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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Terrific Women Teachers
Helen Wolfe
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street Ste 401, Toronto, ON M5V 2M5
9781897187869, $10.95, www.secondstorypress.ca
Exceptional teachers are the unsung heroes of our world. "Terrific Women Teachers" is an entry
into the Women's Hall of Fame series from Helen Wolfe, as she focuses on ten of these women
who went beyond the call of duty for the name of education. From women who innovated whole
new systems of education to those who have managed to teach the supposedly un-teachable,
Helen Wolfe uses her own experience to shed light on these real world heroes. "Terrific Women
Teachers" does well in showing those who have broken through the barriers of sexism and
improved the world in their own ways.
The American History Shelf
Pacific Gibraltar
William Michael Morgan
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591145295 $34.95 www.navalinstitute.org
William Michael Morgan (professor of strategic studies, Marine Corps War College) presents
Pacific Gibraltar: U.S.-Japanese Rivalry Over the Annexation of Hawai'i, 1885-1898, an in-depth
examination of the American annexation of Hawai'i. Although Hawai'i was annexed during the
Spanish-American War of 1898, Hawai'i was not a war spoil in the vein of the Philippines; there
had been an ongoing drive to annex Hawai'i during the previous quarter-century, driven by the
land's strategic value as a cornerstone to defend the West Coast. Tokyo's efforts to secure voting
rights for its nationals was the hot trigger for a bitter dispute between the two nations in 1897;
Japan deployed warships to Honolulu and formally opposed annexation, before the McKinley
administration endorsed it. This 1897 crisis put the issue of annexation to the fore, and sparked
the votes that would result in a joint resolution of the annexation the following year. Pacific
Gibraltar traces the flow of historical events step by step, in this absorbing dissection of a crucial
turning point in Hawai'ian and American history.
The Forgotten Generation
Lisa L. Ossian
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219190 $29.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress
The Forgotten Generation: American Children and World War II is a close study of the sacrifices
made by children during the difficult times of World War II. Children were seldom sheltered from
the concentrated war effort; they heard news of battles over the radio, worked in munitions
factories, saved money for war bonds, and watched their fathers, uncles, and brothers leave to
serve overseas. Chapters examine how the war affected their family life, school life, and even their
play. This "forgotten generation", between the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers, has
long been overlooked in American history; The Forgotten Generations seeks to reconstruct and
fill in the gaps of how harsh wartime realities would bring about a coming of age for youth across
America. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American history
shelves.
Dawn of Desegregation
Ophelia De Laine Gona
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570039805 $29.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress
In 1947, pastor and school principal Joseph A. De Laine garnered support from his neighbors and
led them in a challenge to South Carolina's "separate but equal" policy of racial segregation in
schools. Their lawsuit, Briggs v. Elliott, would become one of the first five school segregation
lawsuits argued consecutively before the Supreme Court in 1952, leading to the historical decision
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that would end legalized segregation in American public
schools. Dawn of Desegregation: J.A. De Laine and Briggs v. Elliott is a blend of memoir and
American history, written by the daughter of Rev. De Lane, that seeks to give credit where credit
is due with regard to the people and efforts responsible for righting a generations-long injustice.
An insider's view of events, including personal portrayals of NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall
and federal district judge J. Waties Waring distinguish this absorbing and uplifting true story.
"First Among Equals"
Hans L. Trefousse
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823224685 $60.00 hc
9780823224692 $20.00 pbk, www.fordhampress.com
Written by Hans Trefousse (1921-2010), Distinguished Professor of History at Brooklyn College
and at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, "First Among Equals":
Abraham's Reputation During His Administration is evenhanded look at how President Abraham
Lincoln was perceived by his contemporaries. Chapters closely study just how difficult it was for
Lincoln to sustain his popularity, as well as earn his renomination and reelection, with the
astounding conclusion that it wasn't until his assassination that the greatness of his legacy would
come to be fully and fairly appreciated. An exhaustive catalogue of notes support this thoughtful
and well-argued thesis, highly recommended.
The Poker Bride
Christopher Corbett
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003
9780802145277, $14.95, www.groveatlantic.com
In an alien world, escaping a place where they were treated as property, being a chip in a poker
game was nothing new. "The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West" is a unique peer
into the history of Western America where the Gold Rush not only brought Americans from the
East, but a flood of immigrants from China. Christopher Corbett, a professor of journalism, uses
the story of how one woman escaped being a Chinese concubine only to be used as property
anyway but still finding a bit of serenity and happiness. "The Poker Bride" is an intriguing study of
the earliest Chinese American immigrants, highly recommended.
Our Centennial Indian War and the Life of General Custer
Frances Fuller Victor
University of Oklahoma
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141732, $29.95, www.oupress.com
Cast as incompetent, a war hero, the life of General Custer is an intriguing one. "Our Centennial
Indian War: And the Life of General Custer" looks at this figure through the eyes of his
contemporaries, republished 140 years later, drawing from many sources at the time to paint a
picture of what happened and Custer's role and thoughts in the bigger picture. Frances Fuller
Victor's writing still remains readable despite his period, and with an introduction from modern
historian Jerome A. Green, "Our Centennial Indian War" a core and solid addition to any history
and biography collection with a focus on contemporary accounts.
The World History Shelf
Brian Boru, King of Ireland
Roger Chatterton Newman
Mercier Press, Unit 3B, Oak House
Bessboro Rd., Blackrock, Cork, Ireland
pr@mercierpress.ie
9781856357197, $26.95, www.amazon.com
"Brian Boru, King of Ireland" is famous as the Irish leader who drove the Vikings out of Ireland
and "came closer than any other Irishman has to uniting Ireland." He died at the Battle of Clontarf
on Good Friday, 1014. He is credited with the taming of the Danes of Limerick and the Norsemen
of Dublin, and he also challenged and overthrew the control of the Ui Neill clan upon the throne
of Ireland. Sometimes called 'the Emperor of the Irish,' Brian Boru was both a statesman and a
strategist, a careful commander and a patron of education and the Church. Brian Boru has left a
confusing but compelling mark on Irish history. "Brian Boru, King of Ireland" seeks to present a
coherent collection of the known facts of his impact on the shape of Irish history.
Treason of the Heart
David Pryce Jones
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003
9781594035289 $23.95 www.encounterbooks.com
Treason of the Heart: From Thomas Paine to Kim Philby is a historical examination of the minds,
motives, and deeds of British people who adopted foreign causes as their own. From Thomas
Paine, who embraced American independence as a means to humble England, to the British
nationals who supported Napoleon in hope that he would conquer their homeland, to
glory-seeking idealogues like Lord Byron and Lawrence of Arabia, to those who chose to follow
Communism or Nazism, Treason of the Heart chronicles the contradictions and intellectual
reasoning behind them all. A thought-provoking study with insights into human nature directly
relevant to understanding today's complex world, Treason of the Heart is a highly recommended
addition to world history shelves.
The Grocers
Andrew Seth & Geoffrey Randall
Kogan Page
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749461041, $24.95, www.koganpage.com
Convenience is a booming industry. "The Grocers: The Rise and Rise of the Supermarket Chains"
discusses the rise of today's major nationwide grocers such as Walmart and many others, changing
the face of the grocery store in modern America, as well as in Europe. In addition, the internet has
become a major force even in groceries, as authors Andrew Seth & Geoffrey Randall present an
intriguing study of how this stores dominance affects the business world as a whole. For those
interested in how these grocery juggernauts came to be, "The Grocers" is an intriguing study of
modern economics and business, very highly recommended.
A Massacre Averted
Nancy Klancher
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558765320, $24.95, www.markuswiener.com
No empire collapses quietly. "A Massacre Averted: An Armenian Town, an American Nurse, and
the Turkish Army They Resisted" is a history of the falling of the Ottoman Empire and the
massacre that almost came down upon an Armenian town. An American relief nurse was sent
there, and chronicles the events of the crisis, painting a picture of this major shift in world history
and the resistance shown to the Turkish army. "A Massacre Averted" is an educational walk of
history and story of unsung heroes, highly recommended reading, core addition to world history
collections.
Cities of the Maya in Seven Epochs
Steve Glassman & Armando Anaya
McFarland
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786448487, $38.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
Through thousands of years, the Mayan's civilization remained strong. "Cities of the Maya in
Seven Epochs: 1250 BC to AD 1903" looks to the history of the Mayan people through their
cities, broken into seven epochs by their own cultural calendar. The society, highly advanced
compared to its contemporaries for the longest time, remained strong as many tribes passed
through their cities and its lore and legend to this day is felt strong. With black and white
photography of sites throughout and plenty of maps, "Cities of the Maya in Seven Epochs" is a
strong pick for any fan of Mayan history.
The Travel Shelf
Eating Las Vegas
John Curtas, Max Jacobson, Al Mancini
Guidebooks
c/o Huntington Press
3665 Procyon Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103
1935396390, $12.95, www.huntingtonpress.com
It's not all about gambling and big flashy lights, there's some good food there too. "Eating Las
Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants" is a guide to fifty of the best restaurants in city. Compiling
these restaurants by type with plenty of quick information such as location, opening hours, cost of
food, type of food, and plenty of reviews, the authors encouraging readers to visit them all to 'eat
Las Vegas'. "Eating Las Vegas" is a choice pick for anyone who may be setting to visit the
famous city soon.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Medicinal Plants in Australia
Cheryll Williams
Rosenberg
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781877058790, $69.95, www.isbs.com
Nature can be our greatest ally in fighting what ails us. "Medicinal Plants in Australia: Volume 1
Bush Pharmacy" looks to the vast and unique wilderness of Australia and the many beneficial
medicines that lie in this pile of medicine. Composed by Cheryll Williams, a medicinal expert with
well over two decades of experience, she discusses how these common plants have affected
human history and how they can continue to help us in years to come. Chapters are broken down
into the many types of bushes throughout the region, with a full color photos elaborating the
appearance of these plants, as well as a focus on the codependent creatures that go with these
plants. "Medicinal Plants in Australia" is a core addition to any Medicinal studies collection with
either a focus on plants or international medicine.
When Your Spouse Has a Stroke
Sara Palmer & Jeffrey B. Palmer
John Hopkins Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801898877, $19.95, www.press.jhu.edu
A stroke changes everything, for yourself, and for your loved ones. "When Your Spouse Has a
Stroke: Caring for Your Partner, Yourself, and Your Relationship" discusses the effect of the
stroke on the couple, and how partners can take it upon themselves to assist in the recovery
during this time of need. Sara and Jeffrey Palmer use their combined psychological and medical
expertise to help readers understand that the support of a spouse is invaluable, but one shouldn't
act so much that they destroy themselves. With plenty of practical and wise advice, "When Your
Spouse Has a Stroke" is a must for any feeling burdened by their love's crisis.
Bulimia
Lindsey Hall & Leigh Cohn
Gurze
PO Box 2238, Carlsbad, CA 92018
9780936077512, $16.95, www.gurze.net
Bulimia can wreak havoc on your digestive system, your teeth, and your general health. "Bulimia:
A Guide to Recovery" discuses the effects of bulimia with plenty of frank advice and wisdom for
breaking free of this nasty habit which can have very serious long term health repercussions. As
hundreds of former bulimics speak out on this disease and how it can be overcome, complete with
a two week guide to help kick the habit, "Bulimia: A Guide to Recovery" is highly recommended
to those trying to kick the habit themselves or know someone else with a serious issue.
The Science Shelf
Dinosaurs
John J. Meier, editor
H. W. Wilson
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
9780824211073, $55.00, www.hwwilson.com
There's a lot more to learn from Dinosaurs than a bunch of dead lizards walked the earth.
"Dinosaurs" serves as a reference to the many scientific disciplines that hide behind
Dinosaurology. From looking deeper into what Dinosaurs were, the meaning behind fossils, their
connections in evolution to things you would never think of, what led to their demise, and how
science keeps revising history as we know it. Studious and scholarly, John J. Meier compiles
many writers research on the topic and serves as both an introductory and a read for those who
want to learn more about it all. "Dinosaurs" is an excellent addition to any scientific reference
collection.
Changes in the Technological Landscape
Svante Lindqvist
Science History Publications
PO Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
9780881354003, $35.00
Understanding the history of science allows you to draw on the lessons of the past. "Changes in
the Technological Landscape: Essays in the History of Science and Technology" is a collection of
essays and discussion on these topics, as Svante Lindqvist puts a scholarly eye on it all. From the
spectacle, the purpose of studying this history, particular events in history that offer much
credence to the need of scientific history, the purpose of the Nobel prize and much more,
"Changes in the Technological Landscape" is studious with plenty of thoughts for historians,
scientists, and non-specialist general readers.
Modern Communications Jamming
Richard A. Poisel
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608071654, $169, www.artechhouse.com
Communication is power in the modern day, and taking that power is key to modern success.
"Modern Communications Jamming: Principles and Techniques" discusses jamming technology in
recent years. Removing ability to use radio, internet, telephone, and other communications has
been a proven effective tactic in today's warfare that often finds itself rolling into cities and on
smaller battlefields where one wrong move can spell the end for an enemy. Designing proper
jammers for a certain frequency and being prepared with your own antijamming technology,
evaluating effectiveness and performance, and much more, Richard A. Poisel offers a scholarly
study with hard science and mathematics and countless illustrations to help the concepts be better
understood. Covering all the most recent technological developments and how they have
transformed this arms race, "Modern Communications Jamming" is a studious guide for any
technology research collection, regardless of the ultimate purpose of the application of the
jamming technology.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Building Blocks for Performance, second edition
Bobbie Anderson with Tracy Libby
Alpine Publications
PO Box 7027, Loveland, CO 80537
9781577791058, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Competition is pushing your dog to go further than usual, and special training is needed to give
them many an advantage. "Building Blocks for Performance" is in its second edition for owners of
competition dogs and puppies who want to train them for performance without overworking them
and working against them. Stating that a strong bond is needed for the most success and that play
is the best way to work together training and bonding, "Building Blocks for Performance" is
perfect for those who want to do more than teach their dog new tricks, they want to teach them
the best tricks.
Among Penguins
Noah Strycker
Oregon State University Press
121 The Valley Library, Corvallis, OR 97331-4501
9780870716294, $19.95, www.oregonstate.edu
A species flourishing in the harshest of climates, penguins have remained a strong curiosity for
centuries. "Among Penguins: A Bird Man in Antarctica" reflects on author Noah Strycker, a bird
scientist by trade, as he tells of how he spent much of his life studying penguins and their tenacity
to live on the harsh frozen wasteland of Antarctica. Driven by his study of this unique creatures,
he tells of what it takes to study these birds, and what can be learned from them. For those with
an interest in the lengths science will go or an interest in penguins, "Among Penguins" is an
excellent addition to community and college library memoir and animal science collections.
The Parenting Shelf
What Can I Do
Tahir Yaqoob
New Earth Labs
PO Box 5672, Baltimore, MD 21210
9780974168906, $24.95, www.newearthlabs.com
It's a nightmare many parents face - seeing your child's homework and being clueless yourself.
"What Can I Do To Help My Child with Math When I Don't Know Any Myself?" is a guide for
parents who want to help their children but aren't the best with the math themselves. Stating that
helping doesn't mean knowing all the answers yourself, Tahir Yaqoob offers simple advice to help
their children grasp their homework at any level, whether it be long division or calculus. "What
Can I Do" is a worthy consideration for any parent seeking ways to help their children succeed in
school.
The Education Shelf
Visual Support for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Vera Bernard-Opitz & Anne Hausler, authors
AAPC
P.O. Box 23173, Overland Park
Shawnee Mission, KS 66283
9781934575826, $37.95, www.aapcpublishing.net
With an informative foreword by Gary Mesibov, Ph.D., "Visual Support for Children With
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Materials for Visual Learners" by Vera Bernard-Opitz and Anne
Hausler is an invaluable resource for parents and teachers of children with ASD (and others) who
are primarily visual learners. Four chapters filled with color photo illustrations provide
information on levels of structure, establishing basic structure of teaching settings, prototypes of
tasks, and designing and structuring tasks and individual activities, plus a chapter on resources.
Many practical ideas and approaches that have been successfully used to teach children who are
visual learners are suggested. In addition to many specific suggested tasks, tools and approaches,
each task has a shaded grid that identifies and categorizes specific teaching targets and goals, for
example. This instructor's handbook or suggestion manual is proof that a picture is truly worth a
thousand words, especially in teaching children with ASD.
Essays & Term Papers
Michelle McLean
Career Press
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631404, $14.99, www.careerpress.com
In college, you can't take any short cuts when trying to succeed. "Essays & Term Papers" is a
guide for making the most out of one's major papers in both high school and college. Michelle
McLean applies a certain expertise on how to write effective papers, the editing process, the what
is expected in high end college courses. For anyone with college aspirations and want to avoid a
rude awakening, "Essays & Term Papers" is an excellent resource that shouldn't be
overlooked.
Book Clubbing!
Carol Littlejohn
Linworth
c/o ABC CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, Santa Barbara, CA
9781586834142, $35.00, www.abc-clio.com
A book club is an excellent way to encourage reading where it matters most - young people."
Book Clubbing: Successful Book Clubs for Young People" is a guide to setting up book clubs for
young people with the aim of encouraging reading through adolescence and the teenage years.
With plenty of activity ideas to make books more appealing for those kids who may be reluctant
to join in, encouraging learning and discussion about the subject matter. For any educator who
wants to make the book club fun, "Book Clubbing" is an excellent and choice research,
enthusiastically recommended.
Motivating Students
Carolyn Chapman & Nicole Vagle
Solution-Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781935249788, $29.95, www.solution-tree.com
Motivation can be the key ingredient between a student's success and failure in school.
"Motivating Students: 25 Strategies to Light the Fire of Engagement" is a guide for educators and
other academic leaders who want to encourage education as valuable in their students at any level.
Key subjects are making sure no student falls too much behind, remembering to find some fun
even in the most drudging of subjects, while remembering to keep expectations high to drive kids
to succeed. With plenty of highly researched strategies presented, authors Carolyn Chapman &
Nicole Vagle want to make sure enthusiasm remains high with the teachers as well as the
students. "Motivating Students" is an invaluable educational guide for those who see boredom
and frustration as the bane of higher learning.
Teaching Boys
Kathleen Palmer Cleveland
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416611509, $27.95, www.ascd.org
Learning can seem like quite a drag if you're struggling to simply get by in the grades. "Teaching
Boys Who Struggle in School: Strategies That Turn Underachievers Into Successful Learners" is
a guide for parents and educators who want to help young men who are struggling to learn and
understand the curriculum. With research and study, that is well done, Kathleen Palmer Cleveland
presents useful information on finding the missing pieces to this educational puzzle and helping
underachievers reach their maximum potential. "Teaching Boys Who Struggle in School" is an
invaluable read for the teacher who wants to reach out to these boys who can be lost to poor lives
due to bad education.
Autism & Reading Comprehension
Joseph Porter
Future Horizons
721 West Abram Street, Arlington, TX 76013
9781935274155, $19.95, www.FHautism.com
Autism doesn't mean illiteracy. "Autism & Reading Comprehension" is a guide for lesson plans for
teachers of Autistic children at the elementary school level. Joseph Porter, an educational expert
presents an easy to use system to help Autistic children grasp reading using the lessons and ideas
that follow within. Boasting 90 hours worth of instruction along with a CD filled with useful
resources and more, "Autism & Reading Comprehension" is a wise pick for any educator who
wants to help Autistic children be the best readers they can be.
Teacher's Survival Guide
Cynthia G. Simpson & Vicky G. Spencer, & Jeffrey P. Bakken
Prufrock Press
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78731
9781593635411, $19.95, www.prufrock.com
It's easy to leave kids out when caught up in the swing of teaching. "Teacher's Survival Guide:
The Inclusive Classroom" is another entry in Prufrock press's series of Educational guides, this
time focusing on the inclusive classroom, for teachers who have to teach many students of
differing ability levels, which often leaves the problem of either leaving some students bored or
confused. With tips on what to do to keep everyone involved, catching who is failing to follow,
and more, "Teacher's Survival Guide" is packed with plenty of ideas and curriculum suggestions
that any teacher should highly consider. Also from Prufrock Press of Educational interest is
"Preventing Challenging Behavior in Your Classroom" (9781593637187, $24.95,
www.prufrock.com), a guide to detecting when behavior will be a problem and intervening to
solve the problem before it starts.
Young Children with ADHD
George J. DuPaul & Lee Kern
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433809637, $59.95, www.apa.org
Early identification of any problem is the best way to overcome it. "Young Children with ADHD:
Early Identification and Intervention" discusses Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which
can lead to much difficulty in learning for young children. Too often the disorder goes ignored
and leaves children falling behind. George J. DuPaul & Lee Kern, an educational psychologist,
and a professor of special education respectively, approach this problem with scholarly intent and
offer much to consider for both educators and parents. For anyone who wants or needs to be able
to recognize the early stages of ADHD, "Young Children with ADHD" is a core addition to any
pediatric psychology or education collection, enthusiastically recommended.
A Cord of Three Strands
Soo Hong
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
9781934742549, $29.95, www.harvardeducationpress.org
Non-English speaking parents care deeply about their children's progress in school, but their
language may make it difficult for them to contribute. "A Cord of Three Strands" discusses how
educational leaders can be more inclusionary to these parents who can often feel like outsiders.
Soo Hong speaks with experience on how to make these parents feel they can make a difference
and feel apart of the greater educational movement for their own children and others as well.
Stating that this is an urgent issue, "A Cord of Three Strands" is worth considering for any parent
or educational leader who wants better for their students.
Academic Therapy Publications
20 Commercial Blvd., Novato, CA 94949-6191
www.academictherapy.com
Academic Therapy Publications is a leading publisher of classroom instructional materials for special needs children -- particularly in the field of learning disability and remedial reading. Three of their newest series are especially to be recommended as classroom curriculum supplements for remedial reading: Tom & Ricky Mystery Series Set 1 and Set 2, and Near Star Planets. Originally published in 1980, author Bob Wright's five volume sets (each individual paperback title is 48 pages) have been updated and revised to reflect contemporary times and interests. The content has been leveled to approximately 75% decodable text, 20% sight words, and 5% challenge words. Enhanced with new artwork by Patrick Faricy with a first grade reading level but appeal for struggling readers ages 10 to 14, the two new sets of Tom & Ricky Mysteries (Set 1, 9781571285515, $22.00 and Set 2, 9781571285577, $22.00) continue to be exceptional and highly recommended. The five volume "Near Star Planet" series (9781571285805, $22.00) follows the same instructional and reading level format as the Tom & Ricky Mystery sets and is comprised of science fiction stories bound to have an immense appeal (especially to young adolescent male readers): Space Pirates; The Evil Plot, The Bird People, The Thought Lab, and Trouble at the Space Station. All three of these offerings from Academic Therapy Publications are especially appropriate and recommended for classroom as well home-schooling curriculums.
The Memoir Shelf
They That Laugh Win
Evelia Cobos
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos, NM 87107
9781890689728, $16.95, www.nmsantos.com
If you get fun and a story out of it, it was all worthwhile. "They That Laugh Win: To Dr. Ruben
Cobos with Love" is a memoir from Evelia Cobos, who writes of her father and tells of his
journeys through folklore and the blend of cultures that the Southwestern United States has
become, telling his story, and telling the story of the Hispanic American family as a whole. "They
That Laugh Win" is a poignant and dedicated read, a fine addition to biography and memoir
collections.
No Bread For Mandela
Ahmed Kathrada
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40508-4008
9780813133751, $19.95
There are those who must suffer in their quest against injustice. "No Bread for Mandela: Memoirs
of Ahmed Kathrada, Prisoner No. 468/64" is a memoir and recollection of Ahmed Kathrada,
friend of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who served as his parliamentary
counselor, who continues into the modern day to fight against the racism that remains strong in
today's South Africa. For those seeking memoir about those who fight against racism and racial
injustice around the world, "No Bread for Mandela" proves to be a fine pick.
The Philosophy Shelf
Rawls
Sebastiano Maffettone
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745646510, $24.95, www.politybooks.com
John Rawls brought much thought to the world on the matters of social justice and our work
towards it. "Rawls" is an introduction to the man's philosophy and why it resonates so strongly
with many political philosophers in the modern day. Breaking down into three parts connected to
his three works that discuss social justice, liberalism, and law as the topics of his books,
Sebastinano Maffetonne brings an educational read that presents it all well and leaves readers with
what they need to know to pursue deeper learning. "Rawls" is an excellent addition to any
community and college library collection.
The Economics Shelf
Reconciling Trade and Climate
Tracey Epps & AndrewGreen
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781849800068, $125.00, www.amazon.com
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was created to facilitate international trade. International
trade is impacted and influenced by many factors, chief among which is climate. The earth is
clearly undergoing climate change which has dramatic impacts upon a variety of trade issues
including agriculture and agricultural products. The collaborative work of Tracey Epps (Senior
Trade Law Adviser, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Andrew Green
(Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Canada), "Reconciling Trade and Climate: How the
WTO Can Help Address Climate Change" is a 280-page compendium of impeccable scholarship
that begins with an informative introduction reflecting the necessity of reconciling international
trade rules and climate policies. What follows is a series of superbly researched and presented
issues involving linkages between trade and climate change, trade rules and domestic policies,
unilateral action to compel countries to take climate change action, and multilateral solutions that
will increase environmentally sound and beneficial trading. Enhanced with a comprehensive index,
"Reconciling Trade and Climate" is a strongly recommended and seminal contribution to
professional and academic library International Economics reference collections and supplemental
reading lists.
The Next American Economy
William J. Holstein
Walker & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780802777508, $26.00, www.walkerbooks.com
The state of the American economy isn't going to simply fix itself, yet some people sit and wait
for it to do so. "The Next American Economy: Blueprint for a Real Recovery" is a discussion of
the economy from William J. Holstein, stating that innovation drives the economy, and that while
it may be accepted there is nothing new under the sun, innovation still occurs and in many parts of
the country it has already started to grind the gears towards recovery. America has always been
the pioneer of industry by creating new industries for it to succeed in, and finding that new
industry is the key to America's financial future. "The Next American Economy" is a fine study, a
must for any student of the economy, businessman or just amateur student of the insanity.
The Invisible Handcuffs of Capitalism
Michael Perelman
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583672297, $19.95, www.monthlyreview.org
Capitalism can be a working system, but it is not a perfect one. "The Invisible Handcuffs of
Capitalism: How Market Tyranny Stifles the Economy by Stunting Workers" analyzes the
problems that our economy faces by looking at the smallest gears and cogs that make it work, the
working class. Michael Perelman diagnoses the problems with American capitalism, looking at
how the worker has become the enemy, how the shadowy underbelly of it all is showing more
than ever, and the light at the end of the tunnel. Trying to show the real problems that haunt
today's economics, "The Invisible Handcuffs of Capitalism" brings forth many truths and many
solutions.
The Social Issues Shelf
Cash-for-Childcare
Jorma Sipila, Katja Repo, and Tapio Rissanen, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781849804233 $110.00 www.e-elgar.com
Cash-for-Childcare: The Consequences for Caring Mothers is an anthology of essays by learned
authors discussing a potentially controversial child care policy adopted by multiple Nordic
nations: Cash for Childcare, in which mothers receive money from the government for taking care
of their children rather than pursuing a job in the workforce. Social researchers have suggested
that incentivizing women to withdraw from the workforce disempowers them; economists have
questioned the financial wisdom of having the state pay for private care; and individuals from all
walks of life observed questionable consequences of the policy. Cash-for-Childcare: The
Consequences for Caring Mothers examines both the positive and the negative sides of this policy,
discussing how it can be used to give families more options as well as its drawbacks. An excellent
choice for social issues collections and reference shelves.
The Politics of Protection
Elizabeth G. Ferris
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815721376, $32.95, www.brookings.edu
The best of intentions won't bring miracles. "The Politics of Protection: The Limits of
Humanitarian Action" discuss the reality of trying to do the right thing in our violent and chaotic
world. Discussing the principles of humanitarianism, the basics of human rights, and the protocol
that must be followed when foreign aid is offered to those in need. Chapters cover the challenges
of finding the money, what lies in the future for humanitarianism, and much more. A scholarly
study that should be considered for anyone who wants to understand why no one person or
organization can face all the evil in the world, "The Politics of Protection" is a crucial addition to
any international studies collection focusing on human rights.
American Tensions
William Reichard, editor
New Village Press
PO Box 3049, Oakland, CA 94609
9780981559384, $19.95, www.newvillagepress.net
The melting pot isn't an easy blend, as the boiling nature within it can prove quite nasty.
"American Tensions: Literature of Identity and the Search for Social Justice" is a collection of
fiction, poetry, essays, and much more from various authors who speak on the continued push
forward as America tries to be that harmonious union of peoples up front, and the much darker
conflict that lands underneath it all. Through literature and nonfiction, these writers provide many
opinions and views to grant readers the many conflicting perspectives in our nation today. For
those who want to gain a greater understanding in our nation's push for equality, "American
Tensions" is a thoughtful and very highly recommended read.
Diverse by Design
Christopher Schoreder
Utah State University
3078 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-3078
9780874218060, $26.95, www.usupress.org
America has invited diversity upon itself, despite many of its citizens wishes. "Diverse by Design:
Literary Education within Multicultural Institutions" analyzes diversity and America's thoughts
towards it. Christopher Schroeder, an associate professor of the English language, delves into
America's schizophrenic wish for diversity while at the same time condemning it with some
pushing for a single official language. Through the study of one particular university in the
Midwest, Schoroeder offers a good deal of food for thought in America's progress and regression
of being inclusionary but exclusionary. "Diverse by Design" is well worth considering for those
with an interest in studying race and culture in America today.
The Agriculture Shelf
Urban Agriculture
David Tracey
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0
9780865716940, $21.95, www.newsociety.com
With the growing global population, a contribution to one's own self-sustainability goes a long
way. "Urban Agriculture: Ideas and Designs for The New Food Revolution" is a guide to Urban
agriculture, which just may be the key to humanity's survival in the future where space becomes
more and more of a growing problem. The windowsills and lawns are the next generation's farms,
and David Tracey informs readers on how to work it, and get fresh and healthy vegetables from
their own bounty. "Urban Agriculture" is a choice pick for those who want to make a difference
with their fertile land now.
The City Homesteader
Scott Meyer
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762440856, $20.00, www.runningpress.com
Every human takes up space, not just to live but for its sustenance. "The City Homesteader:
Self-Sufficiency on Any Square Footage" is a guide for being as self-sufficient as possible when
space is at a premium, such as in a packed city. In the modern age, rediscovering self-sufficiency
may be what's needed to keep the world able to feed us all, and Scott Meyer walks readers
through everything they need to know to embrace this practice through growing a little of their
own, food preservation, even raising chickens and much more. For anyone who is looking to
make their drain on the world a little less, "The City Homesteader" is an excellent read, well
worth considering.
The Art Shelf
Caterpillage
Harry Berger Jr.
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823233137, $35.00, www.fordhampress.com
A still life is more than just some fruit in a bowl. "Caterpillage" tracks this particular discipline of
painting as it was developed by the Dutch in the 1600s. Iconography was a major aspect, as
insects and the plants they dined on proved to be a metaphor for much more than that, and the
discipline still continues on to this day. With full color glossy inserts of various works,
"Caterpillage" is a thorough history of this discipline and proves to be quite complete and
comprehensive, making it a core addition to community and college art and history
collections.
American Paints to 1945
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Hudson Hills Press LLC
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953614, $60.00, www.hudsonhills.com
American art has had its own unique evolution that is both similar and quite different from their
European cousins. "Corcoran Gallery of Art: American Paintings to 1945" traces the development
of American art through its later colonial days to just before the modern period before World War
II. The Corcoran Gallery of Art was founded in 1869 and has proven to be quite the dedication to
American art ever since its inception. Landscapes, portraits, and other settings are displayed in full
color reproductions from American artists with much discussion on their style and how this
shifted the direction of American art. "Corcoran Gallery of Art" is a fine coffee table choice for art
lovers as well as a scholarly look at the development of American art history.
Twentieth-Century Egyptian Art
Mona Abaza
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
9789774163944, $49.50, www.aucpress.com
Modern Egyptian art has little to do with the scrawls of ancient civilization. "Twentieth-Century
Egyptian Art: The Private Collection of Sherwet-Shafei" is a study of the modern country's art as
one of its famous and reputable art gallery owners presents over two hundred works that come
from throughout the twentieth century, showing the changes of the nation's art and society
throughout the century from the earliest works which show strong ties to tradition to how they
are thrown to the side as the century rolls on. Discussing Sherwet-Shafei's collection as well,
"Twentieth-Century Egyptian Art" is filled with full color reproductions and makes for a strong
pick for anyone looking for a coffee table art collection, highly recommended.
Portrait Jewels
Diana Scarisbrick
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500515570, $45.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
Jewels were not only jewelry to enhance the status of the person, but also their image. "Portrait
Jewels: Opulence & Intimacy from the Medici to the Romanovs" traces the history of this practice
of jewels around the portrait of a rich and powerful person and the inclusion of such items in the
portraits themselves as well. A practice with roots with the rise of the Medici family that waned
with the tragic fall of the Russian ruling family Romanov, this history proves as a study for lovers
of jewelry and its role in history. Countless historical creations and art is shown, making "Portrait
Jewels" a fine read and coffee table book for any connoisseur of jewelry history.
The Photography Shelf
Chinese Sentiment
Shen Wei
Charles Lane Press
8E Charles Lane, New York, NY 10014
9780981877020, $65.00, www.charleslanepress.com
A changing landscape is something that the people of China face, and Shen Wei seeks to capture
this transformation on film. "Chinese Sentiment" is a series of photographs as she hopes to use her
art to find this shifting picture of people, showing the departure of China from the communism
and for everyone nature it was known for to a society that shows individualism as a bigger picture
and the changing picture of it all. Shen Wei shows a China that is not entirely known to the west,
and makes "Chinese Sentiment" an excellent pick for one looking for a coffee table book with an
international focus or international photography collections in general.
Chasing the Light
Ibarionex Perello
New Riders
c/o Pearson
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780321752505, $44.99, www.newriders.com
Bright lights aren't the most plentiful resource for a photographer who wants to see something
real. "Chasing the Light: Improving Your Photography with Available Light" is a guide for
photographers who want to make the most out of limited light, with plenty of tips and tricks for
understanding how low light works with one's camera and using what you have to the greatest
extent. Chapters cover contrasts, other facts on picture quality, and how light plays into black and
white photography. "Chasing the Light" is a useful reference for photographers who want to deal
with the less than ideal conditions outside a studio.
The Cookbook Shelf
101 Easy Everyday Recipes
Vickie Hutchins and Jo Ann Martin, editors
Gooseberry Patch
2500 Farmers Dr., #110, Columbus, Ohio 43235
9781936283958, $14.95, www.gooseberrypatch.com
"101 Easy Everyday Recipes" is an attractive, practical, spiral bound collection of tasty recipes to
feed a family every day. Filled with color-photo illustrations, "101 Easy Everyday Recipes" covers
the family's nutritional needs for breakfast, supper, dinner, side dishes, and desserts in five
chock-full chapters. This user-friendly cook's sampler is attractively organized with one recipe, a
photo illustration, and a contributor's credit and notes per page, Here are some eye-catchers to
consider: BBQ Beef & Wagon Wheels Salad, Zippy Broiled Catfish, Spicy Carrot Fries, and
Joyce's Chocolate Chip Pie. If that doesn't tempt the reader, there are sure to be other selections
that will. All recipes are easy to follow and prepare, and use ingredients that are readily available.
The contributors' anecdotes add to the charm and appeal of each handcrafted family-pleasing
recipe.
The Worry-Free Kitchen
Kumiko Ibaraki
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016
9781935654070, $14.95, www.vertical-inc.com
Trying to cut the fat out of your life can prove difficult when all your favorite foods have so much
tasty fat. "The Worry-Free Kitchen: Everyday Dishes Without Oil and Fat" is a cookbook with
plenty of recipes dedicated to emulating the taste and appearance of high fat fried dishes without
the fat and oil that goes with it. Each recipe comes with easy to follow instructions with illustrated
steps and pictures of the dish presented in full color. For anyone trying to cut fat out of their diet
without going insane, "The Worry-Free Kitchen" is an ideal diet cookbook.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
A Librarian's Guide On How To Publish
Srecko Jelusic & Ivanka Stricevic
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038-4512
www.neal-schuman.com
9781843346197, $80.00, www.amazon.com
Eighty dollars might seem a very high price for a 200-page instruction manual specifically written
and designed by the collaborative team of Srecko Jelusic (Vice Rector in Chargee of International
Relations, publishing, and library, and an Associate Professor at the University of Zadar, Croatia)
and Ivanka Stricevic (Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Studies,
University of Zadar, Croatia), but publishing is a fundamental responsibility and a basic element of
the job of a librarian as they are responsible for producing library catalogs, bibliographies,
monographs, scientific papers, exhibition catalogs, periodicals, and reports. Fairly unique in the
professional literature for Library Science, "A Librarian's Guide On How To Publish" (part of
the 'Chandos Information Professional Series') will prove to be an invaluable and practice
compendium and instructional guide that will insure professional standards of quality as
Professors Jelusic and Stricevic address and explain all the procedures librarians will need when
undertaking any of this publishing projects and duties. Of special note is the attention paid to
electronic publications and such issues as production schedules, timetables, and project finances.
"A Librarian's Guide On How To Publish" is an essential and core addition to professional and
academic Library Studies instructional reference collections and should be considered mandatory
reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of publishing within and for the library
market.
19th Century American Writers on Writing
Brenda Wineapple
Trinity University Press
One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
9781595340696, $18.95, www.tupress.com
America was a new nation, and America's writers answered the call for creating a literary legacy
we can be proud of. "19th Century American Writers on Writing" tries to gain an understanding
of these great minds by looking at what they have written on their trade, writing, be it in the form
of essays, poetry, prose or else. With additional notes from Literary history student Brenda
Wineapple, placing her expertise to grant greater understanding, "19th Century American Writers
on Writing" is a strong pick for any literary history collection with a focus on American
literature.
The Gardening Shelf
Everyday Eden
Christina Symons & John Gillespie
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, V0N 2H0
9781550175387, $29.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
Recycling is more than just a special bin. "Everyday Eden: 100+ Fun, Green Garden Projects for
the Whole Family to Enjoy" is a guide to those who want to embrace a green life more effectively
no matter where they are. Christina Symons & John Gillespie come with plenty of ideas from
growing crops out of unusual containers, what can be harvested from a home garden, and how to
get the family involved. With no shortage of range on the ideas in any sort, "Everyday Eden" is a
must for the person who wants the most for themselves and the environment.
Growing Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs from Containers
Lizz Shepherd
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601383471, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com
When you don't have a place for natural soil, you make a place. "Growing Vegetables, Flowers,
and Herbs from Containers: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" is a starter guide
for those who don't have ground to garden with but are willing to use containers to form the
foundation for their gardening endeavors. Explaining the basics and differences from traditional
gardening, Lizz Shepherd equips readers with knowledge they need to make the most of their
limited space. "Growing Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs from Containers" is a studious and very
useful resource for any hopeful space-less gardener.
Gardening, Naturally
Sara Williams & Hugh Skinner
Coteau Books
2517 Victoria Avenue, Regina, SK S4P OT2, Canada
9781550504491, $24.95, www.coteaubooks.com
Pesticides have many draw backs, so trying to grow without them is the preferred endeavor of
many small gardeners. "Gardening, Naturally: A Chemical-Free Handbook for the Prairies" is a
guide to gardeners who want to want to grow their garden for beauty, for food, and for anything
else completely free of any chemicals or pesticide interference. Sara Williams & Hugh Skinner
guide readers through everything they need to know to keep their gardens growing and heavy
without resorting to pesticides and growth chemicals. "Gardening, Naturally" is well worth
considering for anyone who wants to embrace organics for their own garden.
The Political Science Shelf
The Stewart/Colbert Effect
Amarnath Amarasingam, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786458868 $40.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com
"Satire in the form of news is not new, but Comedy Central's duo have become a much more
socially significant force, not just poking fun at figures in the news, but launching a full-scale
attack on the media and the messages simultaneously." The Stewart/Colbert Effect: Essays on the
Real Impacts of Fake News offers ten essays by scholarly authors examining the political and
social repercussions of the wildly popular Comedy Central network satire shows, The Daily Show
with John Stewart and The Colbert Report. Do these shows primarily have a cathartic or
informational function, especially in an era when more and more people say they turn to fake
comedy shows to get their news? What is the role of satire in politics, and to what extent does it
actually influence public opinion? Essays include "Stoned Slackers or Super-Citizens? The Daily
Show Viewing and Political Engagement of Young Adults", "It's All About Meme: The Art of the
Interview and the Insatiable Ego of the Colbert Bump", "I Am the Mainstream Media (and So
Can You!)", and much more. Notes and references round out this apt examination of a
burgeoning social phenomena with potential long-term repercussions in not only politics, but also
how news media itself is perceived and consumed. Highly recommended especially for college
library political and media studies shelves.
Satire + Dissent
Amber Day
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253222817, $22.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu
The modern media has become a far cry from the hard hitting journalism of a century ago. "Satire
+ Dissent: Interventions in Contemporary Political Debate" brings to attention how humor and
satire has become the leading way of dissent and commentary on today's politics. Speaking on
programs like The Daily Show, the documentaries of Michael Moore, and activist groups such as
Billionaires for Bush. "Satire + Dissent" is an intriguing dissection of concourse in American
society today and its impact on the politics of the people.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Visions, Images, and Dreams
Eric A. Goldman
Holmes and Meier
PO Box 943, Teaneck, 07666
9780841914377, $19.95, www.holmesandmeier.com
Directors make films that speaks their beliefs, and Jewish film makers are no different. "Visions,
Images, and Dreams: Yiddish Film - Past & Present" discusses Jewish cinema, be it made in
America, Israel, or elsewhere in the world. Eric Goldman walks readers through the history of it
all, speaking of the concerns that faced the Jewish people around the world and how their films
reflected their anxiety, as well describing the rise and fall of its golden age, and hints of a
comeback. "Visions, Images, and Dreams" serves as a dual purpose addition to both film history
collections as well as Judaic studies collections.
The Business Shelf
Handbook of Research on New Venture Creation
Kevin Hindle and Kim Klyver, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781847200952 $240.00 www.e-elgar.com
Handbook of Research on New Venture Creation collects essays by learned authors discussing
the findings of new venture creation research. Chapters discuss the process of setting an agenda;
theoretical perspectives; collecting measurement data; and the contexts that directly apply to new
venture creation. Examples help flesh out these meticulous business and economic theories about
entrepreneurship, in this scholarly text especially recommended for college library school of
business collections. "Entrepreneurship can be characterized as the realization of an innovation
where one or a few persons can be identified as those who ensure the realization. Sometimes, but
not always, it implies the establishment of one's own new firm. This implies involving and
motivating other people to support the realization of the idea, convincing other people of its value
and to make a profit in economic terms."
The Social Media Survival Guide
Deltina Hay
Quill Driver Books
2006 S. Mary Street, Fresno, CA 93721-3311
9781884995705, $24.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com
If you don't do social media, you're already failing. "The Social Media Survival Guide: Strategies,
Tactics, and Tools for Succeeding in the Social Web" is a guide for businesses or those in charge
of their businesses social media connections to make the most of today's social media craze that
seems to be here to stay for quite some time. With advice on simplifying the daunting task of
learning it all from scratch, author Deltina Hay constructs her guide with the amateur in mind,
complete with plenty of screen shots. "The Social Media Survival Guide" is a must for any novice
who wants to shed that description from their Web 2.0 skills.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
From a Far Country
Catharine Randall
The University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820338200, $44.95, www.ugapress.org
A devotion to one's faith that makes you cross the ocean for it is a devotion indeed. "From a Far
Country: Camisards and Huguenots in the Atlantic World" seeks to tell the history of the
Huguenots and Camisards, two groups of French Protestants who mostly chose to travel across
the Atlantic to the new world for their faith and new opportunities. This migration contributed to
the growing exchange of ideas that existed between the Atlantic world and how it was assimilated
into standard faith in American society today. "From a Far Country" is an intriguing study on how
faiths move and change each other, a strong pick for any religious history collection.
The Maronites
Paul Naaman
Cistercian Publications
c/o Liturgical Press
3642 Monks Road, Trappist, KY 40051
9780879072438, $24.95, www.litpress.org
Although united by their faith in Christ and God, the Maronites are another interesting study of
the many variations of faith under the banner of Christianity. "The Maronites: The Origins of an
Antiochene Church" discusses this particular sect in great detail, as Abbot Paul Naaman offers a
scholarly discussion of this faith that has over ten million followers around the world, embracing
the teachings of a Christian priest in the fifth century, serving as the major sect of Christianity by
many Christians in the Middle East and Arab World. "The Maronites" is an excellent addition to
any study of the many Christian faiths around the world.
The Woodworking Shelf
Blanket Chests
Scott Gibson & Peter Turner
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, PO Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781600852992, $24.95, www.taunton.com
Expression can come in the form of even one's furniture. "Blanket Chests: Outstanding Designs
From 30 of the World's Finest Furniture Makers" is a guide for those who take pride in
constructing their own furnishings. Scott Gibson & Peter Turner come at readers with an
assortment of designs and advice on creating their own blanket chests and other large wooden
containers, with special attention to the details and making the most of it all. "Blanket Chests" is
packed with full color photographs of the ideas for construction and much more, making it a
strong pick for any carpentry, hobby, and crafts collection.
The Fiction Shelf
Oddballs
Manchan Magan
Brandom
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780863224249, $22.95, www.brandonbooks.com
When life throws curveballs, it doesn't throw them one at a time. "Oddballs" follows Rachel, who
faced with the recent death of a boyfriend and the introduction to adulthood, finds companionship
in a strange woman claiming to be long lost aunt. Dragged into this aunt's unusual life, Rachel
meets the bizarre reality of life head on, and quickly learns much about it all. A unique, offbeat
and humorous coming of age tale, "Oddballs" is a worthwhile pick for general fiction readers.
The Stormchasers
Jenna Blum
Plume
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
9780452297135, $15.00, www.penguin.com
The bond of siblings is a truly unique one. "The Stormchasers" is a novel following Karena Jorge,
who through her young life takes care of her bipolar brother Charles. Charles embraces storm
chasing, and in dedication to her brother, Karena follows. But when a certain event separates
them, it isn't until twenty years later Karena is forced to face what happened that day. "The
Stormchasers" is a thoughtful read of the lengths of familial love, highly recommended.
The Hessian Drummer Boy of Newport
Walter K. Schroder
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave. #104, Westminster, MD 21157
9780788452758, $21.00, www.heritagebooks.com
The war of the drummer boy is one concerned with survival over victory... "The Hessian
Drummer Boy of Newport" "The Hessian Drummer Boy of Newport" is a novel of the
revolutionary war, taking a view of the conflict that is seldom seen. A young German boy, peter
Bauer, serves as the protagonist as Walter K. Schroder spins a unique story of crossing the
Atlantic to face what may be death. "The Hessian Drummer Boy of Newport" is a fine read, well
worth considering for those seeking historical fiction set in the American Revolution.
All for One
Melody Carlson
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado, CO 80918
9781434764935, $14.99, www.davidccook.com
When a friendship lasts a life time, it becomes more than that. "All for One" is the story of a
sisterhood of four women who happen to have the same first name Linda. Going by their middle
names, their friendship has gone on since the first grade, as author Melody Carson tells the story
of these lifelong friends coming back to their hometown and facing the problems of their lives. A
moving story of the extent of friendship facing unusual odds, "All for One" is a fun, poignant, and
moving read that may women will relate to.
The Sojourn
Andrew Krivak
Bellevue Literary Press
NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, OBV 640, New York, NY 10016
9781934137345, $14.95, www.blpress.org
When the America Dream fails, one man returns home only to be handed a rifle. "The Sojourn"
follows Jozef Vinich as he returns home to Austria-Hungary after tragedy returns him home from
Colorado. Thrown into World War I, he must survive and find something to call a life through all
the turmoil and shifts in his life. "The Sojourn" is an excellent work of historical fiction, that
should prove riveting and hard to put down.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Delta Solution
Patrick Robinson
Vanguard Press
387 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016
9781593156473, $25.99, www.perseusbooksgroup.com
When your trade is not one of great nobility, attention is the last thing you want to attract. "The
Delta Solution" is an exciting thriller from Patrick Robinson as he presents another chapter in the
Mack Bedford series as Mack joins with Seal Team 10 as they are tasked with recovering two
American ships from the Indian Ocean, held hostage by Somalian pirates. Tasked with bringing
justice to the lawless, Mack's task won't be easy, but he must rise to it to free the ocean from
terror. "The Delta Solution" is a fun and recommended military thriller, not to be overlooked for
action and adventure fiction collections.
Hotbed
Bill James
The Countryman Press
c/o WW Norton
PO Box 748, 1206 VT Route 12, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881509502, $23.95, www.countrymanpress.com
Peaceful competition seems like a lie, especially in the drug business. "Hotbed" is an entry into
the Harpur & Iles mystery series from Bill James, as he tells the story of a city split between two
drug lords, tolerated because the alternative is worse. But co-existence is something that won't
stay existing, as war is brewing, and the tolerance of their businesses seems to be coming to a
head. As Iles and Harper, two police detectives, find themselves drawn into the conflict, they must
act quick to find peace for the town unless violence spills onto their streets. "Hotbed" is a
riveting thriller and mystery, a fun and very highly recommended read.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Climate Coup
Patrick J. Michaels, editor
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781935308447, $24.95, www.cato.org
Global Warming is affecting our world, but the question is why are we acting as if the apocalypse
is coming? "Climate Coup: Global Warming's Invasion of Our Government And Our Lives" is an
assortment of essays from many writers from the Cato Institute and compiled by Patrick J.
Michaels. The essays focus on the gross over-reaction connected to global warming and how it is
being abused for certain agendas, and leading our country in the wrong direction. From the
hysteria's effect on the United States, education, the rest of the world, the economics of it all, and
more, the essays within offer wisdom that hopes to bring the hysteria down and cease the problem
being used as a buzz word. "Climate Coup" provides many intriguing thoughts and insights on
Global Warming and its true impact on our world.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Creating Space Between Peshat & Derash
Hayyum J. Angel
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801769, $25.00, www.ktav.com
The figures of the Bible are often put on a high pedestal, some viewing them as saints with no sin.
But by understanding they too are imperfect and understanding them, we may understand the
word of God more completely. "Creating Space Between Peshat & Derash: A Collection of
Studies on Tanakh" is a collection of essays from Rabbi Hayyum J. Angel, as he presents his
scholarly studies on many accepted Biblical events. Looking at the past students of the Tanakh,
challenging the status of Israelites of the Chosen people, the failures of Moses, his views may
prove controversial, but they are endlessly fascinating and provide much food for thought.
"Creating Space Between Peshat & Derash" is an excellent read, a core addition to any Judaic or
Religious studies collection.
The Crafts Shelf
Origami Inspirations
Meenakshi Mukerji
AK Peters
5 Commonwealth Road, Suite 2C, Natick, MA 01760
9781568815848, $24.95, www.akpeters.com
A piece of paper has so much potential. "Origami Inspirations" is a guide filled with origami
projects to be taken on by those of varying skill levels with origami. Presented in full color,
Meenakshi Mukerji proceeds to break down the projects into step by step instructions, an
introductory of many basic techniques, and organizes the projects based on the predominant
technique in each. For anyone looking to get into origami or those who have some knowledge but
seeking more ideas, "Origami Inspirations" may be what they are looking for.
The Music Shelf
Hey Buddy
Gary W. Moore
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714975, $25.00, www.heybuddybook.com
Buddy Holly revolutionized popular music, but just how much he changed it may not be
understood. "Hey Buddy: In Pursuit of Buddy Holly, My New Buddy John, and My Lost Decade
of Music" is a memoir of music, as Gary Moore reflects on his late discovery of Buddy Holly, as a
man who wasn't a massive fan of rock music in general. When he hears a tribute song dedicated to
the musician, he becomes fascinated with the man and his work, and studies that became of
Buddy, and theorizes the path of music with a living Buddy through the 60s and 70s. "Hey
Buddy" is an intriguing tribute to the legendary musician, highly recommended.
The Do-Re-Mi System of Music Notation Shorthand
John Underwood
Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.
701 Smithfield Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9780805957594, $8.00, www.dorrancepublishing.com
"The Do-Re-Mi System of Music Notation Shorthand" is an instruction manual of a convenient
musical shorthand notation that can be helpful to amateur composers and readers/performers of
music. An 8 -tone basic notation system is adapted with numbers and syllables and chord
notations to represent musical notation for any simple song. chapters are presented on Melody,
Chords, Minor Keys, and Examples, which shows the system applied to 7 familiar tunes. "The
Do-Re-Mi System of Music Notation Shorthand" is a handy, practical toolbox for the modern
musician/composer.
The Library CD Shelf
Nagez Rameurs
Genticorum
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$26.27 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Nagez Rameurs (the title means "Pull Together, Rowers!"), is a music CD album by Genticorum,
a trio of musicians whose guitar, flute, fiddle, and vocal performance is grounded in Quebec
tradition and culture, yet reaches out to borrow elements of Scottish, Irish, and even Norwegian
folk. Nagez Rameurs tells stories through its songs - especially adventures of people who traveled
to North America throughout history. A flowing and beautiful celebration of human ingenuity,
flair, and drive, Nagez Rameurs is an excellent addition to public library and international music
CD collections. The tracks are "Tout le long du voyage" (4:50), "Turlutte hirsute" (4:11), "Nagez
Rameurs" (4:37), "Les Menteries" (4:40), "Galope Doux Bedon" (3:41), "Reel circulaire" (6:03),
"Grand voyageur sur la drave" (4:41), "Valse des poales" (4:04), "Quand chus parti du Canada"
(5:43), "Violon Guerisseur" (5:21), and "Canot decorce" (5:14).
Aratan N Azawad
Terakaft
World Village
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$15.74 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
The international band Terakaft ("Caravan") crafts their music steeped in Tuareg history and the
culture of the Saharan desert in Aratan N Azawad ("Children of the Azawad"), an album that calls
for national unity and hope. Though Terakaft stays close to traditional music forms, there is room
for elements of Tuareg rock to mingle freely with West African guitar, as well as bass grooves
and drums. The positive message of Aratan N Azawad reaches far beyond any one group of
people, and is absolutely invaluable in today's turbulent world. The tracks are "Alghalem" (3:40),
"Talikoba" (3:16), "Aratan N Azawad" (4:71), "Aman Wi Kawalnen" (3:46), "Ahod" (3:42),
"Idiya Idohena" (2:35), "Amazzagh" (3:54), "Ahabib" (5:02), "Akoz Imgharen" (2:50), "Wer
Essinen" (3:50), "Kek Amidi Nin" (3:32), "Hegh Tenere" (3:37).
The Library DVD Shelf
The Making of the President: The 1960s
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$59.99 www.acornonline.com
Produced by Oscar nominee David L. Wolper, The Making of the President: The 1960s is a
3-DVD boxed set of the Emmy award-winning television documentary about presidential politics
during the 1960, 1964, and 1968 elections. Rare film footage of behind-the-scenes moments
enhances the insightful commentary of cutthroat political maneuverings. Two bonus programs,
one a 1964 tribute to John F. Kennedy and a close look at Lyndon B. Johnson, round out this
excellent, educational set especially recommended for public library DVD collections. 3 DVDs,
237 min. plus 76 min. bonus, SDH subtitles.
Dirty Business
A film by Peter Bull
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
An award-winning documentary, Dirty Business: "Clean Coal" and the Battle for Our Energy
Future is a sober examination of the industry that currently provides half of America's electrical
power: coal. Coal power comes with heavy societal and environmental costs, and is the largest
single source of greenhouse gases; can it really be made "clean" in a sustainable, long-term sense?
What are the innovations to reduce coal's impact on the environment, and is it possible to produce
renewable fuel sources on a scale large enough to replace coal? Dirty Business looks for answers
everywhere from West Virginia, Nevada, and New York to China and Saskatchewan, and its
eye-opening revelations make it a choice pick for public and school library DVD collections. Also
from Bullfrog Films is the highly recommended "A Lot in Common: A Documentary by Rick
Bacigalupi" (1594584435, $275.00), an accessible film following the transformative effect that
turning a vacant lot into a garden has on a Berkeley, California community of neighbors.
Burning in the Sun
Cambria Matlow & Morgan Robinson
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594589119 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Burning in the Sun is an award-winning documentary (83 and 22 min. versions available on one
DVD) about how alternative energy can literally bring electrical power to the powerless.
26-year-old Daniel Dembele has chosen to return to his homeland of Mali and begin a logical
business building solar panels - a trailblazing effort to harness the enormous power of the sun in
an extraordinary hot nation. Daniel's ultimate goal is to bring electricity to people's households,
99% of which live without power. His efforts bring jobs, renewable energy, and empowerment in
this intellectually and emotionally uplifting true story. A choice pick for school and public library
DVD collections. 83 min., SDH subtitles. Also highly recommended is the Bullfrog Films
documentary "Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate" (1594589992, $550.00, 2
DVDs, 84 min. each plus 95 min. extras), a film by Helen Whitney about the role and power of
forgiveness in crimes ranging from the murder of Amish children to the lethal consequences of a
violent '60s protest to acts of genocide in Rwanda and modern Germany's efforts to come to
terms with the Holocaust.
The Pale Horse
Starring Julia McKenzie
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598286663 $29.99 www.acornonline.com
As seen on the PBS "Mystery!" television series, The Pale Horse is a movie adaptation of one of
Agatha Christie's classic Miss Marple murder mysteries. When Miss Marple (played by Julia
McKenzie) receives a most unusual list of names from her friend Father Gorman, moments before
his murder on a London street, she discovers that the people the list are dying one by one. She
follows the evidence to the Pale Horse Inn in Hampshire, a dark place run by three modern-day
witches. Miss Marple struggles to figure out the mystery before the serial death toll rises to claim
her as well! The Pale Horse is a treat and makes an excellent gift for fans of British mysteries, and
a bonus program consisting of an earlier adaptation of "The Pale Horse" starring Colin Buchanan,
Jean Marsh, and Andy Serkis is included. 89 min. plus 101 min. bonus, widescreen, SDH
subtitles.
Magic of Flight
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
9781934682593 $24.95 www.Bennett-Watt.com
Recorded in widescreen digital high-definition with Dolby stereo sound, Magic of Flight is an
exceptional contribution to the Discoveries... America Special Edition series, touching on the
history of flight through visits to places like the Wright Brothers Museum and the Air Force
Museum, and celebrating flight through spectacular footage of wonders such as the Dover Air
Show, powered parachutes, a hang gliding school in action and much more. A beautiful and
extraordinary tour of the many ways to study and practice flying in America, Magic of Flight is
highly recommended especially to aviation buffs everywhere. Also a choice pick from
Bennett-Watt HD Productions is "Alaska Rainbows" (9781604900088, $19.95), a fishing
documentary that takes the viewer on a captivating armchair tour of Alaska's natural
splendor.
Under the Hammer
Starring Richard Wilson, Jan Francis
and featuring John Gielgud
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285666 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
Under the Hammer collects episodes of a British series that blends drama, romance, and intrigue.
Written by John Mortimer, creator of "Rumpole on the Bailey", Under the Hammer takes place at
a high-stakes auction house, where social maneuverings and monetary profit are as revered as
much as (if not more than) artistic genius and passion. Painting department heads Ben Glazier
(played by Richard Wilson) and Maggie Perowne (played by Jan Francis) have disparate interests
- Ben loves nothing more than uncovering the mysteries around lost objects d'art (when he's not
vying for Maggie's attention), while Maggie has set her sights on the mysterious and charming
wine expert Nick Roper. Deliciously subtle machinations characterize this multilayered television
series, highly recommended to anyone who loves a solid British drama. 7 episodes on 2 DVDs,
357 min., full screen, SDH subtitles. Also highly recommended is Acorn Media's presentation of
"The Feathered Serpent Complete Series" (9781598283518, $39.99, 300 min.), which presents all
12 episodes of the British cult classic starring Patrick Troughton (known for his starring role in
"Doctor Who") as a Machiavellian Aztec priest, in a dramatic odyssey of the heroes and villains of
an ancient civilization.
Search for the Great Sharks
Inception Media Group
3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400, Santa Monica, CA 90403
c/o Greenleaf & Associates
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$19.98 www.inceptionmediagroup.com
Search for the Great Sharks is a Blu-ray documentary originally created for exhibition in IMAX
theatres. Remastered in high-definition, Search for the Great Sharks lives up to its title with an
extraordinary tour of shark species in oceans across the world. Stunning underwater photography
distinguishes this up-close and personal tour of fierce predators in their natural habitat. A choice
pick for shark enthusiasts everywhere! 46 min., widescreen. Also from Inception Media Group is
the highly recommended Blu-ray production, "The Greatest Places" ($19.98, 40 min., widescreen)
a captivating worldwide tour of the Earth's most extraordinary geographical locations and natural
wonders.
The Audiobook Shelf
Dinner with Mugabe
Heidi Holland, author
Deidre Rubenstein, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742143767 $103.95 www.bolinda.com
Heidi Holland presents a piercing study of the iron-fisted national leader of Zimbabwe, a nation
plagued by repression, unemployment, and decreasing life expectancy. Dinner with Mugabe: The
Untold Story of a Freedom Fighter Who Became a Tyrant exposes the true story of the man
behind the corrupt regime; once a freedom fighter, now a merciless autocrat, culminating in a
December 2007 interview. This unabridged audiobook adaptation is narrated by award-winning
Australian actress Deidre Rubenstein, and is a fascinating expose of what makes a tyrant tick. 11
CDs, 13 hours 9 min.
Everlasting
Alyson Noel, author
Katie Schorr, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427212528 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
Everlasting is the audiobook adaptation of the sixth and final installment of the "Immortals" series,
accessible to young adult and adult readers alike. Damen and Ever have conquered their deadliest
enemies and yearn to consummate their love, but to do so they must find a cure for the poison
corrupting Damen's body. Together they travel to Summerland, a place of scorched earth and
eternal rain, and it is here that they will learn the true reason why fate comes between them time
and again. A passionate and powerful story of love that transcends lifetimes, Everlasting will
prove a popular choice for public library audiobook collections. 7 CDs, 9 hours.
Hitman
Howie Carr
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
9781441776006, $118.00, www.amazon.com
Organized crime is a hard, dangerous, and all-too-often lethal way to make an easy living. Johnny
Martorano, a gangland enforcer and assassin is living proof of that assertion. "Hitman: The
Untold Story Of Johnny Martorano" by 'Boston Herald' newspaper columnist Howie Carr is the
personal and detailed biography of a man who has confessed to twenty murders, most of which
were done in behalf of and at the direction of Whitey Bulger, one of Boston's most feared and
brutal criminal gang leaders. This complete, unabridged, flawlessly recorded,10 disk, 12 hour and
30 minute, audio book edition is superbly narrated by Keith Szarabaljka. "Hitman" is the story of
gangland power plays and rivalries, law enforcement corruption (including members of the FBI in
the Boston office), the kinds of criminal enterprises engaged in, and includes Irish mobsters, Mafia
wise guys, gamblers, and how power was maintained within organized criminal conspiracies, as
well as how these criminal groups were eventual taken down by State and Federal authorities. Of
special note is the concluding chapter listing "where they are now" for the principle characters
noted in this amazingly candid biography right up until the year 2010. "Hitman" is an absolute
'must' for anyone with an interest in the history of organized crime.
The Archaeology Shelf
Being and Becoming Indigenous Archaeologists
George Nicholas
Left Coast Press
11630 North Main Street, #400 Walnut Creek, CA 94596
9781598744989, $34.95, www.LCoastpress.com
The stereotype of the archeologist, the white guy in khaki, is quickly fading. "Being and
Becoming Indigenous Archaeologists" is a collection of tales from those peoples who have taken
up the discipline of archeology, studying the land that's under them that the western world seeks
history from. 36 individuals speak out, on dealing with views from their own people, which has
written archaeology as a colonialist profession. Granting a unique international perspective of the
practice of archeology, "Being and becoming Indigenous Archaeologists" is a strong addition to
any community library collection that tackles social issues or archeology itself.
The Nautical Shelf
Eagle Seamanship, fourth edition
Eric Jones & Christopher Nolan
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591146315, $25.95, www.nip.org
A good ship can sail forever. "Eagle Seamanship: A Manual for Square-Rigger Sailing" discusses
the Eagle, a 75 year old vessel that continues to set sail on the sea. In this fourth edition, Captain
Eric Jones and Lieutenant Christopher Nolan expand their in depth reference on what it takes to
get this classical ship sailing well, as it is given to the members of the Eagle's crew. For those with
a fascination with naval history, "Eagle Seamanship" will prove an excellent and very highly
recommended pick, not to be missed.
The Language Studies Shelf
A Martial Reader: Selections from the Epigrams
Craig Williams
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865167049, $19.00, www.bolchazy.com
Turning a phrase is not a modern invention, as the Romans did it like crazy. "A Martial Reader:
Selections from the Epigrams" delves into the work of Martial, looking into the words and
phrases he used to commentate on the roman world, offering explanations and translations of his
Latin work, complete with vocabulary and with expanded understanding of the Latin world. "A
Martial Reader: Selections from the Epigrams" is a worthy pick for any student of Latin or world
languages in general.
The Poetry Shelf
Gongora's Shorter Poetic Masterpieces In Translation
Diane Chaffee-Sorace
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866984058, $80.00, www.amazon.com
One of the principle Spanish poets of Renaissance era (1561-1627), Luis de Gongora y Argote
came from Cordoba nobility and although originally intended for a career in the law, gave up his
university enrollment in 1580 to write poetry in between card games. Not just a poet, Gongora
was also a composer of music, a painter, proficient in languages, knowledgeable of literatures as
well as classical mythologies. Eventually he became a member of the clergy (and by all lights not a
very good one). But as a poet Gongora found his true calling as is demonstrated in the pages of
"Gongora's Shorter Poetic Masterpieces In Translation", a bi-lingual compilation of his work ably
translated with commentary by Diane Chaffee-Sorace (Professor of Spanish, Loyola University,
Maryland). Organized into seven major categories (Amorous Poetry; Moral, consolatory, and
Laudatory Poetry; Religious Poetry; Satirical and Burlesque Poetry; Funeral Poetry; Lyrical and
Other Poetry), "Gongora's Shorter Poetic Masterpieces In Translation" is additionally enhanced
by a bibliography of 'Works Cited or Consulted', and two indexes (English/Spanish and
Spanish/English), making this a truly seminal and scholarly contribution to academic library
Medieval & Renaissance studies collections. Also very highly recommended is Professor
Chaffee-Sorace's previous work on Gongora, "Gongora's Poetic Textual Tradition: An Analysis
of Selected Variants, Versions, and Limitations of His Shorter Poems" (Tamesis Books,
9780729302807, $50.00).
Fall Higher
Dean Young
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-9931
9781556593116, $22.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org
What we all seek isn't something so perfect as to not come with its own pain. "Fall Higher" is a
collection of poetry from Dean Young who speaks on the imperfection of love and how in spite of
it all, we still want it, and how it motivates our lives. "Fall Higher" is a fun and introspective read
from a highly lauded and experienced poet, highly recommended. "Late Valentine": We weren't
exactly children again,/too many divorces, too many blood panels,/but your leaning into me was a
sleeping bird./Sure, there was no way to be careful enough,/even lightning can go wrong but
when the smoke/blows off, we can admire the work the fire's done/ironing out the wrinkles in
favor of newer ones,/ashy furrows like the folds in the brain/that signal the switchbacks and
reversals/of our thought and just as brief. Your lips/were song, your hair everywhere./Oh
unknowable, fidgeting self, how little bother you were then, no more than a tangerine rind. Oh
unknowable/other, how I loved your smell.
Crane Creek, Two Voices
Robb Jackson & Vanessa Furse Jackson
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745118, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com
Dialogue and conversation is as part of poetry as it is any other medium. "Crane Creek, Two
Voices" is a collection of poetry from Robb Jackson and Vanessa Furse Jackson as their dialogue
comes out and offers two different yet complimentary opinions on our life, the male and female,
and the many sides to every story. "Crane Creek, Two Voices" is an original and thoughtful
concept, highly recommended. "Love's First Saying": When leaves rain/gently river-put/lakeward
bobbing sunlight/grapevines sieve air music-fine/while robins feed-hop vine/to vine to leave the
forest floor/crunching our feet expose ourselves/webbed in leafless shadows held--/a great bird,
nameless, river-touches/something white -- gliding -- snatched unsaid.
The Mind
John Fitzgerald
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056604, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com
Emotion is a strange subject, powering us through our lives whether we want it to or not.
"The Mind" is a collection of poetry from John Fitzgerald as he considers our world of emotions
and the consciousness and power of the mind. Thoughtful and leaving readers thinking, "The
Mind" is an excellent collection and very highly recommended. "Seventy-five": When I
contemplate the mind,/the words come out to join in the search./These are the very same, in
costumes and disguises.//That must be so because of fear./Is that asking too much to
believe?/Most of the pages are shredded vertically.//Strips on the floor speak of muses and
past./Intent upon nothing other than remaining in that very place,/like leaves at the foot of a
tree.
The Library Science Shelf
The Challenge of Library Management
Wyoma Vanduinkerken & Pixey Anne Mosley
American Library Association
50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838911020, $52.00, www.alastore.ala.org
Change is a good thing, but at the time, it sometimes seems like it's not. A good leader is needed
to make it all move smoothly. "The Challenge of Library Management: Leading with Emotional
Engagement" is a guide to becoming an excellent leader in the environment of the library, to fight
drama and other workplace problems that often emerge. From dealing with the shifting of
responsibilities, working with staff, dealing with the several types of change such as reorganizing
space, staff restructuring, and more, authors Wyoma Vanduinkerken & Pixey Anne Mosley offer
their expertise as professors of the field to use good psychology and communication in making
everything work well as a leader of people. "The Challenge of Library Management" is a strongly
recommended pick for any librarian leader who expects to see daunting leadership challenges in
their future.
Plagiarism Education and Prevention
Cara Bradley
Chandros Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781843345848, $80.00, www.chandrospublishing.com
With the internet, theft has gotten easier than ever. "Plagiarism Education and Prevention: A
Subject-Driven Case-Based Approach" discusses plagiarism in today's world, where the growing
size of our libraries and the advent of the internet have challenged the fight against plagiarism.
Stating that there is no blanket solution, Cara Bradley, a librarian with years of experience and
who has worked for educational libraries for much of that time, presents her studies and proposed
solutions to help Academia's fight against dishonesty. She breaks down plagiarism in many
subjects and classes from history to law, to mathematics and the sciences. Stating that the fight is
not one size fits all, she does well in describing the differing approaches needed. "Plagiarism
Education and Prevention" is a must for anyone who must take it on themselves to foil academic
dishonesty, a core addition to both education and library science collections in community and
college libraries.
The Biography Shelf
Valentine T. McGillycuddy
Candy Moulton
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780870623899 $34.95 www.ahclark.com
Award-winning author Candy Moulton presents Valentine T. McGillycuddy: Army Surgeon,
Agent to the Sioux, the biography of an exceptional man who served as a topographer, a
cartographer, a physician, and an Indian agent, Valentine T. McGillycuddy (1849-193). His noted
deeds include mapping the U.S.-Canadian border; treating the wounded from the battle of the
Rosebud, the Little Bighorn, and Slim Buttes; looking after Crazy Hourse during the leader's final
moments; and working as an agent to the Sioux at Pine Ridge, where he had conflicts with Chief
Red Cloud concerning the government's assimilation policies. Also of note is the story of
McGillycuddy's loyal first wife Fanny, who traveled west with her husband and wrote about the
daily labors and trials of camp life. An excellent addition to college and public library American
biography, history, and Native American studies shelves, Valentine T. McGillycuddy: Army
Surgeon, Agent to the Sioux is highly recommended.
Millard Fillmore
Paul Finkelman
Times Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805087154 $23.00 www.henryholt.com
American legal history specialist Paul Finkelman presents Millard Fillmore, a straightforward
biography of the man who served as President of the United States of America in 1850-1853,
after the death of president Zachary Taylor. Fillmore is notorious for doing very little to help an
already deteriorating state of the nation on the road to the Civil War. Congress was clashing
fiercely over the issue of slavery; Fillmore responded by supporting the demands of the South and
enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act, widening the gulf between himself and other northerners as well
as sowing a split within his own Whig political party that would prove its doom. Fillmore was so
strongly racist that he could only run for re-election as one of the anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic
Know-Nothing Party; he was soundly defeated. His most visionary accomplishment was to
dispatch Commodore Matthew Perry on the historical voyage destined to open Japan to the West;
otherwise he is notorious as a President who did next to nothing worthy of lasting note.
Finkelman's biography is a detailed, thorough yet highly accessible chronicle of Fillmore's life and
(lack of) works, highly recommended especially for public and college library biography
shelves.
Obasanjo
John Iliffe
James Currey
c/o Boydell & Brewer
668 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester, NY 14620
9781847010278, $80.00, www.boydellandbrewer.com
Order and peace are rare commodities in modern Africa, and there are those who play a major
role in trying to drive the chaos in a more desirable direction. "Obasanjo: Nigeria & the World"
discusses Olusegun Obasanjo, a man who has spent much of his life in the hostile and tumultuous
political climate of Nigeria, serving as an elected president from 1999 until 2007, and how Nigeria
seemingly fell apart soon after he left office. Examining his life and career as a whole in search of
understanding the man and his country, "Obasanjo" is a scholarly and very highly recommended
study of an international figure who has helped put Nigeria on the course it is today, for better or
for worse.
There You Have It
John Bloom
University of Massachusetts Press
East Experiment Station, 671 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003
9781558498372, $24.95, umpress.umass.edu
The greatest icon in sports journalism did not pick that as his first choice of career. "There You
Have It: The Life, Legacy, and Legend of Howard Cosell" tells the story of the world famous
voice, who at first had dreams of a career in law, but turned to the birth of the sports broadcasting
career, and through that, he not only paved the way for future broadcasters, but still did his own
part in the social issues of the day. "There You Have It" tells a story of life and its contradictions
and eccentricities that author John Bloom feels will resonate strongly with the modern world.
The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf
Folktales of the Jews
Dan Ben-Amos, editor
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780827608719, $75.00, www.jewishpub.org
A people leave their records of their existence, although not always literal, with their literature.
"Folktales of the Jews: Volume 3: Tales from the Arab Lands" is a collection of traditional folk
tales which have their roots in this Arabic lands, from times ancient and through it all. Divided
into stories that are meant to be moral fables, to mythology and legend, to humor, the stories are
diverse and prove to be quite the entertaining and thoughtful cultural study. "Folktales of the
Jews" is an excellent addition to any world literature collection, and to go along the two previous
compilations.
The Sports Shelf
The Right Time
Wes Singletary
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786435722 $29.95 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187
The Right Time: John Henry "Pop" Lloyd and Black Baseball is the biography of one of the
greatest baseball players of his time - John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, a star of the Negro National
League. Although Lloyd played in the era before baseball's integration, and would never spend a
day in the white major leagues, his skill as a shortstop and batter were the stuff of legends. His
career spanned an extraordinary number of teams, as he "followed the money" across America
and sometimes to Cuba, and he continued playing excellently into his 40s. A handful of vintage
black-and-white photographs illustrate this solid biographical portrait of a widely respected and
beloved athlete.
The Native American Shelf
The New Politics of Indian Gaming
Kenneth N. Hansen and Tracy A. Skopek, editors
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874178425 $49.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu
The New Politics of Indian Gaming: The Rise of Reservation Interest Groups is an extraordinary
anthology of essays by learned authors concerning how legalized gaming on Indian reservations
has become a major source of revenue for Native American nations, with enormous political and
social repercussions. Chapters study how different Native American peoples have sought to
preserve their economic gains; how the reversion of a number of federal responsibilities to the
states through the Indian Gaming Regulator Act of 1988 has placed tribal governments into new
and sometimes factitious relationships the states they would operate in; how tribal political
strategies now involve direct lobbies of the state and federal governments, as opposed to a
previous focus on the judicial system and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and much more. An
invaluable contribution to Native American studies shelves examining how legalized gambling
continues to transform tribal and national political discourse, The New Politics of Indian Gaming
is highly recommended.
The Islamic Studies Shelf
Sufism
Carl W. Ernst, PhD
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781590308844 $19.95 www.shambhala.com
Written by Islamic studies specialist Carl W. Erns, PhD, Sufism: An Introduction to the Mystical
Tradition of Islam lives up to its title as a comprehensive analysis of the oft-misunderstood mystic
branch of the Islamic faith, presented in terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Chapters
cover the history and origins of Sufism; its saints and what sainthood means to the faith; its
poetry, music, and dance; and its role in the contemporary world. Notes, a discography, and an
index round out this superb primer, highly recommended especially for public and college library
religious studies shelves.
The Military Shelf
Unjustly Dishonored
Robert H. Ferrell
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219169 $29.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress
Robert H. Ferrell (Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University) presents Unjustly
Dishonored: An African American Division in World War I, a thoughtful study of the 92nd
Division of the U.S. Army in World War I, the only African-American division of the American
Expeditionary Forces in France. Nearly 28,000 black soldiers formed its ranks; it was part of the
largest and most costly battle in U.S. history, the battle of the Meuse-Argonne. Yet when part of
the 368th Infantry Regiment buckled, the entire division's reputation was permanently tarnished.
Unjustly Dishonored questions whether this poor evaluation is warranted, especially given the
military efforts and accomplishments of the division as a whole. Chapters pay particular attention
to engineer regiment and artillery brigade, as well as the 92nd capture of the Bois Frehaut during
the last days of the war. Notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this excellent and
thoughtful addition to military history shelves.
The Civil War Shelf
Andersonvilles of the North
James M. Gillispie
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574413113 $14.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
Andersonvilles of the North: The Myths and Realities of Northern Treatment of Civil War
Confederate Prisoners is a thoughtful study of how the North treated Confederate prisoners
during the American Civil War. Drawing its information primarily from Northern and Southern
documentation, Andersonvilles of the North claims that the postulate of Union prisons as willfully
negligent and cruel to Confederate prisoners is flawed at best, distorted at worst. Andersonvilles
of the North closely examines Union efforts to improve hygiene, quarantine sick prisoners, and
vaccinate against smallpox, both in its troops and in its prisons - efforts hampered by a widespread
lack of understanding about diseases (and the top killer, dysentery/diarrhea, had no effective cure
at the time). "One must consider that the overall 12% mortality rate was not out of line for large
military camps, especially stationary ones, in the mid-nineteenth century... In the end, Northern
officials appear to have done the best they could at the time for Confederate prisoners of war.
Tragically that was often not enough." A superb addition to Civil War history and studies shelves,
highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.
The Gaming Shelf
The Golden Age of Video Games
Roberto Dillon
CRC Press
Suite 300
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439873236 $39.95 www.crcpress.com
Video game industry expert Roberto Dillon presents The Golden Age of Video Games, a
straightforward chronicle of the rise (and setbacks) of video games, consoles, and home
computers, with especial focus on their earliest origins in the 1940s through the close of twentieth
century; a much briefer summary of video game history during the twenty-first century as well as
the history of handheld gaming is also present. From the very first commercial games and home
consoles, to Japan's earliest involvement in video games, to the great video game crash of 1983
that almost completely killed the market, to the technological leaps and bounds achieved across
the decades, The Golden Age of Video Games is an excellent, succinct, and thoroughly accessible
history. Highly recommended.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Threads Sewing Guide
Carol Freisa, editor
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600851445, $34.95, www.Taunton.com
"Threads Sewing Guide: A Complete Reference from America's Best-Loved Sewing Magazine" is
a complete manual for home sewers of every level and interest. Adapted from articles in the
parent magazine, "Threads," this color photo-filled sewer's manual contains sixteen chapters of
excellent instructions and advice for every conceivable sewing project. From selecting notions,
fabric, and patterns to serger sewing, construction techniques and even couture techniques and
inner garment construction, "Threads Sewing Guide" has concise, clear, step by step instructions
for how to proceed. There is also a chapter on surface embellishment and of course, garment
mending and repair. "Threads Sewing Guide" is invaluable for the home sewer, the individual
costume designer, and the intermediate to advanced garment creator. "Threads Sewing Guide"
belongs on every home sewer's reference shelf. It also makes a lovely gift.
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
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