Braille Book Review January-February 2002 Volume 71, Number 1 _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large-print, braille, and computer diskette formats and distributed free to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists braille magazines and books available through a network of cooperating libraries. The braille edition also lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations. News about library services is featured in both editions. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may order catalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. Readers can receive _Braille Book Review_ and other information through the Internet by accessing the the NLS home page at http://www.loc.gov/nls. To order books or for subscription changes, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. Library of Congress, Washington 2002 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Braille Magazines In Brief Safe Handling of Mail In October 2001, as part of a national campaign for heightened awareness of safety and security concerns, the United States Postal Service issued guidelines for safe mail handling. A card was sent to every postal customer in the country containing the information reprinted here. The side of the card bearing the address also displays a message from Postmaster General John E. Potter: "The U.S. Postal Service places the highest priority on the safety of our customers and employees and on the security of the mail. Please see the other side of this card for information about safety and handling. We want you to know we are doing everything possible to make sure the mail is safe, and we need your help. Your security and peace of mind are paramount to us." On the reverse, the following mail safety guidelines appear: What should make me suspect a piece of mail? - It's unexpected or from someone you don't know. - It's addressed to someone no longer at your address. - It's handwritten and has no return address or bears one that you can't confirm is legitimate. - It's lopsided or lumpy in appearance. - It's sealed with excessive amounts of tape. - It's marked with restrictive endorsements such as "Personal" or "Confidential." - It has excessive postage. What should I do with a suspicious piece of mail? - Don't handle a letter or package that you suspect is contaminated. - Don't shake it, bump it, or sniff it. - Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. - Notify local law enforcement authorities. Collection Development Advisory Group seeks advice The members of the Collection Development Advisory Group (formerly the National Advisory Group on Collection Building Activities) wish to thank fellow patrons and librarians for their input concerning the NLS program. Please be assured that ideas and suggestions were thoroughly discussed in the committee's deliberations. Please continue to assist us by contacting committee members or your cooperating library with your suggestions. Input from readers is the key ingredient in the success of our program. The group will meet again at NLS on May 22-24, 2002. Representatives from consumer organizations American Council of the Blind Ms. Jill O'Connell 279 Church Lane Carlotta, CA 95528-9715 jillocon@juno.com Blinded Veterans Association Dr. Ronald L. Miller 1480 Aptos Drive Turlock, CA 95382 docron@netfeed.com National Federation of the Blind Ms. Ever Lee Hairston 113 Greensward Lane Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-4710 Reader-at-large representatives Midlands Region--includes the following: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin Ms. Jane L. Toleno 1815 Hillsboro Ave. N. Golden Valley, MN 55427 jtoleno@visi.com Northern Region--includes the following: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia Ms. Diana Brash 919 Walnut St., Fourth Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 dbrash@asb.com Southern Region--includes the following: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Virgin Islands Ms. Kathy Blackburn 8607 Delaware Court Austin, TX 78758 kblackbn@concentric.net Western Region--includes the following: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming Mr. Blas Yslas Jr. 104 S. Elm St. South Hutchinson, KS 67505 mlyslas@msinter.net Librarians Midlands Ms. Lissa Shanahan Indiana State Library Special Services Division 140 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232-3684 lshanahan@statelib.lib.in.us Northern Ms. Renee Snowten Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Free Library of Philadelphia 919 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 683-3218 snowtenr@library.phila.gov Southern Mr. Randy French Library and Resource Center Department for the Visually Handicapped 395 Azalea Avenue Richmond, VA 23227 (804) 371-3661 frenchra@dvh.state.va.us Western Ms. Sue Sugimura, Librarian Hawaii State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 402 Kapahulu Avenue Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 733-8444 fax: (808) 733-8449 sue@lib.state.hi.us Children's/Young Adults Ms. Emma Schroth State Library of Louisiana Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 701 North Fourth Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 342-9563 eschroth@pelican.state.lib.la.us The following additional information is reprinted from Talking Book Topics, January-February 2002. Magazine of the Month Selections for 2001 Two NLS programs offer readers samplings of magazines not otherwise available through network libraries. Subscribers to Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the Month receive a different magazine on audio cassette each month. For a free subscription to either program, contact your cooperating library. Although the selections are subject to change, subscribers will receive some of the following magazines during 2002. Magazine of the Month - American Visions: The Magazine of Afro-American Culture (the African American contribution to arts and letters) - Craft Home and Style (original craft and home decor projects) - Infinite Energy (energy science and technology) - Latin Style: The Latin Arts and Entertainment Magazine (issues and individuals of significance in the Latino community) - Native Peoples (arts and lifestyles of native peoples of the Americas) - Rosie (movie stars, fashion, beauty, crafts, cooking, and cultural issues, centered on talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell) - Skeptic (investigations of controversial claims in science and history) - Utne Reader: The Best of the Alternate Media (writings on politics, culture, and the environment from the independent press) - Where to Retire (issues related to retirement) - Wildlife Journal: The Magazine for an Untamed World (study and preservation of animals in the wild) - Williams Sonoma Taste (recipes, entertainment, and culinary experiences) - World War II (essays and historical accounts) Alternates: American Scientist, The Circle, E-The Environmental Magazine, Emerge, Home Companion, Hope Magazine, Latina Style, Military History, Oxygen, Skeptical Inquirer, Travel 50 and Beyond, Veggie Life Young Adult Magazine of the Month - Calliope: Exploring World History (history for junior and senior high readers) - Cicada (fiction and poetry by and for teens) - Elle Girl ((fashion and celebrity interviews for girls) - Footsteps: African-American History for Kids (articles and poetry) - Frontera (Latino cultural interests including music, literature, and entertainment) - Mad (humor and satire) - Martial Arts Legends (various forms of martial arts) - Mary-Kate and Ashley Magazine (fashion, lifestyle, celebrity interviews) - Soccer Jr.: The Soccer Magazine for Kids (for children and teen soccer enthusiasts) - Teen Voices (alternative to teen gossip and fashion magazines, written by young women) - YM: Young and Modern (fashion and beauty for teenage girls) - Zillions: For Kids from Consumer Reports (consumer information on snacks, toys, videos, and cosmetics) Alternates: Amazing Stories, Marie-Claire, Quill & Scroll, Sassy, 16 Magazine, Snowboarding, Teen, Twist, Worlds of Horror ### _Books for Adults_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Note:_ For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, as in "some strong language." _Nonfiction_ Johannes Brahms: A Biography. BR 11801. by Jan Swafford. 8 volumes. Using primary sources, the author documents the life of composer Johannes Brahms in the context of the social and political atmosphere of nineteenth-century Austria. Brahms himself destroyed much of his personal correspondence as well as compositions he deemed inferior. Includes musical examples to show Brahms's developmemt. 1997. BR 11801. ## Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House. BR 12601. by Cheryl Mendelson. 13 volumes. Helpful hints on a range of domestic topics--planning and preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning each room in a home, preserving books and furniture, caring for pets, fire safety, and many others. Includes guidelines for both the novice and longtime housekeeper and bits of wisdom gained from older relatives. Bestseller 1999. BR 12601. ## Frommer's 99 Washington, D.C. BR 12653. by Elise Hartman Ford. 5 volumes. Tips on dining, shopping, accommodations, and recreational activities in the Washington, D.C., area including sightseeing and city strolls, museums and monuments, neighborhoods and parks, nightlife and entertainment. 1999. BR 12653. ## The Metropolitan Opera: Stories of the Great Operas. BR 12702. by John W. Freeman. 6 volumes. Describes the plots of 150 world-famous operas, featuring works from sixteenth-century Italy through twentieth-century America. Seventy-two composers are presented in alphabetical order. Biographical sketches of the composers precede the opera entries, each of which includes a list of characters and a summary of each act. 1984. BR 12702. ## Mao Zedong. BR 12736. by Jonathan Spence. 2 volumes. Portrays the personal and public life of the revolutionary leader of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. Depicts a "lord of misrule" who was relentlessly driven to achieve a utopian, egalitarian society at any cost. Traces his youth in Hunan province through his waning years as head of state. 1999. BR 12736. ## Frost on My Moustache: The Arctic Exploits of a Lord and a Loafer. BR 12776. by Tim Moore. 3 volumes. A British journalist's comic account of his effort to re- create the 1856 Norwegian Arctic expedition of Lord Dufferin, who returned to write a bestselling travel book. But Moore suffers social and physical indignities as he leaves his comfortable coach to endure bitter cold, polar bears, born-again Vikings, and seasickness. 1999. BR 12776. ## The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero. BR 12789. by Robert Kaplan. 3 volumes. Chronicle of the evolution of the mathematical concept of zero and the development of its importance as a philosophical concept. The author traces its path through various Eastern and Western societies, both ancient and modern. He incorporates literary quotations throughout the text, linking mathematical and cultural ideas. 1999. BR 12789. ## For the Love of It: Amateuring and Its Rivals. BR 12791. by Wayne Booth. 3 volumes. A professor of English, who took up the cello at age thirty- one and continued playing for over four decades, describes the benefits and enjoyments of a hobby. Meditates on the meaning of "fun," "work," and "love" while contrasting the perspectives of amateur and professional. 1999. BR 12791. ## Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America. BR 12795. by Ronald J. Sider. 3 volumes. An evangelical Christian's visionary strategy for reducing poverty in the United States--the richest nation on Earth in the twenty-first century. Notes that the solution to this issue requires moral, spiritual, socioeconomic, and structural changes, and proposes a joint effort by Christians and other people of goodwill. 1999. BR 12795. ## Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World. BR 12813. by John Larner. 4 volumes. A history professor examines the authenticity of Polo's book about his travels to the East and assesses its impact on European culture. He reviews known facts about Marco Polo (1254-1323?) and the Venetian merchants, discusses how the book came to be written, and describes its reception in succeeding years. 1999. BR 12813. ## Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping. BR 12817. by Thomas Leo Ogren. 4 volumes. Horticulturist presents a system of rating plants for their allergen-producing potential and urges gardeners to avoid those highest on the list. Mentions more than three thousand varieties; includes descriptions, suggested locations, and possible problems. Offers tips, such as using female specimens to eliminate pollen, and recommends hard pruning and other gardening techniques. 2000. BR 12817. ## The Catholic Vision. BR 12908. by Edward D. O'Connor. 6 volumes. A Roman Catholic priest and Notre Dame theology professor discusses the mysteries of God, Jesus Christ, and the Church. Outlines defining features, teachings, and practices of his religion. Asserts that Catholic doctrine is coherent, intelligible, reasonable, and socially relevant. Disputes the notion of a conflict between faith and reason. 1992. BR 12908. ## To Love This Life: Quotations. BR 12932. by Helen Keller. 1 volume. Quotations from speeches, letters, articles, and interviews by the author, lecturer, and humanitarian who became deaf- blind at nineteen months of age. Topics include the senses, faith, women in society, human nature, war and peace, education, happiness, friendship and love, and triumph over adversity. Includes a chronology of Keller's life from 1880 to 1968. 2000. BR 12932. ## Driving over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucˇa. BR 12933. by Chris Stewart. 2 volumes. First drummer for the rock group Genesis humorously recalls naively purchasing land in Andalucˇa, Spain, and with his wife, Ana, gamely making a go at being full-time farmers without the benefit of plumbing or electricity. Describes subsequent years when they had a child and made lasting friendships with neighbors. Some strong language. 1999. BR 12933. ## Threads of Time: Recollections. BR 12937. by Peter Brook. 2 volumes. In this memoir, stage and screen director Brook recalls the aesthetic, personal, and spiritual journey that has shaped his long and varied career. Explains his ideas about film, opera, and other productions; discusses his efforts to create a multicultural and multilingual theater; relates experiences and encounters that left lasting impressions. 1998. BR 12937. ## Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know about Writing. BR 12968. by Patricia T. O'Conner. 2 volumes. A user's manual for writing well. Emphasizes that good prose is more craft than art. Provides tips and techniques to improve writing skills and avoid pitfalls, whether for term papers, reports, newsletters, or a novel. For senior high and older readers. 1999. BR 12968. ## The Prince of Tennessee: The Rise of Al Gore. BR 12976. by David Maraniss and Ellen Nakashima. 3 volumes. Two _Washington Post_ journalists construct a personal and political biography of Vice President Al Gore. They describe Gore's childhood as the son of a senator and trace his career path in his father's footsteps. 2000. BR 12976. ## Handwriting: Poems. BR 12980. by Michael Ondaatje. 1 volume. A collection of poems drawing on the history, landscape, and religious imagery of the author's birthplace, Sri Lanka. 1998. BR 12980. ## Despicable Species: On Cowbirds, Kudzu, Hornworms, and Other Scourges. BR 12998. by Janet Lembke. 2 volumes. Fourteen natural history essays contemplating a dozen species that are loathed or scorned by humans: the sandbur, gray squirrel, starling, horsefly, opossum, centipede, and fruit fly among others. The author points out that all life is interconnected and humans need to better appreciate the diversity of the natural world. 1999. BR 12998. ## Beginning Weight Training: The Safe and Effective Way. BR 13184. by V. Patteson Lombardi. 3 volumes. Advises proper weight lifting techniques for beginning and intermediate students as well as teachers. Also explains the scientifically based principles of the sport and ways to minimize injury. Discusses the human muscular system and how to develop a fitness plan. 1989. BR 13184. ## Prenatal Testing and Disability Rights. BR 13232. edited by Erik Parens and Adrienne Asch. 5 volumes. Essays concerning the practice of prenatal testing for abnormalities and the debate about abortion. Selections illustrate the diverse opinions within the medical profession, across the disability community, and among prospective parents. 2000. BR 13232. ## The Canterbury Tales. BR 13235. by Geoffrey Chaucer. 6 volumes. A modern English translation by Ronald L. Ecker and Eugene J. Crook of Chaucer's fourteenth-century classic in which pilgrims agree to a storytelling contest as they travel to the shrine of Thomas … Becket in Canterbury. 1993. BR 13235. ## Islam: A Short History. BR 13247. by Karen Armstrong. 2 volumes. __Describes the origin and spread of the religion of Islam. Discusses Muhammad and his family, the Crusades, and the powerful Moghul and Ottoman Empires. Explores Islam's divergence into sects and the creation of a modern fundamentalist movement. 2000. BR 13247. ## Arcadia. BR 13248. by Tom Stoppard. 1 volume. The action of the play shuttles back and forth between the early nineteenth century and the late twentieth century in a room at Sidley Park in Derbyshire. The 1990s characters examine writings and garden plans to find evidence supporting various speculations--including one that Lord Byron had killed someone there. Some strong language. 1993. BR 13248. ## The Ice Finders: How a Poet, a Professor, and a Politician Discovered the Ice Age. BR 13250. by Edmund Blair Bolles. 2 volumes. Describes how the scientific community, including noted geologist Charles Lyell, believed the poles to be covered with open sea and scoffed at naturalist Louis Agassiz's 1830s ice-age theory. Twenty years later, when adventurer Elisha Kane's long months stranded among Greenland's glaciers lent credence to Agassiz's ideas, Lyell switched camps. 1999. BR 13250. ## Mozart. BR 13252. by Peter Gay. 2 volumes. A brief biography of the eighteenth-century Austrian child prodigy, genius, and composer, whose life ended at age thirty-five. Historian Gay perceives kernels of truth behind the myths about Mozart and illuminates his musical contributions. 1999. BR 13252. ## Betrayal. BR 13253. by Harold Pinter. 1 volume. Play centered around an adulterous affair between Robert and his best friend Jerry's wife, Emma. Two years after they stopped seeing each other, the former lovers meet at a pub and reminisce. Some strong language. 1978. BR 13253. ## In Love with Night: The American Romance with Robert Kennedy. BR 13255. by Ronald Steel. 3 volumes. Examines Robert Kennedy's life, career, and enduring image. Asserts that he cannot be understood apart from his older brother, President John Kennedy. Argues that it is pure myth, not reality, for Americans to believe that with Robert's passing the promise of political redemption eluded the nation. 2000. BR 13255. ## Herman Melville. BR 13256. by Elizabeth Hardwick. 1 volume. A critical interpretation of the nineteenth-century American author and his work. Discusses his character, homoerotic tendencies, and family life. Presents insightful analysis of his major opus, _Moby-Dick (BR 1608)_, as well as his other novels, stories, and poems. 2000. BR 13256. ## The Mythology of Native North America. BR 13258. by David Leeming and Jake Page. 2 volumes. Introduces seventy-two myths--with such noteworthy characters as Coyote, Spider Woman, Glooscap, Water Jar Boy, and the maiden who fell out of the sky--derived from a variety of Native American cultures and language groups. The authors' commentary places these tales within the context of world mythology. 1998. BR 13258. ## Poems. BR 13262. by Robert Frost. 2 volumes. Eighty-four pieces by New England poet Robert Frost (1874- 1963), as selected by John Hollander. Includes such favorites as "Mending Wall," "The Road Not Taken," and "Birches." 1997. BR 13262. ## Police Brutality: An Anthology. BR 13275. edited by Jill Nelson. 3 volumes. Essays by academics, historians, social critics, a Chicago congressman, and a former New York City police detective place corruption and brutality in intellectual and historical context. Explains how these problems have influenced America's culture. Details numerous incidents perpetrated primarily against African Americans. 2000. BR 13275. ## The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the Original Deaf-Blind Girl. BR 13353. by Elisabeth Gitter. 3 volumes. The life of Laura Bridgman, deaf and blind from age two, who became one of the most famous women of the mid-nineteenth century. Explores her education with Samuel Howe at Boston's Perkins Institution for the Blind; views her achievements in the context of American social, cultural, and intellectual history. 2001. BR 13353. ## ### _Fiction_ Kirinyaga: A Fable of Utopia. BR 12732. by Mike Resnick. 3 volumes. Ten tales of a utopian planet inhabited by former residents of Kenya. In 2123 Koriba, a European-educated witch doctor, becomes disenchanted with the modernization of Kenya and colonizes the planet of Kirinyaga. There he reinstates ancient customs and decides the fate of his people, while still maintaining a link to Earth. Some violence. 1998. BR 12732. ## Talk. BR 12741. by Laura Van Wormer. 3 volumes. At first it irritates talk-show host Jessica Wright that her security is tightened just because a fan calling himself Leopold begins sending odd letters. But when the notes appear in secure places and then her secretary is murdered, Jessica becomes angry and frightened. Strong language, violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998. BR 12741. ## Comanche Moon. BR 12758. by Larry McMurtry. 6 volumes. In this sequel to _Dead Man's Walk (BR 12567)_ and prequel to _Lonesome Dove (BR 6198)_, Texas Rangers McCrae and Call aid white settlers as they face Comanche raids and attacks by bandits in the struggle to survive frontier hardships. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 1997. BR 12758. ## First Snow on Fuji. BR 12780. by Yasunari Kawabata. 2 volumes. Collection of nine short stories and a play by the Japanese Nobel laureate, translated into English for the first time. In the title piece, published in 1958, two former lovers take an overnight trip together some years later, exploring the changes that time and separation have wrought. 1999. BR 12780. ## Someone to Watch over Me: Stories. BR 12799. by Richard Bausch. 2 volumes. A dozen poignant short stories. Marlee, the younger second wife in the title piece, is upset that Ted chooses to celebrate their first anniversary in a lavish restaurant recommended by his first wife. Marlee's anger and behavior provoke an unexpected reaction from Ted. Some strong language. 1999. BR 12799. ## Blameless. BR 12877. by Lisa Reardon. 2 volumes. Mary Culpepper, thirty-four, is on leave from her job as a school bus driver after finding one of her passengers dead from a beating. As she awaits the trial, Mary finds respite from night terrors and family issues in an illicit affair. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000. BR 12877. ## In Her Defense. BR 12897. by Stephen Horn. 3 volumes. A former New York prosecutor has inexplicably left his father-in-law's prestigious Washington law firm and consequently endured an unwanted divorce. His struggling new practice receives an unexpected boost when a comely socialite hires him to defend her in a front-page murder case. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000. BR 12897. ## Who Do You Love: Stories. BR 12906. by Jean Thompson. 3 volumes. Fifteen disquieting short stories explore the basic human need for love. In "Fire Dreams," a bored single woman begins an affair with a married fireman, a convenient neighbor from the next-door fire station. In "Antarctica," a lonely woman reevaluates the dynamics of her family while she drives her grandmother to view a nursing home. Some strong language. 1999. BR 12906. ## Hope Was Here. BR 12927. by Joan Bauer. 2 volumes. Sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt Addie, a professional waitress/cook team, move to Wisconsin to help G.T. Stoop run his restaurant. Soon they become involved in removing the corrupt mayor from office, and Hope finds the father she needs. For junior and senior high readers. Bestseller 2000. BR 12927. ## The Cat Who Smelled a Rat. BR 12928. by Lilian Jackson Braun. 2 volumes. Moose County awaits the first snowfall, hoping it will end the drought that may be the cause of a rash of fires. Columnist Jim Qwilleran suspects arson when his Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum demand his attention with catfits. Then a murder occurs, and the local bookstore goes up in flames. Bestseller 2001. BR 12928. ## The Constant Gardener. BR 12929. by John Le Carré. 4 volumes. After his young wife Tessa's murder in Kenya, British diplomat Justin Quayle investigates her death and the disappearance of her African colleague. He eventually discovers that Tessa had uncovered a scheme involving a multinational pharmaceutical company that unethically tests drugs on the local populace. Strong language. Bestseller 2001. BR 12929. ## Round Robin: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel. BR 12935. by Jennifer Chiaverini. 3 volumes. In this sequel to _The Quilter's Apprentice (BR 12533)_, the Elm Creek women of Waterford, Pennsylvania, expand their craft by opening an instructional camp. Sarah continues to have problems with her mother, Sylvia encounters love again, and all find comfort in one another's support. 2000. BR 12935. ## Both Sides Now. BR 12940. by Ruth Pennebaker. 2 volumes. High school sophomore Liza is an optimist like her physician father, and takes cues from him in dealing with her mother's fight against breast cancer. But as increasingly aggressive treatments fail, Liza gradually begins to feel empathy for her mother. For junior and senior high readers. 2000. BR 12940. ## Persuasion. BR 12975. by Jane Austen. 3 volumes (Reissue). Austen's last novel is a temperate comedy of manners. At twenty-seven, a woman regrets that, persuaded by her elders, she had broken her engagement to the navy captain she loved at nineteen. When she and her father are forced to rent their family home and move to Bath, she meets her former love again. 1816. BR 12975. ## Dark Dance: First in the Blood Opera Sequence. BR 12978. by Tanith Lee. 3 volumes. The terrifying tale of Rachaela Day, who reluctantly complies with her vampire father's demand that she live with his family. Details the events that lead to her daughter's destruction of some family members. Prequel to _Personal Darkness (BR 10865)_. Violence, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 1992. BR 12978. ## Henry of Atlantic City. BR 12981. by Frederick Reuss. 2 volumes. Six-year-old Henry lives in an Atlantic City casino where his father is director of security. Having been introduced to the Gnostic gospels by a blackjack dealer, Henry not only hears angels talking in his ear but tries to communicate their teachings--not always welcomed in his gaudy surroundings. Some strong language. 1999. BR 12981. ## The Ladies from St. Petersburg: Three Novellas. BR 12983. by Nina Berberova. 1 volume. Three stories about Russian lives disrupted by wars. Written in 1927, the title piece depicts a mother and daughter on vacation in the country, just as political turmoil erupts. Their fateful trip marks the young girl's sudden transition to maturity. 1998. BR 12983. ## The Fated Sky. BR 12984. by Henrietta Branford. 1 volume. Ran, a sixteen-year-old Viking girl, is blamed for her mother's death and selected for sacrifice to Odin. Toki, a blind musician, helps her escape and the two flee Norway for Iceland. Unfortunately, their enemy, Vigut, reappears. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. For senior high readers. 1996. BR 12984. ## The Man Who Ate the 747. BR 12985. by Ben Sherwood. 2 volumes. J.J. Smith, authenticator for _The Book of Records_, is in Superior, Nebraska, where farmer Wally Chubb is grinding up and eating a Boeing 747 cargo jet to prove his love for local newspaperwoman Willa Wyatt. Despite his scientific mind, J.J. is soon falling for Willa too. Some descriptions of sex. 2000. BR 12985. ## Elizabeth and After. BR 12997. by Matt Cohen. 3 volumes. Carl McKelvey returns to the small Ontario town of his birth to renew his relationship with his seven-year-old daughter. But now his ex-wife, Chrissy, is living with an abusive rival, his father is dying, and his neighbors still hold him accountable for his mother's death. Some strong language. Governor General's Award. 1999. BR 12997. ## Scandalmonger. BR 13233. by William Safire. 5 volumes. Political scandals of the late eighteenth century revealed by James Thomson Callender, a Scottish fugitive and journalist hired to write incendiary articles regarding men of power. Selecting Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson as his primary targets, he describes their alleged sexual indiscretions. 2000. BR 13233. ## Free Fall. BR 13237. by Kyle Mills. 4 volumes. Suspended FBI agent Mark Beamon is hired by ruthless presidential aspirant David Hallorin to find professional rock climber Darby Moore, who is on the run with stolen government files that could destroy Hallorin's reputation. Sequel to _Storming Heaven (BR 12356)_. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2000. BR 13237. ## English Passengers. BR 13238. by Matthew Kneale. 4 volumes. In the 1850s, British customs' exorbitant fines force Illiam Quillian Kewley, captain of a smuggling band, to charter his ship. His two passengers are on a quest to prove that the actual Garden of Eden was Tasmania. But they do not arrive at any paradise. Booker Prize nominee. 2000. BR 13238. ## Motherhood Made a Man out of Me. BR 13243. by Karen Karbo. 2 volumes. Brooke has a six-month-old daughter and a husband who would rather play computer games than help out with the day-to-day parenting. Meanwhile, Brooke's best friend Mary Rose learns she's pregnant, and then discovers the father isn't quite as divorced as he claims to be. Some strong language. 2000. BR 13243. ## Truth or Dairy. BR 13249. by Catherine Clark. 2 volumes. Courtney's boyfriend breaks up with her because he doesn't want a long-distance relationship while attending college a half-hour drive away. Heartbroken, Courtney vows to give up dating, run for student council, and stay vegan. But her life remains a comical mess. For junior and senior high readers. 2000. BR 13249. ## The Tale of the Unknown Island. BR 13254. by José Saramago. 1 volume. Allegory of a man who petitions his ruler for a boat with which to discover an island--any unknown island. When the king finally grants his wish, a cleaning lady insists on joining the crew and together they dream of sailing away. By Portugal's Nobel laureate. Translated by Margaret Jull Costa. 1999. BR 13254. ## Midnight Champagne. BR 13259. by A. Manette Ansay. 2 volumes. Valentine's Day at the Great Lakes Chapel overlooking Lake Michigan. Elmer Liesgang is horrified that his daughter is marrying a man she barely knows and that the wedding is in a former whorehouse. While the guests (including the bride's former fiancé) contemplate love, a marriage ends abruptly in the nearby lodge. Some strong language. 1999. BR 13259. ## In the Drink. BR 13260. by Kate Christensen. 2 volumes. Claudia came to New York to become a reporter, but ended up ghostwriting the books of an aging and aggravating society woman. Now deeply in debt and drinking heavily, Claudia realizes she's secretly in love with her friend, William. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999. BR 13260. ## The Dwarfs. BR 13265. by Harold Pinter. 2 volumes. Only novel by noted English playwright is set in London and comprised mainly of conversations between three male friends and occasionally the woman friend of one of them-- conversations that lead to shifts in the relationships. Some strong language. 1956. BR 13265. ## 4:50 from Paddington. BR 13283. by Agatha Christie. 2 volumes. While returning by railroad from Christmas shopping in London, Mrs. McGillicuddy observes a man strangling a woman in a passing train. When Mrs. McGillicuddy returns home, she tells her friend Miss Marple, who initiates an investigation. (Previously titled _What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!_). Some violence. 1957. BR 13283. ## The Plato Papers: A Prophesy. BR 13314. by Peter Ackroyd. 1 volume. The year is A.D. 3700, the place is London, and the speaker is Plato, an orator and scholar. He lectures about the Age of Mouldwarp, which ended in A.D. 2300, but fundamentally misinterprets the culture of that era. Then Plato must defend himself against accusations of spinning lies. 1999. BR 13314. ## P Is for Peril. BR 13363. by Sue Grafton. 3 volumes. Private investigator Kinsey Millhone is hired by prominent physician Dowan Purcell's ex-wife to find him. Medicare investigators are looking for the elderly doctor, too, although his current wife isn't. Also, Kinsey is curious about her office landlord's past when she discovers he's suspected of patricide. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001. BR 13363. ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Nonfiction_ South America. BR 12934. by April Pulley Sayre. 1 volume. Describes the weather, geography, flora, and fauna of the continent of South America. Provides information on environmental issues including the preservation of rain forests. For grades 5-8. 1999. BR 12934. ## Africa. BR 12936. by April Pulley Sayre. 1 volume. Describes the regions, geology, weather, plants, and animals of the continent of Africa. Includes ecological information on desertification, drought, and famine. For grades 5-8. 1999. BR 12936. ## Asia. BR 12939. by April Pulley Sayre. 1 volume. Overview of Asia--the world's largest continent--describing its deserts, mountains, rivers, plants and animals, and weather, including monsoons and cyclones. For grades 5-8. 1999. BR 12939. ## America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle. BR 13081. by David A. Adler. 1 volume. A short biography of an American who loved to swim as soon as she learned how at age seven. Describes her achievements, including winning three medals in the 1924 Olympics and becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2000. BR 13081. ## The Friendly Beasts. BR 13086. by Sharon McGinley. 1 volume. This is a version of the traditional Christmas carol "The Friendly Beasts," written by Robert Davis in 1920. A donkey, cow, sheep, camel, and dove talk about the gifts they bring for the baby Jesus. Includes music for the carol. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2000. BR 13086. ## Heroes of the Game: True Baseball Stories. BR 13251. by Terry Egan and others. 1 volume. In this companion to _The Good Guys of Baseball (BR 11625)_, the authors highlight nineteen players who exemplify sportsmanship and the love of the game. Includes major leaguer Roberto Clemente, who died on a mercy mission, and Jim Eisenreich, who plays with Tourette's syndrome. For grades 3-6. 1992. BR 13251. ## Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia. BR 13298. by Margaret Cousins. 1 volume. A biography of the eighteenth-century American who was not only a statesman, philosopher, printer, and author, but also a scientist and inventor. For grades 4-7. 1952. BR 13298. ## Wind Power. BR 13315. by Ian Graham. 1 volume. Examines wind power as a source of energy and force of nature. Traces its history from traditional uses for sailboats and windmills to twentieth-century wind farms. Discusses future potential for wind power programs. For grades 4-7. 1999. BR 13315. ## ### _Fiction_ A Year down Yonder. BR 12930. by Richard Peck. 1 volume. During the 1937 recession fifteen-year-old Mary Alice from Chicago is sent to live with feisty Grandma Dowdel in rural Illinois. There she learns about small-town ways and grows to love her grandmother. Sequel to _A Long Way from Chicago (BR 12129)_. For grades 6-9. Newbery Medal. Bestseller 2000. BR 12930. ## The Secret of Shadow Ranch. BR 12944. by Carolyn Keene. 1 volume. Nancy Drew arrives in Arizona for a fun-filled vacation and immediately finds herself involved in the search for a phantom horse and a hidden treasure. For grades 3-6. 1931. BR 12944. ## The Secret of Red Gate Farm. BR 12945. by Carolyn Keene. 1 volume (Reissue). A reluctant saleswoman, a very expensive bottle of perfume, a girl who faints on a train, and a crude stranger on the same train pull Nancy Drew into a mystery that involves her with the Secret Service. For grades 3-6. 1931. BR 12945. ## Mary Poppins Opens the Door. BR 12971. by P.L. Travers. 2 volumes (Reissue). In this sequel to _Mary Poppins Comes Back (BR 5488)_ Jane and Michael light off a fireworks rocket. But instead of producing a starburst in the sky, the flare's single spark turns out to be Mary Poppins, who takes the Banks children on more marvelous adventures. For grades 4-7. 1943. BR 12971. ## Mary Poppins. BR 12972. by P.L. Travers. 1 volume (Reissue). An extraordinary English woman blows in on the East Wind with her parrot-headed umbrella and magic carpetbag to become the Banks family's new nanny. Mary Poppins introduces her elder charges, Jane and Michael, to some delightful people and experiences. Prequel to _Mary Poppins Comes Back (BR 5488)_. For grades 4-7. 1934. BR 12972. ## The Wind in the Willows. BR 12977. by Kenneth Grahame. 2 volumes (Reissue). Relates the escapades of four animal friends--Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger--who live along a river in the English countryside. For grades 4-7. 1908. BR 12977. ## Olivia. BR 13074. by Ian Falconer. 1 volume. Olivia, a preschooler pig, lives with her mother, father, and younger brother, Ian (who is always copying her). Olivia is good at lots of things--dressing up, singing songs, building sand castles, dancing, and painting on walls. And she is very good at wearing people out. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. Caldecott Honor. 2000. BR 13074. ## Fables from Aesop. BR 13077. retold by Tom Lynch. 1 volume. A baker's dozen of traditional Aesop tales retold in modern English and ending with a short moral. Includes the familiar favorite "The Tortoise and the Hare," which closes with the admonition "So remember! Slow and steady wins the race." PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2000. BR 13077. ## Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story. BR 13078. by Angela Shelf Medearis. 1 volume. Tale about seven argumentative Ashanti brothers, who are given the seemingly impossible task of turning spools of silk thread into gold. They join together to solve the problem, thus exhibiting the spirit of Kwanzaa. Includes information on this cultural holiday and instructions for weaving a Kente belt. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2000. BR 13078. ## Max. BR 13079. by Bob Graham. 1 volume. Born into a family of superheroes, Max is a late bloomer when it comes to flying. But when a baby bird falls from a nest, Max flies to its rescue without even thinking about it. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2000. BR 13079. ## The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale. BR 13080. retold by Mary Casanova. 1 volume. Long ago, in a tiny Chinese village, there lived a good hunter named Hai Li Bu who cared more about the well-being of his fellow villagers than about wealth or even his own life. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2000. BR 13080. ## A Screaming Kind of Day. BR 13083. by Rachna Gilmore. 1 volume. Scully only listens to her teasing brother and scolding mother when she wants to; then Scully turns on her hearing aids. One rainy day she longs to play outside. When her mother sends her to her room, Scully sneaks out the back door. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1999. BR 13083. ## Petunia. BR 13087. by Roger Duvoisin. 1 volume. Petunia, the silly goose, carries a book under her wing, believing that having the book will make her wise. After upsetting the other barnyard animals with her misinformation, Petunia realizes she must learn to read. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1950. BR 13087. ## Stuart Little. BR 13246. by E.B. White. 1 volume (Reissue). Mr. and Mrs. Little's second son is a mouse. Stuart is happy with his human family, but his size of just over two inches and the family cat are causes of some misadventures. Then Stuart falls for a little bird named Margalo. For grades 4- 7. 1970 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. 1945. BR 13246. ## The Night Flyers. BR 13261. by Elizabeth McDavid Jones. 1 volume. North Carolina, 1918. While her father is away fighting in World War I, twelve-year-old Pam tends his homing pigeons. When a stranger with a foreign accent offers to buy all of her birds, she suspects him of being a German spy. For grades 3-6. Edgar Allan Poe Award. 1999. BR 13261. ## Horrible Harry at Halloween. BR 13295. by Suzy Kline. 1 volume. Miss Mackle's third-grade class is excited about Halloween and what costumes they will wear. They remember all of Harry's scary costumes since kindergarten and wonder what he will be this year. But Harry keeps his secret and surprises everyone. For grades 2-4. 2000. BR 13295. ## I Took My Frog to the Library. BR 13328. by Eric A. Kimmel. 1 volume. Bridgett brings her pets to the library--with humorously disastrous results. Her frog frightens the librarian, the pelican hides the dictionary, and the hyena laughs too much. When her enormous elephant wrecks the place, however, Bridgett is told she must leave her animals at home. For preschool-grade 2. 1990. BR 13328. ## ### Braille Magazines The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that send you braille materials. Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Conundrum (British monthly) Cooking Light (10 issues) ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly) Harper's (literary; monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues) Muse (for children; 10 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC World (personal computing; monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (monthly) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 26 issues) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens; monthly) Short Stories (monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Stone Soup (children's writings; 6 issues) Update (NLS quarterly) The Washington Post Book World (weekly) The following sports schedules are also available: American Baseball League Schedule National Baseball League Schedule National Basketball Association Schedule National Football League Schedule National Hockey League Schedule Women's National Basketball Association Schedule