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Home > Talking Book Topics > November-December, 2003

NLS: Talking Book Topics

November-December 2003

In Brief

New technical circular

NLS has published a new technical circular, Audio Technology Initiatives (03-02), summarizing progress in the production, storage, and delivery of digital talking books and in other applications of digital technology.

Student financial aid guide available

The U.S. Department of Education now has available an updated audio recording on compact disc that provides information about federal student aid to students who are blind or visually impaired. The guide covers federal grants, loans, and work- study programs, as well as non-federal sources of aid. Students can request one or more copies of the free guide by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll free at 1-800-433-3243.

Park Service offers access pass

The National Park Service makes available to United States citizens or permanent residents who are blind or permanently disabled a lifetime entrance pass to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. The Golden Access Passport admits the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee; where a per person entrance fee is charged, the pass admits the pass holder, spouse, and children.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a fifty percent discount on federal use fees charged for many facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. The pass may be obtained by showing proof of medically determined permanent disability or eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law. It must be obtained in person at a federal area (national park, historic site, wildlife refuge, etc.) where an entrance fee is charged.

The National Park Service portal "Visit Your Parks" at may be used to locate a convenient park service site. It is recommended that visitors telephone the site to inquire about pass availability and required documentation before traveling.

Books for Adults

Cassettes Nonfiction

Dating and Sex: Defining and Setting Boundaries      RC 53575
by Judith Peacock
read by Robin Miles
1 cassette
Defines healthy relationships and dating to teenagers and young adults and outlines the challenges and benefits of exclusive commitments. Explains the risks of sexual activity and ways to handle a breakup. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

A History of Britain, Vol. 2: The Wars of the British 1603-1776      RC 54017
by Simon Schama
read by George Holmes
5 cassettes
In the second part of A History of Britain (RC 51466), the author covers the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries including the Stuart dynasty, civil wars, Oliver Cromwell, the subjugation of Ireland and other overseas ventures, and the loss of the American colonies. Companion to the BBC/History Channel television series. 2001.

Plane Insanity: A Flight Attendant's Tales of Sex, Rage, and Queasiness at 30,000 Feet      RC 54071
by Elliott Hester
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
A flight attendant relates tales of bad behavior aloft from his sixteen-year career. Includes bizarre accounts of "mechanical delays, flight cancellations, boarding fiascoes, ballistic passengers," unlikely amorous encounters, and out-of-control intoxication. In Hester's world, "Seeing Eye dogs are some of the best passengers." Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen      RC 54276
by Nicholas Clapp
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Author of The Road to Ubar (RC 46271) describes his travel adventures while investigating the cultural and historical mysteries surrounding the Queen of Sheba. Clapp's quest takes him from Canterbury Cathedral to a Czech alchemist's tower. He also ventures into Jerusalem, where the queen appeared before King Solomon, and into Ethiopia. 2001.

Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters      RC 54337
by Daniel Wallace
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Biographies of the galaxy's key heroes and villains that play major roles in the midst of the apocalyptic Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Includes personalities from the films The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. For junior and senior high and older readers. Bestseller 2002.

The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World RC 54353
by Bjorn Lomborg
read by Butch Hoover
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Statistics professor and former Greenpeace member from Denmark uses statistics to dispute doomsday prophecies of the Green movement. Contends that the claims of many environmental activists regarding species extinction, deforestation, depletion of resources, starvation, waste disposal, and global warming are not proved by science. Also argues that well-intended government policies may have deleterious outcomes. 2001.

Folklore and the Sea      RC 54582
by Horace Palmer Beck
read by John Horton
4 cassettes
A collection of maritime traditions, legends, beliefs, and superstitions about shipbuilding, weather, mermaids, sea monsters, specter ships, and related topics. Includes a selection of songs and chanteys. 1973.

The Kennedy Men, 1901-1963: The Laws of the Father      RC 54584
by Laurence Leamer
read by Ralph Lowenstein
8 cassettes in 2 containers
History of the Kennedy men analyzes the successes and failures of their public and private lives. Describes the career of Joseph P. Kennedy and his influence on his sons, including their roles in current events until JFK's assassination. Companion to The Kennedy Women (RC 40698). 2001.

London: The Biography      RC 54610
by Peter Ackroyd
read by Graeme Malcolm
6 cassettes
From the author of Dickens (RC 33271) and Blake (RC 44809) among others, a chronicle of the British capital from the time of the Druids, exploring its history, transformations, and monumental events like the Great Plague, the Great Fire, and the Blitz. Includes anecdotes about celebrated residents, everyday life, and distinctive neighborhoods. 2000.

Milking the Moon: A Southerner's Story of Life on This Planet      RC 54656
by Eugene Walter
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Southern writer Eugene Walter (1921-1998) recounts his life among interesting people like Federico Fellini and Dylan Thomas and in exciting places such as New York, Paris, and Rome. A master storyteller, Walter renders his experiences and observations in his unique, colorful style. Some strong language. 2001.

Shakey: Neil Young's Biography      RC 54664
by Jimmy McDonough
read by Steven Carpenter
5 cassettes
Life and times of rock musician Neil Young, who was born in Canada in 1945 and developed both polio and epilepsy as a child. Focuses on the years between 1966 and 1979, when the songwriter-guitarist worked with such influential bands as Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Strong language. 2002.

The Art of Eating      RC 54667
by M.F.K. Fisher
read by Faith Potts
6 cassettes
Collected edition of this food writer's first five books: Serve It Forth, Consider the Oyster, How to Cook a Wolf, The Gastronomical Me, and An Alphabet for Gourmets. Combination of memoirs, recipes, and observations. 1990.

My Wars Are Laid Away in Books: The Life of Emily Dickinson      RC 54673
by Alfred Habegger
read by Faith Potts
5 cassettes
A biography of the reclusive American poet, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). While recognizing her peculiarities, the author discusses her as both a woman of her era and a timeless artist. Examines the documentary record and the chronology of her writing to portray Dickinson as she evolved. 2001.

Journey to Portugal: In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture      RC 54681
by José Saramago
read by Peter Gil
4 cassettes
The experiences and observations of the 1998 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature as he traveled through his homeland Portugal in 1979. This memoir of the six-month trip describes Saramago's search for the essence of his country. 2000.

Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis: The Scientifically Proven Program That Allows People with Arthritis to Take Charge of Their Disease RC 54708
by Miriam E. Nelson and others
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
The author of Strong Women Stay Young (RC 46865) and other "strong women" titles discusses osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Explains how to reduce the pain with exercise, nutrition, medication, complementary therapy, and/or joint replacement surgery. 2002.

Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot: Unleashing Your Brain's Potential RC 54735
by Richard Restak
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Neuropsychiatrist and author of Older and Wiser (RC 47348) advocates exercising the brain to improve its performance. Explains how the brain works and offers specific steps to improve cognitive skills, memory, and concentration. Among his recommendations are listening to music, reducing stress, and taking regular physical exercise. 2001.

Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony      RC 54743
by Lee Miller
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
Anthropologist proposes a solution to the historical mystery of the 1587 disappearance of 116 English colonists from the island of Roanoke, off the North Carolina coast. Postulates their betrayal to Sir Walter Raleigh's enemies and a conspiracy to hide their fate. Invokes evidence from Native American sources of sightings of European captives. 2000.

Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed      RC 54748
by Gretchen Becker
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
A "patient-expert" guides others in understanding the condition of adult-onset diabetes including the proper use of diet and exercise, testing, medication, insurance issues, emotional concerns, and relevant Internet sites. 2001.

The American Horticultural Society Gardening Manual      RC 54756
read by Butch Hoover
6 cassettes
Practical, hands-on advice on every aspect of gardening from design and planning to planting and maintenance. Discusses flowers, lawns, and vegetables. Includes information on constructing decks, patios, fences, ponds, and other yard features. 2000.

A Woman's Education      RC 54759
by Jill Ker Conway
read by Suzanne Toren
1 cassette
This third volume of Conway's memoirs covers her decision to accept the presidency of Smith College in 1975 and her ten-year term as the first woman president of this venerable women's school. She discusses the issues she confronted there and the stresses of her personal life. Sequel to True North (RC 39108). 2001.

Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family      RC 54760
by John H. Davis
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
An account of fifty years of one of New York's five Cosa Nostra families. Uses anecdotes and trial transcripts to trace the establishment of the Gambino clan's crime syndicate. Concludes with the successful prosecution of top boss John Gotti by Rudolph Giuliani in 1992. Violence and strong language. 1993.

Safari      RC 54769
edited by Marc Maurer
read by Conrad Feininger
1 cassette
Nine personal accounts, edited by the president of the National Federation of the Blind, in which blind people explain the need to be perceived as ordinary human beings. Includes accounts by a scoutmaster who hikes the Grand Canyon and a college student who barters his ironing ability for rides. 2001.

Why I Am a Catholic      RC 54804
by Garry Wills
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
The author of Papal Sin (RC 50273) explains why he remains a Catholic. He describes his experiences growing up Catholic, then provides a history of the papacy and explains how its acceptance can be integrated with the Apostles' Creed, which Wills calls the foundation of the faith. Bestseller 2002.

The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island      RC 54823
by Linda Greenlaw
read by Norma Lana
2 cassettes
Author of The Hungry Ocean (RC 48530) relates her return to the family's island home in Maine to a life of lobstering. Describes the events and people involved in a typical season. Interweaves lobster lore with anecdotes, while reexamining her career and lifestyle choices. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Profiles in Courage for Our Time      RC 54830
edited by Caroline Kennedy
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Distinguished journalists' biographical accounts of fourteen recipients of the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award, established in 1990 and presented annually to elected officials who exemplify the courage to do what they believe is right for the country. Includes stories on John McCain, Gerald R. Ford, and the Irish peacemakers. Bestseller 2002.

Snobbery: The American Version      RC 54831
by Joseph Epstein
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
This perusal of snobbery in the United States examines "its perplexities and its perils, its complications, and not least its comedy." The essayist assesses his own snobbism in particular and society's in general, while discussing how it works and its overall appeal. Bestseller 2002.

Legendary Lighthouses: The Companion to the PBS Television Series RC 54886
by John Grant and Ray Jones
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Celebrates American lighthouses as travel destinations, navigational aids, and historic monuments. Presents information on the technology of these beacons, focusing on the people who lived and worked in them and on the preservationists. Describes sites from Maine to Florida and from California to the Great Lakes. 1998.

Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football      RC 54893
by Richard Whittingham
read by David Toney
3 cassettes
Traces the evolution of the sport, describing the legendary players and coaches who dominated college football through the decades. Also chronicles traditional team rivalries and the greatest football games ever played. Based on an ESPN television documentary. Foreword by Roger Staubach. 2001.

Honus Wagner: The Life of Baseball's "Flying Dutchman"      RC 54902
by Arthur D. Hittner
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Biography of John Peter "Honus" Wagner (1874-1955), a legendary shortstop who was also known as the "Flying Dutchman." Discusses his career as a player and coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates and his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. 1996.

Ghosts of Mississippi: The Murder of Medgar Evers, the Trials of Byron De La Beckwith, and the Haunting of the New South      RC 54911
by Maryanne Vollers
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Examines the struggle by Mississippi state prosecutors to convict white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith of murdering black civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963. Vollers describes the social, political, and legal turmoil surrounding this case, which took thirty years--and three trials--to resolve. Some strong language. 1995.

On the Job: How to Make It in the Real World of Work      RC 54919
by Stephen Viscusi
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
The head of a job placement agency and host of a radio show that examines work-related problems addresses the psychology and reality of the day-to-day marketplace. Uses anecdotes to offer practical advice on organizational skills, office relationships, communication, fraternization, and other topics. 2001.

The Cell: Inside the 9/11 Plot, and Why the FBI and CIA Failed to Stop It RC 54920
by John Miller and Michael Stone
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Investigative reporters (John Miller interviewed Osama bin Laden in 1998) chronicle the investigation of Islamist terrorist cells by police, the FBI, and the CIA begun in the late 1980s. Highlights how political concerns that followed the 1993 World Trade Center bombing contributed to the failure to deter the militants. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II      RC 54923
by Robert Lacey
read by Anne Flosnik
4 cassettes
Overview of the monarchy of Great Britain from Queen Victoria in the nineteenth century to Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002. Explores the crown's uneasy relationship with the press and Elizabeth's endurance of criticism over the misbehavior of members of her family. 2002.

In Search of America      RC 54926
by Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster
read by Peter Johnson
4 cassettes
Two broadcast journalists identify basic ideas that have defined American character. Each of six case studies from different parts of the country brings into focus a key theme: race, government, business, immigration, religion, and culture. Examines how the principles on which our country was founded have withstood the test of time. 2002.

Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage      RC 54927
by Noah Andre Trudeau
read by Bill Wallace
5 cassettes
Chronicle of the crucial three-day Civil War battle in which Robert E. Lee's plan to destroy the Federal army was thwarted. Begins in mid-May 1863 at Chancellorsville and follows the Army of Northern Virginia through Lee's retreat from Gettysburg. Uses primary sources to present the viewpoints of officers, enlisted men, and civilians. 2002.

Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism      RC 54932
by Sean Hannity
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Radio and television commentator offers examples of liberal policies since the 1960s that have led to the demise of American values and traditions and, ultimately, to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Bestseller 2002.

Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy      RC 54935
by Jane Leavy
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
The Brooklyn-born ace pitcher's biography, as well as a social history of baseball. Sandy Koufax "distinguished himself by what he did on the baseball field and by what he refused to do." He is remembered for striking for more pay and for sitting out on Yom Kippur in 1965. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World after September 11 RC 54937
by Thomas L. Friedman
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign affairs journalist for the New York Times presents his columns and diary entries concerning the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath. This "word album" covers his experiences and encounters with people in Afghanistan, Israel, Europe, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. Bestseller 2002.

A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana      RC 54946
by Haven Kimmel
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Memoir of growing up in the late 1960s and 1970s in a mid-American hamlet of three hundred people. Nicknamed "Zippy" after a fast-moving chimpanzee on TV, the author recounts childhood incidents involving her family, best friend Julie, and school. In the process she describes her community. Bestseller 2001.

Fodor's Exploring Canada      RC 54992
by Tim Jepson
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
Brief description of the history and culture of the world's second largest country, America's northern neighbor. Offers travel highlights including where to stay, what to see, where to eat, getting around, and trips on and off the beaten path. 2001.

Leadership      RC 55051
by Rudolph W. Giuliani
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Drawing on anecdotes from his experiences as a trial lawyer and federal prosecutor, Giuliani describes the strategies and qualities that enabled him to spearhead New York City's revitalization during eight years as mayor. Also details his role during the catastrophic September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed      RC 55063
by Patricia Cornwell
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Author of the Kay Scarpetta mysteries uses forensics to try to determine the true identity of the 1888 London serial killer Jack the Ripper. Reconstructing the case and its context, Cornwell charges painter Walter Sickert with the much-disputed mutilation murders of prostitutes. Violence and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Black Mass: The Irish Mob, the FBI, and a Devil's Deal      RC 55068
by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Investigative journalists expose FBI corruption. In 1975 Boston FBI agent John Connolly began using Irish mobster Jim "Whitey" Bulger as an informant. Though Bulger committed outrageous crimes, the state police and federal drug agents were never able to get a conviction, and authorities became suspicious of a fix. Violence and strong language. 2000.

Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder      RC 55070
by John Gilmore
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Investigation of the infamous 1947 Hollywood murder of an aspiring starlet. Nicknamed the "Black Dahlia" by her party crowd, Elizabeth Short was twenty-two when she was killed. Traces her life and that of the main suspect, who was never convicted. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1994.

Eleven Seconds: A Story of Tragedy, Courage, and Triumph      RC 55075
by Travis Roy
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Hockey player Travis Roy was paralyzed and left a quadriplegic almost immediately after taking to the ice in his first collegiate game at Boston University in 1995. He describes his rehabilitation, supportive family, and eventual return to school in a wheelchair. For senior high and older readers. 1998.

West of Kabul, East of New York: An Afghan American Story      RC 55076
by Tamim Ansary
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Memoir exploring the author's bicultural heritage and his feelings about Islam. The son of an Afghan father and American mother, Ansary describes his childhood in Afghanistan, moving to the United States at sixteen, and subsequent identity crisis. Discusses his travels through the Muslim Middle East as an adult. Some strong language. 2002.

Understanding Hepatitis      RC 55078
by James L. Achord
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
A physician explains different types of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) including the most prevalent: A, B, and C. Covers the function of the liver; the disease's signs, symptoms, and causes; and care, treatment, and research. 2002.

K-19: The Widowmaker; the Secret Story of the Soviet Nuclear Submarine RC 55090
by Peter Huchthausen
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
In a companion volume to the movie of the same name, a retired U.S. Navy captain describes the nuclear meltdown aboard a Soviet submarine in 1961. Uses first-person accounts to describe the efforts of the crew to avert disaster in this and other Soviet maritime accidents during the Cold War. 2002.

Bringing Up Boys      RC 55094
by James Dobson
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Child psychologist and the author of Dare to Discipline (RC 23722) and other books offers advice on raising sons in a moral atmosphere. Discusses the differences between bringing up boys and girls, the role of fathers, single parenting, homosexuality, discipline, school issues, and social trends. 2001.

Hurrah for My New Free Country      RC 55099
by Leon Charles Fouquet
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Narrative from the journals and letters of a Frenchman who immigrated to Kansas in 1868 at age eighteen. His experiences reflect the difficulties of a pioneer family--railroad swindles, conflict with Indians, crop failures, and finally moving on for a fresh start in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. 1990.

When the Road Turns: Inspirational Stories by and about People with MS RC 55104
edited by Margot Russell
read by MaryBeth Wise
2 cassettes
Seventeen essays describe how people deal with having multiple sclerosis (MS). The editor remembers the changes in her life as she climbs Machu Picchu. Single father Dave Perez lives for his children, while Gary Lavenson has found acceptance by participating in an experimental program. Prologue by Montel Williams. 2001.

A Taste-Berry Teen's Guide to Managing the Stress and Pressures of Life: With Contributions from Teens for Teens      RC 55105
edited by Bettie B. Youngs and Jennifer Leigh Youngs
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Describes how to deal with stress by employing coping and prevention skills. Includes stories by teens who are experiencing problems with family, friends, and other loved ones. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2001.

Breaking Point      RC 55112
by Suzy Spencer
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
True-crime writer's record of the case of Andrea Yates, a thirty-six-year-old Houston, Texas, housewife who deliberately drowned her five children, aged six months to seven years, in June 2001. Recounts events that led up to the murders and describes the subsequent trial. Discusses the effect of postpartum depression on Yates's mental state. 2002.

Go To: The Story of the Math Majors, Bridge Players, Engineers, Chess Wizards, Maverick Scientists, and Iconoclasts--the Programmers Who Created the Software Revolution      RC 55113
by Steve Lohr
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
History of computer programming from FORTRAN to Java, starting in the 1950s. Captures the excitement of the open-source and free software movements and also provides biographical portraits of the most influential programmers together with descriptions of their contributions. 2001.

Inherited Risk: Errol and Sean Flynn in Hollywood and Vietnam      RC 55115
by Jeffrey Meyers
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Dual biography of actor Errol Flynn (1909-1959) and his photojournalist son Sean (1941-1971). Contends that the conflicted younger Flynn both struggled against and emulated his father's lifestyle and that the recklessness they shared led to Sean's death at twenty-nine on assignment in Vietnam. Strong language. 2002.

Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration      RC 55117
by Norman Cousins
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette (Reissue)
The author's reflections generated by his triumph over a crippling disease. Cousins investigates the chemistry of the will to live and factors influencing the capacity for self-healing. He also believes that humor and laughter, along with a strong doctor/patient relationship, aid the body's natural healing powers. 1979.

Type 2 Diabetes in Teens: Secrets for Success      RC 55120
by Jean Betschart-Roemer
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
Nurse practitioner explains health care for teens with Type 2 diabetes. Discusses social issues such as drinking, driving, substance abuse, sexuality, pregnancy, college, sports, dating, depression, and complications as they relate to the disease. Includes comments from teens and advice for parents. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2002.

The Language of Animals: Seven Steps to Communicating with Animals RC 55123
by Carol Gurney
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Animal communicator describes her HeartTalk Program, which enables humans to connect spiritually with other species. Explains how to talk with animals, find solutions to behavioral problems, relocate with your animal companion, find a lost one, and face illness and death together. 2001.

Facing Your Fifties: Every Man's Reference Guide to Mid-Life Health RC 55127
by Gordon Ehlers and Jeff Miller
read by John Hammock
4 cassettes
Medical information for middle-aged men to help increase the odds of good health in later years. Chapters address common concerns of this age group, including cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, male menopause and prostate problems, stress and depression, and sports injuries. Advises on medical testing, diet and lifestyle, and exercise. 2002.

Coping with Social Anxiety      RC 55128
by Heather Moehn
read by Morgan Duncan
1 cassette
Describes a self-consciousness disorder that can lead to impairment in social situations. Describes some social phobia causes and remedies and offers suggestions for professional help. For junior and senior high readers. 2001.

Genes, Girls, and Gamow: After the Double Helix      RC 55133
by James D. Watson
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Memoir of one of the codiscoverers of DNA's structure. Discusses his life after receiving recognition at age twenty-five for revolutionizing molecular biology. Candidly recounts his longing for love, his scientific exploits researching RNA, and his friendship with Russian physicist George Gamow. Sequel to The Double Helix (RC 51672). 2001.

Red, White, and Blue Letter Days: An American Calendar      RC 55134
by Matthew Dennis
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Professor describes the history and origin of American civic holidays and how they reflect the politics and values of this country. Includes the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. 2002.

The Best American Poetry, 2002      RC 55138
edited by Robert Creeley
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
The editor, himself a poet, chose poems that caught his fancy for unexpected insights or other ways of being this year's best. Fanny Howe's "9-11-01" is the only poem to address the terrorist catastrophe directly. Contributors' notes and comments conclude the anthology. 2002.

Patients' Rights in the Age of Managed Health Care      RC 55139
by Lisa Yount
read by Erik Synnestvedt
3 cassettes
This overview, reference book, and research guide discusses two main effects of managed health care on individuals: rising costs and the corollary fear that reducing costs will foreclose necessary care. Examines the history of federal laws applicable to health care and patients' rights, and includes an annotated list of organizations. 2001.

The Count and the Confession: A True Mystery      RC 55140
by John Taylor
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Seasoned journalist's account of the November 1992 trial and conviction of Virginia socialite Beverly Monroe for killing her lover--unscrupulous art collector and ersatz count Roger de la Burde, who was first thought to have committed suicide. Chronicles Beverly's confession and recantation, and the lingering doubt about the case. Some strong language. 2002.

The Best American Science Writing, 2002      RC 55141
edited by Matt Ridley
read by Gary Telles
4 cassettes
Anthology of twenty-one articles from science periodicals covering genetics, cloning, environmental issues, astronomy, and cosmetic surgery. In "Dr. Daedalus," Lauren Slater interviews a plastic surgeon who envisions enhancing the range of human hearing to that of owls by means of cochlear transplants. 2002.

The Best American Sports Writing, 2002      RC 55142
edited by Rick Reilly
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
Twenty-eight stories culled from magazines, newspapers, and web sites. In "Her Blue Heaven," a woman with cerebral palsy uses a head pointer to maintain a Dodgers web site; "Flesh and Blood" reports on Rae Carruth's murder trial; and "Near Death in the Afternoon" describes a bullfight. Strong language. 2002.

The Handbook of the Middle East      RC 55188
by Michael G. Kort
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Overview of the Middle East's history, geography, culture, government, and politics. Includes Egypt, Libya, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and the countries of the Arabian Peninsula: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain. For senior high and older readers. 2002.

The Hell with Love: Poems to Mend a Broken Heart      RC 55189
edited by Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Vélez
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Collection of poems spanning the stages of emotional recovery from heartbreak. Selected mainly from the work of such twentieth-century poets as Margaret Atwood, Louise Glück, Billy Collins, and Robert Frost, the sequence of topics takes us through rage, sadness, self-hatred, false hope, resolve, relapse, real hope, and moving on. 2002.

Cherry: A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard      RC 55209
by Sara Wheeler
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Chronicle of an Antarctic rescue gone wrong. In February 1912 Cherry-Garrard drove a dog team 150 miles across Antarctica's ice to rendezvous with Robert Scott's party, returning from an epic South Pole race. The men, however, had frozen to death on the homeward leg. Portrays Cherry-Garrard as haunted by his failure to rescue them. 2002.

Tell Me Why: A Father Answers His Daughter's Questions about God RC 55218
by Michael Novak and Jana Novak
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
A Catholic theologian responds to fourteen thoughtful questions posed by his daughter. The family conversation delves into the importance and variety of religions, the Bible, heaven and hell, the nature of evil, sexual matters, and other spiritual concerns. 1998.

The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman, and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945      RC 55220
by Michael Beschloss
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Historian relates the political dilemmas facing the Allies during World War II, including the future of conquered Germany. American Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. urged harsh punitive measures in retaliation for Nazi crimes against European Jews, while others sought rehabilitation and the establishment of democracy to prevent further German aggression. Bestseller 2002.

Just as I Am: Americans with Disabilities      RC 55221
by Ellen Dossett
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
Portrays forty individuals--children, teens, and adults--who live with a physical and/or mental disability. Describes their accomplishments, family perspectives, and hopes for the future. Foreword by former senator Bob Dole. 1999.

Hole in My Life      RC 55222
by Jack Gantos
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
Autobiographical account of author's youthful struggles to support himself and to overcome the effects of a prison sentence for drug smuggling. Describes his constant fear of fellow prisoners and his determination to become a writer and obtain a college degree. Strong language and some violence. For senior high readers. 2002.

Racing to Win      RC 55226
by Joe Gibbs
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Former Washington Redskins coach and current owner of two NASCAR race cars offers practical advice on establishing a "good game plan" for career, finance, team building, relationships, moral choices, and both physical and spiritual health. Uses anecdotes and Christian precepts. 2002.

Ill Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals RC 55231
by Joy Williams
read by Barbara Pinolini
1 cassette
Outspoken essays by an acclaimed fiction writer on such topics as hunting, animal rights, and the fertility industry. Williams explores the effects of our consumer culture on the environment, arguing that in order to resolve our ecological crisis, "a deep change in personal consciousness is needed." Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

Saving Monticello: The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House That Jefferson Built      RC 55234
by Marc Leepson
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
How Thomas Jefferson's mansion was restored twice by different generations of the Levy family. In 1834, Uriah Levy, a Jewish naval officer, bought Monticello and saved it from ruin. Following the Civil War, his nephew reclaimed the estate for the family. Preservationists succeeded in wresting it from private ownership in 1923. 2001.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury: Greatest Closing Arguments in Modern Law      RC 55236
by Michael S. Lief and others
read by Robert Sams
4 cassettes
Summations from ten historically significant trials. Includes Nuremberg and My Lai war crimes cases; the suit on behalf of Karen Silkwood against a nuclear plant; the Leopold-Loeb and Manson murder trials; the proceedings against civil rights leader Medgar Evers's killer; and the prosecution of the Chicago Seven. Some violence and some strong language. 1998.

Roosevelt's Secret War: FDR and World War II Espionage      RC 55237
by Joseph E. Persico
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
The author of Casey: From the OSS to the CIA (RC 32563) describes the role of President Franklin D. Roosevelt before and during World War II in establishing an intelligence agency within the American government. Discusses the work of the OSS and clandestine operations on all fronts that led to the defeat of the Axis. 2001.

The Best American Recipes 2002-2003      RC 55241
edited by Fran McCullough
read by Barbara Pinolini
3 cassettes
Collection of recipes gathered from sources such as cookbooks, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet. Selections--with hints and tips for cooks--include appetizers, soups, salads, main and side dishes, breads, desserts, and drinks. Many of the recipes give suggestions for accompanying dishes and beverages. Also presents ideas for breakfasts and brunches. 2002.

WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program      RC 55245
by Pete Earley and Gerald Shur
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
Fully documented history of the U.S. Justice Department's program to protect witnesses by giving them new identities. Focuses on its founder, Gerald Shur, a dedicated fighter against organized crime, who has been "involved with every major Mafia witness in recent history." Includes an account by a woman in the program. Some strong language. 2002.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High      RC 55247
by Kerry Patterson and others
read by Morgan Duncan
2 cassettes
Teaches the skills required to master high-stakes interactions both at home and at work. Uses anecdotes to describe how to stay focused, be persuasive, actively listen, and achieve action and results. 2002.

Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit RC 55249
by Eric L. Haney
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
First person account of becoming a warrior against terrorism in the U.S. Army's commando troops. Covers the rigorous selection process, the intense training, and the daring missions. This seasoned command sergeant major describes his assignments in hostage situations, guerrilla warfare, and rescue operations. Some strong language. 2002.

Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life      RC 55253
by Christopher Reeve
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
Christopher Reeve, quadriplegic since an equestrian accident in 1995, contemplates what a successful life comprises. Offers his thoughts on parenting, religion, advocacy, faith, recovery, and keeping a sense of humor along with hope. 2002.

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature      RC 55274
by Steven Pinker
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
MIT professor of psychology challenges the concept that the human mind is comparable to a blank slate, arguing that basic traits and tendencies are genetically inherited. Discusses the cultural damage resulting from the blank slate theory and propounds the advantages of its demise. Bestseller 2002.

The Essential Koran: The Heart of Islam; an Introductory Selection of Readings from the Qur'an      RC 55316
edited by Thomas Cleary
read by Ken Kliban
1 cassette
Modern English translation of extracts from the Qur'an, including hymns of praise, prayers, exhortations, and recitations illuminating the essence of Islam for the non-Muslim reader. Translation, introduction, and notes by Thomas Cleary. 1993.

The Bhagavad Gita as a Living Experience      RC 55321
by Wilfried Huchzermeyer and Jutta Zimmermann
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
An interpretive study of the Sanskrit spiritual text. Offers modern insight into the ancient Indian epic poem, probing its meaning, historical context, and principal characters. 2002.

Lucky      RC 55335
by Alice Sebold
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Woman's brutally honest account of her rape as an eighteen-year-old college freshman. From the crime to the courtroom, Sebold copes with the legal and emotional consequences of the profound violence that changed her life. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1999.

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do around Dogs RC 55416
by Patricia B. McConnell
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Animal behaviorist and family dog trainer uses anecdotes and research to advise owners about interacting with their pets. She explains that human behavior differs from canine behavior and may therefore be misinterpreted by the dog. She suggests modifying human signals to gain a dog's trust and cooperation. 2002.

The Great Explorers: The European Discovery of America      RC 55538
by Samuel Eliot Morison
read by Hal Tenny
5 cassettes (Reissue)
Gathers material from The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages, A.D. 500-1600 and The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages, A.D. 1492-1616 to describe the arrival of Columbus, Drake, Magellan, and others. 1978.

The Lessons of History      RC 55542
by Will Durant and Ariel Durant
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette (Reissue)
Postscript to the authors' monumental ten-volume Story of Civilization. Concludes that the phenomenon of human progress is real in the sense that each generation is born to a heritage richer than that received by its predecessors. 1968.

Our Oriental Heritage: Being a History of Civilization in Egypt and the Near East to the Death of Alexander, and in India, China, and Japan from the Beginning to Our Own Day      RC 55544
by Will Durant
read by Maurice Shroder
8 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)
Part 1 of the Story of Civilization introduces the cultural history of the Near East, the Far East, and India. 1935.

Cassettes Fiction

An Officer and a Lady and Other Stories      RC 52930
by Rex Stout
read by John Lescault
2 cassettes
Short stories dealing with the relationships between men and women by the creator of the Nero Wolfe mystery series. In the title piece a veteran burglar is surprised by the occupant of the house he robs. In "Excess Baggage" a traveling salesman finally marries but ends up in trouble. 2000.

Hole in the Sky      RC 53176
by Pete Hautman
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
by 2036, a deadly flu wipes out most of Earth's population. Ceej Kane lives with his uncle and sister at the Grand Canyon. Then they disappear. Ceej, his friend Tim, and Bella, a Hopi girl, search for them--and for a portal to another world. For senior high readers. 2001.

Augur's Teacher: Gene Roddenberry's Earth--Final Conflict, Volume 4 RC 53382
by Sherwood Smith
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
California teacher Cecilia Robin resists cooperating with the alien Taelons as well as with those who oppose them. Her independence forces her into hiding from both groups. Only Augur, computer expert and tech spy, can save her. Sequel to Requiem for Boone (RC 53381). Associated the Earth: Final Conflict television series. 2001.

The Tale of Genji      RC 53582
by Murasaki Shikibu
read by Gordon Gould
12 cassettes in 2 containers
Classic eleventh-century tale of the loves and adventures of Genji, the Shining Prince--the quintessence of medieval Japanese courtly distinction. The meticulously detailed setting recreates imperial protocol, court intrigues, festivals, and privileged artistic refinements. Royall Tyler's 2001 translation is the novel's third rendering in English. 2001.

The Sound of One Hand Clapping      RC 53674
by Richard Flanagan
read by Celeste Lawson
2 cassettes
Tasmania. A story that alternates between the 1950s and 1960s and the 1980s and 1990s, in which Sonja Buloh relates events following her mother's disappearance in 1954. Sonja describes her struggles to find peace with her abusive, drunken, Slovenian immigrant father. Strong language. 1997.

Shadow of the Hegemon      RC 53932
by Orson Scott Card
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes
Bean, the child genius from Ender's Shadow (RC 48937), is the only member of Ender's Dragon Army to escape kidnapping. In this continuation, he switches his alliance from Ender to Ender's brother, Peter. Bean's brilliant tactics enable Peter to become the Hegemon. 2000.

Murder in Hawaii      RC 53969
by Steve Allen
read by John Lescault
3 cassettes
Steve Allen and his wife, Jayne Meadows, happily travel to Honolulu to guest-star in a television series with actor Billy Markham--the son of old friends. But Markham is being stalked, and after two related drownings, Steve and Jayne attempt to discover the killer. 1999.

The Haunted Sisters      RC 54140
by Jean Plaidy
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
In this sequel to The Three Crowns (RC 39450), Britain is on the eve of the 1688 Glorious Revolution. The Protestant Stuart sisters--Mary, the queen, and Anne, the future monarch--are continually haunted by their betrayal of their Catholic father, James II, in exile in France. 1966.

Ship of Destiny: The Liveship Traders, Book 3      RC 54151
by Robin Hobb
read by Roy Avers
6 cassettes
In this seafaring fantasy saga that follows Mad Ship (RC 54150) and concludes the trilogy, Althea and Brashen continue their quest to recover the Vivacia. Their vessel, the mad ship Paragon, becomes the key link in reestablishing vital connections. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

Tom Clancy's Net Force: Point of Impact      RC 54178
by Steve Perry
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
2011. A new drug is being sold on the Internet for $1,000 per capsule. The mixture, including psychedelics, angel dust, and steroids, gives a person extraordinary powers. It is up to Net Force to find the source. Sequel to Tom Clancy's Net Force: Breaking Point (RC 51396). Strong language and some violence. 2001.

Jeremy Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1790-1791      RC 54183
by Winston Graham
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes (Reissue)
In this sequel to Demelza (RC 54182), Ross Poldark is charged with plundering two wrecked ships on the beach below his house and must appear in court on a charge of piracy. He is also shunned for his marriage to Demelza as they await the birth of their child. 1950.

Mrs. Fytton's Country Life      RC 54283
by Mavis Cheek
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
3 cassettes
Angela Fytton, superwife, mother, and businesswoman, moves to the country after her husband, Ian, dumps her for a younger woman. Hoping to break up Ian's new marriage and win him back, Angela also leaves their two unruly teenagers with the newlyweds. Some strong language. 2000.

Rules of Surrender      RC 54291
by Christina Dodd
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
London, 1840. Lady Charlotte Dalrumple is commissioned by the viscountess Ruskin to reform her young grandchildren. Lady Charlotte arrives at her position to discover her true assignment--the taming of the viscountess's wild, dangerously handsome son. By the author of Rules of Engagement (RC 54292). Descriptions of sex. 2000.

Rules of Engagement      RC 54292
by Christina Dodd
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
London, 1840. The earl of Kerrich schemes to achieve respectability by adopting an orphan and hiring an unattractive governess. The beautiful and broke Miss Pamela Lockhart disguises herself to play the part. Attraction ignites before Pamela's identity is revealed. By the author of Rules of Surrender (RC 54291). Descriptions of sex. 2000.

Rules of Attraction      RC 54293
by Christina Dodd
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
England, 1843. Hannah Setterington sells The Distinguished Academy of Governesses to follow her heart's desire. She accepts a position as companion to the aunt of Lord Raeburn, the husband she hasn't seen for nine years. A passionate reunion ensues. By the author of Rules of Engagement (RC 54292). Descriptions of sex. 2001.

Sarah: Women of Genesis, Book 1      RC 54294
by Orson Scott Card
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
First novel in the Women of Genesis trilogy. Sarah meets Abraham when she is ten and Abraham promises to return for her in ten years. Their marriage is plagued by childlessness and Sarah must have faith in Abraham's God, who has promised her a son. Followed by Rebekah (RC 54295). 2000.

A Rake's Vow      RC 54297
by Stephanie Laurens
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
1829; Northamptonshire, England. Vane Cynster is determined not to marry and even flees London to escape wedlock's trappings. Surprised, he meets his match in the beautiful and independent Patience Debbington. Wary of romance, Patience proves to be Vane's most challenging conquest. Sequel to Devil's Bride(RC 54296). Descriptions of sex. 1998.

A Secret Love      RC 54300
by Stephanie Laurens
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
1820, England. To save her family's fortune, Alathea Morwellan needs Gabriel Cynster, her childhood playmate. To keep her family's distress private, she disguises herself when she appeals to Gabriel. Charmed by the veiled woman, Gabriel longs to discover her identity. Sequel to A Rogue's Proposal (RC 54299). Descriptions of sex. 2000.

Fire Ice: A Novel from the NUMA Files      RC 54328
by Clive Cussler
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes
Kurt Austin and his forces at the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA) battle Mikhail Razov, a Russian billionaire who plans to destroy the coastal United States. Razov fires missiles in the ocean to release methane hydrate that triggers tsunamis and global warming. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Wicked Forest: The De Beers Family, Volume 2      RC 54347
by V.C. Andrews
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Willow (RC 54173), Willow moves to Florida to keep tabs on her disturbed mother and psychotic half-brother, Linden. She becomes caught up in the glamour of Palm Beach, attends college, and marries attorney Thatcher Eaton. But there is no escape from the past. 2002.

Kentucky Heat      RC 54432
by Fern Michaels
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Nealy Diamond Clay is now widowed but continues running her successful thoroughbred farm. When her adult children, Emmie and Nick, disappoint her, she disowns them. Her late husband's partner, Hatch Littletree, helps her to uncover her past and to heal emotionally. Sequel to Kentucky Rich (RC 54431). Some strong language. 2002.

In This Mountain      RC 54446
by Jan Karon
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
Father Tim Kavanagh and his wife, Cynthia, return to Mitford and renew old friendships. Father Tim, however, struggles with retirement and aging while Cynthia achieves success as a children's writer. Father Tim's failure to control his diabetes leads to near-tragedy. Sequel to A Common Life (RC 52101). Bestseller 2002.

Bad Boy Brawly Brown      RC 54452
by Walter Mosley
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
Los Angeles, 1964. Easy Rawlins, still mourning the death of his partner, Mouse, agrees to help a friend locate his stepson, Brawly, who has gotten involved in a radical political group. As Rawlins investigates, he uncovers crooked cops, shady women, robbers, and two murders. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 2002.

Dead March: A Civil War Mystery      RC 54485
by Ann McMillan
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Richmond, Virginia; 1861. On the eve of the Civil War, young widow Narcissa Powers investigates the mysterious death of her brother, a medical student. With the help of freedwoman and healer Judah Daniel and reporter Brit Wallace, she uncovers a grave robbing and murder scheme. 1998.

The Ship Who Sang      RC 54493
by Anne McCaffrey
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Born a deformed human, Helva wins the title of shellperson and her brain is transferred into the control center of an intergalactic scout ship. Traveling among the stars, she shares her missions with one normal human, and Helva finds that even a spaceship can fall in love. By the author of PartnerShip (RC 54494). 1969.

PartnerShip      RC 54494
by Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
As a brand-new member of the elite Central Worlds' Courier Service, shellperson Nancia, half human and half spaceship, undertakes her first mission, carrying a group of young aristocrats across the galaxy. She faces a dilemma when her passengers hatch a conspiracy to acquire power and wealth. By the author of The Ship Who Sang (RC 54493). Strong language. 1992.

Buttons and Beaus      RC 54521
by Margaret Brownley
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
New York City, 1880. Amanda Blackwell runs a cycling school for young ladies while caring for her mentally challenged brother. Architect Damian Newcastle, also attending to a special son, needs Amanda's property to build a twenty-story skyscraper. But Amanda holds Newcastle's father responsible for her own father's death. 1997.

The Stories of Paul Bowles      RC 54540
by Paul Bowles
read by Steven Carpenter
5 cassettes
Collection of sixty-two short stories, arranged chronologically and covering forty years of work by the late American writer (1910-1999). Bowles's stories--"The Delicate Prey," for example--often reflect clashing tribal and alien cultures in a sinister 1940s milieu where rough justice is expediently dispensed. Many of the stories are set in Morocco, where Bowles lived for decades. Some violence. 2001.

Old Men at Midnight      RC 54600
by Chaim Potok
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Linked novellas about three very different Jewish men: Noah Stremin, teenage Holocaust survivor; Leon Shertov, guest lecturer from the Soviet Union; and Benjamin Walter, memoirist. What they have in common is Ilana Davita Dinn, the woman who elicits their stories. 2001.

Love Doesn't Come Easy      RC 54647
by Charlyne Dickerson
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Jennifer Johnson is attractive, successful, and cautious when it comes to romance. When she meets Michael Maxwell, she is unprepared for the chemistry between them. Jennifer continues her quest to solve the mystery of her past, while Michael desires to be her future. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

Requiem for a Lost Empire      RC 54725
by Andrei Makine
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Follows a Russian family for three generations, from the Russian revolution to the late twentieth century. The experiences of the family's men, who are spies and soldiers, unfold against a backdrop of violent and political conflicts in their country and abroad. 2001.

In Spite of Killer Bees      RC 54734
by Julie Johnston
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
The three unconventional Quade sisters move to their disgraced, late father's hometown in Ontario after they inherit their grandfather's house--and an eccentric aunt. Fourteen-year-old Aggie wants to stay while Helen and Jeannie, being older, do not. If they leave, however, they lose their inheritance. For senior high readers. 2001.

DoOon Mode: The Mode, Book 4      RC 54742
by Piers Anthony
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
This sequel to Chaos Mode (RC 39711) provides the climax to the saga of Colene, who finally confronts her worst fear--sex. Continues the adventures of other characters in the alternate realities of the Mode multiverse. Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001.

Prague      RC 54758
by Arthur Phillips
read by Frank Coffee
3 cassettes
Five young North Americans live in Budapest, although they suspect that Prague is a better place. An odd assortment thrown together by an expatriate bond rather than sincere affinity, they sort through career and lifestyle decisions. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

The Fire Dragon: The Dragon Mage, Book 3      RC 54761
by Katharine Kerr
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
In the year 850, Prince Maryn prepares to assume the throne. The ill-fated love affair between the prince and the magical Lilli comes to an end. Raena and Rhodry continue their rivalry two centuries later. Sequel to The Black Raven (RC 50968). 2001.

Chains around the Grass      RC 54765
by Naomi Ragen
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
New York City, 1950s. Ruth Markowitz struggles to survive after the unexpected death of her husband, David, who had just lost their life savings in an investment scheme. She is left bereft with three children in a dangerous housing project. From the author of Jephte's Daughter (RC 45473). 2002.

Stone Kiss: A Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Novel      RC 54803
by Faye Kellerman
read by Richard Davidson
3 cassettes
L.A. detective Peter Decker and his wife, Rina, return to New York to help Rabbi Levine, Peter's half-brother. Not only has the rabbi's fifteen-year-old niece vanished, but his brother-in-law, Ephraim, has been murdered. The investigation yields sordid family secrets. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Dead Midnight: A Sharon McCone Mystery      RC 54807
by Marcia Muller
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
The family of Roger Nagasawa hires San Francisco private investigator Sharon McCone to investigate his suicide. They blame the online magazine where Roger worked for his death. Sharon, mourning the suicide of her own brother, uncovers corruption, greed, and infighting at the dot-com. Strong language and some violence. 2002.

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red      RC 54808
edited by Joyce Reardon
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Seattle, early 1900s. Set at "Rose Red," a mansion built for Ellen, his young bride, by oil-magnate John Rimbauer--atop a Native American burial ground. Ellen's diary, revealing her evolution from submissive innocent to fiercely powerful woman, tells Rose Red's eerie history of construction, deaths, and disappearances. Basis of the Stephen King TV miniseries. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

The Art of Deception      RC 54812
by Ridley Pearson
read by Ray Foushee
3 cassettes
Seattle policemen Lou Boldt and John LaMoia, investigating separate cases, conclude that the murder of an abused woman and the disappearance of two tourists are related. Meanwhile, a homeless man is stalking department psychologist Daphne Matthews. Violence and strong language. 2002.

Standing in the Rainbow      RC 54819
by Fannie Flagg
read by Barbara Caruso
3 cassettes
Follows town life in Elmwood Springs, Missouri, from the 1940s to the 1990s. Mrs. Dorothy Smith from Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! (RC 47006) continues her radio show. Her son, Bobby, gets involved with the guests, including a blind teenager and a gospel-singing family. Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Mission of Honor      RC 54820
by Jeff Rovin
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
At the Vatican's urging, Op-Center investigates the kidnapping of a priest in Botswana after Catholic missionaries are ordered to leave. It uncovers a plan to destabilize the government and take over the national diamond mines. So Op-Center finds itself in the middle of an African war. Violence and strong language. 2002.

The White      RC 54821
by Deborah Larsen
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
In 1758, Indians abduct and scalp a Pennsylvania colonial family. Teenager Mary Jemison, however, is spared and adopted by two Seneca women. Always identified by her white skin, Mary nonetheless becomes a blend of two cultures--a self-defined woman. Violence and some descriptions of sex. 2002.

Her Father's House      RC 54822
by Belva Plain
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
New York, 1968. Brilliant young lawyer Donald Wolfe marries Lillian Morris in the heat of infatuation. Their marriage fails, and Donald promises to provide for the child Lillian is expecting. But he doesn't realize this will mean kidnapping his daughter and creating a new life for them in rural Georgia. Bestseller 2002.

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague      RC 54834
by Geraldine Brooks
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Derbyshire, England; 1666. Anna Frith, an eighteen-year-old widow with two children, is a servant at the rectory. In her account of the plague's arrival and the villagers' difficult choice of quarantine, she shows what can happen to faith and human kindness in times of widespread death and desperation. Some violence. Bestseller 2001.

Social Crimes      RC 54838
by Jane Stanton Hitchcock
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
When New York socialite Jo Slater catches her millionaire husband, Lucius, in their beach cabana with his mistress, he dies of a heart attack. Unfortunately for Jo, Lucius leaves everything to the other woman, Countess Monique de Passy. Forced to return to work, Jo becomes obsessed with revenge. Strong language. Bestseller 2002.

A Love of My Own      RC 54842
by E. Lynn Harris
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
2 cassettes
Both Zola Norwood, the editor-in-chief of a hip African American magazine in New York City, and its gay CEO, Raymond Tyler, are looking for love and stability after their many years of disappointment. Sequel to Any Way the Wind Blows (RC 53010). Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Midnight Voices      RC 54849
by John Saul
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Caroline Evans's husband is murdered while jogging in Central Park. When she meets the perfect Anthony Fleming, she remarries and moves her pre-teen children into his historic apartment building. Soon they begin having nightmares and hearing voices, leading her to suspect that the elderly inhabitants are not really harmless. Some violence. 2002.

Nights in Rodanthe      RC 54857
by Nicholas Sparks
read by JoBeth Williams
1 cassette
To soothe her widowed daughter Amanda's grief, sixty-year-old Adrienne Willis tells the story of her own lost love. After her husband left her and their three children for another woman, Adrienne had a brief affair with a doctor that helped fill her emotional needs. 2002.

Dream of Me/Believe in Me      RC 54858
by Josie Litton
read by Colleen Delany
5 cassettes
In King Alfred's Britain, marriages between enemies are the only way to achieve peace. In Dream of Me, Viking warrior Wolf Hakonson marries the sister of Saxon Hawk of Essex and falls in love, while Lord Hawk reluctantly marries a Norse noblewoman in Believe in Me. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

Come Back to Me      RC 54859
by Josie Litton
read by Colleen Delany
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Dream of Me/Believe in Me (RC 54858), King Alfred rules Britain and has achieved peace between the Norse and Saxons through marriage and other alliances. Viking Dragon Hakonson meets Saxon Lady Rycca and falls in love. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

In His Arms: Coming to America, Book 3      RC 54865
by Robin Lee Hatcher
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Pregnant Mary Malone arrives in New York from Ireland in 1897. The following year, after an unavoidable act of violence, she flees to Whistle Creek, Idaho. She falls in love with sheriff Carson Barclay and attends church with him--but hides her past. 2001.

Jerusalem Vigil: Zion Legacy, Book 1      RC 54875
by Bodie Thoene and Brock Thoene
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Recounts the first five days of the newly created state of Israel, beginning on May 14, 1948, as Arabs and Jews fight to establish territorial lines. Among those working to build their new homeland are Moshe and Rachel Sachar. Followed by Thunder from Jerusalem (RC 54876). 2000.

Dragons of a Fallen Sun: The War of Souls, Volume 1      RC 54880
by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
read by John Horton
4 cassettes
In this trilogy that follows Dragons of Summer Flame (RC 41425), many still remember the Chaos War. Now, for the heart and soul of the world itself, a new war begins. It will be guided by Mina, a mystic young woman who arrives out of a violent, magical storm. 2000.

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Fifteenth Annual Collection      RC 54888
edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
read by Annie Wauters
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Collection of forty-eight stories and poems ranging from fairy tales to gothic horror by such authors as Jeffrey Ford, Jane Yolen, Ursula LeGuin, and Gene Wolfe. Prefaced by an overview of 2001's works in this genre. Also includes a list of Honorable Mentions. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.

Sons of the Sheik      RC 54891
by E.M. Hull
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
In this sequel to The Sheik (RC 54081), Ahmed Ben Hassan and his wife, Diana, eagerly await the arrival of their English-reared son, Caryll. Meanwhile, son Ahmed falls in love with a young Moorish girl. Cultural differences divide the family. Some violence and some strong language. 1925.

The Lady Chapel      RC 54892
by Candace M. Robb
read by Vanessa Maroney
3 cassettes
Local wool merchant is killed on Corpus Christi Day in fourteenth-century England. Owen Archer, former palace sleuth and current apothecary apprentice, is ordered by the Archbishop of York to return to his old occupation. Archer complies and is drawn into a web of murder and deceit. Violence. 1994.

The Rhinemann Exchange      RC 54894
by Robert Ludlum
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Buenos Aires, 1943. Germany needs industrial diamonds for rockets and the United States needs a special gyroscope reliable at high altitudes. American spy David Spaulding and exiled Jewish financier Erich Rhinemann attempt the exchange amidst double crosses, assassinations, and erotic encounters. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1974.

Dantes' Inferno: A Dr. Sylvia Strange Novel      RC 54903
by Sarah Lovett
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Psychiatrist Sylvia Strange of New Mexico travels to Los Angeles to assist in a serial bombing case. Although the chief culprit, John Dantes, is already incarcerated, a copycat or former protege is continuing his work. Sylvia meets antiterrorism expert Edmond Sweetheart, who assists in the case. Violence and strong language. 2001.

Pardon Me, You're Stepping on My Eyeball!      RC 54914
by Paul Zindel
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes (Reissue)
"Marsh" Mellow and Edna Shinglebox, both fifteen, meet in a therapy group at Curtis Lee High School. The two appear freaky and depressed, but when they take off on an adventure together, they help each other move toward self-acceptance. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 1976.

Ombria in Shadow      RC 54915
by Patricia A. McKillip
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
The death of the prince of Ombria forces a power struggle. The prince named his young son as his successor, but his evil aunt Domina Pearl becomes the boy's regent. The prince's former mistress, the prince's nephew, and a sorceress join together to fight the oncoming darkness. For senior high readers. 2002.

Gwyneth and the Thief      RC 54916
by Margaret Moore
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
England, 1202. Fifteen-year-old Lady Gwyneth of Haverleigh is desperate because her father is ill and his knights are gone. When she meets Gavin, a rugged thief who can fight, she coerces him into training the peasants to protect the castle. The two gradually fall in love. For senior high readers. 2002.

Slow Dollar      RC 54924
by Margaret Maron
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Judge Deborah Knott is enjoying the harvest festival in Colleton County, North Carolina, when she discovers the body of a carnival worker, who she later learns was her kinsman. She also falls in love with childhood buddy Dwight Bryant of the sheriff's department. Some strong language. 2002.

Partner in Crime      RC 54929
by J.A. Jance
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Investigator J.P. Beaumont of Seattle and Joanna Brady of the Arizona sheriff's department combine forces to find the murderer of an artist who had been in a witness protection program. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Under the Andes      RC 54930
by Rex Stout
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Early novel by the author, first published in the All-Story Magazine in 1914. Temptress Desirée Le Mire and brothers Paul and Harry Lamar search for lost treasure in a mysterious cave. They encounter Incas who have been deformed by living underground. Introduction by John McAleer. 1914.

The Crimson Petal and the White      RC 54941
by Michel Faber
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
6 cassettes
London, 1870s. Sugar, a nineteen-year-old prostitute in her mother's brothel, yearns for a better life that seems almost within reach when perfume magnate William Rackham settles her in a private apartment. Rackham's lust and Sugar's ambitions don't stop there. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Purity in Death      RC 54942
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In the summer of 2059 New York police detective Eve Dallas investigates a vigilante group that sends criminals a computer virus that literally kills its recipients. Eve and her husband, Roarke, suspect politicians may be involved. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Blackwood Farm: The Vampire Chronicles      RC 54945
by Anne Rice
read by David Hartley-Margolin
5 cassettes
Young vampire Quinn Blackwood pleads with Lestat for assistance against Goblin, his growing-ever-stronger doppelganger. Quinn's tale encompasses his ties to his ancestral home of Blackwood Farm, his romantic feelings for a Mayfair witch, and a far-flung quest to save himself and his loved ones from Goblin. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.

A Summer to Remember      RC 54986
by Mary Balogh
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Jilted bride Lauren Edgeworth agrees to pose as Viscount "Kit" Ravenberg's fiancée to thwart his family's arranged marriage plans for him. Grateful Kit promises her a last summer of adventure before she becomes an old maid, but complications arise when he falls in love with her. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.

By the Lake      RC 54989
by John McGahern
read by Terry Donnelly
3 cassettes
The childless Ruttledges have retired from the business world in London to return to a small Irish village. In the course of a year, they build a new life, entering into the rhythms of the rural community and finding an equilibrium for themselves among the ambiguities of a vanishing way of life. 2002.

Lord Prestimion: The Majipoor Cycle      RC 54991
by Robert Silverberg
read by Nick Sullivan
4 cassettes
In this sequel to Sorcerers of Majipoor (RC 45856), Prestimion has become ruler--the new coronal--of Majipoor after the turmoil of a civil war so heartbreaking that a spell of oblivion was cast on the planet. But how can Prestimion punish the guilty if no one remembers the crime? 1999.

Green Calder Grass: Calder Saga, Volume 6      RC 54999
by Janet Dailey
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Calder Pride (RC 49785), Ty Calder has recovered from a kidnapping attempt and is expecting twins with his second wife, Jessy. But Ty's former wife, Tara, becomes increasingly jealous and tries to reclaim her ex. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Gruel and Unusual Punishment: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery with Recipes RC 55000
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Magdalena Yoder investigates the murder of Clarence Webber, who is imprisoned locally and dies of arsenic poisoning after eating grits from her Mennonite inn. Among the list of suspects are many women Clarence conned money and favors from. Some strong language. 2002.

Retribution: A Lew Fonesca Novel      RC 55004
by Stuart M. Kaminsky
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
Sarasota process server Lew Fonesca again searches for teenage runaway Adele, last seen in Vengeance (RC 50055). This time she's stolen a famous writer's unpublished manuscripts. As Fonesca pursues the girl and her boyfriend, two of the boy's relatives are murdered. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

Last Act in Palmyra: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery Novel      RC 55010
by Lindsey Davis
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Rome, A.D. 72. Private investigator Marcus Didius and his lover, Helena, travel to Syria to search for a missing circus musician and to spy for the emperor. The two are accused of murder when they discover the body of a playwright. Follows Poseidon's Gold (RC 41802). 1994.

A Finer End      RC 55014
by Deborah Crombie
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Detective Duncan Kincaid and his lover, the newly promoted Gemma James, travel to Glastonbury to help Duncan's cousin, Jack Montfort. Jack, haunted by the spirit of a medieval monk, needs help when his friends' lives are endangered. 2001.

Island Dreamer      RC 55016
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Christy travels to Hawaii for her sixteenth birthday where she practices her driving on the island roads. Paula, her friend from Wisconsin, joins the family, but Christy's new faith in God confuses her at first. For junior and senior high readers. 1992.

A Heart Full of Hope      RC 55017
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Sixteen-year-old Christy is swept off her feet by Rick, a handsome Christian boy who wants to go steady with her. Her friendship with Todd makes her decision a difficult one. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

Until Tomorrow: Christy and Todd; the College Years, Book 1      RC 55037
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
Nineteen-year-old college student Christy Miller has been studying in Switzerland when her friends Katie and Todd join her for a vacation. Christy is jealous and unsure of her relationship with Todd--but puts her trust in God. For senior high and older readers. 2000.

Chasing the Dime      RC 55050
by Michael Connelly
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
Dr. Henry Pierce moves while in the midst of a computer technology battle and a fight for project funding. His new, and very busy, telephone number belonged to a dazzling online call girl, who seems to be missing. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

The Janson Directive      RC 55053
by Robert Ludlum
read by Chuck Benson
4 cassettes
Former government agent Paul Janson is enlisted to rescue Hungarian philanthropist Peter Novak, who has been kidnapped by an Islamic terrorist group led by the Caliph. Novak's mission is derailed by a traitor and leads to the discovery of a global political conspiracy. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Quentins      RC 55054
by Maeve Binchy
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Ella Brady has been a customer at Quentins since she was six years old. Now in her twenties and recovering from an affair, Ella turns her attention to producing a documentary about the increasingly successful restaurant, whose staff and customers exemplify Dublin's fortunes since the 1970s. 2002.

Visions of Sugar Plums      RC 55055
by Janet Evanovich
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette
Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is searching for toy-store owner Sandy Claws, who skipped bail just before Christmas. Diesel, a mysterious stranger, appears at Plum's doorstep also seeking a lawbreaker. Together they deal with Plum's zany family, a parcel of elves, and the missing men. Strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Reversible Errors      RC 55056
by Scott Turow
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Kindle County attorney Arthur Raven is appointed to ensure that the decade-old murder case against retarded death row inmate Rommy Gandolph is airtight before Gandolph's execution in a few weeks. But Raven uncovers problems with the evidence, and a dying inmate confesses to the crime. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 2002.

The Crush      RC 55058
by Sandra Brown
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Upon acquittal, hired killer Ricky Lozada becomes obsessed with the jury forewoman, Dr. Rennie Newton. Meanwhile Fort Worth detective Wick Threadgill, on leave from the department, seeks to avenge Lozada's murder of his brother. The policeman also falls for Rennie. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Blood Orchid      RC 55060
by Stuart Woods
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Orchid Beach, Florida. Police chief Holly Barker and FBI agent Grant Early investigate the serial murders of potential buyers of a drug dealer's confiscated property. Sequel to Orchid Blues (RC 53564). Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.

Forever: A Novel of Good and Evil, Love and Hope      RC 55065
by Jude Deveraux
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Darci Monroe considers herself lucky when she is hired as Adam Montgomery's well-paid personal assistant. She is unaware that she has special powers that Adam plans to use to help him discover what happened to his parents. Darci ends up offering more than Adam expects. Strong language. 2002.

Charleston      RC 55066
by John Jakes
read by Margaret Strom
4 cassettes
Relates the lives, loves, and shifting fortunes of the fictional Bell family of Charleston, South Carolina, set against the history of the city from the American Revolution to the aftermath of the Civil War. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2002.

Cheating Lessons      RC 55077
by Nan Willard Cappo
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
When sixteen-year-old Bernadette's high school debate team becomes a finalist in the state Classics Bowl, she suspects that someone cheated. As she investigates, she fears that her favorite teacher, Mr. Malory, might be the culprit. And her mother doesn't care. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 2002.

Blue Shoe      RC 55100
by Anne Lamott
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Mattie divorces her cheating husband and moves back home. While coping with her ailing mother and two children, she falls for her married pest exterminator. Simultaneously Mattie investigates her father's adulterous past--and relies on prayer. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

The Hand of Dinotopia      RC 55106
by Alan Dean Foster
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Dinotopia Lost (RC 43486), Will, Sylvia, and their protoceratops companion Chaz search for the legendary Hand of Dinotopia--which will supposedly reveal a safe sea route to and from the hidden island, where people and dinosaurs live together peacefully. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

Pursuit      RC 55108
by Lewis B. Patten
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette (Reissue)
When outlaws take over Buffalo Wallow, they quickly spread terror and death, forcing station master Casey Day to help rob the arriving stage coach. Townspeople suspect Casey is part of the gang. So to clear his name and take revenge, he swears to hunt down the murdering thieves. 1957.

The Man from Two Rivers      RC 55109
by Luke Short
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette (Reissue)
Hobe Carew leaves town with a price on his head after shooting a couple of land-grabbing Lew Seely's boys. Carew swears to return and stir up the hottest gunfight Lew Seely or anyone else in Two Rivers has ever seen. 1974.

The Cheim Manuscript      RC 55110
by Richard S. Prather
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Wilfred Jellicoe's the object of a manhunt by two different people--his ex-wife, Gladys, wanting her belated alimony; and his boss, notorious aging movie magnate Gideon Cheim, wanting back his own unpublished tell-all memoir from Jellicoe's custody. In hot pursuit is L.A. private investigator Shell Scott--hired by both parties. Some strong language. 1969.

Cherish      RC 55114
by Catherine Anderson
read by Nanette Savard
3 cassettes
Colorado, 1868. Race Spencer, a gunslinger-turned-rancher, stumbles upon a ransacked wagon train of dead Quakers. The only survivor is pretty, shell-shocked Rebecca Morgan. Spencer takes the girl home and falls in love with her as she begins to heal. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1998.

The Ghosts of Elkhorn      RC 55121
by Kerry Newcomb and Frank Schaefer
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Long ago, the Wind River Kid was a notorious gunslinger, but in 1927 he is a seventy-one-year-old hermit in a Colorado ghost town. Then his solitude is invaded by young lovers on the run from the mob's bag man, and he makes one last stand. Some strong language. 1982.

Chaff in the Wind      RC 55124
by Edna Walker Chandler
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
In the spring of 1887, Swedish immigrants Ingrid and John Halgren worry about their wheat crop in the Kansas drought. Farming and raising a family in the new world demand all the stamina, perseverance, and faith they can muster. 1964.

The Three of Us      RC 55126
by Cynthia Victor
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
After a store robbery in which four people die, survivors Kip, Eloise, and Nora become best friends. They share their main regrets and are determined to turn their lives around. False starts, tragedies, and ultimately positive changes occur. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.

Lip Service      RC 55131
by Suzanne Simmons
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Schuyler Grant inherits a Hudson River estate from her eccentric great-aunt Cora. Trace Ballinger, Cora's lawyer, who despises his wealthy clients, falls in love with the lovely heiress, while someone or something haunts the mansion--and wishes Schuyler gone. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Transcendence: The Second Demonwars Saga, Book 2      RC 55136
by R.A. Salvatore
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
Brynn Dharielle and her trusted elven companion set out on a mission to free her beloved homeland from tyrannical rule. They face many dangers along the way, yet the knowledge they gain will have great impact on the future of To-gai. Sequel to Ascendance (RC 53545). Some violence. 2002.

Irresistible      RC 55143
by Karen Robards
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
England, 1813. Following the Banning sisters' escape from libelous accusations in Scandalous (RC 51766), Lady Claire Lynes is kidnapped by a band of spies. Claire and their leader, Hugh Battancourt, fall in love, but her marital status stands in the way of their future. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2002.

Enemy Within      RC 55145
by Robert K. Tanenbaum
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
During an election year, New York district attorney Butch Karp contends with several shady situations. A serial killer stalks the homeless; Karp's wife, spitfire Marlene Ciampi, overreacts to getting rich in the stock market; and his daughter, Lucy, volunteers at a dicey soup kitchen. Violence and strong language. 2001.

Deep in the Shade of Paradise      RC 55176
by John Dufresne
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Louisiana Power and Light (RC 40122), Grisham Loudermilk is marrying Ariane Thevenot in Shiver-de-Freeze, Louisiana. But Grisham still sees his lover, Miranda, and his cousin, Adlai, falls in love with the bride. Meanwhile Father Pat is rethinking celibacy. Some strong language. 2002.

The Case of the Sun Bather's Diary      RC 55178
by Erle Stanley Gardner
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Nude sunbather Arlene Duvall, a thief's daughter, has her clothes, car, and other belongings stolen. She hires Perry Mason to retrieve a diary containing secrets that can't be revealed. 1955.

A Fine and Bitter Snow      RC 55180
by Dana Stabenow
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Park ranger Dan O'Brian, who disagrees with government oil exploration policies, finds his job in jeopardy. When a conservationist who supports O'Brian is murdered and a lodge owner inexplicably commits suicide, Alaska PI Kate Shugak tries to connect the dots. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.

The Man from Mustang      RC 55182
by Max Brand
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette (Reissue)
When Arizona Jim Silver rescues Ned Kenyon from a prairie fire, neither man suspects the trouble ahead. Silver accompanies gangly cowboy Kenyon to Mustang to marry the all-too-perfect Edith Alton. A hired killer and the bride's abrupt departure lead Silver into action. 1933.

Thunderhead      RC 55183
by Mary O'Hara
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Ken McLaughlin is determined that Flicka's first foal will become a great racehorse. But the ugly white colt, a throwback to an albino grandsire, does not meet Ken's expectations. Sequel to My Friend Flicka (RC 26642). For junior and senior high and older readers. 1943.

Murder at the President's Door: An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery      RC 55185
by Elliott Roosevelt
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
After a White House policeman is found murdered outside the president's bedroom door, Eleanor Roosevelt, Secret Service agent Stan Szczygiel, and D.C. police lieutenant Edward Kennelly quietly investigate. Their search leads to the underground world of organized crime. 2001.

When Duty Whispers Low      RC 55186
by John J. Gobbell
read by Alec Volz
3 cassettes
The Pacific, 1943. Todd Ingram implores Jerry Landa, his commanding officer on the USS Howell, to use the new antiaircraft proximity fuses against Japanese dive bombers. Landa's reason for not using the fuses is personal: the results are deadly. Sequel to A Code for Tomorrow (RC 48790). Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

The Case of the Perjured Parrot      RC 55195
by Erle Stanley Gardner
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette (Reissue)
When eccentric millionaire Fremont Sabin is murdered in his mountain cabin, his talking parrot is replaced by a screaming imposter. Sabin's son, Charles, and his wife accuse each other. Charles hires attorney Perry Mason to find his father's killer. 1939.

Killing the Shadows      RC 55210
by Val McDermid
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Psychological profiler Dr. Fiona Cameron is working in England (for the Spanish police) on a serial-killer case. Her British lover, Kit Martin, is a successful crime novelist whose life is jeopardized when someone begins murdering other such writers. Fiona races to uncover a suspect. Violence and strong language. 2000.

Bad Boy      RC 55212
by Olivia Goldsmith
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Tracie thinks of Jon as just a friend; he's far too nerdy for her bad-boy tastes. At Jon's request, Tracie transforms his computer-geek appearance, and Jon becomes one of Seattle's most sought-after bachelors. Now Tracie must compete for Jon's attention. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2001.

Blueberry Muffin Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery      RC 55213
by Joanne Fluke
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Lake Eden, Minnesota, is hosting a winter festival, and bakery owner Hannah Swensen is the chief supplier of sweets. Celebrity television chef Connie Mac is hired to bake a cake but ends up being murdered in Hannah's kitchen. Hannah investigates with her sister Andrea's help. 2002.

Scrooge Wore Spurs      RC 55219
by Janet Dailey
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Indebted Arizona rancher Eben MacCallister expects to lose the family ranch in the new year. To make matters worse, his former fiancée Maddie Williams has returned to open a dude ranch on adjoining land and his estranged sister has passed away--leaving him with four orphans at Christmas time. Bestseller 2002.

Three Clams and an Oyster      RC 55223
by Randy Powell
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
Seattle juniors Rick, Dwight, and Flint have been on a flag football team for years. They are forced to look for a fourth teammate when Cade becomes irresponsible. As they grade the contenders--including a girl--they also assess their relationships and character flaws. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2002.

Then Comes Marriage      RC 55227
by Kasey Michaels
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
With his good friends married, Brady James, the earl of Singleton, is feeling bored and jealous. When he is attacked and left for dead after a night of carousing, he plots his revenge with the help of the mysterious beauty Regina Bliss. Soon he is part of a more dangerous plot. Some descriptions of sex. 2002.

Never Too Late      RC 55229
by Angela Thirkell
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Life in Barsetshire is back to normal after the shortages of the Second World War. Young Edith Graham, at loose ends, decides to attend school to learn how to run an estate properly; and spinster Miss Merriman receives a marriage proposal from an old friend. 1956.

I Wish I Had a Red Dress      RC 55233
by Pearl Cleage
read by MaryBeth Wise
2 cassettes
Sequel to What Looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (RC 46770). Joyce Mitchell, widowed social worker, dreams of celebrating life in the perfect red dress. When she meets the new vice principal, she is closer to her dreams than ever before. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Jack Frake: Sparrowhawk, Book One      RC 55242
by Edward Cline
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
Cornwall, England; 1744. Poor ten-year-old Jack Frake is educated by a kindly rector before joining smuggler Augustus Skelly's gang. After being caught and sentenced to hard labor, Jack is rescued by Captain John Ramshaw and transported to the American colonies to serve out his sentence. 2001.

The Mustangers      RC 55255
by Lauran Paine
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
In 1935, two out-of-work ranch hands learn to hunt wild horses for Mormons in Utah. Their adventures take them to a Navajo reservation and to Mexico, where they trap horses for a dog food company. But gringos are not popular there, especially when favored by a wealthy señorita. Some strong language. 1999.

Lincoln's Ransom: A Western Story      RC 55257
by Tim Champlin
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
In 1876, Secret Service agent Sterling Packard infiltrates Big Jim Kinealy's gang as it schemes to steal Abraham Lincoln's body from its tomb and hold it for ransom. The situation gets out of hand when Packard's entrapment plan goes awry, and the Jesse James gang becomes involved. 1999.

Eureka      RC 55258
by William Diehl
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
After World War II, former LAPD detective Zeke Bannon continues to investigate the nagging case of a woman suspiciously drowned in her bathtub. Bannon follows his leads to Eureka, California, and winds up in a world of Old West shoot-outs and murderous political ambition. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

The Tenth Commandment      RC 55266
by Lawrence Sanders
read by Bob Askey
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Joshua Bigg, chief investigator at an offbeat law firm, discovers that the link between one client's apparent suicide and the disappearance of another is a widow-loving lay minister, Reverend Knurr. Bigg starts building a case against the missing suspect until he learns that Knurr is dead. Some violence. 1980.

The Dead Zone      RC 55267
by Stephen King
read by Diane Eilenberg
3 cassettes (Reissue)
After an accident-induced four-year coma, a young New England school teacher awakens to find that he can see into the future. But his second sight proves to be more a horror than a blessing when it brings him face to face with an ambitious politician. Some strong language. 1979.

The Third Deadly Sin      RC 55268
by Lawrence Sanders
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Edward X. Delaney, retired chief of detectives of the New York police department, seeks a murderer whom he believes to be a bizarre psychopath. Killer X strikes exclusively in large hotels, kills only out-of-town businessmen, and wears a wig. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1981.

The Sixth Commandment      RC 55269
by Lawrence Sanders
read by Merwin Smith
3 cassettes (Reissue)
When Nobel Prize winner Gordon Thorndecker, the head of a research laboratory, pushes his experiment far beyond theory, hard-boiled detective Sam Todd is assigned to investigate. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1979.

Prey      RC 55273
by Michael Crichton
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Unemployed computer programmer Jack Forman stays home with the children while wife, Julia, works at a firm developing "molecular manufacturing," or nanotechnology. Hired as a consultant, Jack discovers that an experiment has gone horribly astray and that escaped swarms of tiny robots are feeding off flesh. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 2002.

Going Home      RC 55278
by Nora Roberts
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Three novellas in which women must rediscover the love of their families before they can embrace others. In Unfinished Business, world-renowned pianist Vanessa Sexton's renewed relationship with her mother allows her to return her childhood sweetheart's affection. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2002.

Twelve Mile Limit      RC 55409
by Randy Wayne White
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
Marine biologist Doc Ford investigates the sinking of a scuba-diving boat on which his assistant, Janet, was a guest. The only survivor, Amelia, accompanies him on the mission, which leads to Colombia, Ford's former CIA territory. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2002.

After the Quake: Stories      RC 55415
by Haruki Murakami
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Six short stories set after the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, by the author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (RC 46636). In "Honey Pie," a shy writer has a second chance to marry the woman he has loved since university. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2002.

Samantha and the Cowboy      RC 55425
by Lorraine Heath
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Texas, 1866. Sixteen-year-old Samantha Reynolds pretends to be a boy in order to join a cattle drive so she can earn money for her family. After fellow wrangler Matthew Hart, a Civil War veteran, discovers the truth, they fall in love. For senior high readers. 2002.

The Jester      RC 55455
by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
read by Neil Dickson
3 cassettes
French innkeeper Hugh de Luc joins the Crusades in 1096 but deserts after a year of carnage. Returning home with a few relics, he finds his village in ruins and his beloved wife a prisoner in the local duke's castle. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2003.

Lusitania      RC 55539
by David Butler
read by Merwyn Smith
5 cassettes (Reissue)
Fictional account of 1915 bombing of the Lusitania, a passenger ship traveling from the United States to Europe, during World War I. Romance and political intrigue occupy the travelers until a German U-boat strikes, killing more than a thousand and throwing the rest into the sea. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1982.

The Second Deadly Sin      RC 55540
by Lawrence Sanders
read by Ralph Bell
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Artist Victor Maitland is found stabbed to death in his studio. Ex-chief of detectives Edward Delaney and his boozy assistant probe for suspects in the tangled web of the artist's affairs. Some strong language. 1977.

The Final Deduction: A Nero Wolfe Novel      RC 55541
by Rex Stout
read by James DeLotel
1 cassette (Reissue)
Archie Goodwin, confidential secretary to the brilliant detective and gourmet Nero Wolfe, narrates a baffling case involving the kidnapping of a rich woman's young husband and the mysterious murders of two people. 1955.

The Second Time Around      RC 55614
by Mary Higgins Clark
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Lynn Spencer asks financial reporter Carley DeCarlo, her stepsister, to investigate the case of Lynn's missing husband, Nick. His medical research company, which may have been on the verge of discovering a cure for cancer, has been left nearly bankrupt by Nick's disappearance along with substantial corporate assets. 2003.

Books for Children

These books were recently sent to cooperating libraries. Cassette books, labeled with the code RC, play at 15/16 ips.

Cassettes Nonfiction

A Smart Girl's Guide to Boys: Surviving Crushes, Staying True to Yourself, and Other Love Stuff      RC 53184
by Nancy Holyoke
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Reassuring advice on friendship and being true to yourself at the stage when girls may become boy crazy. Discusses how to be friends with a boy and have a boyfriend, social situations, first kisses, peer pressure, and how to handle problems that may arise. For grades 5-8. 2001.

In the Line of Fire: Presidents' Lives at Stake      RC 53198
by Judith St. George
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Discusses the assassinations of four American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. Also describes seven unsuccessful attempts on other U.S. chief executives. Briefly explains each leader's life and times and the criminals' reasons for their attacks. For grades 5-8. 1999.

The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won      RC 53569
by Stephen E. Ambrose
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Chronologically relates the key events of the Second World War (1939-1945) as well as the social and economic history of the times. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2001.

Global Warming: The Threat of Earth's Changing Climate      RC 53788
by Laurence Pringle
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Explains the effects and problems of the warming of Earth's atmosphere. Discusses climate change, greenhouse gases, threat of rising seas, weather patterns, and reforestation, as well as the challenge of halting this trend. For grades 5-8. 2001.

Helen Keller      RC 53971
by George Sullivan
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Biography of the gifted woman who successfully dealt with her own disabilities while trying to better the lives of other deaf and blind people. Uses excerpts from Helen Keller's writings. For grades 3-6. 2000.

Woolly Mammoth: Life, Death, and Rediscovery      RC 54354
by Windsor Chorlton
read by Gary Telles
1 cassette
Discusses the first recovery of a complete adult woolly mammoth and the difficulties of excavating it from Siberia. Explains what scientists have learned about where these giant plant eaters lived, how they spent their days, and why the species became extinct. For grades 4-7. 2001.

Earth's Place in Space      RC 54633
by Roy A. Gallant
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Relates the history of people's struggle to understand Earth's place in the universe, from the earliest myth-making to discoveries made possible by the Hubble telescope in outer space. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Meltdown: A Race against Nuclear Disaster at Three Mile Island; a Reporter's Story      RC 54635
by Wilborn Hampton
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
A journalist recounts his coverage of a major news event: the 1979 nuclear accident in Pennsylvania. He explains the human errors and technological failures that led to the worst nuclear crisis in the United States and his responsibilities as a reporter. For grades 6-9. 2001.

Myanmar      RC 54990
by Pauline Khng
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Provides an overview of the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, including information on geography, history, government, lifestyles, language, art, food, and relations with the United States. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Protestantism      RC 54997
by Stephen F. Brown
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
A narrative history of the Protestant branch of Christianity tracing its growth and customs from its beginnings in Europe in the Middle Ages to its role in the twentieth century. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2002.

Indonesia      RC 54998
by Gouri Mirpuri and Robert Cooper
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Describes the history, geography, economy, religion, arts, and leisure pursuits of the largest archipelago in the world. Known for centuries as the "Spice Islands" of the East Indies, Indonesia is a culturally diverse nation. For grades 5-8. 2002.

Halloween      RC 55079
by Alice K. Flanagan
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Explains how Halloween started; how it got its name; the custom of trick-or-treating; and why witches, black cats, and goblins are associated with this celebration. Offers ideas of things to do for others on Halloween. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Peaceful Plant-Eating Dinosaurs: The Iguanodonts, Duckbills, and Other Ornithopods      RC 55083
by Thom Holmes and Laurie Holmes
read by Lewis Grenville
1 cassette
Discusses the features that make each of these dinosaur groups unique. Covers physical characteristics, reproduction, feeding, and defense habits, as well as general information on dinosaurs. For grades 5-8. 2001.

What Makes an Ocean Wave? Questions and Answers about Oceans and Ocean Life      RC 55174
by Melvin Berger and Gilda Berger
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Short answers about sea water--waves, tides, salt; about life in the ocean--plankton, fish, mammals, and the food chain; and about the coast--beaches, wetlands, and reefs. For grades 3-6. 2000.

Copernicus: Founder of Modern Astronomy      RC 55175
by Catherine M. Andronik
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Biography of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), born in Poland during the Renaissance. As a scientist who studied the skies, he developed the theory, since proved, that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Includes four science activities. For grades 4-7. 2002.

Science Fair Success Using Household Products      RC 55187
by Salvatore Tocci
read by Richard Hauenstein
1 cassette
After explaining the scientific method and safety measures, the author--an experienced teacher--presents experiments involving common household items, such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, skin lotion, talcum powder, vitamin C, aspirin, and detergent. For grades 6-9. 2002.

Cassettes Fiction

Polar Bears past Bedtime: Magic Tree House, Book 12      RC 53559
by Mary Pope Osborne
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
The magic tree house whisks Annie and Jack off to the frozen Arctic. They meet polar bears, cracking ice, and a seal hunter with his dogsled and huskies. For grades 2-4. 1998.

Shakespeare's Scribe      RC 53579
by Gary Blackwood
read by Gary Roan
2 cassettes
1602. In plague-ridden England, Widge, an orphan who's become an apprentice actor, goes on the road with Shakespeare's troupe. Along the way Widge learns more about his parents. Sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer (RC 48421). For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2000.

Christmas in Camelot      RC 53580
by Mary Pope Osborne
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
On Christmas Eve, the magic tree house transports Jack and his sister, Annie, to King Arthur's castle in Camelot. They find the kingdom under a dark spell and undertake a quest to the Otherworld to restore joy to Camelot. For grades 2-4. 2001.

Strays like Us      RC 53790
by Richard Peck
read by Graci Ragsdale Miller
1 cassette
Molly has been sent to live with her great-aunt Fay while her mother is in rehab. Next door, Will is staying with his grandparents and it is rumored that his father is in prison. They begin junior high school in their new town feeling like strays. For grades 5-8. 1998.

My Brother Made Me Do It      RC 53936
by Peg Kehret
read by Peggy Gilleland
1 cassette
As part of a fifth-grade assignment, Julie Welsh becomes a pen pal to eighty-nine-year-old nursing home resident Mrs. Kaplan. Julie describes her school and family life and her surprise when she is diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. For grades 4-7. 2000.

Daniel's Walk      RC 54418
by Michael Spooner
read by Michael Kramer
1 cassette
1844. Fourteen-year-old Daniel leaves his aunt's farm in Missouri to search for his father, a French trapper living in the Rockies. He joins a wagon train and walks a thousand miles surviving hunger, beatings, kidnapping, and other dangers. But his father is not like the person he remembers. For grades 6-9. 2001.

Death Strike: Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 8      RC 54613
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Continuing the action from Busted! (RC 54612), Judd, Vicki, and the rest of the Young Trib Force struggle for their lives as the world crumbles. Judd's new goal puts the group in more danger, causing heartbreaking challenges. For grades 5-8. 2000.

The Search: Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 9      RC 54614
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
The Young Trib Force struggles to survive as World War III erupts in this sequel to Death Strike (RC 54613). Judd, Vicki, and Lionel desperately search for their friend Ryan, attempting to rescue him before another air attack by the Global Community. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Sitti's Secrets      RC 54620
by Naomi Shihab Nye
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
A young girl living in the United States describes a visit with her grandmother ("sitti" in Arabic), who lives in a Palestinian village on the West Bank. For grades K-3. 1994.

Handel: Who Knew What He Liked      RC 54627
by M.T. Anderson
read by Gillian Green
1 cassette
A stubborn little boy with a mind of his own is determined to be a musician, even though his father is against the idea. He grows up to be the famous eighteenth-century composer, George Frideric Handel. For grades 3-6. 2001.

Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph      RC 54757
by Jack Gantos
read by Maxine Wasserman
1 cassette
Rotten Ralph's cousin, orange tabby Percy, practices his throwing skills before going to the carnival and wins many prizes for Sarah, Ralph's owner. Ralph didn't practice, but he wins prizes another way--until Sarah finds out. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Harriet Spies Again      RC 54768
by Helen Ericson
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Harriet's former nanny, "Ole Golly," returns to stay with her while her parents are away. Soon Harriet is spying on her suspected criminal neighbors and trying to figure out if Ole Golly killed her husband. Companion to Harriet the Spy (RC 44768). For grades 4-7. 2002.

Winnie Dancing on Her Own      RC 54772
by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
read by Celeste Lawson
1 cassette
Vanessa, Winnie, and Zoe are three best friends who like to do everything together--until Vanessa and Zoe want to take ballet lessons even though Winnie doesn't like dancing. Should Winnie join the class to keep her friends? For grades 3-6. 2001.

The Story Tree: Tales to Read Aloud      RC 54776
retold by Hugh Lupton
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
A collection of eight tales from different cultures: from Germany, "The Magic Porridge Pot"; from India, "Monkey-See, Monkey-Do"; from Norway, "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"; and from England, "The Little Red Hen." For grades K-3. 2001.

Tiger's Fall      RC 54780
by Molly Bang
read by MaryBeth Wise
1 cassette
When Lupe falls out of a tree in her Mexican village, she is paralyzed from the waist down. Angry and feeling sorry for herself, Lupe goes to a center for disabled people, who help her realize that her life can still have a purpose. For grades 3-6. 2001.

Dear Whiskers      RC 54786
by Ann Whitehead Nagda
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Fourth-grader Jenny is discouraged when her second-grade pen pal turns out to be a new student named Sameera from Saudi Arabia, who does not speak English very well. But as they work together they slowly become friends. For grades 2-4. 2000.

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus      RC 54794
by Barbara Park
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Junie B. is almost six years old and is starting kindergarten. She worries for a week about riding the yellow school bus and doesn't like her first trip on it at all. So she decides not to ride it home after school. For grades K-3. 1992.

The Wakefields of Sweet Valley      RC 54866
by Kate William
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
The adventures of generations of the Wakefield family of California, from its first American immigrant to the 1960s. For grades 6-9. 1991.

The Wakefield Legacy: The Untold Story      RC 54867
by Kate William
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
The story of the Wakefield family of Sweet Valley, California, describing how their ancestors immigrated to America and the adventures each generation experienced. For grades 6-9. 1992.

Triss: A Tale from Redwall      RC 54948
by Brian Jacques
read by Erin Jones
3 cassettes
Triss the squirrelmaid, Shogg the otter, and Welfo the hedgehog escape from slavery at Riftgard and are pursued across the sea toward Redwall by Princess Kurda--a pure ferret--her brother Prince Bladd, and a band of freebooters who seek the rumored treasure of Brockhall. For grades 5-8. 2002.

Summerland      RC 54987
by Michael Chabon
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
Eleven-year-old Ethan Feld, the least gifted ballplayer on Clam Island, is recruited to be a hero and defend the ferishers in Summerland against giants, goblins, and a tough baseball team. He is assisted by his resolute friend, Jennifer T. Rideout, and assorted creatures. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Bestseller 2002.

Mennyms Alive      RC 54994
by Sylvia Waugh
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
The Mennyms, a family of life-sized rag dolls, wake up to find their household has been moved. They are now in the care of an eccentric but loving antiques dealer who soon suspects their secret. Sequel to Mennyms Alone (RC 44578). For grades 4-7. 1996.

On the Run: Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 10      RC 55006
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
In this sequel to The Search (RC 54614), tragic news about friends sends Judd and Ryan to Israel to discover the truth. Back home, Vicki, Lionel, and the Young Trib Force plan another dangerous mission at Nicolae High. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Into the Storm: Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 11      RC 55048
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
A grief-stricken Young Trib Force hears scary details about the future in this sequel to On the Run (RC 55006). While Judd hides, the others search for secret documents to use against the Global Community. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Runaway Radish      RC 55080
by Jessie Haas
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Radish the pony enjoys helping little girls learn to ride, until they grow too big for him. Feeling lonely, he runs away. Judy and Nina find him and think of the perfect place for him. Beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2001.

Birdbrain Amos      RC 55107
by Michael Delaney
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette
When Amos the hippopotamus advertises for a bird to rid him of pesky bugs, the tick bird who answers his ad creates a different set of problems by building a nest on Amos's head. For grades 3-6. 2002.

Just Ask Iris      RC 55119
by Lucy Frank
read by Jacinda Bronaugh
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old Iris Diaz-Pinkowitz moves into a new apartment building and spends the summer getting acquainted with her neighbors, among them a "cat lady" and a boy in a wheelchair. Iris runs errands in order to buy her first bra and rallies everyone to have the elevator repaired. For grades 5-8. 2001.

Horse Sense: The Story of Will Sasse, His Horse Star, and the Outlaw Jesse James      RC 55129
by Jan Neubert Schultz
read by Michael Russotto
1 cassette
Minnesota, 1876. Fourteen-year-old Will Sasse and his father join the posse to find Jesse and Frank James, after they rob the local bank and steal Will's mare, Star. Will's goal is to raise pleasure horses, and so he needs Star back. For grades 5-8. 2001.

House of Sports      RC 55137
by Marisabina Russo
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
It means a lot for short, twelve-year-old Jim Malone to be on the school basketball team. He resents family obligations that involve his elderly grandmother and interfere with practice sessions. Various triumphs and tragedies on and off the court teach him the value of more than basketball. For grades 5-8. 2002.

Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake      RC 55148
by Barbara Park
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Junie B., "in the grade of afternoon kindergarten," wants to win lots of prizes at the school carnival. But on Carnival Night Junie B. keeps losing at every game, until she goes to the Cake Walk. For grades K-3. 1995.

Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday      RC 55150
by Barbara Park
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Junie B. has a fight with Jim and then is upset when he invites everyone in their class, except her, to his birthday party. She doesn't want to be the only one left out. But her family helps her to see the problem a different way. For grades K-3. 1996.

Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren      RC 55151
by Barbara Park
read by Susan McInerney
1 cassette
Junie B. and her best friends want to impress the new boy at school. Lucille wears fancy dresses and Grace shows how fast she can run. But when Warren is homesick, Junie B. finds her own way to be his friend. For grades K-3. 1996.

No Roses for Harry!      RC 55194
by Gene Zion
read by John Polk
1 cassette (Reissue)
Harry is a white dog with black spots, and he does not like to wear his birthday-present sweater. Grandma knitted it with big roses on it. Harry finally loses the sweater, but then Grandma comes to visit. For preschool-grade 2. 1958.

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents      RC 55211
by Terry Pratchett
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Maurice, a talking cat; a group of intelligent rats with a dream; and Keith, a boy with a pennywhistle, run a great Pied Piper scam--until they reach Bad Blintz. Finding that town already being conned puts Maurice's gang in a quandary. For grades 6-9. 2001.

A Matter of Profit      RC 55224
by Hilari Bell
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Sick of the horrors of conquering beings on other planets, Ahvren wants to end his service as a soldier. He can do this and save his sister, Sabri, from an undesirable marriage if he can discover who is behind a rumored plot to assassinate the emperor. For grades 6-9. 2001.

Blubber      RC 55238
by Judy Blume
read by Annie Wauters
1 cassette (Reissue)
Jill goes along with the rest of the fifth-grade class in tormenting an overweight classmate they nickname Blubber. Then Jill finds out what it's like to be the outsider when she also becomes a target. For grades 4-7. 1974.

The Thieves of Ostia: A Roman Mystery      RC 55246
by Caroline Lawrence
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
In the Roman port of Ostia in A.D. 79, Flavia Gemina solves her first mystery with the help of unlikely friends. When Jonathan's pet and other dogs are found beheaded, Flavia wants to find out who is doing it and why. But sleuthing has its dangers. Some violence. For grades 5-8. 2001.

Extra Innings      RC 55254
by Robert Newton Peck
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
When sixteen-year-old Tate's leg is shattered and most of his family killed in a private plane crash, he lives with his wealthy great-grandfather, who has an adopted African American daughter, Vidalia. Tate finds solace in her tales about her depression-era childhood traveling with a baseball team. For grades 6-9. 2001.

Tanglewood Tales      RC 55264
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
read by Alexander Scourby
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A classic retelling of six Greek myths. Includes the tales of Theseus and the Minotaur, Hercules and the Pygmies, Cadmus and the dragon's teeth, Circe and Odysseus, Proserpina and the pomegranate seeds, and Jason and the golden fleece. For grades 5-8. 1853.

Seven Times Nine Equals Trouble!      RC 55284
by Claudia Mills
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Third-grader Wilson has three weeks to pass all twelve times-table tests and worries he'll never do it. Holding the class hamster, Squiggles, calms Wilson down, and his parents help him practice multiplication at home, but it's Kipper, his brother in kindergarten, who helps in a special way. For grades 2-4. 2002.

Frog Face and the Three Boys: The Black Belt Series, Book 1      RC 55292
by Don Trembath
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Three seventh-graders are sent to the principal's office for different reasons. But Mr. Duncan (Frog Face) has the same solution for all three--attend karate class. Shy new student Jeffrey, belligerent Sidney, and fast-mouth Charlie actually begin to like their "punishment." For grades 4-7. 2000.

Earthquake! Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 12      RC 55368
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
This sequel to Into the Storm (RC 55048) witnesses events foretold in the Book of Revelation. The great "wrath of the Lamb" earthquake strikes the globe, and the friends in the Young Trib Force are scattered, wondering if they will ever reunite. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Darkening Skies: Left Behind--the Kids, Volume 18      RC 55386
by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Judd and Lionel entrust their safety to a boy whose father is in the Global Community in this continuation from Terror in the Stadium (RC 55406). Other members of the Young Trib Force have their own fears for survival to deal with. For grades 5-8. 2001.

Nettie's Trip South      RC 55388
by Ann Turner
read by Gail Nelson
1 cassette
A ten-year-old northern girl encounters the ugly realities of slavery when she visits Richmond, Virginia, and sees a slave auction. For grades 2-4. 1987.

Foreign Language Books

The following cassette titles are available in the languages designated.

Spanish

Master the GED en Español 2002: Estrategias Hechas y Probadas por Maestros para Obtener Notas Altas (Master the GED in Spanish 2002: Strategies Compiled and Tested by Teachers to Obtain High Grades) RC 52999
por Ginés Serrán-Pagán y otros
read by Juan Ramírez
8 cassettes en 2 envases
Profesores especializados en programas de educación de adultos presentan la guía más actualizada de preparación para personas de habla hispana que desean tomar los examenes del GED. Incluyen muestras de examenes, repaso de las materias que se presentan en los examenes y consejos de estudio para adultos. (Specialists in adult education present a study guide for Spanish-speaking persons who wish to obtain the GED. Includes sample exams, a review of the subject areas, and advice on studying for the exams.) 1998.

Un Gato en el Palomar (Cat among the Pigeons)      RC 54854
por Agatha Christie
read by María Pino
2 cassettes
El detective Hercule Poirot afronta un caso difícil cuando un asesino serial aterroriza un colegio privado para señoritas. (Detective Hercule Poirot faces a challenging case when a serial killer terrorizes a private English school for girls.) 1980.

Asesinato en la Calle Hickory (Hickory, Dickory, Death)      RC 54953
por Agatha Christie
read by María Pino
2 cassettes
Hercule Poirot acomete un caso desconcertante que se trata de robos y asesino en una residencia para estudiantes de medicina. (Hercule Poirot tackles a case of several thefts and a murder in a student hostel.) 1955.

Desenmascaremos el Islam: Un Estudio Profundo de las Costumbres y Creencias Musulmanas (Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs)      RC 54955
por Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner
read by María Pino
2 cassettes
Presenta un estudio objectivo de las creencias, ética, práctica, y costumbres del Islam. Los autores, hermanos criados como musulmanes sunnis y ahora profesores cristianos de teología, están en una posición única para comparar ambas religiones y ofrecer un base de conocimientos para poder abrir un diálogo productivo entre cristianos y musulmanes. (A look at the beliefs, practices, ethics, and customs of Islam by two brothers who were raised as Sunni Muslims and later converted to Christianity.) 2002.

La Novia Oscura (The Dark Bride)      RC 54956
por Laura Restrepo
read by María Pino
3 cassettes
Los días de pago los obreros de refinería bajan del monte al barrio de las mujeres y al burdel La Catunga. Aquí la exotica y sensual prostituta, Sayonara, embruja y encanta a los hombres, y ella domina este paraiso sórdido como una reina. Entonces, Sayonara se enamora de un hombre misterioso que nunca puede conquistar. (Every payday the workmen from the Colombian oil fields are drawn to the La Catunga brothel where they are entranced by the exotic and sensual prostitute Sayonara. Sayonara rules her squalid paradise like a queen, until one day she falls in love with a man she can never have.) 1999.

Criando a Nuestros Niños: Educando a Niños Latinos en un Mundo Bicultural (Raising Our Children: Educating Latino Children in a Bicultural World)      RC 54958
por Gloria G. Rodríguez
read by María Pino
4 cassettes
Una madre latina y doctora en educación familiar presenta un manual que incluye las investigaciones más actuales sobre la educación de niños. También incluye anécdotas personales, canciones, recetas, dichos y juegos diseñados a preservar el marco cultural y el ambiente familiar de niños latinos. (A Latina mother and specialist in family education presents a manual of information on child rearing. Includes personal anecdotes, songs, recipes, adages, and games designed to preserve the cultural heritage and family integrity of Latino children.) 1999.

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Posted on 2006-02-24