###
Braille Book Review, Vol. 73, No. 6, November-December 2004

Braille Book Review
November-December 2004
Volume 73, Number 6

_Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large-print,
braille, and computer diskette formats and distributed
free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who
participate in the Library of Congress free reading program.
It lists braille magazines and books available through a
network of cooperating libraries.  The braille edition also
lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations.  News
about library services is featured in both editions.
     The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles
recently added to the national collection, which contains
thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including
classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and
self-help guides.  To learn more about the wide
range of books in the national collection, readers may order
catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating
libraries.  Librarians can check other resources for titles
and answer requests for special materials.  Readers can
receive _Braille Book Review_ and other information
through the Internet by accessing the the NLS
home page at http://www.loc.gov/nls.
     To order books or for subscription changes,
contact your local cooperating library.
Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent
to Publications and Media Section, National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of
Congress, Washington, DC 20542.

Library of Congress, Washington 2004

Library of Congress
Catalog Card Number 53-31800
ISSN 0006-873X

Contents:

In Brief

Books for Adults
     Nonfiction
     Fiction

Books for Children
     Nonfiction
     Fiction

Foreign Language Books
     Spanish


Braille Magazines

In Brief

The following material is reprinted from NLS Flash, November
2004, volume 1, issue 1, a newsletter created to bring
current information on NLS progress in digital technology to
patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals.

Digital technology to bring books to life 
Since the 1970s, analog cassettes have enabled NLS to
deliver reliable and entertaining audio books and magazines
to people who are unable to read standard print.Analog
technology continues to work, but now it‡s time for
something new. NLS has found the answer in technology
unavailable thirty years ago. 
     "Digital talking books will bring a great range of
benefits to blind and physically handicapped readers," says
Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "Many of the marvelous
capabilities of the printed book will be combined with the
power of computers to create a tool of unprecedented
flexibility and power."
     NLS will use digital technology to enhance the
listening experience. What makes digital better than analog?
Users can easily navigate through a book. Sound quality will
improve.  Less handling will be required. And that‡s only
the beginning.
     Fast forward to the future. Each patron will have
access to a flash-based playback machine and will be able to
download digital books and magazines from the Internet. 

Digital transformation. After 10 years of research, NLS
chose flash memory as the framework for its new system. How
will it work? Imagine a lightweight playback device with a
removable cartridge that allows for faster access to the
content of a book. In 2008, this dream becomes reality. 
     A digital talking book (DTB) will resemble a credit
card, only slightly larger. It will be a high-density flash
memory cartridge, capable of holding a complete book. Each
book's digital master will be compressed to fit the
cartridge at a rate that will deliver high-quality audio.
The books will be labeled in both large print and braille.
     In the race to project completion, NLS is off and
running. In 2002, NLS began the digital audio book
production and conversion process. By 2008, the program will
provide players and have a collection of 20,000 digital
titles.
     "The greatest challenge of the digital transition is
pulling several long-term and complex projects together to
function smoothly," says Jean M. Moss, NLS digital projects
coordinator. "It is critical to the successful
implementation of the digital program that all key
stakeholders--patrons, network libraries and their
administering agencies, producers, and staff--be involved,
to some extent, in the design and implementation process."
NLS will continue to collaborate with stakeholders through
user studies and meetings with the Digital Long-Term
Planning Group. Book titles expected to be among the most
popular 20 percent, which constitute 80 percent of total
circulation, are slated to be mass-produced and distributed
by network libraries. The remaining titles, constituting 20
percent of total circulation, will be duplicated on demand
through a distribution center that will service patrons
nationwide. 
     Driving the digital effort is the goal to make the
reading experiences for patrons more enjoyable. "The most
exciting feature of digital talking books is the reader's
ability to easily navigate through the book. All books will
include a basic level of navigation that allows the reader
to jump to various chapters and sections," says Moss. "The
navigation capabilities will vary with the type of book, for
example, fiction and non-fiction."  
     The design of the flash-based playback machines will be
cost-efficient. The solid-state machines will have no moving
parts, which will keep repair costs low. NLS plans to build
60,000 digital playback machines by 2008. "The production
quantity of DTB players will be increased in subsequent
years to satisfy patron demand," says Moss.

Flash benefits. Why should blind and physically handicapped
readers get excited about the new technology? Here are a few
good reasons: better sound quality in playback; fewer items
to keep track of (generally one cartridge instead of several
cassettes as required with the cassette system); and no need
to flip a switch or the cartridge during playback.
     Libraries also have compelling reasons to embrace the
digital transformation. Flash memory will require less
storage space for collections; memory cards can be reused
many times without loss of quality; playback devices will be
compact, lightweight and durable, and require fewer repairs;
and the playback devices are expected to be less expensive.
     "We've received positive comments on the move to a
digital system from network librarians and patrons," says
Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director. "The end result of the
conversion process will exceed expectations."

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 a 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.

Start 6/20/03--Finish 10/1/08
The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are
shown with start dates in parentheses.
-User survey (6/20/03)
-Player transition study (11/10/03)
-Web-Magazine pilot (1/12/04)
-Distribution medium study (7/1/04)
-Digital data management system development (11/1/04)
-Player and medium design (11/1/04)
-Distribution system design and transition planning
(12/1/04)
-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 NLS Strategic Business Plan
online: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2003.html.


###
_Books for Adults_
The following books were recently produced for the NLS
program.  To order books, contact your braille-lending
library.
_Note:_  For the infomation of the reader, a notice may
appear immediately following the book description to
indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit
descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any
of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent
occurence, as in "some strong language."

_Nonfiction_

The Emperor of Scent: A Story of Perfume, Obsession, and the
Last Mystery of the Senses.
BR 14687.
by Chandler Burr.
3 volumes.
Explains that Italian scientist Luca Turin's obsession with
scent led to his groundbreaking research, developing a new
theory of smell, in the 1990s. Burr explains the molecular
biology behind Turin's discoveries and explores the response
of the private sector, perfume industry, and scientific
community. 2002.
BR 14687.
##

A History of Philosophy in America, 1720-2000.
BR 14691.
by Bruce Kuklick.
4 volumes.
Traces the growth of philosophical thinking in the United
States from the colonial period through the twentieth
century. Describes traditions and explores the intentions of
such thinkers as theologian Nathaniel William Taylor,
metaphysician Josiah Royce, instrumentalist John Dewey, and
postmodern pragmatist Richard Rorty, within the social
matrix. 2001.
BR 14691.
##

Exploring Lewis and Clark: Reflections on Men and
Wilderness.
BR 14695.
by Thomas P. Slaughter.
3 volumes.
Historian evaluates nineteenth-century explorers Meriwether
Lewis and Willam Clark as human beings by analyzing their
journals and the "cultural imperatives behind them." Essays
discuss the enslavement and fate of their female Shoshone
guide, treatment of Clark's slave York, and experiences with
hunting, dreams, and snakes. 2003.
BR 14695.
##

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Creating Web Pages.
BR 14719.
by Todd Stauffer.
6 volumes.
For a person with basic computer literacy, this manual
explains HTML and XHTML standards for building Web pages and
managing and augmenting sites. Discusses what is needed to
get started, interactions with users, publishing tools, and
the basics of JavaScript. 2002.
BR 14719.
##

The Church Supper Cookbook: A Special Collection of Over 375
Potluck Recipes from Families and Churches across the
Country.
BR 14731.
edited by David Joachim.
3 volumes.
Collection of favorite family recipes from the best cooks in
churches and neighborhoods across America, handed down from
generation to generation. Provides family-size recipes for
meats and seafood, soups, salads, vegetables, breads, cakes,
pies, and cookies. Includes section on cooking for big
crowds. 2001.
BR 14731.
##

Best-Ever Cake Decorating.
BR 14734.
by Angela Nilsen and Sarah Maxwell.
3 volumes.
Step-by-step instructions for decorating over 100 cakes in
both classic and contemporary designs. Provides basic cake
and frosting recipes--royal and butter icings, marzipan, and
glacé. Describes techniques for creating novelty baked items
for special occasions, holidays, and children's parties--
elephants, beehives, clowns, and dinosaurs 1999.
BR 14734.
##

The Clueless Vegetarian: A Cookbook for the Aspiring
Vegetarian.
BR 14735.
by Evelyn Raab.
2 volumes.
Describes different types of vegetarian diets and the
nutritional information necessary for optimum health.
Provides easy recipes that would appeal to teenagers
interested in a meatless lifestyle. For junior and senior
high readers. 2000.
BR 14735.
##

Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions about the Real Nature of the
Universe.
BR 14742.
by Neil F. Comins.
2 volumes.
Astronomy professor identifies common misconceptions about
the cosmos. Topics range from false notions regarding
distant galaxies to erroneous theories about what causes
tides and seasons and which planet is the hottest. He
emphasizes the origins of incorrect ideas, how to avoid
them, and how to change them. 2001.
BR 14742.
##

Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Everyday
Heroes.
BR 14744.
by Marianne Larned.
4 volumes.
A collection of one hundred stories from thirty countries
about dedicated people working with their neighbors to help
build better communities and futures through simple acts of
goodwill. The director of a national nonprofit education
organization, Larned also offers information on how to join
volunteer efforts. 1998.
BR 14744.
##

American Ground: Unbuilding the World Trade Center.
BR 14746.
by William Langewiesche.
2 volumes.
Author witnesses the daily dismantling of the ruins of New
York's World Trade Center for nine months after the
terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. Describes the
physical dangers and the emotional turmoil endured by the
workers. Originally published as stories in the _Atlantic
Monthly_. 2002.
BR 14746.
##

Pregnant! What Can I Do? A Guide for Teenagers.
BR 14751.
by Tania Heller.
2 volumes.
Physician provides guidance for teenage women who become
pregnant unintentionally. Offers suggestions for getting
help, making the right decisions, and building a better
future. Discusses pros and cons of parenthood, abortion, and
adoption, and presents interviews with teens who chose each
option. For senior high and older readers. 2002.
BR 14751.
##

To Begin the World Anew: The Genius and Ambiguities of the
American Founders.
BR 14752.
by Bernard Bailyn.
2 volumes.
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian analyzes the contradictory
nature of key figures and documents of the American
Revolution. Bailyn's five essays discuss cultural influences
on political creativity, different sides of Thomas
Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin's idealism and realism, and the
_Federalist_ papers. 2003.
BR 14752.
##

New Fix-It-Yourself Manual.
BR 14759.
  .
8 volumes.
A _Reader's Digest_ guide for repairing items around the
house and in the yard. Discusses inside and outside tools
for troubleshooting problems with furniture, plumbing, large
and small appliances, home electronics, and sports and
recreation equipment. 1996.
BR 14759.
##

Our Universe: The Thrill of Extragalactic Exploration as
Told by Leading Experts.
BR 14799.
edited by S. Alan Stern.
2 volumes.
Nine essays by leading astronomers and cosmologists
concerning space exploration beyond the Milky Way. Topics
include the search for massive black holes, the Big Bang,
dark matter, and gamma-ray bursts. Profiles of contributing
authors provide insight into their personal experiences in
the space science field. 2001.
BR 14799.
##

Independent Living without Sight and Hearing.
BR 14822.
by Richard Kinney.
1 volume.
A guide written by a deaf-blind educator for deaf-blind
young people and adults. Offers advice on how deaf-blind
people can make the most of touch and other senses, how they
can communicate more effectively, and how they can better
order their daily lives. 1972.
BR 14822.
##

The New Work of Dogs: Tending to Life, Love, and Family.
BR 14833.
by Jon Katz.
2 volumes.
Journalist explores the changing role of dogs in the lives
of their human owners, who increasingly view them as family
members and depend on them for emotional support. But Katz
suggests there may be a downside to this trend, despite its
psychological benefits, for both people and pets. 2003.
BR 14833.
##

Fraud of the Century: Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel Tilden,
and the Stolen Election of 1876.
BR 14834.
by Roy Morris.
4 volumes.
Traces the post-Civil War presidential election, which in
America's centenary year pitted Ohio Republican governor
Rutherford Hayes against New York Democratic governor Samuel
Tilden. An electoral commission declared Hayes the winner
after disputed southern returns and four months of backroom
political intrigue by both parties. 2003.
BR 14834.
##

Chance in the House of Fate: A Natural History of Heredity.
BR 14837.
by Jennifer Ackerman.
3 volumes.
Former _National Geographic_ staff writer explores genetic
links between humans and other forms of life--even yeast.
Ackerman's narrative blends scientific explanations of
heredity and her own personal experiences, including her
sister's mental retardation. 2001.
BR 14837.
##

The Parents' Guide to Cochlear Implants.
BR 14843.
by Patricia M. Chute and Mary Ellen Nevins.
2 volumes.
Resource book detailing the process of cochlear implantation
in children from evaluation and surgery to switch-on.
Discusses strategies to develop auditory skills, educational
and performance issues, parental responsibilities, and the
role of implants in bridging the gap between the deaf and
hearing worlds. 2002.
BR 14843.
##

Soliah: The Sara Jane Olson Story.
BR 14844.
by Sharon Darby Hendry.
3 volumes.
Biography of Minnesota soccer mom Sara Jane Olson, arrested
in 1999 for terrorist activities in the 1970s when she was a
member of the Symbionese Liberation Army--notorious for the
kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst. Olson
changed her name from Kathleen Soliah and remained
underground for decades. Some strong language. 2002.
BR 14844.
##

Braille Books 2001-2002.
BR 14845.
by Blind and Physically Handicapped National Library Service
for the.
3 volumes.
A catalog of braille books produced during 2001 and 2002 by
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped. Separate sections list fiction and nonfiction
by subject categories. Young adult books and Grade 1 braille
books are also included. 2003.
BR 14845.
##

City of the Soul: A Walk in Rome.
BR 14847.
by William Murray.
1 volume.
Longtime resident presents an intimate walking tour of this
ancient city. Murray's tour illuminates the history and
legend behind famous sites like the Pantheon, the Colosseum,
Trevi Fountain, and the Piazza di Spagna. The guide also
connects past to present by revealing modern Rome's hotels,
shopping areas, restaurants, and cafes. 2002.
BR 14847.
##

Martha Washington: First Lady of Liberty.
BR 14900.
by Helen Bryan.
5 volumes.
Presents the life of the first United States president's
wife, Martha Washington (1731-1802), in the social,
political, and economic context of early America, especially
colonial Virginia. The chronicle depicts Martha as her
husband's "active, indispensable partner," who "commanded
respect in her own right," and reflects her instrumental
role in George's success. 2002.
BR 14900.
##

An Empire of Plants: People and Plants That Changed the
World.
BR 14912.
by Toby Musgrave and Will Musgrave.
3 volumes.
Discusses the role of seven plants--tobacco, sugar cane,
cotton, tea, poppies (opium), cinchona tree bark (quinine),
and rubber--and how they influenced the rise of imperialism,
overseas trade, and social changes. Also portrays the
adventurers, merchants, and slaves who were engaged in the
development of this economy. 2000.
BR 14912.
##

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the MindBodySpirit Connection:
Seven Steps for Living a Healthy Life with a Functional
Bowel Disorder, Crohn's Disease, or Colitis.
BR 14924.
by William B. Salt and Neil F. Neimark.
3 volumes.
Two physicians present their integrated mind/body/spirit
treatment plan for dealing with intestinal problems. They
discuss the multiple causes of functional digestive
disorders and provide a practical step-by-step regimen for
becoming well. 2002.
BR 14924.
##

America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S.
Military Engagements, 1975-2000.
BR 14946.
by Peter Huchthausen.
3 volumes.
Retired naval officer and author of _K-19: The Widowmaker
(RC 55090)_ traces America's post-Vietnam armed conflicts
from the 1975 rescue of the hijacked SS _Mayaguez_ in the
Gulf of Siam through the 1990s interventions in the Balkans.
Includes U.S. failures in Lebanon, Iran, and Somalia and
victories in Desert Storm, Grenada, and Panama. 2003.
BR 14946.
##

One Hundred Questions and Answers about Parkinson Disease.
BR 14947.
by Abraham Lieberman.
2 volumes.
National medical director of the Parkinson Foundation
addresses commonly asked questions about this chronic,
progressive nervous disease. Explanations are grouped by
topics including causes and symptoms, treatment options,
social and psychological aspects, and quality-of-life
issues. 2003.
BR 14947.
##

General Ike: A Personal Reminiscence.
BR 14949.
by John S.D. Eisenhower.
3 volumes.
The son of General Dwight D. Eisenhower draws on his own
observations and research as a military historian to
describe his father's relationships with World War II
associates. Essays portray Ike's interactions with George
Patton, Bernard Montgomery, Douglas MacArthur, George C.
Marshall, Charles de Gaulle, and Winston Churchill, among
others. Some strong language. 2003.
BR 14949.
##

The Big Fix: How the Pharmaceutical Industry Rips Off
American Consumers.
BR 14994.
by Katharine Greider.
2 volumes.
Reporter analyzes the aggressive marketing and pricing
practices of pharmaceutical companies while also recognizing
the enormous benefits of their products in reducing pain and
controlling illness. Discusses secret drug price policies,
efforts to extend patent protection for high-priced
blockbusters, research schemes, and advertising gimmicks
that promote prescription drugs and increase health care
costs. 2003.
BR 14994.
##

The President's House: A First Daughter Shares the History
and Secrets of the World's Most Famous Home.
BR 15000.
by Margaret Truman.
4 volumes.
The daughter of president Harry Truman describes the history
and architectural features of the White House and shares
tidbits about its former occupants. Includes anecdotes about
past commanders in chief and their families, pets, servants,
and distinguished guests. 2003.
BR 15000.
##

I'm Not Slowing Down: Winning My Battle with Osteoporosis.
BR 15082.
by Ann Richards.
1 volume.
Former Texas governor describes her battle to arrest
osteopenia, an early stage of osteoporosis often triggered
by hormonal changes in postmenopausal women. Along with
coauthor and physician Richard Levine, she describes dietary
measures, medication, and exercise aimed at controlling the
condition. Also includes information on hormone replacement
therapy. 2003.
BR 15082.
##

Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books.
BR 15087.
by Paul Collins.
2 volumes.
Memoir of American author's relocation to Hay-on-Wye, or
"Town of Books," a Welsh village boasting fifteen hundred
inhabitants and forty antiquarian bookstores. Finding work
in the largest one, Collins describes his pleasure in poring
through endless dusty book stacks. He also recounts
attempting to buy Sixpence House, a tumbledown pub in the
town's center. 2003.
BR 15087.
##

I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story.
BR 15111.
by Rick Bragg.
2 volumes.
Relates the experiences of nineteen-year-old U.S. Army
private Jessica Lynch, captured during an ambush in March
2003 in southern Iraq and dramatically rescued weeks later,
catapulting her into the international spotlight. Describes
her West Virginia childhood and adjustment upon returning
home wounded. Some violence and some strong language.
Bestseller 2003.
BR 15111.
##

Dog Days and Dandelions: A Lively Guide to the Animal
Meanings behind Everyday Words.
BR 15147.
by Martha Barnette.
2 volumes.
Author presents a dictionary of words and phrases with roots
in the animal kingdom. Barnette traces the etymology of the
obvious ("catnap" and "dog-eared") and the obscure (the pig
in "porcelain") from ancient times to the twentieth-century
with the intent of providing entertaining information to
illuminate history, science, culture, and language. 2003.
BR 15147.
##

###
_Fiction_

Wildwood.
BR 14740.
by Drusilla Campbell.
3 volumes.
Hannah was not yet a teenager when she pushed a fifteen-
year-old assailant over a cliff to his death at Bluegang
Creek. Her friends Liz and Jeanne kept the secret. Now
middle-aged, the women confront their past, testing the
limits of family and friendship. Descriptions of sex and
strong language. 2003.
BR 14740.
##

Money for Nothing.
BR 14747.
by Donald E. Westlake.
2 volumes.
After cashing mysterious $1,000 monthly checks for seven
years, New York ad executive Josh Redmont discovers that
he's a sleeper spy for the former Soviet Union. When ordered
to assassinate an eastern European politician, Josh tries to
find an escape from his predicament and to save his family.
Some violence. 2003.
BR 14747.
##

Miss Julia Hits the Road.
BR 14753.
by Ann B. Ross.
3 volumes.
When elderly widow Julia Springer learns that her
housekeeper Lillian and other tenants are being evicted by
slum landlord Clarence Gibbs, she organizes a fund-raising
motorcycle race to save the neighborhood. Sequel to _Miss
Julia Throws a Wedding (BR 14243)_. 2003.
BR 14753.
##

A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime.
BR 14790.
edited by Jeffery Deaver.
3 volumes.
Twenty original short mysteries feature passion, murder, and
heat from members of Mystery Writers of America, including
Loren D. Estleman and John Lutz. An award-winning suspense
writer edits the collection and prefaces each selection with
an author profile. Some violence. 2003.
BR 14790.
##

The Life before Her Eyes.
BR 14791.
by Laura Kasischke.
2 volumes.
When Diana is seventeen, a classmate confronts her and her
girlfriend with a gun--and only Diana survives. At forty,
she is still beautiful and has a husband and daughter of her
own. But her repressed memories and survivor's guilt are
beginning to haunt her. Some strong language. 2002.
BR 14791.
##

Everybody's Somebody's Fool.
BR 14792.
by Ed Gorman.
2 volumes.
A party in 1961 ends with discovery of the body of Sara
Griffin, troubled daughter of a wealthy Black River Falls,
Iowa, family. Attorney Sam McCain investigates when police
suspect former client David Egan, Sara's onetime boyfriend.
After David's mysterious death, Sam works to clear his name.
Some violence and some strong language. 2002.
BR 14792.
##

Death in Dublin.
BR 14793.
by Bartholomew Gill.
2 volumes.
A dangerous gang of criminals called the New Druids steal
the ancient Book of Kells from the library at Trinity
College, Dublin, and kill a guard. Chief superintendent
Peter McGarr suspects an inside job and continues to
investigate even after he is pulled off the case. Violence
and strong language. 2003.
BR 14793.
##

The Fruit of Stone.
BR 14836.
by Mark Spragg.
3 volumes.
Late-twentieth-century Wyoming. McEban has been in love with
his best friend's wife all his life. Gretchen loved McEban
first but married Bennett. Now two decades later she leaves
them both for another man, and McEban and Bennett set out
together to find her. Some violence and some strong
language. 2002.
BR 14836.
##

The Three Miss Margarets.
BR 14840.
by Louise Shaffer.
3 volumes.
In Charles Valley, Georgia, three elderly ladies--Miss
Peggy, Dr. Maggie, and Miss Li'l Bit--have kept a secret
about a crime for decades. They are at risk of exposure when
African American scientist, Vashti Johnson, coming home to
die, and her biographer both arrive. Strong language and
some violence. 2003.
BR 14840.
##

A Northern Light.
BR 14850.
by Jennifer Donnelly.
3 volumes.
Working at an Adirondacks resort in 1906, teenaged Mattie
encounters pregnant, unmarried Grace Brown, who gives her a
packet of letters. After Grace's drowning, the letters help
Mattie decide whether to marry a farmboy or pursue her
education. Some descriptions of sex and some strong
language. For senior high and older readers. 2003.
BR 14850.
##

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters.
BR 14873.
by Gail Giles.
1 volume.
Sunny Reynolds is stunned when a letter comes from her
sister Jazz, presumed dead in a fire, saying she is alive.
Realizing she is an imposter despite her knowledge of family
secrets, Sunny must uncover what this stranger really wants.
Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers.
2003.
BR 14873.
##

Finding Our Way: Stories.
BR 14918.
by René Saldaña.
1 volume.
Short stories featuring Hispanic teens. In "The Good
Samaritan," Rey's wealthy neighbor constantly breaks
promises, and Rey has to decide whether to continue helping
him. In "Finding Our Way," teenage boys deal with the death
of one of their friends. For junior and senior high readers.
2003.
BR 14918.
##

The Virgin Blue.
BR 14927.
by Tracy Chevalier.
3 volumes.
American midwife Ella Turner moves to France with her
husband and researches her French family origins. Tormented
by strange dreams, she discovers a sixteenth-century
ancestor, Isabelle Tournier, whose Huguenot beliefs led to
tragedy and whose life seems somehow mysteriously linked to
Ella's. Meanwhile, Ella has an affair providing
complications. Some strong language. Bestseller 1997.
BR 14927.
##

The Book against God.
BR 14948.
by James Wood.
2 volumes.
Thomas Bunting, supposedly working on his doctorate in
philosophy, is actually writing a secret book asserting his
atheism. After his minister father dies in northern England
and his concert pianist wife leaves him because of his
chronic lying, Bunting is forced to reexamine his life.
2003.
BR 14948.
##

Still Life with Crows.
BR 14950.
by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
4 volumes.
FBI agent Pendergast, last seen in _The Cabinet of
Curiosities (BR 14270)_, is summoned to Medicine Creek,
Kansas, a sleepy farm town plagued by a gruesome serial
killer. Somehow the murders are connected to the community's
outlaw past, and Pendergast has to discover how. Violence
and some strong language. 2003.
BR 14950.
##

After.
BR 14967.
by Francine Prose.
2 volumes.
Following a nearby school shooting, a newly-hired grief and
crisis counselor replaces the principal of a western
Massachusetts high school and adopts increasingly harsh
methods to control behavior. Tom Bishop and his friends
become suspicious when rebellious students and teachers
begin disappearing. For senior high readers. 2003.
BR 14967.
##

The Two-Shoot Gun.
BR 14970.
by Donald Hamilton.
2 volumes.
When Easterner Alexander Burdick arrives in Santa Clara, New
Mexico Territory, to open a photography business, he carries
a double-barreled, breech-loading shotgun in his wagon and
soon finds himself involved in a local feud. Some strong
language. 1960.
BR 14970.
##

Suddenly You.
BR 14971.
by Lisa Kleypas.
2 volumes.
London, 1836. To end her never-loved spinster status,
novelist Amanda Briars hires a male prostitute for one night
of fantasy on her thirtieth birthday. She is appalled to
again encounter Jack--aka John Devlin, a notorious
publisher--at a dinner party. He then makes her an offer she
can't refuse. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.
BR 14971.
##

_Lynching at Broken Butte_ and _Sunblade_.
BR 14974.
by Lewis B. Patten.
3 volumes.
Traveling to pick up a prisoner, U.S. Marshal August Cragg
overnights at Broken Butte, where someone tries to kill him,
and Cragg intends to find out who. In _Sunblade_, in the
1870s a greedy rancher, who has more enemies than friends,
winds up dead. Some violence and some strong language. 1952.
BR 14974.
##

The Trellis and the Seed: A Book of Encouragement for All
Ages.
BR 14978.
by Jan Karon.
1 volume.
Parable relates the tale of a very small seed that sits in a
glass all winter, but when planted in the spring slowly
becomes a lovely vine with beautiful flowers. Grade 1
braille. 2003.
BR 14978.
##

I, Richard.
BR 14989.
by Elizabeth George.
2 volumes.
Five short stories of mystery and suspense. In "The Surprise
of His Life," a wealthy middle-aged man decides to murder
his trophy wife. In the title piece, a schoolteacher hopes
to clear King Richard III's name by stealing a medieval
letter from his friend's estate. Some strong language. 2002.
BR 14989.
##

Over on the Dry Side.
BR 14993.
by Louis L'Amour.
2 volumes.
Owen Chantry arrives at his brother Clive's ranch to find
him murdered and two squatters occupying his cabin. The
unlikely trio--and a beautiful stranger--soon find
themselves in a deadly feud with Clive's killers, the Mowatt
gang, who return in search of Clive's rumored buried
treasure. Precedes _Borden Chantry (BR 13829)_. 1975.
BR 14993.
##

A Palestine Affair.
BR 15072.
by Jonathan Wilson.
2 volumes.
Jerusalem, 1924. English artist Bloomberg and his American
wife, Joyce, a non-Jewish Zionist, arrive in British-ruled
Palestine to begin a new life. After a murder in their
garden Joyce has an affair with Robert Kirsch, the British
policeman investigating the crime. Some explicit
descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong
language. 2003.
BR 15072.
##

Murder off Mike.
BR 15074.
by Joyce Krieg.
3 volumes.
Outrageous Sacramento radio talk show host Shauna J. Bogart
is devastated by the death of a colleague. The police rule
it a suicide, but Shauna believes otherwise and launches her
own on-air investigation--one that could lead to a
gubernatorial candidate and the station's demise. 2003.
BR 15074.
##

A Pair for the Queen.
BR 15079.
by B. Comfort.
2 volumes.
Feisty seventy-seven-year-old portrait painter Tish McWhinny
helps out her boyfriend's accident-prone godson, Bruce, by
restoring an old dog painting in time for the Vermont
village's upcoming dog show. Bruce later forges a famous
signature, but before Tish can fully protest, Bruce is
murdered--and the painting is stolen. 1998.
BR 15079.
##

Tenth Grade.
BR 15081.
by Joseph Weisberg.
2 volumes.
High school sophomore Jeremiah Reskin keeps a journal
detailing his adventures in his New Jersey hometown and
family life with his parents and two sisters. Jeremiah
reminisces about the girls he falls for, his soccer team,
and his jaunts with the guys. Strong language. For senior
high readers. Alex Award. 2002.
BR 15081.
##

The New Rules of High School.
BR 15094.
by Blake Nelson.
2 volumes.
Seventeen-year-old Max has been the perfect high school
student--on the honor roll, debate-team captain, and school-
paper editor--but during his senior year he begins
questioning his approach to life, and things start to
change. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.
For senior high readers. 2003.
BR 15094.
##

Shepherds Abiding: A Mitford Christmas Story.
BR 15108.
by Jan Karon.
2 volumes.
This sequel to _In This Mountain (BR 14211)_ centers on
Reverend Kavanagh's restoration of an old créche. He
transforms himself as he renews the decrepit set and as he
interacts with the community: Hope at the bookstore, Andrew
at the antiques shop, and the owners of the Main Street
Grill. Bestseller 2003.
BR 15108.
##

Warriors of Camlann.
BR 15112.
by N.M. Browne.
2 volumes.
British teens Dan and Ursula from _Warriors of Alavna (BR
15113)_ attempt to return through time to the present, but
they land in the fifth century. Dan becomes a knight to
Arturus Urbicus--who may be King Arthur--while Ursula
continues her sorcery. Some violence. For junior and senior
high readers. 2003.
BR 15112.
##

Warriors of Alavna.
BR 15113.
by N.M. Browne.
2 volumes.
While walking through a yellow mist, two teens are
transported back to first-century Britain. Ursula and Dan
are forced to join a Celtic tribe where Ursula discovers
magical powers and Dan becomes a fierce warrior in the fight
against the Romans. Followed by _Warriors of Camlann (BR
15112)_. Some violence. For junior and senior high readers.
2000.
BR 15113.
##

The Romantic.
BR 15149.
by Barbara Gowdy.
3 volumes.
Abandoned at ten by her mother in the 1960s, Louise Kirk
became infatuated with neighbor boy Abel. When Abel dies on
her twenty-sixth birthday, Louise's fragmented memories
reveal their tender childhood romance, years of separations
and reunions, and the unfulfilled passion that haunts her.
Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.
BR 15149.
##

Nighttime Is My Time.
BR 15244.
by Mary Higgins Clark.
3 volumes.
History professor and author Dr. Jean Sheridan attends her
twentieth prep school reunion, especially to honor a friend
who has been murdered. Once there she realizes that several
other women from her graduating class have mysteriously
died. Jean becomes the next target of the reunion's serial
killer. 2004.
BR 15244.
##

###
_Books for Children_
The following books were recently produced for the NLS
program.  To order books, contact your braille-lending
library.

_Nonfiction_

The Bible for Children.
BR 14733.
retold by Murray Watts.
3 volumes.
More than two hundred stories from the Old and New
Testaments retold in chapter format and accompanied by
corresponding biblical references. Recounts major events,
parables, psalms, words of wisdom, and prophecies. For
grades 4-7. 2002.
BR 14733.
##

Book of Greek Myths.
BR 14795.
by Ingri D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire.
1 volume.
Humorous, earthy retellings of the adventures of the gods,
goddesses, and legendary figures of ancient Greece. For
grades 4-7. 1962.
BR 14795.
##

The New Big Book of U.S. Presidents.
BR 14842.
by Todd Davis and Marc Frey.
1 volume.
Biographical sketches of all the American presidents from
George Washington to George W. Bush. Provides interesting
facts for each presidency, such as prominent contemporaries,
political happenings, and notable events. For grades 5-8.
2000.
BR 14842.
##

The Making of America: The History of the United States from
1492 to the Present.
BR 14846.
by Robert D. Johnston.
3 volumes.
Historical overview of the guiding principles that shaped
our nation. Highlights political debates, examines social
issues, and profiles several people who defended their
beliefs. Includes the text of a few major historical
documents. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2002.
BR 14846.
##

Ribbit Riddles.
BR 14973.
by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg.
1 volume.
A collection of riddles and jokes about frogs. Example: Who
brings baskets of eggs to little frogs in the spring? The
Easter Ribbit! For grades 2-4. 2001.
BR 14973.
##

Creation.
BR 15025.
retold by Gerald McDermott.
1 volume.
A retelling of Genesis from the Hebrew Bible. PRINT/BRAILLE.
For grades 3-6. 2003.
BR 15025.
##

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez.
BR 15027.
by Katherine Krull.
1 volume.
Biography of the California migrant-worker hero. Describes
how Chavez's family became homeless, hungry farm laborers
when he was ten and how, later in life, Cesar organized the
National Farm Workers Association to peacefully and
successfully protest those miserable conditions.
PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 3-6. 2003.
BR 15027.
##

The Diary of a Young Girl.
BR 15076.
by Anne Frank.
2 volumes (Reissue).
In a remarkable account begun on her thirteenth birthday in
1942, a Jewish girl in German-occupied Amsterdam records her
hopes, fears, and growing pains during two years of close
confinement with her family hiding from the Nazis in a
secret apartment. Original version edited by her father. For
grades 6-9 and older readers. 1947.
BR 15076.
##

###
_Fiction_

The Hero.
BR 14798.
by Ron Woods.
2 volumes.
Idaho, 1957. Fourteen-year-old Jamie, his older cousin
Jerry, and their outcast neighbor, Dennis, build a raft and
take it out on the river. Tragedy ensues and Jamie lies to
maintain peace in the community. But his action leads to
unforeseen consequences. For grades 6-9. 2002.
BR 14798.
##

Dust.
BR 14848.
by Arthur Slade.
2 volumes.
Saskatchewan, Canada; 1930s. Robert Steelgate is eleven when
his seven-year-old brother, Matthew, disappears while
walking from his parents' farm into town. After a mysterious
stranger arrives with a promise to bring rain, more children
vanish. Robert suspects the stranger may be behind these
events. For grades 5-8. 2003.
BR 14848.
##

The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
BR 14849.
by Elizabeth George Speare.
2 volumes.
When sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler helps a woman accused of
witchcraft in colonial New England, she too is brought to
trial as a suspect. Kit's friend Prudence, and Nat, a sailor
who has fallen in love with Kit, come to her defense. For
grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Medal. 1958.
BR 14849.
##

The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1.
BR 14982.
by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.
1 volume.
When the Grace children--nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon
and their thirteen-year-old sister, Mallory--move into their
great-aunt Lucinda's run-down Victorian house, mischief
begins, and Jared is blamed. Finding a book about faeries in
a secret room gives Jared a clue about the unseen
troublemaker. For grades 2-4. 2003.
BR 14982.
##

The Seeing Stone: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2.
BR 14984.
by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.
1 volume.
Although warned that keeping _The Field Guide (BR 14982)_
about the faerie world will prove dangerous, Jared won't
give it up. Then goblins kidnap Simon. Mallory and Jared
have scary adventures rescuing him--even with a magic stone
to help them see usually invisible creatures. For grades 2-
4. 2003.
BR 14984.
##

Roller Coaster.
BR 15026.
by Marla Frazee.
1 volume.
Twelve people set aside their fears and ride a roller
coaster, including one who has never been on one before.
PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003.
BR 15026.
##

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.
BR 15032.
by Hildegarde H. Swift.
1 volume.
When a large bridge--with a powerful light atop it--is built
over the Hudson River, the small lighthouse underneath is
worried that it won't be needed anymore. Then a storm comes,
and the little red lighthouse proudly finds it still has
work to do. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1942.
BR 15032.
##

Olivia and the Missing Toy.
BR 15033.
by Ian Falconer.
1 volume.
When her best toy mysteriously disappears, feisty piglet
Olivia is determined to find out who is responsible. She
solves the problem in her very own way. Sequel to _Olivia
(BR 13074)_. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2003.
BR 15033.
##

The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley (Who Planned to
Live an Unusual Life).
BR 15089.
by Martine Murray.
2 volumes.
Twelve-year-old Australian Cedar misses her brother who ran
away from boarding school and her mother who works all the
time. But she copes by roaming the neighborhood, romping
with her dog, and learning acrobatics from a new neighbor
whose parents are in a circus. For grades 5-8. 2002.
BR 15089.
##

The River between Us.
BR 15090.
by Richard Peck.
1 volume.
Illinois, 1861. Tilly Pruitt's mother accepts two mysterious
young women from New Orleans, Delphine and Calinda, as
boarders in the early Civil War days. Fifteen-year-old Tilly
finds them fascinating, but townspeople think they are
Confederate spies. Their secrets emerge after Tilly's
brother, a Union army soldier, is wounded. For grades 6-9.
2003.
BR 15090.
##

Cairo Kelly and the Mann.
BR 15093.
by Kristin Butcher.
1 volume.
Cairo and Midge, mischief-making baseball players, have been
sent to their middle school principal's office fifty-five
times in one year. But when they learn that their favorite
umpire, Harold Mann, can't read, they rally to help him pass
the sports league's new test. For grades 4-7. 2002.
BR 15093.
##

The Canine Connection: Stories about Dogs and People.
BR 15095.
by Betsy Hearne.
1 volume.
Twelve tales about the special relationship between humans
and dogs. In "Lab" sixteen-year-old Willa is home during a
thunderstorm with her mother, who unexpectedly gives birth
to a baby girl. Willa's experience working with dogs helps
her in this crisis. For grades 6-9. 2003.
BR 15095.
##

The Case of the Missing Monkey: The High-Rise Private Eyes,
Book 1.
BR 15116.
by Cynthia Rylant.
1 volume.
In a tall building in a big city an animal detective team--
Bunny Brown, the brains, and raccoon Jack Jones, the snoop--
take on a new case while having breakfast in their favorite
diner. Beginning chapter book. For grades K-3. 2000.
BR 15116.
##

Nothing Wrong with a Three-Legged Dog.
BR 15200.
by Graham McNamee.
1 volume.
Shy and the only white kid in his fourth grade class, Keath
is an easy target for bullies. His friendship with classmate
Lynda and her three-legged dog, Leftovers, helps Keath cope
with visiting his beloved, stroke-victim grandmother and
stand up to his major tormentor in school. For grades 3-6.
2000.
BR 15200.
##

###
_Foreign Language Books_
The following titles are available in the languages
designated.

_Spanish_
Harry Potter y el Prisionero de Azkaban (Harry Potter and
the Prisoner of Azkaban).
BR 14712.
por J.K. Rowling.
4 volumes.
Harry aguarda con impaciencia el inicio del tercer año en
Hogwarts con sus amigos Ron y Hermione. Pero todavía
encuentra amenazas. El siniestro villano Sirius Black,
cómplice de Voldemort, se ha escapado del prisión de Azkaban
y está dispuesto a eliminar a Harry del mapa. Sigue a _Harry
Potter y la Cámara Secreta (BR 14711)_. Para grados 4 a 7 y
lectores mayores. [Harry is relieved to be back at Hogwarts
for a third year with his friends Ron and Hermione even
though he isn't completely safe--escaped convict Sirius
Black is after him. Sequel to _Harry Potter y la Cámara
Secreta (BR 14711)_. For grades 4-7 and older readers.]
2000.
BR 14712.
##


###
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