaluation tools are each huge tasks, involving complicated processes." To keep the project moving forward, NLS has hired a variety of outside contractors. Battelle and HumanWare are designing the best exterior shell for the player, a critical decision that affects the layout of controls. Two other contractors, the Trace Center and the National Federation of the Blind, are set to run a second round of usability tests on the controls this month. David Andrews of the Minnesota State Services for the Blind has provided a consumer perspective to the project. "Design engineers are tackling tough issues such as storing the power cord, housing the speaker for maximum audio quality, integrating the handle, and inserting and removing cartridges," states Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director. Another contractor, ManTech, has created a comparative analysis of the costs for distribution models for digital talking books, especially mass duplication and a hybrid version. ManTech also created a decision-making matrix that will help NLS staff select the right distribution system using four overarching criteria: impact on patrons, cost, complexity of implementation, and risk or vulnerability. Protecting content The Chafee Amendment relaxes copyright infringement laws for not-for-profit organizations who reproduce and distribute books for blind and physically handicapped readers, as long as special formats are used. For the current project, this required protection is called digital rights management (DRM). According to Neil Bernstein, NLS research and development officer, "DRM utilizes encryption to allow access to digital book files by eligible readers only. In our system, all NLS patrons get the keys to unlock the book. The general public will not be able to read it." NLS is developing an improved DRM system that is compatible with international systems. The standard, when universally accepted, will dramatically streamline international interlibrary loan procedures. Development of the DRM is an international effort involving the world's top experts on digital talking books. "Many of these people were instrumental in creating the original standards for digital talking books," Bernstein notes. Bernstein works with software engineers, hardware and software manufacturers, and consultants. A DRM expert is providing design and technical consultation. The committee has solicited feedback and recommendations from consumer groups and publishers. Specifications will be completed in December 2005 and sent to Retrieval Systems, an NLS contractor, to build the latest DRM tool. Retrieval Systems has already designed three tools for NLS. These include the Quality Assurance Player, a PC-based player that allows a quality assurance expert to review a book and verify that it will play and navigate properly; NLS VAL, a software tool that runs dozens of automated tests on a book to check it against specifications and report problems; and DTB Prep, which compresses raw audio and applies an earlier form of DRM protection. The new DRM software will be more flexible and have a stronger encryption system than the current DTB Prep tool. Book production NLS started creating digital audio files in 2002. By 2004, all new titles were digitally recorded for production of NLS cassette books. NLS had some experience with digital audio, but it's been a learning process. Talking books were once recorded on open-reel analog tape for duplication onto cassettes for circulation. Now master copies are recorded as audio files using a variety of digital recording systems. These digital files are then marked to highlight navigation points. Creating solutions In constructing the digital talking book, NLS strives to ensure that the capabilities of ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002, the national DTB standard, are applied in a useful manner. This is not a simple task. Print books are simply too varied in the way they are laid out. NLS and its producers must therefore assess each book and decide how best to mark it for ease of use by the reader. A novel only needs to have each chapter marked, but a cookbook will require much more markup to allow easy access to recipes and the ability to step through a list of ingredients one by one. Once a digital talking book is finished, a software check is conducted to confirm that the file meets the standard requirements. Flash, September 2005, volume 1, issue 10 DTB audio player refined in second round of user tests Practice makes perfect. To the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, this makes perfect sense. That is why meticulous, ongoing evaluation is key to developing the digital talking- book machine (DTBM). NLS recently completed the second in a series of eight usability tests on the latest player model, an essential step toward finalizing requirements and design. Four main goals guided these tests: validating user- interface design and defining priorities for basic and advanced players; defining patron understanding and use of primary DTBM features; gathering feedback on player design and specific physical features; and lastly, improving the design and development of the models to be tested in round three. "With each round of testing, NLS gains a deeper understanding of user and librarian needs, which helps us further refine player capabilities and design," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "Patron and librarian feedback is essential to building the best machine possible." Sixty-nine current and potential patrons with varied visual, physical, and cognitive impairments participated in the study. Users ranged from children to seniors and were grouped by gender, age, and skill. Testing was facilitated by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in Baltimore and Cleveland and by the Trace Research and Development Center of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Interviews with library staff also yielded valuable insight into the system's functionality. "This series of usability tests was intended to see if engineers are getting the design right from the perspective of librarians and patrons," notes Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director. "From the results of these tests, we will be able to validate and refine some requirements and turn them into specifications for the machine." For the first time, users conducted operational tasks on models of digital talking-book cartridges and players. The models incorporated ideas from initial user tests. While constructed of a special modeling foam, these models had functional buttons that were connected to actual digital talking-book recordings to simulate reading. Operational tasks conducted on the player reflected typical usage scenarios. Testers examined the accessibility of basic functions, including primary and secondary controls and player features. All features needed to be obvious to patrons with varied capabilities and player experience. The users appraised the shape, placement, tactile appeal, and ease of use of control buttons and the logic and clarity of navigation features. They assessed player size and appearance, cartridge insertion, power cord storage, and the use of the retractable handle and headphone jack. NLS's top priority is producing a player that is both easy to use and navigation-friendly. "You can put in all the bells and whistles in the world, but if the user doesn't understand how to operate the machine, it's worthless," emphasizes Michael Katzmann, head of the NLS Engineering Section. "Player features must be obvious to users." Librarians were interested primarily in maintenance issues such as cleaning players, re-labeling cartridges, stacking DTBMs for storage, and mailing-container handling. Librarians also desired a method for patrons to notify them of cartridge problems on return. Testing does not stop with users. Engineers conduct their own field tests to ensure that the player meets NLS's high standards. The player must survive tough endurance exercises and still be functional. It must withstand a series of drops on all sides from as high as three feet, and resist scratches, spills, vermin, and extreme temperatures. Additional software-based testing evaluates its technical specifications. Patron priorities According to Robert Fistick, acting chief, Materials Development Division, usability testing helps NLS pinpoint patron priorities so that the player is designed to meet their top needs. The findings reveal that patrons continue to value accessibility, usability, portability, and that easy maintenance continues to be the highest priority for librarians and repair personnel. Users suggested improvements to audio instructions housed in the player. They also expressed preferences on handle positioning, cord storage compartment, and the cartridge mailing container. Moodie stated that "All of these findings are significant because they will be evaluated and incorporated into the ongoing design and development process for the cartridge and player." Based on the findings, engineers will explore several recommendations for improvement including changes to control layout, behavior, and complexity; cartridge insertion; and cord storage methods. Survival of the fittest Creating an optimal player is difficult. Engineers must negotiate many competing requirements before finalizing the design. Conflicts often relate to portability and accessibility. For example, deciding between long-running batteries and portability is a big issue. Higher battery capacity involves increasing the size and weight of the player, which ultimately inhibits portability and increases cost. A sleek yet stackable player design is another challenge. A rounded top may be stylish but it is impractical for storage and handling. In this case, form should follow function. NLS strives for a happy medium and makes trade-offs based on the best interests of patrons and librarians. Digital talking-book (DTB) milestones Completed: - Defined and prioritized DTB features - Coordinated development and publication of Specifications for the Digital Talking Book (ANSI/NISO Z39.86) - Simulated a DTB player using personal computer - Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis (LCC) model for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems - Developed computer software for DTB production and presentation - Developed software to test conformance of players and DTBs with the ANSI/NISO standard - User survey - Player transition study - Distribution medium study - Player and medium design contract awarded - Distribution system design contract awarded Start 1/12/04--Finish 10/1/08 The following ongoing projects, set to conclude by 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses. - Web-Magazine pilot (1/12/04) - Digital data management system development (11/1/04) - Player and medium development (3/01/05) - Distribution system design and transition planning (3/15/05) - Design DTB containers and labels (6/01/05) - Web-Book pilot (6/01/05) - Prepare DTBs for distribution (10/1/05) - Circulation systems design (12/1/05) - Manufacture initial lot of DTB containers and labels (9/01/06) - Distribution system implementation (10/1/06) - Circulation systems implementation (10/1/06) - Media production (3/01/07) - Media duplication (5/01/07) - Full player production (9/01/07) For information on the NLS digital project contact: Jean M. Moss Digital Projects Coordinator jemo@loc.gov Fax: (202) 707-1690 To view the Strategic Business Plan on the web visit: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2003.html ________________________________________________ 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. Items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. Mail-order catalogs on cassette Home Readers, a not-for-profit organization, is now offering more than twenty-five popular mail-order catalogs on four- track cassette free of charge, to make shopping more convenient. There are a wide variety of catalogs to choose from including clothing, music, old time radio, food, gifts, pet products, health and beauty, practical solutions, house wares and home decor. The cassettes cover all text and product descriptions available in the print catalogs. For a free copy of the fall/winter 2005 Home Readers catalog call toll-free 1-877-814-7323 or visit the web site at www.homereaders.com ### _Books for Adults_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Note:_ For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, as in "some strong language." _Nonfiction_ The New York Times Jewish Cookbook: More Than 825 Traditional and Contemporary Recipes from around the World BR 15273 edited by Linda Amster 8 volumes Wide-ranging collection of multiethnic, kosher recipes influenced by the cuisines of western and eastern Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, and the United States. Includes sections on appetizers, soups, fish, poultry, meat, vegetables, light fare, trimmings, breads and matzohs, desserts, holiday dishes, and more. Introduction by food writer Mimi Sheraton. 2003. BR 15273 ## Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis BR 15392 by Tammi L. Shlotzhauer and 3 volumes A description of the physical, practical, and emotional aspects of rheumatoid arthritis. Provides patients and caregivers the knowledge to better communicate with medical professionals. Includes information on coping strategies, exercise and rehabilitation, medications, alternative and complementary therapies, pregnancy and childbirth, and financial matters such as disability benefits, insurance, and possible tax deductions. 2003. BR 15392 ## The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss BR 15395 by Arthur Agatston 3 volumes Description of a three-phase program developed by a Florida cardiologist to help his overweight patients. The plan involves eating the right carbohydrates and the right fats in order to correct the way the body reacts to foods that previously caused weight problems. Includes suggested menus and recipes. Bestseller. 2003. BR 15395 ## Three Weeks with My Brother BR 15438 by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks 3 volumes A memoir chronicling the around- the-world adventure of author Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah, in 2003. Leaving wives and families at home, the brothers journeyed to Machu Picchu, Peru; India; and the Australian outback remarking on milestones in their lives, childhood remembrances, and truths about loss and hope. Bestseller. 2004. BR 15438 ## The South Beach Diet Cookbook BR 15442 by Arthur Agatston 3 volumes Florida cardiologist's companion to his bestselling weight loss book, The South Beach Diet (BR 15395). Provides over two hundred recipes, each designated as phase one, two, or three of the diet. Includes healthy ideas for breakfast, soups, salads, side dishes, fish, poultry, meats, vegetarian meals, and more. Bestseller. 2004. BR 15442 ## St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography BR 15450 by Philip Freeman 2 volumes Life of St. Patrick based on his two surviving letters: one a defense of his work in Ireland, the other condemning a slave-raiding king and his pirates. Recounts Patrick's kidnapping by Irish pirates, years of slavery, escape, and eventual return to minister to the Irish people. Debunks many myths. 2004. BR 15450 ## Job Search Handbook for People with Disabilities BR 15463 by Daniel J. Ryan 3 volumes Comprehensive resource guide to career development for people with mental or physical disabilities. Helps prospective employees assess their strengths, locate job openings, prepare for interviews, organize resumes, utilize government programs, and negotiate the workplace. Includes a state- by-state list of employers who recruit and hire qualified disabled individuals. 2004. BR 15463 ## Small Space Gardens BR 15476 by David Stevens 2 volumes Suggestions from a landscape planner for the small city or country garden that is developed as an extension of the home. His recommendations include analyze existing plot, determine type of space desired, decide what to keep or discard, then design the project. 2003. BR 15476 ## The Sea around Us BR 15487 by Rachel Carson 3 volumes Commemorative edition of an award-winning classic. Eminent marine biologist, writer, and ecologist reveals the science and poetry of the world's oceans from their primeval beginnings billions of years ago to humankind's modern explorations. Includes a 2003 introduction by Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard. 1950. BR 15487 ## The Pen Commandments: A Guide for the Beginning Writer BR 15501 by Steven Frank 2 volumes Rules of good writing in a playful, informative guide for teens, parents, and students of all ages. Author, a longtime high school English teacher, gives solid basics of punctuation, grammar, style, sentence structure, composition, and topic choice along with suggestions, exercises, and examples. 2003. BR 15501 ## Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation BR 15555 by Cokie Roberts 4 volumes Political commentator and news analyst examines the role of Abigail Adams, Deborah Read Franklin, Martha Washington, and other prominent colonial women in founding the United States. Discusses their work outside the domestic sphere to manage businesses, run plantations, and defend their homes in the absence of men. Bestseller. 2004. BR 15555 ## Inventing a Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson BR 15557 by Gore Vidal 2 volumes Novelist and playwright reflects on the Founding Fathers' attempts to shape a new government. Vidal cites historical documents to provide a human perspective of Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, including their personal styles and concerns, opinions of each other, and political feuds. Also examines the influences of Hamilton, Madison, and Franklin. 2003. BR 15557 ## His Excellency: George Washington BR 15564 by Joseph J. Ellis 4 volumes Author of Founding Brothers (BR 12931) delves into the life and times of America's first president. Uses personal papers and historical accounts to recreate the man who was a French and Indian War soldier, plantation owner, businessman, and savvy politician who forged a new nation. Bestseller. 2004. BR 15564 ## The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness BR 15571 by Jerome Groopman 2 volumes Physician and New Yorker staff writer draws on thirty years of medical experience and his own struggles with a debilitating back injury to explore the "biology of hope." Presenting intimate portraits of former patients, Groopman investigates, in the mind-body connection, scientific evidence of emotions' contributions to recovery. 2004. BR 15571 ## Miriam's Song: A Memoir BR 15575 by Miriam Mathabane 3 volumes Mark Mathabane describes in his sister Miriam's voice her coming of age as a poor black female in 1980s apartheid South Africa. Before leaving to study nursing in the United States, she endures an abusive and poor quality education. Depicts a resilient family. 2000. BR 15575 ## The Lost Pet Chronicles: Adventures of a K-9 Cop Turned Pet Detective BR 15584 by Kat Albrecht 2 volumes Former police officer recounts the establishment of a nonprofit pet-finding organization using her detective skills to rescue more than 1,800 lost animals. Reflects on memorable cases and describes her methods involving behavioral profiling, physical evidence, and, most important, her two special search dogs. 2004. BR 15584 ## American Soldier BR 15611 by Tommy Franks 6 volumes Retired army general and former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command recollects his childhood and decorated thirty-eight-year military career including service in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Provides an inside look at the war on terror. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004. BR 15611 ## Before It Happens to You: A Breakthrough Program for Reversing or Preventing Heart Disease BR 15612 by Jonathan Sackner Bernstein 3 volumes Physician discusses how to cut the risk of heart attack and stroke in half even without a change in diet or lifestyle. Evaluates the latest available drugs that can prevent problems before they occur, and explains the interpretation of various diagnostic tests. 2004. BR 15612 ## Gardening on Pavement, Tables, and Hard Surfaces BR 15618 by George Schenk 2 volumes Step-by-step instructions for planting a garden directly on hard surfaces like stepping stones, parking grids, patio pavers, rocks, railings, stumps and logs, rooftops, and other impermeable platforms with only a few inches of soil. Covers plant selection, care, and maintenance as well as construction and design techniques. 2003. BR 15618 ## Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures: Funny Women Write from the Road; Travelers' Tales BR 15626 edited by Jennifer L. Leo 2 volumes Twenty-eight tales by female travelers whose expeditions abroad went humorously awry. Among them are writer Michele Peterson, experiencing a bad hair day in Hong Kong; Christine Michaud, a Canadian trying to dress like Kuwaiti locals; and comedian Ellen Degeneres, who attempts to conquer her fear of flying. Strong language. 2003. BR 15626 ## Fire in the Heart: A Spiritual Guide for Teens BR 15627 by Deepak Chopra 1 volume Noted Hindu author and physician uses his own youthful experiences to provide a plan for teens who are seeking their own spiritual paths. Answers universal philosophical questions and offers suggestions for improving relationships. For senior high readers. 2004. BR 15627 ## Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper BR 15629 by Paul E. Johnson 3 volumes Biography of working-class jump artist Sam Patch drawn from genealogical resources and town records. History professor tells how Patch, a mill spinner and drunk, became a folk hero after his 1827 jump in New Jersey and later a celebrity as the first Niagara Falls jumper in 1829. 2003. BR 15629 ## Voices of War: Stories of Service from the Home Front and the Front Lines BR 15634 edited by Tom Wiener 3 volumes Personal accounts of American soldiers and medical personnel active in World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and the Persian Gulf conflicts. Extracts from interviews, letters, and diary entries collected by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project are grouped by themes: Answering the Call, Under Fire, Coming Home. 2004. BR 15634 ## Jim Wilson's Container Gardening BR 15635 by Jim Wilson 2 volumes Former PBS Victory Garden host advises people who want to explore gardening in pots, troughs, and other vessels. Provides information on containers, soil mixtures, and plants, herbs, and vegetables appropriate for various locations and situations. Includes a condensed encyclopedia of plants adapted to container gardening. 2000. BR 15635 ## Teen Knitting Club: Chill Out and Knit BR 15670 by Jennifer Wenger and Carol Abrams 1 volume Three longtime avid knitters offer learners information on materials, stitches, and common problems. Includes instructions for scarves, hats, bags, sweaters, one-day projects, and blankets. Also offers suggestions on starting a teen knitting club and on knitting for charity. For junior and senior high readers. 2004. BR 15670 ## Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself by Becoming an EMT BR 15707 by Jane Stern 2 volumes Gourmet magazine writer tells how she overcame anxiety, depression, and middle-aged angst to become an emergency medical technician at a Connecticut volunteer fire company. Stern humorously reflects on her boot-camp training, hospital rotation, the fiasco of responding to her first call, and how in helping others she learned to help herself. 2003. BR 15707 ## Daughters of the Desert: Stories of Remarkable Women from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Traditions BR 15736 by Claire Rudolf Murphy and Sarah Conover 1 volume Tales of mothers, daughters, believers, and seekers, based on verses from the Bible and the Qur'an. In "Return to Hadassah" Esther draws courage from her Jewish faith to reveal her true identity and ask her husband the king to save her people. For junior and senior high readers. 2003. BR 15736 ## The Blindness Revolution: Jernigan in His Own Words BR 15781 by James H. Omvig 6 volumes Blindness activist and attorney examines the transformation of the Iowa Commission for the Blind by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, a National Federation of the Blind leader. Describes Jernigan's reorganizing the service agency beginning in 1958 from its ineffective medical model to a civil-rights-based "empowerment" organization. 2005. BR 15781 ## Blind Justice: Jacobus tenBroek and the Vision of Equality BR 15863 by Floyd Matson 2 volumes Biography of the founder of the National Federation of the Blind, written by friend and collaborator Matson. Tells how tenBroek (1911 1968), blinded at age seven, earned a law degree and became an advocate not only for blind people but for people with disabilities, poor people, and other minority groups. 2005. BR 15863 ## ### _Fiction_ Johnny Got His Gun BR 15448 by Dalton Trumbo 2 volumes Classic antiwar novel presents the internal monologue of a young soldier maimed during World War I. Hospitalized Joe Bonham, drifting in and out of consciousness, is beset by past memories and present horrors. 1990 introduction by Vietnam veteran and author Ron Kovic. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 1939. BR 15448 ## The Cradle Will Fall BR 15451 by Mary Higgins Clark 3 volumes While hospitalized, New Jersey pros- ecutor Katie DeMaio spies from her window a man loading a woman's body into a car. Later, she helps medical examiner Richard Carroll investigate a questionable suicide. Richard suspects Edgar Highley Katie's new doctor and fears the worst when Katie disappears. Some violence and some strong language. 1980. BR 15451 ## Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc BR 15498 by Mark Twain 4 volumes Fictional biography of French heroine Saint Joan of Arc (1412 1431) told from the viewpoint of her page, secretary, and lifelong friend, Sieur Louis de Conte. Describes her early childhood, the "voices" that prompted her to aid the dauphin, the fight for Orleans, and her eventual capture, trial, and martyrdom. 1895. BR 15498 ## Goodbye, Earl: A Bad Girl Creek Novel BR 15504 by Jo-Ann Mapson 3 volumes Continuation of the lives and loves of four female friends following Along Came Mary (BR 14680). Beryl's Alaska boyfriend abruptly disappears; Phoebe contends with her willful five-year-old daughter in California; Ness nurses a friend dying of AIDS; and Nance suffers repeated miscarriages. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004. BR 15504 ## The Clarinet Polka BR 15545 by Keith Maillard 4 volumes 1969. Soldier Jimmy Koprowski returns to his blue-collar Polish American community, where a friend's death, a destructive affair, and alcohol aggravate his depression. Only when he falls in love with Janice, the clarinetist in his sister's polka band, does he discover the healing power of music and tradition. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2002. BR 15545 ## For Better, for Worse BR 15559 by Carole Matthews 3 volumes Josie Flynn, newly separated, flies to New York from London for her cousin Martha's wedding. En route she meets Matt Jarvis and agrees to get together with him in the city. Matt forgets, Josie's husband shows up, and the bride has an affair. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2000. BR 15559 ## Red Tide BR 15569 by G.M. Ford 3 volumes Seattle. While disgraced journalist Frank Corso attends ex-lover Meg Dougherty's photo exhibition, a terrorist releases a modified Ebola virus into a bus tunnel, killing 116 people. Police, firefighters, and federal officials race for answers. During the chaos Corso infiltrates the scene and becomes a prime suspect. Violence and strong language. 2004. BR 15569 ## Murder in Montparnasse: A Phryne Fisher Mystery BR 15573 by Kerry Greenwood 2 volumes Australia, 1928. Bert and Cec, soldiers who unknowingly witnessed a murder in post-WWI Paris, appeal to Phryne Fisher to investigate the suspicious deaths of two comrades. Phryne confronts her own repressed memories as she proceeds with this assignment. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002. BR 15573 ## The Fox's Walk BR 15576 by Annabel Davis-Goff 3 volumes During World War I, ten-year-old Alice Moore is left in County Waterford, Ireland, to live with relatives while her parents return to London. She gradually becomes aware of the nationalist movement as well as the dangers that threaten her aristocratic Protestant family with the outbreak of the civil war. 2003. BR 15576 ## The Truth about Forever BR 15577 by Sarah Dessen 3 volumes Macy suppresses sorrow for a year and a half after her father's death, but finally learns to grieve and to live a little on her summer job at a zany catering business. There she connects with Wes, whose mother has also died. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2004. BR 15577 ## Spindle's End BR 15579 by Robin McKinley 3 volumes Evil fairy Pernicia curses a princess on the infant's naming day, but Katriona, a young fairy, whisks the baby away to raise as her own and evade Pernicia's vengeful powers. Based on the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty." For junior and senior high and older readers. 2000. BR 15579 ## Done for a Dime BR 15583 by David Corbett 3 volumes When a legendary blues musician is murdered, his son, Toby, is a major suspect. As Rio Mirada detective Dennis Murchison investigates, it becomes apparent that the killing is only part of a larger, darker scheme centering around racism and mob activity. Strong language and some violence. 2003. BR 15583 ## The Mrs. Dalloway Reader BR 15586 edited by Francine Prose 3 volumes Selection of critical essays exploring the evolution and impact of Virginia Woolf's 1925 classic novel Mrs. Dalloway and the companion piece, "Mrs. Dalloway's Party." Includes the two works, Woolf's journal entries and letters regarding the works' creation, and various writers' commentary. Includes editor's introduction. 2003. BR 15586 ## Night Fall BR 15590 by Nelson DeMille 4 volumes Antiterrorist agents John Corey and wife Kate Mayfield reopen the investigation of a Paris-bound jet's 1996 crash off the Long Island coast. They learn of an adulterous videotape made on the beach the night of the disaster and search for the couple. Violence and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004. BR 15590 ## Shoulder the Sky: A World War I Novel BR 15592 by Anne Perry 3 volumes Chaplain Joseph Reavley from No Graves as Yet (BR 15128) journeys to the Flanders war front in 1915 to help the wounded. When a hated military correspondent is murdered, Reavley probes into the mystery of his own parents' deaths caused by the unknown "Peacemaker." Some violence. 2004. BR 15592 ## The Coma BR 15607 by Alex Garland 1 volume After being attacked on a subway train and left comatose, Carl regains consciousness or at first he thinks he does to a familiar but distorted life. He visits a friend and has a surprisingly pleasant affair with his secretary, but eventually fights to awaken from his dreamlike new reality. Some violence. 2004. BR 15607 ## Vote for Larry BR 15616 by Janet Tashjian 2 volumes After faking his death in The Gospel according to Larry (BR 13993), seventeen-year-old Josh "Larry" Swensen runs for president as the Peace Party's candidate to advocate for youth issues and to encourage voter turnout. He doesn't anticipate mudslinging and a love triangle. For senior high readers. 2004. BR 15616 ## A Time Gone By BR 15617 by William Heffernan 3 volumes While investigating the murder of a prominent NYC judge, rookie homicide detective Jake Downing has an affair with the judge's widow and knowingly sends the wrong man to the electric chair. Thirty years later, haunted by his decisions, Jake reopens the case. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003. BR 15617 ## Hot Biscuits: Eighteen Stories by Women and Men of the Ranching West BR 15623 edited by Max Evans and Candy Moulton 2 volumes A collection of short stories by cowboys and cowgirls of the "real working West." Diverse tales of ranch hands, a horse trainer, and even murder have a few themes in common: hard work, survival among the elements, and homemade biscuits. Includes Jimbo Brewer's Spur Award-winner, "The Old Man." 2002. BR 15623 ## Tar Baby BR 15625 by Toni Morrison 3 volumes Son, a black fugitive, invades the West Indian home of a retired millionaire, upsetting the racially diverse household. He captivates pampered Jadine, a black fashion model. Their ideologically complicated love affair plays out from the Caribbean to Manhattan. 2004 foreword by the author. Strong language. 1981. BR 15625 ## Run if You Dare BR 15641 by Randy Powell 1 volume Fifteen-year-old Gardner is shocked to discover that his beloved but recently unemployed father considers himself a failure and may leave the family. Gardner seeks direction in his own life by joining the track team and renewing his friendship with an old girlfriend. For junior and senior high readers. 2001. BR 15641 ## Pocahontas BR 15679 by Joseph Bruchac 2 volumes Jamestown colony, 1607. Alternating narratives of Pocahontas, a Powhatan chief's daughter, and captain John Smith reveal the alliance between Smith and his fellow English settlers and the native Indian population. Portrays the cultural misunderstandings that arose during their encounters. For junior and senior high readers. 2003. BR 15679 ## The Night Country BR 15681 by Stewart O'Nan 2 volumes One year ago on Halloween, a car carrying five Connecticut teenagers slammed into a tree. Two survived Tim, physically unharmed, and Kyle, left severely brain-damaged. As the anniversary of the crash approaches, Toe, Danielle, and Marco return to haunt the living. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003. BR 15681 ## Desperadoes BR 15682 edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg 2 volumes A collection of seventeen short westerns about men in trouble gamblers, outlaws, miners, and lawmen some victims of circumstance, others because of their own doing. Includes Louis L'Amour's "The Town No Guns Could Tame" as well as works by Loren D. Estleman, Bill Pronzini, Bill Gulick, and others. 2001. BR 15682 ## The Presence BR 15701 by Eve Bunting 1 volume On a trip to California to visit her grandmother, seventeen-year-old Catherine meets a mysterious stranger at church. Noah claims he can help her contact a friend who died in a car crash for which Catherine feels responsible. But Noah turns out to be a ghost. For senior high readers. 2003. BR 15701 ## Bright Eyes BR 15705 by Catherine Anderson 3 volumes Natalie Patterson's son Chad vandalizes neighbor Zeke Coulter's property. Since she can't pay for the damages, Zeke allows Chad to work off the debt. Zeke soon becomes attracted to the entire family. Sequel to Blue Skies (BR 15389). Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004. BR 15705 ## The Prince of Beverly Hills: A Rick Barron Book BR 15709 by Stuart Woods 2 volumes Beverly Hills cop Rick Barron saves movie star Clete Barrow from unwanted publicity after a deadly traffic accident. This good deed lands Barron a security position at Barrow's studio. The cop squires around actors and starlets and soon gets involved with gangster Bugsy Siegel. Violence and strong language. 2004. BR 15709 ## Her Name Was Lola BR 15717 by Russell Hoban 2 volumes Thirty-nine-year-old Max Lesser, struggling novelist and children's book author, meets his "destiny woman," beautiful, leggy Lola Bessington. Soon after, flirtatious Lula Mae Flowers distracts Max's attention, and in the ensuing drama he loses both women. Five years later a strange course of events again twists Max's fate. Some strong language. 2003. BR 15717 ## The Tyrant's Novel BR 15740 by Thomas Keneally 2 volumes In a nameless totalitarian desert country, camp detainee Alan Sheriff recounts his misfortunes. The country's dictator, dubbed Great Uncle, commands Sheriff, under contract with an American publisher, to ghostwrite a polemic novel denouncing international sanctions on this country, throwing Sheriff into political conflict and personal danger. Strong language. 2004. BR 15740 ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Nonfiction_ Tentacles! Tales of the Giant Squid BR 15606 by Shirley Raye Redmond 1 volume An introduction to giant squids describing their physical characteristics and behavior. Also discusses some myths that have developed about them. For grades K-3. 2003. BR 15606 ## Manatees: Returning Wildlife BR 15638 by John E. Becker 1 volume Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and history of the manatee, an endangered marine mammal that is found in the Americas and Africa. Discusses attempts to ensure the survival of this species in the natural world. For grades 4-7. 2003. BR 15638 ## Baseball's Boneheads, Bad Boys, and Just Plain Crazy Guys BR 15710 by George Sullivan 1 volume Profiles professional baseball players known for their quirky superstitions, pranks, and outrageous or illegal play. For grades 6-9. 2003. BR 15710 ## Lincoln: A Photobiography BR 15711 by Russell Freedman 1 volume Biography of sixteenth U.S. president. Describes his rise from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois to become a self-educated lawyer, state representative, and, in 1860, president. Highlights Lincoln's Civil War leadership before his 1865 assassination. For grades 4-7 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1987. BR 15711 ## A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers BR 15718 by Nancy Willard 1 volume A collection of magical poems about life at an imaginary inn staffed by two dragons, two angels, and a rabbit who shows many curious visitors to their rooms, including a man in a marmalade hat and the king of cats. For grades 2-4 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1980. BR 15718 ## How Animal Babies Stay Safe BR 15738 by Mary Ann Fraser 1 volume Describes how animal babies are cared for by their parents and their own instincts. Includes facts about certain species and tips on what to do if a wild one is found. Easy reader. For grades 2-4. 2002. BR 15738 ## Cowboys on the Western Trail: The Cattle Drive Adventures of Josh McNabb and Davy Bartlett BR 15741 by Eric Oatman 1 volume Teenagers Josh, who is black, and Davy, who is white, help on a cattle drive in 1877. The boys keep journals and send letters about their dangerous experiences along the way. Uncontracted braille. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004. BR 15741 ## What Is the World Made Of? All about Solids, Liquids, and Gases BR 15749 by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld 1 volume Introduces the three states of matter solid, liquid, and gas and describes their attributes. Gives examples and three related simple science activities. Easy reader. For grades 2-4. 1998. BR 15749 ## ### _Fiction_ Hitty: Her First Hundred Years BR 15452 by Rachel Field 2 volumes Hitty, no ordinary doll, was carved from a block of wood for Phoebe, a little girl who took her toy everywhere. Hitty, now securely perched in a window of an antiques shop, recalls her adventuresome life on land and sea. For grades 4-7 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1929. BR 15452 ## Ginger Pye BR 15556 by Eleanor Estes 2 volumes Ten-year-old Jerry Pye and his younger sister Rachel get a new puppy and name him Ginger. When Ginger disappears, the adventurous children set out to find him. They suspect the little dog has been spirited away by a mysterious stranger wearing a yellow hat. For grades 3-6. Newbery Medal. 1951. BR 15556 ## Storm Catchers BR 15558 by Tim Bowler 2 volumes Cornwall, England. Thirteen-year-old Ella is kidnapped and held in a cave after her older brother Fin leaves her and their three-year-old brother home alone. As his parents deal with the kidnapper's demands, Fin begins his own investigation and uncovers a deadly family secret. For grades 6-9. 2001. BR 15558 ## The People of Sparks BR 15562 by Jeanne DuPrau 2 volumes Lina and Doon from The City of Ember (BR 15120) help relocate fellow underground Ember inhabitants to the surface town of Sparks. At first residents of Sparks and Ember share food and shelter. But when resources become scarce, the two groups begin to fight. For grades 5-8. 2004. BR 15562 ## The Hero and the Crown BR 15580 by Robin McKinley 2 volumes With a wizard's guidance and the blue sword's help, young Aerin fights to claim her birthright as daughter of a king and a witch from the mysterious, demon-haunted north. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1984. BR 15580 ## The Blue Sword BR 15581 by Robin McKinley 3 volumes Harry lives a boring, sheltered life in remote Daria until she is kidnapped by a mysterious king and discovers her destiny to carry the magical, legendary blue sword. Sequel to The Hero and the Crown (BR 15580). For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Honor Book. 1982. BR 15581 ## Hurricane: Open Seas, 1844 BR 15585 by K. Duey and K.A. Bale 1 volume Thirteen-year-old Rebecca and her family sail for four years on the high seas with their father, the captain of a whaling ship. John Lowe is also on board working off a family debt. Together John and Rebecca survive a whale hunt and a hurricane. For grades 5-8. 1999. BR 15585 ## Uncommon Faith BR 15595 by Trudy Krisher 2 volumes Millbrook, Massachusetts; 1837. Townspeople lament the tragic fire that killed and injured many residents. Meanwhile fourteen-year-old minister's daughter Faith Common, out- spoken in her views of abolition and women's rights, provokes reactions of either outrage or admiration. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003. BR 15595 ## Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm BR 15630 by Kate Douglas Wiggin 2 volumes High-spirited Rebecca leaves her widowed mother and six siblings at Sunnybrook Farm to live with her two spinster aunts in Riverboro. She brings zest and grace into their gloomy home and dull lives. For grades 3-6. 1903. BR 15630 ## God Went to Beauty School BR 15645 by Cynthia Rylant 1 volume Lighthearted but thought-provoking poems depicting God's exploration of the wonders and pains in the world He created. Curious about everyday human activity, God gets a dog, goes to the doctor, sees a movie, finds a job, takes a bath, and even experiences death. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2003. BR 15645 ## Messenger BR 15675 by Lois Lowry 1 volume Teenage Matty lives with blind Seer in Village, the utopia from Giver (BR 9626) and Gathering Blue (BR 15631). When the changing community wants to close itself to outsiders, Matty journeys through hostile forests to save Village's founding principles. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004. 2004. BR 15675 ## The Tears of the Salamander BR 15676 by Peter Dickinson 2 volumes Italy, 1700s. Twelve-year-old choirboy Alfredo loses his family in a fire and goes to live with his uncle Giorgio. He discovers that his uncle controls the fires of Mt. Etna in Sicily, is a sorcerer, and has sinister plans for Alfredo. For grades 6-9. 2003. BR 15676 ## Betrayal at Cross Creek: American Girl History Mysteries BR 15678 by Kathleen Ernst 1 volume North Carolina, 1775. Twelve-year-old Elspeth and her grandparents, Scottish refugees, feel torn between the warring English loyalists and the colonists. After a cousin is killed and her grandfather is arrested, Elspeth must unmask the spy in the family. For grades 4-7. 2004. BR 15678 ## The Cricket in Times Square BR 15680 by George Selden 1 volume Lost in New York City, musical country cricket Chester befriends a cat, a streetwise mouse, and young Mario, whose father owns a newsstand in the Times Square subway station. While dreaming of home Chester turns the stand into a concert hall to help the family business. For grades 3-6. Newbery Honor Book. 1960. BR 15680 ## Dog Days BR 15686 by David Lubar 1 volume Larry's summer goals include playing baseball and caring for his collection of stray dogs. These plans change when his younger brother, Paul, is frightened by an alley dog and the cost of pet food goes up. By helping Paul, Larry solves his own problems. For grades 3-6. 2004. BR 15686 ## How I Found the Strong: A Civil War Story BR 15690 by Margaret McMullan 1 volume Ten-year-old Frank Russell wishes he could join his father and older brother and fight with the Confederate Army. But hardships at home test his courage plenty and change his thinking about warfare and slavery. Some violence and some strong language. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2004. BR 15690 ## Jess and the Stinky Cowboys BR 15703 by Janice Lee Smith 1 volume When some smelly cowboys who refuse to bathe come to town while the sheriff is away, young Deputy Jess and Deputy Gussy, her aunt, must find a way to enforce the no-stink law. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2004. BR 15703 ## Evangeline Mudd and the Golden-Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle BR 15704 by David Elliott 1 volume Nine-year-old Evangeline Mudd's parents, who study primates and raise her as one, travel to the jungle alone to observe apes. When they disappear, Evangeline joins Dr. Aphrodite Pikkaflee to rescue them from the clutches of a developer. For grades 3-6. 2004. BR 15704 ## Dr. Jekyll, Orthodontist: The Zack Files BR 15712 by Dan Greenburg 1 volume While ten-year-old Zack is being treated by Dr. Jekyll, the orthodontist undergoes a strange transformation into a growling monster and Zack's teeth become more crooked. Zack and his dad decide to investigate the doctor's office. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 15712 ## Born Too Short: The Confessions of an Eighth-Grade Basket Case BR 15713 by Dan Elish 1 volume Matt, a short nerd, is envious of his best friend, Keith, who is five inches taller and a stud/athlete with plenty of girlfriends. But Matt feels guilty when his luck improves and the bad luck he wished on Keith starts happening. For grades 6-9. 2002. BR 15713 ## Indigo's Star BR 15737 by Hilary McKay 2 volumes England. After a long illness, twelve- year-old Indigo returns to school filled with dread. Encouraged by his younger sister Rose, Indigo sticks up for an American boy who has replaced him as the primary target of school bullies. Sequel to Saffy's Angel (BR 14553). For grades 4-7. 2003. BR 15737 ## Smoky the Cowhorse BR 15744 by Will James 2 volumes The life of a spirited smoke-colored horse told in the cowboy vernacular. Follows Smoky's experiences from his birth on the open range and his capture by humans to working as an outlaw rodeo star and saddle horse. For grades 6-9. Newbery Medal. 1926. BR 15744 ## ### 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