NLS: Talking Book Topics

by Margaret Anne Doody

read by Robert Blumenfeld

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Vanderbilt University professor propounds the idea that the novel was not invented by the English but has a longer, broader history that includes non-Western writers and a range of themes. A scholarly presentation incorporating allusions to Greek and Roman mythology, writings of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and more. 1996.

by Stephanie Powell

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Handbook on organizing and managing one's own rock music group. Powell offers both creative and technical tips on all phases of the music business: using public address systems; mixing live music; utilizing recording studios; promoting a band; negotiating contracts; and avoiding the perils of the business. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.

by Agnes Woolsey

read by Suzanne Toren

3 cassettes

The reflections and observations of an eighteen-year-old on the "grand tour" through Europe in 1856. The author's log provides a lucid account of the historical and cultural sites visited on her year-long journey, including the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Louvre. 1862.

by Thomas Merton

read by Gordon Gould

5 cassettes

This volume of Merton's diaries recalls events as America stands on the brink of war and the author, on the threshold of a religious vocation. Entries describe the intellectual and quotidian life of the young writer and college instructor, and his spiritual journey from the secular world to monastic seclusion. 1995.

by Graham Coster

read by Phil Regensdorf

2 cassettes

An account of life on the road for long-haul truckers. Describes a journey carrying beer and ice cream from England to Russia, as well as coast-to-coast trips across the United States. Depicts the trucking subculture with its language, values, diet, music, and lore. Strong language. 1995.

by Peter G. Davis

read by Frank Coffee

5 cassettes

Chronicles the arrival of Italian opera in the United States and the efforts of American singers to transform a foreign art form into a part of the national culture. Traces the evolution of this musical style and its demands on the voice. Includes biographical sketches and anecdotes about leading singers. 1997.

by Dave Hirschman

read by Don Emmick

2 cassettes

An account of the 1994 hijacking of a FedEx cargo jet by a disgruntled employee, who was flying as a passenger. Describes the tense moments when he attacked and seriously injured the flight crew, forcing them to take extreme measures to subdue their assailant and land the plane safely. Strong language and violence. 1997.

by Emily Wortis Leider

read by Susan McInerney

4 cassettes

Biography of the film star, who had more than thirty years of experience in burlesque, vaudeville, and plays before heading for Hollywood in 1932. West had also been her own writer and producer in New York and came to Paramount Studios demanding star treatment. After achieving fame and fortune, the Hays Office successfully censored West's career in the late 1930s. 1997.

by John C. Tucker

read by Ray Hagen

3 cassettes

Chronicles the 1981 rape and murder case of Roger Coleman, who was executed in Virginia's electric chair in 1992. Examines the circumstances and evidence and concludes that the accused was poorly represented and may well have been wrongly convicted. Strong language and violence. 1997.

by Mary Craig

read by Ralph Lowenstein

3 cassettes

Describes the family of the fourteenth Dalai Lama and the importance of their support for him, especially during the religious and political turmoil in Tibet after the 1950s. Explains local Buddhist traditions and cultural history; recounts the family's move from their rural village to live as royalty in Lhasa and their exile from their country as refugees. 1997.

edited by Robert Berkow

read by Lou Harpenau

21 cassettes

A consumer version, in everyday language, of the manual used by doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Discusses disease of all parts of the human body and drugs used in treatment. Includes sections on men's, women's, and children's health issues and an appendix covering legal issues, medical tests, and resources for help. 1997.

by A.M. Sperber and Eric Lax

read by Ray Hagen

5 cassettes

Description of movie star Humphrey Bogart's life and times. Discusses his childhood and marriages, the Hollywood studio system, and the House Un-American Activities Committee of the 1950s. 1997.

by John Julius Norwich

read by Lindsay Ellison

5 cassettes

Condensed from a three-volume work. The author describes the civilization of Byzantium, founded in A.D. 330 by Constantine the Great, as the Roman Empire of the East. It survived until being conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. During those thousand years, the Byzantines preserved the heritage of Greece and Rome, protected Europe from eastern invasion, and created magnificent art. 1997.

by S. Schoenbaum

read by Bob Kuhn

3 cassettes

Schoenbaum presents a scholarly biography based on written records. Recounts Shakespeare's simple life story as evidenced in documents found in Stratford, where he was born, raised, and died, and in London, where he gained his livelihood. 1977.

by Michael Streissguth

read by Robert Sams

3 cassettes

Recounts the life of country singer Richard Edward (Eddy) Arnold from his birth in Tennessee in 1918. Discusses Arnold's interest in playing the guitar at an early age, his first radio appearance while still in high school, his rise to fame, and his struggle to remain popular as Elvis Presley and rock-and-roll music began to overtake country music in the 1960s. 1997.

by Wole Soyinka

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

A lyrical memoir of boyhood experiences in the Nigerian village of Ake by the 1986 recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Utilizing his novelist's techniques of narrative and dialog, Soyinka describes the mixture of traditional African customs and Christian influences that shaped his first eleven years. 1981.

by Kathryn Spink

read by Yolande Bavan

3 cassettes

The life of the nun who was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, in 1910. Mother Teresa's work in Calcutta--helping the poor, those with leprosy and other illnesses, and abandoned and orphaned children--earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and worldwide recognition long before her death in 1997. 1997.

by P.J. O'Rourke

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Twenty-five years of essays from the journalist's past. Evolving from a drug-using hippie to a right-wing conservative, O'Rourke writes about everything from automobiles in "The Ultimate Politically Incorrect Car" to politics in "Whitewater." Some strong language. 1995.

by Jean Ziegler

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Swiss citizen Ziegler presents his views of his country's role in financing Hitler's regime. Topics include the use of Swiss banks to fence looted gold, Switzerland's tax policies aimed at Jews in the country, the denial of political asylum to others, and arms sales to Germany. An afterword updates the book through November 1997. 1998.

edited by Stephen Coonts

read by Don Feldheim

3 cassettes

Twenty-five excerpts from accounts of aerial fighting covering World War I through the Vietnam War. Includes stories by pilots from both sides of the conflicts. Some violence. 1996.

by Benjamin Spock and Steven Parker

read by Kerry Cundiff

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Revised and updated seventh edition of a classic work by the pediatrician who died in 1998. Written for parents of the developing child from birth through adolescence, this comprehensive handbook now includes information on such topics as a plant-based, non-dairy diet and alternative therapies. 1998.

by Sarah Saffian

read by Mimi Bederman

2 cassettes

New York journalist shares her feelings about being contacted by her birthmother at the age of twenty-four. The letters between Saffian and her birthparents, who had eventually married each other and had three more children, illustrate her initial reluctance to embrace this new family and her journey to being reunited with them. 1998.

by Fauziya Kassindja and Layli Miller Bashir

read by Lisette Lecat

4 cassettes

The account of a young Muslim girl who flees from her home in Togo, West Africa, to escape female genital mutilation. Arriving illegally in the United States, Fauziya Kassindja is held for more than a year in prisons where she is further degraded. Aided by Layli Miller Bashir, a young law student, Fauziya is eventually granted asylum. 1998.

by V.S. Naipaul

read by John Horton

3 cassettes

Personal accounts of people encountered by Naipaul during his travels in four non-Arab Muslim countries--Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia--for five months in 1995. He contends that these stories reveal the effects of Islamic conversion on the national culture. Companion to Among the Believers (RC 17364). 1998.

by Anthony Weller

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes

The highway adventures of an American journalist traveling the fifteen hundred miles of the Grand Trunk Road from Calcutta across northern India and Pakistan to the Khyber Pass. Weller recounts the region's religious and political history; describes the cities, countryside, and people he encounters; and conveys his joy at traveling in an area he has read much about. 1997.

by Roberto Suro

read by Peter Gil

3 cassettes

Examines Latino immigration to the United States--its history and the challenges it presents. Provides an overview of the individuals and communities that make up the Latino population. Proposes immigration controls, social programs, the development of new perceptions, and ethnic advocacy to enhance the assimilation of this growing minority. 1998.

by Robyn Landis

read by Kristin Allison

4 cassettes

Discusses the history of using herbs for healing. Describes how they can work with the immune system to maintain health and explains which herbs to use for a variety of conditions including arthritis, allergies, diabetes, and digestive problems. 1997.

by Jerry G. Blaivas

read by Andy Chappell

3 cassettes

A urologist describes common bladder problems for both sexes and prostate conditions in men. Discusses basic anatomy, symptoms, tests, diagnoses, medications, and surgery. Includes a glossary and relevant organizations. 1998.

by Lewis Hyde

read by Barry Bernson

3 cassettes

Explores the cultural archetype of the trickster--a mischievous, disruptive agent who is given to deceit and shamelessness, ignores social boundaries, and helps make the world the way it is. Recounts myths of ancient tricksters; cites examples of modern figures who fill the role. 1998.

by Barry Werth

read by Randy Davidson

4 cassettes

Examines the medical liability system by detailing the Sabia family's experiences surrounding the birth of their son and his stillborn twin. The surviving boy, Tony, was profoundly brain damaged and physically handicapped, but it was years later that the Sabias were advised--by a stranger--to sue. Strong language. 1998.

by William Ratigan

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

History of maritime disasters on each of the North American inland seas: Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, Superior, and Ontario. Describes how vessels and their crews functioned during catastrophic storms. A separate section details the November 1975 wreck of the cargo ship Edmund Fitzgerald. 1977.

by Walter Alvarez

read by Norm Thibeault

1 cassette

A geologist recalls the first scientific proposals of the theory that a large asteroid or comet had collided with Earth sixty-five million years ago, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs. Describes the vehement debate that followed, the accumulation of evidence, and the discovery of a crater beneath the Yucatan peninsula that appears to substantiate the impact claim. 1997.

by Patricia C. McCairen

read by Kimberly Schraf

2 cassettes

New Yorker recounts falling in love with white-water rafting and the Grand Canyon at the age of thirty-five. This led to planning her own river trip and, when no friends were available to join her, the decision to do it alone. She describes the twenty-day voyage, the landscape, and the changes in herself brought on by the experience. 1998.

by Charlotte Allen

read by Terence Aselford

3 cassettes

A scholarly perspective on the various historical figures and intellectual movements that have used Jesus "as a vehicle for some of the best and worst ideas of Western civilization over the past 2,000 years." Avers that Jesus-searchers have tended to emphasize an image of Jesus that reflects their own aims and views. 1998.

by Shirlee Taylor Haizlip and Harold C. Haizlip

read by Faith Potts

3 cassettes

In alternating voices, a husband and wife recount the joys and sorrows of their forty-year marriage, an ongoing loving relationship. They reminisce about their first "study date" in 1957 and their lifelong commitment as an African American couple to achieving integration in U.S. society. Some strong language. Bestseller 1998.

by Emily Colas

read by Kimberly Schraf

1 cassette

The author describes her obsessive-compulsive habits--which she calls "insanity lite"--that include checking everything from food to sidewalks to avoid blood, drugs, needles, germs, and other dangers. Her husband eventually tires of acting as her shield, and Colas reluctantly agrees to medication. Strong language. 1998.

by J.J. Goldberg

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Journalist Goldberg discusses the myths and realities surrounding Jewish leadership and influence in America. He examines the extent of Jewish involvement in the media, politics, and U.S. foreign policy. He also looks at the complexities of the Jewish community and at organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. 1996.

by Stephen E. Ambrose

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

Drawing material from his previous works on World War II and General Eisenhower, Ambrose provides an account of the last year of the war. Portrays Eisenhower as supreme commander and those who served under him from D-Day, June 6, 1944, to Germany's unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945. 1998.

by Caroline Seebohm

read by Terry Hayes Sales

4 cassettes

Biography of the socialite and Democratic Party supporter. Examines the accomplishments of a woman born into the Massachusetts Peabody family in 1917 when matrimony rather than career was the female path to power. Recounts her romances, two marriages, and her rise to political prominence. 1997.

by Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

A practical guide to planning, entering, and advancing in a variety of child-care careers, including home care, teaching, health care, social work, and recreation. Presents profiles of practitioners and discusses job preparation, salaries, and future demand in the job market. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1994.

by Christopher Dickey

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Foreign correspondent Chris Dickey recalls his difficult relationship with his father, James Dickey, the famous poet and writer. Argues that the success of his father's first novel, Deliverance (RC 25291)--the 1971 movie--changed him for the worse. Chris describes avoiding his father for several years until shortly before James's death in 1997. Some strong language. 1998.

by Stephen R. Covey

read by Gary Tipton

4 cassettes

From the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (RC 32592) and father of nine, a method of achieving peace and harmony at home. Recommends simple and practical ways to communicate and to resolve common problems so that "everyone wins." 1997.

by Anna Quindlen

read by Janis Gray

1 cassette

A noted writer and avid bookworm contemplates the history, value, and pleasure of reading. Discusses the development of reading, changes in attitudes and habits regarding the practice, and the impact of innovations in information technology. Includes reading lists. 1998.

by Robert J. Cone and Patricia Barnes-Svarney

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

Explains the concepts and operating principles behind seventeen high-tech devices and systems that affect daily life. Covers electromagnetism, communications, and measurement concepts, discussing their development, applications, and future prospects. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Mark Stewart

read by Barry Bernson

2 cassettes

Focusses on baseball's evolution, momentous events, and key personalities like Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, and Greg Maddux. Examines how social, financial, and organizational issues influence this sport and why, with its century and a half of traditions, baseball remains an important part of American culture. For high school and older readers. 1998.

by Henry Petroski

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Nineteen essays from American Scientist magazine describing famous engineers and engineering feats such as the Panama Canal, the Hoover Dam, and the Channel Tunnel between England and France. 1997.

by Eric Foner

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

Explores the development of liberty in America since the nation's inception. Views liberty as a "contested concept," which is reinterpreted by successive generations in a process that often involves "struggles, tragic failures, tears, sacrifices, and sorrow." 1998.

by Mary Leader

read by Mitzi Friedlander

1 cassette

Thirty-four poems expressing a contemporary woman's feelings about events, occurrences, and moments, some past and others present. Her themes include unrequited love, jealousy, being a mother, and thoughts evoked by paintings or music. 1997.

by Robert H. Ferrell

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

An account of Franklin Roosevelt's performance as president during the last year of his life. Avers that he concealed serious health problems that impaired his ability to concentrate for long periods and led to some unfortunate policy decisions toward the end of World War II. 1998.

by Charles J. Sykes

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

The author contends that with the rise of psychology, Americans have become a nation of "whiners" who abandon personal responsibility. Self-help groups abound, and blame is placed everywhere except on the individual. Uses numerous examples of absurd court cases where victimization is the standard. Asserts that political correctness also negates moral responsibility and hard work. 1992.

by John Maddox

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Presents a "survey of outstanding problems in science" and an agenda for future discovery. Reviews science history, including key findings in physics, cosmology, and life science. Assesses potential risks from global warming and other threats of nature. 1998.

by Carl Safina

read by Bill Wallace

5 cassettes

Record of author's journey to evaluate the overfishing and depletion of marine resources in major commercial fishing areas. A scientist, observer, advocate, guide, tourist, and fisherman, he describes what he encountered and the changes that have occurred. He says setting a "sea ethic" will reverse the devastation. 1997.

by Douglas Brinkley

read by Bill Wallace

5 cassettes

Explores Jimmy Carter's continuing work with programs and policies he espoused while in the White House and after. Explains his efforts in human rights, peace, democracy, and health as themes in his post-presidential work. Depicts his involvement with Habitat for Humanity and the Atlanta Project. 1998.

by Tad Szulc

read by Ted Stoddard

4 cassettes

Biography concentrates on the eighteen years (nearly half his life) that the Polish musical genius spent in France. Portrays his artistic and political friends who fashioned European culture from 1831 to 1849, including Sand, Balzac, Hugo, Lamartine, Delacroix, Liszt, Berlioz, Schumann, and Mendelssohn. 1998.

by Mark Stewart

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Presents soccer's timeline, memorable events, and stars, including Stanley Matthews of England, Pelé of Brazil, Roger Milla of Cameroon, and Alexi Lalas of the United States. Explores the sport's origins, global appeal, and social and political implications. For high school and older readers. 1998.

by Mort Rosenblum

read by Lewis Grenville

3 cassettes

The author tells how his purchase of a small Provence farm with two hundred neglected olive trees inspired his interest in the fruit. He provides a historical tour of the Mediterranean olive world and discusses various methods of picking, pressing, and appreciating olives. He also presents anecdotes and a few recipes. 1996.

by Eric Liu

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Journalist and former Clinton speech writer, Liu, twenty-nine, examines his and others' attitudes about being Asian. A second-generation Chinese American or ABC (American-born Chinese), Liu had a suburban middle-class upbringing and married a woman of Scottish, Irish, and Jewish descent. He explores his ambivalence about choosing to assimilate or embrace his cultural heritage. 1998.

by Wendy Wasserstein

read by Lindsay Ellison

1 cassette

Play featuring Dr. Lyssa Dent Hughes, senator's daughter, descendant of Ulysses S. Grant, and wife and mother, who has been nominated for surgeon general. During a television interview, her husband and a gay friend both contribute information that creates a scandal leading to withdrawal from her position. Some strong language. 1998.

by Richard Ellis

read by Ralph Lowenstein

3 cassettes

Ellis reviews many theories about the "lost continent" of Atlantis. He covers a wide range of arguments, from oral traditions to scientific studies, only to conclude that no evidence--either historical or geographical--supports the existence of the landmass. 1998.

by Lawrence Scanlan

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

The author explores why people are so enamored of horses. Uses history, mythology, and anecdotes to reveal how important the animal has been to the development of humans. Includes stories about horses in war, sports, and entertainment as well as horses as pets. 1998.

by Ron Rosenbaum

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

An analysis of fifty years of historical research concerning Adolf Hitler. Discusses various theories that scholars have pursued in their efforts to discover the dictator's true nature. Suggests that the existence of evil provides a logical starting point for an explanation of Hitler's actions. 1998.

by Henry Mayer

read by Jake Williams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Presents William Lloyd Garrison as a great politician, crusader, and publisher who challenged the conscience of America before the Civil War. Details how he insisted upon equal rights for African Americans and women and influenced two generations of activists--female and male, black and white--to demand social reforms. 1998.

by Juan Williams

read by Jake Williams

4 cassettes

Describes Marshall's importance to the 1960s civil rights movement, not only for his legal victory in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which outlawed school segregation in 1954, or even for his appointment as the first African American Supreme Court justice in 1967, but for his lifelong pursuit of the principle of equality before the law. 1998.

by Stephan Thernstrom and Abigail Thernstrom

read by Jake Williams

6 cassettes

An overview of race relations in America from the 1940s through the 1990s, including discussion of the history of segregation, the civil rights movement, and the increasing progress that African Americans have made economically. Concludes with suggestions for improving race relations. 1997.

by Stephen J. Pyne

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

The author describes how conquistadors and later explorers dismissed the Grand Canyon as being useless until nineteenth-century artists and intellectuals began to proclaim its unique beauty. Portrays the changing attitudes towards the environment culminating in a more ecological view of natural phenomena. 1998.

by Tom Standage

read by Randy Atcher

1 cassette

History of the invention of the telegraph, which was the technological marvel of its time. Describes how the machine changed the way the world operated, including its direct effects on warfare, espionage, and love affairs. Provides anecdotes about the inventors, hackers, and cheats. 1998.

by Molly Ivins

read by Carole Jordan Stewart

2 cassettes

A collection of humorous opinions and observations by a political commentator from Texas. Topics range from pop culture to the hypocrisy of elected officials. Ivins rails against the radical right, large corporations, and the media, and pays tribute to some deceased heroes. Some strong language. 1998.

by Alison Hawthorne Deming

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

Examines the concept of civilization in relation to the environment and culture. Observes that tourism development often destroys natural resources and can hinder economic cooperation among nations. Reflects on a way of life that could reconcile the rift between societies' advancement and the need to preserve the wilderness. 1998.

edited by Don Richardson

read by Randy Davidson

3 cassettes

Interviews with former president Jimmy Carter from 1976 through 1997. Initially the questions were designed to learn more about the relatively unknown candidate. The discussions held during his term in office are more focused and formal. Later conversations describe the ex-president's work on behalf of charitable organizations and international peace. 1998.

by Ira Berlin

read by Lou Harpenau

3 cassettes

History professor Berlin discusses the evolution of slavery from a social practice to a central pillar of the U.S. economy. He outlines three stages in this development--the charter generation, the plantation generation, and the revolutionary generation--and distinguishes among four geographical areas--the North, the Chesapeake, the Carolina low country, and the Mississippi Valley. 1998.

by Betty Wason

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

The author, diagnosed with macular degeneration, investigates the symptoms, causes, and current treatments of the condition. She presents case studies of patients, offering coping mechanisms and sources of help. Gives strategies to deal with stress, including diet and exercise. Describes new technology that makes life easier. 1998.

by Erica Jong

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Feminist Erica Jong contemplates women of the 1990s--what they want and what society expects from them. Considers issues such as work, power, sex, and relationships. Essays discuss such public figures as Princess Diana and Hillary Rodham Clinton, and muse on "the perfect man." Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Napoleon Hill

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

The documented experience and writings of the author are updated with business success stories. Suggests ways to create an attractive personality and establish a positive mental attitude. 1994.

by Alan M. Rapoport and Fred D. Sheftell

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Two physicians from the Headache Inpatient Unit of Greenwich Hospital define four types of headaches and provide advice on managing them. They discuss influences such as menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, and stress. The doctors also review diet, nutrition, and medications. 1995.

by Marcelo Gleiser

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

Surveys approaches to understanding the origins of the universe through religion and science. Analyzes creation myths of various cultures and compares twentieth-century Western ideas, demonstrating areas of similarity and difference. Traces the lives and discoveries of well-known theoreticians. 1997.

by Jane E. Brody

read by Kerry Cundiff

1 cassette

Explains nasal allergies--their causes, cures, and prevention. Describes seasonal and perennial problems, reactions to various foods, and ways to alleviate them. Includes information on over-the-counter and herbal remedies. 1997.

by Eve Luppert

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Gives succinct, practical advice for college graduates or others beginning their first venture into the corporate world. Explains what to do the first day on the job, what to wear, how to get along with different types of bosses and coworkers, how to succeed, and how to handle finances. 1998.

by Robert A. Weinberg

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

Biologist Weinberg discusses advances in cancer research, focusing on known carcinogens and viruses that may contribute to the development of the disease. He describes people who are involved in the search for answers, instances of cooperation and competition for funding, and the dead ends that often follow promising breakthroughs. 1998.

by Charles W. Sweeney

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Memoir of the American Army Air Corps pilot who flew both atomic bomb missions over Japan in August 1945. Feeling "outraged and betrayed" by revisionist accounts of those events, the author tells his own career story and describes the tension and drama surrounding the world's first use of atomic weapons. 1997.

by Judith Rich Harris

read by Jill Fox

4 cassettes

The author contends that peers matter more than parents in determining a child's development. Harris suggests that children are born with their personalities or characters and that growth is shaped by factors outside the home rather than by nurturing parents. In essence, she says, children socialize children. 1998.

by Daniel Jussim

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Victims of the HIV virus speak out about their experiences with a top killer of young American adults. Discusses the prevention and treatment of AIDS and HIV. Offers practical advice on protecting oneself from contracting the disease. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1997.

by Kelly Huegel

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

First person accounts of young people who have accepted their chronic diseases and maintained a positive outlook. Includes practical advice for dealing with school, friends, and family while coping with cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, and other conditions. Lists organizations and web sites after each narrative. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

by Gerald Hausman and Loretta Hausman

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

Legends, folklore, and literary allusions are combined with historical information on thirty breeds of cat. Begins with the "goddess cat" and facts on the Egyptian Mau, includes the nine-lived Abyssinian, and ends with the "archetypal" tabby. 1998.

by American Diabetes Association

read by Andy Chappell

1 cassette

Simple, basic answers to common questions about diabetes. Includes information on medicines, weight and diet, complications, and exercise. 1997.

by Dennis J. Hutchinson

read by Roy Avers

4 cassettes

Biography of the Supreme Court justice who was appointed by John F. Kennedy in 1962 and retired in 1993. Describes how White--both a Rhodes scholar and a professional football player--has shunned publicity. Presents his work on the Court in a term-by-term perspective. Portrays a complex figure who has done little to clarify his own image. 1998.

by Mark Bowden

read by Lou Harpenau

3 cassettes

Recreates the U.S. military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3-4, 1993, when ninety-nine American soldiers were surrounded and trapped. Describes how the planned one-hour mission turned into an overnight fight for survival. Based on journalist's interviews with the soldiers, helicopter pilots, and Somali clan leaders. Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.

by Frances Mayes

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

Continues Mayes's account begun in Under the Tuscan Sun (RC 44847). Now that the house and garden restoration is essentially complete, Mayes and her husband begin exploring the rest of Italy. She describes her fondness for the people she encounters and the joys of Italian food. Includes recipes. Bestseller 1999.

by David Halberstam

read by Gregory Gorton

4 cassettes

Examines the basketball superstar's career and character from high school to the professional ranks. Describes championship games and fellow players. Discusses 1980s and 1990s changes in media coverage and how Jordan evolved from athlete to cultural phenomenon. Bestseller 1999.

by Dorothy Herrmann

read by Barbara Pinolini

3 cassettes

A chronological account of Keller's long, eventful life, written from a woman's perspective. Herrmann explores Keller's world, perceived without sight or sound; her ability to remain cheerful about her disabilities; and her relationship with teacher Anne Sullivan. 1998.

by Kenneth C. Davis

read by Margaret Strom

4 cassettes

Examines the culture and environment in which the Bible was written and explores the Good Book by placing some of its accounts in historical perspective. Details views on when and by whom the Old and New Testaments were written and how other traditions influenced their contents and structure. 1998.

by Lawrence Millman

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

A travel writer's account of his daring forays to unusual and remote places. His adventures include trekking through Amazon jungles, exploring farflung islands, and dining on raw seal eye with Inuits. Some strong language. 1998.

edited by Patricia Craig

read by Terry Donnelly

5 cassettes

An anthology of Irish writing from Celtic times to the late 1990s. Includes excerpts from novels, poetry, and philosophy by peasants and the famous. Many passages lament the occupation of the land by the British. 1998.

edited by Tamara L. Roleff and others

read by Ralph Lowenstein

2 cassettes

The opposing viewpoints in this volume concern the environment. Scientists debate the causes and effects of global warming, whether it poses a serious threat to human life, and how to preserve the rainforests that are endangered by slowly rising temperatures. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1997.

by Judy Sheindlin

read by Pam Ward

1 cassette

Televised family court judge offers advice to women on how to avoid ruining their lives. Uses her years of experience in the courtroom and her own life to illustrate ten lessons about achieving happiness, confidence, and success. Bestseller 1999.

edited by Jack Canfield and others

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Includes poems, stories, and reminiscences about love through good times and bad including death and illness. Illustrates the meaning of commitment, understanding, and family. Bestseller 1999.

by Lawrence Schiller

read by Bill Wallace

5 cassettes

Describes the murder investigation of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, who was killed at home on Christmas Day 1996. Portrays the role of the FBI and the antagonism between the Boulder, Colorado, police department and the district attorney's office. Examines newspaper articles, interviews with suspects, and the role of tabloids. Strong language and violence. Bestseller 1998.

edited by Russell Shorto

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Presents interviews with fourteen professionals in fields that demand an inquiring mind and keen investigative skills, including an inventor, an editor, an ethnomusicologist, and a philosopher. They describe how they got started, what their work involves, and things they like and dislike about their jobs. For junior and senior high readers. 1992.

by B.H. Fairchild

read by Jim Zeiger

1 cassette

Lyrical poems that depict the stark, arduous lives of machinists, farmers, and other working class Kansans in the mid-twentieth century. In "Body and Soul," a gifted fifteen-year-old boy bests his elders at baseball, demonstrating "the vast gap between talent and genius." Some strong language. 1998.

by William F. Baker and George Dessart

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Two industry insiders argue that television "has failed to achieve its potential to deliver a superior product or contribute to the public good." The authors assert that the U.S. government has abdicated its regulatory responsibility, allowing mediocre programming by profit-driven commercial television interests. 1998.

by Gene I. Rochlin

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

A professor of energy and resources at Berkeley argues that complacent acceptance of computers in every phase of contemporary existence blunts the perception of how they are transforming the very structure and practice of human affairs. 1997.

edited by Susan Ware

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Biographical essays of thirty-five unsung American heroes including fourteen women. Spanning the colonial era to the 1960s, covers sports figures, military greats, feminists, trailblazers, pioneers, teachers, and diplomats. 1998.

by Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler

read by Jill Ferris

1 cassette

Description of the numerous career opportunities that entail working with children. Includes school settings, infant and toddler care, and health- and safety-oriented jobs as well as practical considerations. For junior and senior high readers. 1994.

by Marianne W. Gilliam

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Gilliam advocates a holistic, spiritual approach to addiction that leads to permanent recovery. She draws on her experience as an alcoholic and drug addict for half of her life and her failure with Alcoholics Anonymous and other groups. Includes a directory of alternatives to twelve-step programs. 1998.

by David Backes

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Authorized biography of the American environmental writer and activist based on his papers and diaries. Describes the man who was a national parks advocate in the mid-twentieth century. Focuses on understanding Olson's character and the development of his ideas on conservation issues. 1997.

by José Martí

read by Peter Gil

1 cassette

A collection that represents a spiritual autobiography of the famous Cuban poet and patriot of the nineteenth century. Martí distills his sentiments as philosopher, troubadour, soldier, and lover in these brief verses. The poems and original prolog are in Spanish and English. This edition includes an English introduction by Manuel Tellechea. 1891.

by Michael White

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

Depicts Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) as a scientist who researched the universe by studying biblical prophecy, astrology, and magic. Traces his youth in Grantham and years at Cambridge. Discusses how alchemy helped him to invent calculus, conceive the laws of motion and gravity, and investigate optics. 1997.

by Robert Pollin and Stephanie Luce

read by Jeff Baker

2 cassettes

Examines the "living wage" legislative initiative intended to improve conditions for employees in the United States by requiring companies to provide decent wages and adequate benefits in order to qualify for government contracts. Argues that these proposals could reverse the twenty-five-year decline in many workers' real earnings. 1998.

by Dana Greene

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

Traces the development of a major figure in twentieth-century Catholicism. Describes Ward's upbringing in England, activities in the Catholic Evidence Guild, publication of works by authors of the Church, translations of writings of European theologians, and foundation of the Catholic Housing Aid Society. 1997.

by Iyanla Vanzant

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Spiritual readings and exercises that offer a way to find peace through contemplation and writing journal entries. Examples from the author's life illustrate how she worked through emotional pain and distress to achieve a more balanced perspective on life. Bestseller 1998.

by Brian Greene

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

Explains research on the fundamental laws of the universe and the search for a single theory capable of describing all physical phenomena. Discusses the major achievements of physics since Einstein and Heisenberg. Summarizes special relativity, general relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory. Bestseller 1999.

by John Weldon

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

Explores the popular theory of a hidden Bible message, a "cryptogram set by the Almighty." Examines evidence and research, as well as arguments of critics who deny the phenomenon. Discusses problems with the code and warns against improper use. 1998.

by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

read by John Richardson

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Author of On Death and Dying (RC 47351), a physician, suggests ways in which the death of a family member can be a positive, meaningful experience--even for children. She advocates open expressions of feelings of denial, fear, anger, and guilt to help people face the imminent loss of a loved one. 1981.

by Gary Karp

read by Patricia McDermott

1 cassette

The author, a paraplegic and ergonomics specialist, details the process of selecting a wheelchair for both new and experienced users. Takes into account costs, usage, and wheeling technique. Includes list of manufacturers. 1998.

by Anne Rivers Siddons

read by Terry Hayes Sales

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Personal essays spanning a year in the author's life. She writes of her peculiar response to the evening news, a visit to a haunted wintertime beach, a wild--but touching--college reunion, and loving memories of her grandfather. 1975.

by Danielle Crittenden

read by Sharon Murray

2 cassettes

The author contends that feminism defies human nature and has caused misery for generations. She urges women to look beyond themselves and their personal ambitions, and to compromise in their relationships with men. Advocates marrying early and having children before embarking on a career. 1999.

by Marlene E. Hunter

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

A doctor discusses coping mechanisms to deal with chronic pain. Uses case histories to illustrate ways to respond to pain and discusses appropriate medication. Reviews literature about pain control and comments on research findings. 1996.

by Ray Kurzweil

read by Lou Harpenau

4 cassettes

Considering exponential advances in computer technology since 1900, inventor Kurzweil theorizes that the twenty-first century will be defined by incomparable achievements in mechanical intelligence and that emotions associated with humans, such as love and loneliness, will manifest themselves in machines. He projects that automated devices and humans will become indistinguishable. 1999.

by James Van Praagh

read by Anne Hancock

1 cassette

Spiritual medium Van Praagh's guidebook for charting the soul's journey through life, death, and rebirth. He discusses what it means to be spiritual, encourages reexamination of earthly illusions, and demonstrates taking charge of one's life. Companion to Talking to Heaven (RC 45101). Bestseller 1999.

by Peter Mayle

read by Robert Blumenfeld

2 cassettes

Mayle and his wife return to Provence after a four year absence. On this visit he discusses his favorite markets, vineyards, and bakeries; his search for the perfect corkscrew; the "school for noses" where blind children learn to identify fragrances for perfumes; and ways to spend a summer's afternoon. Bestseller 1999.

by Linda Greenlaw

read by Mary Woods

2 cassettes

The only female swordfishing boat captain describes a harrowing month-long journey to Newfoundland's Grand Banks. Greenlaw recalls her five-man crew and their struggle against the sea aboard the Hannah Boden. Companion to Junger's The Perfect Storm (RC 44751), which portrays the fatal journey of a sister ship, the Andrea Gail. Strong language. Bestseller 1999.

by Reba McEntire

read by Pam Ward

1 cassette

The country western star reminisces about her childhood on a ranch in Oklahoma where her father worked in rodeos, her singing career including the 1991 crash that killed members of her band, and her favorite role--as a mother. Bestseller 1999.

by Christopher Hitchens

read by Jake Williams

1 cassette

A journalist's appraisal of the public and private Clinton: a polemic attacking "a crooked president and a corrupt and reactionary administration." Also evaluates the presidency's legacy and relationship with the international community. Bestseller 1999.

by Alisa Craig

read by Cyn Delafield

2 cassettes

Osbert and Dittany Monk, part-time deputies in a small Canadian town, are enlisted to solve the murder of a local mincemeat maker. Mother Matilda has been guarding the family recipe for years and fears that her husband was killed by industrial spies. 1990.

by C.S. Forester

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Ship of the Line (RC 46121), Captain Hornblower, having surrendered his ship, finds himself in a French prison facing possible execution. If he manages to escape, he still must deal with a court martial in England. 1938.

by C.S. Forester

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes (Reissue)

The Hornblower saga continues as the intrepid commodore becomes a peer of the realm by quelling a mutiny and concluding his private war with Napoleon. Incidentally, he rekindles his romance with the lovely French Marie. Sequel to Commodore Hornblower (RC 26916). 1946.

by Joyce McDonald

read by Jeanne Evans

1 cassette

On the fourth of July and his seventeenth birthday, Michael fires his new rifle into the air, unintentionally killing a man who is a mile away, repairing his roof. Then in alternate chapters, Michael and the dead man's daughter, Jenna, recount their reactions to the death and how it changes their lives. For junior and senior high readers. 1997.

by Penelope Lively

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

1 cassette

Fourteen short stories by the British Booker Prize winner; most observe people at pivotal moments in their private lives. In the title story, after many years of conventional marriage, the Sultan is bored with Scheherazade's cerebral stories. His revenge is to tell her violent adventure tales. 1997.

by Raymond Chandler

read by Conrad Feininger

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Search for a priceless gold coin takes private detective Philip Marlowe into the California underworld and the tangled affairs of a murdered coin collector. 1942.

by Philip McCutchan

read by John Lescault

2 cassettes

This sequel to Apprentice to the Sea (RC 41979) is set in the early 1900s. Aboard the steam liner Orvega, second mate Tom Chatto faces the daunting challenge of navigating Cape Horn, a task complicated by the risk of colliding with a foundering windjammer. 1995.

by Sam Brown

read by Dick Jenkins

2 cassettes

Concho Smith is headed to Mexico in the summer of 1898 when he comes across Judith Van, who is trying to mend a broken gate on her ranch. Her husband has been crippled by a fall from a horse, and she really needs help with the ranch work. Concho stops to help and ends up staying and facing problems. Strong language and some violence. 1998.

by Terry Lewis

read by Chuck Young

2 cassettes

Beset with marital and alcohol problems, trial lawyer Ted Stevens is appointed to defend the accused murderer of reporter Patty Stiles. Concealing his past romance with Stiles and continuing to drink recklessly, Stevens puts both the defense case and his own career in jeopardy. Strong language. 1997.

by Howard Fast

read by Ray Hagen

1 cassette

Young newlyweds Scott and Martha Waring honeymoon in Germany in 1939. They are illegally seized by the Nazis. Scott alone escapes, but leads a tortured life until therapy and the love of a Jewish war survivor enable him to accept the past. Strong language. 1995.

by Joan Austen-Leigh

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

2 cassettes

Continues the saga of the characters in the novel Emma (RC 23490) by Jane Austen. Written by a descendent of Austen's in the form of letters between friends and sisters, the daily affairs of the village of Highbury are chronicled. One of the main occupations is matchmaking between eligible men and women. 1996.

by Shirley Jackson

read by Celeste Lawson

3 cassettes

Fifty-four previously unpublished or uncollected stories from the author of "The Lottery" found in The Magic of Shirley Jackson (RC 9151). These stories, written from the 1930s to shortly before Jackson's death in 1965, range from the lighthearted romantic to the frightening and the macabre. 1996.

by Earl Murray

read by Anne Mullen

2 cassettes

After the Civil War, Isaac Porter finds gold in Montana and sends for his family in Tennessee. His wife, Holly, encounters many disasters on the trip; the worst is a Sioux attack. She is separated from her family, captured, and tortured. Rescued by a Blackfoot woman, Holly determines to be reunited with her son and husband. Some violence. 1997.

by John Kessel

read by Gary Telles

2 cassettes

In the year 2063, Dr. Owen Vannice, "Dr. Nice," a wealthy paleontologist, brings a baby dinosaur back from a trip to the Cretaceous period. On his way home, he stops in A.D. 40 Jerusalem where he meets August Faison and his beautiful daughter Genevieve. They attempt to steal the reptile and to swindle Dr. Nice out of his money. For senior high and older readers. 1997.

by A.S. Byatt

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Four short stories and a novella presented in the guise of fairy tales with a twentieth-century slant. In the title novella, a middle-aged woman has an extraordinary adventure with a djinn--a genie--released from a beautiful glass bottle purchased in Turkey. 1994.

by Joyce Carol Oates

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

Short stories of ordinary people whose lives are deeply affected by tragedy, violence, or other life crises. The title work tells of a woman whose sister was brutally raped and murdered. After twenty years when the killer is up for parole, she pleads against his release. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1996.

by Stephen Hunter

read by Jeremy Gage

4 cassettes

When his wife is wounded by a sniper in the Idaho mountains, retired Marine sergeant Bob Lee Swagger links the shooting to events thirty years past in Vietnam. Himself an expert sniper, Swagger stalks the gunman and uncovers an official conspiracy in which he is the target. Strong language and violence. 1998.

by Walter Dean Myers

read by Chuck Young

1 cassette (Reissue)

When Francis moves to 116th Street, he does not know anybody. Within a year, though, he makes the best friends of his life, gets a cool nickname, lands in jail because of modern science, experiences the death of a friend, and falls in and out of love. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1975.

edited by Marilyn Wallace

read by Celeste Lawson

3 cassettes

Anthology of mysteries written by award-winning women authors such as Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, Mary Higgins Clark, and Elizabeth George. In "One Hit Wonder" by Gabrielle Kraft, a washed-up musician gets another chance; in "Extenuating Circumstances" by Joyce Carol Oates, a mother justifies her horrific crime. Gives brief introductions about each author. Some violence and some strong language. 1997.

by Raymond Chandler

read by Conrad Feininger

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Four Philip Marlowe mysteries including the title story, "Finger Man," "Goldfish," and "Red Wind." Some strong language. 1934.

by H.G. Wells

read by David Cutler

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Classic story about the scientist Griffin, who discovers a process that makes him invisible. At first he is euphoric about the wild and wonderful things his invisibility allows him to do, but he soon wishes he could change back. First published in 1897. 1996.

by Gilbert Morris

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Sequel to Arrow of the Almighty (RC 47074). Joel and his sister, Phoebe Bradford, have been brought to America by Daniel Bradford. When Joel helps out an elderly actor, Ezra Tyrone, he discovers he has a natural talent for acting. Before long, Joel finds himself posing as a British loyalist to help the Continental Army. 1998.

by Jules Verne

read by Bill Wallace

1 cassette

Written originally in 1863 and first published in 1994, this "lost novel" depicts Jules Verne's vision of life in 1960s Paris. In this hyper-efficient but dystopian society, the story's young, idealistic protagonist, Michel Dufrenoy, laments that there is no room for the human soul. Subways, automobiles, skyscrapers, electric lights, calculators, fax machines, and e-mail are all part of this utilitarian world. 1996.

by Michael Flynn

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Collection of ten stories by Flynn that appeared originally in Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine. Author's comments form the introduction and an afterword to each selection. 1997.

by Larry Watson

read by Michael Kramer

3 cassettes

Montana, 1957. There is a car accident on graduation night. Killed are an eighteen-year-old girl and the principal of the primary school. After learning that the two were running away together, Sheriff Jack Nevelsen concocts a story to save the reputation and morals of his hometown. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Susan Dexter

read by Annie Wauters

3 cassettes

In this sequel to The Wind-Witch (RC 47242), Titch sets off to win knighthood. His first challenge pits him against a man riding the magnificent stallion Valadan. Left for dead, Titch is rescued and nursed to health by Wren, a magician's apprentice. Titch continues his search and is eventually reunited with Wren and Valadan in a common quest. 1995.

by Lewis Grassic Gibbon

read by Anne Flosnik

6 cassettes

Three short novels written between 1932 and 1934 follow the life of Chris Guthrie in early twentieth-century Scotland. Sunset Song depicts the harsh beauty of the prewar Scottish countryside. Cloud Howe shows a small town in the grip of postwar depression. And Grey Granite deals with an industrial city in the throes of an economic crisis. Updated notes and introduction. 1990.

by C.J. Cherryh

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Earthquakes and floods have doomed the world of Shiuan, and its people seek escape through the time-space gates. But Morgaine and her liege, Nhi Vanye, wish to close the gates to protect time and prevent evil. Morgaine's moral dilemma is complicated when her relentless enemy, Chya Roh, appears. Sequel to Gate of Ivrel (RC 47437). 1978.

by C.J. Cherryh

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Morgaine, the legendary White Queen, comes to Azeroth determined to close the last gate of three worlds. She is followed by the Shiuan, who want to conquer a new planet and avenge the destruction of their world. But Azeroth is guarded by the technologically superior qhal. Sequel to Well of Shiuan (RC 47438). 1979.

by Michael Cahill

read by Phil Regensdorf

2 cassettes

In 1972 eleven-year-old Jack Costello's father is an ardent admirer of Richard Nixon. When the Watergate scandal erupts, Jack buys his own phone-tapping device to confirm that his father is having an affair. Instead he learns a truth about himself that eclipses the rest of his adolescent troubles. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

edited by William Bernhardt

read by Arnie Warren

2 cassettes

Short stories involving lawyers and the legal system by eleven established authors. In "The Divorce" by Grif Stockley, a widowed lawyer is set up by a comely woman, who is seeking a divorce. In "Poetic Justice," a conniving but lazy lawyer meets his match in a powerful politician who just happens to be his size. 1998.

by Naomi Ragen

read by Nanette Savard

3 cassettes

Seventy-four-year-old wealthy widow Catherine da Costa is dying. Her family has drifted away from its Jewish faith and Sephardic heritage. Hoping to increase her two granddaughters' appreciation of their lineage, she sends them to Europe to locate documents belonging to a sixteenth-century ancestor, Hannah Mendes, who saved fellow Jews from the Inquisition. 1998.

by Lindsey Davis

read by Gordon Gould

3 cassettes

Rome, A.D. 73. When Marcus Didius Falco's boss, Chief Spy Anacrites, is almost murdered at a dinner for olive oil producers, Falco has to travel to Spain to investigate a possible illegal cartel. He is accompanied by his pregnant girlfriend, Helena, who insists he be present at their child's birth. As progress is slow, Falco fears that the baby will not be born in Rome. 1996.

by Gilbert Morris

read by Ilona Dulaski

3 cassettes

When twins David and Paul Wakefield are born, their parents believe that David is the firstborn. Sensible David eventually inherits Wakefield Manor. Paul bitterly leaves for the American colonies and becomes a fur trader. Years later he returns to England and learns he may be the older son. Sequel to The Ramparts of Heaven (RC 44700). 1997.

by Max Brand

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Young Andrew Lanning falls in love and becomes a desperado, all in one day. Egged on by his uncle, gunslinger Jasper Lanning, Andrew almost kills a man. Pursued by a posse, Andrew flees to the mountains, where he finds more trouble. Companion to The Return of Free Range Lanning (RC 47482). Some violence. 1921.

by Vladimir Nabokov

read by Rick Foucheux

2 cassettes

Young Franz goes to work for his Uncle Dreyer, whose wife, Martha, finds Franz attractive. But a twist of fate spoils the lovers' dalliance and thwarts their plan to be rid of the unsuspecting husband. Originally published in Russian in 1928. Some descriptions of sex. 1968.

by James Alexander Thom

read by Richard Hauenstein

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Saga of the Clark family of colonial Virginia as they help explore and settle the new frontier. Several sons fight in the Revolutionary War. The Clarks eventually move west to the wilderness of Kentucky. One son, William, joins Meriwether Lewis in his survey of the continent to the Pacific Ocean on behalf of the new U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson. 1984.

by C.M. Kornbluth

read by Roy Avers

6 cassettes

This collection of more than fifty short stories contains all the solo works of Kornbluth, even those written under pseudonyms. Includes an introduction by his longtime friend and collaborator Frederik Pohl, who provides insights into Kornbluth's short life. 1997.

edited by J.P. Maney and Tom Hazuka

read by Jeremy Gage

3 cassettes

Twenty-five short stories about different religious beliefs arranged by theme: mystery, doubt, evil, the supernatural, and reconciliation. In "Sweat," by Zora Neale Hurston, a hard-working Christian woman is pushed too far by her husband; in "The Man in the Black Suit," by Stephen King, an elderly man recalls meeting the devil. Some strong language. 1997.

edited by Marilyn Singer

read by Mary Ann Nichols

2 cassettes

Eleven short stories featuring adolescent girls and the dilemmas of growing up. In the title story, Molly regrets that her best friend has become boy-crazy and cool. In "Building Bridges," Bebe tries to explain to her grandmother why she wants to be an engineer. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Philip Caputo

read by Jeremy Gage

3 cassettes

Stories set in different places. Standing In features a young man from Connecticut who resembles the dead son of a couple he meets on the train. In Paradise, islanders north of Australia deal with a young man who washed up on the beach. In the Forest of the Laughing Elephant, American soldiers track a man-eating tiger in the Vietnam jungle. Some strong language. 1997.

by Willa Cather

read by Anne Hancock

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Hanover, Nebraska. Since her Swedish father's early death, Alexandra Bergson has been in charge of the homestead as well as her younger brothers. Their fortunes rise and fall with the weather and the crops. Under Alexandra's guidance, the family eventually prospers. In middle age, when her old flame, Carl Linstrum, returns to Hanover, Alexandra has a chance for personal happiness. For senior high and older readers. 1913.

edited by Rudolfo A. Anaya and Antonio Marquez

read by Peter Gil

2 cassettes

Twenty-one short stories, three of which are in Spanish, by Chicano authors. Contributors to this collection include Rudolfo Anaya, Ron Arias, Jose Armas, Kathleen Baca, Sergio Elizondo, Juan Felipe Herrera, Francisco Jimenez, and Tino Villanueva. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1984.

by Maeve Binchy

read by Anne Hancock

4 cassettes

In Ireland, Ria's marriage falls apart when her husband leaves her for his pregnant girlfriend; in Connecticut, Marilyn, unable to cope with her son's death, separates from her husband. A phone call sets in motion a swapping of houses for the summer and the chance for each woman to rediscover herself. Bestseller 1998.

by Laura Kinsale

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

During the early 1880s, Folie Hamilton, thirty, maintained correspondence with Robert Cambourne, her husband's cousin in India. Now Folie's husband is dead, and Robert is back in England commanding Folie and her stepdaughter Melinda to repair to his home. But when they arrive, Folie is shocked by his demeanor--and her growing love for him. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Harry Turtledove

read by Roy Avers

4 cassettes

In this sequel to Worldwar: In the Balance (RC 45912), World War II adversaries have united to drive off the lizard aliens. By combining efforts to develop the atomic bomb, the earthlings hope to win back the planet. Meanwhile, the invaders find the common Earth spice ginger to be a highly addictive drug. 1995.

by Ann Rinaldi

read by Susan McInerney

2 cassettes

Annie Brown, fifteen, travels to Maryland to help her father, John Brown, prepare for his raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859. Annie's struggle to get along with her difficult father and to understand his obsession with freeing the slaves provides a view of the lives of both father and daughter. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

read by David Palmer

3 cassettes

The King of Poland sends vampire Count Saint-Germain, a powerful alchemist able to create jewels, to Russia. The czar has become a crazed man since accidentally killing his son. Now he is only interested in the power of gems. Poland's ruler hopes Saint-Germain can appease Ivan the Terrible. 1993.

by Alice Munro

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Eight short stories centered around families. In the title piece, three boys delay revealing their discovery of the drowned town optometrist. Most think it's a suicide until a nurse uncovers the truth. In "My Mother's Dream" a war widow has trouble accepting her newborn daughter while living with her quirky in-laws. Some strong language. 1998.

by Jacquie Gordon

read by Carol Dines

3 cassettes

Nature-loving Charlotte Delafield decides to stay at the private school on her beloved peninsula when her angry parents divorce and move away. Then Brian Parton, an introverted young instructor, arrives to teach the senior girls, and the two lonely people are gradually drawn to each other. Some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Richard S. Wheeler

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Early 1900s. Newspaperman Olympus Prinz chronicles the transformation of Goldfield, Nevada, from a rough desert mining camp to a company town that is able to defeat the Wobblies' union organizing campaign. Citizens include "shyster" Big Sam Jones, prospectors Maude and Harry Arbuckle, and professor Hannibal Dash. Some violence. 1995.

by Simon Elegant

read by David Palmer

2 cassettes

China, mid-eighth century. The great poet dictates his memoirs to a young student. Li Po indulges his love for music and wine as he recalls his youthful adventures, scattering poems among his stories. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Janice Holt Giles

read by Terry Hayes Sales

3 cassettes

In 1800 a young Kentucky woman agrees to join a Shaker colony with her recently converted husband. He finds fulfillment in the daily routine and group solidarity, but she becomes increasingly unhappy with her neighbors and her marriage. Portrays life in a nineteenth-century Shaker community. 1957.

edited by Jack Dann

read by Brian Conn

3 cassettes

Collection of stories and two poems selected by the Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for 1995, as well as original essays by writers in the field. One award winner, Must and Shall, depicts Nazi collaboration in an unreconstructed southern United States during World War II. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Helen Humphreys

read by Mitzi Friedlander

1 cassette

Describes how pilots Grace O'Gorman and Willa Briggs, in 1933, flew a biplane and tried to stay aloft circling Toronto harbor twenty-five days. Depicts the experience of flying in an open cockpit and the bond the women formed while testing their emotional and physical limits. 1997.

by Lan Samantha Chang

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

A novella and five short stories revealing stresses within the family when Chinese immigrants confront cultural difficulties in America. In the title piece, a frustrated musician is determined that one of his daughters will have a musical career even at the expense of a loving home. 1998.

by Phoef Sutton

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Television writer Carl Rooney lives in the house where he grew up. One night his high school girlfriend, Jesse, comes over, and he's shocked to realize she thinks they're still seventeen. Then Carl learns that Jesse is "presumed dead" after a recent boating accident. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Gilbert Morris

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Charlene Peace has grown up in the Rocky Mountains. After her parents' deaths, Boone Manwaring keeps his promise to Charlene's father and takes her to Richmond, Virginia. But the region is caught up in the Civil War; as "northerners," they face danger in a hostile south. Sequel to Chariots in the Smoke (RC 44948). 1998.

by Mei Ng

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Ruby Lee moves back home above the family laundry in Queens after college, not knowing what to do with her life. She feels sorry for her immigrant mother and is also not ready to move in with her boyfriend Nick. Drifting, she takes a temp job. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Kathleen Eagle

read by Sharon Murray

3 cassettes

With their father and brother dead, Julia and Dawn Weslin and their grandmother, Sally, struggle to save the High Horse Ranch and to protect the wild mustangs that their neighbors want destroyed. Horse trainer K.C. Houston may be the answer to their prayers. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Julian May

read by Madelyn Buzzard

3 cassettes

An evil magic has caused several natural disasters on the World of Three Moons. Only Sky Trillium, the united talismans of Kadiya, Haramis, and Queen Anigel, can stop it. But Anigel has lost hers, and Kadiya's has lost its power. Meanwhile someone is trying to steal all three charms. The women must prevent such a catastrophe. Sequel to Blood Trillium (RC 36708). 1996.

by Piers Anthony

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Alerted by D. Mentia that Branch Faun's kindred spirit tree is drooping, Forrest Faun discovers that Branch disappeared into the Void while chasing a nymph. Branch's tree will lose its magic without a faun or nymph to protect it. So Forrest travels to another world to seek advice from the Good Magician Humfrey. The twenty-first Xanth novel. 1997.

by Brent Monahan

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Princeton University librarians Simon Penn and Frederika Vanderveen steal the ancient Scrolls of Ahriman that are sought by both the vampire world and the Vatican. Pursued by vampires, they try to unravel the scrolls' prophecy before time runs out. Sequel to The Book of Common Dread (RC 37408). Some strong language and some violence. 1995.

by Mario Vargas Llosa

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Alfonso schemes to reunite his father, Don Rigoberto, and his stepmother, Lucrecia, despite the fact that he had orchestrated their earlier breakup. Throughout these machinations, all three indulge their erotic fantasies about each other. Don Rigoberto records his imaginary exploits in a revealing testimonial to the psychology of love and desire. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Ciji Ware

read by Laura Giannarelli

4 cassettes

Jane Maxwell and Thomas Fraser played in the streets of Edinburgh as children in the 1760s. When they reach adulthood and plan to marry, their families object. After Thomas goes off to war and is reported dead, Jane weds Alexander, duke of Gordon. But Thomas is in America and alive. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1988.

by Nora Roberts

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

Quinn brothers Ethan, Cameron, and Phillip continue trying to officially adopt Seth, the young boy their father brought into the family. They also want to prove their father did not commit suicide. Dr. Sybill Griffin's arrival complicates their efforts. Sequel to Rising Tides (RC 46842). Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1999.

by Robert Harris

read by David Cutler

3 cassettes

Historian Fluke Kelso in Moscow to present a paper on Stalin is confronted by Papu Rapava, a former KGB bodyguard who drunkenly confides that he knows the whereabouts of Stalin's private papers then runs away. Kelso wonders whether he is being conned but decides to pursue the leads. Some strong language. Bestseller 1998.

by Steven Saylor

read by Richard Davidson

3 cassettes

Publius Clodius and Titus Milo are archenemies, so when Clodius is found murdered on the Appian Way, many assume Milo is guilty. His defense calls in Gordianus the Finder to investigate. But soon riots break out, looting and burning occur throughout the city, and many are killed--including Gordianus's longtime bodyguard, Belbo. Sequel to The Venus Throw (RC 43363). 1996.

by Carole Nelson Douglas

read by J.P. Linton

3 cassettes

Temple Barr, public relations expert for the Crystal Phoenix in Las Vegas, attends a Halloween night seance, intended to resurrect the spirit of Harry Houdini. Before the event is over, one of the psychics is dead. With the help of her cat, Midnight Louie, Temple finds herself investigating a murder that may involve her ex-boyfriend, Max Kinsella. 1996.

by Sharon Kay Penman

read by Barbara Caruso

2 cassettes

In 1193, young Justin de Quincy aids a goldsmith who has been attacked by thieves. The dying goldsmith entrusts the boy with a letter for the queen, concerning her missing son, King Richard. Upon receipt of the letter, the queen commissions de Quincy to probe the goldsmith's murder. Violence. 1996.

by M.C. Beaton

read by Carmella Ross

1 cassette

Chasing her ex-fiance neighbor James Lacey to Cyprus, amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin gets sidetracked by a murder in a group of tourists. Her attempt to reconcile with James is further hampered by the appearance of flirtatious Sir Charles from their Cotswold village. 1997.

by Richard S. Wheeler

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

Post-Civil War in the Arizona Territory. Editor and printer Sam Flint is invited to Payday to start a newspaper but soon finds himself embroiled in the town's power struggles. Flint's interest in Merry-Grace Rakoczy complicates matters because the influential Clayton Buell has his eye on her too. Prequel to Flint's Truth (RC 47865). 1997.

by Katharine Weber

read by Barbara Caruso

1 cassette

New York art librarian Patricia Dolan is swept by love and passion into assisting her outlaw cousin in stealing The Music Lesson. Alone in Ireland with the valuable painting, Patricia begins a journal describing the event and her tragic life. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Li Rui

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Two families struggle for control of Silver City's salt industry in the context of violence, political intrigue, romance, and betrayal in China from the 1920s to the 1990s. Recounts the founding of the mines by the Li family and western-educated Bai Ruide's attempts to seize control. Violence and some strong language. 1997.

by Sarah Zettel

read by Erik Sandvold

4 cassettes

Eric Born fled years ago from the Realm of the Nameless Powers and now works for the Vitae. When the Vitae kidnap Arla Stone from the Realm, Eric realizes they are planning to take over the planet. Eric knows he must rescue Arla so they can save their homeland. 1996.

by Steven F. Havill

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

Posadas County, New Mexico. Undersheriff Bill Gastner is busy contending with a prisoner found dead in his cell and a politician's drunken daughter when Deputy Paul Enciño and reporter Linda Real are found shot in his cruiser. The deputy is dead, leaving Gastner to find the killer. Some violence. 1996.

by Walter Jon Williams

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

4 cassettes

In this sequel to Metropolitan (RC 42033), Aiah flees to Caraqui where Constantine is in charge. He appoints her to his government to head a police force against plasm thieves and resumes a personal relationship with her. Aiah faces many challenges as a countercoup brews. 1997.

by Martha Grimes

read by Bob Askey

3 cassettes

Richard Jury is so strangely intrigued by the attractive woman wearing a luxurious fur who boards the bus he is riding, that he follows her when she leaves. A few days later, Jury learns a woman matching her description is found dead. Jury's investigation leads him to an art-theft ring and another murder. 1998.

by Bernard Cornwell

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

In the sequel to Battle Flag (RC 42564), Confederate Nathaniel Starbuck is reassigned to command a "punishment" battalion composed of soldiers who are just no good. Heading north with Robert E. Lee's forces, the men end up at the bloody battle of Sharpsburg in Maryland. Some violence. 1996.

by James Grippando

read by Randy Wieck

2 cassettes

October 2000. In a hot presidential race, attorney general Allison Leahy is pitted against African American general Lincoln Howe. Days before the election Lincoln's twelve-year-old granddaughter is kidnapped. Trying to remain objective while investigating, Allison fights memories of her daughter's kidnapping. Some violence and some strong language. 1998.

by Harold Robbins

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Jerry Cooper, the son of a numbers man, learns at an early age about doing business in New York, beginning with family treachery. In France during World War II, he gets involved in the bottled-water business and eventually returns home to prove his mettle. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Bailey White

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Life in a small south-Georgia town centers around the daily goings-on of divorced plant pathologist Roger Meadows and the women who worry about him. Roger falls in love with a bird painter, Della, who is in town for a short year to fulfill her artistic whims. 1998.

by Mary Jane Clark

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

When television news anchor Bill Kendall doesn't show up for work one evening, Eliza Blake, morning anchor, takes over. Halfway through the broadcast, she is fed shocking news--Bill has been found dead. His death not only thrusts Eliza into an unwanted limelight, but also results in the uncovering of other deadly secrets. 1998.

by Sharyn McCrumb

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

Tennessee Sheriff Spencer Arrowood finds parallels between a nineteenth-century murder and one he investigated twenty years ago. In 1833 Frankie Silver was the first woman hanged in North Carolina. Another murderer is bound for the electric chair for a crime committed on the Appalachian trail. Both cases leave unanswered questions. Some violence. 1998.

by Jeannette Haien

read by John Polk

4 cassettes

Ohio, 1937. Morgan Shurtliff falls in love with Maud Leigh the first time he sees her. The only unhappiness in their marriage is Maud's infertility. They consult Zenobia Sly, who locates twin girls for them to adopt. Throughout Morgan's military service and legal practice, he keeps Miss Sly informed about the children. 1997.

by Ben Mikaelsen

read by Randy Wieck

1 cassette

In 1920 Petey Roy Corbin is born with cerebral palsy but misdiagnosed as retarded and abandoned in an insane asylum. Although neglected, over the years Petey makes a few friends. As an elderly man in a nursing home, Petey befriends teenager Trevor Ladd, who makes life more enjoyable. For senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Tim McLaurin

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Four loyal workers and a stowaway take their striptease and rattlesnake handling show on the road in an old gospel bus headed from North Carolina to Oregon. They are taking their dying manager back to her home and sorting out some personal issues on the way. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Danielle Steel

read by Sharon Murray

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Internationally acclaimed author Daphne Fields lies in an intensive-care unit after being struck by a car on Christmas Eve. Flashbacks reveal the tragedies in her life: the loss of her husband and daughter in a fire, her son's deafness, and the accidental death of her lover. Descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1982.

by Barbara Parker

read by Madelyn Buzzard

3 cassettes

Attorney Gail Connor's new client, the Miami Opera, is having a problem with the baritone they've hired: he has recently performed in Cuba, and the exile community is in an uproar. When several murders occur, even Gail's fiancé, exile Anthony Quintana, becomes a suspect. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Zane Grey

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

At twenty-three Buck Duane realizes he has inherited the killer instinct when he is provoked by a drunken cowboy. This first gunfight makes him an outlaw fugitive, constantly at risk until offered a second chance: to redeem his name as a Texas Ranger. Written in 1913. Some violence. 1996.

by Barbara Freethy

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

Michael Ashton is raising his six-year-old twin daughters alone following their mother's death. The girls think she is coming back, and the crystal ball from their grandmother says they can find their mother at school. When they arrive at summer school, they find Joanna Wingate, a look-alike of their mother. Some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Judith Tarr

read by Mitzi Friedlander

5 cassettes

Prehistoric epic set in Old Europe portrays a nomadic tribe of warrior horsemen confronting a peaceful matriarchal society. The warrior king's twin offspring, Agni and Sarama, pursue different paths in search of separate destinies but come together to forge a new social order. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Steven Millhauser

read by Barry Bernson

2 cassettes

Twelve fantastical stories explore themes such as crossing the line of acceptablility. In the title piece an itinerant knife thrower with a reputation for remarkable control and skill tantalizes his audience with the thrill of wounding--perhaps even murdering--volunteers. 1998.

by K.C. Constantine

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Ex-baseball player Bobby ("the Brushback Kid") Blasco is found beaten to death in an alley. Rugs Carlucci, acting police chief of Rocksburg, Pennsylvania, hunts for the killer and discovers how degenerate Blasco was. Carlucci also has other problems to contend with--city politics, dating, and his hypochondriac mother. Strong language and violence. 1998.

by Philip R. Craig

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

In a battle between environmentalists and natives, state bureaucrat Lawrence Ingalls is found murdered on the beach. Since retired Boston policeman J.W. Jackson is the prime suspect after a public fight with the man, he investigates on his own. Meanwhile his beautiful wife, Zee, is hired as an extra by a film company making a movie on the island. Some violence and some strong language. 1998.

by Ian Frazier

read by Bob Askey

1 cassette

Twenty-two humorous short stories from Atlantic Monthly, the New Yorker, and Army Man. In the title story, an attorney presents the case of Wile E. Coyote's product liability claim against the Acme Company. "The Last Segment" pertains to the final Mary Tyler Moore Show, and "Dial W-H-Y W-O-R-K" discusses the No-Show Jobs Hotline. 1996.

by Louis L'Amour

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Ten stories of adventure, crime, and sports, written in the 1940s and 1950s. In the title piece, American Anna Doone survives a small-plane crash in remote China, marries a tribal leader, and after his death faces a dilemma--whether to flee, taking her fourteen-year-old son (the tribe's designated leader) with her. 1999.

by Janette Turner Hospital

read by Annie Wauters

3 cassettes

The arrival of Oyster, a religious con man, results in disaster for the tiny opal-mining town of Outer Maroo in Australia's outback. Though the people are suspicious of outsiders, Oyster draws some into his commune. Those who oppose him disappear. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1996.

by Mordicai Gerstein

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

A fictional account of the capture of a wild boy in France in 1800 and attempts to civilize him. His filthy appearance, lack of clothes, and inability to speak indicate years of bare subsistence in the woods. The youth's resistance to change adds to his guardians' frustrations. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

by Tanya Huff

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Vampire and romance writer Henry Fitzroy is being haunted by a ghost whose screams are deadly. Fitzroy asks private investigator Vicki Nelson for assistance in resolving the matter. Sequel to Blood Pact (RC 39821). Some strong language. 1997.

by Todd Strasser

read by Kimberly Schraf

1 cassette

Senior Allegra ("Legs") arrives to find her high school in commotion: an announcement on the Internet says the earth will be struck by an asteroid tonight! As the excitement mounts, surfer Andros Bliss--the guy Legs fantasizes about--notices her. She decides to spend her last hours with him. For senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Octavia E. Butler

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

In Parable of the Sower (RC 39777), Lauren Oya Olamina established the community of Acorn, inhabited by followers of her Earthseed religion. Now with the election of Christian fundamentalist Reverend Andrew Steele Jarret as U.S. president, the residents of Acorn are in grave danger, including Lauren's infant daughter. Strong language and some violence. 1998.

by Patricia Moyes

read by Patricia Kilgarriff

2 cassettes (Reissue)

While visiting their sculptor friend in the Alpine village of Montarraz, Scotland Yard inspector Henry Tibbett and his wife, Emmy, investigate a case involving a young wife accused of murdering her ski instructor husband. Some strong language. 1971.

by Pat Barker

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

Based on the true story of two men who met during World War I--Dr. William Rivers, a renowned neurologist, and Siegfried Sassoon, an officer and poet. In July 1917, Sassoon writes a letter protesting the war and is sent to the Craiglockhart War Hospital for evaluation. There he and Rivers debate the struggle between conscience and civic responsibility. Prequel to Eye in the Door (RC 48083). 1991.

by Pat Barker

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

London, 1918. As Britain faces defeat by Germany, pacifists and homosexuals are scapegoated as potential traitors. It is unfortunate for Lieutenant Billy Prior, a bisexual who has a split personality, that when he is released from Craiglockhart War Hospital, he is assigned to British Intelligence. Once again he needs the help of Dr. Rivers. Sequel to Regeneration (RC 48082). Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1993.

by Mary Burnett Smith

read by Mary Woods

2 cassettes

Rural Virginia, 1948. Eleven-year-old Isabel "Belly" Anderson must spend the summer in a neighboring town helping her mean aunt recuperate from an operation. Once there, the young African American takes piano lessons from her mother's friend Ophelia. Belly learns many adult secrets during her vacation and the meaning of love and loyalty. Some strong language. 1997.

by W. Michael Gear

read by Chuck Benson

4 cassettes

1825. Harvard philosophy student Richard Hamilton travels to St. Louis for his father's business. Once there, he is sold as an indentured deckhand to adventurers who are establishing an illegal trading post. He rescues a Shoshone woman, Heals like a Willow, and falls in love. Prequel to Coyote Summer (RC 48092). Some violence. 1996.

by Richard S. Wheeler

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

1850. Mister Skye agrees to guide a party of Britons, led by Lord Frazier, to hunt buffalo and view the Yellowstone. Skye is also British and wanted at home, but he doesn't expect trouble. When a rabid wolf attacks Skye, however, Frazier seizes him for trial. With his Native American wives mourning him prematurely, Skye gives up hope of surviving. Some violence and some strong language. 1990.

by Vladimir Nabokov

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes (Reissue)

In 1919 young Martin Edelweiss flees Russia with his mother. Eventually he attends Cambridge University and socializes with other Russian expatriates in Britain. He falls in love with Sonia Zilanov and tries to impress her by sneaking back to the Soviet Union for a brief adventure. 1932.

by Billie Letts

read by Pam Ward

2 cassettes

Caney Paxton, a Vietnam vet who has lost the use of his legs, runs a small roadside cafe in Sequoyah, Oklahoma. The regulars at the Honk and Holler are surprised when Caney hires first a Native American waitress and later a Vietnamese cook. The two newcomers soon bring life to the cafe's humdrum routine. 1998.

by Rochelle Krich

read by Kristin Allison

3 cassettes

Dr. Lisa Brockman, an Orthodox Jew, works for her fiancé, Dr. Matthew Gordon, at a fertility clinic. Lisa is terrified when a female donor is murdered, money is missing, and Matthew disappears. The clinic is soon accused of switching eggs, and an Orthodox client questions the morality of infertility treatments. Some violence. 1998.

by Linda Hogan

read by Mary Woods

2 cassettes

At sixteen, Omishto struggles to come to terms with her Native American Taiga heritage. Her problem is compounded when her spiritual mother, Ama, kills a sacred panther and refuses to defend herself before the tribal elders. As the only witness, Omishto tries to understand her responsibilities to Ama and to herself. 1998.

by Maureen Howard

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

Story of two pairs of lovers; one young and the other young at heart. A New Year's Eve party gone awry leaves artist Louise Moffett and lover Artie Freeman at odds. Meanwhile Artie's grandfather finds romance with a long-lost love. Some strong language. 1998.

by Rose Tremain

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Lewis's thirteenth summer is spent in Paris with Valentina Gavril, a novelist, and Lewis's mother, who is Valentina's translator. When Valentina mysteriously disappears, the infatuated Lewis is desperate to find her--until he, too, is taken by her abductors. Their captivity brings them closer but ends in tragedy. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Milt Bearden

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Afghanistan, 1986. CIA agent Alexander Fannin has to quit his job after his marriage to a Russian woman. He is then recruited unofficially to assist Afghan rebels fight the Soviet invasion. During a prisoner exchange, Fannin finds himself in a position to help his wife's cousin, a colonel in the KGB, defect. 1998.

by Elmore Leonard

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

A collection of nineteen westerns. In the title story, an exiled wife tattooed by Indians gets her self-esteem back with the help of a cattle rustler. In "The Colonel's Lady," a captive woman rescues herself from the clutches of a lone Apache. Some violence. 1998.

by Janice Holt Giles

read by Jill Ferris

3 cassettes (Reissue)

A grandmother returns to the dusty Arkansas town where she spent her most unforgettable summer with her own grandparents in the early 1900s. At age eight, with acute perception but little understanding, she became a central character in a tense drama involving her aunt, her grandmother, a young doctor, and a housemaid. 1954.

by Anita Brookner

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

Depicts the relationship between two sisters and describes their orderly existence. Miriam, the elder, is a translator, and Beatrice is a pianist, but--apart or together--both lead sedate, solitary lives. Miriam contemplates their searches for love and even ventures into marriage and an affair, while Beatrice finds romance in novels. 1998.

by Zane Grey

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Recounts the family stories about Betty Zane, the capture of her brother Isaac by a Native American princess, Betty's suitors, the successful defense of Fort Henry against the British in 1782, and Betty's race for her life. Grey's first novel about pioneer days, written in 1903. 1903.

by Greg Bear

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

1947. Fifteen-year-old Peter is accompanying his father to Venezuela to return the last of the captive dinosaurs to their natural habitat. Members of a dinosaur circus join them on their arduous journey through jungles and across rivers. When they arrive, they are stranded with the beasts. For senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Zane Grey

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

Many years before, a Texan had stolen the heart of a girl already promised to another man. The betrayal sparks a smoldering hatred that explodes into a war that makes the Tonto Basin run red with blood. 1922.

by Danielle Steel

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

India Taylor left a successful photojournalism career to settle down as a soccer mom. Seventeen years and four children later, she longs for some excitement. She meets and befriends tycoon Paul Ward, who encourages her to take risks. When Paul is suddenly free, India must make some choices. Bestseller 1999.

by Zane Grey

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

This is a version of the 1777 massacre of a small band of Christian Native Americans who lived in the Village of Peace founded by Moravian missionaries. It involves Lewis Wetzel and Jonathan Zane against Jim Girty. First published in 1906. Some violence. 1906.

by Lynn Kurland

read by Gabriella Cavallero

3 cassettes

Genevieve Buchanan owns a successful restoration company. She is told she has inherited an English castle--that just has a few minor quirks. When she arrives at Seakirk Keep, Genevieve discovers that her inheritance includes Kendrick de Piaget, a thirteenth-century ghost with a charming bag of tricks. Some descriptions of sex. 1996.

by Tom McNeal

read by Bob Askey

3 cassettes

Teenager Randall Hunsacker is exiled to the small town of Goodnight, Nebraska, after shooting his mother's boyfriend. He eventually integrates into the mainstream and marries a cheerleader. His life does not progress smoothly, however, until his wife leaves him and he realizes what he is missing. Some violence and some strong language. 1998.

by Roxana Robinson

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

When Emma marries Peter Chatfield, his seven-year-old Amanda has already become a nasty, belligerent child. Emma's daughter Tess, by contrast, is a warm, loving toddler. Over the next eight years, Amanda's problems multiply, leading to tragic consequences for the marriage and for Tess. Some strong language. 1998.

by Rex Beach

read by Robert Sams

3 cassettes

Only Don Estéban Varona and his slave Sebastian know the whereabouts of the valuable Varona treasure. Following their violent deaths, Estéban's twin children search without success. As young adults in the late 1890s, the twins and two Americans join Cuba's freedom struggle and make a surprising discovery. Some violence. 1916.

by Temple Bailey

read by MaryBeth Wise

2 cassettes

World War I has caused the separation of many couples, including seventeen-year-old Jacqueline and her boyfriend, Christopher, twenty-seven. Helping her sister Mary raise her children keeps Jacqueline busy. When she receives a letter from Christopher suggesting a New Year's Day wedding, she begins making plans--but then family obligations get in the way. 1930.

by Sandra Brown

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

Widowed Alicia Russell meets Pierce Reynolds on a disastrous camping trip she attempts with her two young sons. While Pierce is everything she wants in a man, Alicia hesitates because of her past emotional pain and the secrets that Pierce won't share. Explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1984.

by Jayne Ann Krentz

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

When Olivia Chantry inherits half of her uncle's lighting business she already heads a successful production company. Olivia finds herself with a new partner, venture capitalist Jasper Sloan. The two didn't plan on falling in love, but then they both are threatened with blackmail. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1998.

by Patricia Cornwell

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Dr. Kay Scarpetta has two problems. The first one is that a serial killer is strangling women in their own bedrooms, the second is that not everyone is thrilled that a woman is chief medical examiner. She uses computers, fingerprint-matching processors, and DNA-testing equipment to identify the killer. Violence and strong language. 1990.

by Steven Schwartz

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

1960s. David Nachman, the son of a Jewish doctor, copes with being an outsider in his Pennsylvania blue-collar town by hanging out with the wrong gang. When a drag race ends in the death of a toddler, David's future is in jeopardy. 1998.

edited by Garrison Keillor and Katrina Kenison

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

In his introduction, guest editor Keillor says each of these twenty stories "surprised and delighted" him. Some are recollection pieces, such as "My Father on the Verge of Disgrace," by John Updike. "Elvis Has Left the Building," by Carol Anshaw, is a slice-of-life tale. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Martha Bergland

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette

Retired farmer Ed Check lives in a hotel room owned by one of his ex-wives. One daughter is a recluse in town; another shows up after leaving her husband; and the third is arriving alone and pregnant. Ed loves them all and wants to protect them--if he only knew how. Some strong language. 1997.

by Andrei Makine

read by Randy Wieck

2 cassettes

From the vantage point of maturity, a Russian man recalls a winter in Siberia when he and two adolescent friends were under the spell of western films starring Belmondo. Each of the three perceives a different aspect of Belmondo's screen personality. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998.

by Patricia Gaffney

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Newly widowed Sydney Darrow returns to Michigan to live with her anthropologist father, who is studying a Canadian man raised by wolves. Sydney, unhappy about the way he is being treated, is drawn to the young man, probably in his twenties, who appears to be sensitive and also lonely. Some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Jon Land

read by Randy Davidson

1 cassette

Jen feels guilty that a traffic accident led to the loss of her teenage brother's leg. At an adaptive ski school, they meet instructor Jamie Brooks, who was a champion until an injury sidelined his career. Matt learns quickly and challenges Jamie to ski a dangerous trail. Some strong language. 1998.

by Danielle Steel

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Michael Hillyard and Nancy McAllister are two young lovers who are determined to marry despite the objections of Michael's strong-willed mother. However, on the day of their wedding, a tragic automobile accident results in a severe test of their promise to never say goodbye to each other. Some strong language. 1978.

by Owl Goingback

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

When an enormous bear-like monster begins attacking men, including sheriff Skip Harding, Little Hawk identifies him as Crota, an ancient evil creature. The advice of Strong Eagle, a wise medicine man, and Skip's acceptance of his Native American heritage enable Skip and Little Hawk to confront Crota. Some strong language and some violence. 1996.

by Julie Garwood

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

Summer Matthews feels left out when she has to watch her little brother and grandfather all summer. At bingo, however, she meets David Marshall, her brother's swimming coach. Everything looks up until Summer lies about being a jogger, and David enters them into a race. For junior and senior high readers. 1986.

by Mary Higgins Clark

read by Mary Woods

2 cassettes

Socialite Molly Lasch is paroled from prison after serving time for killing her physician husband. Fran Simmons, a former classmate of Molly's who is now an investigative reporter, is assigned to do a story on her. Fran becomes convinced that Molly is innocent even though her late husband's lover is soon murdered. Bestseller 1999.

by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini

read by Mary Woods

2 cassettes

Short stories by a husband-and-wife writing team, written separately and in collaboration. In The Cracks in the Sidewalk, a writer investigates a homeless woman in the neighborhood. In Cache and Carry, private-eye Sharon McCone and the "Nameless Detective" join forces to find missing money. 1998.

by Joanna Trollope

read by Mary Woods

2 cassettes

English antique dealer Fergus Bedford and his wife, Gina, have been friends with hotel owners Laurence and Hilary Wood for years. Fergus's announcement that he is leaving Gina sends her running to her childhood friend Laurence, jeopardizing two marriages and forcing the children of both families to deal with their parents' conflicts. 1995.

by Jamie Harrison

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Former archaeologist-turned-sheriff Jules Clement of Blue Deer, Montana, has his hands full with a recent crime wave. When an old skeleton is unearthed, Clement's investigation reveals additional ancient feuds and crimes in the small community where everyone is related. Strong language and violence. 1998.

by Dorothy Garlock

read by Pam Ward

2 cassettes

Oklahoma, 1930s. Henry Ann Henry's life has always been a struggle. Now, following her father's death, she is raising her two half-siblings alone and taking care of the farm she inherited. The only joy in her life seems to be her married neighbor Tom Dolan and his young, abused son. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Max Brand

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

Joe Harney is a greenhorn, heading for the Alaskan goldfields. On the way he joins up with Andrew Steen and his great husky dog, Chinook. Together they come to the aid of a young woman, Kate Winslow. Joe falls for Kate and helps her out of many jams. 1929.

by Ed McBain

read by John Stratton

1 cassette (Reissue)

Benjamin Smoke, an ex-cop, has waited all his life to see the perfect crime. He thinks he's found it when an undertaker hires him to investigate the inexplicable theft and return of several corpses. Strong language. 1975.

by Dorothy L. Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh

read by Tom Martin

2 cassettes

Lord Peter Wimsey, newly married to Harriet Vane, investigates the murder of a beautiful young woman. Theatrical producer Laurence Harwell's wife, Rosamund, has been found strangled. Wimsey must sort through the alibis of a painter, an infatuated poet, and several blackmailers, among others, to determine the actual killer. The mystery was begun by Sayers in 1936 and recently finished by Walsh. 1998.

by Martin Cruz Smith

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

Last seen in Red Square (RC 35879), depressed Russian detective Arkady arrives in Cuba to investigate the murder of a fellow countryman. The Cubans, including policewoman Ofelia Osorio, resent the few remaining Russians on their communist island, so Arkady is the only one interested in finding the culprit. Some strong language and some violence. Bestseller 1999.

by Jack Higgins

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

When Lady Helen Lang, the American mother of a British intelligence officer, learns that the Sons of Erin were responsible for his gruesome death, she begins to eliminate them one by one, endangering the Irish peace negotiations in the process. Companion to The President's Daughter (RC 44760). Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.

by Jean Rouaud

read by Robert Blumenfeld

2 cassettes

In this coming-of-age story, a French teenager recounts self-deprecating incidents reflecting his myopic nonathletic proclivities and his desire to be perceived as an artistic spirit. Meanwhile, his tentative search for a girlfriend is largely an exercise of imagination. Sequel to Of Illustrious Men (RC 46497). 1998.

by Nora Roberts

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Two stories about MacGregors. In "Playing the Odds" heiress Serena works as a dealer on a cruise ship, falls for gambler Justin Blade, a Comanche, and learns how many enemies he has. In "Tempting Fate" Justin's sister Diana visits after a twenty-year separation and meets Serena's playboy brother, Caine. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1985.

by Barbara Hambly

read by Richard Davidson

3 cassettes

1830s New Orleans. In this sequel to A Free Man of Color (RC 46286), physician Benjamin January is busy tending to a deadly yellow fever epidemic. Runaway slave Cora LaFayette asks him to contact her husband at the home of one of his patrons--the cruel but powerful Creole, Madame Lalaurie. Some violence. 1998.

by Danielle Steel

read by Gabriella Cavallero

1 cassette

When Granny Dan dies at age ninety, her granddaughter receives a bundle of letters and a pair of ballet shoes. When she has the letters translated, she discovers all the wonderful things she never asked her grandmother, Danina Petroskova, a famous Russian ballerina who danced for the czar and czarina. Bestseller 1999.

by Dennis Lehane

read by Chuck Benson

2 cassettes

The apparent suicide of former client Karen Nichols bothers private investigator Patrick Kenzie. He enlists his sidekick, Bubba Rogowski, and former partner Angie Gennaro to probe the circumstances surrounding the death. Their search reveals Karen's streak of bad luck that was more than coincidental. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 1999.

by Nora Roberts

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Two stories portray Campbell-MacGregor marriages. In "All the Possibilities" Shelby Campbell almost misses out on love by refusing to date any politician--until she meets Senator Alan MacGregor. In "One Man's Art" recluse Grant Campbell meets artist Genviève Grandeau when she stumbles into his lighthouse during a storm. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1985.

by Nora Roberts

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Two stories of MacGregor family ancestors. In "For Now, Forever" Scotsman Daniel MacGregor, a wealthy Bostonian, tries to convince unconventional medical student Anna Whitfield to marry him. "In from the Cold" portrays widow Alanna Flynn nursing minuteman Ian MacGregor's wounded shoulder but refusing to love another fighting man. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1999.

by Howard Facklam

read by Graci Ragsdale

1 cassette

Discusses a number of alternative medical techniques including acupuncture, herbs, biofeedback, naturopathy, rolfing, osteopathy, and macrobiotics. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1996.

by Roy A. Gallant

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Describes various types of geysers and their main locations in Iceland, New Zealand, Siberia, and Yellowstone National Park. Includes underwater geysers. Discusses how they function and how they are endangered. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Demi

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

The life story of Lhamo Dhondup, the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Recalls Buddhist monks identifying him as their spiritual leader when he was two years old. Describes his exile from Tibet at age twenty-four and concludes with his words upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Elaine Scott

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Explains how information transmitted by the repaired Hubble telescope enables scientists to study stars, planets, black holes, and galaxies. Describes the impact of this new technology on astronomers' ideas about how the universe was formed. For grades 4-7. 1998.

edited by Donald Meyer

read by Ray Dizefalo

1 cassette

Collection of forty-five essays by the brothers and sisters of children with special needs, including those who have visual or hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, ADD, mental retardation, autism, or other syndromes. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Barbara Allman

read by Mimi Bederman

1 cassette

Allman details the life of Clara Wieck Schumann, who in 1828 gave her first full-length concert at the age of nine. She discusses Schumann's childhood and explains how her father influenced her life. The author portrays the pianist's early relationship with Robert Schumann, her father's disapproval of their marriage, and her love for her husband that lasted even after his death in 1856. For grades 3-6. 1997.

by Jerry Spinelli

read by Bruce Nelson

1 cassette

Jerry Spinelli, who grew up to be an award-winning children's author, tells of his own adventure-filled childhood in Pennsylvania. His dismay to learn he wasn't really cut out to be a cowboy, his embarrassment at being the only kid at a football game with a uniform on, and his decision to punch someone just for the experience are all humorously described. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Linda Granfield

read by Maxine Wasserman

1 cassette

Presents the period 1725 to 1807 as explosive. Depicts the deplorable conditions experienced by slaves during the voyages from West Africa to Europe and the New World. Chronicles John Newton's life as a rowdy seaman, captain of a slave ship, minister, and composer of the hymn "Amazing Grace." For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Kathryn Lasky

read by Larry Shapiro

1 cassette

Discusses the origins, characteristics, and habits of lemurs, explaining why they are found only on the island of Madagascar. Follows primatologist Alison Jolly and her team of researchers as they study lemurs in their natural setting. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Linda Leuzzi

read by Lindsay Ellison

1 cassette

Biographical sketches of eight scientists who work to save the environment. Describes how they became interested in their particular field, their education, and their achievements. Includes a glossary and a brief history of the environmental movement. For grades 6-9. 1997.

by Laura S. Jeffrey

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

Profiles ten women who excelled in business including Maggie L. Walker, the first woman to become a bank president, and Ruth Handler, who started the Mattel toy company and eventually invented the Barbie doll. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1996.

by Selby B. Beeler

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Describes the tooth traditions of various countries and explains why teeth fall out. In the United States, children expect the tooth fairy to bring them money when they lose a tooth. In other countries, children wait for a mouse or another animal instead. For grades K-3. 1998.

by Gary Paulsen

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette

Companion to Woodsong (RC 34757). Iditarod racer Paulsen recalls his life on the trail and at home with his beloved team of dogs. Portrays his special relationship with the lead dog, Cookie, describing the births and rearing of her pups and the sadness of retirement for both man and dog. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1996.

by Susan Goldman Rubin

read by Constance Crawford

1 cassette

Presents the history and design development of household objects and machines from toilets, sinks, bathtubs, stoves, toasters, refrigerators, laundry machines, irons, and vacuum cleaners to telephones, pens, pencils, and typewriters. Discusses the concept and importance of industrial design. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1998.

by Seymour Simon

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Discusses the life cycle of marine animals and plants that live in oceans around the world. Includes plankton, sea turtles, eels, tuna, salmon, whales, and lobsters. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Seymour Simon

read by Lou Harpenau

1 cassette

Presents the physical characteristics of the planet Jupiter and its moons. Includes information sent back by automated space probes. For grades 3-5. 1998.

by Janet Bode

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Assesses the causes and consequences of anorexia and bulimia. Includes personal stories of girls' struggles with weight and self-esteem. Concludes with advice for parents, based on the author's battle with her daughter's disorder. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1997.

by Edward Parker

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Describes different types of forests, their importance to human life, their effect on the environment, products made from them, and ways to protect them. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Steve Parker

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Discusses various types of fuel, including gas, oil, wood, coal, diesel compounds, and solar and nuclear energy. Describes how we use them and the dangers they may pose. Considers future prospects for these power resources. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Luana Metil and Jace Townsend

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Discusses the history of karate and the four major types that have developed from diverse countries and philosophies. Covers the popularity of martial arts in America and their role in Hollywood. For grades 5-8. 1995.

by Spencer Christian and Antonia Felix

read by Bruce Nelson

1 cassette

Weather is the sum of the outdoor conditions occurring daily. The authors discuss clouds, wind, rain, thunder and lightning, and hurricanes and tornadoes; answer questions like the one in the title; and present experiments, such as making a rain gauge and creating static electricity. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Diane Lindsey Reeves

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Presents profiles of scientists, including a robotics technician, an astronomer, a veterinarian, a landscape architect, and an educator, to demonstrate career opportunities for children who like to experiment and observe. Suggests activities and resources to help young people recognize their own interests and abilities. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Bonnie L. Lukes

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Traces Longfellow's nineteenth-century youth in Portland in what was then the District of Maine, his years at Bowdoin College, foreign travels, and rise to fame. He was thirteen when he wrote his first poem, "The Battle of Lovell's Pond." For grades 6-9. 1998.

by Barbara Kramer

read by Randy Atcher

1 cassette

Explores the astronaut training and flight that led Neil Armstrong to become the first astronaut to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. This biography details Armstrong's strong work ethic and educational accomplishments, along with his private life. For grades 6-9. 1997.

by Andrea Warren

read by Randy Atcher

1 cassette

History of the social program that transported thousands of homeless children from the east coast to other parts of the United States for adoption between 1854 and 1930. In alternate chapters, Lee Nailling recounts his personal experience as an orphan train rider. For grades 4-7. 1996.

by Meredith Hooper

read by Carole Jordan Stewart

1 cassette

Discusses where water comes from, why it is important, and how it behaves. Traces drops of water as they create a force that helps shape the planet Earth. Explains the water cycle, from sky to ground and back. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Charlotte Foltz Jones

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Jones discusses fifty inventions and discoveries that came about by mistake. She describes the creation of some well-known breakfast cereals, the telephone, and matches, as well as several vaccines, dynamite, and dyes for clothing. For grades 4-7. 1996.

by Suzanne Williams

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Introduces scientific discoveries, inventions, and great thinkers of ancient China. Topics include the production of bronze, paper, silk, and porcelain, as well as the crossbow, seismograph, and compass. Presented in chronological order with brief historical notes on the corresponding dynasty. For grades 4-7. 1996.

by Don Berliner

read by Randy Atcher

1 cassette

A history of aviation beginning with hot air balloons and ending with manned flights into space. The author traces human fascination with flying from attempts to strap on wings to efforts to break the sound barrier. He discusses the dirigible, glider, airplane, seaplane, and helicopter. For grades 5-8. 1997.

by Ken Rappoport

read by Gregory Gorton

1 cassette

Describes the success of ten players in the National Basketball Association and obstacles they overcame to achieve stardom. Includes Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who has Tourette's Syndrome; Muggsy Bogues, who is one of the shortest players ever; and Reggie Miller, who was born with pronated hips. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Vicki Leon

read by Suzanne Toren

1 cassette

Introduces twenty extraordinary women from various cultures spanning four thousand years. Selected for thinking and acting independently in societies that did not encourage liberated females, these subjects represent the Roman Empire, Greece, Egypt, the Middle East, China, and Vietnam. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Vicki Leon

read by Suzanne Toren

1 cassette

Fifteen biographical sketches of talented women from the Medieval era spanning the globe from Europe to Japan. These queens, empresses, and religious leaders produced books, poetry, musical compositions, artwork, and even architectural feats. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Diane Swanson

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Explains some of the strange eating habits of various animals: why vampire bats drink blood, squirrels eat antlers, vultures prefer rotting flesh, and some insects and slugs choose books for food. Combines fascinating facts with scientific explanations. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Jonathan Hall

read by Bill Wallace

1 cassette

Describes the life and career of first baseman Mark McGwire. Details his family life and upbringing, his early career including playing in the 1984 Olympics, and his major league recruitment. Highlights the 1998 race with Sammy Sosa to break Roger Maris's single season home-run record. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Jack Gantos

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Now in the seventh grade, Jack feels like a total misfit at a vocational school where wood shop is taught three days a week. He feels hopeless after failing an IQ test to qualify for another school. What Jack really wants is to be a writer, so he carries around a black notebook hoping for inspiration from his muse. For grades 5-8. 1997.

by Sonia Levitin

read by Marilyn Gleason

1 cassette

When Amanda, her mother, and her siblings arrive in California, they do not want to live in the gold fields where their father is panning for gold. So they build a small cabin in town, though it's just a stage stop and a few cabins. But when Amanda bakes one of her pies and sells it to the miners, she starts a chain of events that makes the town grow. For grades 2-4. 1998.

by Amy Hest

read by Marilyn Gleason

1 cassette

Today is Grandpa's birthday, and Gabby has made him a pair of bright orange mittens, with just a little help from Mama. She can hardly wait to give them to him. But on the way to the city, Gabby has her hair cut in the short, perky style of a teenager she and Mama saw on the train. Then they worry that Gabby may look too grown up. For grades K-3. 1998.

by Shelley Jackson

read by Cyn Delafield

1 cassette

An old woman lives in a house right underneath a big wave. The wave would never fall on the lady because it loves her and the sound of her voice. But the old lady, having lived under the wave all her life, does not appreciate it. That is, until a young girl comes along and points out how the wave could take the lady a long way if she wanted to go. For grades K-3. 1998.

by Anne Hunter

read by Cyn Delafield

1 cassette

Possum is snuggled up in his warm winter nest when suddenly he is awakened by a loud noise: "Peep! Peep! Peep!" Knowing he won't get back to sleep, Possum decides to find out who is being so rude, so early in the spring. Along the way he is joined by a pair of catbirds, a bear, and a muskrat. For grades K-3. 1998.

by Avi

read by Kimberly Schraf

1 cassette

New adventures unfold for Poppy, a deer mouse, when she sets out to find the parents of Ragweed, her boyfriend who was killed by Mr. Ocax, an owl. She meets Rye, Ragweed's younger brother, but before they declare their mutual attraction, they face many threats from the beavers whose dam is flooding Rye's family home. Sequel to Poppy (RC 42709). For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Wendelin Van Draanen

read by Anne Mullen

1 cassette

Samantha (Sammy) Keyes starts seventh grade in a couple of days, but in the meantime she is stuck in the apartment where she lives with her grandmother. Needing something to do, Sammy spends time looking out the window through a pair of binoculars. When she sees a burglary take place in the "seedy" hotel across the street, Sammy gets involved and in trouble. For grades 6-9. 1998.

by Allan W. Eckert

read by June Carter

1 cassette

Adrift in a rowboat on Lake Winnipeg, seven-year-old Ben MacDonald is rescued by Little Buffalo, a Metis Indian. Ben's ability to befriend animals impresses the Metis during his stay with them and leads to friendship between Ben's family and the Metis. Sequel to Incident at Hawk's Hill (RC 38913). For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Ralph Fletcher

read by Marilyn Gleason

1 cassette

Seventh-grader Bobby Ballenger is having a difficult time adjusting to a new school. He is a loner and spends a lot of time with his pet tarantula, Thelma. The kids at school call him Spider Boy. Bobby also makes up a lot of stories, and before long, he finds himself caught in the web of one of his own tales. For grades 5-8. 1997.

by Dick King-Smith

read by Arnie Warren

1 cassette

Mr. Ape is an old man, suddenly free of wife and offspring, living in his family estate, Penny Royal. Happy to make his own decisions, he lives in the kitchen and buys hens to keep in the living room. He befriends Jake and his father, Joe--traveling gypsies who prove to be kindred spirits. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Laurence Yep

read by Mimi Bederman

1 cassette

Robin's family is put on a strict budget in order to bring her grandmother over from Hong Kong. Robin is upset that she has to sacrifice a promising ballet career. Practicing unsupervised harms her feet, something she discovers she has in common with her grandmother's bound ones. For grades 5-8. 1992.

by Mary Jane Auch

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Josh's best friend Brian comes up with an odd idea for their science fair project: hypnotizing Brian's dog, Arful, into thinking he's a cat. After a few sessions with the crystal, Arful may not feel like a cat, but Josh certainly does! For grades 2-4. 1998.

by Virginia Euwer Wolff

read by Marilyn Gleason

2 cassettes

1949. The sixth-grade girls of Bear Creek Ridge and Barlow are preparing for their annual softball game. Bear Creek is happy to have first-baseman Aki home from a Japanese internment camp. Barlow's new girl, Shazam, is a phenomenal player but harbors hatred and anger about the war. No one anticipates the tragedy that occurs during the game. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Michael Morpurgo

read by Gillian Wilson

1 cassette

When a ten-year-old boy runs away from an English boarding school, he encounters an elderly woman who tells him about an earlier runaway, Bertie, who had a pet white lion. Over tea and scones, she explains why Bertie carved the image of the lion into the hillside, and why the boy should return to his school. For grades 3-6. 1996.

by T.A. Barron

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes

Now fourteen, Merlin has built a small harp--the next step in developing his wizard powers. But as the first chord is plucked, the instrument bursts into flame, and Urnalda, ruler of the dwarves, summons Merlin to save her people from the dragon Valdearg. Sequel to The Seven Songs of Merlin (RC 47307). For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Isaac Millman

read by Lindsay Ellison

1 cassette

Moses and his classmates, who are deaf, go to a concert with their teacher. Performing with the orchestra is a percussionist who is also deaf. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1998.

by Louis Sachar

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

Stanley Yelnats IV finds himself in a detention center for possessing stolen property that he didn't take. While digging holes under the summer Texas sun, he sees a fellow inmate running away--and follows him. Legends, loyalty, and buried treasure are revealed as Stanley learns to survive. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. 1998.

by Lynne Reid Banks

read by Graci Ragsdale

1 cassette (Reissue)

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.

by Mary Jane Auch

read by Marilyn Gleason

1 cassette

In 1815 when Mem is eleven, her father decides to move the family from their Connecticut farm to the wilderness of western New York state. Their trip in an oxen-pulled wagon is full of adventures, including the time Mem falls out of the wagon and is left behind. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Geraldine McCaughrean

read by Cyn Delafield

2 cassettes

England, 1717. Penniless fourteen-year-old Nathaniel Gull, expelled from his horrid boarding school, decides to sail to Madagascar with Tamo White, a pirate's son, and his guardian. Nathaniel's younger sister Maud arrives unexpectedly, so they take her along. When they arrive at the island, the guardian arranges to sell them to pirates. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1996.

by Gloria Skurzynski

read by Jeremy Gage

1 cassette

Three young people have been genetically bred with special characteristics to fight a war in virtual reality. Raised in a virtual world, each longs to experience the real world directly, even if it involves risks. For grades 5-8. 1997.

by Irene Smalls

read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley

1 cassette

One Saturday morning in Harlem, Irene has a disagreement with her friend Charlene. Later Irene finds a nickel and buys a raisin bun. When Charlene reappears and wants a piece of the bun, Irene remembers what her grandmother told her about being mean. For grades K-3. 1991.

by Patrick Jennings

read by Peter Gil

1 cassette

In this sequel to Faith and the Electric Dogs (RC 45202), Faith's family--including her dog Edison, who writes books--moves back to San Francisco. Faith takes another rocket trip with four companions, is stranded in the desert, and finds her long-lost cat and a way home. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Edith Pattou

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

In the kingdom of Eirren, Collun prefers gardening to fighting wars. Yet when his sister is kidnapped, Collun leaves to rescue her. On his quest he encounters a wizard, learns his true parentage, and confronts the loathsome Firewurme. Prequel to Fire Arrow (RC 47823). For grades 5-8. 1991.

by Emily Lloyd

read by Mary Ann Nichols

1 cassette

A group of young people are assigned to travel the world in a sophisticated military vehicle armed with a talking supercomputer. Their mission is to learn, explore, and assist others. Now they are off to help the whales near Nova Scotia that keep getting caught in fishing nets. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Rebecca Hickox

read by Celeste Lawson

1 cassette

The fisherman's kind and pretty daughter, Maha, saves the life of a magical red fish. As a reward, the fish grants her wishes, helps her find a husband, and even protects Maha from her stepmother's nasty tricks. Based on an Iraqi folktale. For grades K-3. 1998.

by Claudia Mills

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

Maggie's favorite teacher is Mr. O. in biology, but when the dissection assignment draws near, Maggie becomes more and more sure she can't kill a worm. This leads to Maggie becoming a vegetarian, writing an essay on her views, and plotting to save the class frog. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Brian Jacques

read by David Palmer

2 cassettes

Set prior to Mossflower (RC 36489), this tale recalls the making of Martin the Warrior, a young mouse proclaimed to be "a born fighter." The evil stoat Badrang the Tyrant, needing labor to build a fortress, tries to enslave Martin. Companion to Redwall (RC 29729). For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1993.

by Carol Lynch Williams

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

High school sophomore Sage is always writing romance stories about a perfect heroine she calls Angelica. The only problem is that Sage's writing is awful. Her best friend, George, doesn't want to hurt her feelings when she enters the school's writing contest; he is secretly in love with her. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Kate Thompson

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

When Tess learns that Kevin also has the ability to change into the form of any animal or bird, she is happy finally to find a friend. But Kevin wants her to use her shape-shifting skills to help him investigate the freak snowstorms threatening life in the northern hemisphere. And Tess has to decide quickly. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Avi

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

Granter Jolaine, leader of the Montmers, summons Perloo, a quiet reader of history, to Jolaine's deathbed. She signs a proclamation naming Perloo as her successor, but her son Berwig wants to lead the tribe to war and manages to tear the proclamation in half. Perloo is in peril. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Eloise Greenfield

read by Chuck Young

1 cassette

William's grandmother is sick. She can't see anymore, and William wishes she would feel better. He remembers the good times in his grandma's restaurant last year and imagines a happy day in the future when his grandmother will be able to visit in the garden. For grades K-3. 1993.

by June Rae Wood

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Living in a comfortable house with her aunt and uncle does not feel like "home" to Delrita. Now fourteen, she stays in her shell, missing her deceased parents. Then a World War II veteran and the Teen Buddy program gradually help Delrita to meet people halfway. Sequel to The Man Who Loved Clowns (RC 38004). For grades 5-8. 1997.

by Regina Hanson

read by Samarra Mbenga

1 cassette

Dora and her friends are knocking mangos out of the tree at Miss Nella's house when Dora hits the window and Miss Nella's face appears. Dora fears bad things will happen, and when it rains for several days, she is convinced. Then Dora's parents help her understand Miss Nella's kind nature. For grades K-3. 1997.

by Mollie Hunter

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

Scotland, 1307. While evading pursuit by the English, Robert the Bruce, king of Scots, recruits sixteen-year-old Martin as his page and eighteen-year-old Sean as a soldier in the cause to free Scotland. Martin's horse riding skills and resourcefulness make him a worthy spy during the next seven years. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 1998.

by Cornelia Cornelissen

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Soft Rain is nine years old in 1838 when soldiers come to move her Cherokee tribe from North Carolina to the West. Soft Rain and her mother are forced to grab belongings and start the journey without Soft Rain's father and brother. For grades 3-6. 1998.

by Spring Hermann

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

1832. Ten-year-old Abigail and her six-year-old sister, Sophia, are among the first students chosen to attend a new school in Boston that is solely for children who are blind. The girls are homesick but thrilled at the chance to learn to read, do math and handicrafts, and play the pianoforte. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Karen Hesse

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Nine-year-old Juice has a lot to worry about. Her Pa is out of work, and Ma is expecting her sixth child. Juice likes to spend time with Pa instead of going to school, because she has trouble learning. Soon she discovers an even bigger problem--Pa can't read. For grades 3-5. 1998.

by A.A. Milne

read by Bob Askey

1 cassette (Reissue)

The adventures of Christopher Robin, a boy, and his favorite companions--Winnie-the-Pooh, a bear; Eeyore, an old grey donkey; and Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, and Baby Roo. Contains the unabridged texts of Winnie-the-Pooh, first published in 1926, and The House at Pooh Corner, from 1928. For grades K-3 and older readers. 1994.

by Philip Pullman

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

Switzerland, 1816. A young house servant, Hildi Kelmar, tells the tale of the Count, cruel uncle of Charlotte and Lucy. He invites the girls to visit his hunting lodge deep in the forest. But Hildi learns of his pact with Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman, and tries to protect the girls. For grades 5-8. 1982.

by Gary Paulsen

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Back in society, going to school and trying to fit in, Brian savagely beats a bully who attacked him. With the help of Caleb, a blind counselor, Brian realizes that he needs to go where he belongs--in the wilderness again. Sequel to The River (RC 34751). For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999.

by Barbara Barrie

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

A little boy calls himself "Adam Zigzag" because of the way words on paper look to him. Adam has dyslexia and learning disorders that lead to emotional problems. After years of ineffectual schools and tutors, Adam agrees to try a boarding school, where he finally finds the help he needs. For grades 5-8. 1994.

by Tomie De Paola

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

William Everett Crocodile ("Bill") has a best friend (also a personal toothbrush), a bird named Pete. In these three adventures, Pete helps Bill escape being turned into a suitcase, they apprehend a jewel thief, and they rescue Egyptian animals from captivity in New Orleans. For grades K-3. 1978.

by Hans Christian Andersen

read by Celeste Lawson

1 cassette

A mother duck is disappointed when the extra-large egg she has been sitting on opens, and a big, awkward chick tumbles out. The poor bird gets teased by everyone because he looks so different. But the next spring, he gets a surprise when he sees himself in the water. For preschool-grade 2. 1999.

by Eric Campbell

read by Erik Sandvold

1 cassette

Newcomers in Tanzania, Chris Harris and his father survive a small plane crash on the Serengeti Plain. Chris will have to find help because he is the least injured, but an aged and wounded lion is following his every step. Some violence. For grades 5-8. 1990.

by Elvira Woodruff

read by Erik Sandvold

1 cassette

Matthew and his friends form an adventure club so they can talk about real adventures from throughout history. But at their first meeting, in which they plan to discuss George Washington's crossing of the Delaware, the members suddenly find themselves back in the time of the American Revolution. For grades 4-7. 1991.

by Carolyn Reeder

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

During the Civil War, twelve-year-old Kate is determined to make her late father's annual coal-selling trip down the C&O Canal. She reluctantly enlists her stepbrother Seth to help. Their mutual antagonism turns into cooperation as they make the hazardous journey without an adult. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Betsy Byars

read by Jack Fox

1 cassette (Reissue)

Dewey Martin dreams of leisurely excursions down the Trouble River on the Rosey B, his homemade raft. He and his grandmother and his dog actually use it to dodge the attack of hostile Indians, wolves, and terrifying rapids. For grades 4-7. 1969.

by Judith Berry Griffin

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette (Reissue)

New York City, 1776. Freeman Samuel Fraunces entrusts his thirteen-year-old daughter, Phoebe, to the revolutionary war effort to serve as a spy. Her mission is to prevent an assassination attempt against General George Washington. Based on a true story; formerly titled Phoebe and the General. For grades 3-6. 1977.

retold by Susan Summers

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Artaban plans to join the three wise men on their journey to honor the Christ child, but he is delayed because he stops to help a dying man. He goes on alone seeking the King of the Jews for many years and helping strangers on the way. For grades K-3. 1997.

by Suzy Kline

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Song Lee's hamster has been living in Room 2B for several weeks, but one morning the class discovers that Yi has escaped from his cage. Someone forgot to fasten the hook on the door. The teacher shows the group how to make posters asking for help in finding Yi. For grades K-3. 1994.

retold by Jeanne Steig

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

"Rumpelstiltskin," "Beauty and the Beast," "Hansel and Gretel," "Little Red Riding Hood," "The Frog Prince," and "Jack and the Beanstalk" are retold in the traditional spirit with modern inflections. For grades K-3. 1998.

by J.K. Rowling

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Despite a warning not to return to Hogwarts for his second year of wizardry studies, Harry shows up. But Harry is in danger from the opened Chamber of Secrets as well as from his would-be protector. Sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (RC 47260). For grades 4-7. Bestseller 1999.

by Jane Kurtz

read by Lisette Lecat

1 cassette

When Ethiopian villagers are forced to flee toward Sudan, two young girls from different backgrounds learn to rely on each other. Sahay is from a Christian family, while Rahel is Jewish and blind. Sahay's offer to lead Rahel through the desert is the beginning of their friendship. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Virginia Hamilton

read by Gail Nelson

1 cassette

In this sequel to Cousins (RC 32595), Cammy and her third cousin Elodie are now twelve and still recovering from the drowning death of their cousin Patty Ann. As the girls eagerly await a family reunion, they meet a New York girl who seems tied to Cammy's divorced dad. For grades 5-8. 1998.

por Paulo Coelho

leído por Juan Ramirez

2 cassettes

Al incurrir la ira de la reina Jezabel, el profeta Elías recibe de Diios el orden de abandonar Israel y viajar a Sidon de los fenicios. En la ciudad de Akbar, sus sermones contra Baal y más tarde la invasión de los asirios traen una avalancha de calamidades que ponen a prueba la fé del joven profeta. (After incurring the wrath of Queen Jezebel, the young prophet Elijah is ordered by God to leave Israel and travel to Sidon of the Phoenicians. In the city of Akbar, his preaching against the pagan gods and the invasion by the Assyrians bring one calamity after another and put his faith to a severe test.) 1997.

por Manuel Puig

leído por Juan Ramirez

2 cassettes

Novela del autor argentino que narra la historia de un Don Juan de provincias que está al borde de la muerte. Cuando Juan Carlos Etchepare aprende qu está muriendo del tuberculosis, las mujeres de su vida--su madre su hermana, sus amantes--deliran por él, lamentan su cruel destino, y parecen incapaces de ver cómos sus proprias vidas se les escapan de las manos. (Novel by the Argentinian author focuses on a dying Don Juan and the women in his life. As self-styled ladies' man Juan Carlos Etchepare learns he is dying of tuberculosis, his mother, sister, and girlfriends agonize over his fate and are unable to prevent their own lives from crumbling in their adoration for him.) 1969.

por Ana Nogales

leído por Juan Ramirez

3 cassettes

La autora es popular psicóloga de televisión y columnista de periódico. A través de varios casos de estudio, Nogales explora los problemas más comunes de la pareja anglo/latina, tales como las relaciones entre familiares, los papeles matrimoniales, el concepto del machismo, y otros temas culturales que pueden ocasionar conflictos entre parejas. Contiene descripciones de índole sexual. (A popular TV psychologist and newspaper columnist presents case studies to illustrate common problems that couples from diverse ethnic backgrounds face. Nogales discusses conflicts that arise in Latino-Anglo relationships such as differing attitudes toward family, gender roles, machismo, and cultural values. Some descriptions of sex.) 1998.