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Reviewer's Choice
Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time
Mark Salisbury
Disney Editions
c/o Disney Hyperion
125 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10023
www.disneyhyperionbooks.com
9781484737699, $29.99, www.disneybooks.com
Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time is published nearly sixty years after
Carroll's classic and is based on a new silent film pilot which began a series, and captures the
creations of Walt Disney as he evolved animation projects around Alice and revived the classic
with new art and inspirational themes. From book to theme park attraction and beyond, Alice in
Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time captures the cinematic prowess of Disney and
the results of his efforts, and packs in gorgeous color photos throughout to accent not just various
Alice renditions, but the changing approaches which have helped redefine the classic story for
new visual audiences.
The Accidental Taxonomist, second edition
Heather Hedden
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573875288, $39.50, www.infotoday.com
The second updated edition of The Accidental Taxonomist provides an in-depth guide to
building information taxonomies and comes from an expert instructor who offers a step-by-step
assessment of the process. Her latest edition updates taxonomy standards, includes the latest
research and reference materials including new data, and expands various discussion points,
while new real-world examples explain the software, design process, and the creation and
management of taxonomy programs. Add specific routines from automatic indexing to creating
associative relationships and you have a reference that is a 'must' for any collection strong in
taxonomy development.
Chain of Title
David Dayen
The New Press
126 Wall Street, floor 31, New York, NY 10005-4007
www.thenewpress.com
9781620971581, $27.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
In the depths of the Great Recession, a cancer nurse, a car dealership worker, and an insurance
fraud specialist helped uncover the largest consumer crime in American history, and thereby
revealing a scandal that implicated dozens of major executives on Wall Street. They called it
foreclosure fraud: millions of families were kicked out of their homes based on false evidence by
mortgage companies that had no legal right to foreclose. Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and
Lynn Szymoniak did not work in government or law enforcement. They had no history of
anti-corporate activism. Instead they were all foreclosure victims, and while struggling with their
shame and isolation they committed a revolutionary act: closely reading their mortgage
documents, discovering the deceit behind them, and building a movement to expose it. In "Chain
of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street's Great Foreclosure Fraud"
David Dayen (a columnist for the Fiscal Times) deftly recounts how these ordinary Floridians
challenged the most powerful institutions in America armed only with the truth -- and for a brief
moment they brought the corrupt financial industry to its knees. A consistently compelling,
informed and informative read from beginning to end, "Chain of Title" is a truly exceptional
study that should be a part of very community and academic library collection in the country. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Chain of Title" is also available in a Kindle edition
($15.39).
Twister
Genanne Walsh
Black Lawrence Press
http://www.blacklawrence.com
9781625579379, $19.95, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
By turns terrifying and humorous, clear-eyed and deep- hearted, "Twister" by Genanne Walsh
brings the reader into the center of a storm as a small Midwestern town mourns the death of a
young soldier. The novel opens with Rose, the soldier's fiercely independent mother, whose
flame-red hair turns white overnight from grief. Chapter by chapter, her community is revealed
and transformed, creating a web of secrets, betrayals, and hopes that ratchet up tension as the
tornado approaches. As the storm drives into the heart of town, pasts are revealed and lives are
shaken to the core. Exceptionally well written and consistently compelling from beginning to
end, "Twister" is an unforgettable and extraordinary debut as a novelist for Genanne Walsh who
has established herself as a keen observer of people, nature, and the ineffable. Certain to be an
enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists as well as community and academic library
Literary Fiction collections, "Twister" is confidently and highly recommended.
One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography
Margaret Mackey
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
www.uap.ualberta.ca
9781772120394, $60.00, PB, 596pp, www.amazon.com
"One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography" is a significant and unique contribution to our
understanding of reading and literacy development in which Margaret Mackey (Professor, School
of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta) draws together memory, textual
criticism, social analysis, and reading theory in an extraordinary act of self-study. A unique work
of exemplary scholarship, "One Child Reading" reflects a remarkable academic undertaking.
Seeking a deeper sense of what happens when we read, Mackey revisited the texts she read,
viewed, listened to, and played as she became literate in the 1950s and 1960s in St. John's,
Newfoundland. This tremendous sweep of reading included school texts, knitting patterns, and
games, as well as hundreds of books. The result is not so much a memoir but rather a deftly
theorized exploration of how a reader is constructed. "One Child Reading: My
Auto-Bibliography " is especially commended to the attention of librarians, classroom teachers,
and anyone involved in literacy development. A consistently compelling read that is as
thoughtful as it is thought-provoking, "One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography" is an
essential and highly recommended addition to community, college, and academic library
collections.
The Labor Relations Process, 11th edition
William H. Holley, William H. Ross, Roger S. Wolters
Cengage Learning, Inc.
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
www.cengageptr.com
9781305576209, $372.95, HC, 774pp, www.amazon.com
Drawing upon their many years of experience and expertise as academicians and globally
recognized arbitration experts, William H. Holley Jr. (Auburn University, William H. Ross
(University of Wisconsin - La Crosse), and Roger S. Wolters (Auburn University) have
effectively collaborated in writing this newly updated and expanded 11th edition of "The Labor
Relations Process" covering all aspects of the labor movement, labor relations, and collective
bargaining. The result is an impressively well written, organized, and presented volume that will
prove to be a comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' curriculum textbook. Packed from
cover to cover with real-world examples and quotes from practitioners in the field, "The Labor
Relations Process" deftly explores labor's history from inception to current and emerging trends,
touching on government, white-collar, and international contexts for an unmatched perspective of
the topics. Individual chapters include an in-depth analyses of the relationship between
management and labor, including key participants in the processes, and the rights and
responsibilities of each. Labor agreements, collective bargaining, contract administration,
arbitration, and other critical issues and processes highlight the complex, exciting nature of
organized labor, and introduce your students to the many professional opportunities available to
them today. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix (Collective Bargaining negotiations
Exercise), a three page Author Index, and a twelve page Subject Index, "The Labor Relations
Process" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library
collections. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "The Labor Relations Process" is also available in a Kindle edition ($150.84 Rent
/ $247.49 Purchase).
Lost Among the Birds
Neil Hayward
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632865793, $28.00, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com
Birding was a lifelong passion. It was only among the birds that Neil found a calm that had
eluded him in the confusing world of humans. But this time he also found competition. His
growing list of species reluctantly catapulted him into a Big Year--a race to find the most birds in
one year. His peregrinations across twenty-eight states and six provinces in search of exotic
species took him to a hoarfrost-covered forest in Massachusetts to find a Fieldfare; to Lake
Havasu, Arizona, to see a rare Nutting's Flycatcher; and to Vancouver for the Red-flanked
Bluetail. Neil's Big Year was as unplanned as it was accidental: It was the perfect distraction to
life. Neil shocked the birding world by finding 749 species of bird and breaking the
long-standing Big Year record. He also surprised himself: During his time among the
hummingbirds, tanagers, and boobies, he found a renewed sense of confidence and hope about
the world and his place in it. Inherently interesting and impressively well written, organized and
presented, "Lost Among the Birds: Accidentally Finding Myself in One Very Big Year" is
especially recommended as an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Lost Among The Birds" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.59).
The Science Shelf
The Mysterious World of the Human Genome
Frank Ryan
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633881525, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
The Mysterious World of the Human Genome covers exciting new discoveries in the science,
such as how the DNA and related chemical compounds in our cells work, and comes from a
physician and evolutionary biologist who describes ways in which the genome works as a holistic
system. As discussions range from genomic evolutionary processes and what kinds of
information is preserved in DNA to how molecules and proteins developed, readers gain fine
insights into how a basic understanding of these biological processes lead to a better
understanding of life. No science collection should be without this discussion, which is also
accessible by and recommended to general-interest audiences, as well.
The Human Side of Science
Arthur W. Wiggins and Charles M. Wynn Sr.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633881563, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
The Human Side of Science: Edison and Tesla, Watson and Crick, and Other Personal Stories
Behind Science's Big Ideas provides a lively, humorous book about the idea that science is driven
by the quirks, oddities, and personalities of the scientists and innovators behind it, and provides
an unusual focus that goes beyond biographical inspection and into the processes of partnerships
and collaboration, fiery encounters, opinions and options, and more. The result is a powerful
examination of personalities and how their individual pursuits and interactions led to scientific
discoveries, advancements, and not a few controversies, in the process.
Natural Products Desk Reference
John Buckingham, Caroline M. Cooper, Rupert Purchase
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439873618, $129.95, www.crcpress.com
The Natural Products Desk Reference provides a concise discussion of the key types of natural
products on the market, and surveys the types of ingredients and formulas that can be defined as
'natural'. From the classification and organization of natural products and their formulas to
stereochemistry and compounds, tables, definitions, bibliographic references, and 'skeleton'
illustrations of these natural products provide chemical abstracts and descriptions of multicellular
organizations. College-level chemistry students as well as anyone interested in the physical
makeup of natural products will find this a detailed, invaluable guide!
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Stress Solution
Arthur P. Ciarmicoli, EdD, PhD
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608684083, $16.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
The Stress Solution: Using Empathy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and
Develop Resilience is recommended for self-help and psychology collections and offers a range
of therapeutic tools for fighting the results of stress. While many books address stress and offer
routines for alleviating symptoms or causes, this book offers specific insights on how to tackle
the root cause of most stress: the drive to excel. Chapters focus on empathy-oriented approaches
to behaviors and feelings and discuss how to change the basic neurochemistry of the brain to
allow a more natural thought process leading to better perception and thinking patterns. Real-life
stories from the author's psychology practice accompany advice on how to tackle performance
addiction and its consequences.
Dr. Blaylock's Prescriptions for Natural Health
Russell L. Blaylock, MD
Humanix Books
www.humanixbooks.com
9781630060244, $26.99, HC, 404pp, www.amazon.com
Specifically written for the non-specialist general reader who is finding that their medical
conditions don't get better and that their prescription drugs don't live up to their expectations. In
the page of "Dr. Blaylock's Prescriptions for Natural Health" readers will learn: Specific
supplement recommendations for nearly any health issue we could face; How to fight back
against the diseases of aging with a simple anti-inflammatory diet; Why we must avoid specific
substances in our food that can damage your brain, heart, lungs, and other organs -- especially for
anyone over the age of 50; How we can drink our daily veggies without messy juicing; Safe and
effective natural remedies for a full range of conditions including cancer, brain and heart
disorders, diabetes, digestive illness, skin problems, pain, and prostate concerns. Dr. Blaylock
also discusses diagnosis and treatment of dozens of medical conditions plaguing men and
women: cancer, skin problems, brain and heart diseases, prostate disorders, diabetes, and many
more. In addition, he reveals how to relieve common troubles such as pain, ringing in the ears,
constipation and other digestive issues, vision problems, mood disorders, and other ailments.
Readers will also see how natural products are superior to many pharmaceutical drugs, and learn
more about the exciting new field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. While unreservedly
recommended for community and academic library Health/Medicine collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists for anyone with an interest in what alternative medicine has to
offer as a supplement to traditional western medicine, it should be noted that "Dr. Blaylock's
Prescriptions for Natural Health" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.49).
The Nourished Belly Diet
Tammy Chang
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612435503, $14.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Tammy Chang is a certified nutrition consultant who gives nutrition classes, workshops, and
food demonstrations. Tammy is also a graduate of the Three Stone Hearth Apprentice Program in
Berkeley that prepares food according to the nutritional philosophy of traditional diets. She is a
co-founder of Common Seed Nutrition, a group of nutrition consultants dedicated to making
nutrition education accessible to everyone. In "The Nourished Belly Diet: 21-Day Plan to Heal
Your Gut, Kick-Start Weight Loss, Boost Energy and Have You Feeling Great" Tammy draws
upon her years of experience and expertise to present an impressively 'reader friendly' guide and
reference that includes an extraordinary number of holistic recipes that include entries for
breakfast, salads and sauces, veggie sides, entrees, and 'sweet treats'. Of special note is the
inclusion of five appendices (Guide to Healthy Cooking Oil; Guide to Antioxidants; Complete
List of Belly Boosters; Protein in Common Foods; Tea It Up!); two pages of Recommended
Resources; and a two page Index. A delight to plan menus with, and while "The Nourished Belly
Diet" is unreservedly recommended for personal, family, and community library collections, it
should also be noted that a Kindle edition is also available ($9.99).
Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide
Lani Simpson, DC, CCD
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
www.hunterhouse.com
9781681625683, $32.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Dr. Lani Simpson is a chiropractic doctor and a Certified Clinical (bone) Densitometrist (CCD).
She has been an expert in women's health care for 25 years, treating thousands of patients with a
multidisciplinary and holistic approach to health. Part whistle-blower book, part bone health
bible, "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide" is the first consumer book to expose the
shocking difficulty of getting an accurate bone density reading and the serious risks of long-term
use of osteoporosis medications, which are often prescribed based on inaccurate readings. In
addition to this vital information about bone density testing, Dr. Simpson cuts through the
confusion and inaccuracies surrounding osteoporosis and explains what readers can do now to
build and maintain healthy bones for life. Dr. Simpson shares her well-rounded, whole-body
approach to bone health, including discussions of digestive health, diet, supplements, exercise,
and how aging affects the bones. Readers learn surprising facts about what foods and medicines
might hurt bone health and which ones will help build strong bones. Also included is a thorough
discussion of calcium supplementation and how to do it right. "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone
Health Guide" is the key to long, healthy, fracture-free golden years. Thoroughly 'reader friendly'
in tone, content, commentary, organization and presentation, "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone
Health Guide" will prove to be an invaluable and enduringly popular addition to community
library Health/Medicine collections. It should be noted for the non-specialist general reader with
an interest in the subject that "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide " is also available in a
paperback edition (9780897936613, $18.95) and in a Kindle format ($10.99).
The Economic Studies Shelf
Economics Versus Reality
John M. Legge
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412862516, $29.95, www.transactionpub.com
Economics versus Reality: How to Be Effective in the Real World in Spite of Economic Theory
belongs in any college-level collection strong in economic theory and history, and offers an
intriguing comparison between real world economics and textbook scenarios of the subject. In
many ways mainstream economic approaches fail to apply to life, and this has been evident for
over a hundred years as formulas for math attempted to explain non-economic aspects of human
life. By probing the changing history of both economics and human development, John M. Legge
succeeds in presenting a thought-provoking (if not potentially controversial) analysis of the ways
in which economic theory has failed under changing social conditions. It's a highly recommended
'must' for any economics collection.
International Monetary Cooperation
C. Fred Bergsten & Russell A. Green, editors
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
www.piie.com
9780881327113, $23.95, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com
The issue of countries artificially manipulating the value of their currencies is at the center of
most debates about trade in the United States today. Critics of liberalizing trade have charged, for
example, that China has suppressed the value of its currency in order to make its exports cheaper
and imports more expensive. Thirty years ago, however, the Reagan administration confronted
Japan with the same accusation. Then in a secret meeting in 1985, finance ministers from the
United States, Japan and three other major economies in the world gathered in New York City at
the Plaza Hotel in an effort to resolve a crisis caused by that criticism. The Plaza Accord
coordinated exchange rates among the countries present, in turn depreciating the dollar and
restoring some equity to the global market. Was that meeting a success? Or did it usher in 30
years of tensions that have hurt, rather than helped, the cause of improved trade? In late 2015,
policymakers and academics held a Plaza Retrospective conference in Houston to evaluate the
accord's successes and drawbacks, and how its collaborative spirit can be applied to today's
increasingly integrated world economy. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Fred Bersten
and Russell Green, "International Monetary Cooperation: Lessons from the Plaza Accord After
Thirty Years) features analytical contributions by former Treasury Secretary James A. Baker III
and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul A. Volcker, along with several others. Both
informative and thought-provoking, "International Monetary Cooperation: Lessons from the
Plaza Accord After Thirty Years" is especially commended and a critically important addition to
professional, governmental, and academic library Contemporary Economics reference collections
and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for academia and the non-specialist
general reader with an interest in the subject that 'International Monetary Cooperation: Lessons
from the Plaza Accord After Thirty Years" is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.95).
Five Easy Theses
James M. Stone
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544749009, $26.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
America today confronts a host of urgent economic problems that are self-generated within our
country and imposed upon us from abroad through the phenomena of globalization. Many of
these economic problems are seemingly intractable, but some we are entirely capable of solving
according to James M. Stone (Founder and Chief Executive of the Plymouth Rock group of
insurance companies, and former chairman of the U.S. commodity Futures Trading Commission.
In "Five Easy Theses: Commonsense Solutions to America's Greatest Economic Challenges",
Stone presents specific, common-sense solutions to a handful of our most pressing challenges,
showing how simple it would be to shore up Social Security, rein in an out-of-control financial
sector, reduce inequality, and make healthcare and education better and more affordable. The
means are right in front of us, Stone explains, in various policy options that if implemented could
preserve or enhance government revenue while also channeling the national economy toward the
greater good. Thoroughly accessible in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Five
Easy Theses" is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
necessity of economic reforms and problem solving. While a critically important and
unreservedly commended addition to community and academic library American Economics
collections and supplemental studies reading lists, it should be noted that "Five Easy Theses" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Chessmen
Peter May
Quercus
1290 Sixth Ave., NY, NY 10104
www.quercus.com
9781623656041, $26.99, HC, 308pp, www.amazon.com
Living again of the Isle of Lewis, the ex-Detective Inspector Fin McLeod is working as a security
officer for a local landowner. While investigating illegal activity on the estate Fin encounters the
elusive poacher and former childhood friend Whistler Macaskill. But while Fin catches up with
Whistler, the two witness a freak natural phenomenon--a 'Bog Burst'--which spontaneously
drains a loch of its water, revealing a mud-encased light aircraft with a sickeningly familiar
moniker on its side. Both men immediately know that they will find inside: the body of Roddy
Mackenzie, a friend whose flight disappeared more than seventeen years before. But when
Whistler's face appears to register something other than shock, an icy chill of apprehension
overtakes Fin. What secret has Whistler been hiding from him, and everyone else on the island?
Fin is unprepared for how the truth about the past will alter the course of the future. The
concluding volume to 'The Lewis Trilogy', author Peter May's outstanding trilogy, "The Chess
Men" is another riveting read that is a "must" for the legions of Peter May fans. While very
highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "The Chess Men" is also available in a paperback edition (9781623657154, $14.99) and
in a Kindle format ($12.99).
Leave Her to Hell / Let Me Kill You, Sweetheart / Take Me Home
Fletcher Flora
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
Once again Stark House Press presents three 'time lost' noir classics. This time Fletcher Flora is
the author and the three novels presented under one cover include Leave Her to Hell (an
unconventional private eye novel); Let Me Kill You, Sweetheart (a murder mystery set in a small
Midwestern town); and Take Me Home (the story of a writer who falls in love with a troubled
young lesbian). Fletcher began writing in 1950 with a series of sardonic short stories (his life
time published total would reach 150), and wrote his first full length novel in 1954 (Strange
Sisters), going on to write a total of 21 distinctly off-beat novels in his literary career. This three
story anthology, "Leave Her to Hell / Let Me Kill You, Sweetheart / Take Me Home" is
enthusiastically recommended for the personal reading lists of mystery fans, community library
Mystery/Suspense shelves, and academic library 20th Century American Literary Fiction
collections.
The Stronghold
Lisa Carter
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781501816314, $24.99, HC, 306pp, www.amazon.com
Drug violence, revenge killings, and kidnapping are nothing new along the U.S.-Mexican border.
But now teenage girls are disappearing from the Apache reservations of Arizona and New
Mexico. Apache tribal cop Pilar To-Clanny and FBI Special Agent Alex Torres have a long and
tumultuous history. When someone close to them disappears, Pilar and Alex must risk everything
to rescue the child, including facing the unresolved issues of the past, and venture into the
no-man's land of the drug cartels. Can Pilar and Alex work together to stop a sadistic killer
before he strikes again? On a quest to rescue those they love, who will rescue them? Another
terrifically entertaining thriller combining romance and suspense from the pen of Lisa Carter,
"The Stronghold" is an extraordinary and very highly recommended addition to community
library collections. For the personal reading lists of Lisa Carter fans and anyone else who
appreciates a well crafted novel, it should be noted "The Stronghold" is also available in a
paperback edition (9781426795480, $14.99) and in a Kindle format ($9.99).
A Front Page Affair
Radha Vatsal
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781492632665, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
The Lusitania has just been sunk, and headlines about a shooting at J.P. Morgan's mansion and
the Great War are splashed across the front page of every newspaper. Capability "Kitty" Weeks
would love nothing more than to report on the news of the day, but she's stuck writing about
fashion and society gossip over on the Ladies' Page -- until a man is murdered at a high society
picnic on her beat. Determined to prove her worth as a journalist, Kitty finds herself plunged into
the midst of a wartime conspiracy that threatens to derail the United States' attempt to remain
neutral, and to disrupt the privileged life she has always known. An impressively well written
and consistently compelling read from beginning to end, Radha Vatsal's "A Front Page Affair" is
the first book in what is justifiably expected to be an outstanding series featuring rising
journalism star Kitty Weeks. While very highly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of dedicated mystery
buffs that "A Front Page Affair" is also available in a Kindle edition. Librarians should also be
aware that "A Front Page Affair" has a large print edition (Thorndike Press, 9781410490841,
$31.99) as well.
Buffalo Jump Blues
Keith McCafferty
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780525429593, $26.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
In the wake of Fourth of July fireworks in Montana's Madison Valley, Hyalite County sheriff
Martha Ettinger and Deputy Sheriff Harold Little Feather investigate a horrific scene at the
Palisades cliffs, where a herd of bison have fallen to their deaths. Victims of blind panic caused
by the pyrotechnics, or a ritualistic hunting practice dating back thousands of years? The person
who would know is beyond asking, an Indian man found dead among the bison, his leg pierced
by an arrow. Farther up the valley, fly fisherman, painter, and sometime private detective Sean
Stranahan has been hired by the beautiful Ida Evening Star, a Chippewa Cree woman who
moonlights as a mermaid at the Trout Tails Bar & Grill, to find her old flame, John Running Boy.
The cases seem unrelated -- until Sean's search leads him right to the brink of the buffalo jump.
"Buffalo Jump Blues" weaves a gripping tale of murder, wildlife politics, lost love, and is
another terrific read from the pen of Keith McCafferty. The fifth book in McCafferty's
outstanding Sean Stranahan Mystery Series, "Buffalo Jump Blues" will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For the personal reading
lists of dedicated mystery buffs it should be noted that "Buffalo Jump Blues" is also available in
a Kindle edition ($12.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Attack on Titan: Lost Girls
Created by Hajime Isayama
Stories by Hiroshi Seko
Art by Ayumu Kotake
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993353 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Enriched with a handful of black-and-white illustrations, Attack on Titan: Lost Girls is a trio of
short stories offering insight into Mikasa and Annie, two capable female soldiers from the wildly
popular "Attack on Titan" manga and anime series. Attack on Titan is set in a horrific,
post-apocalyptic world, where gigantic, nigh-invulnerable Titans stalk and devour human beings.
The surviving remnants of humanity huddle behind mysterious walls that keep the Titans out...
but when these walls are breached one by one, humanity becomes prey for giants! The military's
valiant efforts to fight back are sabotaged by corruption, bureaucracy, conspiracy, and worse.
Two of the stories in "Attack on Titan: Lost Girls" were originally bonus features of the Japanese
Blu-ray releases, while the introduction and title story are brand new. (Newcomers to the "Attack
on Titan" saga should note that " Lost Girls" reveals certain major plot twists from the series.)
Blending intense military action, conflicted characterization, and a strong sense of genuine
horror, Attack on Titan: Lost Girls is a "must-read" for fans of the series.
Conspiracy!
Judith K. Dial & Thomas A. Easton, editors
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
www.nesfapress.com
9781610373104, $17.00, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
As usual, NESFA (the New England Science Fiction Association) has published still another
outstanding and memorable anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories by a series of authors
who individually and collectively are masters of the genre. "Conspiracy!" is both the title and the
underlying them of the short stories comprising this exceptional collection that ranges from
Masons and Dragons (David Clements), the Bavarian Illuminati (Debra Doyle and James D.
Macdonald) and the New World Order Shariann Lewitt); the Shaver Mystery (science writer Jeff
Hecht); cell phones and weather control (Rev DiCerto); Atlantis and Lemuria (Paul DiFilippo);
Roswell (H. Paul Shuch of SETI fame); Mermaids (Cat Rambo and Mike Resnick); ancient
immortals who guide our breeding (Steven Popkes); quality management (Allen Steele); Santa
Claus (James Cambias); -- and then there are the squirrels (Sarah Smith). A riveting read from
first page to last, "Conspiracy!" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to the personal
reading lists of all science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts, as well as community, college, and
university library Contemporary Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
David B. Coe's Shadow's Blade (9781476781259, $26.00) pairs fantasy and mystery as it tells of
weremyste P.I. Justis, who can wield magic effectively in his job until he loses his mind at any
full moon. This defect has already resulted in him losing his job as a cop; but can he be an
effective P.I. when investigations cross into full moon territory? In this story, Phoenix is under
siege from a magical battle, and Justin finds his powers and life both tested as he makes
decisions that embrace who he is and his role in many worlds. Eric Flint's Ring of Fire IV
(9781476781242, $25.00) gathers a number of sequels based by Flint's creation of the world
1632, but the authors of these tales include big names such as Mercedes Lackey, David Brin, and
more - along with Flint himself. In many ways the Americans transported in time are changing
the 17th century for the good, but they continue to be challenged by many aspects of the strange
past they have landed in and are altering. Prior familiarity with the 1632 story is recommended
for a satisfying segue into these spin-offs which offer fine new extrapolations of a very different
past unwittingly challenged by residents of the future.
The Geography Shelf
The Handy Geography Answer Book
Paul A. Tucci
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578595761, $21.95, 450pp, www.amazon.com
Geography is more than just maps and finding your destination. It is about the land, the people on
that land, the delicate balance of nature, and our very interdependence upon it, despite the
miracles of technology and grocery stores. It's about the effects of nature on places and people, as
well as how politics, borders, cities, and towns affect our lives. This newly updated and expanded
third addition of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" by Paul Tucci traces the history of
geography from Eratosthenes and Alexander von Humboldt, to latitude and longitude, and the
latest advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides insights into economic,
social, historic, culture, religious, political, and climate geography, plus oceanography,
demographics, and more. "The Handy Geography Answer Book" is an informed and informative
tour the world, including its natural features, and the ever-changing mark humans make on our
planet. With knowledgeable answers to 1,200 questions from the trivial (longest, hottest, tallest),
to how geography has influenced history, religion, architecture, and the location of cities. From
covering such questions as: Who first had the idea that there is a magnetic North Pole? What is
interesting about Google's "Streetview"? How many people are projected to live on the planet in
2050? Which state has the highest annual divorce rate? What are the largest and smallest
counties in the U.S.?, and so much more, this new edition of "The Handy Geography Answer
Book" is a "must" for all school and community library Geographical Studies collections, as well
as the personal reading lists for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject of geography.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery
Annabel Smoker
Palgrave Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
www.palgrave-usa.com
9781137362407, $21.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Gaining your first job as a nurse or midwife is becoming not only highly competitive but an
increasingly more complex process. "Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery" by
Annabel Smoker (Lecturer in Nursing and Faculty Lead for Employability at the Faculty of
Health Science and University of Southampton, UK.) will enable the reader to get ahead of the
other applicants with an informed, informative, practical and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide
offering application advice, interview preparation techniques, a comprehensive overview of the
selection process and insider tips. You'll also find a wealth of information on career planning,
continuing professional development and next steps. Offering scenarios, practice questions and
the thoughts and observation of newly qualified professionals anyone seeking to become a
licensed nurse and/or midwife should consider "Launching Your Career in Nursing and
Midwifery: A Practical Guide" an essential and critically important read. While very highly
recommended for community, college, and university library Health/Medicine collections, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists of aspiring candidates for nursing school or
midwifery programs that "Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery: A Practical Guide"
is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.87).
The Education Shelf
Service Learning and Literary Studies in English
Laurie Grobman & Roberta Rosenberg, editors
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
www.mla.org
9781603292016, $40.00, HC, 296pp, www.amazon.com
An educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to
provide a pragmatic, progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs, 'service
learning' can help students develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment, often while
addressing pressing community needs. One goal of literary studies is to understand the ethical
dimensions of the world, and thus service learning, by broadening the environments students
consider, is well suited to the literature classroom. Whether through a public literacy project that
demonstrates the relevance of literary study or community-based research that brings literary
theory to life, student collaboration with community partners brings social awareness to the study
of literary texts and helps students and teachers engage literature in new ways. "Service Learning
and Literary Studies in English" traces the history of service learning in the United States,
including the debate about literature's role, and outline the best practices of the pedagogy. The
essays comprising "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" cover American, English,
and world literature; creative nonfiction and memoir; literature-based writing; and
cross-disciplinary studies. Contributors describe a wide variety of service-learning projects,
including a course on the Harlem Renaissance in which students lead a community writing
workshop, an English capstone seminar in which seniors design programs for public libraries,
and a creative nonfiction course in which first-year students work with elderly community
members to craft life narratives. "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" closes with a
list of resources for practitioners and researchers in the field. A model compendium of
exceptionally well written, organized and presented scholarship, "Service Learning and Literary
Studies in English" is a critically important addition to college and university Educational
Studies reference collections. For the personal reading lists of students, academics, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "Service
Learning and Literary Studies in English" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781603292023, $25.00) and in a Kindle format ($16.99).
Two Books Are Better Than One!
Shari Frost
Capstone Press
1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, MN 56003
www.capstonepub.com
9781496606082, $24.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
It is no longer sufficient to teach letters, letter sounds, sight words, and simple texts in
kindergarten through second grade. Not when children today are expected to read and
comprehend texts in a variety of genres with increasing complexity. Then they must integrate the
ideas and concepts from those texts into their own writing. "Two Books are Better Than One:
Reading and Writing (and Talking and Drawing) Across Texts in K-2" by Shari Frost (who in the
course of her academic career has served as an elementary classroom teacher, a reading
specialist, a professional developer, and an instructor at the university level, and who is currently
a consultant with literacy coaches, intervention specialists, classroom teachers, and children in
classrooms to support the improvement of literacy instruction in the Chicago Public Schools)
helps teachers meet those demands. Each individual chapter contains an anchor lesson focused
on a different way of connecting texts, including: by theme, characters, perspective, structure, or
genre. The lessons feature research-based and common-core-aligned strategies: interactive
read-alouds; shared reading and writing; scaffolded small group reading; accountable talk; close
reading; and opinion, narrative, and explanatory writing. Each anchor lesson features two
high-quality children's books, and each chapter is rounded out with a list of other recommended
book pairs to support classroom teachers in creating their own lessons. While very highly
recommended for elementary school classroom teachers in grades K-2 and a critically important
addition to college and university Teacher Education reference collections, it should be noted that
"Two Books are Better Than One: Reading and Writing (and Talking and Drawing) Across Texts
in K-2" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn
Mike Anderson
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416621836, $27.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Offering students choices about their learning, says author Mike Anderson in "Learning to
Choose, Choosing to Learn: The Key to Student Motivation and Achievement", is one of the
most powerful ways teachers can boost student learning, motivation, and achievement. Anderson
offers numerous examples of choice in action, ideas to try with different students, and a
step-by-step process to help you plan and incorporate choice into your classroom. "Learning to
Choose, Choosing to Learn" covers: What effective student choice looks like in the classroom;
Why it's important to offer students choices; How to create learning environments, set the right
tone for learning, and teach specific skills that enable choice to work well. When students have
more choices about their learning, they can find ways of learning that match their personal needs
and be more engaged in their work, building skills and work habits that will serve them well in
school and beyond. "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" teacher-friendly guide offers
everything you need to help students who are bored, frustrated, or underperforming come alive to
learning through the fundamental power of choice. "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" is
so well written, organized and presented that it is very highly recommended for teachers and
homeschooling parents alike. While very highly recommended for school and academic library
Teacher Education instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" is also available in a Kindle edition
($14.57).
Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning
Barbara Allan
Facet Publishing
7 Ridgmount Street, London, England, WC1E 7AE
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783300709, $75.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Barbara Allan is an author and trainer. Her background includes managing workplace and
academic libraries. She has spent many years working in business schools where her focus was
on enhancing learning, teaching and the student experience, and the internationalization and
employability agendas. The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving due to changes in the
student population (millennial's, increasing diversity, changing work habits), technology (the rise
in the use of social media) and learning spaces (the increase in physical and virtual social
learning spaces). In "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" Allan presents the
first book to bring together recent developments in both theory and practice, covering a wide
range of tools and techniques which will suit students in different contexts, from large groups of
500+ to very small classes of research students. Making extensive use of case studies, examples,
checklists, and tables, "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" features: an
analysis of the current higher education landscape, the changes that are occurring and the diverse
nature of student populations; an exploration of new theories of digital literacy including case
studies demonstrating how library and information workers have applied these models in
practice; a demonstration of the many different ways in which academic library and information
services are working in support of student employability; a theoretical overview of different
approaches to teaching and learning including Kolb's learning cycle, Laurillard's conversational
framework for university teaching, Entwistle's teaching for understanding at university, Land and
Meyer's threshold concepts and the Higher Education Academy's work on flexible pedagogies;
practical guidance on designing, developing and evaluating courses and other learning and
teaching events in different situations including face-to-face, flipped classroom, blended
learning, and online learning; and an exploration of approaches to personal and professional
development including 90+ approaches to workplace learning; accredited courses; short courses,
conferences and workshops; networking through professional organizations; and developing
online networks. "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" will be essential reading
for different groups working in colleges and universities including library and information
workers, staff developers, educational technologists, educational development project workers,
educational change agents and students of library and information science who are planning their
careers in higher education institutions. Simply stated, "Emerging Strategies for Supporting
Student Learning" is a critically important and invaluable addition to professional, college, and
university library Educational Studies and Library Science collections and supplemental reading
lists.
Cultivating the Genius of Black Children
Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605544052, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org
Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early
Years is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in early childhood education for black
children. Research, experience, and the latest studies combine in a reference directed to early
childhood educators interested in creating classrooms in which Black children learn and grow on
many levels. From different cultural influences specific to Black children and how they learn to
incorporating this knowledge into a classroom endeavor, this book is filled with important keys
to success and shows teachers how to better involve kids and families alike in the education
process.
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com
Linday Dacey, et.al.'s Well Played, 6-8: Building Mathematical Thinking Through Number and
Algebraic Games and Puzzles (9781625310330, $25.00) offers an excellent gathering of details
in its third book in a series, and shows teachers how to make games and puzzles a solid part of
the classroom experience. Explanations of the math lessons in each game or puzzle delve into
how the approach will help students, while variations for different learning levels and classroom
accounts of the games and puzzles in action make for a top survey. From basic directions to
materials needed and extending the lesson objective, this is a top pick for teachers who would
inject play and learning into a math curriculum. Kate Roth and Joan Dabrowski's Interactive
Writing Across Grades: A Small Practice with Big Results (9781625311153, $27.95) covers the
basics of interactive writing experiences and their educational foundations, and will appeal to
PreK-5 grade level teachers looking for a step-by-step application of the concepts to writing
methods and teaching approaches. Chapters provide examples of real classroom writing from
different grades as they illustrate different phrases of interactive writing teaching and show how
to build skills, while classroom case history examples emphasize the experiences and process
even more. The result is a solid guide for any teacher of these grade levels who would integrate
an interactive writing program into the classroom.
Corwin
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com
Justin W. Patchin and Sameer Hinduja's Bullying Today: Bullet Points and Best Practices
(9781506335971, $24.95) goes beyond most books that speak about bullying to provide
educators and school leaders with bullet points for addressing bullying by making meaningful
changes. Some 15 years of research went into this book's strategies, with a range of real-world
examples gathered from a variety of sources to combine prevention strategies, tips on identifying
bullying behaviors, and understanding its different displays. Especially invaluable is coverage of
response options and their overall effectiveness (or ineffectiveness). Kikanza Nuri-Robins and
Lewis Bundy's Fish Out of Water: Mentoring, Managing, and Self-Monitoring People Who Don't
Fit In (9781506303024, $27.95) provides a powerful resource for managing people who don't fit
into mainstream culture because of sexual or gender orientation, income, or ethnicity. While the
focus is on the school structure, many of the strategies for working with children who are bullied
because of these differences can provide much food for thought for other organizational
structures as well. That said, teachers will find this a powerful toolbox for handling these kids
and those who surround them, with chapters covering individual expression, marginalization,
self-monitoring, and more. The result will help teachers identify, work with and address many
common issues specific to this group, with case history examples throughout offering many keys
to success. Michael Rafferty, Colleen Morello and Paraskevi Rountos' 30 Big-Idea Lessons for
Small Groups: The Teaching Framework for ANY Text and EVERY Reader (9781506334387,
$29.95) is more than a teacher's guide: it outlines a framework of strategies for
intermediate-grade readers that encourages students to interact with texts by considering ideas
related to the texts, debating them in small groups, learning how to mark up the important points
of texts for deeper thinking, and developing analytical and evaluative skills relating texts to wider
concerns such as social issues and world problems. Reproducible forms are one of the tools
provided in this teacher's guide which discusses a variety of moves to support these skill sets and
how to implement and evaluate their results. Specific texts and their engagement possibilities
leave nothing to guess and chart all the possible ways teachers can use these key readings to
foster a greater attention to depth and detail in intermediate-level students.
The Fiction Shelf
City Of Rocks
Michael Zimmer
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785412103, $29.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
When the McCandles gang shows up in the town of Coalville, Idaho, the place erupts in violence.
Seventeen-year-old Joey Roper feels compelled to avenge the deaths at City of Rocks -- no
matter what. "City Of Rocks" is another riveting western from the imaginative pen of Michael
Zimmer who once again proves himself to be a master of the western action/adventure genre.
"City Of Rocks" is very highly recommended to the attention of all western fans and especially
for community library Large Print Fiction collections.
Silence in the Dark
Patricia Bradley
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800724184, $14.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Two years ago, Bailey Adams broke off her engagement to Danny Maxwell and fled Logan Point
for the mission field in Chihuahua, Mexico. Now she's about to return home to the States, but
there's just one problem. After Bailey meets with the uncle of one of the mission children in the
city, she barely escapes a sudden danger. Now she's on the run -- she just doesn't know from
whom. To make matters worse, people who help her along the way find themselves in danger too
-- including Danny. Who is after her? Will they ever let up? And in the midst of the chaos, can
Bailey keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again? With lean, fast-paced
prose that keeps readers turning the pages, Patricia Bradley has once again written still another
superbly crafted story. Also available in a library binding edition (Christian Mystery Series,
9781683240013, $35.95, 500pp), "Silence in the Dark" is very highly recommended for
community library collections General Fiction collections. For the legions of Patricia Bradley
fans, it should also be noted that "Silence in the Dark" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.39).
Land of Silence
Tessa Afshar
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496414007, $22.99, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna
tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father's textile trade and caring for her family. When
another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings
enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off
her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from
everyone, stripping everything she has left. No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until
she hears whispers of a man called Jesus whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of
suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body -- and
soul? An impressively crafted, inherently appealing, consistently engaging, and compelling read
from first page to last, "Land of Silence" is enthusiastically recommended for community library
Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Land of Silence"
is also available in a paperback edition (9781496406460, $14.99) and in a Kindle format
($7.86).
One Of Us Is Sleeping
Josefine Klougart, author
Martin Aitken, translator
Open Letter Books
c/o University of Rochester
Lattimore Hall 411, Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
www.openletterbooks.org
9781940953373, $15.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com
Deftly translated into English by Martin Aitken, "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is the debut novel by
Josefine Klougart who is one of Denmark's most exciting, celebrated young writers. "One Of Us
Is Sleeping" is a hauntingly memorable novel about loss in all its forms. Working in the vein of
Anne Carson, Josefine Klougart's "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is both true-to-life and incredibly
poetic in its relating of a brief, intense love affair and the grief and disillusionment that follow its
end. While she recounts the time with her lover, the narrator is also heading back home, where
her mother is dying of cancer. This contrast between recollection and the belief that certain things
will always be present in your life (your parents, your childhood home, your love) and the fact
that life is a continual series of endings runs throughout this novel, underpinning the striking
imagery and magnificent prose. A consistently compelling read from beginning to end, "One Of
Us Is Sleeping" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "One
Of Us Is Sleeping" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Septimania
Jonathan Levi
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468312485, $27.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
On an spring afternoon in 1978 in the loft of a church outside Cambridge, England, an organ
tuner named Malory loses his virginity to a dyslexic math genius named Louiza. When Louiza
disappears, Malory follows her trail to Rome. There, the quest to find his love gets sidetracked
when he discovers he is the heir to the Kingdom of Septimania, given by Charlemagne to the
Jews of eighth-century France. In the midst of a Rome reeling from the kidnappings and bombs
of the Red Brigades, Malory is crowned King of the Jews, Holy Roman Emperor and possibly
Caliph of All Islam. Over the next fifty years, Malory's search for Louiza leads to encounters
with Pope John Paul II, a band of lost Romanians, a magical Bernini statue, Haroun al Rashid of
Arabian Nights fame, an elephant that changes color, a shadowy U.S. spy agency and one of the
9/11 bombers, an appleseed from the original Tree of Knowledge, and the secret history of Isaac
Newton and his discovery of a Grand Unified Theory that explains everything. It is the quest of a
Candide for love and knowledge, and the ultimate discovery that they may be unified after all.
Impressive, extraordinary, inherently fascinating, consistently compelling, "Septimania" clearly
documents author Jonathan Levi as a masterfully imaginative storyteller and a consummate
novelist. While unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Septimania" is also available in a Kindle format
($14.99), and will be published in a paperback edition (9781468314281, $16.95) in April,
2017.
Making Manna
Eric Lotke
Brandylane Publishers
5 South First Street, Richmond, VA 23219
www.brandylanepublishers.com
9781939930224, $16.00, PB, 294pp, www.amazon.com
Libby Thompson is just fourteen years old when she flees her abusive home with her newborn
son, Angel. Now they must build a life for themselves on hard work and low wages, dealing with
police who are sometimes helpful-but not always-and a drug dealer who is full of surprises. As
Angel gets older, he begins asking questions about his family, and Libby's tenuous peace
threatens to crumble. Can a son without a father and a young woman without a past make
something beautiful out of a lifetime of secrets? "Making Manna" deftly explores the depths of
betrayal, and the human capacity to love, flourish, and forgive in the face of heartbreaking odds.
A thoroughly engaging and especially well crafted read from beginning to end, "Making Manna"
clearly establishes author Erick Lotke as an impressively gifted novelist. While unreservedly
recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Making Manna" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).
The Lost Garden
Li Ang
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231175548, $75.00, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com
"The Lost Garden" by Li Ange begins with the family of Zhu Yinghong, whose father, Zhu
Zuyan, was imprisoned in the early days of Chiang Kai-shek's rule. Zhu Zuyan spends his days
luxuriating in his Lotus Garden, which he builds according to his own desires. Forever under
suspicion, he indulges as much as he can in circumscribed pleasures, though they drain the family
fortune. Eventually the entire household is sold, including the Lotus Garden. "The Lost Garden"
then tranfers to modern-day Taipei, where Zhu Yinghong falls for Lin Xigeng, a real estate
tycoon and playboy. Their cat-and-mouse courtship builds against the extravagant banquets and
decadent entertainments of Taipei's wealthy businessmen. Though the two ultimately marry, their
high-styled romance dulls over time, leading to a dangerous, desperate quest to reclaim the
enchantment of the Lotus Garden. Ably translated into English for an American readership by
Howard Goldblatt, "The Lost Garden" is a consistently compelling read from beginning to end.
While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Literary Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Lost Garden" is also available
in a paperback edition (9780231175555, $25.00) and in a Kindle format ($14.74).
The Last House Officer
Gwyn Williams
Y Lolfa
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781784611224, $17.00, PB, 299pp, www.amazon.com
Owen Morgan is a junior doctor trying to find his feet in the modern Welsh healthcare system.
Unfortunately he is peculiarly ill-equipped to survive the demands of the ever-changing world of
hospital medicine - or indeed of his feisty Indian wife, his two sons, and their tumultuous home
life. Born to Welsh working-class parents, Owen and his family must overcome cultural issues,
health issues, family quarrels, and personality incompatibilities during the biggest upheaval in
medical training for decades as a Labour government pushes through its controversial reforms.
And then there is Colleen. The very lovely, ever loyal Colleen - the love of Owen's life. If only he
knew it. An exceptional and deftly crafted story, "The Last House Officer" clearly showcases
author Gwyn Williams as an impressively gifted novelist. "The Last House Officer" is very
highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction
collections.
The Lamentations of Zeno
Ilija Trojanow, author
Philip Boehm, translator
Verso
20 Jay Street, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201-8346
www.versobooks.com
9781784782191, $19.95, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Zeno Hintermeier is a scientist working as a travel guide on an Antarctic cruise ship, encouraging
the wealthy to marvel at the least explored continent and to open their eyes to its rapid
degradation. It is a troubling turn in the life of an idealistic glaciologist. Now in his early sixties,
Zeno bewails the loss of his beloved glaciers, the disintegration of his marriage, and the
foundering of his increasingly irrelevant career. Troubled in conscience and goaded by the smug
complacency of the passengers in his charge, he starts to plan a desperate gesture that will send a
wake-up call to an overheating world. "The Lamentations of Zeno" by German novelist Ilija
Trojanow is deftly translated into English for an appreciative American readership by Philip
Boehm. A compelling and complex work, "The Lamentations of Zeno" is an consistently
compelling read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for both community
and academic library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for academia and the
non-specialist general reader that "The Lamentations of Zeno" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.99).
The Lawless West
Jon Tuska, editor
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785412097, $29.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and edited by Jon Tuska (is the co-founder of the Golden West Literary Agency, as
well as co-author or co-editor of numerous works on the American West, including the
"Encyclopedia of Frontier and Western Fiction", "Westward the Women" and "Billy the Kid")
"The Lawless West"), "The Lawless West" is comprised of three classic western stories by three
classic western authors. These simply outstanding tales include: "From Missouri" by Zane Grey;
"Over the Northern Border" by Max Brand; and "Riders of the Dawn" by Louis L'Amour. "The
Lawless West" is a 'must read' for all devoted western action/adventure fans. This particular large
print edition is especially recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to
community library Western Fiction collections.
The Devil's Anvil
Steve Hayes
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444827880, $20.99, Large Print Paperback, 232pp, www.amazon.com
The two murderous McClory cousins have busted out of Yuma Pen, heading for Indian Territory
leaving a trail of death in their wake. Somebody has to bring them in - and that job falls to
Deputy US Marshal Liberty Mercer, a young and dedicated woman who sets off to run the
outlaws to ground. But to reach the McClory stronghold in Silver Rock Canyon, Mercer and her
makeshift posse consisting of Raven Bjorkman, Latham Rawlins (who turns out is the brother of
Liberty's one-time love Latigo) and the bounty hunting Dunn brothers must cross the deadly,
searing desert known as the Devil's Anvil. Steve Hayes is a consummate master of the western
action/adventure genre and in "The Devil's Anvil" has written yet another truly riveting yarn that
showcases one of the most unusual law enforcers the west has ever know. Extraordinarily
entertaining from first page to last, "The Devil's Anvil" is very highly recommended for
community library Western Fiction collections, as well as the personal reading lists for all
dedicated western buffs.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Dog Diet Answer Book
Greg Martinez, DVM
Fair Winds
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
9781592337026, $22.95, www.quartoknows.com
The Dog Diet Answer Book is recommended for any dog owner who would understand their
dog's diet needs and diagnose common health issues based on that diet, and tells how to make
home-cooked meals and treats for a pet that address different dietary needs. From identifying and
avoiding allergens to the problems inherent in commercial food choices, how to devise and apply
an elimination diet, and how to tailor a diet plan based on a dog's breed and weight, The Dog
Diet Answer Book holds everything needed to adjust a dog's meals for optimum health.
Birds in Trouble
Lynn E. Barber
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781623493592, $29.95, www.tamupress.com
Birds in Trouble explains the population challenges and conservation status of selected birds,
explains why habitats are endangered and in turn affect the ability of these birds to survive, and
presents a focus designed to increase awareness of bird species and their declining numbers.
Lynn E. Barber's own extraordinarily realistic bird art accompanies discussions of how to help
conserve these species. The result is a specific focus on specific challenges: a perfect choice for
any conservation reader already familiar with generalities who wants more in the way of
particular case studies of selected species.
Greening Your Pet Care
Darcy Matheson
Self-Counsel Press Inc.
4152 Meridian Street, Suite 105-471, Bellingham, WA 98226
www.self-counsel.com
9781770402614, $12.95, PB, 124pp, www.amazon.com
Darcy Matheson is a television journalist, dog blogger, and columnist for Modern Dog magazine.
The long-time animal advocate is a frequent contributor to TV, radio, and magazines on pet
issues. She is the founder of PetFundr, a leading crowdfunding site solely dedicated to helping
animal welfare projects. In "Greening Your Pet Care: Reduce Your Animal's Environmental Paw
Print" she shows how any pet owner can minimize their pet's environmental impact: how it is
fed, how it stays clean, and how it is housed. "Greening Your Pet Care" is devoted to a careful
presentation of the best practices to keep any pet environmentally friendly. Matheson also
identifies ownership tips and ideas to reduce and deal with waste and to take care of any pet's
well-being with the most sustainable approaches. Simply stated, "Greening Your Pet Care" is
specifically intended for the modern owner who thinks not only of the joy of having pets but
being responsible for providing their care and well-being. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone,
content, commentary, organization and presentation, "Greening Your Pet Care" is very highly
recommended for community library Pets/Wildlife collections and veterinarian clinic pet care
reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Greening Your Pet Care"
is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
Home Alone And Happy!
Kate Mallatratt
Hubble & Hattie
www.hubbleandhattie.com
9781845848613, $19.99, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com
People with a canine companion shouldn't wait until their dog becomes anxious when left alone
at home before investing time in teaching him how to become comfortable alone? Owners often
assume that their dog will sleep, yet many dogs suffer from anxiety and stress when left alone,
and some owners only discover this when their dog becomes destructive, or a neighbor
complains about his barking. "Home alone and happy!: Essential life skills for preventing
separation anxiety in dogs and puppies" is written by Kate Mallatratt to address the need to
educate pet owners before the problems of separation anxiety arise. Beautifully illustrated, with
worksheets to evaluate your dog's level of contentment and chart his progress, "Home Alone And
Happy" is specifically commended to the attention of all dog owners wanting to learn how their
canine companion can spend quality time alone and avoid the stress of separation anxiety.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Writing the Blockbuster Novel
Albert Zuckerman
Forge
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765382467. $28.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Albert Zuckerman, legendary literary agent, has worked with many bestselling authors, including
Ken Follett, Olivia Goldsmith, Antoinette Van Heugten, Michael Lewis, and F. Paul Wilson.
Zuckerman is a master at teaching writers the skills necessary to crack the bestseller list. In a
newly revised edition of "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" Zuckerman has added an analysis of
Nora Roberts's "The Witness", which he uses along with classic books like "Gone With the
Wind" and "The Godfather", to illustrate his points. Zuckerman's commentary on Ken Follett's
working outlines for "The Man From St. Petersburg" provide a blueprint for building links
between plot and character. A new introduction discusses social media and self-publishing.
"Writing the Blockbuster Novel" is an essential instruction for any aspiring author seeking to
become a successful novelist. Of special note is the first chapter on "Getting Started", and the
concluding chapter devoted to "Getting It Published and onto the Bestseller Lists". Simply stated,
"Writing the Blockbuster Novel" should be considered a 'must read' for all beginning writers --
and offers a wealth of thoughtful and thought-provoking information for even the more
experienced novelist. While very highly recommended for both community, college, and
university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" is also available in a paperback
edition (9780765382474, $15.99) and in a Kindle format ($8.99).
Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot
Jane K. Cleland
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781599639673, $16.99, PB, 230pp, www.amazon.com
Suspense is one of the most powerful tools a writer has for captivating readers but it isn't just for
mystery or action/adventure thrillers. From mainstream fiction to memoir, suspense creates the
emotional tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. "Mastering Suspense, Structure,
& Plot" by award-winning author Jane Cleland is a hands-on guide to weaving suspense into any
narrative. "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot" shows aspiring authors how to navigate
genre conventions, write for their audience, and build gripping tension to craft an irresistible
page-turner. "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot" explains how to: Implement thirteen
no-fail techniques to construct an effective plot and structure for your story; Use Cleland's
'Plotting Road Map' to add elements of suspense like twists, reversals, and moments of danger;
Write subplots with purpose; Improve descriptions, character development, sentence structure,
and more. Packed with case studies, exercises, and dozens of examples from best-selling authors,
"Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot" is the perfect key to writing suspenseful, engaging
stories that leave readers wanting more. Simply stated, every aspiring writer, regardless of the
genre they are working in, should give a careful reading to what Jane Cleland has to offer in
"Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot". For the personal reading lists of aspiring novelists, it
should be noted that "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.99).
Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes
Margie Towery
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875264, $45.00, PB, 140pp, www.amazon.com
In publishing there are three major categories of indexes: Bibliographic index (a regularly
updated print periodical publication that lists articles, books, and/or other information items);
General Index (a detailed list, usually arranged alphabetically, of the specific information in a
publication); Subject Indexing (describing the content of a document by keywords). Among the
community of professional indexers, Margie Towery is well know for the quality of expertise as
consummate indexer. In "Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes: Confessions of an
Award-Winning Indexer", Margie has distilled her more than two decades of experience for the
benefit of novice indexers. "Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes " defines and explores the
characteristics of quality indexes: audiences and accessibility, metatopics and index structure,
accuracy, comprehensiveness, conciseness, consistency, clarity, reflexivity, readability, and
common sense. Writing in an engaging and accessible style, Margie shares her own struggles in
indexing and offers strategies for overcoming challenges such as bias and language, indexing
blocks, and working with authors. Her digressions into research on reading and decision-making
provide a wider context for thinking about quality, while her suggestions and checklist for
evaluating indexes round out this essential volume for professional indexers at every skill level.
Simply stated, "Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes" is emphatically and unreservedly
recommended as mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to become a professional indexer.
Indexing Tactics & Tidbits
Janet Perlman
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875257, $45.00, PB, 170pp, www.amazon.com
"Indexing Tactics & Tidbits: An A to Z Guide" by Janet Perlman (who draws upon her more than
30 years of experience and expertise as a professional indexer of books and journals) is very
highly-recommended reference for indexing professionals. A master indexer, Janet Perlman
presents a treasure trove of practical, in-depth explanations and advice present in an alphabetical
format. While bringing her own in-depth, conversational style and a multitude of fresh topics to
the table, "Indexing Tactics & Tidbits" provides answers and insights on such vital subjects as
audience analysis, clients and contracts, computers and software, ethics and standards, index
depth and length, index structure, periodical indexing, professional resources, quality and
usability, work methods and strategies, and much more. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone,
content, organization and presentation, new and experienced indexers alike will appreciate how
"Indexing Tactics & Tidbits comprehensively and accessibly addresses the tasks of indexing by
one of the truly preeminent indexers working in publishing today. Indeed, "Indexing Tactics &
Tidbits" will prove to be a core and valued addition to personal, professional, community,
college, and university Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections in general, and
Indexing supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Cookbook Shelf
Portland Farmers Market Cookbook
Ellen Jackson
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632170156, $27.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
The Portland Farmers Market is a year-round farmers market consistently named among North
America's Top Ten. Ellen Jackson's "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" is a timely and
enduring tribute to the farmers, chefs and shoppers, who embrace their world-class market like
no other. Showcasing 100 seasonally organized recipes for every meal of the day, "Portland
Farmers Market Cookbook" also includes stories of the market's farmers and producers, shopping
and cooking tips, and glorious color photography. The "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" is a
celebration of a place and its people, who are proud to share their bounty with the Portland
community and beyond. Featuring thoroughly kitchen cook friendly recipes that range from a
Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette; Olive-Oil Poached Albacore
with Summer Beans and Pickled Peppers; and Grilled Lobster Mushrooms with Oregon Walnut
Puree; to Fresh shell Bean Minestrone with Parmesan Brodo; Honey-Glazed Figs with Lemon
ricotta and Almond Cookies; and a Chocolate-Pear Bread Pudding, "Portland Farmers Market
Cookbook" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community
library collections. It should be noted that "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" is also available
in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
Secrets of the Pie Place Cafe
Kathy Rice
Lake Superior Port Cities
PO Box 16417, Duluth, MN 55816-0417
www.lakesuperior.com
9781938229329, $19.95, PB, 182pp, www.amazon.com
A seasonal compendium of short stories and recipes compiled and presented by Kathy Rice,
"Secrets of the Pie Place Cafe" is an outstanding culinary collection of kitchen cook recipes for
dishes ranging from Pie Place Breakfast Potatoes; Japanese Peanut Noodle Salad; Split Rock
Chicken Brie Sandwich; and Bumbleberry Pie; to Chorizo Stuffed Peppers and Grilled Peach
Salsa; Saffron Butternut Squash Soup; Pork Tenderloin with Bleu Cheese Applejack Gravy; and
Gingerbread Waffles. Nicely enhanced with color photography throughout, the combination of
stories and the recipes associated with them make for a wonderfully entertaining read from
beginning to end. Ideal for browsing and planning menus with, "Secrets of the Pie Place Cafe" is
very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family,
and community library cookbook collections.
The Jersey Shore Cookbook
Deborah Smith
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781594748721, $22.95, HC, 260pp, www.amazon.com
The Jersey Shore is the coastal region of the state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term
encompasses about 141 miles of oceanfront from Sandy Hook in the north to Cape May Point in
the south. That is the region that Deborah Smith draws from in her compilation of recipes
comprising "The Jersey Shore Cookbook: Fresh Summer Flavors from the Boardwalk and
Beyond". Beautifully embellished with the color photography of Thomas Robert Clarke, this
culinary treasure trove showcases dishes that range from Grilled Jersey Peaches with Greek
Yogurt and Granola (Lasolas Market); Oysters Gratinee (Fratello's Restaurant); Grilled Tuna
Nicoise Salad with Dijon-Thyme Vinaigrette (Black-Eyed Susans); and Pan-Seared New Jersey
Black Sea Bass with White Peach, Tomato, and Basil Salsa (Shore Fresh Seafood); to New
Jersey Skate with Summer Vegetable Ratatouille (The Blue Pig Tavern); Lobster Thermidor
(Knife and Fork Inn); Seared Viking Village Scallops with Grilled Corn, Zucchini, and Roasted
Tomatoes (The Gables); and Creme Brulee (The Grenville Hotel and Restaurant). Of special note
is the succinct descriptive history provided for each restaurant from which a recipe is provided.
Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Jersey Shore
Cookbook" will prove to be a treasured addition to any personal, family, or community library
Regional Cookbook collection. It should be noted that "The Jersey Shore Cookbook" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($17.99).
One More Slice
Lelia Lindholm
New Holland UK
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781780094588, $19.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Leila Lindholm, of Swedish-Moroccan background, began her career in the restaurant world.
During her career as a chef, Leila has worked at several well known restaurants including
Aquavit in New York, Operakallaren and Fredsgatan 12 in Stockholm. Today she works
primarily in TV, where she has gained a huge following. Her primetime cooking show is called
Leila's Food and airs on Swedish lifestyle channel, TV4 Plus. In "One More Slice: Sourdough
Bread, Pizza, Pasta and Sweet Pastries" Linholm has drawn upon her years of experience and
expertise to compile an impressively illustrated culinary compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen
cook friendly' recipes for a series of dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite.
The recipes range from a Sweet Potato Cheesecake; Strawberry Belgian Waffles; Flourless
Brownies; and an Ice Cream Bobe with Raspberry Meringue; to a Chocolate Baguette; Olive
Bread; Twin Peaks Cherry Pie; and Sweet-Shaped Ravioli with Butternut Squash. A delight to
simply browse through and ideal for planning memorable menus with, "One More Slice:
Sourdough Bread, Pizza, Pasta and Sweet Pastries" is very highly recommended for personal,
family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "One More Slice" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Short Order Dad
Robert Rosenthal
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781634509800, $17.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Although it's written with a sense of humor, "Short Order Dad: One Guy's Guide to Making Food
Fun and Hassle-Free" by Robert Rosenthal is a serious culinary resource for dads (and anyone
else) wanting to make great tasting food at home - even if they have never used a chef's knife or a
roasting pan before. "Short Order Dad" offers step-by-step instructions in basic techniques and
presents a playbook of simple recipes that achieve the most taste with the fewest ingredients and
the least effort. "Short Order Dad" also covers all the essentials, from shopping ingredients and
cooking tools to appetizers, soups and salads, snacks, entrees, sauces and dressings, sides,
desserts, cocktails and more, to make anyone a successful chef. Beautifully illustrated
throughout, the recipes range from Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes; Braised Chicken with 41
Garlic Cloves; Toasty Bruschetta; and Seared Tuna Wrap with Mango Chutney; to Grapefruit
Avocado Salad; Baked Potato Fries; Chocolate Covered Strawberries; and The Vesper Martini.
While very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook
collections, it should be noted that "Short Order Dad" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.98).
Pure Food
Kurt Beecher Dammeier
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781942952176, $34.95, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com
With the proliferation of artificial additives, hormones, antibiotics, and the thousand other
man-made substances and chemical cocktails lurking in our grocery bags, eating healthy, natural
foods is trickier than ever. It's no coincidence that America's health is flagging, with obesity and
type 2 diabetes now at epidemic levels. But planning menus with chef, restaurateur, food
entrepreneur, retailer, and nutrition educator Kurt Dammeier's "Pure Food: A Chef's Handbook
for Eating Clean, with Healthy, Delicious Recipes" will enable even the most novice of kitchen
cooks to prepare meals that are demonstrably easier to make and much healthier to eat because
each of the more than 70 features recipes are based on pure, additive-free ingredients and
preparation instructions. Unlike most cookbooks, the recipes comprising "Pure Food" are
organized in threads which start with a primary meal component like chicken, and progress
through a series of dishes that use the primary ingredient in different ways to help kitchen cooks
to get the most from their cooking. The recipes range from Oven Dried Tomatoes; Beef and
Mushroom Lasagna; Lamb Gyros; and Old Bay Roasted turkey Breast Plus Stock; to White Fish
Salad; Farror Cakes with Bacon and Parsley; Purple Potato Salad with Pea Vines; and Beecher's
No-Bake Super-Light Cheesecake. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Pure Food" will prove to
be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library
cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Pure Food" is also available in a Kindle edition
($20.49).
The Magic of Broths
Nick Sandler
Kyle Books
192 - 198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, England, SW1V 1DX
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781909487413, $22.95, www.kylebooks.com
The Magic of Broths provides some 60 recipes for broths and stocks and comes from a chef and
food writer who offers a fine selection of the best which can be easily made at home with a
minimum of prep time or ingredients. Color photos and nutritional information accompany each
recipe, which covers stocks for all kinds of meats, vegetables and fish and shows how to make
variations, then pair them with meats and added light ingredients. The result is a fine collection
of recipes perfect for any looking for light, restorative broth bases.
From Tea Cakes to Tamales
Nola McKey
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781623494094, $29.95, www.tamupress.com
From Tea Cakes to Tamales: Third-Generation Texas Recipes is written by culinary historian and
illustrated by Cora McKown as it explores Texas's vintage recipes and the evolution of its
culinary history. Here more than a hundred third-generation and older recipes share dishes and
traditions with a focus on Texas' cultural diversity, including recipes for Norwegian, Italian,
Czech and Chinese influences, among other ethnic groups that made lasting impressions on
Texas foods. More than a cookbook, this includes narratives from family experiences and creates
a powerful presentation that is especially recommended for culinary history readers interested in
Texas food heritage.
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Leon's Happy Salads by Jane Baxter and John Vincent (9781840917185, $19.99) is
recommended for salad enthusiasts and those who aren't wild about salads, and offers a new
contribution to the Leon series of cookbooks that focuses on different kinds of salads. Readers
shouldn't expect a compendium of familiar favorites: Leon provides many innovative and
appealing salads, from a Middle Eastern Spiced Quinoa and Get Figgy With It salad to sole filets
in a Coconut Kinelaw and a Smoked Chicken with Diced Pear dish. The variety of dishes makes
for a real winner that will appeal even to those who eschew traditional salads. Claus Meyer's The
Nordic Kitchen: One Year of Family Cooking (9781784721626, $29.99) features four seasonal
chapters and a focus on different produce to be found at different times of year, with recipes for
Rhubarb Cake, Tartlets with Summer Vegetables in Bechamel sauce, and Quick and Easy Rye
Bread. While there are a good number of fish-based recipes here, the book includes many of
diverse dishes making it a special recommendation for those who would try seasonal Nordic
cuisine with ingredients available outside of the region. Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea
(9781784721466, $24.99) comes from a Master P tissier who presents nearly a hundred recipes
for sweet and savory afternoon treats, and pairs lovely full-page color photos with individual
recipes and six themes menus produced from them. Some of the highlights include a
Scandinavian Apple Cake, a Clementine and Pomegranate Cake, and classic Linzer Torte, and
while the dishes all require preparation, any who love to bake will find these creations easy and
fun to assemble, and perfect for entertaining.
The Beer Shelf
The Beer Geek Handbook
Patrick Dawson
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612125312, $14.95, www.storey.com
The Beer Geek Handbook: Living a Life Ruled by Beer gathers beer facts, pairs them with a fun
approach to the art of tasting and understanding both beer and those who imbibe, and blends
humor with fun facts about beer to provide a cartoon-enhanced compendium of beer details and
culture. Within the chatty and lively format are serious discussions about the differences between
different styles of beer, how to best appreciate them, and how to understand what makes a
superior beer. The result is a fun approach perfect for novices who like beer but need more
information in a less serious, weighty tone than competing beer books offer.
The Journalism Shelf
Words Matter
Edited by Amanda Dahling and Mary Kay Blakely
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th St., Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826220899 $29.95 amazon.com
Words Matter: Writing to Make a Difference presents examples of exceptional "long form"
journalistic writing by various graduates of the Missouri School of Journalism. These writings
are grouped into three categories: profiles, first person journalism, and personal memoirs. Each
essay is followed up with a "postscript" in which the author describes what they learned about
writing, journalism, and the business of getting published. An excellent resource for self-study or
for instructors or students in writing programs, Words Matter is highly recommended,
particularly for college library collections.
Health and the Media
Valentina Marinescu & Bianca Mitu, editors
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476663029, $39.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Valentina Marinescu (Professor at the Faculty of
Sociology and Social Work at Bucharest University in Bucharest, Romania) and Bianca Mitu (a
Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom) "Health and the Media:
Essays on the Effects of Mass Communication" is comprised of ten major essays analyzing the
relationship between medicine and the media from different perspectives. Each of these new
essays fill a gap in this emerging field by providing new information on approaches to health
communication and important reevaluations of health literacy theories. The contributors discuss
ideas and methodologies across a range of topics, including multifaceted health communication,
media coverage of maternal health, the rhetoric of diagnosis in autoimmune illness, media
representation of the sick in data-driven healthcare, and health news coverage in print media.
Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Health and the Media: Essays on
the Effects of Mass Communication" is unreservedly recommended for professional, college, and
academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists of students, academia,
and non-specialist readers with an interest in the subject that "Health and the Media: Essays on
the Effects of Mass Communication" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.99).
The Literary Studies Shelf
Proust for Beginners
Steve Bachmann, author
Van Howell, illustrator
For Beginners LLC
155 Main Street, Suite 211, Danbury, CT 06810
9781939994448 $15.95 www.forbeginnersbooks.com
Lavishly illustrated with black-and-white sketches and caricatures on almost every page, Proust
for Beginners is a guide to the life and works of French novelist Marcel Proust (1871-1922), who
is particularly well-known for the modernist classic "In Search of Lost Time". Accessible to
readers of all backgrounds, Proust for Beginners explains the complex subjects and themes that
Proust tackled, in a clear, reader-friendly style. The cartoons and caricatures add a unique dash of
zest and flair to this excellent resource for high school, college, and public library literary studies
collections!
The Tempest
Cass Foster
Five Star Publications Inc.
PO Box 6698, Chandler, AZ 85246-6698
www.FiveStarPublications.com
9781589852365, $8.99, PB, 98pp, www.amazon.com
Educator, director, playwright, and nationally known stage fight choreographer, Cass Foster is a
lifelong master of Shakespearean theater. He devotes himself to making Shakespeare more
approachable to students and theater companies alike through his highly lauded Sixty-Minute
Shakespeare series. "The Tempest" is the eighth and newest addition to this outstanding series
but is an abridged, condensed version of the play so that it can be performed in approximately
one hour. Especially recommended for students and local community theatre groups, Cass
Foster's edition provides the same lyrical language enjoyment that the unabridged original
provides.
Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov
Michael C. Finke & Michael Holquist
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
www.mla.org
9781603292672, $40.00, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com
The literary works of Anton Chekhov are unflinching in the face of human frailty. With their
emphasis on the dignity and value of individuals during unique moments, they help us better
understand how to exist with others when we are fundamentally alone. Written in Russia at the
end of the nineteenth century, when the country began to move fitfully toward industrialization
and grappled with the influence of Western liberalism even as it remained an autocracy,
Chekhov's plays and stories continue to influence contemporary writers. The essays comprising
"Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov" provide classroom strategies for
teaching Chekhov's stories and plays, discuss how his medical training and practice related to his
literary work, and compare Chekhov with writers both Russian and American. This compilation
of essays also aims to help classroom instructors with the daunting array of new editions in
English, as well as with the ever-growing list of titles in visual media: filmed theater productions
of his plays, adaptations of the plays and stories scripted for film, and amateur performances
freely available online. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Approaches
to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov" is very highly recommended for college and
university library collections. For the personal reading lists of students, teachers, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the work of Anton Chekov, it should be noted
that "Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781603292689, $24.00) and in a Kindle format ($14.40).
Bob Seger's House and Other Stories
Michael Delp & M. L. Liebler, editors
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814341940, $24.99, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Michael Delp (former Director of Creative Writing at
the Interlochen Arts Academy) & M. L. Liebler (an award-winning poet, literary arts activist, and
professor), "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories" is a unique collection of twenty-two short
stories written by some of Michigan's most well-known fiction writers. The scope of this literary
anthology reflects the dynamic and diverse writing that is currently taking place by people who
consider their home to be the Great Lakes state. Stories are far-ranging, from the streets of
Detroit and the iconic presence of the auto industry to the wild tracts of the Upper Peninsula, to a
couple on the west coast trying to figure out parenting. "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories"
vibrates with that tension, of metal versus rock and human frailty taking on the pitfalls and
hardships of living in this world. An inherently and consistently compelling read comprised of
deftly written literary masterpieces, "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories" is very highly
recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction
collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bob
Seger's House and Other Stories" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.19).
The Architecture Shelf
Graphic Guide to Frame Construction, fourth edition
Rob Thallon
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631863721, $29.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Now in an newly updated and expanded fourth edition, the "Graphic Guide to Frame
Construction" by Rob Thallon, (a professional architect and the Associate Professor of
Architecture at the University of Oregon) is a comprehensive visual handbook filled with
hundreds of meticulous drawings showing the framing details you need to understand when
building with wood. This new edition of a classic instructional guide reflects the most recent
changes in residential frame construction. "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" contains more
details for engineered wood products, fasteners, and seismic hold-down requirements, as well as
the latest IRC code updates. It is well annotated and covers foundations, floors, walls, stairs, and
roofs. Because examples are taken from actual job sites, "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction"
is enhanced with invaluable visual aids that can help builders and homeowners alike to tackle a
wide range of framing projects. Comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, content,
organization and presentation, "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" is very highly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Architectural Studies
instructional reference collections.
The Political Science Shelf
American Maelstrom
Michael A. Cohen
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780199777563, $29.95, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Michael A. Cohen is a national political columnist for The Boston Globe. He writes regularly on
American politics and U.S. foreign policy and has previously been a columnist for the Guardian
and Foreign Policy. In "American Maelstrom: The 1968 Election and the Politics of Division" he
provides a detailed analytical history of the election of 1968 which was immediately caught up in
a swirl of powerful forces, and the nine men who sought the nation's highest office that year
attempted to who attempted to ride those political forces to victory -- or merely just survive them.
On the Democratic side, Eugene McCarthy energized the anti-war movement; George Wallace
spoke to the working-class white backlash; Robert Kennedy took on the mantle of his slain
brother. Entangled in Vietnam, Johnson, stunningly, opted not to run again, scrambling the odds.
On the Republican side, 1968 saw the vindication of Richard Nixon, who out-hustled Nelson
Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan and George Romney, by navigating between the conservative and
moderate wings of the Republican Party. The assassinations of first Martin Luther King, Jr., and
then Robert Kennedy seemed to push the country to the brink of chaos, a chaos reflected in the
Democratic Convention in Chicago, in which for the first time in American political history such
an event became a kind of televised horror show. Vice President Hubert Humphrey emerged as
the nominee, and, finally liberating himself from Johnson's grip, nearly overcame the lead long
enjoyed by Nixon who, by exploiting division and channeling the national yearning for order,
would be the last man standing. Enhanced with the inclusion of forty-six pages of Notes; an eight
page Bibliographic Essay, and a thirty-five page Index, "American Maelstrom" is an impressively
well written, researched, organized and presented study that will prove to be an invaluable and
appreciated addition to both community and academic library 20th Century American History
and Political Science reference collections. For personal reading lists of academics and
non-specialist readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "American
Maelstrom" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Art Shelf
The Art of Disney's Dragons
Foreword by David Lowery
Introduction by Tom Bancroft
Disney Editions
1101 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201
9781484747162 $29.99 www.disneybooks.com
The Art of Disney's Dragons is a gorgeous, full-color compilation of concept art featuring
dragons from three generations of Disney movies, parks, and resorts - even some ultimately
unused concepts. From the villainous Maleficent of "Sleeping Beauty", to the wisecracking
Mushu of "Mulan", to the animated and 2016 live-action renditions of Pete's Dragon and more,
The Art of Disney's Dragons is an extraordinary tour of ideas, memories, designs, and dreams.
Outside of the foreword, the introduction, there is virtually no text; the dragon art speaks for
itself. Back-of-the-book notes identify the origin of each artwork, without distracting from their
splendor. The Art of Disney's Dragons is highly recommended for Disney fans and dragon fans
alike!
Gerhard Richter: Panorama
Nicholas Serota & Mark Godfrey, editors
Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9781938922923, $65.00, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist who has produced abstract as well as photorealistic
paintings, as well as photographs and glass pieces. His art follows the examples of Picasso and
Jean Arp in undermining the concept of the artist's obligation to maintain a single cohesive style.
First published on the occasion of the major retrospective exhibition that opened at Tate Modern
in 2011, this newly expanded edition of "Gerhard Richter: Panorama" continues to offer the most
complete overview of the artist's entire career to date. This stunningly illustrated survey
encompasses works from the late 1950s to the present and includes his photo-paintings,
abstractions, landscapes, seascapes, portraits, color charts, grey paintings, glass and mirror
works, sculptures, drawings and photographs. All this combines to provide a definitive account
of Richter's achievements. It also includes studio photographs, archival images and texts by an
array of international critics and curators. This expanded edition of "Gerhard Richter: Panorama"
includes a new text by Mark Godfrey that covers works made since the 2011 exhibition,
including the Strip, Flow and Birkenau paintings, as well as an updated chronology. With more
than 300 illustrations, and an interview between Richter and Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate,
"Gerhard Richter: Panorama" remains the most comprehensive survey of one of the world's
pre-eminent contemporary artists and is very highly recommended for personal, community, and
academic library Contemporary Art History collections in general, and Gerhard Richter
supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Photography Shelf
Oregon: A Photographic Journey
Greg Vaughn
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376606, $12.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "Oregon: A Photographic Journey", veteran travel photographer Greg Vaughn
takes his readers on an impressively memorable photographic journey of the state of Oregon,
sharing the spectacular, diverse landscape this part of the country is known for. Readers will
enjoy these beautiful and informatively captioned images showcasing the beauty of Oregon's
famous coast with sea stacks, the snowcapped peaks of the Cascades, lush old-growth forests,
and fertile valleys. From the cascading waterfalls, serene lakes, and raging rivers of western
Oregon to the craggy mountains, deep canyons, and painted hills in eastern Oregon, "Oregon: A
Photographic Journey" a breathtaking journey and one that is ideal for the armchair traveler and
the on-site visitor alike. A truly exceptional volume of breathtaking photography, "Oregon: A
Photographic Journey" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and
community library Outdoor Photography and American Travel collections.
EAA Oshkosh: The Best AirVenture Photography
James P. Busha, Hal Bryan; Dick Knapinski
Voyageur Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760351840, $24.99, Flexibound, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Every year the skies over Oshkosh, Wisconsin, rumble with the sound of aircraft engines. It's the
annual week long aviation air show is sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association
(EAA), an international organization based in Oshkosh, and is the largest of its kind anywhere in
the world. EAA Oshkosh showcases the many types of aircraft that have appeared there and even
offers a glimpse of the lively crowds and campgrounds including: Warbirds; Vintage aircraft;
Home-Built aircraft; Seaplanes; Ultralights; and EAA firsts (i.e., the F-35, all of Burt Rutan, the
SR-71, etc.) Drawing on the EAA's photo archive dating back to 1953, Very highly
recommended, especially for dedicated aviation enthusiasts and community library aviation
collections, "EAA Oshkosh" brims from cover to cover with fascinating stories, history, and
photography. Simply stated -- paging through "EAA Oshkosh" is the next best thing to actually
attending the show!
Iconocracia
Ivan de la Nuez
Turner
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9788416354733, $30.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Ivan de la Nuez, an essayist, art critic and exhibition curator born in Havana in 1964, has been
the head of the Cultural Activities Department at the Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona
(2009-2011) and the Exhibitions Director at La Virreina Centre de la Imatge (2000-2009). He
collaborates with Babelia, El Pais newspaper's cultural insert, as well as different magazines and
newspapers in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Compiled, edited and presented by
Nuez, this bilingual edition of "Iconocracia: An Image of Power and the Power of Images in
Contemporary Cuban Photography" brings together the works of approximately 30 Cuban
photographers from different generations and political perspectives. This impressively presented
collection reflects the diversity of contemporary Cuban society and culture, making it a critically
important, unique, and highly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community,
and academic library Contemporary Photography collections.
The Autism Shelf
Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism
Susan Helghway & Susan kidd Webster
Future Horizons
721 West Abram Street, Arlington, TX 76013
www.fhautism.com
9780986067327, $24.95, PB, 188pp, www.amazon.com
Federal law requires that every school district educate school age children. An essential part of a
well rounded education is the building of a child's self-esteem so they can make informed
choices. "Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism" is a STARS 2
adapted version of the original STARS guidebook that is focused on school-aged children. The
STARS 2 model concentrates on four areas: Understanding Relationships, Social Skills Training,
Sexual Awareness, and Assertiveness with the goals of promoting positive sexuality and
preventing sexual abuse. Assessment tools help identify the strengths and needs of each
individual, and then the activities can be catered to address specific needs. The collaborative
effort of Susan M. Heighway (who is a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Madison,
Wisconsin), and Susan Kidd Webster (a Senior Lecturer and Field Faculty Associate at the
University of Wisconsin in Madison) "Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness for Kids with
Autism: STARS 2) is very highly recommended for professional, school district, college, and
university educational reference collections for teaching and working with autistic children.
The Military Shelf
The Battle Of Jutland
John Brooks
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9781107150140, $49.99, HC, 584pp, www.amazon.com
The naval engagement known as the Battle of Jutland was a battle on the high seas fought by the
British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, against the Imperial German
Navy's High Seas Fleet under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer during the First World War. The
battle was fought from 31 May to 1 June 1916 in the North Sea, near the coast of Denmark's
Jutland Peninsula. It was the largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleships in the
war. "The Battle of Jutland" by military scholar John Brooks is a major new account of the Battle
of Jutland and begins with the building of the two fleets wherein Brooks reveals the key
technologies employed, from ammunition, gunnery and fire control, to signaling and torpedoes,
as well as the opposing commanders' tactical expectations and battle orders. In describing
Jutland's five major phases, Brooks offers important new interpretations of the battle itself and
how the outcome was influenced by technology, as well as the tactics and leadership of the
principal commanders, with the reliability of their own accounts of the fighting reassessed. "The
Battle Of Jutland" draws on contemporary sources which have rarely been cited in previous
accounts, including the dispatches of both the British and German formations, along with official
records, letters and memoirs. An impressively well researched, written, organized and presented
study, and one that adheres to the highest standards of scholarship, "The Battle Of Jutland" is
enhanced with the inclusion of a twenty-seven page Bibliography; a seven page Index of
Warships and Formations; and a twenty page General Index. While very highly recommended for
both community and academic library 20th Century Military History and 20th Century Naval
History collections in general, and World War I supplemental studies lists it particular, it should
be noted for the personal reading lists of academia and the non-specialist general reader with an
interest in the subject the "The Battle Of Jutland" is also available in a Kindle edition
($31.20).
The Graphic Novel Shelf
To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts Vol. 1
MAYBE
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993414 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com
The first volume of To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts debuts a black-and-white manga (Japanese
comics) series set in a post-war world with an uneasy coexistence between humans and
Incarnates, super-soldiers that were permanently transformed into fantastic monsters of myth and
legend. But not all Incarnates can retain their humanity, and one by one these "Sacred Beasts" are
turning upon the humans they once fought for. Nancy Schaal Bancroft is the daughter of an
Incarnate soldier, who witnessed her father's execution at the hands of a "Beast Hunter". Her
mission of revenge is turned upside-down when she begins to learn more about the Sacred
Beasts, and the deadly threat posed by the ones that lose their minds! A fine balance of action,
fantasy, and flawed yet courageous characters, To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts is highly
recommended.
Tokyo ESP 5
Hajime Segawa
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993025 $15.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Tokyo ESP 5 continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese comics) series set in a world where
a sizeable percentage of Tokyo's entire population has suddenly gained psychic abilities. Volume
5 begins with the struggle of two young women, taken hostage by psychic terrorists, who must
fight to survive and escape. The "White Girl" Rinka and her comrade Urushiba reappear, but why
is the government persecuting the duo once hailed as heroes? The second half of volume 5
reveals events in Rinka's and Urushiba's recent past. A corrupt human trafficking ring has been
selling psychic humans from Tokyo as slaves, and Rinka is recruited to stop it - but the enemy
employs a telepath specifically to ferret out infiltrators. Rinka must undergo a severe
anti-telepathy countermeasure... with psychological repercussions far beyond what anyone could
have guessed! Excitement, fierce fighting, and intrigue abound, in this soul-stirring saga of
heroes and multiple factions of ruthless villains.
Ninja Slayer 5: One Minute Before the Tanuki
Original work by Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez
Art by Yuki Yogo
Script by Yoshiaki Tabata
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993551 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Ninja Slayer 5: One Minute Before the Tanuki continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese
comics) adaptation of the shockingly grisly Ninja Slayer saga. The Ninja Slayer series is set in
the wretched cyberpunk hive of Neo Saitama, a place where superhumanly powerful "ninja
souls" merged with mortal humans rule and terrorize through Laomoto Khan's Soukai Syndicate.
Humanity's only hope may be the ferocious Ninja Slayer! Once an ordinary man, the Ninja Slayer
lost his beloved family, transformed into a rogue ninja soul, and exists for little reason other than
to kill all other ninja. In One Minute Before the Tanuki, the Ninja Slayer desperately seeks an
antidote for the "Takeuchi" virus before it can claim the life of his mentor. The Ninja Slayer
cannot find the antidote on his own; he needs the help of genius computer hacker and mysterious
journalist Nancy. But neither cyberspace nor real life is safe from rival ninja attacks! Will the
obsessed cyber-ninja Daedalus burn out both their minds in mid-hack? Full-throttle,
no-holds-barred violence is the sushi of the day! It should be noted that Ninja Slayer is a series
explicitly for mature readers (ages 16+) due to graphic carnage, sexual situations, and strong
language.
Nichijou My Ordinary Life 3
Keiichi Arawi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993322 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Suitable for readers of all ages, Nichijou My Ordinary Life 3 is a black-and-white,
short-story-anthology manga (Japanese comics) about school students who are mostly ordinary,
except when various ludicrous, improbable, or flat-out ridiculous things happen. From a principal
so tongue-tied he can't stutter the command end to an outdoor assembly in heat-stroke weather
(even as his students collapse one by one!); to a glue mishap that risks utterly swallowing a
young scientist, her robot, and their cat; to a slacker student's attempt to copy off a stonewalling
classmate's homework and more, Nichijou blends the mundane and the surreal into a fine puree
of whimsy. Volume 3 of Nichijou makes as good a jumping-on point as any, due to the episodic
nature of its mini-stories!
Breaking the 10, Volume 1
Sean Michael Wilson and Michiru Morikawa
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
9781681120218 $12.99 www.nbmpub.com
Breaking the 10, Volume 1 is the first half of a two-part graphic novel series about one man's
rage against the heavens. After David loses his wife and son to car accident, he is so filled with
rage that he decides to break the Ten Commandments, one by one, in order to get God's attention.
His resolve attracts the notice of two mysterious figures, Mr. White and Mr. Black. Though they
have mortal human forms, they also embody philosophical principles. Mr. White is a deeply
religious servant of God, while Mr. Black is a humanist who rejects the concepts of both God
and Satan. Each of them tries to win David over, and notably, neither of them wants David to
break the most ominous of the Ten Commandments... "Thou Shalt Not Kill". Part
character-driven story, part moral treatise, Breaking the 10 is compelling, thought-provoking, and
highly recommended. Breaking the 10 is suggested for older teen and adult readers due to some
mature language and situations.
Last Man: The Order
Balak, Sanlaville, & Vives
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626720503 $9.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com
Last Man: The Order is the fifth graphic novel in a fantastic series spanning conspiracies and
worlds. Marianne and young Adrian have successfully tracked down Richard Aldana, and
become entangled in a deadly fighting competition. (Also, Richard's true motive for previously
abandoning Marianne and Adrian is finally revealed.) But behind the crime boss that makes all
three of them battle for public entertainment lurks a far more ruthless enemy - one whose reach
and boundless greed threatens not only their lives, but also the entire Valley of Kings. Elements
of magic and cyberpunk merge freely in this exciting action-adventure! Highly
recommended.
The Marquis of Anaon 3: The Providence
Script by Fabien Vehlmann
Artwork by Matthieu Bonhomme
Cinebook Ltd.
56 Beech Ave., Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7TA, UK
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781849182775 $13.95 www.nbnbooks.com
The Marquis of Anaon 3: The Providence is a color graphic novel continuing the grim and
dangerous adventures of a wandering truth-seeker during the 1700's. The Marquis of Anaon
hopes his fortunes may take a turn for the better when he accepts a generous employment offer
from the Countess of Alemedia. They embark upon a sea voyage, yet when their ship crosses
paths with a rotting derelict, it becomes an evil omen of horrors to come! The Providence is a
self-contained adventure, and makes an excellent introduction to The Marquis of Anaon series.
Recommended for readers ages twelve and up due to violence and disturbing scenes.
Cinebook Ltd.
56 Beech Ave., Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7TA, UK
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
Four color graphic novels from Cinebook are installments in series packed with suspense,
adventure, and deadly danger. "Alone 5: Eye of the Maelstrom" (9781849182966, $11.95) by
Gazzotti & Vehlmann continues a disturbing story about a group of children who have awakened
in an empty city, and who must learn to survive alone. Even as a nightmarish truth about where
they are comes to light at last, a terrifying presence appears, so menacing that it can seemingly
force people to kill one another with bloodied weapons! "Valerian and Laureline 11: The Ghosts
of Inverloch" by Mezieres and Christin (9781849182935, $11.95) furthers the chronicles of two
agents of Galaxity, capital of the future Terran Empire, in their peacekeeping quest through time
and space (although alien friends and associates sometimes drop by at the most inconvenient
times). "XIII 21: Return to Green Falls" by I. Jigounov and Y. Sente (9781849183017, $11.95)
progresses the intrigue surrounding XIII, an amnesiac man whose hopes for a normal life
crumble beneath the relentless pursuit of a mysterious organization. Who expending immense
resources to capture him alive, and why? "Leo Episode 3: The Survivors Quantum Anomalies" is
the third installment in a parallel science fiction series to "The Worlds of Aldebaran". Marie and
a group of eleven other survivors narrowly escaped death when an accident befell their
Aldebaran-bound ship. Escaping via a small shuttle, they land on an unknown planet and must
work together to survive. Can their ability to jump into the future help them, or will it only make
the situation worse? All four graphic novels are exciting from cover to cover, and highly
recommended.
The Audiobook Shelf
Midnight Bites
Rachel Caine, author
Angela Dawe, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781494516048, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com
The sixteenth volume in Rachel Caine's enormously popular Morganville Vampire series,
"Midnight Bites" is a series of short stories, including six of which were never before published,
and sixteen that have been part of several diverse anthologies, that continue to fill in and expand
on the heros and villains, the living and the undead, that populate this unique Texas town. What
is particularly unusual about this audio book anthology is that the listener doesn't need to have
read any of Rachel Caine's previous vampire novels in order to be able to easily follow and
appreciate the stories which are roughly chronologically presented. Impressively narrated by
Angela Dawe who brings these stories fully to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' listening
experience, "Midnight Bites" is an extraordinary and recommended addition to community
library audio book collections, and is a "must" for the legions of vampire enthusiasts in general,
and Rachel Caine fans in particular! (11 CDs, 14 Hours, Unabridged).
Along Came Mr. Right
Gerri Russell, author
Read by Dara Rosenberg
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781522613459 $9.99 www.brillianceaudio.com/mp3
Along Came Mr. Right is an unabridged MP3 audiobook (plays on MP3-CD players or transfers
to portable devices) brimming with romance. Olivia Tyler is a foster mother, burned by an
ex-boyfriend who humiliated her on Facebook. On the night of a charity auction for her adoption
agency, she encounters a mysterious and wondrously romantic man. Max Right seems perfect -
handsome, chivalrous, and poised to make a fortune with his algorithm-based matchmaking app.
He's also someone else's fiance! Or is the matter more complicated than that? Along Came Mr.
Right is a charming love story for modern times, sure to enchant connoisseurs of the genre. 1
disc, 7 hours 43 min.
The Weekenders
Mary Kay Andrews, author
Read by Kathleen McInerney
www.marykayandrews.com
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427272270 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
The Weekenders is an eyebrow-raising murder mystery, set on the idyllic Belle Isle of North
Carolina. Some vacationers stay for the summer; others only are "weekenders" who come just for
a weekend. Riley Griggs was prepared to enjoy time with friends and family, but instead of
meeting her husband by ferry, she instead encounters a process server with papers. Each of her
friends on the island has his or her own dark troubles. Riley must get to the bottom of the
mystery of Belle Island, the secrets hidden among her alleged friends, and the true motivations of
the husband she thought she knew. It's a summer to remember in this excellent choice for
connoisseurs of the genre! 12 CDs, 15.5 hours.
Boar Island
Nevada Barr, author
Read by Barbara Rosenblat
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427272539 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
Boar Island: An Anna Pigeon Novel is the unabridged audiobook continuing the suspenseful
story of Anna Pigeon, a National Park Service Ranger. When Elizabeth, the adopted teenage
daughter of Anna's paraplegic friend Heath Jarrod, is harassed by a cyberstalker, they decide to
bring Elizabeth east to Anna's new post as Acting Chief Ranger at Acadia National Park in
Maine. But Elizabeth's stalker follows them to Boar Island, near the park... and a sudden murder
at Acadia proves that at least one remorseless killer is afoot. A superb performance by multiple
Audie and Earphone Award winner Barbara Rosenblat brings this intensely chilling saga to life!
Highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. 10 CDs, 12.5 hours.
Absolutely, Positively
Heather S. Webber, author
Performed by Dina Pearlman
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781522693796 $9.99 MP3 CD, www.brillianceaudio.com
Absolutely, Positively is an audiobook on MP3 CD; it can play on MP3-CD enabled players or
be transferred to portable devices. The story features Lucy Valentine, who has inherited a unique
gift for finding things from a long line of psychic ancestors. Lucy makes use of her talent by
running a matchmaking agency, and when the secret of her powers is revealed to the public, she
suddenly has far more clients than she knows how to handle! But what about her own love life,
or the sexy fireman-turned-private eye who has stolen her heart? Things take an oddball turn
when a mysterious masked man in a cowboy hat begins throwing handfuls of cash all about
town. Can Lucy get to the bottom of the cash-scattering mystery, find true love for her clients,
and turn the romantic heat up on her own private life all the same time? Absolutely, Positively is
a lighthearted mystery-romance, perfect for cozy listening! 1 MP3 CD, 9 hours.
The Seventh Sense
Written and read by Joshua Cooper Ramo
jramo.com
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478909101 $30.00 www.HachetteAudio.com
The Seventh Sense: Power, Fortune and Survival in the Age of Networks is the unabridged
audiobook rendition of Joshua Cooper Ramo's insights into how technology-driven connections
have changed the world - and are still changing it. The modern internet and smartphones have
enabled people to create global networks as never seen before, and those who have mastered
these networks achieve phenomenal success - whether they are business leaders, generals,
investors, politicians, or terrorists (one particularly grim example is ISIS, a terrorist organization
unparalleled in its mastery of social media). The Seventh Sense ultimately isn't just about
witnessing the power of human connections, but also harnessing that power to change the world.
Highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10 hours.
The Colonists
Raymond F. Jones, author
Justine Lerman, narrator
Speculative!
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781511357081, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com
What qualities are needed to leave Earth behind and never return? To start life anew on a far off
planet? A desire to leave and never return? A pioneer spirit? How would you select someone to
take that trip? Dr. Ashby believes in testing, but are his parameters correct? His experiment with
human volunteers is unique and fully immersive as he seeks to answer those questions -- and the
reply may not be what you would expect. Raymond Jone's "The Colonist" is a terrific science
fiction yarn that is brought to live in a genuine 'theatre of the mind' experience with the superbly
executed narration by Justine Lerman. "The Colonist" is very highly recommended for
community library audio book collections and the listening pleasure of dedicated science fiction
fans.
The Creature from Cleveland Depths
Fritz Leiber, author
Jim Roberts, narrator
Speculative!
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781511357098, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) was equally adept at writing science fiction, fantasy and horror. In the
course of his career his literary works were honored with the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy
awards. Now in a complete and unabridged audio book edition of a classic Fritz Leiber science
fiction short story, narrator Jim Roberts performs "The Creature from Cleveland Depths". The
story of a writer and his wife who refuse to move below-ground after the cold-war gets hot.
However, the writer still serves as a consultant for a below-ground company seeking to come up
with new "gadgets". His latest product idea is called "The Tickler", a device that is with you at all
times to remind you of appointments and "suggests" little motivations to improve efficiency.
Then the device begins to have unintended and frightening consequences which only the inventor
seems to recognize. With flawless production values, this audio book edition of "The Creature
from Cleveland Depths" is unreservedly recommended for community library audio book
collections and a "must" for the legions of Fritz Leiber fans.
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HachetteAudio.com
James Patterson and Marshall Karp's NYPD Red 4 (9781478928072, $35.00) enjoys a dual
narration by Edoardo Ballerini and Jay Snyder as it tells of a manhunt for a murderer who covets
money and blood alike. An elite police task force faces its biggest challenge yet as political
tempers flair under an assault which seems unending. All come to life in an audio that's gripping
and compelling. Peter Brown's The Wild Robot (9781478938334, $25.00) is read by Kate
Atwater and presents an unusual scenario: robot Roz is alone on a remote, wild island with no
memory of how she got there. Her struggles to survive occupy more of her attention than her
missing memory, until it begins to return and threatens the unusual friendships and home she has
just begun to cultivate. Both are vividly-read productions and shine in audio format.
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain and Renee Paley-Bain's Murder, She Wrote series expands yet
again with a new addition, Design for Murder (9781501261671, $24.99), performed by veteran
narrator Sandra Burr who lends her much-experienced, engrossing voice to a new story of death
that overtakes the modeling industry's top runway glamour figures. One is a novice at the job; the
other a famous cover girl. Both are found dead under mysterious circumstances, and there's only
one connection between them. Jessica is forced to consider all possibilities in a riveting thriller
that offers many twists and turns in the course of solving murders. William Stolzenburg's Heart
of a Lion (9781480532083, $29.99) receives an excellent reading by Mike DelGaudio who
brings to life the story of a mountain lion's two thousand mile trek from the American West to
the Atlantic coast. In 2011 an SUV hit a three-year-old mountain lion on a Connecticut parkway.
Author William Stolzenburg traced his roots across the years and here produces an outstanding
saga that springs to life in audio and is especially recommended for natural history
enthusiasts.
The Library CD Shelf
It's Time
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble
www.almaafrobeat.com
Slow Walk Music
www.slowwalkmusic.com
It's Time is the third music CD from Alma Afrobeat Ensemble. Half of the album consists of
remixes by DJs given complete creative freedom (their only guideline was that the remixes
"shouldn't sound like the originals") while the other half is live studio Afrobeat with very little
overdubbing. All songs stir the desire to dance, a universal Afrobeat quality that spans
continents. It's Time is a thoroughly vivacious experience, highly recommended! The tracks are
"It's Time" (6:49), "Live and Let's Live" (8:13), "Shakedown" (8:32), "Lost" (8:35), "Siempre
Presente" (4:22), "DWB Breakdown" (5:30), "Ain't It Time" (3:48), "Lost in Dub" (6:08), and
"Room Enough for Us" (6:52).
Aupres du Poele
Ten Strings and a Goat Skin
tenstringsandagoatskin.com
$14.06 US / $20.00 CDN (physical CD) maplemusic.com
$7.99 download itunes.com
Aupres du Poele ("around the woodstove") is the latest music CD from Canadian acoustic trio
Ten Strings and a Goat Skin. The songs draw on a variety of sources, especially old-school
Franco-Canadian, Breton, Irish, and Scottish music. Modern elements such pump organ add a
touch of cutting-edge funk to those exuberant, trans-cultural indie songs! The tracks are "The
Ukrainian Expedition" (4:44), "Aupres du Poele" (3:18), "Igen" (6:27), "When First I Came to
Caledonia" (4:28), "Shoot the Moon" (4:33), "Maluron Lurette "4:29), "The Town" (4:45),
"Lament for Buckles" (4:5), "Maudit Anglais" (4:49), "Coal Not Dole" (3:12), and "Duhk Duhk
Goat" (7:28). Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of fresh and original music is "The
Three Voices" ($15.00 CD/$9.99 download) by Victor Prieto, a transformation of Celtic-Galician
dance tunes brought to life with Prieto's memorable accordion play and a grand performance of
bass, drums, piano, saxophone, and more.
Beyond Karma
Gyuto Monks of Tibet
Featuring Kim Cunio & Heather Lee
$16.98 amazon.com
Beyond Karma is a music CD of sacred sounds from a variety of different cultures. Australian
sacred music duo Kim Cunio and Heather Lee join The Gyuto Monks of Tibet in this celebration
of religious diversity and sacred traditions. The tremendous resonance of the Gyuto Monks'
harmonic chant is an experience to cherish and remember; it not only music, but also tantric
practice. Highly recommended, especially for international and spiritual music collections. Also a
choice pick for listeners eager to broaden their musical horizons is the Spanish-language album
"Selva" ("Jungle", $TBA) by Peruvian guitarist Ciro Hurtado.
In the Midst of Stars
Majestica
majesticamusic.com
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com
In the Midst of Stars is a beautiful music album by talented duo Majestica - bassist and
multi-instrumentalist Cass Anawaty, and award-winning multi-flutist Sherry Finzer. The two
have created an extraordinary medley of ambient tracks, reflecting inspiration from the natural
world as well as a celebration of human ingenuity. A "must" for connoisseurs of fine
instrumental music, In the Midst of Stars is especially for recommended meditation or relaxation.
The tracks are "In the Midst of Stars" (4:31), "Carousel" (4:01), "In Bloom" (5:31), "Close of
Day" (5:01), "Lone Mountain" (5:10), "View from the Summit" (4:13), "How Does it Feel"
(5:07), and "Aurora Australis" (10:31). 44 min 8 sec.
Extra-Deluxe-Supreme
Hazmat Modine
Barbes Records
barbesrecords.com
$10.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 amazon.com
Extra-Deluxe-Supreme is the third studio album by the band Hazmat Modine, a group known for
their signature tuba and harmonica as well as horn section, guitars, accordion, and much more.
Extra-Deluxe Supreme draws upon a medley of American musical traditions including Gospel,
rhythm and blues, country, and early jazz. At once both a celebration of and an imaginative spin
upon quintessentially American music, Extra-Deluxe Supreme is a joy to experience. The tracks
are "Another Day" (4:22), "Plans" (5:10), "Your Sister" (5:35), "Up & Rise" (5:25), "Arcadia
(Coffee, Salt & Laces) (5:33), "Moving Stones" (3:58), "Whiskey Bird" (6:03), "All of My Days"
(4:50), "End of Sweet Dreams" (5:00), and "Most of All" (4:40).
You Ain't Never Been to Texas
Johnny Lee
www.johnnyleemusic.com
c/o Webster Public Relations (publicity)
PO Box 23015, Nashville, TN 37202
www.websterpr.com
$11.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
You Ain't Never Been to Texas is a bona fide country music album, featuring the guitar play and
stirring vocals of Johnny Lee. Love, loss, courage, pride, and celebration of the Lone Star State
are recurring themes in this "must-have" for country music fans! Highly recommended. The
tracks are 'Lonesome Love List", "What's Forever For", "Who's Left, Who's Right", "Deep
Water", "Never Been to Texas", "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", "Good Lovin' Woman
Bad", "Wish I Could Love That Way Again", "2 Steps from the Blues", "Who Did You Love",
"Bullets First", and "Worth Watching".
The Library DVD Shelf
California Redwoods to Death Valley
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244th Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
9781604902082 $24.95 DVD
9781604902310 $24.95 Blu-ray www.Bennett-Watt.com
Part of the "Discoveries... America National Parks" series (each program is available in both
DVD and Blu-ray formats), California Redwoods to Death Valley showcases a diversity of
national parks and historic sites in California, including Redwoods National and State Parks,
Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Sand to Snow National Monument,
Cesar Chavez National Monument, Pinnacles National Park, Channel Island national Park and
much more. Beautiful, panoramic photography makes this educational and edifying DVD the
next best thing to witnessing California's natural splendor in person! Highly recommended,
especially for public library DVD collections. 50 min.
Yalom's Cure
A film by Sabine Gisiger
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
www.firstrunfeatures.com
$24.95 www.yalomscure.com
Yalom's Cure is a DVD documentary about the life's work of author, scholar, and psychotherapist
Irvin D. Yalom. Yalom is especially well known for his efforts in developing "existential
psychotherapy", a practice that integrates philosophy into psychotherapy, and Yalom's books
have been incorporated into college courses in psychology. Part biography, part exploration of
the human psyche, Yalom's Cure reveals how Yalom's work in the field of psychotherapy
changed the ways in which psychotherapists can help patients in need. Yalom's Cure is highly
recommended, especially for public and college library DVD collections. 74 min., optional
English subtitles.
Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art
A film by James Crump
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art is a DVD documentary about the inception of "land art" in
the late 1960's and early 1970's. A handful of artists, including Michael Heizer, Walter de Maria,
and Robert Smithson created gigantic expressions in the American southwest desert. Astounding
in their scope and audacity, these works include "Spiral Jetty", "Double Negative", and
"Lightning Field". Troublemakers includes rare footage as well as interviews with Smithson,
Heizer, Nancy Holt, Dennis Oppenheim, Carl Andre, Virginia Dwan, Charles Ross, and more.
Troublemakers is highly recommended for community library and as well as personal art history
DVD shelves. DVD extras include artist and filmmaker biographies, as well as a discussion
between director James Crump and the director of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary
Art, Philippe Vergne. 72 min. optional English subtitles.
Janet King Series 1: The Enemy Within
Starring Marta Dusseldorp
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
$49.99 www.acornonline.com
Janet King Series 1: The Enemy Within is 2-disc DVD set featuring Australian actress Marta
Dusseldorp in the award-winning role of senior crown prosecutor Janet King. Returning from
maternity leave, King is immediately assigned a controversial case involving a respected police
officer. As King traces connections between criminal cases that appear unrelated at first glance,
and jockeys with a colleague whose guiding principle is "victory at any cost", she gradually
reveals a conspiracy that could condemn both the police and the judiciary. The quest for justice
puts King and her family in mortal danger, in this edge-of-seat suspenseful courtroom drama!
Bonus features include 18 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a photo gallery. Janet
King Series 1 is recommended for mature viewers due to strong language, violence, sexual
situations, and disturbing images. 2 DVDs, 8 episodes, 474 min., SDH subtitles.
Tendu Toning
Rachel Speck
SpeckFitness
www.speckfitness.com
$25.00 amazon.com
Tendu Toning: Where Ballet Meets Fitness is a one-hour fitness DVD that combines
muscle-toning exercises from ballet with bodybuilding techniques. Retired professional ballerina
Rachel Speck demonstrates how basic ballet steps can lead to a stronger, healthier body. The
recommended, inexpensive exercise equipment to pair with Tendu Toning is a small glide disc (a
paper plate or power towel can be substituted, depending on one's workout surface), a resistance
band, and a barre or chair to provide a chest-high handhold and aid in balance. Ankle weights or
small hand weights are optional. The program includes a "squat" warm-up series working legs,
glutes, and hips; an "attitude" series that focuses on the glutes, hamstrings, and back; a "band
kick back" series that targets the legs and back with the resistance band; the "lunge" series with
gliding and use of the barre; floor work for the arms and abs; and finally a cool down. One does
not need the skill of an expert dancer for Tendu Toning; anyone who can balance on one foot can
enjoy the full fitness benefit of this excellent strength-building workout! Highly recommended.
60 min.
Fear of 13
David Singleton
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
DVD, $19.95, www.firstrunfeatures.com
Nick, a death row inmate, petitions the court to be executed. As he goes on to tell his story, it
gradually becomes clear that nothing is quite what it seems. Nick spins his tale with all the twists
and turns of classic crime drama, with a final shocking twist that casts everything in a new light.
Part confessional and part performance, "Fear of 13" is a haunting psychological thriller that is a
stylistically daring experiment in storytelling. With its flawless production values and riveting
storyline, "Fear of 13" is very highly recommended, especially for community library DVD
collections.
The Multimedia Shelf
Virginia Beauty: A Love Song for the Commonwealth
Joyce Johnson Rouse
Rouse House Music
PO Box 450, Independence, VA 24348
www.earthmama.org
$12.00 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com
Composer Joyce Johnson Rouse (a.k.a. "Earth Mama")
created Virginia Beauty: A Love Song for the Commonwealth as a tribute to Virginia's natural
beauty, hardworking people, and rich history. A medley of expert musicians perform Virginia
Beauty in standard, bluegrass, abbreviated, and instrumental versions. Virginia Beauty is also
enriched with bonus materials; when the CD inserted into a computer, the user gains access to
printable documents and suggestions for using the song in performance and education. Highly
recommended! The audio tracks are "Long Version", "Bluegrass Version - Featuring Dale Ann
Bradley", "Short Version", and "Instrumental Track".
The Parenting Shelf
Mindsets for Parents
Mary Cay Ricci & Margaret Lee
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618215246, $16.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
All parents want their children to be successful in school, sports, and extracurricular activities.
But it's not just about giving your kids praise or setting them on the right direction. Research
shows that success is often dependent on mindset. Hard work, perseverance, and effort are all
hallmarks of a growth mindset. That's where "Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage
Growth Mindsets in Kids" by Mary Cay Ricci (an education consultant, speaker) and Margaret
Lee (an education administrator and consultant in Maryland) comes in. Designed to provide
parents with a roadmap for developing a growth mindset home environment, "Mindsets for
Parents " has a conversational style and uses real-world examples make the popular mindsets
topic approachable and engaging. It includes tools for informally assessing the mindsets of both
parent and child, easy-to-understand brain research, and suggested strategies and resources for
use with children of any age. "Mindsets for Parents " gives parents and guardians powerful
knowledge and methods to help themselves and their children learn to embrace life's challenges
with a growth mindset and an eye toward increasing their effort and success! Thoroughly 'reader
friendly' in tone, content, commentary, organization and presentation, "Mindsets for Parents" is
very highly recommended for community library Parenting Skills instructional reference
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mindsets for Parents" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($11.63).
The American History Shelf
Being Japanese American
Gil Asakawa
Stone Bridge Press
1393 Solano Avenue, Suite C, Albany CA 94706
www.stonebridge.com
9781611720228, $18.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Gil Asakawa is a journalist, editor, author, speaker and blogger who covers Asian American,
Japanese American and Japanese culture in blogs and social media. He writes regular columns
for and is a member of the Editorial Board for the Pacific Citizen, the national newspaper of the
Japanese American Citizens League, and his columns are also published in the Nikkei Voice, the
national newspaper of Japanese Canadians. "Being Japanese American: A JA Sourcebook for
Nikkei, Hapa . . . & Their Friends" is entertaining compendium is a celebration of Japanese
American history and heritage. While detailing favorite foods, customs, words, games, and
holidays, it also explores the painful history of Japanese immigration and the WWII internment
of Japanese Americans, with suggestions for connecting to your own Japanese American
community and passing on traditions across generations and into intermarried families. This
revised second edition Of "Being Japanese American" has fresh interviews with Japanese
Americans about their life experiences and explores contemporary Japanese pop culture like
anime and J-pop, with information on traveling to visit your Japanese roots and lists of resources
on the Web and social media. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Being
Japanese Americans" is especially recommended to the attention of Japanese American readers,
and is a critically important addition to both community and academic library American History
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Being Japanese American" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).
Chicago Transformed
Joseph Gustaitis
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334988 $29.95 www.siupress.com
Chicago Transformed: World War I and the Windy City is an extensively researched analysis of
how the demands of the First World War from 1913 to 1919 fundamentally changed the city of
Chicago. Chapters address Chicago's economic, cultural, and political history, as well as the
impact of the war on Chicago's soldiers, wartime daily life in Chicago (sometimes described as
"wheatless, meatless, and coalless"), Chicago women and their participation in the first sexual
revolution, Chicago's evolving ethnic demographics, and much more. A handful of
black-and-white photographs, notes, and an index round out this welcome contribution to
American History shelves, highly recommended especially for college library collections.
Jefferson, Lincoln, and the Unfinished Work of the Nation
Ronald L. Hatzenbuehler
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334902 $19.50 www.siupress.com
Jefferson, Lincoln, and the Unfinished Work of the Nation examines how two of America's
greatest leaders, President Jefferson and President Lincoln, grappled with the political problems
facing the nature. Each chapter focuses on a different vital issue confronted by both men: race
and slavery, the pros and cons of political parties, state rights vs. federal authority, religion and
the presidency, the president's powers under the American Constitution, and the appropriate
political economy for a republic. Author Robert L. Hatzenbuehler (professor emeritus of history,
Idaho State University) draws upon Jefferson's and Lincoln's own words in their written
correspondence, essays, and speeches in this fascinating study, enhanced with extensive source
notes and an index. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American
History collections.
The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862
John A. Haymond
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476665108, $39.95, PB, 276pp, www.amazon.com
The U.S.-Dakota War was the bloodiest Indian conflict of the 19th century and erupted in
southwestern Minnesota during the summer of 1862. In the war's aftermath, a hastily convened
commission of five army officers conducted trials of 391 Indians charged with murder and
massacre. In 36 days, 303 Dakota men were sentenced to death. In the largest simultaneous
execution in American history, 38 were hanged on a single gallows on December 26, 1862 -- an
incident now widely considered an act of revenge rather than judicial punishment. Providing
fresh insight into this controversial event, "The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862: Revenge,
Military Law and the Judgment of History" by conflict historian John A. Haymond (who is also
the executive director of the Mower County Historical Society in Austin, Minnesota) deftly
examines the Dakota War trials from the perspective of 19th century military law. Haymond
discusses the causes and far-reaching consequences of the war, the claims of widespread
atrocities, the modern debate over the role of culture in lawful warfare and how the war has been
depicted by historians. Impressively researched and notably well written, organized and
presented, "The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862" is an exceptional work of historical
scholarship and very strongly recommended for community and academic library Native
American Studies and 19th American History collections. For students and non-specialist general
readers it should be noted that "The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($24.99).
The World History Shelf
Among the Headhunters
Robert Lyman
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780306824678 $25.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com
Among the Headhunters: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival in the Burmese
Jungle lives up to its title as an amazing true story of endurance, survival, and rescue. When a
Curtiss C-46 Commando crashed on the mountainous border between India and Burma in August
of 1943, all but one of the twenty-one passengers and crew survived, in the largest ever parachute
evacuation of an airplane. These survivors were stranded in the extremely remote and unmapped
land of the Nagas of the Patkoi Hills, a tribe of headhunters known to practice human sacrifice,
whose village had been burned twice by the British. Japanese soldiers were also relatively close.
United States Army Air Forces were able to send sustenance, but the survivors' rescue would
ultimately take nothing less than a military expedition. Among the Headhunters is an
unforgettable true-life story of danger, suspense, courage, and reconciliation. Highly
recommended!
The Civil War Shelf
The Second Day at Gettysburg
David L. Shultz and Scott L. Mingus Sr.
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611210743 $32.95 www.savasbeatie.com
The Second Day at Gettysburg: The Attack and Defense of Cemetery Ridge, July 2, 1863 is an
in-depth historical and military analysis of American Civil War's largest and bloodiest battle. The
battle of Gettysburg lasted three days; the second day marked the most significant turning point
of Gettysburg, and ultimately, the entire Civil War. Historian David L. Shultz and award-winning
history author Scott L. Mingus research, trace, and reconstruct each detail of the battle's
progression, in language accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Enhanced with occasional
black-and-white photography, a bibliography, and an index, The Second Day at Gettysburg is
highly recommended for public and college library Civil War shelves, as well as for personal
edification.
The Music Shelf
Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies
James A. Cosby
Marketing Department
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476662299, $35.00, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Rock music today is universal and its popular history is well known. Yet few know how and why
it really came about. Taking a fresh look at events long overlooked or misunderstood, "Devil's
Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies: How America Gave Birth to Rock and Roll" by pop culture
expert James A. Cosby (who is a regular contributor on pop culture matters for PopMatters.com)
tells how some of the most disenfranchised people in a free and prosperous nation strove to make
themselves heard, and in the process changed the world. Describing the genesis of rock and roll,
"Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies" covers everything from its deep roots in the
Mississippi Delta, key early figures, like deejay "Daddy-O" Dewey Phillips and gospel star Sister
Rosetta Tharpe, and the influence of so-called "holy rollers" of the Pentecostal church who
became crucial performers--Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. Enhanced with the
inclusion of twenty-four pages of Notes, a ten page Bibliography, and a nineteen page Index,
"Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies" is an extraordinary and highly recommended
addition to community, college, and university library American Music History collections. It
should be noted for the personal reading of students and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($24.99).
The Travel Shelf
National Parks of America
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781760340643, $29.99, www.lonelyplanet.com
A number of books on the market cover the national parks of America, but few hold the dramatic
contemporary visual approach of Lonely Planet's National Parks of America, which provides a
sweeping panoramic set of images of all 59 parks cross the country to accompany the usual tips
on what to do, what to see, and how to plan a trip. Would-be park visitors - especially those who
plan a trip to more than one park - will appreciate an approach that focuses on each park's unique
landscapes and wildlife and how to make the most of seeing both. From best places to stay and
itineraries to park features, this is an excellent survey recommended for destination-bound or
armchair readers alike.
Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico
Mike White & Douglas Lorain
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu
9780874179965, $24.95, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of seasoned backpackers Mike White and Douglas, "Best Backpacking
Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico" is more than just a simple guide book. It also features
occasional black-and-white photo illustrations, covers trail etiquette, wilderness ethics, and safety
issues for backpackers, and even includes an introductory section on 'Using this Guide'. In
addition to major backpacking trails ranging from Utah's Zion Park Travers, to Arizona's Tono
Trail - Grandview to Hermits Rest; to New Mexico's Pecos Skyline Trail, "Best Backpacking
Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico" also features a two page listing of Best Rips by
Season; and a four page Index. Informed and informative, "Best Backpacking Trips in Utah,
Arizona, and New Mexico" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and an ideal trip planning resource.
While very highly recommended for community library Travel Guide collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New
Mexico" is also readily available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
Best Tent Camping: Kentucky
Johnny Molloy
Menasha Ridge Press
2204 - 1st Avenue South, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
www.menasharidge.com
9781634040044, $15.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
An impressively well written, organized and presented car-camping guide to the scenic beauty,
nature sounds, and general escape from civilization, "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" by travel
writer Johnny Molloy will leads the Kentucky visitor to the very best tent camping destinations
within the Bluegrass State. Accurate describing not only of the campgrounds themselves, but also
the fun outdoors activities nearby them, this newly revised and expanded second edition of "Best
Tent Camping: Kentucky" uses a rating system which includes campground privacy, security,
beauty, quiet, and cleanliness, and offers inside tips on just how to be enjoy each particular
campground destination. "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" also details prices, opening and closing
dates, websites, and other information that will help travelers to utilize and enjoy their
vacationing and recreational tent camping time and experience to the fullest. While very highly
recommended for personal and community library Travel Guide reference collections, it should
be noted that "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).
Last-Minute Travel Secrets
Joey Green
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781613735046, $16.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
For a great many people traveling today (especially by air), getting from one place to another is
all too often an exercise in frustration, inconvenience, disappointment, irritation, resentment, and
exhaustion. Fortunately, "Last-Minute Travel Secrets" by Joey Green truly lives up to its subtitle:
"121 Ingenious Tips to Endure Cramped Planes, Car Trouble, Awful Hotels, and Other Trips
from Hell". Readers will discover how to correct uncomfortable accommodations using everyday
household products such as: Uncorking a wine bottle with a sneaker; Protecting your car from
bug splatters with cooking spray; Finding your car in a parking lot using a water bottle; Use a
motel bathtub as a washing machine; Muffle the sound of crying babies using tampon earplugs;
Purify and desalinate ocean water with a T-shirt; and so much more! "Last-Minute Travel
Secrets" also includes interesting and strange travel sidebars and fascinating trivia to keep you
entertained until your lost luggage arrives. Offering a wealth of practical tips, tricks and
techniques for the traveler, "Last-Minute Travel Secrets" is very highly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library Travel Guide collections. It should be noted that
"Last-Minute Travel Secrets" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Women's Studies Shelf
Tongue of Fire
Donna M. Kowal
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438459738, $75.00, HC, 222pp, www.amazon.com
In "Tongue of Fire: Emma Goldman, Public Womanhood, and the Sex Question", Donna M.
Kowal (Associate Professor of Communication Studies at The College at Brockport, State
University of New York) informatively examines the speeches and writings of the Most
Dangerous Woman in the World within the context of shifting gender roles in early
twentieth-century America. As the notorious leader of the American anarchist movement, Emma
Goldman captured newspaper headlines across the country as she urged audiences to reject
authority and aspire for individual autonomy. A public woman in a time when to be public and a
woman was a paradox, Goldman spoke and wrote openly about distinctly private matters,
including sexuality, free love, and birth control. Recognizing women's bodies as a site of struggle
for autonomy, she created a discursive space for women to engage in the public sphere and act as
sexual agents. In turn, her ideas contributed to the rise of a feminist consciousness that
recognized the personal as political and rejected dualistic notions of gender and sex. This
impressively researched and exceptionally well written, organized and presented study is a very
highly recommended addition to community and academic library Women's Studies and 20th
Century American History collections. Students and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the life and accomplishments of Emma Goldman should note that "Tongue of Fire" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($71.25).
The Library Science Shelf
Forging the Future of Special Collections
Melissa A. Hubbard, Robert H. Jackson, Arnold Hirshon, eds.
Neal-Shuman Publishers
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838913864, $85.00, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Once treated as exclusive spaces for valuable but hidden and under-utilized material, over the
past few decades library special collections departments have been transformed by increased
digitization and educational outreach efforts into unique and highly visible major institutional
assets. What libraries must now contemplate is how to continue this momentum by articulating
and implementing a dynamic strategic vision for their special collections. Drawing on the
expertise of a world-class array of librarians, university faculty, book dealers, collectors, and
donors, "Forging the Future of Special Collections" is a collected volume of expert articles that
survey the emerging requirements of today's knowledge ecosystem and charts a course for the
future of special collections. Expanding upon the proceedings of the National Colloquium on
Special Collections organized by the Kelvin Smith Library of Case Western Reserve University
in October 2014, "Forging the Future of Special Collections" is a timely resource for special
collections librarians, administrators, academics, and rare book dealers and collectors that:
recounts the factors that governed the growth and use of special collections in the past; explores
ways to build 21st-century special collections that are accessible globally, and how to provide the
expertise and services necessary to support collection use; gives advice on developing and
maintaining strong relationships between libraries and collectors, with special attention paid to
the importance of donor relations; provides critical information on how libraries and their
institutions' faculty can best collaborate to ensure students and other researchers are aware of the
resources available to them; showcases proactive, forward-thinking approaches to applying
digital scholarship techniques to special collections materials; looks at how the changes in the
way authors work from analog to digital increases the importance of archives in preserving the
aspects of humanity that elevate us; and examines sustainable and scalable approaches to
promoting the use of special collections in the digital age, including the roles of social media and
crowdsourcing to bring collections directly to the user. More than simply a guide to collection
management, "Forging the Future of Special Collections" details myriad ways to forge the future
of special collections, ensuring that these scholarly treasures advance knowledge for years to
come. Simply stated, no private, community, governmental, corporate, college, or university
library should be without it's own copy of "Forging the Future of Special Collections". No
academic Library Science collection would be either adequate or complete without the inclusion
of "Forging the Future of Special Collections".
The Philosophy Shelf
Batman, Superman, and Philosophy
Edited by Nicolas Michaud
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601
www.opencourtbooks.com
9780812699180 $19.95 amazon.com
Part of the excellent "Pop Culture and Philosophy" series, Batman, Superman, and Philosophy:
Badass or Boyscout? is an anthology of edifying essays by learned authors about the philosophy
inherent in the popular superhero comic book characters Batman and Superman. Both are bound
by a personal code never to kill, yet each follows a very different style to pursue their vigilante
goal. Essays question which superhero makes a better role model or inspiring myth; which is
more moral or rational; and even question which could better fight terrorism. Enhanced with
references and an index, Batman, Superman, and Philosophy scrutinizes these pop culture
favorites with the rigorous logic, and the conclusions may surprise comic book fans, movie fans,
and amateur philosophers alike!
The Business Shelf
Thirteeners
Daniel F. Prosser
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
www.thirteenersbook.com
9781626341593, $22.95, https://greenleafbookgroup.com
Deserving of ongoing mention as a powerful assessment of company business strategies is
Thirteeners, a survey that explains why nearly ninety percent of modern businesses fail to
execute their own business strategy successfully. Here the key is identified as being a problem in
relationship developments, and Thirteeners shows companies how they can move from a focus
on singular models to relational models simply by changing their value models and focus on
competition and control. This alternative involves adopting behaviors that foster better
collaborative processes and using revised behaviors to build strong relationships to cultivate
better workplace engagements. Business leaders will find this a 'must' consideration of different
options to overcome common barriers to success.
Successful Management in the Digital Age
John Harte
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412863247, $27.95, www.transactionpub.com
Successful Management in the Digital Age is recommended for business collections strong in
management and organizational behaviors, and reviews the market approaches and trends that
lead to business success in the modern world. The focus is on organizational changes designed to
meet this changing environment, with chapters using many examples from real-world business to
consider how customers are approached, gained, and how value is created by branding and
marketing processes. From big changes in advertising approaches to the realities of changing
environments, this is a top pick for any concerned with rearranging business structures to address
changing environments.
The Trusted Executive
John Blakey
Kogan Page
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpageusa.com
9780749474225, $27.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
John Blakey is one of the UK's leading executive coaches and a member of the CEO coaching
faculty at Manchester Business School, as well as Vistage International and the National Health
Service. In "The Trusted Executive: Nine Leadership Habits that Inspire Results, Relationships
and Reputation" Blakey draws upon his years of experience and expertise to help business and
governmental leaders create a trust-building strategy for a globalized, technology-enabled,
diverse, and increasingly skeptical world. Through innovative coaching exercises, personal
anecdotes, inspirational CEOs and well-researched business models, "The Trusted Executive"
provides the tools leaders need to create a strategy for building trust in themselves and their
companies. Author John Blakey presents a three-pillared approach to trustworthy leadership
based on ability, integrity, and benevolence, as well as explaining how to develop and measure
organizational trust, handle trust violations, and manage a constantly changing work environment
and diverse workforce. While very highly recommended for community, corporate,
governmental, and academic library Business Management instructional reference collections, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, professionals, and the non-specialist
general reader with an interest in the subject, that "The Trusted Executive" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($17.86).
The Gardening Shelf
Garden Design Bible
Tim Newbury
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600632443, $19.99, www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Garden Design Bible: Gardens to Adapt for Your Space provides asset of planting plans and
forty projects that make use of them, using detailed diagrams and color illustrations throughout to
cover key garden design features, paths, fences and edging choices, and the best plants to pick for
different kinds of gardens. Filled with details on incorporating nature and different kinds of
lighting into the overall garden plot, this is a 'must' for any gardener who would design a space
from scratch.
The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects
Mat Pember & Dillon Seitchik-Reardon
Hardie Grant Books
c/o Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9781743790991, $34.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative effort of Australian gardening experts Mat Pember and Dillon
Seitchik-Reardon, "The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects: Easy Activities For Edible
Gardening and Backyard Fun" is a fun and practical collection of outdoor DIY projects that will
transform your backyard living space into the ultimate functioning vegetable garden. "The Little
Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects" includes thirty-eight hands-on, step-by-step activities
that will help cultivate handiness and get the aspiring gardener out into the garden. It's easy and a
whole lot of fun to get hands dirty building cubbyhouses, making dream planter boxes, and
harvesting edible green walls made out of inexpensive or up-cycled materials. Individual chapters
include projects for kids, vertical gardening, garden basics, using recycled materials, and more.
There are projects for every skill level, ranging from the first-time novice gardener, to those who
seriously know their way around a circular saw. A collection of recipes for what to do with the
produce you've grown in the kitchen truly makes this the ultimate gardener's kitchen companion
as well. The Little Veggie Patch Co. crew will inspire the green thumb in every reader. Profusely
illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, organization and
presentation, "The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects" will prove to be an outstanding
and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library gardening
instructional reference collections.
The Technology Shelf
An Introduction to 3D Printing
Victoria Zukas & Jonas A. Zukas
First Edition Design Publishing
c/o Computational Mechanics Associates
5903 Wakehurst Way, Baltimore, MD, 21239-0314
www.compmechanics.com
9781622878963, $29.95, PB, 132pp, www.amazon.com
3D printing refers to the various processes used to synthesize a three-dimensional object. In 3D
printing successive layers of material are formed under computer control to create an object.
These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry and are produced from a 3D model or
other electronic data source. Basically, a 3D printer is a type of industrial robot. The
collaborative project of Victoria and Jonas Zukas, "An Introduction to 3D Printing " provides an
overview of 3D print technology. It also serves to take the confusion out of the jargon and make
sense out of common shortcuts. "An Introduction to 3D Printing" deftly describes the basic
processes, the materials used, and the application of the technology in industry, space, medicine,
housing, clothing and consumer-oriented products such as jewelry, video game figures, footwear,
tools and what must now seem like an infinity of bunnies, eagles and busts of Star Wars and Star
Trek figurines in a dazzling array of colors. Informed and informative, "An Introduction to 3D
Printing" is enhanced throughout with black-and-white photography for a text that is thoroughly
'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, content, organization, and presentation. While very highly
recommended for corporate, community, college, and university library Science/Technology
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists that "An Introduction to 3D Printing"
is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.95).
The Gaming Shelf
The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-1987
Brett Weiss
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764346187 $34.99 www.schifferbooks.com
Featuring over 400 full-color photographs of vintage video game catridges, packaging,
advertisements, and screenshots, The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-1987 lists the
most memorable, original, and impactful video games of 1977 to 1987. This decade encompasses
the inception of home video game consoles, the great video game crash of 1983 (a time when
overproduction of poor quality games all but extinguished the market), and Nintendo's
miraculous revival of the medium. Each video game is carefully selected with particular attention
to how well it holds up today, as well as its contributions to the entertainment form's evolution.
Author Brett Weiss discusses not only conversions of wildly popular arcade games (Joust,
Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man) and treasured classics (Adventure, Super Mario Bros., The Legend of
Zelda, Yar's Revenge), but also lesser-known games that had phenomenal gameplay for their
time (Antarctic Adventure, Moon Patrol) and games that broke new ground in genres available to
console gamers (DragonStomper for the Atari 2600, one of the earliest console role-playing
games, first released in 1982). Each spotlighted game has a handful of pages devoted to its
history and influence, as well as a vivid description of its interactive gameplay. A bibliography
and an index round out this "must-have" for classic video game players and collectors!
The Self-Help Shelf
Goal Mapping
Brian Mayne
Watkins Publishing
Angel Business Club
www.watkinspublishing.com
9780393064551, $19.95, PB, 244pp, www.amazon.com
Brian Mayne is an inspirational speaker, author and trainer, presenting on an international stage.
His core message of self-improvement through the practice of personal Response-Ability and
purpose led motivation have proven as effective and popular with the corporate world as with the
many individuals who come to experience his public presentations. In "Goal Mapping: How to
Turn Your Dreams into Realities" he presents his system as a tried, tested, proven and popular
method for setting and achieving goals in any area of life, and in any endeavor. "Goal Mapping"
aims to have an impact on both the left and the right sides of the brain, to create power. "Goal
Mapping" uses imagery and the language of the subconscious, it combines words with pictures
and symbols. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, content, organization and
presentation, "Goal Mapping" is unreservedly recommended for personal
self-help/self-improvement reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted
that "Goal Mapping" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
Sacred Stress
George R. Faller & Heather Wright
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.skylightpaths.com
9781594736148, $16.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Stress can limit our perspective, leaving us feeling trapped and out of control. But stress can also
be a force for good: It is our challenges that most compel us to reach out for relationship. And
our proudest moments come after overcoming obstacles we thought were insurmountable. Based
on personal experience and their work as therapists, and drawing on decades of psychological
research, George R. Faller (Founder and President of the New York Center for Emotionally
Focused Therapy and who teaches at the Ackerman Institute in Manhattan) and The Rev. Dr.
Heather Wright (an ordained Presbyterian minister who is also a licensed professional counselor
and executive director for a faith-based counseling center) have come to see that stress can be
healthy and positive. In "Sacred Stress: A Radically Different Approach to Using Life's
Challenges for Positive Change" they effectively collaborate to equip the reader with the skills
and the knowledge needed to re-frame thinking about stress, understand and embrace our darker
emotions, and become stronger through difficulty. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone,
commentary, organization and presentation, "Sacred Stress" is unreservedly recommended for
community, college, and university library Stress Management Studies and
Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that
"Sacred Stress" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Living in Blue Sky Mind
Richard Gentei Diedrichs
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, Ca 95023
www.msipress.com
9781942891161, $12.95, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com
We live with minds as open and spacious as the deep blue sky. "Living in Blue Sky Mind: Basic
Buddhist Teachings for a Happy Life" by Richard Gentei Diedrichs (an ordained a Zen priest in
1984 by Genki Takabayashi Roshi and currently a Dharma teacher in the Children's Program at
Daifukuji Zen Temple in Kona, Hawaii) presents basic Buddhist teachings that keep us on the
wholesome path of self-realization toward a happy life. "Living in Blue Sky Mind" is a
compilation of simple lessons, anecdotes of personal transformation, and reflective questions to
guide us along Buddha's enlightened way. As with such examples as: "Buddha advised that we
not speak with malice if we want to create connection and happiness around us."; "We learn that
to be happy, we need to end our suffering and the suffering of those around us."; and "We are
fortunate to have a way to be happy with what we have and with who we are." Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented, "Living in Blue Sky Mind" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
tone, commentary and content. While very highly recommended for community, college, and
university library Buddhist Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Living in Blue Sky Mind" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
Eyes Wide Open
Will Johnson
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594770005, $12.95, PB, 98pp, www.amazon.com
In "Eyes Wide Open: Buddhist Instructions on Merging Body and Vision", Will Johnson (who is
the founder and director of the Institute for Embodiment Training, which combines Western
somatic psychotherapy with Eastern meditation practices) meditation practices are used to
awaken the body and create a mind like a mirror, enabling us to literally see things as they are.
"Eyes Wide Open" craws on the story of the seventh-century Chinese monk Shenxiu to create a
meditation practice for profound relaxation, inclusion and connection to the world around us, and
realization of our essential nature; explains how our attitudes, beliefs, and bodily tensions distort
our perceptions and lead to our sense of separation from the world outside our bodies; and details
techniques of vision, such as sky gazing, eye gazing, and mirror gazing, that lead to an ecstatic
mindfulness. Through this new kind of seeing, divisions between our inner and outer world start
to drop away. We can begin to experience an intimate connectivity to the world we look out onto.
By cleansing the mirror of the mind, we can come out of the dreams of who we think we are and
awaken into our true, essential nature. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, content,
organization and presentation, "Eyes Wide Open" is strongly recommended for personal,
community, and academic library Buddhist Studies collections in general, and meditation
supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the Buddhist approach to meditation that "Eyes Wide Open" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($9.98).
The Manuals of Dhamma
Ven. Ledi Sayadaw
Pariyatti Publishing
867 Larmon Road, Onalaska, WA 98570
www.pariyatti.org
9781681720319, $19.95, PB, 392pp, www.amazon.com
Ledi Sayadaw was a leading Buddhist scholar of his day. Revered by his contemporaries and
regarded as an authority by Western interpreters of Theravada texts, he made a break with the past
and strove to make the entire record of the Buddha's teaching accessible to the general
population, not only the Sangha. Now made available to an American readership, "The Manuals
of Dhamma" is a collection of writings from an outstanding figure in the resurgence of the
Buddha's teachings. "The Manuals of Dhamma" is a mixture of detailed analysis, vivid stories,
and examples for meditators. Indeed, this English translation of Venerable Sayadaw's writings
provides inspiring guidance and valuable information for the practice of Dhamma. Exceptionally
well written, organized and presented, "The Manuals of Dhamma" is unreservedly recommended
for community and academic library Buddhist Studies collections, as well as the personal reading
lists for anyone with an interest in Buddhism.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
In His Image
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow
Maggid / The Toby Press
c/o Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
www.tobypress.com
9781592643714, $24.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
At a time when religion is distorted to crush, belittle, and negate Man, when personal
responsibility is replaced by passive faith, and human endeavor is deemed unworthy, "In His
Image" by Rabbi Yuval Cherlow seeks to reinstate one of the fundamental truths of Judaism: the
creation of Man in the image of God. Rabbi Cherlow explores the significance of Man's divine
image, and its far-reaching halakhic, ethical, psychological, and existential implications. Rather
than demeaning, argues Rabbi Cherlow, Judaism is based on the profound glorification of Man,
his strengths and freedoms, rights and responsibilities. "In His Image" is an exceptionally well
organized and impressively presented manifesto of Jewish humanism, making it a very strongly
recommended addition to synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies
collections and supplemental studies lists. For the personal reading lists it should be noted that
"In His Image" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
When a Lie Is Not a Sin
Rabbi Dennis S. Ross
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com
9781580238588, $18.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
The difference between truth and falsehood is often clear and simple. But when life gets
complicated, the Hebrew Bible can help. The Hebrew Bible is true and wants us to tell the truth,
even as biblical characters behave in less than truthful ways. What's more, where some of the lies
people tell in the Hebrew Bible stories are punished, others are ignored and still others are
rewarded. The Hebrew Bible's mixed-message of "Do as I say, not as they do" shows that lies,
little and big, whether told to protect or advance oneself or when intended to preserve the peace,
often occur under involved circumstances and demand careful consideration. By viewing an array
of situations in light of the Hebrew Bible ranging from the routine but delicate to the
once-in-a-lifetime dilemma, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin: The Hebrew Bible's Framework for
Deciding" by Rabbi Dennis S. Ross (serves at Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany, New York
and directs Concerned Clergy for Choice at Family Planning Advocates of New York State) will
make a difference in how observant Jews think and live. Offering a candid and informative look
at religion and truthfulness, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" is ideal for all members of the Jewish
community who are interested in exploring the religious basis for personal decision making,
conscience and morality. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "When a Lie Is
Not a Sin" is recommended reading for Jews of all denominations for personal study or as a
textbook in Torah study groups. Indeed, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" will prove to be a thoughtful
and thought-provoking read for Christians and social justice activists as well. While commended
as an addition to synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($10.99).
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Touch of the Sacred
F. Gerritt Immink
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802869159, $30.00, www.eerdmans.com
The Touch of the Sacred: The Practice, Theology, and Tradition of Christian Worship provides
theological reflections on worship's roots in religious practice, exploring the methods and
meaning of what process as it pertains to sacraments, prayer, and the figure and purpose of Jesus
Christ. Christian theologians and those who would receive a blend of Biblical text and
theological analysis will appreciate a book that is packed with analytical insights and much food
for thought on the process of Christian worship and its teachings. The most likely reader of this
in-depth survey will be preachers and teachers of Christian processes who will find F. Gerritt
Immink detailed explanations to be thought-provoking and involving.
Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians
Mark A. Tietjen
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
www.ivpress.com
9780830840977, $20.00, PB, 173pp, www.amazon.com
S ren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) had a mission. The church had become weak, flabby and
inconsequential. Being a Christian was more a cultural heritage than a spiritual reality. His
chosen mission became to reintroduce the Christian faith to Christians. How could he break
through to people who were members of the church and thought they were Christians already?
Like an Old Testament prophet, Kierkegaard used a variety of pointed and dramatic ways to
shake people from their slumber. He incisively diagnosed the spiritual ailments of his age and
offered a fresh take on classic Christian teaching. In "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to
Christians", Mark Tietjen (Chaplain and Grace Palmer Johnston Chair of Bible at The Stony
Brook School in Stony Brook, New York) thinks that Kierkegaard's critique of his
contemporaries strikes close to home today. All members of the Christian community today need
to listen to one of the most insightful yet complex Christian thinkers of any era. Through an
examination of core Christian doctrines including the person of Jesus Christ, human nature,
Christian witness and love, Tietjen's "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians" helps
us hear Kierkegaard's missionary message to a church that often fails to follow Christ in our
lives. Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians" is also available
in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Almighty Matters
Nicholas Berry
Resource Publications, Inc.
c/o Wipf and Stock Publishers
199 West 8th Avenue, Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401-2960
http://wipfandstock.com
9781498234238, $34.00, HC, 154pp, www.amazon.com
"Almighty Matters: God's Politics in the Bible" by Nicholas Berry (Professor of Politics Emeritus
at Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania) explores the underlying politics of the Hebrew
and Christian Bibles by uncovering their political-theological connection in a single story line.
The politics of the New Testament completes the politics of the Old. Although it has long been
recognized that the Hebrew Bible prominently portrays the political development of God's
Chosen People, the role of Jesus as a politician, the founder of a movement aimed from its
beginning at subverting and capturing the Roman Empire, has not been recognized. Putting the
Hebrew and Christian Bibles' political approach foremost shows why so much of it is hidden and
why, until recently, Jewish-Christian relations have been contrary to God's design. A model of
theological scholarship that is fully accessible for non-specialist general readers, "Almighty
Matters" is as informative and thought-provoking as it is impressively well organized and
presented. While very highly recommended for church, seminary, community, and academic
library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Almighty
Matters" is also available in a paperback edition (9781498234214, $21.00) and in a Kindle
format ($9.99).
The God Who Saves
Glenn Pemberton
Leafwood Publishers
c/o Abilene Christian University Press
Box 29138, Abilene, TX 79699
www.acupressbooks.com
9780891124825, $44.99, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com
"The God Who Saves" by Glenn Pemberton (who teaches Old Testament at Abilene Christian
University, including a popular undergraduate course on Israel's wisdom and devotional
literature, and who has been a preacher among Christian churches for over twenty years.) is a
textbook that dives into the Old Testament from the perspective of ancient Israel. With
captivating and rich in content, enhanced by maps, tables, biblical reading assignments,
discussion topics, and further research prompts, the conversation within "The God Who Saves" is
deepened in is ability to reach both academic and spiritual concepts. Indeed, "The God Who
Saves" also provides supporting materials available to instructors, such as multiple quiz and
exam questions, course syllabi and schedules, and more. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone,
content, commentary, organization and presentation, "The God Who Saves" is an ideal text for
Biblical Studies, Old Testament, and Hebrew Bible classes and individual studies reading lists
for biblical students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Book of Matthew
Thomas Moore
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.skylightpaths.com
9781594736209, $19.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
In his fresh and life-giving translation of the Gospels with sparkling commentary, spiritual
innovator Thomas Moore strips the Gospels of their theological agendas and reclaims them as a
fundamentally new way of imagining human life. He blends scholarship and pastoral guidance to
highlight the Gospels' teachings on earthly, rather than other worldly, living in which community,
compassion, inclusiveness, prayer and healing are key elements. Enhanced with the inclusion of
an Introduction to Gospel, an Introduction to the Book of Matthew, two pages of Notes, a one
page listing of Suggestions for Further Reading, "The Book of Matthew" is as thoughtful and
thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring. While very highly recommended for church,
community, seminary, and academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "The Book of Matthew" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
Praying Together
Sam Ingrassia & Vicki Ingrassia
New Hope Publishers
PO Box 830711, Birmingham, AL 35283-0711
www.newhopepublishers.com
9781596694736, $14.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Praying together as a Christian couple is important. Praying together offers an array of benefits
including better relationship, more respect, more intimacy, deeper love for your spouse, better
communication, an enhanced spirituality, and more. "Praying Together: A Simple Path to
Spiritual intimacy for Couples" by Sam and Vicki Ingrassia offers a guilt-free understanding of
the hidden reasons we as couples aren't going to the Lord in prayer as a team. Birthed from their
own shortcomings and transformed marriage, Sam and Vickie share a model for prayer within
the marriage relationship that is compelling, simple, biblical, and powerfully transforming. While
each chapter closes with sample Scripture and prayer for husbands and wives to use together,
"Praying Together" equips couples to pray with one another. While very highly recommended for
church, seminary, and community library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists of all Christian couples regardless of their denominational affiliation that
"Praying Together" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).
Words for Our Lives
Matthew the Poor
Ancient Faith Publishing
PO Box 748, Chesterton, IN 46304-0748
http://store.ancientfaith.com
9781936270514, $16.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Father Matta El Meskeen or Matthew the Poor (20 September 1919 - 8 June 2006) was an
Egyptian Coptic Orthodox monk. He was the key figure in the revival of Egyptian monasticism
which began in 1969 when he was appointed to the Monastery of St Macarius in the Wadi El
Natrun in Egypt. By the time of his death the community had grown from 6 aged monks to 130
monks, and many other monasteries had revived, and new ones opened. He was twice nominated
to become Coptic Pope, but was not chosen in either case. Abba Matta was also a theologian, and
author of 181 books and hundreds of journal articles on Biblical exegesis, Ecclesiastical rites,
spiritual and theological matters, and much more. "Words for Our Lives: The Spiritual Words of
Matthew the Poor" constitutes the first appearance in English of a selection of the informal talks
Abba Matta gave to his fellow monks and to visitors. In simple, accessible language, he
addresses subjects ranging from Scripture to the church year to everyday life in the world. To
read these talks is to sit at the feet of one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our age. "Words for
Our Lives" is as inspired as it is inspiring, making it very highly recommended reading for all
members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation in general,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Coptic Christianity in particular. It should
be noted that "Words for Our Lives" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Living the Mass
Christopher Lucas, OCSO
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612616841, $15.99, PB, 124pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "Living the Mass: A Deeper Look at the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist" by
Trappist monk Christopher Lucas we encounter the Holy Eucharist as paschal mystery, the
"Source and Summit of the Christian Life." We encounter God's love for us through what God
has done and is doing for us in the Eucharist. "Living the Mass" presents the paschal mystery
defined in a Trinitarian mode as the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and the
sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. "Living the Mass" also presents new theology on the
paschal mystery based primarily on the abandonment text of Matthew 27:46. God gives God's
self to us in love through the Mass as the ongoing work of redemption, and we imitate that love
in response by living the Mass in everyday life by professing Christ, growing in virtue,
overcoming sinful tendencies, increasing in knowledge of God, and exercising faith, hope, and
love. Inspired and inspiring, "Living the Mass" is unreservedly recommended to the attention of
clergy and the general church community.
The God Who Heals
Johann Christoph Blumhardt & Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
Plough Publishing House
PO Box 398, Walden, NY 12586
www.plough.com
9780874867473, $18.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled by Johann and Christoph Blumhardt, "The God Who Heals: Words of Hope for a Time
of Sickness" is comprised of sixty short daily reflections, each one being based on a verse from
the Bible, that will guide a Christian who is facing serious sickness to a rock-solid faith and trust
in the will of God. With confidence in the healing power of God and the possibility of miracles,
the Blumhardts, (a father-son team of pastors renowned for their healing ministry), point us away
from our troubles and toward a Creator who is supremely wise and good and wants the best for
each of us. In a world where medical advances seem to promise a cure for everything, it's
tempting to believe that we can live free of pain. But we know that even the best medicine cannot
extend life forever or solve the riddles of physical and emotional illness. How, then, to respond
to the inevitability of suffering? And how to help those who live in fear of disease to conquer
their daily worry about their diagnosis? Turn for comfort and hope drawn from the Word of God
in the meditative reflections that are presented in "The God Who Heals". While very highly
recommended for church and community library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted
for the personal reading lists of all Christians, regardless of their denominational affiliation, that
"The God Who Heals" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
A Harvey Cox Reader
Robert Ellsberg, editor
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
www.orbisbooks.com
9781626981706, $30.00, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Harvey Cox is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Church who retired in 2009 as the
Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. One of the most creative American
theologians of the past fifty years, he is best known as the author of "The Secular City", aptly
considered to be a true classic in religious studies. Compiled and edited by Robert Ellsberg
(Publisher of Orbis Books and General Editor of the Modern Spiritual Masters Series), "A
Harvey Cox Reader" is comprised of selections drawn from his entire career, showing surprising
lines of continuity, while offering an exciting example of the dialogue between faith and an
ever-evolving culture, and ending with a challenging essay, "Why I Am Still a Christian".
Thoughtful and thought-provoking, these contributions by Harvey Cox are insightful, inspiring,
and consistently compelling. While very highly recommended for church, community, and
academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
clergy and non-specialist general readers throughout the Christian community that "A Harvey
Cox Reader" is also available in a Kindle edition ($22.87).
Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach
Thomas P. Rausch
Michael Glazier
c/o The Liturgical Press
2950 Saint John's Road, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814683200, $24.95, PB, 322pp, www.amazon.com
Systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and
coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs. Subdisciplines of systematic theology are
dogmatics, ethics and philosophy of religion. Systematic theology seeks to understand and render
more intelligible the central doctrines of faith and to show how they are related to each other. It
tries to demonstrate how these doctrines are rooted in Scripture and develop in the history of the
church; most important, it strives to more adequately express and sometimes reinterpret the
church's doctrinal tradition, always in the interest of better communicating the mystery of
salvation and bringing it into a dialogue with culture. "Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic
Approach" by Thomas P. Rausch, SJ, (T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at
Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and a specialist in ecclesiology) is intended to be
concise and accessible, an introduction that explores basic themes in Catholic systematic
theology from a biblical, historical, and contemporary perspective, always aware of today's
theological pluralism. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, descriptively
explanatory and instructively illuminating, "Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach"
is very highly recommended for clergy, seminary, and academic library Christian Studies
collections.
Ancient Faith for the Modern World
Brian Schmisek
ACTA Publications
4848 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
www.actapublications.com
9780879465711, $14.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Impressively well-researched, engaging, and accessible, "Ancient Faith for the Modern World: A
Brief Introduction to the Apostles' Creed, by Brian Schmisek (Director of the Institute of Pastoral
Studies, Loyola University - Chicago) carefully and succinctly explains each of the Roman
Catholic church's twelve "articles" of the Apostles' Creed, and in doing so deftly explores their
meaning for a twenty-first century Christian faith. Included at the end of each chapter is a
"bottom line" summary of that article of the creed and questions for discussion on how the belief
can impact our daily life. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in commentary, organization and
presentation, "Ancient Faith for the Modern World" is very highly recommended for Catholic
school, seminary, church, and academic library Christian Studies collections, as well as the
personal reading lists for all members of the Catholic community.
Move Toward the Mess
John Hambrick
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.cookministries.com
9780781413374, $16.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Some pastors preach boring sermons. Some church music is dull. But here's the thing: If Jesus
had been boring, the disciples wouldn't have followed him and the Pharisees wouldn't have killed
him. So if as a member of the Christian community, and especially if you are the pastor of a
church, and you find yourself bored, don't waste another minute. If your church service feels like
a failed pep rally that never leads to the actual game, then it's time for you to follow Jesus onto
the field where the opposition is real and the stakes are extraordinary. It will get messy. It won't
always be comfortable. But you'll make a difference. And to help you accomplish that
transformation is the purpose and reason that John Hambrick (who is part of the leadership team
at Buckhead Church, which is the urban campus of North Point Community Church, Alpharetta,
Georgia) has written and presents "Move Toward the Mess: The Ultimate Fix for a Boring
Christian Life". Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Move Toward the Mess"
an invaluable contribution to Christian Studies collections, as a consistently engaging read that is
as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Move Toward the Mess" is also readily available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
Called to Community
Charles E. Moore, editor
Plough Publishing House
PO Box 198, Walden, NY 12386
www.plough.com
9780874867435, $18.00, PB, 378pp, www.amazon.com
Why, in an age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what
can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God's people. Increasingly, today's
Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of
society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ's call to share their
lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering
the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its
original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of
God. Of course, such a life together with others isn't easy. The numerous contributions
comprising "Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People" are, by and large,
written by practitioners of Christianity, that is, people who have pioneered life in intentional
community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture,
and sustain a Christian community over the long haul. Whether you have just begun thinking
about communal living, are already embarking on sharing life with others, or have been part of a
community for many years, the pieces "Called to Community" will encourage, challenge, and
strengthen you. Organized into fifty-two chapters, each of which can be read one a week to ignite
meaningful group discussion, "Called to Community" is an extraordinary and welcome addition
to personal reading lists, as well as church, seminary, community, and academic library Christian
Studies collections. It should be noted that "Called to Community" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($8.49).
The Biography Shelf
With My Eyes Wide Open
Brian 'Head' Welch
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780718030605,$24.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
A life-changing spiritual awakening freed Brian "Head" Welch from a stranglehold of drugs and
alcohol and prompted him to leave the highly successful nu-metal band KoRn in 2005. What
followed was a decade-long trial by fire, from the perils of fathering a teen lost in depression and
self-mutilation to the harsh realities of playing solo and surviving the shattering betrayal of a
trusted friend. In this intensely inspiring redemption saga, perhaps most inspiring is Brian's
radical decision to rejoin KoRn and reconcile with the tribe of people he once considered family
in the metal music scene. Brian returned to his musical roots with a clear head and a devoted
heart. Though his story is wild, hilarious, and deeply poignant, the message is simple: God will
love you into the freedom of being yourself, as long as you keep the relationship going and never,
ever quit. "With My Eyes Wide Open" is a deeply engaging and candid personal story that is a
consistently compelling read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for
community library Contemporary American Biography collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "With My Eyes Wide Open" is also available in a Kindle edition
($12.99) and in an MP3 CD format (Brilliance Audio, 9781511369824, $19.99).
Fitting In
Colin Thompson
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781785920462, $25.00, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Take one small boy; add manic depression, three wives, three daughters, two divorces, amazing
creative talent, and Asperger's syndrome and you have the memoir of Colin Thompson who
invites the reader to explore his almost-unbelievable life from past to present -- though not
necessarily in that order. Filled with family photographs and mesmerizing illustrations personally
drawn by the Colin, readers will step inside the life and mind of a truly extraordinary man who
has lived a truly extraordinary life. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "Fitting
In" is an exceptional memoir that is very highly recommended for community and academic
library American Biography collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Fitting
In" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).
Flying Uncle's Junk
Don Bloch
North Star Press of St. Cloud
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0451
www.northstarpress.com
9781682010297, $16.95, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Don Bloch spent more than twenty years with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration,
where he made undercover buys of heroin, cocaine, and other drugs on the streets of
Minneapolis. As a DEA pilot, he flew undercover and surveillance missions in many cities across
the United States. He also flew in the Mexican mountains of Sinaloa hunting opium poppy fields,
and in the jungles of South America hunting cocaine laboratories. "Flying Uncle's Junk" is the
detailed and riveting story of his experiences and adventures in America's drug wars. An
inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "Flying Uncle's Junk" is very highly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary American
Biography collections. Also very highly recommended is Don Bloch's first biographical memoir,
"A Shadow at the Gate" (9780878397853, $16.95, PB, 320pp).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Patchwork Quilted Bags
Reiko Washizawa
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804846660, $16.95, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com
Prolific quilter Reiko Washizawa has written on all forms of quilting, from full-sized star quilts
to small quilted goods for babies. She specializes in welcoming the beginner to the world of
quilting, and in bringing a contemporary twist to traditional designs. In "Patchwork Quilted Bags:
Totes, Purses and Accessories", she shows even the most novice of quilters how to create unique
bags that put a little charm into carrying stuff around or storing the things that are not needed
every day. "Patchwork Quilted Bags" is comprised of full-sized quilting patterns and step-by-step
instructions for 19 different projects, along with techniques for assembling the perfect patch,
make it ideal for novice and practiced crafters alike. The Projects range in size from large totes to
small pouches in a zakka vein, as well as: A bird-themed travel bag; An elegant lace-rimmed
bucket bag; A colorful clasp purse; A round bag/basket; A fold-away eco bag; A baby bag with
bottle "cozy"; Adorable animal-themed totes; A Union-Jack themed pouch; and more!
"Patchwork Quilted Bags" is a colorful and user-friendly quilting book shows lots of creative
ways to use every type of patch from squares to yo-yos, and every type of print from florals to
newsprint. Of special note are the pages showcasing different patchwork quilts add inspiration
for mixing traditional and contemporary patterns. Simply stated, "Patchwork Quilted Bags" is
certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Needlecraft and
Quilting instructional guide collections.
Pieced Hexies Deux
Mickey Depre
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604602791, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com
Pieced Hexies Deux: 10 New Designs to Rock Your Quilts continues Depre's hexie focus in a
second book which profiles five symmetrical designs, six asymmetricals, and six hexie stars,
including directions for English Paper Piecing and basting. Instructions include materials needed
for different sizes and paper preparation, cutting, assembly and fabric preparation, while a wealth
of color photos of both different steps and finished products make for a production that makes
the hexie design easy to understand. Quilters and needleworkers will find this an excellent and
inspirational survey.
Martingale
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.ShopMartingale.com
Angela Walters and Christa Watson's The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting: Long-Arm and
Sit-Down (9781604687279, $29.99) teaches how to finish a quilt using both special and
traditional sewing machines, and comes from a long-arm-quilting expert and a
home-sewing-machine specialist who offer machine quilters a range of tips. More than just an
instructional on using machines, this guide covers the basics of what kinds of quilting projects
and stitching lends to particular machines, how to incorporate a variety of tips into a quilting
effort, and how to machine quilt with better, more polished results. Moda All-Stars' Scraps Made
Simple (9781604687590, $26.99) comes from fifteen top Moda fabric designers who show how
to make the most of precut scrap collections. From different sizes of precuts to different
approaches to patterns, these Moda designers show how to make the most of a stash or shopping
expedition and pair clear materials lists and cutting instructions with full-page color photos of
each completed quilt. Karen M. Burns compiles Sew Many Gifts: 19 Handmade Delights to Give
or Keep (9781604687446, $24.99), featuring a range of easy, quick projects that lend to
professional, polished-looking results and gift-giving. From bags and aprons to table runners and
baby blankets, patterns, step-by-step instructions, and color photos throughout make for an
appealing production even novices will find attractive and inspirational.
The Poetry Shelf
Barrier Island Suite
Kendall Dunkelberg
Texas Review Press
c/o Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781680030655, $8.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
The poems by Kendall Dunkelberg that comprise "Barrier Island Suite" are inspired by the life,
art, and writings of Walter Inglis Anderson, who spent much of his adult life exploring the
barrier islands of Mississippi, sketching and painting their flora and fauna, and chronicling his
adventures in numerous logs. The islands form a liminal space between the land and sea, between
nature and culture, between madness and conformity. Elements of the Anderson's life, including
his travels, his struggles with mental illness, and his murals at Oldfields, the Ocean Springs
Public School and Community Center, and the cottage at Shearwater Pottery are also
incorporated. A deftly crafted and consistently compelling body of work, the kind of verse that
will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon
the shelf, "Barrier Island Suite" is very highly recommended for community and academic library
Contemporary American Poetry collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that
"Barrier Island Suite" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.95).
The Money/Finance Shelf
Plan Your Estate, 13th edition
Denis Clifford
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413322859, $44.99, PB, 544pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and expanded thirteenth edition, "Plan Your Estate" continues to be a
definitive and reliably informative reference for anyone wanting to create a will, a trust, avoid
probate, create a living well or a power of attorney, and minimize estate and gift taxes on a state
and/or federal level. "Plan Your Estate" also covers the naming of guardians for children, leaving
property to children, strategies for business owners, leaving property to charity, and a great deal
more. "Plan Your Estate" also comes with a website at www.nolo.com that features hundreds of
articles and FAQs on estate planning, useful legal forms, and in-depth profiles of estate planning
lawyers for any given area of the country. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Plan Your Estate" is an absolutely vital reference and resource that should be a part of every
personal, professional, community, and academic library Money/Finance instructional reference
collection. It should be noted that "Plan Your Estate: 13th Edition" is also available in a Kindle
format ($25.74).
The Crafts Shelf
Weave Leno
Martha Reeves
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764351013, $24.99, HC, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Martha Reeves is a master weaver specializing in bead leno who has conducted extensive
research and testing to develop ways of expanding leno weaving techniques. A recipient of the
Handweaver's Guild of America Certificate of ExcellenceLevel II: Master, Reeves lectures
widely and offers leno workshops. In "Weave Leno: In-Depth Instructions for All Levels, with 7
Projects", Martha presented step-by-step and illustrated instructions on how to master and enjoy
the lace-like, intricate, often mysterious-seeming leno weave. A comprehensive guide
specifically designed for both new weavers and advanced-level weavers alike, "Weave Leno"
combines historical information about leno with the best practical instructions and "secret" tips
resulting from Martha's years of research and sampling. Leno weaves, also called gauze weaves,
are very sheer, yet at the same time very durable because they are made with four warp threads
that are twisted around each other. Colorful photos of leno fabrics and the 'user friendly'
instructions, along with seven beautiful projects, will help weavers learn bead leno and many
other techniques and structures like leno pick-up and Tarascan lace. Very highly recommended
for personal and community library Needlecraft Studies collections, "Weave Leno" is a
one-of-a-kind resource for anyone who wants to learn to create this versatile weaving structure or
further refine their leno skills.
The Agriculture Shelf
Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests
Robert M. Harveson, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890545072, $139.00, PB, 140pp, www.amazon.com
Profusely illustrated with just under 300 color images throughout, this APS Press edition of
"Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests" is practical, comprehensive, exceptionally well
written, organized and presented guide to the diagnosis and management of sunflower diseases
and pests covering: Usage, breeding, and production; Diagnose and treat diseases, insect pests,
and common disorders; plus expert management recommendations. Enhanced with the inclusion
of a two page Appendix; a ten page Glossary; and a seven page Index, "Compendium of
Sunflower Diseases and Pests" is a core and invaluable addition to professional, community,
college, university, and governmental library Agricultural instructional reference collections in
general, and the supplemental studies reading lists for the commercial and non-commercial
growing of sunflowers in particular.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Totem Animals Plain & Simple
Celia M. Gunn
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781571747488 $14.95 pbk / $9.49 Kindle amazon.com
Totem Animals Plain & Simple is a reader-friendly guide to understanding more than 60 totem or
"spirit guide" animals. After a general introduction to the concept of totem animals, there is an
alphabetical listing of more than 60 totem animals, and what each one symbolizes. A handful of
stylized black-and-white illustrations enriches this insightful reference and resource. Totem
Animals, Plain & Simple is highly recommended, especially for metaphysical studies collections
and personal reading lists.
The Computer Shelf
Microsoft Access 2016 Programming Pocket Primer
Julitta Korol
Mercury Learning
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781942270812, $29.95, www.merclearning.com
Microsoft Access 2016 Programming Pocket Primer comes with a cd-rom that contains all of the
project files mentioned in this book plus all images from the text, and is arranged in such a way
that busy professions who need to apply Access programming basics in a short period of time
receive all they need to get up to speed fast. From the basics of Access and how to work with or
customize its various functions to common tasks and basic start-up knowledge, those with some
programming background who are unfamiliar with Access will find the jump-start attention
specific and useful, packed with all the code and examples needed.
The Sports Shelf
Strong & Sculpted
Brad Schoenfield
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781492514565, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com
Strong & Sculpted: The Total-Body Training Program for Shaping Your Ultimate Physique
provides a science-based program that pairs goal-oriented science with training programs
designed to produce a sculpted figure, and offers a four-phase program that can be customized to
suit any level of reader at any point in their training program. Users are encouraged to build a
foundation of routines for muscle development, then move beyond them to more targeted
shaping purposes. They are also encouraged to create variations on these recommendations,
customize workouts, and adopt new exercises as goals and physique changes. Color photos and
step-by-step anatomical drawings accompany the recommendations and any exerciser will find
them precise and easy to follow.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Where DID They Film That? Italy
Romina Arena
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781610351829, $18.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com
Where DID They Film That? Italy: Famous Film Scenes and Their Italian Locations could have
been featured in our Travel Books section, but is reviewed here because any with a special
interest in Italian film production or settings will find it enlightening and specific. Those who
plan on travel to Italy who have this in mind will also delight in the blend of cultural insights,
discussions of famous film locations, cuisine, and shooting choices to be specific and
well-blended with color photos throughout and the practicalities of travel in Italy. The resulting
blend of travelogue for destination-oriented readers and insights on Italian film settings will
delight those who want a special and different view of Italy's scenes.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide 2016-17
Judith Miller & Mark Hill
Miller's Guides
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781784721398, $27.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com
Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide 2016-17 packs almost 4,000 items into this latest
price guide, revising all prices in its 24th year and including sections on character collectibles,
films, pens, music boxes, posters, toys, and jewelry. More than just a listing of collectibles and
prices, this latest edition includes special sections that discuss trends, pricing details, and what to
look for when appraising collectibles. The result is a 'must' for any who regularly collect across a
range of pieces and who look for the latest values and influences on collectible prices.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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