Braille Book Review November-December 1999 Volume 68, Number 6 Contents In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Braille Magazines In Brief Web-Braille System Puts Books on Line Braille readers can now access more than 2,700 grade 2 braille books on the Internet through the NLS Web-Braille system. To use the system, patrons must have Internet access and braille-aware software plus refreshable braille displays. Because access to these books is limited to people eligible for NLS services, patrons must have an identification number and a password. Interested readers should call their braille-lending library to register for their number and password. The service is accessed through the NLS home page. Selected books can be downloaded one volume at a time. The Web-Braille site is www.loc.gov/nls/braille/ The online version of Braille Book Review (BBR) will contain active links to Web-Braille files for books listed in that issue. Patrons will be able to browse through BBR, locate a title and select a volume. After the ID and password are input, the patron will be able to download the volume or read it on line. These BBR files will be added to the Web-Braille files at the rate of about forty titles a month. Newsstand The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) 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. Year 2000 Calendars Listed below are organizations that produce calendars in braille or print/braille. American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults 18440 Oxnard Street Tarzana, CA 91356 (818) 343-2022 6 x 6«-inch braille calendar. Features one page per month, a personal day page, and a listing of major holidays. Accepts orders by mail only. Free. American Printing House for the Blind (APH) P.O. Box 6085 Louisville, KY 40206-0085 (502) 895-2405 800-223-1839 website: http://www.aph.org/calendar.htm 8« x 11-inch large-print/braille sixteen-month InSights calendar. Includes holidays and moon phases. Features selected art from the APH juried competition. Accepts orders by mail or telephone. $6.50. English edition catalog #5-18971-00. Spanish edition catalog #5-18973-00. The Blind Association of Western New York 1170 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14209-0398 (716) 882-1025 (716) 882-5577 fax 5« x 8«-inch braille desk calendar with two days per page and dividers for each month. Accepts orders by mail, telephone, or prepaid. $33 for base and refills, $27.50 for refills only. Braille Institute Press c/o Braille Institute of America 741 North Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90029 (323) 663-1111, ext. 231 800-272-4553 8 x 11-inch print/braille calendar. Provided as an insert in the December issue of the Braille Mirror and the holiday issue of Expectations. A limited quantity of extras are available and can be ordered by mail or telephone. Free. John Milton Society for the Blind 475 Riverside Drive Room 455 New York, NY 10115 (212) 870-3335 (212) 870-3229 fax e-mail: order@jmsblind.org website: http://www.jmsblind.org/pubs.htm#braille 12« x 10«-inch braille calendar. Features a motto on each page. Accepts orders by mail or telephone. Free. Lutheran Mission with Blind and Visually Impaired Persons 1333 South Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122 (314) 965-9000 800-433-3954 Attn: Lynne Borchelt 8« x 11-inch braille calendar entitled Words to Live By. Features a monthly verse from the Bible. Accepts orders by mail or telephone. Free. National Braille Press Attn: Customer Service 88 St. Stephen Street Boston, MA 02115 (617) 266-6160 800-548-7323 website: http://www.nbp.org/catalogue.html 8« x 11-inch print/braille calendar in Winnie the Pooh motif. Accepts prepaid orders by mail or telephone. $10.99. TFB Publications 238 75th Street North Bergen, NJ 07047 (201) 662-0956 5« x 8 « inch braille appointment calendar with separate week at the top of each braille page. Accepts prepaid orders by mail only. $5. From TBT New Magazine NLS has resumed production of recordings of the Writer, beginning with the October 1999 issue. The audio cassette version of the Writer is available for subscribers through the NLS magazine recording program. The magazine Working Woman will no longer be included in the NLS magazine program. Subscribers to Working Woman will be notified of its removal from the NLS magazine program by mail. New Version of Web-BLND The revised online NLS Union Catalog, Web-BLND, is available through the Web-BLND link on the NLS home page (http://lcweb.loc.gov/nls). Web-BLND now has new options to limit searches, improved response times, and more frequent updates. Books for Adults The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, complete the order form and return it to your braille-lending library. Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Nonfiction Crabcakes BR 11719 by James Alan McPherson 2 volumes The Pulitzer prize-winning African American author records autobiographical episodes and meditates on their meaning. The taste of Maryland crabcakes became firmly imprinted on his consciousness during his stay in Baltimore and remained with him even when he moved to Iowa and Japan. Some strong language. 1998. No Walls of Stone: An Anthology of Literature by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Writers BR 11740 edited by Jill Jepson 2 volumes Poetry, short stories, memoirs, essays, and a play selected from works by twenty-three authors. Many of the pieces express feelings about the writers' physical conditions, which range from congenital deafness to gradual hearing loss to hearing impairment. Includes brief biographical sketches. 1992. The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary BR 11743 by Simon Winchester 2 volumes An account of the unusual circumstances leading to the friendship between the Oxford English Dictionary's editor, Dr. James Murray, and one of its most prolific contributors, Dr. W.C. Minor, an American criminal. Relates the details of Dr. Minor's crime and its aftermath and how he first began his correspondence with Dr. Murray. Bestseller 1998. Comets: Creators and Destroyers BR 11751 by David H. Levy 2 volumes The discoverer of twenty-two comets, including Shoemaker-Levy 9, describes his work and tells how "these flying balls of ice and dust have shaped the course of life on Earth." Surveys the history of comets beginning four billion years ago and describes a likely scenario for a large comet striking the earth in the future. 1998. The Merchant of Venice BR 11789 by William Shakespeare 2 volumes A five-act comedy about love, marriage, and exacting justice. Portia, disguised as a man, defends Antonio in court against Shylock, who is demanding a pound of flesh in payment for a debt. Based on the text of the 1600 quarto edition. Contains explanatory notes and an essay on the modern perspective. 1992. A History of Christian Thought: From Its Judaic and Hellenistic Origins to Existentialism BR 11798 by Paul Tillich 6 volumes In this collection of lectures originally delivered at two universities, Tillich reflects on the development of theological ideas that have remained important in the twentieth century. Topics include the trinitarian controversy, Luther's doctrines, and the Enlightenment. 1968. 1001 Things Everyone Should Know about the Universe BR 11825 by William A. Gutsch 4 volumes Facts and comments about the solar system, including chapters on the sun, the moon, stars, black holes, and the search for extraterrestrial life. For senior high and older readers. 1998. A Passion for Wisdom: A Very Brief History of Philosophy BR 11838 by Robert C. Solomon and Kathleen M. Higgins 2 volumes Portrays the evolution of philosophical ideas and trends from ancient times to postmodern thinking, which arose after World War II. Traces the development of key ideologies and movements, explaining their meanings, relationships, and historical significance. 1997. Great Careers for People Interested in Communications Technology BR 11842 by Julie Czerneda and Victoria Vincent 1 volume Discusses careers available in the field of communication including mapmaker, Internet marketer, systems analyst, microwave dish installer, and teacher. Describes typical workdays, duties involved, getting started in the field, and writing a resum‚. For junior and senior high readers. 1996. Great Careers for People Fascinated by Government and the Law BR 11843 by Anne Marie Males 1 volume Discusses careers available in government and law, including police officer, law librarian, forensic technician, and foreign service officer. Describes day-to-day activities, training needed, and related fields. Includes sample application letters and interview tips. For junior and senior high readers. 1996. Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays BR 11853 by Leigh Eric Schmidt 4 volumes A social study of the origin and evolution of U.S. holidays into highly commercialized events that clash with religious practices and the original intent. Includes chapters on Christmas and Easter, and covers Mother's, Father's, and St. Valentine's Days, as well as Halloween. Provides brief information on recent innovations such as Kwanzaa and Earth Day. 1995. Clueless in the Kitchen: A Cookbook for Teens BR 11857 by Evelyn Raab 2 volumes Two hundred recipes based on the principle that cooking from scratch is cheaper, healthier, and tastier. Includes dishes for breakfast through dinner, desserts, snacks, and vegetarian specialties. Contains tips on stocking the pantry, shopping for fresh ingredients, food preparation and storage, and kitchen appliance maintenance. For junior and senior high readers. 1998. Feast of India BR 11868 by Rani 2 volumes More than 150 traditional recipes have been adapted to introduce Americans to Indian cuisine. Covers background information on customs, spices, and techniques. Contains recipes for complete menus from appetizers, through meat and vegetarian main dishes, to desserts and beverages. 1991. William Shakespeare: A Compact Documentary Life BR 11872 by S. Schoenbaum 4 volumes Schoenbaum presents a scholarly biography based on written records. Recounts Shakespeare's simple life story as evidenced in documents found in Stratford, where he was born, raised, and died, and in London, where he gained his livelihood. 1977. Blowing on the Changes: The Art of the Jazz Horn Players BR 11876 by Leslie Gourse 2 volumes Discusses the development of jazz from the 1900s to the 1990s. Gourse relates the story of Louis "Pops" Armstrong's rise to fame and his influence on the world of jazz. She also covers many other well-known horn players, including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Wynton Marsalis. For junior and senior high readers. 1997. Miracle Cures: Dramatic New Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Healing Powers of Herbs and Vitamins and Other Natural Remedies BR 11884 by Jean Carper 3 volumes The author discusses how natural remedies are used in various countries to lower cholesterol, sharpen memory, fight infections, and otherwise improve health. She presents evidence supporting the value of these cures, describes how they work, and offers advice on proper usage. Bestseller 1997. Partners in Independence: A Success Story of Dogs and the Disabled BR 11885 by Ed and Toni Eames 2 volumes Accounts of disabled people and their canine assistants that depict the trust, support, and bonding that typify these relationships. Recounts cases of heroic actions by dogs to save their human partners from harm, as well as examples of everyday assistance that dogs provide. 1997. Virtual Reality: Computers Mimic the Physical World BR 11886 by Sean M. Grady 2 volumes Examines the concept of virtual reality--its history and the implications for the future. Discusses virtual reality's role, as well as its drawbacks, in business, medicine, science, the military, and the entertainment industries. Includes a glossary. For senior high and older readers. 1998. Silent Spring BR 11887 by Rachel Carson 3 volumes The author criticizes large-scale use of chemical insecticides and weed killers, warning that such a policy jeopardizes the environment and damages wildlife. Contains an introduction by Vice President Al Gore. 1962. Without: Poems BR 11891 by Donald Hall 1 volume Hall recalls in poems the illness and death from leukemia of his wife, the well-known poet Jane Kenyon. He details their emotions during her struggle at forty-six to stay alive. The last section expresses his grief from missing her. 1998. Rainforests BR 11907 edited by Charles P. Cozic 2 volumes Argues that the depletion of the world's tropical rainforests has caused irreversible ecological damage. Explores the loss of biodiversity, drastic climatic changes, and the uprooting of indigenous populations. Describes the debate about the severity of these problems, especially in British Columbia and the Amazon. For senior high and older readers. 1998. Coping with PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) BR 11913 by Barbara Moe 1 volume Explains puberty, ovulation, and menstruation as well as the physical and emotional aspects of PMS. Includes sources for additional information and recipes and lifestyle changes to facilitate self-improvement. Also provides a glossary. For senior high and older readers. 1998. Coping with Migraines and Other Headaches BR 11917 by Andrea Votava 1 volume Provides a definition and discussion of headaches--types, causes, cures, and self-help techniques for alleviating them. Explores alternative as well as traditional approaches. Includes a glossary and a list of relevant organizations and web sites for further research. For senior high and older readers. 1997. Purify Your Body: Natural Remedies for Detoxing from Fifty Everyday Situations BR 11942 by Nina L. Diamond 2 volumes Explains how the different systems and parts of the body work and discusses various types of natural treatments including Chinese and Native American medicine. The author then describes how to use these healing techniques to prevent or treat fifty "toxic situations" such as caffeine addiction, PMS, prostate problems, and jet lag. 1996. First Love and Other Stories BR 11960 by Ivan Turgenev 3 volumes These three stories by the nineteenth-century Russian author are somewhat autobiographical. In "First Love," written in 1860, a father and son fall in love with the same woman. Written in 1872, "Spring Torrents" portrays a middle-aged person looking back on the folly of youth. "A Fire at Sea," written in 1883, tells of Turgenev's personal experience. 1957. A Simple Program: A Contemporary Translation of the Book Alcoholics Anonymous BR 11968 by J 2 volumes This revision of Alcoholics Anonymous, first published in 1939, uses modern language without gender or relationship assumptions. Explains alcoholism and AA's twelve-step method of recovery. In AA tradition, the author remains anonymous. 1996. How to Get a Job If You're a Teenager BR 11987 by Cindy Pervola and Debby Hobgood 1 volume Tips on job hunting address deciding what type of job to apply for, completing applications, preparing for the interview (including choosing what to wear), and interview being itself. What to expect on the first day and the proper way to quit a job are also discussed. For junior and senior high readers. 1998. Fiction Perfect Harmony BR 11575 by Barbara Wood 4 volumes Three deaths have been attributed to tainted herbal medicines produced by the biotech company Charlotte Lee inherited from her Chinese grandmother. Charlotte suspects rivals within the company. Her ex-boyfriend, a computer genius, arrives from England to assist in catching the infiltrators before the FDA closes the business. 1998. The Rise of Endymion BR 11631 by Dan Simmons 7 volumes Aenea comes of age in this sequel to Endymion (BR 11481). The Pax forms an alliance with the TechnoCore and declares war on the threatening Ousters. The Pax is also looking for Aenea, who is currently on Earth preparing to outwit the Pax and the Core with her lover, Raul Endymion. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1997. Full Dress Gray BR 11711 by Lucian K. Truscott 3 volumes In this sequel to Dress Gray (BRA 16533), Ry Slaight returns to West Point thirty years after he graduated, this time as the new superintendent. On his first day on the job, a young woman cadet dies on parade. During the ensuing investigation, Slaight's daughter Jacey, also a cadet, helps uncover a conspiracy involving students and officers. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998. Tell Me Lies BR 11712 by Jennifer Crusie 3 volumes After finding crotchless underpants in her husband's car, Maddie Faraday decides to get revenge by seducing recently returned C.L. Sturgis, with whom she had a one-night stand in high school. Then Maddie's husband disappears before she can divorce him and the town suspects she murdered him. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1998. The Distinguished Guest BR 11713 by Sue Miller 2 volumes Activist author Lily Maynard, in her eighties, is in failing health and must live in her son's home until she can move into a retirement community. Her acclaimed memoirs have brought her notoriety, but they also force her family to face their pain. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1995. The Education of Oscar Fairfax BR 11721 by Louis Auchincloss 2 volumes The life and times of blueblood lawyer Oscar Fairfax, from his turn-of-the-century education at the best schools to his years as a member of his father's law firm. Observing the social scene around him, Oscar tries to lead an exemplary life. Some descriptions of sex. 1995. The Atonement and Other Stories BR 11723 by Louis Auchincloss 2 volumes Twelve short stories concerning morality among the upper classes. In the title story, a lawyer-turned-broker is in legal trouble caused by insider trading. "The Last Great Divorce" finds a formerly disgraced divorc‚e confronted with her daughter's divorce years later. Some strong language. 1997. The Hunt Club BR 11725 by Bret Lott 2 volumes Fifteen-year-old Huger Dillard and his blind uncle Leland discover a murdered man on their land. The two run a hunt club for the wealthy men of Charleston to patronize on weekends. Within days the Dillard family is threatened and kidnapped by men who want to possess what the Dillards own. Some violence and some strong language. 1998. Complete Stories BR 11791 by Dorothy Parker 5 volumes Forty-eight stories and nine sketches written between 1920 and 1958 by the literary magazine writer and founder of the Algonquin Round Table. In these stories, Parker often writes about those who cannot extricate themselves from the unsuccessful personal relationships in which they are involved. She also depicts the effects of poverty on people who received little or no education. 1995. American Woman BR 11794 by R. Garcia y Robertson 4 volumes After witnessing the Civil War, young Quaker Sarah Kilory, dsperate to earn a living, goes out west to teach. Falling in love with an Oglala Sioux warrior, she becomes his second wife. Sarah, renamed American Woman, sees the destruction of the native way of life culminating with the battle at Little Big Horn. Some violence and some descriptions of sex. 1998. Detective Duos BR 11828 edited by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini 5 volumes Following their introduction in which the editors discuss the many combinations of detective duos in fiction, this husband-and-wife team offers twenty-five works covering the broad spectrum of mysteries both in historical development and in types of partnerships. Each story includes a brief introduction and offers suggested titles for further reading. 1997. Murder and Other Acts of Literature: Twenty-four Unforgettable and Chilling Stories by Some of the World's Best-Loved, Most Celebrated Writers BR 11847 edited by Michele Slung 3 volumes Short mysteries by such diverse authors as Edith Wharton, John Cheever, Naguib Mahfouz, and Alice Walker. In "Miss Forbes's Summer of Happiness," a governess is killed, apparently in a fit of passion. In "The Johore Murders," someone is eliminating expatriates as they prepare to leave for home. Violence and some strong language. 1997. So Big BR 11869 by Edna Ferber 3 volumes A farm woman's indomitable spirit and quick response to beauty are unquenched by years of hardship--all for the sake of her son. Pulitzer Prize. Originally published in 1924. 1995. Reckless Homicide BR 11874 by Ira Genberg 3 volumes Since his daughter's painful death, Charlie has needed pills in order to cope. When a failed drug test gets him fired from his pilot's job, he begs his brother Michael, the airline's attorney, for help. A horrible plane crash occurs, and Michael is charged with reckless homicide for helping Charlie. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1998. Mirror Image BR 11878 by Danielle Steel 4 volumes Born in 1893 and now in their twenties, identical twins Olivia and Victoria Henderson are often mistaken for one another. But reliable Olivia has always rescued the adventurous Victoria from her escapades. Then Victoria gets herself into a scrape from which Olivia can't save her unless they trade identities. Bestseller 1998. Tobacco Road BR 11889 by Erskine Caldwell 2 volumes The famous saga, first published in 1932, of Jeeter Lester and his shiftless family. Their ribald adventures along Tobacco Road, once a flourishing plantation, attract a lusty preacher, Sister Bessie. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1995. Murder at the Watergate BR 11890 by Margaret Truman 3 volumes While Mac and Annabel Smith attend a fund-raiser for Vice President Joseph Aprile at the Watergate, a Mexican union organizer is killed in the garage. A few days later, a researcher for the Mexican Initiative is pushed from the Watergate's roof. The Smiths soon head to Mexico to investigate a connection between the deaths and financial investments in Aprile's campaign. Some strong language. 1998. True North: A Novel of the Underground Railroad BR 11892 by Kathryn Lasky 2 volumes Narrative alternating between Bostonian Lucy Bradford and Afrika, a Virginia slave, tells how the lives of the two fourteen-year-olds were affected by the Underground Railroad. Lucy recounts her family's preparation for a wedding and her special relationship with her grandfather, while Afrika describes her difficult journey north. For junior and senior high readers. 1996. A Death in the Family BR 11893 by James Agee 3 volumes A modern classic about the impact of tragedy on a close-knit family in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the early twentieth century. The story begins a few hours before the death of Jay Follet and ends on the day of his funeral. Strong language. Pulitzer Prize. 1957. The Garden of the Finzi-Continis BR 11901 by Giorgio Bassani 2 volumes A fictionalized account of a moody and tragic Jewish youth in Italy just before the rise of Hitler. Portrays his relationship with Micol, the beautiful and pampered daughter of the Finzi-Continis, the richest and most important Jewish family in the town of Ferrara. 1977. Wuthering Heights BR 11902 by Emily Bront‰ 3 volumes (Reissue) This classic nineteenth-century English novel, set in the wild moor country of Yorkshire, is about Heathcliff, a foundling raised in the Earnshaw home, who passionately loves Catherine. He dedicates his life to the realization of that love and revenge on those who oppose him. First published in 1847. 1997. The Way to Bright Star BR 11903 by Dee Brown 3 volumes At the turn of the century, Ben Butterfield looks back on his years as a young boy during the Civil War. Along with wagon master John Hawkes, Ben and animal handler Hadjee drive two camels captured by a Yankee captain from Texas to Bright Star, Indiana. They encounter many hardships, and Ben loses his heart to a young adventurer. 1998. Snow Falling on Cedars BR 11904 by David Guterson 3 volumes Set on an island in Puget Sound after World War II. Carl Heine has drowned, and fellow fisherman Kabuo Miyamoto is accused of murder. Covering the trial is a local reporter who was the defendant's wife's first love. As the trial begins, the entire once-peaceful community is tense with suspicion and prejudice. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. PEN/Faulkner Award. 1994. The Women of Brewster Place: A Novel in Seven Stories BR 11906 by Gloria Naylor 2 volumes Seven women live on Brewster Place. Each has a story that is uniquely hers but that also touches the concerns of the other Brewster Place women and of women everywhere. A commentary on the experience of black women in the United States. Some strong language. National Book Award 1983. 1982. The Catcher in the Rye BR 11909 by J.D. Salinger 2 volumes (Reissue) As Christmas vacation begins, Holden Caulfield recounts his feelings and reactions to flunking out of Pencey, his third prep school. Instead of heading straight home, he wanders around New York City. This account of his adventures conveys his dismay at the adult world. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1945. Blanche Cleans Up BR 11910 by Barbara Neely 3 volumes When Blanche White reluctantly agrees to fill in as housekeeper for a vacationing friend, she encounters a family in chaos. Mr. Brindle's campaign for governor is disrupted by a murder and a suicide in his household. Some of his African American supporters are particularly scornful and suspicious of Blanche. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1998. Prisoner of Time BR 11916 by Caroline B. Cooney 1 volume In this sequel to Out of Time (BR 10804), sixteen-year-old Devonny Stratton is being forced to marry a titled Englishman in the nineteenth century. She escapes this fate by time-travelling to the 1990s. Reluctantly assisting her is the brother of the twentieth-century girl who helped Devonny's brother, Strat, in the prequel. For junior and senior high readers. 1998. Angels Watching Over Me BR 11918 by Lurlene McDaniel 1 volume While her mother is honeymooning in Japan with husband number five, sixteen-year-old Leah is in the hospital undergoing tests. After a frightening diagnosis, she finds comfort in her young Amish roommate, Rebekah; Rebekah's appealing brother Ethan; and a mysterious night nurse. Prequel to Lifted Up by Angels (BR 11919). For junior and senior high readers. 1996. Lifted Up by Angels BR 11919 by Lurlene McDaniel 1 volume In this sequel to Angels Watching Over Me (BR 11918), Leah is seventeen, her bone cancer is miraculously in remission, and she chooses to spend her summer working in a town near the Amish friends she met at the hospital. Her feelings for Ethan increase, but the reality of their differences is always present. For junior and senior high readers. 1997. Until Angels Close My Eyes BR 11920 by Lurlene McDaniel 1 volume In this sequel to Lifted Up by Angels (BR 11919), Leah, whose own cancer is still in remission, is shocked to learn that her stepfather has had cancer and it has now returned. Ethan, the young Amish man she loves, leaves his home to help her through this troubling time. For junior and senior high readers. 1998. Democracy: An American Novel BR 11939 by Henry Adams 2 volumes This realistic novel centers on the relationship between a young hostess and a powerful politician. Portrays the political society of Washington during President Ulysses S. Grant's second administration. 1880. The Haunting BR 11941 by Joan Lowery Nixon 2 volumes When Lia's great-grandmother dies, she leaves an old family plantation home to Lia's mother. An ancestor's diary describes the house as haunted. But Lia's parents are determined to fill the place with adopted children. Timid Lia, then, feels it her responsibility to drive the ghost away. For junior and senior high readers. 1998. The Wapshot Chronicle BR 11943 by John Cheever 3 volumes Follows the fortunes of the Wapshot family of St. Botolphs, a mythical New England seaport. Old Captain Leander Wapshot is in love with his ferryboat, which he keeps losing and regaining. An eccentric aunt wants to give Leander's sons a fortune--if they marry and produce heirs. Some strong language. 1957. Hunted Down: The Detective Stories of Charles Dickens BR 11945 by Charles Dickens 2 volumes Twelve stories, some featuring well-known characters such as Inspector Bucket and his wife, from Bleak House (BR 11645), and Mr. Nadgett, from Martin Chuzzlewit (BR 10218). Dickens's work as a law clerk and reporter and his attendance at trials, executions, and nightly rounds with the police provided material for these mysteries. 1996. The Exorcist BR 11946 by William Peter Blatty 3 volumes Actress Chris MacNeil is filming a new movie in Washington, D.C. After playing with a Ouija board, her twelve-year-old daughter, Regan, begins exhibiting bizarre and macabre behaviors. Medical science doesn't help, so Chris appeals to the Catholic Church. A priest, Damien Karras, conducts an exorcism to try to rid Regan of the demon. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1971. Ronicky Doone BR 11947 by Max Brand 2 volumes Ronicky Doone helps a new friend, miner Bill Gregg, track Caroline Smith, a girl he wants to marry, to New York City. Once there the two westerners discover that she and her friend, Ruth Tolliver, are employed by a ruthless gangster. Despite overwhelming odds, Doone tries to rescue them. 1921. Zebra and Other Stories BR 11958 by Chaim Potok 1 volume Six short stories titled for the teenager portrayed. In "Zebra"--a nickname--a seriously injured boy meets a one-armed artist who teaches him more than art. In "Nava," a girl realizes that just saying no to a student drug dealer is not the end of the problem. For junior and senior high readers. 1998. The Starlite Drive-In BR 11959 by Marjorie Reynolds 3 volumes The discovery of human bones at the drive-in her father once managed recalls to forty-nine-year-old Callie Anne the summer of 1956. At thirteen, she and her agoraphobic mother are drawn to drifter Charlie Memphis, who works for her jealous father. Strong language. 1997. The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne BR 11964 by Brian Moore 2 volumes A story of loneliness and hope and what happens to a middle-aged spinster living in a Belfast boarding house when she pins all her dreams on capturing her landlady's brother. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1955. The Scarlet Pimpernel BR 11965 by Baroness Orczy 2 volumes Europe, 1792. With the republican mob in frenzy, French aristocrats are being guillotined indiscriminately. A group of British adventurers, led by the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, are spiriting innocent victims out of Paris. French agent Chauvelin arrives in England to discover the leader's true identity and enlists the help of a clever French beauty married to the foppish Sir Percy Blakeney. For senior high and older readers. 1905. Game Plan BR 11966 by Thomas J. Dygard 1 volume When Barton High School's football coach is hospitalized right before the final game of the season, the only one who can replace him is his student manager, Beano Hatton. Beano accepts the responsibility, knowing how much he has learned from the coach in three years. After devising a game plan, Beano's major hurdle is convincing the team to believe in him. For junior and senior high readers. 1993. Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories BR 11967 by Philip Roth 2 volumes The title novella, which won the National Book Award in 1960, is about a young Radcliffe girl and a Rutgers boy who learn that there is more to love than exuberance and passion. All of the stories dramatize the dilemma of American Jews torn between two worlds. Strong language. 1959. The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories BR 11972 by Agatha Christie 2 volumes Nine short stories previously unpublished in the United States culled from magazines for which the author wrote prior to her success. In the title story, an old friend prevents a family murder; in "The Edge" a romantic rival drives a cheating wife to her suicide. For senior high and older readers. 1997. Backfield Package BR 11973 by Thomas J. Dygard 1 volume Four football players at Hillcrest High make a pact to stick together and play at the same college as a "backfield package." But only Joe Mitchell, the quarterback, is recruited by a big-name school and must decide whether to keep his promise or explore all the options. For junior and senior high readers. 1992. July's People BR 11974 by Nadine Gordimer 1 volume In the aftermath of a successful black revolution, members of a white Johannesburg family--architect Bam Smales, his wife, and their three young children--have been rescued by July, their house servant of fifteen years. They are taken to July's remote family compound, where the roles of white/black dependency are reversed. 1981. Circuit of Heaven BR 11977 by Dennis Danvers 3 volumes By 2080 most humans have submitted to cremation, forsaking Earth for eternal life in the Bin, a virtual reality. Nemo chooses to stay in real time, even after his parents leave. But when he visits them on his twenty-first birthday, he falls in love. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998. Eucalyptus BR 12057 by Murray Bail 2 volumes At nineteen, Ellen has become quite a beauty. Her father has decided that the man who names all of the hundreds of eucalyptuses he owns may have Ellen's hand in marriage. But Ellen prefers a storyteller she meets in the woods. 1998. Books for Children The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, complete the order form and return it to your braille-lending library. Nonfiction Kids Knitting BR 11797 by Melanie Falick 1 volume Basic step-by-step instructions for the beginning knitter. Covers procedures and recommends materials and needle sizes. Details twelve projects, ranging from bean bags, scarves, and patchwork afghans to purses, caps, tube socks, and a pullover sweater. Each activity introduces new skills. For grades 4-7. 1998. Making Cool Crafts and Awesome Art: A Kids' Treasure Trove of Fabulous Fun BR 11860 by Roberta Gould 1 volume Projects for children to work on alone or with friends. Crafters are encouraged to be inventive: don't just follow the guidelines; use them as springboards for your own creations. Includes wreaths, apple faces, 3-D masks, and silly costumes. Some projects require adult supervision. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 1998. Duke Ellington BR 11883 by Adam Woog 2 volumes Biography of the African American composer, bandleader, and pianist whose fame began in the 1920s. Covers his childhood in Washington, D.C., his educational background, and his entry into a musical profession. Traces his career development from Harlem to world tours with his band. For grades 6-9. 1996. Falling Up BR 11899 by Shel Silverstein 1 volume A collection of brief and humorous poems featuring silly situations and a gallery of zany characters. You will see the world from "a different angle" as you meet the Terrible Toy-Eating Tookle, attend the "Rotten Convention," and visit Hungry Kid Island. For grades 2-4 and older readers. Bestseller 1996. And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African American Women BR 11905 by Tonya Bolden 2 volumes Biographies of ten African American women who managed to achieve despite social and economic roadblocks. Among them are writers, singers, athletes, and scientists. Includes Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, Leontyne Price, Toni Morrison, and others. A brief appendix lists additional people and their achievements. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1998. Pets: A Comprehensive Handbook for Kids BR 11981 by Frances N. Chrystie 2 volumes Advises on the selection of an appropriate pet, on the care of a variety of domestic and wild animals, and on health care and first aid treatment for pets. Beginning with dogs and cats, the author also discusses rabbits, mice, hamsters, caged birds, aquarium and vivarium pets, wild animals (opossums, raccoons), farm animals, ponies, and horses. For grades 4-7. 1995. Creepy Riddles BR 11991 by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg 1 volume Collection of forty-two riddles about scary, spooky things. Topics include food preferences among witches, ghosts, vampires, and sea monsters; the social lives of ghosts, werewolves, and zombies; and "physical" characteristics of ghouls and other creatures. For grades 2-4. 1998. Golem BR 12017 by David Wisniewski 1 volume A retelling of how a chief rabbi of Prague creates a giant golem of clay in 1580. The golem's task is to seek out those spreading false rumors about Jews and to turn them over to the authorities unharmed. When his job is done, the golem is to return to clay. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. Caldecott Medal. 1996. My Puppy Is Born BR 12018 by Joanna Cole 1 volume An excited girl describes the birth and first weeks in the life of her Norfolk terrier puppy. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1973. The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico BR 12021 retold by Nina Jaffe 1 volume Relates the story of how Puerto Rico became an island. In the beginning the world had no water, no green plants or trees, and no flowers. But all of that changes when a young boy finds some seeds and plants them on top of the mountain. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1996. Fiction The Milly Stories: Corpses, Carnations, the Weirdness Index, and, of Course, Aunt Gloria BR 11757 by Janice Lindsay 1 volume Milly and her uncle live alone in his funeral parlor since the recent death of Aunt Gloria, but Milly still regularly hears her aunt's comments. As Milly begins measuring her life by her new friend Josie's weirdness index, she ponders how to put her aunt to rest. For grades 5-8. 1998. The Ghost in Room 11 BR 11758 by Betty Ren Wright 1 volume Starting fourth grade in a new town, Matt Barber tries to impress his classmates by making up some wild tales. Branded a liar, Matt has no one to turn to when he encounters the ghost of a long-ago teacher who haunts the school halls. For grades 2-4. 1998. Little Women BR 11778 by Louisa May Alcott 5 volumes The author's home life in New England is the basis of this book. The tale tells of the four March sisters--quick-tempered Jo, who is restless for freedom; Beth, who loves her home and family; Meg, who longs for pretty clothes; and self-absorbed Amy. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1868. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 1 BR 11912 by C.S. Lewis 1 volume (Reissue) Four English children find their way through a huge wardrobe in an old house to the mysterious land of Narnia, which is under the spell of the White Witch. Prequel to Prince Caspian, the Return to Narnia (BR 07238). For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1950. Maura's Angel BR 11944 by Lynne Reid Banks 1 volume On her way home from her Belfast school, Maura is knocked flat by a bomb's blast. When she looks around, she is amazed to see a naked girl who looks just like her. Maura must teach this new acquaintance to walk, eat, and even sleep. In return, Maura and her family experience wonderful changes while in her presence. For grades 4-7. 1984. Out of the Dust BR 11956 by Karen Hesse 1 volume Told in free verse, an account of two years in the life of Billie Jo Kelby, who at thirteen loses her mother and new baby brother in a terrible accident for which she is partly to blame. Life in Oklahoma in the mid-1930s is difficult, and Billie Jo can no longer play the piano--her one solace in the past. She seeks a way to heal her father and herself. For grades 6-9. Newbery Medal. 1997. The Amazing Frecktacle BR 11961 by Ross Venokur 1 volume Nicholas cuts his hair and wears contacts to avoid being teased. But when a bully starts calling him "the amazing frecktacle," Nicholas knows there is nothing he can do to get rid of his 5,792 freckles. Spooky Mr. Piddlesticks disagrees, and gladly offers to unload Nicholas of the unwanted spots. For grades 3-6. 1998. While No One Was Watching BR 11963 by Jane Leslie Conly 1 volume The summer their father is working out of town, Earl, Frankie, and Angela are left with their alcoholic Aunt Lula, but she vanishes. Earl hangs out with their older cousin and begins stealing. Tagging along on one job, seven-year-old Frankie takes a pet rabbit. The hare's owner, Addie, and her friend leave their nice neighborhood to track down the thieves. For grades 6-9. 1998. River Danger BR 11969 by Thomas J. Dygard 1 volume Because Eric's father has broken his ankle, Eric, seventeen, agrees to take care of his eleven-year-old brother, Robbie, on a week-long canoe trip. The first day out the brothers encounter some suspicious men, and before the trip is over, it is Robbie who must save Eric. For grades 6-9. 1998. School Spirits BR 11970 by Michael O. Tunnell 1 volume Patrick moves to a new town with his widowed father, who has been hired as principal of Craven Hill School. While visiting the school, Patrick is contacted by the ghost of a young boy asking for help. The girl next door helps terrified Patrick unravel the fifty-year-old mystery of the boy's death. For grades 3-6. 1997. Shiloh BR 11971 by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 1 volume Eleven-year-old Marty Preston takes in a runaway dog, Shiloh, when he fears that Shiloh is being abused by Judd Travers, his owner. But Marty's family cannot afford to feed another mouth, and Shiloh is returned. When the dog comes back to Marty, the boy hides him in the woods and builds a mountain of lies that crumbles and compromises everyone. For grades 4-7. Newbery Medal. 1991. Old Yeller BR 11976 by Fred Gipson 1 volume 1860s Texas. Fourteen-year-old Travis at first resents the big, yellow stray dog that hangs around his home, but he comes to love and depend on him. With his father away on a cattle drive, Travis is the man of the house and looks to Old Yeller for help and protection. For grades 5-8. 1956. The Storyteller's Beads BR 11985 by Jane Kurtz 1 volume When Ethiopian villagers are forced to flee toward Sudan, two young girls from different backgrounds learn to rely on each other. Sahay is from a Christian family, while Rahel is Jewish and blind. Sahay's offer to lead Rahel through the desert is the beginning of their friendship. For grades 5-8. 1998. The Little Engine That Could BR 12016 by Watty Piper 1 volume When a train carrying good things for children breaks down, only the little engine offers to help, and everyone wonders if she can pull the train over the mountain. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1930. The Lost Horse: A Chinese Folktale BR 12019 retold by Ed Young 1 volume A Chinese man named Sai, his son, and his horse illustrate that first impressions of events are not always correct. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1998. How the Grinch Stole Christmas BR 12020 by Dr. Seuss 1 volume The Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, tries to abolish Christmas by stealing all the presents from the people in the valley. For grades K-3. 1957. Child of Faerie, Child of Earth BR 12022 by Jane Yolen 1 volume One Hallow's Eve a human child goes to the forest where she meets a faerie child. They have a lovely time together sharing in each other's world, but neither wants to give up familiar surroundings. They exchange friendship gifts, and now and then, as the years go by, they visit one another. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1997. Happy Birthday, Josefina! A Springtime Story BR 12052 by Valerie Tripp 1 volume Josefina will soon be ten, and her family has several things to celebrate. Josefina begins raising a baby goat and helping her godmother Tˇa Magdalena--a healer. It looks like Josefina may be a healer, too. Sequel to Josefina's Surprise (BR 11393). For grades 2-4. 1998. 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 sends 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 (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6]) Harper's (literary; monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter; monthly) Inside Sports (monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues) Muse (for children; 6 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 (monthly) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 26 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