Braille Book Review, Vol. 68, No. 2, March-April 1999

Braille Book Review
March-April 1999
Volume 68, Number 2

_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 1999

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

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.

Self-help computer manuals available in braille.  The
National Braille Press (NBP) has released several
publications designed to help make computer usage easier. 
Word for Windows 95 Quick and Easy provides exercises that
take beginners from starting the computer to creating
documents in Word for Windows 95 (Word 7) and Word for
Windows 98 (Word 8).  The single braille volume is available
for $22.99.  
     Another manual, Windows 95 Explained, "describes
fundamental Windows 95 concepts from a nonvisual
perspective."  It lists Windows keyboard commands and
provides a comprehensive glossary.  The book is written
specifically for blind users and the principles are
applicable to most access technology.  It is available in
braille, on diskette, on cassette, and in large print at $18
per format. A special bonus pack of all four formats is
available for $50.  
     For a "spacial perspective" of Windows 95, NBP offers
Windows 95 Explained Tactile Diagrams, which complement the
manual, describing the content and layout of various
screens.  The diagrams may be purchased separately for $15
or with the manual for $25.
     Eudora Pro 4.0 Reference Card, a keyboard summary of
the graphics-based e-mail software, is being offered in
braille format for $5.  For the same price, the Internet
Explorer 3.02 Reference Card, which lists keyboard commands
for Microsoft's Internet browser, can also be purchased. 
Produced in braille, the card was written by Dean Martineau
for blind users. 
     To order any of these products or for more information
contact the National Braille Press,  88 St. Stephen Street,
Boston, MA 02115; phone: (617) 266-6160;  toll-free: (800)
548-7323; fax: (617) 437-0456; or visit the web site at 
http://www.nbp.org.
     Braille literacy information.  The American Foundation
for the Blind has posted its National Braille Literacy
Mentor Project on the web at
http://www.afb.org/literacy/nblmp/.  The packet includes
factsheets and resource lists.  It was originally designed
for the January observation of braille literacy, but the
materials can be used all year long.  For more information
write the National Literacy Program, American Foundation for
the Blind, 100 Peachtree St., Suite 620, Atlanta, GA 30303.

The following information is reprinted from Talking Book Topics,
January-February 1998.

Magazine of the Month Selections for 1999
Two programs offer readers samplings of magazines not
otherwise available through the NLS program. Subscribers to
Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the Month
receive a different audio magazine each month.  For a free
subscription to either program contact your local
cooperating library. 

Although the selections are subject to change, readers may
receive some of the following
magazines this year. 

Magazine of the Month (flexible disc)

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (short new works,
     essays, and book and movie reviews)
American Astrology: First and Best for over Sixty Years
     (advice, predictions, and zodiac guides) 
American Enterprise (politics, business, and culture
     from various viewpoints)
Black Enterprise (career and business opportunities for
     African Americans)
DoubleTake (fiction, essays, documentary journalism,
     poetry, and armchair travel)
Gourmet:  The Magazine of Good Living (how to find good
     food and articles on food and culture)
The Herb Companion (herb gardening, history, folklore,
     and sources)
The Humanist (articles of critical inquiry and social
     concern)
In-Fisherman:  The Journal of Freshwater Fishing 
     (science and biology of fish, tactics of fishing,
     equipment, accessories, and travel)
Men's Fitness (exercise, sports and adventure,
     performance nutrition, and healthy living)
New Woman (concerns of contemporary career women,
     relationships, and self-help advice)
Yoga Journal:  For Health and Conscious Living (yoga
     practices, well-being, philosophy, and stress-
     reduction)

Young Adult Magazine of the Month (cassette)
Alateen Talk (personal sharings from members of group
     for teenage friends and relatives of alcoholics)
Career Opportunities News (occupational trends and
     employment and educational opportunities)
Cicada (reprints and original stories)
Crank!  Science Fiction Fantasy (short to lengthy
     science fiction features)
ESPN:  The Magazine (interviews and commentary on
     college and professional sports)
Glamour (beauty, fitness, fashion, health, and
     contemporary issues)
Health (healthly looks, healthy cooking, medical news,
     fitness, and self-care)
Icarus:  New Writing from around the World (original
     writing from an international perspective)
Light Quarterly (light verse and satire)
Outside (travel, environmental issues, outdoor
     equipment and clothing, expeditions, and recreational
     activities) 
Spin (articles on popular music, politics, society, and
     the arts)

###
_Books for Adults_

Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were
recently sent to cooperating libraries.  The complete
collection contains books by many authors on fiction and
nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics,
gothics, mysteries, romances, and others.  Contact your
cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of
books available in the collection.
     To order books, contact your cooperating library.
     Note:  For the information of the reader, a notice may
appear immediately following the book description to
indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit
descriptions of sex, or violence.  The word "some" before
any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent
occurrence, as in "some strong language."

###
_Nonfiction_

Charles Ives: A Life with Music.
BR 11059.
by Jan Swafford.
7 volumes.
Portrait of an innovative composer and insurance executive
whose work affected the course of twentieth-century
classical music. Recounts his youth and the early influences
that shaped his life and music. Traces his career as a
radical composer up to the gradual acceptance of his music
in the concert hall after World War II. 1996.
BR 11059.
##

American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence.
BR 11245.
by Pauline Maier.
4 volumes.
Encapsulates the story of the birth and legacy of the
document that liberated America. The author discusses how
reinterpretations of this historic manifesto have over time
spurred new social ideals and principles in the United
States. 1997.
BR 11245.
##

Unfinished Journey: Twenty Years Later.
BR 11253.
by Yehudi Menuhin.
5 volumes.
Originally published in 1976, this revised edition adds four
new chapters, extending the author's memoir to age eighty. A
world-renowned violinist, Menuhin offers his views on a wide
range of topics, revealing his lifelong interest in musical
and humanitarian pursuits. 1996.
BR 11253.
##

Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot.
BR 11436.
by Antonia Fraser.
4 volumes.
An account of a plot in 1605 to blow up England's Houses of
Parliament in reaction to the government's oppression of
Catholics. Recounts the hatching of the conspiracy, its
discovery and failure, and the aftermath. Discusses the
event in the context of modern-day terrorism. Violence.
1996.
BR 11436.
##

Building Basic Skills in Mathematics.
BR 11457.
  .
3 volumes.
A work text in basic mathematics to help adult learners
master computation skills involving whole numbers,
fractions, decimals, and percentages. Provides a pretest,
individual lessons, and skills tests, followed by a
posttest. 1988.
BR 11457.
##

Anna and the King of Siam.
BR 11480.
by Margaret Landon.
4 volumes.
Anna Leonowens, a Welsh widow hired in 1862 to be governess
to the children and concubines of the king of Siam, found
the contrasts between the exotic Orient and Victorian Great
Britain striking. Landon recounts Leonowen's five years of
adventures and confrontations. This book inspired the
Broadway musical _The King and I_. 1943.
BR 11480.
##

Worry: Controlling It and Using It Wisely.
BR 11485.
by Edward M. Hallowell.
3 volumes.
Dr. Hallowell, an expert on attention deficit disorder,
turns to a study on worry, in both its destructive and
productive forms. Hallowell analyzes the uses and benefits
of worry and discusses when to seek help if someone worries
too much. Offers recommendations on how to maintain a
healthy balance. 1997.
BR 11485.
##

Conquering Statistics: Numbers without the Crunch.
BR 11492.
by Jefferson Hane Weaver.
2 volumes.
The author humorously describes the history and theory of
statistics in practical terms. Explains how statistics
applies to everyday life, from playing the lottery to
understanding polling. Enables readers to make informed
judgments on the statistical analyses reported in the news.
1997.
BR 11492.
##

The Essential Rumi.
BR 11506.
translated by Coleman Barks.
3 volumes.
Contemporary translation of spiritual poetry by the Sufi
mystic Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-1273). These poems were created
during Rumi's work with a dervish learning community that
was "exploring the mystery of union with the divine." Some
descriptions of sex. 1995.
BR 11506.
##

Fair Is Fair: World Folktales of Justice.
BR 11514.
by Sharon Creeden.
2 volumes.
International tales that relate to themes of law and
justice. Traditional stories are used to illustrate a
variety of modern legal issues and court cases. For example,
the Danish fable "The Lawyer's Advice" elucidates the
concept of the insanity defense. For high school and older
readers. 1994.
BR 11514.
##

Planet of the Blind.
BR 11518.
by Stephen Kuusisto.
2 volumes.
Although legally blind since birth, Kuusisto passed as
sighted for more than thirty years. He describes his
refracted visual perceptions and how pretending to see
actually interfered with his participation in the sighted
world. Then, by using a white cane and, eventually, a guide
dog, he experienced new acceptance and mobility. Some
descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998.
BR 11518.
##

Committed to Memory: Hundred Best Poems to Memorize.
BR 11522.
edited by John Hollander.
1 volume.
Hollander and an eleven-member advisory committee selected
favorite poems for memorization or, at least, careful
reading. The poems--generally short, rhythmic, and with
intense imagery--are categorized as sonnets, songs,
counsels, tales, and meditations. They include works by
poets ranging from Shakespeare to Yeats to Frost. 1996.
BR 11522.
##

The Glass Menagerie.
BR 11524.
by Tennessee Williams.
1 volume.
Drama written in 1945 about a southern family with
pretensions to gentility. Centers around the crippled
daughter, Laura, who lives in a dream world so full of
illusions that she becomes like the pieces in her own glass
collection--too fragile to move from the shelf. 1972.
BR 11524.
##

James Herriot's Animal Stories.
BR 11528.
by James Herriot.
1 volume.
Ten of the Yorkshire veterinarian's best-loved stories with
an introduction by his son, Jim Wight, who took over the
practice after his father's death in 1995. 1997.
BR 11528.
##

The Disheveled Dictionary: A Curious Caper through Our
Sumptuous Lexicon.
BR 11545.
by Karen Elizabeth Gordon.
1 volume.
An alphabetical list of the author's favorite words, which
she includes for their rhythm and rich sound. Some entries
are well-known words, while others are obscure. 1997.
BR 11545.
##

The Secret Family: Twenty-Four Hours inside the Mysterious
World of Our Minds and Bodies.
BR 11546.
by David Bodanis.
2 volumes.
A microscopic examination of the world of a family of five,
including biological processes within the human body and
ingredients in everyday products. An analysis of baby food
reveals pigs' feet extract and chalk dust. A teenager's kiss
is described as a series of chemical reactions in the
nervous system. For junior and senior high and older
readers. 1997.
BR 11546.
##

Are You Somebody: The Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman.
BR 11561.
by Nuala O'Faolain.
2 volumes.
An unmarried, childless Irish woman reviews her life and
examines its meaning. She recalls her deprived childhood,
her years at boarding school and university, and her career
in broadcast and print journalism. Approaching sixty, she
takes stock of her accomplishments and her solitary life.
1996.
BR 11561.
##

Hear: Solutions, Skills, and Sources for People with Hearing
Loss.
BR 11580.
by Anne Pope.
2 volumes.
After explaining how the ear works and what can cause
hearing loss, Pope discusses coping strategies for
individuals, their families, and their friends. She also
offers information on hearing aids, the cochlear implant,
and other devices to improve hearing. Includes interviews
with several hearing-impaired persons. For senior high and
older readers. 1997.
BR 11580.
##

Get That Job!.
BR 11591.
by Jurg Oppliger.
1 volume.
This guide for people seeking employment includes tips on
determining job skills, writing resumes, finding position
openings, and having a successful interview. Grade 1
braille. 1997.
BR 11591.
##

Desire.
BR 11592.
by Frank Bidart.
1 volume.
A collection of poems in two parts: thirteen short poems,
many revealing the poet's grief and loss after the death of
his lover; and one long poem, "The Second Hour of the
Night," based on Ovid's story of Myrrha. 1997.
BR 11592.
##

Halfway Heaven: Diary of a Harvard Murder.
BR 11593.
by Melanie Thernstrom.
2 volumes.
In 1995 Ethiopian Harvard student Sinedu Tadesse stabbed to
death her Vietnamese immigrant roommate, Trang Phuong Ho,
and then hung herself. Excerpts from Tadesse's journals
reveal a woman so troubled by loneliness that Ho's decision
to move out caused Tadesse to kill. Some strong language and
some violence. 1997.
BR 11593.
##

Academic Duty.
BR 11607.
by Donald Kennedy.
4 volumes.
Examines a range of challenges facing the modern university
in the United States. Addresses such issues as teaching
versus research, waning budgets, ethical concerns, and
cultural conflicts. Calls for a renewed commitment to
academic responsibility within the campus community. 1997.
BR 11607.
##

Late-Talking Children.
BR 11613.
by Thomas Sowell.
2 volumes.
The author, an economist and columnist, discusses the
response he received to his article about his son's lateness
in learning to talk. He describes other traits shared by
many such children, who often go on to become intelligent
and successful adults, even in cases of early misdiagnosis.
1997.
BR 11613.
##

Generation React: Activism for Beginners.
BR 11616.
by Danny Seo.
2 volumes.
Based on his personal experience starting Earth 2000--an
animal rights and environmental science activist group--Seo
presents a step-by-step manual for concerned young people to
change the world. Includes tips on raising funds, changing
school policy, and conducting a consumer boycott. Shares
organizational skills and public relations information. For
junior and senior high readers. 1997.
BR 11616.
##

The Scared Child: Helping Kids Overcome Traumatic Events.
BR 11618.
by Barbara Brooks and Paula M.Siegel.
2 volumes.
Describes types of trauma--injury, illness, physical or
sexual abuse, parental divorce, and the death of a friend or
relative--as well as natural disasters and "trauma by
proxy." Assesses the likely effects on children. Explains
how to recognize symptoms, debrief the child, and help in
the processes of coping and recovery. 1996.
BR 11618.
##

I Have Lived in the Monster.
BR 11621.
by Robert K. Ressler and TomShachtman.
2 volumes.
A former FBI agent and advisor on serial killings profiles
and analyzes a number of notorious cases in the United
States, Japan, and England. Discusses investigative
techniques and includes personal interviews with mass
murderers John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer. 1997.
BR 11621.
##

Cactus Tracks and Cowboy Philosophy.
BR 11627.
by Baxter Black.
2 volumes.
Poetry and stories by a veterinarian-turned-commentator and
columnist. All the material is extracted from the files of
National Public Radio, where Black has an occasional morning
program. A humorous perspective on ranch life out west,
where cowboys, horses, rodeos, and farmers dominate the
landscape. For senior high and older readers. 1997.
BR 11627.
##

Control Your Money.
BR 11647.
by  Laubach Literacy International.
1 volume.
A simple guide to gaining control over finances. Learn how
to manage money, recover from past mistakes, and plan for
the future. Grade 1 braille. 1997.
BR 11647.
##

West Wind: Poems and Prose Poems.
BR 11650.
by Mary Oliver.
1 volume.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award
presents forty pieces. In "Seven White Butterflies," "Pilot
Snake," "Sand Dabs, Three," and "Black Snake This Time,"
among others, Oliver celebrates particular features of
nature. In other selections, she ponders love and death
while encouraging appreciation of the natural world. 1997.
BR 11650.
##

Twelve Shots: Outstanding Short Stories about Guns.
BR 11651.
edited by Harry Mazer.
2 volumes.
Short stories about guns and young people. Some are violent
and some humorous; all acknowledge the power and presence of
arms in American society. Includes selections by young adult
authors Walter Dean Myers, Richard Peck, Ron Koertge, and
Rita Williams-Garcia; relevant statistics; and a list of
concerned organizations. Violence. For senior high and older
readers. 1997.
BR 11651.
##

The Science of God: The Convergence of Scientific and
Biblical Wisdom.
BR 11652.
by Gerald Schroeder.
3 volumes.
Argues that modern scientific discoveries corroborate,
rather than conflict with, biblical revelation. Observes,
for example, that the Bible's account of the creation of the
universe is consistent with Einstein's theory of relativity
and with "big bang" cosmology. 1997.
BR 11652.
##

I Love Gootie: My Grandmother's Story.
BR 11660.
by Max Apple.
2 volumes.
A grandson's recollections of his grandmother, who grew up
in a Lithuanian village and preferred Yiddish to English.
Gootie is the wife of Rocky, Apple's grandfather portrayed
in _Roommates (BR 9790)_. 1998.
BR 11660.
##

Medicines from Nature.
BR 11665.
by Peggy Thomas.
1 volume.
Describes the field of ethnobotany and its adventurous
practitioners who search the world's oceans, rain forests,
and other areas of opportunity for natural medicines.
Discusses momentous discoveries such as penicillin as well
as folk remedies from ancient cultures. For junior and
senior high readers. 1997.
BR 11665.
##

###
_Fiction_

Whiteoaks of Jalna.
BR 10968.
by Mazo de la Roche.
3 volumes.
Finch, the awkward, misunderstood musical genius of the
Whiteoak family, finds growing up difficult. Events reach a
climax when his eccentric old grandmother dies and leaves
her fortune to him. Sequel to _Jalna (BR 4977)_ and prequel
to _Finch's Fortune (BR 5044)_. Some strong language. 1957.
BR 10968.
##

Cimarron Rose.
BR 11339.
by James Lee Burke.
3 volumes.
Texas ranger-turned-attorney Billy Bob Holland agrees to
defend teenager Lucas Smothers, who was found unconscious at
the site where a female acquaintance was murdered and
arrested for the crime. Holland has a compelling reason to
take the case--Smothers is his illegitimate son. Strong
language, violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex.
1997.
BR 11339.
##

Stillpoint.
BR 11389.
by Marilyn Kok.
2 volumes.
Kylie Austin is a porcelain buyer in the Hong Kong branch of
Reaves Imports and Exports. When a worker mysteriously
disappears, Kylie reluctantly accepts the help of Reaves
troubleshooting executive Jack Sullivan. Although she
believes they share similar religious beliefs, Kylie thinks
Jack is scornful of her professional abilities. 1996.
BR 11389.
##

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
BR 11395.
by Carson McCullers.
3 volumes.
Novel set in a southern town. John Singer, who is deaf and
mute, worries about his best friend, Antonapoulos, also
mute. Soon Antonapoulos's strange behavior lands him in a
mental institution. Then Singer, who can read lips, becomes
the confidante of several residents of the town--all of whom
want answers to their problems. 1940.
BR 11395.
##

Light in August.
BR 11398.
by William Faulkner.
3 volumes.
Joe Christmas, an orphan of mixed blood, travels to the
South, seeking a place and people with whom he can belong.
But he is soon hardened by white and black bigotry. 1932.
BR 11398.
##

The Sound and the Fury.
BR 11402.
by William Faulkner.
3 volumes (Reissue).
A Southern family is portrayed in various stages of decay
through the voices and thoughts of four of its members,
including Benjy, the "idiot" son. An early work by the Nobel
Prize winner. 1929.
BR 11402.
##

The House on the Strand.
BR 11405.
by Daphne du Maurier.
3 volumes.
A young Englishman who is visiting a friend at his old house
on the Cornish coast is induced to test a hallucinogenic
drug that transports him back to the fourteenth century. He
observes the people who lived then and returns many times to
find out what happens to them. Descriptions of sex and some
violence. 1969.
BR 11405.
##

The Bohemian Murders: A Fremont Jones Mystery.
BR 11406.
by Dianne Day.
2 volumes.
In 1907, Fremont Jones follows the man she loves to Carmel.
But Michael now calls himself "Misha" and seems quite
changed. When confused Fremont takes a temporary job as a
lighthouse keeper, she spots a dead woman floating in
Monterey Bay and becomes obsessed with identifying her. Some
strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of
sex. 1997.
BR 11406.
##

Something Borrowed.
BR 11407.
by Alexandra Marshall.
2 volumes.
Gale left her husband, Gary, after learning he was having an
affair with the baby-sitter, and she refused even to talk to
him for fifteen years. Now, at their son's wedding, with
their current spouses in tow, Gale and Gary find their
attraction to each other has not disappeared. Some strong
language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1997.
BR 11407.
##

Stranded in Harmony.
BR 11412.
by Barbara Shoup.
2 volumes.
Despite being captain of the football team and having a
cheerleader girlfriend, high school senior Lucas Cantrell is
disillusioned with his staid life in Harmony, Indiana. Lucas
wishes he could have grown up during the turbulent 1960s
until an eccentric cabin-bound relative and a woman with a
radical past teach him the value of living in the present.
For junior and senior high readers. 1997.
BR 11412.
##

Fine Things.
BR 11422.
by Danielle Steel.
3 volumes.
Bernie Fine has no luck with romance until, as the manager
of a glitzy department store in San Francisco, he
accidentally meets Liz and her young daughter. A swift
courtship is followed by a perfect marriage, but their idyll
ends abruptly when Liz develops cancer and dies. Bernie
tries to face his grief and loss, and soon good luck greets
him as a lovely young pediatrician fills the void. Some
strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1987.
BR 11422.
##

Gone with the Wind.
BR 11427.
by Margaret Mitchell.
9 volumes.
A romantic Civil War epic in which Scarlett O'Hara, a
forceful and ruthless heroine, and Rhett Butler, a war
profiteer, play out their tempestuous love affair against
the background of the war-torn South. Pulitzer Prize 1936.
BR 11427.
##

Silent Melody.
BR 11439.
by Mary Balogh.
3 volumes.
As a young child, Lady Emily Marlowe has a fever that leaves
her deaf and unable to speak, yet she learns to communicate
with Lord Ashley Kendrick in their own special language. So
she is devastated when he goes to India and then marries.
Later, in 1763 Ashley returns home, and Emily knows she
loves only him--but she is engaged to another. Some
descriptions of sex. 1997.
BR 11439.
##

The Silmarillion.
BR 11510.
by J.R.R. Tolkien.
4 volumes.
Collection of imaginative tales and legends and an account
of the Elder Days, or the First Age of the World. Morgoth,
the first Dark Lord, dwells in Middle-earth, and the High
Elves make war on him for the recovery of the Silmarils.
Bestseller. 1977.
BR 11510.
##

The Job: An American Novel.
BR 11513.
by Sinclair Lewis.
3 volumes.
An early 1900s story of an ordinary young woman who comes to
New York seeking a career. She studies business, works a
series of jobs, becomes disillusioned, and marries. When her
marriage fails, she returns to the job market with renewed
determination to succeed, and does. Introduction by Maureen
Honey. 1917.
BR 11513.
##

What Child Is This? A Christmas Story.
BR 11516.
by Caroline B. Cooney.
1 volume.
Sixteen-year-old Matt and eight-year-old Katie have both had
enough of foster homes. Matt, however, dreads facing Katie's
disappointment when her Christmas wish of being adopted
doesn't come true. Meanwhile his classmate Liz, who appears
to have the perfect family, is dismayed by her parents'
hypocrisy during the holidays. For junior and senior high
readers. 1997.
BR 11516.
##

_The_ _Oil Jar_ and Other Stories.
BR 11531.
by Luigi Pirandello.
1 volume.
Eleven short stories written between 1884 and 1917 by the
winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for Literature. In the title
piece, a temperamental olive grower nearly explodes when the
olive-jar repairman inadvertently traps himself inside the
container. But the clever tinker uses the owner's anger to
solve the dilemma. 1995.
BR 11531.
##

When She Was Good.
BR 11537.
by Norma Fox Mazer.
1 volume.
After their mother's death and their father's remarriage, Em
and her sister, Pamela, run away to the city. At fourteen,
Em must support and take care of her abusive, troubled older
sister. When Pamela dies a few years later, Em attempts to
live a normal life. Some strong language. For junior and
senior high readers. 1997.
BR 11537.
##

In Praise of Mothers: A Literary Anthology.
BR 11543.
edited by Lilly Golden.
2 volumes.
Fourteen short stories exploring the relationships between
mothers, children, and family. Includes "Everyday Use" by
Alice Walker and "The Good Deed" by Pearl Buck. 1994.
BR 11543.
##

Spencer's Mountain.
BR 11544.
by Earl Hamner, Jr..
2 volumes.
Recounts a year in the life of the Spencer family, who live
in the foothills of Virginia, and especially that of
Clay-Boy, as he prepares to leave Spencer's Mountain for his
first year of college. 1961.
BR 11544.
##

The Great Stone Face.
BR 11549.
by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
1 volume (Reissue).
A young boy is told that one day a great man will appear
whose face resembles the features of a towering rock
formation near his home. He grows to old age awaiting the
man's arrival, unaware that it is he himself who resembles
the Stone Face. 1851.
BR 11549.
##

The Facts Speak for Themselves.
BR 11594.
by Brock Cole.
1 volume.
At thirteen Linda calmly and dispassionately reveals to a
social worker how adults, especially her mother, have failed
her. Linda gives this account of her life after she
witnesses the murder of her seducer by her mother's former
lover. Some descriptions of sex, some strong language, and
some violence. For junior and senior high and older readers.
1997.
BR 11594.
##

The Complete Stories.
BR 11604.
by Franz Kafka.
4 volumes.
Twenty of Kafka's longer stories make up most of this
collection, followed by fifty-five short stories and
sketches. Included are all the stories published during his
lifetime (1883-1924) and several others selected from his
literary estate. 1971.
BR 11604.
##

Becky Bernstein Goes Berlin.
BR 11608.
by Holly-Jane Rahlens.
2 volumes.
Transplanted New Yorker Becky Bernstein is a talk-show host
in Berlin. After being dumped by her latest lover, Becky
decides to put both herself and her apartment on a diet.
Sorting through drawers and boxes, Becky is reminded of past
relationships, family, friends, and jobs. Strong language
and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.
BR 11608.
##

The Collected Stories.
BR 11617.
by Amanda Cross.
2 volumes.
Ten short mysteries, all but one featuring professor Kate
Fansler. All were previously published by the pseudonymous
academic, Amanda Cross. In these selections, the calamities
range from missing persons to murder. 1997.
BR 11617.
##

_The_ _Circus in the Attic_ and Other Stories.
BR 11646.
by Robert Penn Warren.
3 volumes.
A collection of stories that variously portray southern
small-town society, rural life, and a professor in academia.
"Blackberry Winter" is a man's boyhood reminiscence about a
rude drifter who visited his family's Kentucky farm years
ago and made an indelible impression. 1947.
BR 11646.
##

Three Tales.
BR 11648.
by Gustave Flaubert.
1 volume.
Three finely contrasted stories first published in 1877.
"Simple Heart" is about a faithful domestic servant who
outlives her loved ones; "The Legend of St. Julian
Hospitator" is a medieval tale about a man seeking atonement
for a crime; and "Herodias" retells the story of the
execution of John the Baptist. 1961.
BR 11648.
##

News of the Spirit.
BR 11655.
by Lee Smith.
2 volumes.
Six short stories featuring southern women in various
predicaments. In "The Southern Cross," a poor girl who has
learned how to use men to move up in the world gets her
dignity back. In "Live Bottomless," a teenager observes her
parents' failing marriage. Some strong language. 1997.
BR 11655.
##

Four Letters of Love.
BR 11656.
by Niall Williams.
2 volumes.
When Nicholas is twelve, his family is torn apart the day
his father quits his job because God has instructed him to
paint. Isabel, believing she is responsible for her
brother's becoming mute and lame, leaves her convent school
and marries a man she doesn't love. Years later the siblings
are brought together when Nicholas goes in search of the
only remaining painting by his father. 1997.
BR 11656.
##

The Game of Thirty.
BR 11658.
by William Kotzwinkle.
2 volumes.
New York P.I. Jimmy McShane is hired by the daughter of
Tommy Rennseler, a specialist in Egyptian antiques, to find
her father's murderer. Rennseler was playing a pharaoh's
board game when he was killed. Now it appears that McShane
is a pawn on the streets of New York. Strong language,
violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.
BR 11658.
##

###
_Books for Children_
Books listed in this issue of _Braille Book Review_ were
recently sent to cooperating libraries.  The complete
collection contains books by many authors on fiction and
nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, 
mystery, sports, and others.  Contact your cooperating
library to learn more about the wide range of books
available in the collection.
     To order books, contact your cooperating library.

###
_Nonfiction_

_The_ _Great Frog Race_ and Other Poems.
BR 11041.
by Kristine O'Connell George.
1 volume.
Collection of poems featuring the sights, sounds, and smells
of life in the country. The author writes of polliwogs
huddled in puddles, dragonflies with wings of cellophane,
the long deep lines in the plowed fields, the weeping willow
that weeps piles of tears to rake in autumn, and the old
wooden swing covered with snow in winter. PRINT/BRAILLE. For
grades 2-4 and older readers. 1997.
BR 11041.
##

Love Letters.
BR 11042.
by Arnold Adoff.
1 volume.
Twenty short poems for children featuring the theme of
love--love of parents, teachers, pets, friends, and even
siblings. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1997.
BR 11042.
##

The Best of Shakespeare.
BR 11526.
retold by E. Nesbit.
1 volume.
Ten of Shakespeare's plays retold in simple language. Nesbit
compiled the collection after a visit to the poet's home
with her children. She encouraged them to try reading some
of the original plays, only to be told the writing was too
difficult to understand. This volume includes _Hamlet_,
_Romeo and Juliet_, _The Tempest_, _Macbeth_, and _Othello_.
For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1997.
BR 11526.
##

The Complete Poems to Solve.
BR 11550.
by May Swenson.
1 volume.
A collection of seventy-two poems celebrating the natural
world, including such topics as cats, birds, water, sound,
space and flight, and creatures. The first group of poems
are riddles that challenge the reader to figure out what the
poet is describing. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1993.
BR 11550.
##

In a Sacred Manner I Live: Native American Wisdom.
BR 11551.
edited by Neil Philip.
1 volume.
A collection of wise sayings, extracts from speeches, and
songs by Native Americans from 1609 to 1995. These
selections demonstrate the belief common to Indian nations
that "to live in a sacred manner is to live with respect for
the environment, for the community, and for oneself." For
grades 4-7 and older readers. 1997.
BR 11551.
##

The Planet Hunters: The Search for Other Worlds.
BR 11577.
by Dennis Brindell Fradin.
1 volume.
A history of astronomy from the earliest civilizations, when
man observed the stars with only the naked eye, to 1997,
when the Hubble Space Telescope orbited the earth. Describes
the discovery of planets and other contributions by early
and recent scientists. For grades 5-8. 1997.
BR 11577.
##

Alice Ramsey's Grand Adventure.
BR 11597.
by Don Brown.
1 volume.
On June 9, 1909, Alice Ramsey left New York City to drive
across America in a Maxwell automobile. Accompanied by three
other women, she had to repair the car several times before
finally arriving in San Francisco on August 7, 1909. The
book describes the small towns, farms, railroad tracks,
rivers, and mountains they passed along the way. For grades
2-4. 1997.
BR 11597.
##

The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt.
BR 11622.
by Leonard Everett Fisher.
1 volume.
Introduces thirteen of the major Egyptian deities, beginning
with the sun god Ra. Describes what each represented, how
each was depicted artistically, and explains each god's role
in ancient mythology. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 11622.
##

Ice Maiden of the Andes.
BR 11623.
by Janet Buell.
1 volume.
Describes the discovery of a young girl's frozen body on a
mountaintop in Peru. Explains how the frozen tissue provides
scientists with important biological information, even
though the mummy is five hundred years old, while cultural
knowledge is derived from her clothing and ornaments. For
grades 5-8. 1997.
BR 11623.
##

Commander in Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
BR 11624.
by Albert Marrin.
3 volumes.
Judging the Civil War to be the definitive event in the
history of the United States, Marrin contends that Lincoln
was our greatest president. Provides biographical
information relevant to understanding why this tragedy was
also known as "Mr. Lincoln's war." For grades 6-9. 1997.
BR 11624.
##

The Good Guys of Baseball: Sixteen True Sports Stories.
BR 11625.
by Terry Egan and others.
1 volume.
Sixteen biographies describing men in baseball who exemplify
some of the best traits an athlete can possess on or off the
field: loyalty, decency, determination, and the willingness
to work hard. Included are Don Wardlow, a sportscaster who
is blind, and Jim Abbott, a pitcher who was born with only
one hand. For grades 3-6. 1997.
BR 11625.
##

Bog Bodies.
BR 11626.
by Janet Buell.
1 volume.
Describes how in 1984 a British archaeologist discovered the
two-thousand-year-old Lindow Man buried in peat. Explains
that bodies preserved in bogs are like time travelers from
past civilizations that scientists study to learn about the
circumstances of life and death before written records. For
grades 5-8. 1997.
BR 11626.
##

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Composer.
BR 11628.
by Dynise Balcavage.
1 volume.
The life and times of composer Ludwig Van Beethoven, born in
1770. He began losing his hearing as a young adult but was
able to communicate and to pursue his musical career by
using an ear trumpet and various devices. By the age of
forty-eight he was totally deaf, but he continued working
despite this challenge and several debilitating bouts of
illness. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1997.
BR 11628.
##

The Mash and Smash Cookbook: Fun and Yummy Recipes Every Kid
Can Make!.
BR 11630.
by Marian Buck-Murray.
1 volume.
Collection of recipes that lets you use your hands to mash,
bash, pound, and smash up some of your favorite foods all by
yourself. For breakfast you might have French fingers, for
lunch munch an apple crunch sandwich, and for an afternoon
snack try popcorn honeys. Most of the supper recipes do
require some adult help. Includes safety tips, tools, and
ingredients. For grades 3-6. 1998.
BR 11630.
##

101 Questions and Answers about Backyard Wildlife.
BR 11654.
by Ann Squire.
1 volume.
The author has studied many exotic animals but was amazed by
all the wild creatures she found in her backyard when she
moved to a large home in the country. In chapters on birds,
insects, mammals, and reptiles, she describes the habits of
such wildlife as owls, butterflies, spiders, rabbits,
snails, and frogs. For grades 3-6. 1996.
BR 11654.
##

Alexander Graham Bell: Making Connections.
BR 11657.
by Naomi Pasachoff.
1 volume.
Emphasizes Bell's work and the scientific experiments
leading to his invention of the telephone. Examines his
personal life to explain his commitment to working with deaf
people. Traces his lifelong scientific curiosity, including
his studies of heredity and his pioneering efforts in
aviation. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1996.
BR 11657.
##

###
_Fiction_

The Goose That Almost Got Cooked.
BR 11038.
by Marc Simont.
1 volume.
Flying with her flock of wild Canada geese, Emily tires
herself by doing flips and stops to take a nap. She lands on
a farm, sees how wonderful life is for farm geese, and
decides to stay. But soon Emily learns the downside of farm
living. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1997.
BR 11038.
##

The Bone Man: A Native American Modoc Tale.
BR 11044.
retold by Laura Simms.
1 volume.
Nulwee, raised by his grandmother, is destined to confront
the monster Bone Man, who devoured his people and drank the
river dry. But Nulwee's encounter with the Bone Man comes
sooner than expected. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. 1997.
BR 11044.
##

Elfwyn's Saga.
BR 11045.
by David Wisniewski.
1 volume.
Because of a curse placed on Anlaf by Gorm the Grim, Anlaf's
daughter Elfwyn is born blind. But Elfwyn is able to do many
things, even ride a pony. And when Gorm presents a crystal
stone to Anlaf and his people, causing them to become
discontented with their lives, it is Elfwyn and her pony who
break the curse and create the northern lights.
PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 4-7. 1990.
BR 11045.
##

The Sandy Bottom Orchestra.
BR 11490.
by Garrison Keillor and Jenny LindNilsson.
2 volumes.
Eighth-grader Rachel Green is not looking forward to the
summer. She and her best friend, Carol, seem to be growing
apart, and her parents have decided to stay in town for the
summer because her father is in charge of the Fourth of July
celebration. Life does begin to look up, however, when
Rachel is invited to play her violin in the Sandy Bottom
Orchestra. For grades 5-8. 1996.
BR 11490.
##

Camelot.
BR 11494.
edited by Jane Yolen.
2 volumes.
Several authors provide ten stories and one song about the
legend of King Arthur--some humorous, some historical, and
some tragic. Anne McCaffrey writes about a search for horses
to enrich the bloodlines of the king's horses. Terry
Pratchett offers a scientific explanation of the sword in
the stone. For grades 3-6. 1995.
BR 11494.
##

_What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?_ and Other Stories.
BR 11512.
by  Avi.
1 volume.
Seven short stories in which young people make difficult
decisions as they learn to think for themselves. In "What's
Inside," a thirteen-year-old must act under pressure to save
his cousin from shooting himself. In "Fortune Cookie," a boy
faces his first birthday since his parents were divorced. In
the title piece, a boy wishes he could find a cure for
unhappiness. For grades 6-9. 1997.
BR 11512.
##

Stranded.
BR 11523.
by Ben Mikaelsen.
2 volumes.
Twelve-year-old Koby is completely at home in the ocean in
spite of her artificial foot. She rescues a mother whale and
newborn calf from a fishing net. But when they become
beached in shallow water, Koby faces a dilemma: if she
leaves for help the whales may die, but if she stays she may
be attacked by sharks. For grades 5-8. 1995.
BR 11523.
##

Hatchet.
BR 11525.
by Gary Paulsen.
1 volume (Reissue).
Brian, thirteen and troubled by his parents' divorce, is
flying in a single-engine plane to visit his father. As
Brian is the only passenger, the pilot casually shows him
how to fly the plane. When the pilot has a heart attack and
dies, Brian must take control. After the plane crashes in
the Canadian wilderness, Brian has only the hatchet attached
to his belt to help him survive. For grades 6-9 and older
readers. 1987.
BR 11525.
##

The Indian in the Cupboard.
BR 11529.
by Lynne Reid Banks.
2 volumes.
Omri is disappointed with the miniature plastic Indian that
his best friend gives him for his birthday until the toy
comes to life as a fierce Iroquois Indian only three inches
tall. A witty story for grades 4-7 and older readers. 1980.
BR 11529.
##

Moving Mama to Town.
BR 11532.
by Ronder Thomas Young.
2 volumes.
Freddy James Johnson, thirteen, is confused when his father,
"Big Kenny," leaves his family members to fend for
themselves on the farm in 1947. But Freddy soon arranges to
move Mama and little Kenneth Lee into town, and he gets a
job to support them. For grades 5-8. 1997.
BR 11532.
##

Awake and Dreaming.
BR 11536.
by Kit Pearson.
2 volumes.
Theo, who lives in near poverty with her irresponsible
waitress mother in Vancouver, escapes into books and
fantasizes about the perfect family. Just as things get
really bad, Theo receives magical help from a ghost and, for
a while, becomes part of just such a family. For grades 4-7.
1996.
BR 11536.
##

The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book.
BR 11539.
by Bruce Coville.
1 volume.
Running from bullies, Charlie escapes into Mr. Elives's
magic shop where, to his own horror, he steals a human
skull. Worse, the skull talks, and it forces Charlie to
always tell the truth--something he rarely did in the past.
For grades 4-7. 1997.
BR 11539.
##

Aliens Ate My Homework.
BR 11547.
by Bruce Coville.
1 volume.
Rod Allbright is building a volcano for a school project
when a small spaceship crashes through the window. A tiny
spaceman emerges, and Rod helps him and the crew repair
their ship. The aliens are on Earth to catch a notorious
criminal, and Rod is surprised to learn who it is. For
grades 3-6. 1993.
BR 11547.
##

Where the Red Fern Grows: The Story of Two Dogs and a Boy.
BR 11548.
by Wilson Rawls.
2 volumes.
Ten-year-old Billy, a country boy in the Ozarks, wants a
pair of coonhounds so badly that he works hard for two years
to pay for them. For grades 5-8. 1961.
BR 11548.
##

Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes.
BR 11568.
by Roald Dahl.
1 volume.
A retelling in verse of six well-known fairy tales featuring
surprise endings in place of the traditional
happily-ever-after ones. For grades 3-6. 1982.
BR 11568.
##

The Islander.
BR 11569.
by Cynthia Rylant.
1 volume.
Daniel is lonely living on a remote island with his
grandfather. Then he meets a mermaid who knows his name. She
sends him a key that locates injured birds, his future
bride, and a puppy to keep him company. After the older
man's death, Daniel discovers clues to the mermaid's
identity among his grandfather's belongings. For grades 5-8
and older readers. 1998.
BR 11569.
##

The Terrorist.
BR 11588.
by Caroline B. Cooney.
1 volume.
The Williams family has moved to London for a year. Unlike
the rest of the students, naive, sixteen-year-old Laura does
not know or care about current events or different cultures.
But when her eleven-year-old brother, Billy, innocently
accepts a package from a stranger on the subway and it
explodes, Laura becomes obsessed with finding the terrorist
who killed him. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 1997.
BR 11588.
##

The Velveteen Rabbit; or, How Toys Become Real.
BR 11596.
by Margery Williams.
1 volume.
A velveteen rabbit stuffed with sawdust learns from an older
toy that a child's love can make him real. Rabbit happily
experiences the joy of this love and at last learns of
another kind of reality. For grades 2-5 and older readers.
1922.
BR 11596.
##

Richard Wright and the Library Card.
BR 11662.
by William Miller.
1 volume.
A story from Wright's autobiography describing how he, a
seventeen-year-old African American, found a daring way to
borrow library books in the segregated South. For grades
3-6. 1997.
BR 11662.
##

###
Foreign Language Book

Spanish

Louis Braille: El Inventor del Alfabeto de Puntos en Relieve
que Ha Abierto las Puertas de la Cultura a Millones de
Ciegos.
BR 11453.
por Beverley Birch.
1 volumen.
Biografˇa del ciego franc‚s del siglo diecinueve quien
invent˘ el sistema braille de lecturas para ciegos. Louis
Braille naci˘ en 1809 y muri˘ en 1852 a los cuarenta y tres
a¤os de edad. Para lectores de segunda ense¤anza y m s
avanzados. (Life and times of the nineteenth-century
Frenchman who invented the braille writing system for blind
people. Born in 1809, he died in 1852 at age forty-three.
For high school and older readers.) 1991.@
BR 11453.
##

###
_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 (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6]) 
Harper's (monthly)
Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo
     Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at
     Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly) 
Inside Sports (monthly)
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly)
Ladies' Home Journal (monthly)
Martha Stewart Living (10 issues)
Muse (for children, 6 issues) 
The Musical Mainstream (quarterly)
National Geographic (monthly)
The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly)
News (NLS quarterly)
Parenting (monthly except January and July)
PC World (monthly) 
Playboy (monthly)
Poetry (monthly)
Popular Communications (monthly)
Popular Mechanics (monthly)
Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)
Rolling Stone (26 issues) 
Science News (weekly)
Seventeen (for teens, monthly)
Short Stories (British monthly)
Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) 
Stone Soup (for children, 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