Braille Book Review, Vol. 69, No. 1, January-February 2000 Braille Book Review January-February 2000 Volume 69, 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 2000 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 Braille Book Review January-February 2000 In Brief National Advisory Group seeks your advice The members of the National Advisory Group on Collection Building Activities wish to thank their fellow patrons and librarians for their input concerning the NLS program. Please be assured that your ideas and suggestions were important and were thoroughly discussed in the committee's deliberations. The group will meet again at NLS on May 24-26, 2000. 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 NLS National Advisory Group represents you! Representatives from consumer organizations American Council of the Blind Mr. John Taylor 2012 40th Place Des Moines, IA 50310 Blinded Veterans Association Ms. Corrine A. Blank 307 Yoakum Parkway Alexandria, VA 22304 National Federation of the Blind Mrs. Barbara Walker 2224 South 35th Street Lincoln, NE 68506 Reader-at-large representatives Midlands Region--includes the following: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin Prof. Gary Adelman 910 W. White Street Champaign, IL 61821 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 Mr. Michael Rickman 15 Yandow Drive South Burlington, VT 05403 Southern Region--includes the following: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Virgin Islands Mr. Michael Duke 4911 Old Canton Road, Apt. 239 Jackson, MS 39211 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. Michael Jones 180 Sheridan Boulevard Denver, CO 80226-8067 *** Braille catalogs produced for children and adults Two new braille catalogs, For Younger Readers 1996-1997 and Braille Books 1997-1998, have been sent to readers who ordered them. For copies of these catalogs, contact your network library. The three-volume For Younger Readers 1996-1997 contains children's books produced in braille during the two-year period. Titles are listed by subject category in nonfiction and fiction sections. The catalog also contains lists of PRINT/BRAILLE books, books for Very Young Readers (preschool to grade 2), and selected young adult books suitable for older children. The six-volume braille edition of Braille Books 1997- 1998 contains titles produced in braille for adults and young adults arranged by subject category under nonfiction and fiction headings. There is also an index to bestsellers and a separate list of young adult titles. Both catalogs are also available through the NLS home page, www.loc.gov/nls. The on-line edition of the children's catalog also contains juvenile titles recorded on cassette during 1996 and 1997. Magazines in Special Media 1998 now available in braille A braille edition of the NLS directory to special-format magazines is now available from network libraries and has been sent to readers who ordered it. This publication lists all NLS-produced magazines and other magazines available for purchase, loan, or free subscription from other agencies in a variety of special formats: braille, cassette, computer diskette, disc, electronic access, large print, and Moon type. Magazines are listed alphabetically and also in separate lists by media. The directory is also available on the NLS web site, www.loc.gov/nls. Medicare information available The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has produced a two-volume braille edition of The Medicare and You 2000 Handbook, which is now available through network libraries. Patrons may also request single copies from the Medicare Hotline at 1-800-633-4227. The publication describes types of privately sold health insurance policies that supplement the Medicare plan and includes a complete phone listing of federal and state offices that assist consumers with matters related to health insurance. Newsstand The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. Items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. Two new books ready at National Braille Press National Braille Press (NBP) has just produced two books about the Internet. Captured by the Net covers how to use the Internet with speech or braille access. Learn how to comparison shop for service providers, which hardware and software products work best for blind users, which search tools are speech- and braille-friendly, plus much more useful resource information for blind individuals. The book is available in braille or PortaBook (braille files on disk) for $19.99. Shop Online the Lazy Way describes how to buy everything from boots to poetry, houses to tents, via the Internet. This book was not written specifically for blind users but contains much useful information on shopping without wasting time. It also contains useful web sites. Available in braille and PortaBook (TM) for $13.95. Contact National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115; telephone 800-548-7323. Or visit their web site at www.nbp.org New publication on adaptive technology AFB Press is offering subscribers a new resource for obtaining information about adaptive technology and visual impairment. AccessWorld: Technology for Consumers with Visual Impairments is produced six times a year in print, braille, and audiocassette formats. Each issue describes new products, techniques, books, videos, and tips on using adaptive technology. Subscriptions are available from AFB Press; 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300; New York, NY 10001. (212) 502-7651 (tel); (212) 502-7774 (fax); e-mail: cboston@afb.net; web site: http://www.afb.org Subscription: $29.95 per year The following information is reprinted from Talking Book Topics, January-February 2000. For younger readers For Younger Readers 1996-1997, cassette edition, has been sent to patrons who ordered it on the most recent patron survey and is available through your local library. The three-cassette catalog contains books that have been recorded on audiocassette. It includes nonfiction and fiction titles written for children and young adults--from preschool through junior high readers. Medicare publications in special formats The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the federal agency that administers the Medicare program, has produced two Medicare-related publications in special formats. The 1999 Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare has been recorded on cassette in English and Spanish. The booklet describes ten types of privately sold health insurance, often referred to as Medigap policies, which supplement Medicare. Both English and Spanish editions of the Guide are also available online at the web site: www.medicare.gov. The two-cassette English and three-cassette Spanish versions refer listeners to an (800) toll-free number for additional health insurance information. NLS patrons may order the audiocassette version of the Guide from their network libraries. The free booklet is also available directly from HCFA at 1-800-633- 4227. These publications are also available online in large print at the web site: www.medicare.gov. ### 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_ Run to the Mountain: The Story of a Vocation; the Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 1, 1939-1941. BR 11527. by Thomas Merton. 5 volumes. 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. BR 11527. ## ### 09 The Only Math Book You'll Ever Need. BR 11659. by Stanley Kogelman and Barbara R. Heller. 3 volumes. A practical guide for "adults who want to deal effectively with the math in their lives." Explains mathematics for financial planning and income tax purposes, making consumer decisions, household budgeting, home projects, cooking, recreation, and more. 1994. BR 11659. ## Ideas in Chemistry: A History of the Science. BR 11715. by David Knight. 3 volumes. Knight argues that even though the field of chemistry "is certainly not dead, nor is it asleep," he sees it "as having a glorious future behind it." Through a series of essays, he tracks the intellectual and institutional history in which chemistry is seen as an occult science, a mechanical science, a deductive science, and, finally, a "service science." 1992. BR 11715. ## The Internet for Dummies. BR 11774. by John R. Levine and others. 4 volumes. Describes what the Internet is and how to use it. Advises on choosing a service, children's use, and shopping online. Explains aspects such as e-mail, web pages, and netiquette; defines terminology; and answers frequently asked questions. 1998. BR 11774. ## 101 Things You Don't Know about Science and No One Else Does Either. BR 11846. by James Trefil. 3 volumes. The author, an educator and National Public Radio commentator, presents short essays on scientific topics. He considers questions being researched in the 1990s such as: Is the climate getting warmer? Can humans live forever? What causes cancer? He then summarizes the progress that has been made. For senior high and older readers. 1996. BR 11846. ## The Learning Highway: Smart Students and the Net. BR 11848. by Trevor Owen and Ron Owston. 3 volumes. Emphasizes how high school and undergraduate students can use the Internet for learning. Covers how to express search needs online, the multiple functions of web-based browsers, research strategies on the web, and practical examples of Internet projects. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1998. BR 11848. ## Sybil. BR 11940. by Flora Rheta Schreiber. 4 volumes. In an account of the first psychoanalysis of a person with multiple personality disorder, the author relates the eleven-year treatment of Sybil Dorsett (a pseudonym), who unknowingly assumes sixteen different personalities. During her treatment, assisted with drugs and hypnosis, Sybil's illness is traced to a battered childhood tied to a schizophrenic mother and a derelict father. Violence. 1973. BR 11940. ## Report from Part One. BR 11948. by Gwendolyn Brooks. 2 volumes. Autobiographical writings and interviews with the poet laureate born in 1917. Contains a brief account of her childhood, marriage, family, and career. Describes her increasing awareness of her racial heritage and her role as an African American poet. Includes an appendix of personal entries entitled "Collage." 1972. BR 11948. ## Learning to Love: Exploring Solitude and Freedom; the Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 6, 1966-1967. BR 11975. by Thomas Merton. 4 volumes. During 1966 and 1967, Merton moves from a period of monastic routine into an intense love affair with a student nurse, then back to the quiet life of contemplation. He discusses his emergence from the experience with a deeper understanding of love and a renewed commitment to his religious vocation. 1997. BR 11975. ## The Other Side of the Mountain: The End of the Journey; the Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 7, 1967-1968. BR 11978. by Thomas Merton. 4 volumes. Chronicles the last two years of Merton's life, during the political and social upheaval of the Vietnam War era. He travels widely, visiting American seminaries and venturing to India, Ceylon, and Thailand--where a tragic accident ends his life in 1968. 1998. BR 11978. ## Risking. BR 11983. by David Viscott. 2 volumes. A psychiatrist underscores the need to take risks in order to grow and change in all areas of life. He demonstrates why people should make choices and decisions based on their own goals rather than the desires of others. 1977. BR 11983. ## Just People _and Other Poems for Young Readers_ and _Paper/Pen/Poem: A Young Writer's Way to Begin_. BR 11992. by Kathi Appelt. 1 volume. Collection of twenty-two poems describing personal reactions to objects and events such as birds, pebbles, a first kiss, and the death of a loved one. The second section provides background information on each poem with an invitation to the reader to write about suggested topics. For junior and senior high readers. 1997. BR 11992. ## Black Zodiac. BR 11995. by Charles Wright. 1 volume. An anthology of twenty poems examining man's place in the universe. In the title piece, Wright interweaves memories with descriptions of the physical world searching for meaning. 1998 Winner of the National Book Critics Circle and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. 1997. BR 11995. ## Wounds of Passion: A Writing Life. BR 11998. by bell hooks. 2 volumes. In this sequel to _Bone Black:_ _Memories of Girlhood (BR 10958)_, noted African American feminist bell hooks recalls her early life, struggling to write and to earn a doctorate. She recalls her long and intense relationship with a fellow author and her decision finally to leave him. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1997. BR 11998. ## The Other America: Poverty in the United States. BR 11999. by Michael Harrington. 2 volumes. Originally written in 1962, the book depicts the poverty that existed in the United States at that time. The author surveys social classes and focuses on unskilled workers, the aged, and racial minorities from coast to coast. In an afterword to the 1981 edition, he analyzes subsequent events. Introduction written in 1993 by Irving Howe. 1981. BR 11999. ## The Ride down Mt. Morgan. BR 12063. by Arthur Miller. 1 volume. A two-act play wherein a middle-aged man confronts the decisions he has made and their effect on others. Hospitalized after a car accident, Lyman Felt admits being a bigamist and realizes the hurt and humiliation he has caused both of the women and his children. Some strong language. 1991. BR 12063. ## Women in Praise of the Sacred: Forty-Three Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women. BR 12066. edited by Jane Hirshfield. 2 volumes. Anthology of poetry, song, and prayer--a record of intimacy with the sacred--by women of various cultures and traditions. Arranged in chronological order by writer; biographical sketches precede the selections. 1994. BR 12066. ## Slow Motion: A True Story. BR 12069. by Dani Shapiro. 2 volumes. The author describes dropping out of college to become the mistress of her roommate's wealthy stepfather and turning her life around a few years later after her parents are in a serious accident. Shapiro stops drinking, leaves her lover, and returns to school at Sarah Lawrence to become a writer. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998. BR 12069. ## The Communist Manifesto. BR 12070. by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. 1 volume. Political and economic theory of social organization, first published as the platform of the Communist League. Anticapitalist work based on collective government ownership and democratic management of production and distribution of goods. 1848. BR 12070. ## The Three Sisters. BR 12074. by Anton Chekhov. 1 volume. Olga is an old-maid schoolteacher, Masha is unhappily married, and Irina works in a telegraph office. The sisters are overcome with boredom following the death of their father, commander of a Russian brigade. When their brother marries a country girl who tries to control everyone, the three find a new purpose in life. 1901. BR 12074. ## Maya Angelou: Journey of the Heart. BR 12078. by Jayne Pettit. 1 volume. Presents the life of Maya Angelou from her childhood through her years as a poet, author, civil rights activist, entertainer, and professor. Describes how her creativity and hard work have promoted the success of African Americans through poetry, writing, and teaching. For junior and senior high readers. 1996. BR 12078. ## Wooroloo. BR 12103. by Frieda Hughes. 1 volume. The daughter of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath expresses herself in forty-six poems. Describes Australian landscapes, animals dead and alive, feelings about incidents in her personal life, and women's issues. 1998. BR 12103. ## Slackjaw. BR 12115. by Jim Knipfel. 2 volumes. At age twelve, Knipfel's uncle told him he "better start learning braille," but it was years before he knew he had retinitis pigmentosa. Then a brain lesion began causing erratic behavior. With humor and honesty, Knipfel recalls his reluctance to accept his condition and how he has coped. Strong language. 1999. BR 12115. ## The Presence of Absence: On Prayers and an Epiphany. BR 12126. by Doris Grumbach. 1 volume. Describes the author's long and ongoing spiritual journey "to recover a sense of the presence of God." Reflects on religious problems and on readings of Dag Hammarskj”ld, Kathleen Norris, and Thomas Kelley, among others. Discusses the qualities of prayer. 1998. BR 12126. ## The Way Winter Comes: Alaska Stories. BR 12162. by Sherry Simpson. 1 volume. A journalist examines Alaskan wildlife and wilderness in eight essays. In the title piece, she visits an archaeological site in Barrow in mid-September on the cold, first day of winter. Through descriptions and reflections, she seeks to understand Alaska as a geographic and metaphysical location. 1998. BR 12162. ## Legends. BR 12180. retold by Tana Reiff. 1 volume. Nine famous legends from around the world retold in simple language. Begins with a West African tale about Anansi, the spider. Includes stories from Mexico, England, Canada, Persia, Switzerland, and Ireland. Grade 1 braille. 1991. BR 12180. ## ### _Fiction_ Unicorn's Blood. BR 11881. by Patricia Finney. 4 volumes. As a young princess, Elizabeth I wrote of her affair with Thomas Seymour and of Mary Queen of Scots as the royal heir in a diary. Now queen, Elizabeth must find the stolen journal--identified by an embroidered unicorn with a ruby eye--before her opponents do. Companion to _Firedrake's Eye (BR 11880)_. Some strong language. 1998. BR 11881. ## The Daddy Clock. BR 11894. by Judy Markey. 2 volumes. At forty-four, divorced Chicago sportswriter Charlie Feldman wants to be a parent. He confides this to coworker Lacy Gazzar, who at thirty-five is about to put both her daughter and herself through college. She decides to help Charlie find the mother-to-be of his child, as long as it isn't Lacy. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998. BR 11894. ## _The_ _Queen of Spades_: _The Negro of Peter the Great_; _Dubrovsky_; _The Captain's_ _Daughter_. BR 11914. by Alexander Pushkin. 3 volumes. Four stories by the nineteenth-century Russian writer. _The Queen of Spades_, written in 1833, tells of a young officer's obsession with winning at cards. His subterfuge, intended to learn an elderly countess's secret for success, has dire consequences for both of them. 1962. BR 11914. ## Brave New World. BR 11922. by Aldous Huxley. 2 volumes. A satire set in a future technocratic society in which people are rigidly classified by the state and kept happy by a government-administered drug. When two bureaucrats, Lenina and Bernard, travel to a "savage" reservation, they "rescue" a woman and her adult son, abandoned long ago, and return them to civilization. For senior high and older readers. 1946. BR 11922. ## Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy. BR 11950. edited by Robert Silverberg. 6 volumes. Each author of these eleven tales has set a story in his or her well-established universe. Some episodes take place at earlier times in the history of their worlds, and some simply enhance sideline events. Includes work of Stephen King, Orson Scott Card, Ursula K. Le Guin, Terry Goodkind, Anne McCaffrey, and Robert Jordan. Some strong language. 1998. BR 11950. ## The Learning Tree. BR 11994. by Gordon Parks. 3 volumes. The story of a black family living in a small Kansas town during the 1920s, when African Americans were relegated to second-class citizenship and terrorized by racial violence. Adolescent Newt experiences his first romance, tangles with the town tough, and wrestles with his awe of death. Strong language and violence. For high school and older readers. 1963. BR 11994. ## The Giant, O'Brien. BR 11996. by Hilary Mantel. 2 volumes. London, 1782. A Scottish doctor, John Hunter, wants to acquire the body of the giant Irishman, Charlie O'Brien, for research purposes. But O'Brien is still alive, earning money as a spectacle, and he does not want to pre-sell his corpse for experimentation. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1998. BR 11996. ## Running Wild. BR 11997. by Thomas J. Dygard. 1 volume. Pete Holman, always in trouble, is released from police custody to Coach Wilson on the condition that Pete join the football team. Pete reluctantly agrees, knowing his incorrigible friends will mock him. But, learning he is a natural receiver, he discovers purpose and friendship in being part of the team. For junior and senior high readers. 1996. BR 11997. ## Hunger: A Novella and Stories. BR 12051. by Lan Samantha Chang. 2 volumes. 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. BR 12051. ## The Dean's List. BR 12055. by Jon Hassler. 4 volumes. In this sequel to _Rookery Blues (BR 11344)_, Leland Edwards, decades later, is the dean at Rookery State College, divorced, and living with his demanding mother. In between fund raising and staving off sexual harassment charges, he falls in love. 1997. BR 12055. ## Sweet Baby. BR 12056. by Sharon Sala. 2 volumes. At age six, Victoria Lancaster finds her house empty and no one at home, destroying her sense of security. Now a successful photojournalist, Tory finally feels safe with her live-in boyfriend. But while developing pictures for a story, the face of a man begins to haunt her. Some descriptions of sex. 1998. BR 12056. ## Cat Raise the Dead. BR 12058. by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. 2 volumes. Joe Grey, a house cat, and Dulcie, the library cat of Molena Point, California, investigate the disappearance of some senior citizens while the two felines are participating in a nursing-home pet program. Joe is also stalking a "cat burglar," but he is insulted by the absurd title attached to such a thief. Some violence. 1997. BR 12058. ## The Stargazey: A Richard Jury Mystery. BR 12059. by Martha Grimes. 3 volumes. 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. BR 12059. ## The Healing. BR 12064. by Gayl Jones. 3 volumes. Harlan Jane Eagleton follows her thoughts from her present itinerant faith-healing practice to her former job as manager for a female rock singer. A series of flashbacks include a trip to East Africa with her medical anthropologist husband who was studying a Masai medicine woman. Some strong language. 1998. BR 12064. ## A Different Life. BR 12065. by Lois Keith. 3 volumes. Libby Starling is a typical fifteen-year-old--worried about friends, exams, and boys--until she becomes seriously ill. With a supportive family, Libby eventually accepts her inability to walk. She becomes involved in her rehabilitation, socializes with friends, and goes on her first date. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1997. BR 12065. ## Soldier's Heart: A Novel of the Civil War. BR 12076. by Gary Paulsen. 1 volume. When the war starts, fifteen-year-old Charley Goddard is eager to join up with the Minnesota Volunteers. The physical and mental agonies of combat change his attitude. Some violence. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998. BR 12076. ## The Life of Insects. BR 12084. by Victor Pelevin. 2 volumes. A Russian novel set in a seaside resort where the characters change from human to insect form. In one episode two Russians, Arnold and Arthur, meet a visiting American businessman, Sam Sacker. They fly off as mosquitoes, and Sam insists on imbibing the blood of a man who is drunk on cologne, with unfortunate consequences for Sam. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1996. BR 12084. ## The Dealings of Daniel Kesserich: A Study of the Mass- Insanity at Smithville. BR 12085. by Fritz Leiber. 1 volume. In this posthumously published story, originally sketched in 1936, a scientist is obsessed with the notion of time travel. He conducts an experiment going back to the moment of a woman's death, hoping to change the outcome. When the townspeople discover her empty grave, they become incensed. 1997. BR 12085. ## The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. BR 12099. by Francisco Jimenez. 1 volume. Twelve interconnected short stories about the hardships of an illegal migrant family told by the son, Panchito. "Under the Wire" recounts how the family leaves Mexico and crawls under barbed wire into California. Picking crops to earn money is the top priority, with schooling squeezed in when possible, as related in "The Circuit." Grade 1 braille. 1997. BR 12099. ## Prejudice: Stories about Hate, Ignorance, Revelation, and Transformation. BR 12101. edited by Daphne Muse. 2 volumes. Short stories and excerpts from novels dealing with prejudice of many types. In "Only Approved Indians Can Play," a basketball team forfeits a game because of some players' ethnic identity. In "White Trash," a poor girl with an accent is ostracized. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 1995. BR 12101. ## The Long Valley. BR 12102. by John Steinbeck. 2 volumes. Collection of classic stories set in California and first published in 1938, reflecting Steinbeck's interests in the tensions between workers and owners, past and present, and city and country. Included in this volume are Steinbeck's "Red Pony" stories, "The Gift," "The Great Mountains," "The Promise," and "The Leader of the People." 1938. BR 12102. ## The Foundation Pit. BR 12104. by Andrey Platonov. 2 volumes. In this nihilistic fable written around 1929 and unpublished during Platonov's lifetime, Soviet laborers are digging a vast foundation pit for a building that is never constructed. The Soviet plight is further depicted by the difficulties encountered on a collective farm when several of the workers are ordered to supervise the others. 1996. BR 12104. ## The Cat Who Saw Stars. BR 12111. by Lilian Jackson Braun. 2 volumes. Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum always retreat to his lake cottage in July. Just before they go this year, Qwilleran learns that a young hiker has disappeared in that area. Then, shortly after their arrival, Koko makes a discovery on the beach that keeps Qwilleran busy. Bestseller 1998. BR 12111. ## The Lneburg Variation. BR 12112. by Paolo Maurensig. 1 volume. Dieter Frisch is found dead in his garden on a giant chessboard, apparently a suicide. But to those who can read the clues, Frisch's obsession with chess and his hidden Nazi past suggest the possibility of a belated execution. 1993. BR 12112. ## The Farm She Was. BR 12118. by Ann Mohin. 2 volumes. Despite the urging of her social worker and minister, ninety-year-old Irene Leahy steadfastly refuses to leave her farm and go into a nursing home. Between their visits she reminisces about her long seasons on the land, first as a child and later when she took over after her father died. 1998. BR 12118. ## Betty Zane. BR 12123. by Zane Grey. 3 volumes. 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. BR 12123. ## The Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio Valley. BR 12124. by Zane Grey. 2 volumes. 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. BR 12124. ## And Both Shall Row: A Novella and Stories. BR 12154. by Beth Lordan. 2 volumes. Stories about small-town life in the midwest. In the title novella, two sisters grow old together. When one has a stroke, the other reminisces about the experiences they have shared--they have even been married to the same man. In "Running Out__," an unemployed carpenter enjoys the "perfect" day. 1998. BR 12154. ## Hope Mountain. BR 12156. by Jon Land. 1 volume. 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. BR 12156. ## The Young Lion Hunter. BR 12159. by Zane Grey. 2 volumes. Rangers Dick Leslie and Jim Williams and game warden Hiram Bent--with his trained lion-hound, Prince--are mounting an expedition to rid Utah's Coconina Forest Preserve of cougars. Easterners Ken Ward and his fourteen-year-old brother, Hal, spend their vacation with the rangers lassoing mountain lions. 1911. BR 12159. ## Chinook: A North-Western Story. BR 12160. by Max Brand. 2 volumes. 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. BR 12160. ## Heaven in High Gear. BR 12177. by Joan Brady. 1 volume. Stripper Heather Hurley meets God (in the form of Joe) at a bar during one of her panic attacks. As she and Joe become friends, he introduces her to seven principles that promise spiritual health. Realizing she is unhappy, Heather tries to change her life. Sequel to _God on a Harley (BR 11380)_. 1997. BR 12177. ## The Testament. BR 12186. by John Grisham. 3 volumes. Billionaire Troy Phelan surprises his legal heirs by leaving his entire estate to an illegitimate daughter, Rachel Lane. Because she is a missionary living somewhere on the Brazil- Bolivia border, lawyer Nate O'Riley's immediate problem is to find her and inform her of the inheritance. Some strong language. Bestseller 1999. BR 12186. ## The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. BR 12212. by Stephen King. 2 volumes. While her brother and mother argue up ahead on the Maine hiking trail, nine-year-old Trisha stops to relieve herself and becomes lost for days in the wilderness. Her imaginary conversations with Red Sox relief pitcher Tom Gordon help her cope with the evil thing that's following her. Some strong language. Bestseller 1999. BR 12212. ## East of the Mountains. BR 12237. by David Guterson. 2 volumes. Retired heart surgeon and widower Ben Givens has colon cancer and plans to commit suicide while on a hunting trip in eastern Washington state. He sets out with his dogs, but a series of chance encounters draws him into other people's problems and eventually to a decision that leads him home. Bestseller 1999. BR 12237. ## Seeds{END FIELD} BR. 12259 by. Paul Fleischman . read by 1 volume. Transforming a trash-filled vacant lot into a community garden began with one Vietnamese girl planting lima beans. People of different nationalities tell how they became involved in the effort and how friendships developed among the gardeners. Grade 1 braille. 1997.. Grade 1 braille story about creating a community garden. 12259 by. ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Nonfiction_ Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought). BR 11927. by Kathleen Krull. 1 volume. Unusual biographical facts about the personal lives of the presidents of the United States. Discusses the presidents as fathers, husbands, pet owners, and neighbors. Provides information on hairstyles, favorite foods, and sports and also some bad habits and fears. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 11927. ## The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space. BR 11932. by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy. 1 volume. The astronaut Sally Ride describes Earth, the third planet from the sun, as viewed from a space shuttle and satellites. Explains how ordinary cameras and instruments that measure light gather information from space to help scientists understand the planet's atmosphere, oceans, land mass, and life-forms and their interactions. For grades 4-7. 1994. BR 11932. ## Ultimate Soccer. BR 11962. by Ivor Baddiel. 2 volumes. Presents a brief background of the game of soccer, followed by information on rules, techniques, formations, and championships. Lists top goalscorers and summarizes achievements of outstanding national teams. Profiles twelve of the greatest players. Traces the history of the FIFA World Cup. Includes a "Test Your Knowledge" quiz. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1998. BR 11962. ## Stonewall. BR 12000. by Jean Fritz. 1 volume. Biography of the Confederate general Thomas Jackson, who was affectionately nicknamed "Stonewall." Orphaned at age seven, he did not have much formal schooling. Yet he graduated from West Point at age twenty-two. Tells how his determination and self-discipline helped him fulfill his ambitions. For grades 4-7. 1979. BR 12000. ## Pegasus. BR 12024. retold by Marianna Mayer. 1 volume. When heroic Bellerophon is sent on a mission to kill the monster Chimera, he realizes he is being sent to his doom. A wise man advises him to seek the help of the magical winged horse, Pegasus. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 12024. ## Measuring Penny. BR 12026. by Loreen Leedy. 1 volume. When Lisa has a homework assignment to measure something, she chooses her dog, Penny, and she tries to measure all the other types of dogs in the park, too. After returning home, Lisa calculates how much food and water Penny consumes, and she figures out the cost of having a pet--in time and money but not in love, which can't be measured. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. 1997. BR 12026. ## Ouch! A Tale from Grimm. BR 12027. retold by Natalie Babbitt. 1 volume. When a baby boy, Marco, is born to an ordinary family, a fortune-teller predicts he will marry a princess. But the king puts many obstacles in his way, including an errand to the devil. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1998. BR 12027. ## The Night before Christmas. BR 12029. by Clement Moore. 1 volume. Original version of the well-known Christmas poem about a visit from St. Nicholas. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1998. BR 12029. ## Ray Charles: Soul Man. BR 12071. by Ruth Turk. 1 volume. Biography of the black musician who was blinded by glaucoma as a child. Charles left school at an early age to pursue his musical career. He traveled from his home in Florida to form different bands and became a popular performer of international renown. Covers periods of Charles's life from childhood to age sixty-three. For grades 4-7. 1996. BR 12071. ## Science in Ancient Rome. BR 12081. by Jacqueline L. Harris. 1 volume. Discusses how Romans improved their own lives by applying scientific knowledge originally acquired by the Egyptians and Greeks. Describes building achievements based on the arch, as well as metalworking, medical advances, and measuring time. For grades 5-8. 1998. BR 12081. ## The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions: More than Sixty-five Wacky, Wild, and Crazy Concoctions. BR 12094. by John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel. 1 volume. Instructions for creating high-quality crafts, toys, and modeling materials using common household ingredients. All- time favorites such as gooey gunk, funny putty, and instant volcano are included, as well as directions for making fruity lip gloss, sandcastle clay, and kookie creepies. Adult supervision is recommended. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 12094. ## Keeping Water Clean. BR 12098. by Ewan McLeish. 1 volume. Explains worldwide water problems, including pollution and shortages, and suggests ways to prevent future crises. Gives advice on how individuals can practice conservation at home and in school. Includes a glossary and resources for further information. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 12098. ## The Great Apes. BR 12122. by Geoffrey C. Saign. 1 volume. Saign describes the four species of apes--gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and their smaller cousins, bonobos- -that are the closest living relatives of humans. Discusses physical, emotional, intellectual, and social characteristics, and provides information on efforts to save these primates from extinction. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 12122. ## The Solar System. BR 12135. by Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Describes the formation of the solar system and each of the planets. Includes a glossary, index, and further sources. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12135. ## Stars. BR 12136. by Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Explains the birth, life, and death of stars. Includes a short history of stargazing. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12136. ## Constellations. BR 12137. by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Discusses the origin, purpose, and observation of constellations and describes their importance to ancient civilizations. Contains a glossary and additional resources including web sites. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12137. ## Galaxies. BR 12138. by Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Introduces the concept of a galaxy and describes different types: elliptical, spiral, and irregularly shaped galaxies. Discusses the importance of galaxies in understanding the universe. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12138. ## Earth. BR 12139. by Larry Dane Brimner. 1 volume. Basic facts about the planet. Contrasts ancient people's ideas about Earth with what modern scientists think. Describes the Earth's physical characteristics, its place in the solar system, and its satellite, the Moon. For grades 3- 6. 1998. BR 12139. ## Venus. BR 12141. by Larry Dane Brimner. 1 volume. Describes the planet Venus, including ancient beliefs surrounding it as well as information gathered from several space probes. Contains glossary and sources for additional information. 1998. BR 12141. ## Project Apollo. BR 12142. by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Describes the eighteen missions of Project Apollo, including the tragedy that took the lives of three astronauts as well as the successes of landing on the Moon and linking up with Soviet cosmonauts in space. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12142. ## Project Gemini. BR 12143. by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Describes the twelve missions of Project Gemini resulting in the first manned space flight and the first walk in space. Explains the differences between Project Mercury and Project Gemini, discusses problems in orbit, and provides a list of the astronauts. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12143. ## Project Mercury. BR 12144. by Diane M. and Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. A brief history of space travel, including the six missions of Project Mercury that led to the walk on the Moon. Lists the astronauts who participated and the problems they encountered. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12144. ## Black Holes. BR 12145. by Paul P. Sipiera. 1 volume. Defines and explains black holes as well as mass, gravity, and velocity. Introduces the theories of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. For grades 3-6. 1997. BR 12145. ## Mars. BR 12153. by Larry Dane Brimner. 1 volume. Presents ancient beliefs and basic facts about the Red Planet. Discusses the information sent by space probes passing Mars and from the 1997 landing of _Pathfinder_ on the planet's surface. Concludes with plans for further exploration. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 12153. ## ### _Fiction_ It's My Life. BR 11923. by Michael Harrison. 1 volume. Martin's mother had ordered him straight home from school. When she calls to check on him, Martin reaches for the phone only to have someone grab him from behind. So begins Martin's kidnapping, which becomes more and more bizarre as he realizes just who his enemies really are. For grades 6-9. 1997. BR 11923. ## Frozen Stiff. BR 11924. by Sherry Shahan. 1 volume. For the three summers since her parents' divorce, Cody and her mother have stayed in a small Alaskan village. This year, Cody sneaks away for an overnight kayaking trip with her visiting cousin Derek. An advancing glacier turns the adventure into a terrifying experience. For grades 4-7. 1998. BR 11924. ## The Butterfly Lion. BR 11928. by Michael Morpurgo. 1 volume. 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. BR 11928. ## Faraway Summer. BR 11930. by Johanna Hurwitz. 1 volume. In 1910, orphaned Dossi, twelve, lives with her seamstress sister, Ruthi, in a New York tenement. Ruthi signs Dossi up for a Fresh Air Fund vacation on a Vermont farm. Dossi knows the family members are puzzled by her Jewish customs, but she can't understand why the daughter is so unfriendly to her. For grades 5-8. 1998. BR 11930. ## Hush! A Thai Lullaby. BR 12025. by Minfong Ho. 1 volume. A mother in the countryside of Thailand lays her baby in a hammock. She hushes all of the animals so her baby can rest. At the end, everyone is asleep except the baby. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 1996. BR 12025. ## Josefina Saves the Day: A Summer Story. BR 12053. by Valerie Tripp. 1 volume. Josefina and her family, in Santa Fe, await the arrival of wagon trains to trade blankets and mules for goods they need. Patrick O'Toole, a wagon scout, promises to handle the family's transactions, but he suddenly disappears. Sequel to _Happy Birthday, Josefina (BR 12052)_. For grades 2-4. 1998. BR 12053. ## Changes for Josefina: A Winter Story. BR 12054. by Valerie Tripp. 1 volume. Following the family's fiesta on the Feast of the Three Kings, TĦa Dolores announces she must return home. But knowing TĦa and her pap  love each other, Josefina begins making plans. Sequel to _Josefina Saves the Day (BR 12053)_. For grades 2-4. 1998. BR 12054. ## Come Back, Amelia Bedelia. BR 12067. by Peggy Parish. 1 volume. Amelia Bedelia cannot keep a job because she does exactly as she is instructed. For example, as an office clerk Amelia jumps up and down on letters that she is asked to stamp. For K-3. 1971. BR 12067. ## Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals; Beastly Fables. BR 12072. by Jon Scieszka. 1 volume. Eighteen modern fables with fresh morals about bossy, sneaky, funny, annoying, "dim-bulb" people--all disguised as animals to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. Topics include homework, using the telephone on the right occasion, friendship, and dinner-table talk. For grades 3-6. 1998. BR 12072. ## Clockwork; or, All Wound Up. BR 12077. by Philip Pullman. 1 volume. Long ago in a German tavern, Fritz begins telling a story about a clockmaker. This master craftsman makes mechanical figures so lifelike, they appear to breathe. Then Fritz's story comes to life as the clockmaker enters the tavern. And Karl, an apprentice clockmaker, is desperate enough to accept this stranger's dangerous mechanical gift. For grades 5-8. 1996. BR 12077. ## Brian's Winter. BR 12117. by Gary Paulsen. 1 volume. Thirteen-year-old Brian was rescued from the Canadian wilderness at the end of summer in _The Hatchet (RC 30535)_. But what if, instead, he had faced the harsh winter in the woods? This survival story pits the stranded young outdoorsman against the cold, loneliness, and worst of nature. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1996. BR 12117. ## Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever. BR 12128. by Katherine Paterson. 1 volume. Christmas is coming, and Marvin wants to make a nicer present than the one he made for his parents last year. Finally he decides to make a big wreath to hang on the end of their house trailer. But when Christmas is past, he doesn't want the wreath taken down. For grades K-3. 1997. BR 12128. ## Seeing Lessons: The Story of Abigail Carter and America's First School for Blind People. BR 12163. by Spring Hermann. 1 volume. 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. BR 12163. ## ### 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 (monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (quarterly) Braille Music Magazine (monthly) Conundrum (British monthly) Cooking Light (bimonthly [3] and monthly [6]) Harper's (monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (10 issues) Muse (6 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC World (monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (monthly) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (26 issues) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (monthly) Short Stories (monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Stone Soup (5 issues) Update (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