Braille Book Review, Vol. 74, No. 3, May-June 2005 Braille Book Review May-June 2005 Volume 74, Number 3 _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large-print, braille, and computer diskette formats and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists braille magazines and books available through a network of cooperating libraries. The braille edition also lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations. News about library services is featured in both editions. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. Readers can receive _Braille Book Review_ and other information through the Internet by accessing the the NLS home page at http://www.loc.gov/nls. To order books or for subscription changes, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. Library of Congress, Washington 2005 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Braille Magazines In Brief The following material is reprinted from NLS Flash, March 2005, volume 1, issue 4, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals. A new generation of talking-book machines Have you ever asked yourself why you must push a button marked ‡end‡ to turn on your cell phone? Or why a TV remote might have a control called ‡bypass‡ that appears to do exactly nothing? The answer to these questions is disarmingly simple: often technology is designed by engineers for engineers. They sometimes do not consider the rest of us. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) understands this. For the next generation of talking-book machines, NLS is emphasizing the usability of new technologies. ‡The digital talking-book player must be intuitive and easy to use by all patrons regardless of age, experience, and physical ability,‡ says Frank Kurt Cylke, the director of NLS. The new device must also be easily maintained and repaired. With these criteria in mind, NLS has selected the technical and design services of Battelle, a leading technology innovation firm, and a team of experts to develop the digital talking books (DTBs) and audio playback machines. A contract was signed on February 23, 2005. Serving as subcontractors on the project are HumanWare, formerly VisuAide, a leader in digital talking-book technology; the National Federation of the Blind, the largest organization of blind persons in the United States, with more than 50,000 members; and Trace Research and Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which makes information technology and telecommunications systems accessible by people with disabilities. The completed system will include the digital talking- book machine (DTBM) and the flash memory cartridge that holds the talking book, as well as labeling and packaging. It's a tall order! The machines must be lightweight and portable, yet sturdy enough to survive postal delivery and years of heavy use. Usability will be critical. ‡The player and cartridge together form the system with which users will read their talking books. That system will define the reading experience for future users, so it‡s critical that it be designed correctly,‡ says Michael Moodie, deputy director of NLS. ‡If the job is done right, a user‡s focus will be on the book or magazine he or she is reading, and not on the player or the cartridge.‡ NLS patrons will reap the benefits of this design. By considering the purpose of the product up front and the ways in which patrons will put it to use, the final DTBM should function in a manner that all find satisfying. More than 60 percent of NLS patrons are over the age of 60, more than 1,000 are over 100 years of age, and many are newly blind. Most read books in a linear fashion and have limited need for a sophisticated navigation system. In fact, this group would find a complex player frustrating and thus prefer a more basic player. Blind children and younger adults also use talking books and may wish DTBMs to have more capabilities‡such as advanced navigation features. A user interface designed solely for one of these groups will not meet the wants and needs of all patrons. ‡The DTBM will be designed with the blind and physically handicapped user in mind. Unlike audio players aimed at the general consumer, it will employ tactile features, color differences, and large-print labels to inform users with various levels of vision about its functions,‡ says Cylke. The user interface‡the way a person interacts with a machine or a device‡must be comfortable for people who are blind and/or physically handicapped. Controls will be spaced so that it is easy to distinguish one from another. Because many talking-book readers like to read at higher-than-normal speeds, the DTBM will include a variable speed control. It will also include controls that allow users to quickly skip from chapter to chapter. Usability studies will be conducted to ensure that patrons are able to easily and successfully run the player, that librarians are able to clearly explain the operation of the device, and that repair personnel are able to support and service the player. Quality control The playback machine must meet a tough set of standards. It will employ current and new technologies and will comply with safety regulations. And most important, it will be a creative and imaginative product that wins the support of patrons. Over the lifetime of the design, nearly one million copies of the player will be distributed. The design will need to be economically mass-produced. Since the player will deliver spoken audio to readers, patrons need a machine with high-quality sound. The machine design will consider support issues such as guiding patrons, librarians, and repair personnel. Battelle and their associates HumanWare, the National Federation of the Blind, and the Trace Center will create training materials for the users of the playback device, including instructions for use in large print and braille that will be shipped with the player. ‡NLS plans to facilitate training of librarians in the use of DTBMs through hands-on demonstrations, the provision of written directions, and instructional videos,‡ says Judith Dixon, NLS consumer relations officer. By 2008, NLS plans to have 60,000 playback units and 20,000 digital talking-book titles ready for use. Meet the player makers NLS has pulled together a team of developers and experts in the fields of technology and disability to ensure that the new digital talking-book machine (DTBM) will be just what patrons want. Not only will it be smartly designed, but the DTBM will be examined and tested at every turn for compatibility with blind and physically handicapped users. Here is the team that will make it happen. Battelle Contractor. The firm has developed the technology behind some of the products we use everyday such as the copy machine, compact discs, and the bar code used by retailers for automated checkout and inventory control. HumanWare, formerly Visuaide Subcontractor. A Canadian innovation firm and leader in digital talking-book technology, HumanWare produces the Victor Readers. They have also created the next generation of GPS-based orientation solutions for blind and physically handicapped individuals and the first mainstream accessible handheld P.C. National Federation of the Blind Subcontractor. The largest organization of blind persons in the U.S. and the world, NFB has more than 50,000 members who work to integrate the blind into society on a basis of equality by removing legal, economic, and social discriminations. Trace Research and Development Center, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin‡Madison Subcontractor. A pioneer in the field of technology and disability, the Trace Center has developed widely used guidelines for the design of consumer products to make them accessible to persons with disabilities. Digital talking-book (DTB) milestones Completed - Defined and prioritized digital talking-book (DTB) features. - Coordinated development and publication of Specifications for the Digital Talking Book (ANSI/NISO Z39.86). - Simulated a DTB player using personal computer. - Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis (LCC) model for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems. - Developed computer software for DTB production and presentation. - Developed software to test conformance of players and DTBs with the ANSI/NISO standard. - User survey - Player transition study - Distribution medium study - Player and medium design contract awarded. Start 1/12/04‡Finish 10/1/08 The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses. - Web-Magazine pilot (1/12/04) - Digital data management system development (11/1/04) - Distribution system design and transition planning (12/1/04) - Player and medium development (3/1/05) - Design DTB containers and labels (6/1/05) - Web-Book pilot (6/1/05) - Prepare for DTB distribution (10/1/05) - Circulation systems design (12/1/05) - Manufacture initial lot of DTB containers and labels (9/1/06) - Distribution system implementation (10/1/06) - Circulation systems implementation (10/1/06) - Media production (3/1/07) - Media duplication (5/1/07) - Full player production (9/1/07) For information on the NLS digital project contact Jean M. Moss, Digital Projects Coordinator. E-mail: jemo@loc.gov; fax: (202) 707-1690. For the Strategic Business Plan online: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2003.html 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. Students can also listen to the guide on the Web at http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/audioguide. Newsstand The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. Items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. Talking Tactile Atlas The National Geographic Talking Tactile Atlas of the World has just become available from Touch Graphics, Inc. The atlas, which includes 43 raised-line and printed map sheets was developed through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and was created in collaboration with National Geographic Maps. Users can place one of the maps onto a Talking Tactile Tablet (TTT), a new, reasonably-priced touch-sensitive "viewer" for tactile graphics that connects to a computer's USB port. When the user presses on various cities, countries, landmarks and bodies of water on the map, a recorded human voice speaks the name of the place that was touched. Other functions include an alphabetical index to find any named location that appears on one of the map sheets; a distance calculator to determine how far it is between any pair of places; and facts and historical notes about every continent, country and U.S. state. By combining high-quality tactile graphic maps with the power of the computer to add audio information specific to each place the user touches, the Talking Tactile Atlas of the World offers an unprecedented level of access to geographical information. For further product information, visit www.touchgraphics.com. For information on price and how to order, e-mail info@touchgraphics.com, or call (212) 375-6341. ### _Books for Adults_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Note:_ For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, as in "some strong language." _Nonfiction_ Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North America. BR 14699. by Ira Berlin. 6 volumes. History professor Berlin discusses the evolution of slavery from a social practice to a central pillar of the U.S. economy. He outlines three stages in this development--the charter generation, the plantation generation, and the revolutionary generation--and distinguishes among four geographical areas--the North, the Chesapeake, the Carolina low country, and the Mississippi Valley. 1998. BR 14699. ## A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish. BR 14863. by John Butt and Carmen Benjamin. 10 volumes. Provides a complete and up-to-date reference to the grammatical rules of modern Spanish as currently spoken and written in Spain and Latin America. Covers formal, colloquial, familiar, and popular usage of the language, illustrated with examples in Spanish with English translations. English/Spanish language. 1988. BR 14863. ## The Holy Bible with the Apocrypha: Revised Standard Version. BR 14943. . 24 volumes. Fiftieth anniversary edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (1952), which revised the American Standard Version (published in 1901) that was, in turn, a revision of the King James Version (published in 1611). Includes Apocrypha. 2002. BR 14943. ## Blindness and Children: An Individual Differences Approach. BR 14980. by David H. Warren. 4 volumes. Explores the known variables affecting the development of children with visual impairments. Analyzes research literature on structuring children's experiences to achieve optimal learning skills and avoid developmental delays. 1994. BR 14980. ## Dark Harbor: Building House and Home on an Enchanted Island. BR 15118. by Ved Mehta. 2 volumes. In this continuation of his Continents of Exile memoir series, Mehta, a blind writer, recounts his undertaking to build a house on a small Maine island in 1984 and the importance of this home in his marriage and family life. 2003. BR 15118. ## Baking by Flavor. BR 15148. by Lisa Yockelson. 6 volumes. More than 250 recipes designed to accentuate eighteen flavors--among them chocolate, vanilla, caramel, lemon, and apricot--in a variety of cakes, cookies, and pies. Contains introductory headnotes, easy-to-follow instructions, and lots of special baking tips. Also includes sections on equipment, pantry staples, and freezing baked goods. 2002. BR 15148. ## Helen and Teacher: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy. BR 15171. by Joseph P. Lash. 8 volumes (Reissue). Dual biography reveals the depth and intensity in the mutually dependent relationship between deaf-blind Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Chronicles both women's childhoods and adult years until Keller's death in 1968. 1980. BR 15171. ## Getting Your Book Published for Dummies‡. BR 15205. by Sarah Parsons Zackheim. 4 volumes. Describes the publishing industry and emphasizes what budding authors need to know in order to have a book produced. Includes advice on dealing with negotiations, proposals, advances, options, rights, marketing, agents, and self-publishing on the Web. Foreword by Nelson DeMille. 2000. BR 15205. ## The Alzheimer's Health Care Handbook: How to Get the Best Medical Care for Your Relative with Alzheimer's Disease in and out of the Hospital. BR 15223. by Mary S. Mittelman and Cynthia Epstein. 2 volumes. Advice for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients who suffer from physical ailments as well as dementia. Covers doctors' visits, medications, emergencies, hospital stays, post- hospitalization care, and end-of-life decisions. Also includes nursing home information and tips on self-care for oneself. 2002. BR 15223. ## >From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy. BR 15239. by Nellie Connally and Mickey Herskowitz. 1 volume. Widow of former Texas governor John Connally recalls the fateful Dallas ride in the presidential limousine on November 22, 1963, when JFK was fatally shot and the governor severely wounded. Nellie Connally describes the chaos of the scene, her husband's long recovery, and the assassination's effect on her and her three children. 2003. BR 15239. ## In My Grandmother's House: Award-winning Authors Tell Stories about Their Grandmothers. BR 15256. compiled by Bonnie Christensen. 2 volumes. Twelve authors describe their fascination with their grandmothers. In "Rhizomes," Minfong Ho wonders how hers coped with leaving China for an arranged marriage in Singapore. In "Grandma and Her Needle," Beverly Cleary reminisces about her hat-making grandmother. For junior and senior high readers. 2003. BR 15256. ## The Lord Is My Shepherd: Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-third Psalm. BR 15261. by Harold S. Kushner. 1 volume. Rabbi Kushner, author of _When Bad Things Happen to Good People (BR 05310)_, reflects on the solace in the words of the Twenty-Third Psalm and their meaning after the terrorist events of September 11, 2001. Kushner's nonsectarian discussion examines each stanza of the psalm as it relates to life and loss. 2003. BR 15261. ## Landscaping with Wildflowers: An Environmental Approach to Gardening. BR 15266. by Jim Wilson. 2 volumes. A host of PBS's "Victory Garden" discusses how to establish native plants in a variety of habitats. Wilson advocates making selections that attract butterflies and birds, and recommends cultivating types resistant to diseases and pests. His suggestions include soil preparation, purchasing tips, and maintenance. He also provides lists of ferns, wildflowers, and grasses for specific regions. 1992. BR 15266. ## Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World. BR 15269. by Rita Golden Gelman. 3 volumes. Children's author and self-proclaimed "modern-day nomad" recounts her travels since 1986 when, on the verge of divorce at age forty-eight, she abandoned her upscale California existence. Gelman's serendipitous lifestyle takes her around the world--from the Galápagos to Thailand and beyond--where she connects with locals, learns their customs, and shares their lives. 2001. BR 15269. ## Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm. BR 15270. by Thomas J. Campanella. 3 volumes. A natural history of the American elm interwoven with U.S. urban and cultural development. Describes the native tree's symbolic significance and practical uses in the early republic, its spread across the nation, its demise as a victim of modernization and Dutch elm disease, and twentieth-century efforts to restore it to prominence. 2003. BR 15270. ## Teen Angst? Naaah . . . : A Quasi-Autobiography. BR 15272. by Ned Vizzini. 2 volumes. The self-described "geeky" author reminisces about growing up in New York City, navigating junior and senior high school, living for Nintendo games, taking family vacations, and dating and other embarrassing moments. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2000. BR 15272. ## An Open Book: Coming of Age in the Heartland. BR 15290. by Michael Dirda. 3 volumes. Memoir recounting the childhood of Pulitzer Prize-winning literary journalist. A steelworker's son, Dirda reminisces about growing up in the industrial town of Lorain, Ohio, during the 1950s and 1960s; working toward a degree in English at Oberlin College; and encountering various books that fueled his imagination along the way. 2003. BR 15290. ## Experiencing the Passion of Jesus: A Discussion Guide on History's Most Important Event. BR 15309. by Lee Strobel and Garry Poole. 1 volume. Two writers offer a topical guide for exploring the themes of Mel Gibson's film _The Passion of the Christ_. Includes six discussion questions with biblical sources about the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. 2004. BR 15309. ## A Guide to the Passion: One Hundred Questions about _The Passion of the Christ_. BR 15310. by Catholic Exchange. 1 volume. A Catholic guide to theological and artistic aspects of Mel Gibson's film _The Passion of the Christ_, which depicts Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. Contains advice for spiritual seekers and poses and answers some questions about the movie. 2004. BR 15310. ## How to Dunk a Doughnut: The Science of Everyday Life. BR 15316. by Len Fisher. 3 volumes. Physicist author uses mundane everyday events and anecdotes as vehicles to convey basic scientific concepts in an entertaining manner. Discusses how to dunk a donut, catch a fly ball, and use tools while explaining the underlying principles involved. 2002. BR 15316. ## Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Difficult Times. BR 15317. by Studs Terkel. 3 volumes. Oral interviews with fifty-four people, varying in age and profession, focusing especially on their hopes to achieve a better life for themselves and mankind. Terkel presents these vignettes, which discuss such subjects as politics, economics, and civil rights, to support his thesis that hope is necessary to trigger activism leading to change. 2003. BR 15317. ## American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857. BR 15338. by Sally Denton. 4 volumes. An investigative reporter uses primary sources to research an attack in Utah on a wealth-laden pioneer wagon train whose passengers, except for a few children, were slaughtered. Analyzes the political and social climate of the time and concludes that the evidence leads to the elders of the Mormon church. 2003. BR 15338. ## Spoken Here: Travels among Threatened Languages. BR 15342. by Mark Abley. 4 volumes. Award-winning Canadian journalist documents the unprecedented extinction of the world's less-spoken languages. Drawing on his encounters with linguistic remnants from the Arctic to aboriginal Australia, he illustrates threats to many endangered tongues. The report also speaks to the relationship between language and identity and warns of globalization's consequences. 2003. BR 15342. ## The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events. BR 15345. by Stanley Coren. 4 volumes. Author portrays canines whose relationships with historical figures have influenced world events. Coren describes how Freud's fondness for dogs led to pet-assisted therapy, how Ponce de León's brutal pooch expedited Spain's conquest of America, and how China's "lion dogs" helped end imperial rule. 2002. BR 15345. ## Coping with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. BR 15348. by Elaine Fantle Shimberg. 2 volumes. Describes the condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including its causes, diagnosis, treatments, and "a to z" coping skills for both patients and their families. Offers ways to quit smoking and advice for caregivers. 2003. BR 15348. ## Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. BR 15421. by Lynne Truss. 1 volume. Despairing over the abysmal state of British usage, author/journalist Truss, a stickler for punctuation, dissects common language errors involving apostrophes, commas, dashes, and hyphens. She notes punctuation is not a class issue but a tool to clarify the written word. Bestseller 2003. BR 15421. ## ### _Fiction_ In the Presence of the Enemy. BR 14852. by Elizabeth George. 5 volumes. Newspaper editor Dennis Luxford receives a threatening note demanding that he publicly reveal he is the father of ten- year-old Charlotte Bowen, the kidnapped daughter of a member of Parliament with whom Luxford had an affair years earlier. Scotland Yard inspector Thomas Lynley enters the case when a body is discovered. Strong language. Bestseller 1996. BR 14852. ## In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner. BR 14856. by Elizabeth George. 6 volumes. Inspector Thomas Lynley's search for clues to connect a suicide and several murders provides him with multiple suspects. Lynley's longtime partner Barbara Havers works especially hard in hopes of redeeming the reputation she lost in _Deception on His Mind (BR 14864)_. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 1999. BR 14856. ## Long for This World. BR 14977. by Michael Byers. 4 volumes. While studying a fatal aging disease in children, geneticist Dr. Henry Moss finds a potential cure that will brand him unethical but make him incredibly wealthy. Meanwhile, his nonpracticing physician wife and two teenage children struggle with unfulfilled expectations of their own. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003. BR 14977. ## The Early Stories, 1953-1975. BR 15219. by John Updike. 8 volumes. More than one hundred short pieces originally published in the _New Yorker_ and other magazines. Includes the Olinger and Tarbox sagas as well as "Pigeon Feathers," "The Family Meadow," and "The Witnesses." Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2003. BR 15219. ## Flight of the Intruder. BR 15226. by Stephen Coonts. 3 volumes. Vietnam, 1972. U.S. Navy pilot Jake Grafton struggles for meaning in the senseless death and destruction. Bitter and angry, he plans an illegal bombing raid on Hanoi. Prequel to _Final Flight (BR 7630)_. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1986. BR 15226. ## The Spirit of Covington. BR 15227. by Joan Medlicott. 3 volumes. When fire destroys the farmhouse of Amelia, Grace, and Hannah, the three devastated ladies and Hannah's daughter, Laura, seek temporary refuge elsewhere. The stress of rebuilding, losing their keepsakes, and living apart affects their relationships. Sequel to _From the Heart of Covington (BR 14151)_. 2003. BR 15227. ## The Queene's Christmas: An Elizabeth I Mystery. BR 15228. by Karen Harper. 2 volumes. London, England; 1564. Even as she feuds with her cousin Mary Stuart of Scotland, thirty-one-year-old Queen Elizabeth plans an old-fashioned Yuletide celebration. But when one of the kitchen help is murdered, court herb mistress Meg Milligrew and trusted companions join Elizabeth in hunting for the killer before he strikes again. 2003. BR 15228. ## Artemis: A Kydd Novel. BR 15234. by Julian Stockwin. 3 volumes. Following his introduction to the sea in _Kydd (BR 13841)_, Thomas Kydd and his friend Nicholas Renzi continue to fight Napoleon's navy--this time aboard a frigate. During a stop in Macao, Kydd falls in love but can't commit to a life ashore. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001. BR 15234. ## Zigzag. BR 15235. by Ellen Wittlinger. 2 volumes. When her boyfriend deserts her for the summer, seventeen- year-old Robin drives from Iowa to California with her widowed aunt and two nasty younger cousins. The grieving family fights along the way, but Robin helps console them and also begins to become more independent. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2003. BR 15235. ## Friction. BR 15240. by E.R. Frank. 1 volume. When Stacy, a new eighth-grade girl, starts spreading nasty rumors about classmate Alexandra and her favorite teacher, Simon, the class doesn't know what to think. But when Stacy accuses Simon of molesting her, Alex visits her house and discovers the truth. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 2003. BR 15240. ## The Notebook. BR 15245. by Nicholas Sparks. 2 volumes. An elderly man reads from a notebook to his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease. Gradually he unfolds the story of a couple who fell in love the summer after high school and were reunited by a fluke fourteen years later. But will his wife recognize her own story? Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996. BR 15245. ## Don Quixote. BR 15246. by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. 9 volumes. Spanish classic depicting the adventures of Don Quixote, an aging gentleman addled by chivalrous visions, who appoints himself a knight-errant and sets out with his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, on a quest to right the world's wrongs. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. New translation by Edith Grossman. Bestseller 2003. BR 15246. ## Pompeii. BR 15250. by Robert Harris. 3 volumes. Italy, A.D. 79. Pliny the Elder sends engineer Marcus Attilius Primus to Pompeii to investigate a water flow problem. Attilius examines the aqueduct, uncovers an embezzlement scheme, discovers the imminent eruption of the volcano Vesuvius, and attempts to rescue his new love. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2003. BR 15250. ## The Dragon's Son. BR 15254. by Sarah L. Thomson. 2 volumes. Four short stories about King Arthur as seen through the eyes of family members and friends. In the first, Nimue marries a bard who supports the king in uniting England against the invading Saxons. In the last, Arthur's son arrives to overthrow his father. Some violence. For junior and senior high readers. 2001. BR 15254. ## Slumming. BR 15258. by Kristen D. Randle. 1 volume. High school seniors Alicia, Nikki, and Sam, who are Mormons, decide to find three "losers" to take to the prom. Sam chooses a girl with a dark family secret; Alicia cozies up to the class geek; and Nikki befriends a rebel. But problems arise. For senior high readers. 2003. BR 15258. ## The Birth of Venus. BR 15267. by Sarah Dunant. 3 volumes. Renaissance Florence. Sixteen-year-old Alessandra Cecchi, the educated, artistic daughter of a wealthy merchant, is forced to marry an older man, who promises her freedom. Upon discovering his true intentions, she turns for love to an artist commissioned by her father. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2003. BR 15267. ## The Glass Café; or, The Stripper and the State: How My Mother Started a War with the System That Made Us Kind of Rich and a Little Bit Famous. BR 15303. by Gary Paulsen. 1 volume. Twelve-year-old Tony is almost taken away from his mother when Social Services discovers that she is an exotic dancer. For junior and senior high readers. 2003. BR 15303. ## The White Russian. BR 15311. by Tom Bradby. 4 volumes. St. Petersburg, 1917. On the brink of the Bolshevik Revolution, chief investigator Sandro Ruzsky copes with a double murder. The dead woman is discovered to have ties to the royal family, while the dead man is American. Ruzsky uncovers treachery amid political and social unrest. Some violence and some strong language. 2003. BR 15311. ## Paradise: Based on a True Story of Survival. BR 15312. by Joan Elizabeth Goodman. 2 volumes. In 1542, sixteen-year-old French Huguenot Marguerite de La Rocque sails to America with her uncle. When he discovers Marguerite in the arms of her Catholic lover, he abandons them both on a Canadian island, where they struggle to survive. Some descriptions of sex. For senior high readers. 2002. BR 15312. ## Gloriana's Torch. BR 15313. by Patricia Finney. 5 volumes. Britain, 1580s. Following _Unicorn's Blood (BR 11881),_ English spy David Becket returns to Spain for information and to rescue colleague Simon Ames from the Inquisition. Ames's wife, Rebecca, and her African slave, Merula, complicate matters by traveling with him. Some strong language. 2003. BR 15313. ## Heretic: Grail Quest, Book 3. BR 15314. by Bernard Cornwell. 3 volumes. France, 1347. English archer Thomas of Hookton is sent to Gascony to capture a fortress, apprehend his cousin Guy Vexille, and, if possible, find the Grail. Thomas falls in love with Genevieve, a heretic sentenced to burn, and becomes a fugitive by sparing her life. Sequel to _Vagabond (BR 15478)_. Violence. 2003. BR 15314. ## Creation. BR 15315. by Katherine Govier. 3 volumes. Fictional account of an undocumented period in John James Audubon's life, the summer of 1833 he spent in Labrador furthering his quest to paint every bird in North America. Audubon kills his beloved feathered creatures to obtain life-sized models, romances his assistant, and becomes friends with a Royal Navy captain conducting a mapping survey. 2002. BR 15315. ## Seaflower: A Kydd Novel. BR 15319. by Julian Stockwin. 3 volumes. Following the devastating shipwreck of the frigate _Artemis (BR 15234)_, Thomas Kydd and his friend Nicholas Renzi are assigned to a Royal Navy cutter in the Caribbean. As Britain and Napoleonic France fight to control the West Indies, the _Seaflower_ endures battles, storms, and shark attacks. Some violence and some strong language. 2003. BR 15319. ## Scott Free. BR 15346. by John Gilstrap. 3 volumes. To impress her estranged teenage son, Scott, self-help guru Sherry O'Toole treats him to a week-long Utah ski trip. Avoiding his mother, Scott boards a small plane headed for a concert--and crashes in a snowstorm. As Sherry's ex-husband arrives, Scott's fight for survival begins. Strong language and some violence. 2003. BR 15346. ## Shipwreck. BR 15349. by Louis Begley. 2 volumes. Prize-winning American novelist John North recounts his adulterous liaisons with obsessive French journalist Léa Morini. He reveals to a stranger in a Parisian cafe how he was confused by his desires and how he struggled to hide this ill-fated affair. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003. BR 15349. ## Maisie Dobbs. BR 15352. by Jacqueline Winspear. 3 volumes. Thirteen-year-old Maisie is lucky to be a maid in the home of a wealthy London suffragette who sees to her education. Maisie becomes a private investigator in 1929 after serving as a nurse during the Great War. Her first case involves a shelter for wounded veterans. 2003. BR 15352. ## Cry, the Beloved Country. BR 15354. by Alan Paton. 3 volumes. The classic story of Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo's search for his delinquent son, Absalom, in 1940s Johannesburg, South Africa. Kumalo's experiences are set against a background of a land and its people struggling not only with overwhelming racial injustice but also with disintegration of tribal culture and traditional family bonds. 1948. BR 15354. ## Kicked Out. BR 15410. by Beth Goobie. 1 volume. Fifteen-year-old Dime is so unmanageable that her parents allow her to move in with her older brother Darren, who is a quadriplegic. After Dime's boyfriend leaves her she reassesses her life and begins to build self-esteem. Uncontracted braille. For senior high and older readers. 2002. BR 15410. ## Bull Rider. BR 15411. by Marilyn Halvorson. 1 volume. Sixteen-year-old Layne McQueen wants to follow in his late father's footsteps and enters a rodeo against his mother's wishes. Although his dad was killed bull riding, Layne secretly practices on a ranch nearby. Grade 1 braille. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2003. BR 15411. ## Hidden Prey. BR 15419. by John Sandford. 3 volumes. Duluth, Minnesota. When ex-KGB agent Rodion Oleshev is found dead on a city dock, police, the FBI, and Russian officials want answers. Special investigator Lucas Davenport from _Naked Prey (BR 14804)_ and Moscow cop Nadya Kalin team up to solve the crime. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2004. BR 15419. ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Nonfiction_ There's a Frog in My Throat! 440 Animal Sayings a Little Bird Told Me. BR 15039. by Loreen Leedy and Pat Street. 1 volume. Hundreds of sayings in English involving animals. Humorously explains the meaning of everyday expressions such as "it's a dog's life," "copycat," "chicken feed," "rat race," and "buzz off." PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 2003. BR 15039. ## Goldilocks and the Three Bears. BR 15042. retold by Jim Aylesworth. 1 volume. In a rendition of the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks is a good girl but sometimes forgets what her mother tells her to do. When she ventures into the woods and wanders into a stranger's house, she regrets not obeying the rules. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003. BR 15042. ## Deaf Culture A to Z. BR 15047. by Walter Paul Kelley. 1 volume. An alphabet book that looks at the deaf community letter by letter beginning with American Sign Language and ending with Dr. Elizabeth Zinser, a former president of Gallaudet University. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003. BR 15047. ## Christmas Crafts from around the World. BR 15242. by Judy Ann Sadler. 1 volume. A how-to book on holiday handicrafts from fourteen countries that children can make. Includes an advent calendar from Germany, cranberry and popcorn garlands from the United States, a piñata from Mexico, and a nativity scene from Italy. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2003. BR 15242. ## The North American Bison. BR 15257. by John E. Becker. 1 volume. Discusses the history of this woolly, horned mammal, including its near extinction in the 1870s when federal troops slaughtered bison herds to help defeat Native American tribes that were dependent on them for survival. Also relates later governmental and other efforts to preserve the species. For grades 4-7. 2003. BR 15257. ## Ready, Set, Grow! A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Girls. BR 15259. by Lynda Madaras. 1 volume. Written for girls in elementary school, this volume discusses the approach of puberty including the physical and emotional changes that they can expect. Includes nutrition and skin care advice. Companion to _What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls (BR 12992)_. For grades 4-7. 2003. BR 15259. ## Dr. Seuss's ABC. BR 15320. by Dr. Seuss. 1 volume (Reissue). Dr. Seuss adds nonsensical rhymes to the alphabet to make it fun for children to learn letters and their sounds. For preschool-grade 2. 1963. BR 15320. ## _The_ _Dream Keeper_ and Other Poems. BR 15321. by Langston Hughes. 1 volume (Reissue). Collection of sixty-six poems for young readers chosen by the author. Selections include lyrical poems, songs, and blues, many exploring the African American experience. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1932. BR 15321. ## Onboard the Space Shuttle. BR 15326. by Ray Spangenburg and Kit Moser. 1 volume. Examines what life is like for crews working on U.S. space shuttles and on the Russian space station _Mir_. Describes the space program's development and early problems, major scientific accomplishments, the 1986 _Challenger_ explosion, landmark missions, and the launch of the 2000 international space station. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2002. BR 15326. ## Welcome to Kaya's World 1764: Growing Up in a Native American Homeland. BR 15356. by Dottie Raymer. 1 volume. This companion to _Meet Kaya (BR 14539)_ and others in the series portray the Nez Perce Native American culture of the Pacific Northwest. Describes the myths, legends, history, and habitat of the tribe through modern times. For grades 2- 4. 2003. BR 15356. ## ### _Fiction_ Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?. BR 15043. by Bill Martin. 1 volume. A child sees ten creatures that are all endangered species-- bald eagles, water buffalo, sea lions, black panthers, green sea turtles, and others--and dreams they are free. Companion to _Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (BR 09944)_. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003. BR 15043. ## Private and Confidential: A Story about Braille. BR 15046. by Marion Ripley. 1 volume. When ten-year-old Laura discovers that her new Australian pen pal, Malcolm, has vision problems, she learns how to use a neighbor's braille machine in order to write to him. Includes an alphabet card and a braille message. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 2003. BR 15046. ## Losing Forever. BR 15115. by Gayle Friesen. 2 volumes. Fifteen-year-old Jessica tries hard to cope with her mother's remarriage plans until her future stepsister shows up. Angela, Jessica's age, is beautiful and disturbed, but friends and family help Jessica to accept her new life. Some strong language. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2002. BR 15115. ## The City of Ember. BR 15120. by Jeanne DuPrau. 2 volumes. A city planned to survive for two hundred years, now in year 241, suffers shortages--and a secret message-bearing box is missing. Independent-thinking twelve-year-olds Doon and Lina exchange obligatory jobs and make a discovery that could change their known world. For grades 5-8. 2003. BR 15120. ## Escape from New Babylon: Left Behind--The Kids, Book 22. BR 15187. by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. 1 volume. In this sequel to _Secrets of New Babylon (BR 15186)_ Vicki returns to the schoolhouse with newcomer Chris Traickin, although she wonders if he can be trusted. In New Babylon, Judd and Nada discover that Nada's brother is still alive. For grades 5-8. 2002. BR 15187. ## Horsemen of Terror: Left Behind--The Kids, Book 23. BR 15188. by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. 1 volume. In this sequel to _Escape from New Babylon (BR 15187)_, Judd's life changes forever as he is forced to endure a test from God all alone. At the schoolhouse, Vicki's worst fears are realized as the Global Community sets in motion a plan to trap believers. For grades 5-8. 2002. BR 15188. ## Uplink from the Underground: Left Behind--The Kids, Book 24. BR 15189. by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. 1 volume. In this sequel to _Horsemen of Terror (BR 15188)_, the horsemen are causing havoc and killing people across the world. The kids in the schoolhouse have developed a bold plan to help spread the word. Meanwhile Judd is faced with the task of stopping an assassination attempt. For grades 5- 8. 2002. BR 15189. ## Granny Torrelli Makes Soup. BR 15241. by Sharon Creech. 1 volume. Rosie's grandmother knows that the kitchen is a wonderful place for trading confidences and advice in the form of stories. When Rosie and her best friend, Bailey, who is vision impaired, have a falling out, Granny Torrelli reunites them through cooking. For grades 5-8. 2003. BR 15241. ## Johnny Tremain: A Novel for Old and Young. BR 15252. by Esther Forbes. 2 volumes. After injuring his right hand, fourteen-year-old Johnny, a silversmith's apprentice, becomes a messenger for the Sons of Liberty in the days before the American Revolution. He meets Massachusetts patriots and becomes involved in events leading to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 1943. BR 15252. ## Secret Heart. BR 15260. by David Almond. 1 volume. Stammering Joe Maloney, bullied by the boys in his village school, dreams of tigers. When a shabby circus comes to town, he finds a soul mate in Corinna, a trapeze artist, and other performers. For grades 5-8. 2001. BR 15260. ## Pooh Invents a New Game. BR 15293. by A.A. Milne. 1 volume. Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, and Roo are racing sticks on the river when Eeyore floats by. Eeyore is more concerned about who bounced him into the river than how he gets out. Christopher Robin calms things down. Beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2003. BR 15293. ## The Case of the Troublesome Turtle: The High-Rise Private Eyes, Book 4. BR 15294. by Cynthia Rylant. 1 volume. A toy store owner complains that every Friday someone is taking the bunch of balloons tied to the front of the store. Animal detectives Bunny and Jack go to a football game and figure out a friendly way to solve the case. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2001. BR 15294. ## Pooh Goes Visiting. BR 15327. by A.A. Milne. 1 volume. Winnie-the-Pooh eats so much while visiting Rabbit that he gets stuck in the entrance hole when he tries to leave. Christopher Robin comes up with a solution. Beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2002. BR 15327. ## Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Diary of Bess Brennan. BR 15330. by Barry Denenberg. 1 volume. In 1932 twelve-year-old Bess loses her sight in a sledding accident. Dictating her thoughts to her twin sister, Elin, on weekend visits home, Bess keeps a diary describing life at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts, where she learns to read braille. For grades 5-8. 2002. BR 15330. ## On the Far Side of the Mountain. BR 15351. by Jean Craighead George. 1 volume (Reissue). Continues teenager Sam Gribley's wilderness survival adventures begun in _My Side of the Mountain (BR 15070)_. Sam's peaceful new life is shattered when a conservation officer confiscates his falcon and his younger sister, Alice, disappears from their mountain home. For grades 5-8. 1990. BR 15351. ## The River. BR 15353. by Gary Paulsen. 1 volume. In this sequel to _Hatchet (BR 11525)_, Brian Robeson returns to the wilderness with Derek Holtzer, a psychologist investigating the nature of survival. The two are struck by lightning, and the radio transmitter is knocked out leaving them stranded. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1991. BR 15353. ## Doing Time Online. BR 15518. by Jan Siebold. 1 volume. Twelve-year-old Mitch is sentenced to community service after his prank harms an elderly woman. To make amends he must chat online with a nursing home resident twice a week. Over time he bonds with Wootie Hayes, and the two become friends. For grades 4-7. 2002. BR 15518. ## Haunting at Home Plate. BR 15520. by David Patneaude. 1 volume. Twelve-year-old Nelson recruits his female cousin Mike to coach his baseball team. They are on a losing streak when they see messages scratched in the dirt at home plate. The team wonders if the ghost of a boy who died years ago is responsible. For grades 4-7. 2000. BR 15520. ## Lumber Camp Library. BR 15521. by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock. 1 volume. Vermont, 1920s. Ruby wants to be a teacher, but she has to quit school after her father's death in a logging accident to help care for her ten brothers and sisters. A chance meeting with an elderly blind neighbor transforms her life. For grades 3-6. 2002. BR 15521. ## Me Tarzan. BR 15522. by Betsy Byars. 1 volume. Dorothy surprises herself and everyone else when she tries out for Tarzan in the class play. An amazing jungle yell comes out of her--and it gets louder every time. During each rehearsal more and more animals gather. Then the circus comes to town. For grades 2-4. 2000. BR 15522. ## Ruby Holler. BR 15524. by Sharon Creech. 1 volume. Thirteen-year-old fraternal twins Dallas and Florida have grown up in a terrible orphanage. Their luck changes when an elderly couple, Mr. Tiller Morey and his wife, Sairy, invite them on a travel adventure starting from their home in a wonderful place called Ruby Holler. For grades 4-7. 2002. BR 15524. ## Saving Lilly. BR 15525. by Peg Kehret. 1 volume. Sixth-graders Erin and David have researched the topic of circus animal abuse, so when their teacher schedules a field trip to the Glitter Tent Circus they refuse to go. Instead they raise money to send a mistreated elephant, Lilly, to an animal sanctuary. For grades 3-6. 2001. BR 15525. ## Silver Dollar Girl. BR 15526. by Katherine Ayres. 1 volume. Colorado, 1885. Vallie runs away from her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh to search for her father, who is prospecting in Aspen. Disguised as a boy, Vallie finds adventure and danger while she travels west. For grades 3-6. 2000. BR 15526. ## United Tates of America. BR 15527. by Paula Danziger. 1 volume. Eleven-year-old Sarah "Skate" Tate faces many disappointments entering middle school: she must endure a long bus ride every day, her cousin and best friend finds new companions and hobbies, and a death in the family occurs. But throughout all her trials Skate continues a scrapbook project. For grades 4-7. 2002. BR 15527. ## When Mack Came Back. BR 15528. by Brad Strickland. 1 volume. Ten-year-old Maury of Georgia takes care of his brother Ben's dog and deals with his father's anger over Ben's joining the army during World War II. For grades 4-7. 2000. BR 15528. ## The Word Eater. BR 15529. by Mary Amato. 1 volume. Sixth-grader Lerner hates her new school until she finds Fip, a paper-devouring magic worm. When Fip eats printed words, like "vending machine," the signified object disappears. Lerner takes Fip to class to get revenge on class bullies, but she gradually learns extraordinary powers bring big responsibilities. For grades 4-7. 2000. BR 15529. ## Goldie and the Three Bears. BR 16001. by Diane Stanley. 1 volume. A little girl named Goldie has yet to find a friend to love. But when she makes an unplanned visit to the house of some bears, she finds what she is looking for. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003. BR 16001. ## My Family Plays Music. BR 16002. by Judy Cox. 1 volume. An African American girl joins her musical family playing on a variety of instruments in various settings. She participates in a marching band and a string quartet and performs at church, in a café, in a ballroom, and in a concert. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003. BR 16002. ## ### Braille Magazines The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that send you braille materials. Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Conundrum (British monthly) Cooking Light (10 issues) ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly) Harper's (literary; monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues) Muse (for children; 10 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC World (personal computing; monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (11 issues) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens; monthly) Short Stories (British monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Stone Soup (children's writings; 5 issues) Update (NLS quarterly) The Washington Post Book World (weekly) The following sports schedules are also available: American Baseball League Schedule National Baseball League Schedule National Basketball Association Schedule National Football League Schedule National Hockey League Schedule Women's National Basketball Association Schedule