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Library Bookwatch

Volume 11, Number 3 March 2016 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Biography Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Gardening Shelf
Library Science Shelf Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Poetry Shelf Agriculture Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Cookbook Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Civil War Shelf Money/Finance Studies Shelf
Science Shelf Genealogy Shelf Automotive Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Humor Shelf Music Shelf
International Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf Holocaust Studies Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

The Art of Risk
Kayt Sukel
National Geographic Press
1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, DC, 20036-4688
9781426214721 $26.00 www.nationalgeographic.com

Science journalist and author Kayt Sukel presents The Art of Risk: The New Science of Courage, Caution & Chance, a combination psychological and behavioral study, and helpful guide to how people can use risk-taking to their advantage - from professional poker players to military commanders to business entrepreneurs and more. Art of Risk isn't only for high-stakes gamblers; it's also for ordinary people seeking to balance the advantages of opening themselves up to new things against the consequences of potential failure. How can risk be effectively managed in a sensible way? What is the difference between helpful and harmful risk-taking? "When faced with a risk, take a step back and, as objectively as possible, consider how your social connections [i.e. friends, family, co-workers, and "peer pressure"] may be driving your focus. Are they helping you consider all the elements of a risky decision? Or are they stuck on certain variables that may lead you astray?" Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Art of Risk is highly recommended.

The Sword
Thomas Laible
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764348778, $50.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

"The Sword: Myth & Reality: Technology, History, Fighting, Forging, Movie Swords" by Thomas Laible (who has studied history and education, is an editor of the journal "Weapons: Internal Market", has been working for 20 years with swords, daggers, and knives, and written several books and numerous articles on these topics) covers the history, manufacture, and ancient and modern uses of swords in Europe from the 5th century to the present day. Readers will learn about sword nomenclature and classification, discover sword physics secrets, and compare the history of swordsmanship in Europe to that of Japan. Practical information on different sword types, including those used by Vikings and Samurai, broadens the reader's understanding of the technical diversity of and relationships between swords from different eras and cultures. Readers can also learn how to tell authentic swords apart from fantasy swords, or "sword-like objects" (SLO), which are commonly used in movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Also, follow the manufacturing process, from welding to pommel construction, and read about historical replicas. Join the authors and countless other featured sword masters and experts on a fact-based and fun-filled adventure from the Middle Ages to modern Europe. With a stunningly beautiful, coffee-table format, and impressively informative text, "The Sword' is especially commended to the attention of any and all sword enthusiasts and would prove to be an enduringly popular selection for community and academic library Memorial Fund acquisitions.

Lucretius: The Nature of the Universe
G. B. Cobbold
Dr. Marie C. Bolchazy
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
www.bolchazy.com
9780865168381, $12.00, PB, 289pp, www.amazon.com

Titus Lucretius Carus (c. 99 BC - c. 55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher. His only known work is the epic philosophical poem 'De Rerum Natura' about the tenets and philosophy of Epicureanism, and which is usually translated into English as 'On the Nature of Things'. "Lucretius: The Nature of the Universe" by G. B. Cobbold features a singularly gifted translation of all six books comprising 'De Reuin Natura' with extensive and erudite commentary. "Lucretius: The Nature of the Universe" is enhanced with the inclusion of an annotated index of topics, a glossary of proper names, seven illustrations, and a selected bibliography. Simply stated, "Lucretius: The Nature of the Universe" is a critically important and highly recommended addition to academic library Classical Roman Studies reference collections and supplemental curriculum reading lists.

Aging Safely In Your Home
Yvonne Poulin & Gordon Morrison
Self-Counsel Press Inc.
4152 Meridian Street, Suite 105-471, Bellingham, WA, 98226
www.self-counsel.com
9781770402195, $13.95, PB, 140pp, www.amazon.com

You need not move to live gracefully and safely as you age. In "Aging Safely In Your Home", Yvonne Poulin and Gordon Morrison collaborate to provide the non-specialist general reader who is a senior citizen (or who is responsible for the well being of an elderly man or woman) with an expertise as to how a home can be modestly renovated to ease the physical challenges and provide a great quality of life in a familiar surrounding. A part of the outstanding 'Eldercare Series' from Self-Counsel Press, "Aging Safely In Your Home" is comprised of chapters on: Physically Prepared to Age Safely in Your Home; Maintain an Active Social Network; Be Emotionally Happy in Your Home; Keep Mentally Active; Rate Your Home; Make Your Home Comfortable; Adapt Your Home; Renovate Your Home; and perhaps most importantly -- Prevent Falls. Simply stated, "Aging Safely In Your Home" should be a part of every community library and Senior Citizen Center instructional reference collection in the country. It should be noted that "Aging Safely In Your Home" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99) and a Download Kit that includes Checklists, Diagrams, and Worksheets are also available.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

How to Write Effective Business English
Fiona Talbot
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpageusa.com
9780749455200, $22.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Fiona Talbot runs TQI Word Power Skills, a Business Writing Skills consulting company. She runs workshops and delivers individual coaching at all levels in all sizes of business. In addition to writing articles for Personnel Today, British Airways and CCF Magazine, she is the author of the Better English series, published by Kogan Page. She has an invaluable website www.wordpowerskills.com. In "How to Write Effective Business English: The Essential Toolkit for Composing Powerful Letters, E-mails and More, for Today's Business Needs" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to instruct the non-native reader how to create clear, concise messages and avoid verbosity. Assuming an intermediate knowledge of English, "How to Write Effective Business English" provides guidelines for further development, deals with real life scenarios and gives readers answers that even their bosses might not know. Focusing on emails, letters, resumes or job applications, "How to Write Effective Business English gives readers an easy system for writing clearly, quickly and easily. "How to Write Effective Business English" will also hold immense practical value to native English speakers who feel that their written business English needs practice. "How to Write Effective Business English" is very highly recommended for community and academic library instructional reference collections. For studies lists it should be noted that "How to Write Effective Business English" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.01).

A Writer's Guide to Active Setting
Mary Buckham
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.WritersDigest.com
9781599639307, $17.99, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Setting is one of the most underutilized and misunderstood elements of the writing craft. And when writers do focus on setting, they often pull readers out of the narrative and jolt their attention from the action on the page. "A Writer's Guide to Active Setting: How to Enhance Your Fiction with More Descriptive, Dynamic Settings" by Mary Buckham (author of the USA Today bestselling Invisible Recruits series) will show you how to create vivid, detailed settings that bring your story to life. You'll learn how to deepen character development, anchor readers to a specific time and place, reveal backstory without slowing things down, elevate action sequences, and more. Drawing upon examples from authors writing across a variety of genres, as well as her own years of experience and expertise, Mary Buckham will illustrate exactly how the proper use of setting can dramatically improve your story. You'll learn what's effective about each passage and how you can use those techniques to make your story shine. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Writer's Guide to Active Setting" is very highly recommended for community library Writing/Publishing reference collections, and a "must read" instructional guide for all aspiring novelists and short story authors. It should be noted that "A Writer's Guide to Active Setting" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Age of Stagnation
Satyajit Das
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633881587 $25.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Finance expert Satyajit Das (nominated by Bloomberg in 2014 as one of the world's fifty most influential financial thinkers) presents The Age of Stagnation: Why Perpetual Growth is Unattainable and the Global Economy is in Peril, a candid treatise as to why "business as usual" responses to economic stagnation, including bank bailouts, unregulated globalization, and increased debt from "easy money" quick fixes, are at best kicking the can down the road and at worst precipitating another financial meltdown. Written in plain terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Age of Stagnation covers causes of the global financial crisis and the Great Recession of 2009, the environmental constraints on growth (including the deleterious costs of externalities such as pollution), why globalization needs to be limited to preserve prosperity, the extremely harmful impact of rising inequality on economic growth, why the erosion of democracy to the interests of "big money" harms economic activity, bitter yet necessary prescriptions for economic stability in the future, and more. "Policymakers manipulate interest rates, keeping them below the true inflation rate to allow over-indebted borrowers to maintain unsustainably high levels of debt. Increasingly, zero interest rate policy has given way to negative interest rate policy, entailing an explicit transfer of wealth from savers to borrowers." The Age of Stagnation is a sober snapshot at postmodern economic reality, highly recommended for both public and college library Economic Studies shelves.


The Biography Shelf

Drawn Together
Sybilla Avery Cook
Concordia University Press
2811 NE Holman Street, Portland, OR 97211
www.concordia.edu/about/university-related-organizations/concordia-university-press
9781934961056, $29.95, HC, 224pp

Berta Hoerner Hader (August 1, 1890 - February 6, 1976) and Elmer Stanley Hader (September 7, 1889 - September 7, 1973) were an American couple who jointly illustrated more than 70 children's books, about half of which they also wrote. They won the annual Caldecott Medal for The Big Snow (1948), recognizing the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". Now the story of their lives and their accomplishments is now available from the Concordia University Press in "Drawn Together: The Biography of Caldecott Award-Winning Authors Berta And Elmer Hader" by Sybilla Avery Cook in the form of 14 chronologically presented chapters beginning with 'Telegraph Hill: Arts and Hearts, 1890-1917' and concluding with Together Forever: Their Legacy, 1975'. Enhanced with an informative Foreword, a Preface, an Introduction (The Hidden Room), a five page list of Acknowledgements, nine pages of End Notes, a four page Bibliography, a three page listing of Books by Berta and Elmer Hader, and a seven page Index, is very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Drawn Together" is also available in a paperback edition (9781934961063, $19.95).

Prince: The Man and His Music
Matt Thorne
Bolden
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841871 $16.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Prince: The Man and His Music is an exhaustively researched and extensively detailed biography of the popular singer Prince. British author Matt Thorne chooses to avoid excessive speculation concerning Prince's closely guarded private life, instead focusing upon Prince's 35-year music career and legacy. Drawing upon dozens of interviews with Prince's associates (many of whom have never spoken on record before), Prince: The Man and His Music is a "must-read" for both fans and music scholars. Prince: The Man and His Music is now published for the first time in the United States, and includes updated content concerning Prince's two 2014 albums, tour, 2015 Tidal release, and more. Highly recommended.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

40 Years from the Brink of Extinction
John D. Chaney
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591521617, $39.95, HC, 80pp, www.amazon.com

John Chaney is an award-winning nature photographer with more than forty years of experience and expertise. He became passionate about photography when a college professor inspired him to use his skills to document the beauty and behavior of the magnificent American bald eagles before they lost their battle for existence. He began documenting America's national bird for future generations and a few years later in 1976 the bald eagle was added to the Endangered Species list. His passion grew year after year as he captured more interesting photographs and finally witnessed first-hand the resurgence of our symbol of freedom. Chaney's images in "40 Years from the Brink of Extinction" pay a stunningly beautiful visual tribute to the eagles' survival and the people who helped them. This large-format hardcover compendium showcases 63 beautiful photographs of the majestic eagles in their natural habitat, interspersed with interesting facts Chaney learned on his journey. Truly impressive, informed and informative, "40 Years from the Brink of Extinction" is especially recommended the personal reading lists of all bird watching enthusiasts, as well as for inclusion into both community and academic library collections.

Pet Care Givers and Families
Robert Berkelhammer
Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781442248151, $38.00, HC, 252pp, www.amazon.com

Most pet owners want the best for their cherished animal friends and companions. Sometimes, however, the nature of those relationships can be upended and getting back on track can be confusing and difficult. In "Pet Care Givers and Families: Getting the Most from Dog Playgroups, Walkers, and Pet Sitters", author and pet owner Robert Berkelhammer provides an overview of what constitutes healthy pet family relationships and how pet parents can access services that will help facilitate better communication, behavior, and all around care. He outlines the kinds of work pet care companies can offer, and guides readers to getting the best possible level of professional caretaking to achieve behavioral changes in their pets. Dog playgroups, dog walking, pet sitting and other services are described in terms of how families can work with providers to accommodate their animal and family needs. Focused primarily on dogs, "Pet Care Givers and Families" does also address the needs of and services available to those whose animal companions are cats and/or birds. No pet owner will want to be without a copy of "Pet Care Givers and Families" when deciding on a pet care arrangement that suits the family's needs. Very highly recommended for community library Pets/Wildlife instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of pet owners that "Pet Care Givers and Families" is also available in a Kindle edition ($37.99).

Complications in Small Animal Surgery
Dominique Griffon & Annick Hamaide
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com
9780470959626, $149.99, HC, 968pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Dominique Griffon (Professor in Small Animal Surgery and Associate Dean for Research at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California) and Annick Hamaide (Associate Professor in Surgical Oncology at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege in Liege, Belgium), "Complications in Small Animal Surgery" provides a complete and comprehensive reference to diagnosing, managing, and treating surgical complications, with information following a standardized format for ease of use. "Complications in Small Animal Surgery" presents comprehensive information on diagnosing, managing, and preventing surgical complications using an accessible format; offers a well-defined, thoroughly illustrated format to maximize practical value, with algorithms, tables, practical tips, and many images throughout; covers common and uncommon complications in all body systems; serves as a reference to recent literature relevant to each complication; and includes access to a companion website with videos, figures from "Complications in Small Animal Surgery" that are available for download into PowerPoint, and linked references at www.wiley.com/go/griffon/complications "Complications in Small Animal Surgery" is complete, illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in commentary, text, organization, and presentation, making it very highly recommended for Veterinary School curriculums and academic library Veterinary Medicine reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "Complications in Small Animal Surgery" is also available in a Kindle edition ($89.99).


The Gardening Shelf

What Is a Garden?
W. S. Merwin, author
Larry Cameron, photographer
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
www.sc.edu/uscpress
9781611175677, $29.95, HC, 123pp, www.amazon.com

Poet and environmentalist W. S. Merwin moved to Hawaii in 1976 and has spent the last forty years planting nineteen acres with more than eight hundred species of palm, creating a lush garden on a ruined former pineapple plantation. Now officially known as the Merwin Conservancy, this land has served as Merwin's muse and his passion, appearing as a consistent subject of his poems and his germinal essays on conservation. "What Is a Garden?" is comprised of eight poems by Merwin, along with three of his essays emblematic of his palm garden writings from the 1980s to the present. These writings are presented alongside photographer Larry Cameron's spectacular images of Merwin's garden, all taken between 2013 and 2014. These photographs lure readers deep into Merwin's palm garden and offers a rare glimpse into this private exotic landscape as a visual feast for the viewer, rich with insights into the spirit of the place that has inspired Merwin's poetry. This edition of "What Is a Garden?" also includes a new introduction by Merwin chronicling his personal history with his palm garden, Cameron's photographer's note on his friendship with the poet and his inspiration for this collection, and an identification guide to the plants are also featured. Impressive, exceptional, extraordinary, "What Is a Garden?" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library collections and will prove to be of inherent fascination for all dedicated gardeners and environmentalists.

Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening
Caleb Warnock
Hobble Creek
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462113415, $19.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

"Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening: Thriving Gardens with Minimal Effort" by Caleb Warnock is specifically written for non-specialist general readers wanting to save time and money with respect to creating and working their garden. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening" shows exactly how easy it is to create an abundant crop with almost no effort. All the aspiring gardening has to do is stop fighting against their garden's natural growing patterns and get out of Mother Nature's way; she'll do all the hard work! Of special note is the information provided with respect to debunking popular gardening myths, avoiding obnoxious weeds, removing pests without having to use toxic chemicals, and making it possible to grow vegetables all year round. With "Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening" in hand, anyone can enjoy delicious harvests that come back year after year! Simply stated, "Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening" is a complete course of thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction and very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Gardening instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).


The Library Science Shelf

Digitizing Your Collection
Susanne Caro
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838913833, $55.00, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Digitizing a private, community, governmental, or academic library collection is not only a great way to increase access to materials, it also engages patrons on a whole new level and helps communicate the library's value. But with staff time and resources already spread thin, it can be a challenge to plan and undertake a digitization initiative. The good news is that public libraries across the country have done just that. "Digitizing Your Collection: Public Library Success Stories" shares lessons and tips for success, showing the way to getting your collection online. With succinct and practical guidance that can be adapted to any size institution, "Digitizing Your Collection" explains why public libraries should take digitization seriously, listing key points that can be used to get stakeholders on board; points out what you should consider before undertaking a digitization project; discusses copyright and other access-related issues; shows how public libraries are handling funding and finding collaborative partners; shares ways that libraries have used digitization projects for community outreach and to promote collections; and offers advice on marketing and media. Many libraries across the country have found ways to create wonderful digital collections, and "Digitizing Your Collection" shows you how you can too. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Digitizing Your Collection" is very highly recommended for library staff instructional reference collections, especially as libraries go further and further into the new digital age of information sharing.

Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals
G. Edward Evans, et al.
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781610696371, $65.00, PB, 496pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of G. Edward Evans (a semi-retired, award-winning author and Fulbright Scholar who holds several graduate degrees in anthropology and library and information science); Margaret Zarnosky Saponaro, MLS (Librarian for Journalism and Hearing and Speech sciences at the University Libraries, University of Maryland); Holland Christie, MLS, (Public Services Manager at the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library where she supervises the Reference, Circulation, and Youth Services departments); and Carol Sinwell, MLIS, (Dean Emeritus at Northern Virginia Community College), "Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals" is now available in a fully updated and expanded eighth edition. "Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals" covers every essential library service and topic ranging from circulation and literacy instruction to reference and security. "Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals" is benchmark text provides an up-to-date, broadly based view of library public service and its functions; directly addresses all essential services of the library through completely reorganized and updated content that reflects the role of changing technologies in today's libraries; and presents many new chapters that address the topics of print collections, media collections, e-resources, computer access, social media, legal issues, ethical issues, funding and other fiscal issues, and the library as place. An ideal and comprehensive textbook for college and university Library Science curriculums, "Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals" is very highly recommended for academic library instructional reference collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists that "Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals" is also available in a Kindle edition ($59.90).

Public Knowledge
Miriam A. Drake & Donald T. Hawkins, editors
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875158 $59.50 pbk / $41.65 Kindle www.amazon.com

Enhanced with a list of acronyms and an index for ease of use, Public Knowledge: Access and Benefits is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors about the importance and usefulness of data collected by the government. Individual writings include "Government Resources in the Classroom", "NASA's Scientific and Technical Information for a Changing World", "The National Technical Information Service: Public Access as a Driver of Change", "Hidden Government Information", and much more. An enlightening cross-examination, and a keen reminder of the economic, social, and moral importance of keeping government information readily available, Public Knowledge is a welcome contribution to college library reference and Library Science collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Boundary
Mary Victoria Johnson
Lodestone Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781782799184, $12.95, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Never try to open the locked doors. Never question what you are told. And never attempt to cross the Boundary. Kept inside an eerie estate for their entire lives, Penny and her five friends have had no contact with the outside world, with their only windows being a handful of books, a sinister master and a secretive housekeeper. Fed up of living a mystery, Penny begins breaking all the rules and finally tries to escape; but what she uncovers is far more devastating than she could have imagined. It rapidly becomes a deadly struggle for the truth in a world where nothing is what it seems, and friendship can be either your greatest weapon...or your biggest liability. A riveting novel from beginning to end, it is particularly interesting to note that the author, Mary Victoria Johnson, wrote "Boundary" when she was fourteen, and realized her dream of seeing it published three years later. A fascinating story with cross-generational appeal, Boundary is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Boundary" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.49).

Bull and Other Stories
Kathy Anderson
Autumn House Press
87 1/2 Westwood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15211
www.autumnhouse.org
www.coalhillreview.com
9781938769115, $17.95, PB, 132pp, www.amazon.com

Kathy Anderson was a finalist for the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, the New Rivers Press Many Voices Project, the Permafrost Book Prize, and the 2013 Autumn House Press Fiction Prize. Her first published short story collection, "Bull and Other Stories" won the 2015 Autumn House Press Fiction Prize. Her deftly crafted short stories have appeared in the pages of the Kenyon Review Online, the Tahoma Literary Review, the Barcelona Review, and the Apple Valley Review, among others. Anderson's literary awards include a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship in prose and two Pushcart Prize nominations. A playwright and Dramatists Guild member, her plays have been produced and staged nationally and internationally. Very highly recommended for community and academic library Literary Fiction collections, "Bull and Other Stories" showcases a truly remarkable and impressive author who is a master of the short story format. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bull and Other Stories" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

The Honour Of The Badge
Scott Connor
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444825701, $20.99, Large Print Paperback, 232pp, www.amazon.com

US Marshal Stewart Montague was a respected mentor to young Deputy Lincoln Hawk, guiding his first steps as a lawman and impressing upon him the importance of the honour of the badge. Twenty years later, the pair are pursuing a gang of bandits when Montague goes missing, presumed murdered. For six months, Hawk continues the mission alone, without success. But when he stumbles into the gang's hideout, there is a great shock in store. Seems his old companion isn't six feet under after all. "The Honour Of The Badge" by Scott Connor is still another riveting action/adventure western novel by a true master of the genre. Replete with unexpected plot twists and turns, "The Honour Of The Badge" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections and the reading lists of western adventure enthusiasts -- especially those who would benefit from the Large Print format.

Hill Country Property
Jim Sanderson
Livingston Press
University of West Alabama
Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
www.livingstonpress.uwa.edu
9781604891539, $30.00, HC, 284pp, www.amazon.com

Jim Sanderson (Chair of the English and Modern Language Department at Lamar University) has published three collections of short stories: Semi-Private Rooms (Pig Iron Press, 1994); Faded Love (Ink Brush Press, 2010), and Trashy Behavior (Lamar University Press, 2013). He has published seven novels: El Camino del Rio (University of New Mexico Press, 1998), Safe Delivery (University of New Mexico Press, 2000); La Mordida (University of New Mexico Press, 2002); Nevin's History: A Novel of Texas (Texas Tech University Press, 2004); Dolph's Team (Ink Brush Press, 2011); Nothing Left to Lose (TCU Press, 2014). And he has also published an essay collection: A West Texas Soapbox (1998). His newest novel, "Hill County Property" is set between Austin and San Antonio, Texas. "Hill County Property" traces the development of Roger Jackson from promising law student to private detective spying on cheating spouses. Of course, Roger's own wife and in-laws are involved. Deftly crafted, solidly entertaining, and a compelling read from beginning to end, "Hill Country Property" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Hill Country Property" is also available in a paperback edition (9781604891522, $18.95).

Mortal Designs
Reem Bassiouney, author
Melanie Magidow, translator
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018-2729
www.aucpress.com
9789774167140, $16.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Captain Murad is busy planning for the Afterlife. He dreams of a grand, sunlit mausoleum on the banks of the Nile. To realize his pharaonic folly, the retired captain kindles an unlikely romance between Hazem, a feckless architect longing for immortality, and Asma, an impoverished single mother who strives for a better life for her children. As Murad's tomb rises on the riverbank, so Hazem and Asma fall in love. A contemporary Egyptian romance of rare grace and wit, played out by characters trapped in their attitudes toward class and gender, "Mortal Designs" is a deftly written and truly memorable novel that showcases author Reem Bassiouney's truly impressive storytelling talent. Impressively translated into English for the benefit of an American readership, "Mortal Designs" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Literary Fiction collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Mermaid Moon
Colleen Coble
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9781401690281, $15.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn't have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O'Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left (without a word) years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life (and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie) their search intensifies. There's a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father's killer -- it is also about finding herself again, and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together. Another terrifically entertaining novel by Colleen Coble, "Mermaid Moon" is the second title in her outstanding 'Sunset Cove' series. "Mermaid Moon" is an impressively well written mystery/romance that will prove to be popular addition to community library collections. A 'must' for the growing legion of Colleen Coble fans, it must be noted for personal reading lists that "Mermaid Moon" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99), as well as a Large Print edition (Thorndike Press, 9781410485601, HC, $33.99).


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Cancer Survival Guide
Charlotte Libov
Humanix Books
PO Box 20989, West Palm Beach, FL 33416
www.humanixbooks.com
9781630060145, $19.95, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com

A cancer diagnosis brings along with it immediate feelings of fear, panic, and helplessness, often causing you to make rash decisions about your treatment. The "Cancer Survival Guide: How to Conquer this Disease and Live a Good Life" by Charlotte Libov will lead you through what will undoubtedly be the most crucial healthcare decisions you'll ever make. This definitive manual to understanding, managing, and preventing the disease offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available on the subject, such as: What cancer is, its symptoms and causes, and how it affects the body; The major forms of cancer including statistics on gender, age, culture, and prognosis; How to choose the right doctor based on your diagnosis; Creating a personal healthcare record to ensure that no detail is left to chance; The conventional and alternative treatments available, and what side effects to expect; Physical and emotional coping strategies, before, during, and after treatment; How to navigate life after cancer, the future of cancer research, and so much more. The "Cancer Survival Guide" addresses every facet of this illness that not only affects the sufferer's physical well-being and lifestyle, but also impacts family, friends, and caregivers. As informed and informative as it is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, the "Cancer Survival Guide" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Health/Medicine reference collections in general, and Cancer Diagnosis/Treatment supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

The Handy Anatomy Answer Book
Patricia Barnes-Svarney & Thomas E. Svarney
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578595426, $21.95, PB, 386pp, www.amazon.com

Anatomy is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Human anatomy is one of the basic essential sciences of medicine. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "The Handy Anatomy Answer Book" Covers all the major body systems including integumentary (skin, hair, etc.), skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive, and, for good measure, this new edition adds chapters on growth and development and how science can help and augment the body. "The Handy Anatomy Answer Book" follows the fascinating maze of organ systems and shows how much the body does routinely just to let you move, breathe, eat, and fight off disease. A thoroughly 'user friendly' and comprehensive reference helps make the language of anatomy (as well as physiology and pathology) more understandable and less intimidating for the non-specialist general reader. Fascinating trivia, plus serious facts, combine to answer over 1,200 questions about the human body, including What is Gray's Anatomy? What does it mean to have 20/20 vision? Why is blood sticky? How does exercise affect the heart? What is "gluten intolerance"? Is urine always yellow in color? What are the seven warning signs of Alzheimer's disease? What is a reflex? How much sleep does an individual need? Can humans use organs from other animals for transplants? Enhanced with the inclusion of 140 color illustrations and a four-color interior, "The Handy Anatomy Answer Book" is very highly recommended for both highschool, community, college, and university library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Handy Anatomy Answer Book" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.58).


The Poetry Shelf

One Crimson Thread
Michael O'Siadhail
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781780371276, $29.00, PB, 158pp, www.amazon.com

Micheal O'Siadhail is a prolific Irish poet whose published work sets the intensities of a life against the background of worlds shaken by change. For twenty years Micheal O'Siadhail's beloved wife, Br-d, suffered from Parkinson's disease. "One Crimson Thread" is a compilation of his love poems to her which chronicle the last two years of her life, her death, and his grief. In this sonnet sequence their love faces illness and death and sounds the depths of parting. There is a tenderness, intensity, and gratitude that will resonate with those who know both love and loss. "One Crimson Thread" is a compelling, intimate, and memorable body of heartfelt poetry that is among Michael's very best. Very highly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Irish Poetry collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "One Crimson Thread" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.99).


The Agriculture Shelf

Trichoderma: Identification and Agricultural Applications
Gary J. Samuels & Prakash K. Hebbar
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890544846, $185.00, Spiral Bound, 204pp, www.amazon.com

Trichoderma is a genus of fungi that is present in all soils, where they are the most prevalent culturable fungi. The collaborative work of trichoderma experts Gary J. Samuels and Prakash K. Hebbar, "Trichoderma: Identification and Agricultural Applications" This is a complete and comprehensive presentation for Trichoderma, a genus of ecologically important beneficial microorganisms that has been shown to be useful in meeting critical agricultural challenges such as nutrient and mineral uptake and remediation of toxic elements. Expertly written, organized and presented, "Trichoderma: Identification and Agricultural Applications" draws upon and translates the experimental literature to explain how to isolate cultures of Trichoderma, as well as how to select, handle, formulate, identify, and register effective strains of Trichoderma species. Of special note is the clearly described process of identifying Trichoderma cultures to species using molecular and classical techniques. Descriptions and illustrations of forty-five species are provided along with a key for their identification and illustrations for each. "Trichoderma: Identification and Agricultural Applications" is strongly recommended as a core and essential contribution to professional, corporate agribusiness, and academic library Agricultural Studies reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Religious Studies: Interdisciplinary Research Primer
Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks
Gale Cengage Learning
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
www.gale.cengage.com
9780028662879, $179.00, HC, 418pp, www.amazon.com

The Macmillan Interdisciplinary Handbooks: Religion Series is composed of ten volumes (which are also available individually) that serve undergraduate college students who have had little or no exposure to the study of religion, as well as the curious lay reader. Beginning with a primer volume, which introduces both the discipline and the topics of the remaining nine volumes, each handbook will usher the reader into a subfield of the study of religion, and explore fifteen to thirty topics in that subfield. By employing literature, film, art, history, and other disciplines, the handbooks identify areas of critical thought and practice in the study of religion. Each volume boasts peer-reviewed signed chapters written by eminent scholars, and include bibliographies to encourage further exploration. Each volume concludes with a glossary and a comprehensive index. This outstanding series is comprised of: "Religious Studies: Sources, Perspectives, and Methodologies"; "Religion: Social Religion"; Religion: Just Religion; Religion: Material Religion; religion: Embodied Religion; Religion: Secret Religion; "Religion: Mental Religion"; Religion: Super Religion"; Religion: Narrating Religion". As well as being highly recommended for college and university Religion/Spirituality reference collections, it should be noted that "Religious Studies: Interdisciplinary Research Primer" is also quite appropriate for non-specialist general readers with an interest in religion, and therefore strongly commended for community library collections as well.

Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity
Stephen Eskildsen
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438458236, $85.00, HC, 396pp, www.amazon.com

In "Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity: From the Latter Han Dynasty (25-220) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907)", Stephen Eskildsen (North Callahan Distinguished Professor of Religion, University of Tennessee - Chattanooga) offers a comprehensive and exceptionally well organized and presented overview of historical Chinese Daoist religious texts. An impressive work of original scholarship, "Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity" is the latest addition to the SUNY 'Chinese Philosophy and Culture' series. Very highly recommended as a core addition to academic library Religious Studies, Asian Studies, Doaist Studies, and Buddhist Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity" is also available in a Kindle edition ($80.75).


The Cookbook Shelf

Soupelina's Soup Cleanse
Elina Fuhrman
Lifelong Books / Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738218885, $24.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Unlike sugary smoothies and juices, soup cleanses heal digestive issues and provide necessary fiber for human health. Journalist Elina Fuhrman turned to plant-based soups while fighting an aggressive breast cancer, originating the first "soup cleanse". Now, in the pages of "Soupelina's Soup Cleanse: Plant-Based Soups and Broths to Heal Your Body, Calm Your Mind, and Transform Your Life" she shares the recipes for soups that provide extra energy, and nutrients, as well as help you increase mental acuity and reduce inflammation. With customizable three-and five-day cleanses, a one-day reset, 60 mouth-watering recipes, ingredient lists, strategies, gorgeous photographs (and expert advice from health and wellness professionals) "Soupelina's Soup Cleanse" shares everything you need for a healthy, healing detox. Whether you're looking to reclaim your health, get leaner, or just enjoy some delicious nourishing meals, Elina's healing soups will forever change the way you think about food. In addition to an informed and informative commentary, the thoroughly 'user friendly' step-by-step recipes range from The Truffle with Asparagus; Lintil Me Entertain You; and Brave New Watermelon; to Magic Turmeric Broth; and Sweet Coconut Thai Oh My!. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Soupelina's Soup Cleanse" is very highly recommended for community library cookbook sections, and academic library Health & Medicine reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Soupelina's Soup Cleanse" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.49).

Simply Delicious Sunday Dinners
Dina Foglio Crowell
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462117642, $16.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

For an enjoyable year of unforgettable Sunday dinners that will bring family and friends together, Dina Foglio Crowell has compiled a beautifully illustrated culinary compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that are simply outstanding. "Simply Delicious Sunday Dinners: 52 Fresh Homestyle Recipes" is an easy-to-use cookbook that is filled from cover to cover with everything needed to prepare exceptional dinners complete with seasonal entrees, sides, and desserts. Nutritious and delicious, the recipes range from Sherry Chicken Divan with Baby Bella Mushrooms; Zesty Shrimp Tacos with Fresh Mint Pineapple Salsa; Layered Mexican Casserole; and Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff; to Curry Pumpkin Soup; Dina's Ultimate Cinnamon Chili with Beans; Roasted Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan; Sweet Corn Pudding; and Italian Cream Cake. A pleasure to browse through and a practical resource for planning truly memorable dinners with, "Simply Delicious Sunday Dinners: 52 Fresh Homestyle Recipes" is decidedly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Simply Delicious Sunday Dinners" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

1,001 Best Low-Carb Recipes
Sue Spitler & Linda R. Yoakam, editors
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841840, $20.99, PB, 696pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by culinary experts Sue Spitler and Linda R. Yoakam, "1,001 Best Low-Carb Recipes: Delicious, Healthy, Easy-To-Make Recipes for Cutting Carbs" is an extensive collection of truly great low-carb dishes for the health-conscious home cook. Above all, the recipes comprising "1,001 Best Low-Carb Recipes" prove that a low-carb diet does not have to be bland or boring. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Three Onion Soup with Mushrooms; Jamaican Jerk Chicken; Asian Beef with Sesame Noodle; and Marrakesh Lamb Stew; to Crab Cakes with Poblano Chili Sauce; Mediterranean Roasted Eggplant and Tomatoes; Smoked Turkey Potato Salad; and Marble Cheesecake Brownies. It should be noted that each individual recipe also features complete nutritional data per serving. "The perfect culinary compendium for meal planning by anyone wanting a wide variety of gluten-free and paleo-friendly meals, "1,001 Best Low-Carb Recipes" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "1,001 Best Low-Carb Recipes" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).

Whole Food Energy
Elise Museles
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com
9781438007526, $19.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Healthy lifestyle advocate Elise Museles is an attorney turned eating psychology and nutrition expert and the voice behind the insightful blog Kale & Chocolate. In the illustrated pages of "Whole Food Energy" she has compiled and showcases some 200 easy-to-follow recipes for snacks and on-the-go meals, along with clever cooking strategies, and practical truths about carbs, fats, and healthy eating. "Whole Food Energy" covers stocking your pantry and fridge with easy-to-find ingredients; making creamy nut milks, DIY coconut yogurt, and flavorful nut butters; whipping up a blender full of fruits and veggies that are nutritious and delicious; creating snacks that will help balance your blood sugar during or after a busy day; choosing foods that will help you feel energized, sustained, or replenished; finding the best recipes to support your active lifestyle and nutritional needs; setting; yourself up for the week with whole food eating success -- and so much more! The fully 'kitchen cook recipes' range from a Healing Turmeric Latte; Colorful Mixed Veggie Frittata Chips; Salsa Guacamole; and Orange Cranberry Spice Breakfast Bars; to Chocolate Almond Coconut Truffles; Mango Banana Ice Cream; Spiced Brazil Nut Mil; and Creamy Ginger Pear Smoothies. As informed and informative as it is inspiring to plan meals and menus with, "Whole Food Energy" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Protein Ninja
Terry Hope Romero
Lifelong Books / Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738218496, $22.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or eat-everything-you-can-get-your-hands-on, a weeknight home chef, everyday athlete, or just a busy person looking wholesome, protein-rich snacks and meals, you deserve something better than another chia seed ball or protein shake for dinner. Compiled by vegan chef Terry Hope Romero, "Protein Ninja: Power through Your Day with 100 Hearty Plant-Based Recipes that Pack a Protein Punch" offers a cornucopia of recipes using a wide range of readily available ingredients ranging from supermarket-friendly staples to cutting-edge superfoods, as well as an arsenal of gluten-free and soy-free options. With an everything-you-need-to-know rundown on plant-based protein sources, and chapters like Stealthy Protein Pancakes, Waffles, Scrambles, & Much Much More, Super Toast: Savory or Sweet, and Better than Ever Burger Bowls, plant-based protein can be deftly inserted into breakfasts, dinners, and everything in between. The recipes themselves range from Temph Sausage Sage Gravy; Edamame Spelt Flatbreads; Ginger Squast Adzuki Toast; and Tomato Zucchini Dill Burgers; to Baked Green Falafel with Pea Protein; Lentil Walnut Loaf Sunday Night Roast Bowl; Black Bean Hemp Brownies; and No-Bake Sweet & Salty Granola Bars. Innovative and original, "Protein Ninja: Power through Your Day with 100 Hearty Plant-Based Recipes that Pack a Protein Punch" is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and highly recommended for personal, family, and community library Vegan/Vegetarian cookbook collections.


The American History Shelf

Law at Little Big Horn
Charles E. Wright
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896729124 $45.00 www.ttupress.org

Law at Little Big Horn: Due Process Denied is a scholarly, in-depth analysis of the Battle of Little Bighorn skirmish, a.k.a. Custer's Last Stand, in which General Custer and his troops were annihilated. Examining the battle from a legal and judicial perspective, author Charles E. Wright (a retired lawyer of fifty years' experience) emphasizes how the constitutional, human, and treaty rights of American Indians were frequently violated. The letter of the law protects every American citizen from being deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process, including a fair hearing before an impartial judge or jury; yet the court systems and even (especially!) the President of the United States disregarded the law in letter and spirit. Extensive notes, a glossary, bibliography, and index round out this excellent addition to college library American History shelves.


The World History Shelf

U-X-L World Eras
Gale Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
9781573029681, $780.00, 10 Volumes, www.amazon.com

With beautifully rendered illustrations enhancing an informed and informative text, "U-X-L World Eras" is a ten volume history series. The ten volumes comprising this outstanding series are: Volume 1 - Ancient Mesopotamia: 3300-331 BCE; Volume 2 - Ancient Egypt: 3000-332; Volume 3 - Classical Greek Civilization: 800-323 BCE; Volume 4: Roman Republic and Empire: 509 BCE - 476 CE; Volume 5 - West African Kingdoms: 500-1590; Volume 6 - Imperial China: 617-1644; Volume 7 - Rise and Spread of Islam: 622-1500; Volume 8 - Medieval Europe: 814-1350; Volume 9 - European Renaissance and Reformation: 1350-1600; Volume 10 - Industrial Revolution: 1750-1914. Each of these ten volumes will contain ten chapters that will be arranged in the following order in order to make comparing and contrasting easier for the student: Chapter 1: Volume Overview; Chapter 2: Geography; Chapter 3: The Arts; Chapter 4: Communication, Transportation, and Exploration; Chapter 5: Social Classes and the Economy; Chapter 6: Politics, Law, and the Military; Chapter 7: Leisure, Recreation, and Daily Life; Chapter 8: The Family and Social Trends; Chapter 9: Religion and Philosophy; and Chapter 10: Science, Technology, and Health. In addition, each chapter contains guided reading questions, classroom activities, a glossary defining difficult terms, and a bibliography. The "U-X-L World Eras" series is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to highschool, community, college, and university library World History reference collections.


The Civil War Shelf

What the Private Saw
Larry M. Edwards, editor
Wigeon Publishing
1769 Corsica Street, San Diego, CA 92111
www.wigeonpublishing.com
9780989691376, $29.95, HC, 292pp, www.amazon.com

"The generals did not see what the privates saw." So wrote U.S. Civil War veteran Pvt. Oney Foster Sweet, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, 43rd Pennsylvania Volunteers (14th Reserves) Battery F (Ricketts' Battery), 1861-1865. His previously unpublished letters, diaries, and retrospective pieces compiled together in "What the Private Saw: The Civil War Letters & Diaries of Oney Foster Sweet" offer a unique glimpse of the war from the perspective of a private simply trying to survive a deadly conflagration in which one in five combatants perished. This first-hand account, compiled and edited by investigative journalist and writer Larry M. Edwards, is an invaluable addition to the growing library of American Civil War memoirs and biographies. A compelling read from beginning to end, "What The Private Saw" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library American Civil War collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "What The Private Saw" is also available in a paperback edition (9780989691345, $17.95) and in a Kindle format ($6.99).

The Civil War Years in Utah
John Gary Maxwell
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806149110 $29.95 www.oupress.com

The Civil War Years in Utah: The Kingdom of God and the Territory That Did Not Fight is a scathing criticism of the choices of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, during the American Civil War. Utah as a whole was largely untouched by the devastation of the war, and contributed very little to the fighting. Author John Gary Maxwell describes how the near-inconsequential efforts of an 1862 Mormon cavalry company (they were active for a scant ninety days, and did little other than patrol overland trails and telegraph lines) were later lionized by a religious institution invested in painting itself in as patriotic a light as possible, after the Union victory became apparent. Furthermore, Maxwell claims that Mormon leaders engaged in treasonous conduct through close personal contact with Confederate operatives and their efforts to secure Utah sovereignty, even as they carefully avoided open warfare with the U.S. Government - in essence, they played both sides against the middle. A stringent denouncement of revisionist history, The Civil War Years in Utah is an eye-opening contribution to public and college library Civil War shelves, highly recommended.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Your New Money Mindset
Brad Hewitt & James Moline
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496407801, $15.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

How should anyone, but especially members of the Christian community, approach matters of money management and finance? The collaborative work co-authors financial expert Brad Hewitt (CEO of Thrivent Financial) and licensed psychologist James Moline "Your New Money Mindset: Create a Healthy Relationship with Money" offers a new way of thinking about the role money plays in our lives. Many of us live with ongoing, and often unexamined, tension related to money. Few of us have really escaped the credit-card trap or freed ourselves from worries about having enough for the future. Most of us simply haven't spent enough time examining our fundamental attitudes toward money and aligning those attitudes to our core values. Before you can remake your money habits, you need to start with your heart. "Your New Money Mindset" will guide you through the Money Mindset Assessment, which will help pinpoint what attitudes about money you could work on in order to develop an openhearted attitude to life. The goal is to cultivate a surplus mindset that allows you to enjoy what you already have and be generous toward others. Discover today how to free yourself from the money trap and create a healthy relationship with money. As thoroughly 'user friendly' as it is informed and informative, "Your New Money Mindset: Create a Healthy Relationship with Money" is very highly recommended for community library Money/Finance collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Your New Money Mindset: Create a Healthy Relationship with Money" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Investing 101 to Semi-Pro
Stan Balser
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing
PO Box 9949, College Station, TX 77842
www.virtualbookworm.com
9781621370444, $12.95, PB, 76pp, www.amazon.com

After more than 42 years in the investment business, Stan Balser became acutely aware of the need for a instruction guide clearly explaining to the non-specialist general reader why we all absolutely should and must invest in order to provide ourselves with a stable prosperity, and just how to go about it. In the pages of "Investing 101 to Semi-Pro: Successful Investing in Calm and Turbulent Markets" he covers the basics of investing, the various types of investments, and the language of investing in an easy to understand, enjoyable read. He has included the basics of his own investment psychology, some of his strategies, strategies of others, and some profound philosophies. In this interesting and educational guide he "shoots down" some popular myths. Starting with the basics, he takes the reader step-by-step through the choice of investments, where to get reliable information, what information is really important, and then, a step-by-step do-it-yourself order entry. "Investing 101 to Semi-Pro" will guides you, warn you, encourage you, and help you become a confident and successful investor handling your own investment with little or no outside help. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Investing 101 to Semi-Pro" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Science Shelf

The Boundless Universe
Sidney C. Wolff
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
www.rionuevo.com
978 1940322094, $16.95, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com

Ours is an age of unparalleled discovery in astronomy, with breakthroughs coming at an astounding pace. The questions we are trying to answer are fundamental: How old is the Universe? How do stars and planets form? Are there places beyond Earth where life might exist? "The Boundless Universe: Astronomy in the New Age of Discovery" by Sidney C. Wolff (former director of the Kitt peak National Observatory and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory) deftly explores these questions and more by taking a look at the search for life and new planets, the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, and building bigger and better telescopes. "The Boundless Universe" is an information rich, thoroughly 'reader friendly', beautifully illustrated guide to the new astronomical frontier, latest discoveries, and most current research. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition, "The Boundless Universe" is very highly recommended for personal, school, and community library Astronomy reference collections and reading lists.


The Genealogy Shelf

You Can Write Your Family History
Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806317830, $22.00, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com

"You Can Write Your Family History" is a comprehensive and exceptionally 'user friendly' instruction guide that will enables non-specialist general readers to chronicle and document the lives of their near or distant relatives. "You Can Write Your Family History" provides methods for: conducting historical and thematic research; organizing materials; outlining and plotting a story; illustrating with pictures and charts; and making money writing the history of other families. Of special note are the chapters on Blending Social History with Family History; Adding Illustrations; Publishing and Marketing. A complete and comprehensive manual for creating family histories, "You Can Write Your Family History" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Genealogical Studies reference collections. Also very highly recommended, especially for novice genealogists engaged in writing a family history, is Richard Hite's "Sustainable Genealogy: Separating Fact from Fiction in Family Legends" (9780806319827, $18.95, PB, 110pp).


The Automotive Shelf

The MVR Access and Decoder Digest 2015-2016
Michael L. Sankey, editor
BRB Publications, Inc.
www.brbpublications.com
9780988563643, $33.50, PB, 832pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Michael L. Sankey, "The MVR Access and Decoder Digest 2015-2016: The Complete National Reference to State Motor Vehicle Records - Including Access, Content, and State Conviction Code Tables" is a complete national reference to state motor vehicle records. "The MVR Access and Decoder Digest 2015-2016" reveals the access procedures and fees for motor vehicle records including driver, vehicle, accident, liens, and even watercraft records. It also provides practical information as to where the free online status checks are and details on license monitoring systems available to employers and insurers. "The MVR Access and Decoder Digest 2015-2016" includes the states' driving record conviction code tables. Covers an array of topics including license appearance and issuance, suspensions and revocations, driver monitoring, point systems, and much more. An invaluable and exceptionally well organized and comprehensive resource, "The MVR Access and Decoder Digest 2015-2016" is very highly recommended for community, governmental, and academic library vehicular reference collections. It should be noted that "The MVR Access and Decoder Digest" is also available online at www.mvrdecoder.com.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang
First Second Books
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781596431522 $18.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

American Born Chinese is an award-winning, full-color graphic novel suitable for all ages. Three stories are told in parallel: the classic parable of the Monkey King from Chinese mythology; the misery of Danny, a white high school student plagued by visits from his "cousin" Chin-Kee (who is the walking embodiment of every horrible Asian stereotype); and the identity crisis of Jin Wang, a Chinese-American high school student caught between his strict parents (who forbid him to date until he graduates from college), the girl he has a crush on, and the peers at school who look down on him for being Chinese. Jin's first real friend is Wei-Chen, a young man who recently came to the school from Taiwan. But Jin has been bottling up a lifetime of unresolved frustration from being bullied and scorned; when it boils over, will he forfeit his very soul? A thoughtful story about learning to accept oneself and respect others, American Born Chinese is highly recommended.

Fuku Fuku Kitten Tales 1
Konami Kanata
Vertical Comics
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993438 $10.95 www.vertical-comics.com

Children and adults alike will enjoy Fuku Fuku Kitten Tales 1, a black-and-white graphic novel anthology of delightful anecdotes about the young kitten Fuku Fuku and her doting Japanese owner. In the eyes of a kitten, everything is a new and exciting adventure! When Fuku Fuku isn't wreaking mischief, she learns to snuggle under a heated kotatsu blanket for warmth, climb plants for fun, play with other kittens (and even a visiting puppy!), and more in this adorably cute and gentle saga. A treat for cat lovers of all ages! Also highly recommended is Konami Kanata's cat-centric graphic novel series "Chi's Sweet Home"; newcomers to the series will enjoy browsing "The Complete Chi's Sweet Home 1" (9781942993162, $24.95) and "The Complete Chi's Sweet Home 2" (9781942993179, $24.95).


The Audiobook Shelf

I, Spy
Daniel Ribacoff, author
Read by Fred Berman
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427267832 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

I, Spy: How To Be Your Own Private Investigator is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a how-to guide by Daniel Ribacoff, a private investigator of 25 years' experience. Topics covered include how to conduct a stakeout; how to track people down; how to tell if someone is lying; how to go "off the grid"; how to know if you're being stalked; the basics of garbage retrieval; and much more. I, Spy should be required reading not only for would-be private investigators, but also parents and ordinary people who want to keep themselves and their families safe from stalkers and criminals. Highly recommended. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

Monkey
Wu Cheng-en, author
Arthur Waley, translator
Read by Kenneth Williams
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
9781843799214 $67.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com

Monkey is an adaptation of a legendary Chinese parable, Wu Cheng-en's "Journey to the West", about a priest's quest to obtain holy Buddhist scriptures for the Tang emperor, and the companions who aided him, including Sandy, Pigsy, and the capricious monkey king. Arthur Waley translated Wu Cheng-en's epic into an abridged novel titled "Monkey" in 1942. Now, Waley's accessible, reader-friendly rendition is presented word for word as a Naxos Classic audiobook. Brought to life with actor Kenneth Williams' infectious performance, Monkey is a treasure that has delighted readers for decades, highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections.

Leonard
William Shatner with David Fisher
Read by William Shatner
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427273239 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man is the unabridged audiobook rendition of actor William Shatner's memoir reminiscing of the time he shared with the late Leonard Nimoy, both as professional actors and as friends. Shatner and Nimoy are best known for their roles as Captain Kirk and Spock in the science-fiction television series "Star Trek", but they first crossed paths on the set of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", and their fifty-years friendship saw them through good times and bad. Poignant, powerful, and an enduring tribute, Leonard is highly recommended, especially for public library audiobook collections. 6 CDs, 7.5 hours.

The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment
Elizabeth Grace Saunders
Peformed by Kelly Hazen
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781511312424 $29.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success with Less Stress is an unabridged audiobook self-help guide to improving both one's business career and personal life. Time management is a critical skill; The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment covers not only useful tips, tricks, techniques for maximizing personal productivity and minimizing wasted time, but also recommendations for overcoming crippling emotions such as guilt and compulsive perfectionism. An invaluable reference and resource for listeners of all walks of life, The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment is highly recommended. 7 CDs, 9 hours 4 min.

Master of Ceremonies
Joel Grey
Read by the author
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427266828 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Read by author Joel Grey, Master of Ceremonies: A Memoir is the unabridged audiobook autobiography Tony and Academy Award-winning actor, singer, dancer, and photographer Joel Grey. Born Joel David Katz, he grew up dating both men and women. His adventurous romantic life included marriage and children, but twenty-four years later the marriage fell apart. Joel speaks openly about a lifetime of concealing his homosexuality, before finally coming to terms with it; as well as the joys, challenges, and pressures of performing. Candid and insightful, Master of Ceremonies is a choice pick for public library audiobook collections. 8 CDs, 9.5 hours.


The Library CD Shelf

Distant Horseman
Timothy Wenzel
www.timothywenzel.com
Coyote Floe Music
$16.88 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Distant Horseman is an instrumental music CD created to stir contemplation of the greater totality of life, the challenges that face individuals, and the unknowable span of the universe. Created by skilled musician and experienced research scientist Timothy Wenzel, Distant Horseman features captivating new age keyboard songs, enriched with violin, cello, flute, woodwinds, harp, guitars, bass, drums, wordless choir vocalizations and more. Extraordinary and captivating, Distant Horseman is highly recommended, especially for New Age music collections. The tracks are "A Bend in the River" (4:23), "Distant Horseman" (5:06), "Turn and Walk Away" (4:00), "A Night So Cold" (5:05), "Moments Into Years" (4:18), "No Tomorrow" (3:33), "Forgiven" (5:12), "Colors Dancing" (4:05), "Ecstasy Eyes" (4:54), "Summer's Dance" (3:43), "Walk With Me" (4:03), and "Luminous Wake, Starlit Sea" (5:00).

Between Shadow and Light
Neil Patton
www.neilpatton.net
Privately Published
www.pattonmusic.com
$13.97 CD / $9.00 download cdbaby.com

Between Shadow and Light is a solo piano album by award-winning musician Neil Patton. Created around the theme of the search for hope and healing, the songs reflect the progression from fear, doubt, and grief to inspiration and joy. Patton infused emotions that he personally felt during his gradual recovery from an arm injury that threatened to end his music career. A transformational journey in soundscape, Between Shadow and Light is a "must" for solo piano connoisseurs. The tracks are "Rhyme or Reason", "Surface Tension", "Still in Love", "Great Expectations", "Nocturne (Between Shadow and Light)", "Flights of Angels", "The Hands of the Healer", "The Long Goodbye", "Finding My Own Secrets", "Walk With Me", "To Run Again", "Hope", and "Moonrise".


The Library DVD Shelf

Colorado's Spectacular
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
9781604902068 $24.95 (DVD or Blu-ray) www.Bennett-Watt.com

Part of the Discoveries... America series of beautiful, high-definition documentaries available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Colorado's Spectacular showcases the astounding beauty of Colorado's national parks. Striking, panoramic footage of Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Black Canyon Of the Gunnison National Park and much more fill this sweeping video essay. The next best thing to visiting Colorado's monuments and nature preserves in person, Colorado's Spectacular is especially recommended for public library DVD collections. 53 min.

Railroads: Magic, Mystery & Mystique
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
9781604902051 $24.95 www.Bennett-Watt.com

Part of the Discoveries... America series of captivating, high-definition documentaries available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Railroads: Magic, Mystery & Mystique is a treat for anyone fascinated by locomotives. Railroads were an important part of the creation of America's National Park system; they enabled early visitors to see Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, and other parks with their own eyes. Railroads: Magic, Mystery & Mystique offers a tour of national historic landmarks that commemorate the role of railroads, before the advent of the modern highway system eased travel to America's national parks. Locations featured include Steamtwon National Historic Site, Pennsylvania; Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah; Cumbers & Toltec Scenic Railroad National Historic Landmark, Colorado; and much more. Railroads: Magic, Mystery & Mystique is a welcome contribution to public library DVD collections, and a delight for train enthusiasts everywhere. 61 min.

The Yes Men Are Revolting
Starring Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum
Passion River Films
154 Mt. Bethel Rd., Warren, NJ 07059
$24.95 www.passionriver.com

The Yes Men Are Revolting is the third documentary-movie featuring the "Yes Men", Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum, who are famous for pulling off-the-wall hoaxes to attract attention to social problems. Even though the Yes Men are in their 40's (and hardly immune to the threat of midlife crisis), they tackle the thorny issue of climate change in The Yes Men Are Revolting. From villages in Uganda to toxic oil fields in Canada, the Yes Men make a stand against big oil, lobbyists, and even the U.S. government, to deliver eyebrow-raising, nonviolent acts of public protest. A showcase of the desperate need to mobilize global conservation efforts before it's too late, The Yes Men Are Revolting is highly recommended. 91 min.

Knox: The Life and Legacy of Scotland's Controversial Reformer
Presented by Phillip Todd
Vision Video
P.O. Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490
$19.99 DVD www.visionvideo.com

Available in both DVD and .MP4 digital download formats, Knox: The Life and Legacy of Scotland's Controversial Reformer is a documentary about John Knox (1513-1572), a Scottish clergyman, theologian, and writer who was a notable leader of the Protestant Reformation, and the founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland. Scottish actor Phillip Todd takes the viewer on a tour of the life's work and legacy of a legendary reformer, who began as a Catholic priest and eventually became a Protestant preacher who even challenged a Scottish queen. Interviews with expert historians and biographers, as well as re-enactments and some animations enrich this enlightening and educational portrayal. Highly recommended, both for public and church DVD collections. Special features include a production stills gallery, a concept art gallery, a glimpse behind the scenes at the premiere, and more. 77 min., English language with English subtitles.


The Humor Shelf

It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection
Bill Watterson
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780836221367, $18.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Bill Watterson is the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, one of the most popular and well-regarded cartoon strips of the twentieth century. Calvin and Hobbes appeared in newspapers from November 1985 until Watterson's retirement in 1996. Now for the benefit of a whole new generation of appreciative readers, "It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection" is once again available from Andrews McMeel Publishing. One of the funniest and most thought-provoking collections of a newspaper comic strip to ever seen print, "It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection" is highly recommended for community and academic library collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated Calvin and Hobbes enthusiasts, it should be noted that "It's A Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection" is now available in a Kindle edition as well.

The Weed Whisperer
G.B. Trudeau
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449472245 $29.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist G.B. Trudeau presents The Weed Whisperer: A Doonesbury Book, a compilation of recent strips in the long-running Doonesbury newspaper comic. Every page of The Weed Whisperer is in full color - daily strips and Sunday strips alike! Trudeau is known for not only his tongue-in-cheek humor, but also his spotlights on social problems, his stark critique of political incompetence, and his commiseration with the difficult lot of working men and women everywhere. In The Weed Whisperer, Zonker and his nephew Zip pursue their dream of growing "artisanal" weed in Colorado, where marijuana has just been legalized; MIT graduate and soon-to-be mother Alex Doonesbury can't leave her coffee-slinging Starbucks job because she needs the health insurance; self-absorbed journalist Roland Hedley is repeatedly called out for "humblebragging" on Twitter; and much more. Although The Weed Whisperer never loses its dry sense of wit, some of its social issues topics are darkly serious, such as the following strip representing literal American military policy: "'What do you want, Wheeler?' 'I'd like to report a crime, colonel. As required, I am reporting it through my chain of command.' 'What's the crime?' 'I was raped by a superior officer.' 'Who's the alleged perpetrator?' 'You, sir. As you know.' 'Not credible. Dismissed.'" Highly recommended, both for personal browsing and public library collections. It should be noted that The Weed Whisperer is also available as an ebook.

Optimism Sounds Exhausting
Scott Adams
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449463007 $19.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Optimism Sound Exhausting is an anthology of recent strips from the popular Dilbert newspaper comic series. Every page is in full color, daily strips and Sunday strips alike! Set in Dilbert's world of corporate inadequacy, management shenanigans, incompetence, frustration, and just plain insanity, Optimism Sounds Exhausting brilliantly displays Scott Adams' gift for revealing the ludicrous in everyday life, both on and off the job. "'We look for ten qualities when we hire.' 'Ten? I'm looking for an employer who knows how to set priorities.' 'He was too good for us.'" Wickedly funny from start to finish, Optimism Sounds Exhausting is highly recommended for personal enjoyment and public library collections. It should be noted that Optimism Sounds Exhausting is also available as an ebook.


The Music Shelf

Classical Music: A Chronology
Jon Paxman
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468312720, $49.95, HC, 752pp, www.amazon.com

"Classical Music: A Chronology" covers four centuries of Western classical music, ranging from the Baroque era through to the end of the 20th century. "Classical Music: A Chronology" presents information on all aspects of classical music from 1600 to the 2000s, including biographies of composers, patrons, publishers, impresarios, conductors, and performers. Births, deaths, compositions, performances, and many biographical highs and lows are included to give the reader a complete and varied look at what happened, when, with a particular emphasis on the stories surrounding a piece of music's first performance. "Classical Music: A Chronology" also includes narrative chapters that examine musical developments over the course of four centuries, looking at how style, genre, and location have all influenced Western classical music since its inception. Composers operate first and foremost in the day-to-day of their artistic, social, economic, and political environment. "Classical Music: A Chronology" will immerse readers in those contexts, thereby helping music lovers to more fully appreciate the history of classical music. Exhaustively researched, impressively written, organized and presented, "Classical Music: A Chronology" is a truly exceptional reference work that is very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Music History reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. Enhanced with more that 500 color and b&w illustrations; a nineteen page Glossary Of Musical Terms; a six page Further Reading bibliography; and a forty-five page Index, "Classical Music: A Chronology" is an ideal resource for academia and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history of Western Classical Music.


The International Studies Shelf

Social Media in Iran
David M. Fairs & Babak Rahimi, editors
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438458830. $85.00, HC, 334pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of David M. Fairs (Chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Roosevelt University) and Babak Rahimi (Associate Professor of Communication, Culture, and Religion, University of California - San Diego), "Social Media in Iran: Politics and Society After 2009" is comprised of an informative Introduction and fourteen erudite articles contributed by experts in their fields and presented in three major sections: Societal; Politics; Culture. The result is a work of seminal scholarship that is further enhanced with the inclusion of a twenty-six page Bibliography; a six page listing of the Contributors and the credentials, and a fifteen page Index. Offering data based insights into the diverse impacts and influences of social media in contemporary Iranian society and politics, "Social Media in Iran: Politics and Society After 2009" will prove a welcome and significant acquisition for academic library Middle Eastern Studies and Media Studies collections in general, and Contemporary Iranian Studies supplement reading lists in particular. For academia and the general reading public with an interest in Iran, it should be noted that "Social Media in Iran: Politics and Society After 2009" is also available in a Kindle edition ($80.75).

Apartheid in Palestine
Ghada Ageel, editor
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
www.uap.ualberta.ca
9781772120820 $59.95 www.amazon.com

Apartheid in Palestine is an anthology of analytical writings sharply critical of Israel's treatment of its Palestinian Arab population. Contributors include Palestinians who voice their frustrations and decry human rights abuses; Jewish Israeli citizens who openly criticize the government's ongoing policies; academics; activists; and more. An index rounds out this thought-provoking testimonial, recommended for scholars, historians, students and anyone interested in reviewing anti-occupation perspectives on the Israel-Palestinian debate.


The Social Issues Shelf

Integration Nation
Susan E. Eaton
The New Press
126 Wall Street, floor 31, New York, NY 10005-4007
www.thenewpress.com
9781620970959 $24.95 hc / $13.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Integration Nation: Immigrants, Refugees, and America at its Best profiles cities in the U.S.A. that welcome immigrants with open arms, and strive to assist newcomers in becoming part of political, social, and civic American life - without having to sacrifice their religious beliefs or cultural roots. From an Indiana community center to Utah classrooms that aid newly arrived, Spanish-speaking students, to the efforts of a North Carolina credit union to serve an immigrant population in need, Integration Nation is an uplifting ray of hope amid today's divisive political climate. In the twenty-first century, it's more important to remember why "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of Many, One") is written on America's currency! Highly recommended.

Raza Rising
Richard J. Gonzales
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574416329 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Raza Rising: Chicanos in North Texas is combination of history and social treatise about Chicanos (Mexican-Americans) by author, researcher, and medical professional Richard J. Gonzales, based on articles he wrote for the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram". Writings discuss the challenges Chicanos face in economics, education, the criminal justice system, politics, and more. Raza Rising tells of an immigration reform march; the author's experience as a guest speaker at Fort Worth public school classrooms; efforts that Chicanos have made to overcome social and cultural barriers; why knowledge of Spanish is desperately needed in hospitals (having more doctors/nurses/etc. who can speak Spanish, or at least have access to interpreters, literally saves human lives); and much more. "The common danger of not knowing your people's history was repeating mistakes of the past. A more troubling issue was thinking that the opportunity to go to high school and college was always there. The students may think that walking through the front doors of department stores or sitting at restaurant tables was always open to their families...The reason to look back with an unblinking eye is not to dig up skeletons or rekindle ethnic hatreds. Links to the past will imprint on students the struggles and sacrifices many people endured for their opportunity to excel in the classroom." Notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this excellent and welcome contribution to American History and Hispanic Studies shelves.

Beyond Fukushima
Koichi Hasegawa
Trans Pacific Press
www.transpacificpress.com
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
9781920901257 $89.95 www.isbs.com

Critique: Beyond Fukushima: Toward a Post-Nuclear Society is a scathing indictment of bureaucratic incompetence and the risks of nuclear power. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster shocked Japan on March 11, 2011, when a tsunami triggered by an earthquake caused equipment failures, a loss-of-coolant accident, three nuclear meltdowns, and the release of radioactive material. The scope of the disaster was second only to the horrific 1986 incident in Chernobyl. Author Koichi Hasegawa (Professor of Sociology, Tohoku University) argues that the only way to protect the public in Japan and beyond from similar disasters is to permanently end dependence on nuclear power. Detailed, critical, and persuasive, Beyond Fukushima is a "must-have" for college library social issues and world history collections.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Rwanda's Popular Genocide
Jean-Paul Kimonyo
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
9781626371866 $65.00 www.rienner.com

Rwanda's Popular Genocide: A Perfect Storm is a scholarly and studious cross-examination of the most vile aspects of human psychology. What motivated entire Hutu communities to perpetrate genocide against their Tutsi neighbors, and also against those moderate Hutus who objected to mass rape and murder? Author Jean-Paul Kimonyo draws upon research, testimonies of genocide survivors (and perpetrators), anthropology, and history to present a meticulous account of how the nightmare of Rwandan genocide came to be, in the hope that learning from this horrific event of world history will prevent it from being repeated. Rwanda's Popular Genocide is worthy of the highest recommendation, especially for college and academic library collections.


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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