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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Birth Strike
Jenny Brown
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
www.pmpress.org
9781629636382 $19.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Written from a feminist perspective, Birth Strike: The Hidden Fight Over Women's Work
examines why birthrates have plunged in America since the Great Recession of 2008. Are
American women deliberately going on a "birth strike" because financial reality requires them to
work while society expects them to primarily shoulder the burden of child-raising? Could
America's population replacement rate dip so low as to precipitate a demographic and economic
crisis, similar to the ones currently happening in Japan and Europe? And if this risk is present,
then why isn't there a greater national effort to help families with universal childcare, or other
parent-friendly programs beyond the occasional tax credit? Birth Strike boldly claims that
American women need to demand more family-friendly government policies, and to contest the
myth that children are a "luxury", like an exotic pet or an expensive car. Instead, children should
be valued as a public benefit and a necessary component of society, and therefore supported with
measures such as universal childcare. Sharp yet sobering, Birth Strike is a "must-read" about a
keystone American social issue. Birth Strike is highly recommended, especially for public library
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Birth Strike is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
Becoming a Dragon
Haiwang Yuan
Berkshire Publishing Group
122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9781614720393, $24.95, PB, 244pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and translated by Haiwang Yuan, "Becoming a Dragon: Forty Chinese Proverbs", is a
bilingual (English-Chinese) collection showcasing proverbs, popular phrases, and two-part
allegorical sayings. A specifically and effectively designed as a textbook for self-study and
classroom teaching, each individual proverb comes with the story behind that proverb and its
source in both English and Chinese, as well as a literal translation, the figurative meaning, an
English equivalent, a vocabulary list, and examples of how the proverb is used in modern written
and spoken Chinese. Uniquely informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Becoming a
Dragon" is an especially recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library
collections.
I Love Birds!
Jennifer Ward, author
Alexander Vidal, illustrator
Roost Books
RoostBooks.com
c/o Shambhala Publications
https://www.shambhala.com
9781611804157 $15.95 pbk / $12.99 Kindle amazon.com
I Love Birds! 52 Ways to Wonder, Wander and Explore Birds with Kids is a guide designed to
help parents share the joys of birdwatching with their children. Filled with hands-on activities
designed to teach the hows and whys of birding behavior, and cultivate the joy and wonder of
observing birds in the wild, I Love Birds! fosters the positive value of stewardship toward nature.
The suggested projects range from building bird nestboxes and bird feeders to season-related
birdwatching and much more. Highly recommended, especially as a family-fun antidote to
"couch potato syndrome"!
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Bulletproof: Writing Scripts that Don't Get Shot Down
David Diamond & David Weissman
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932993, $26.95, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com
The team successful script writing team of Diamond and Weissman have been writing movies
and mentoring filmmakers for decades. "Bulletproof: Writing Scripts that Don't Get Shot Down"
is their practical guide taking aspiring writer by the hand and guiding them through the logistics
and tools of writing an attention-grabbing, audience-pleasing screenplay. They will learn the
interests and needs of managers, agents, producers, executives, financiers, directors, and actors.
Diamond and Weissman attribute their phenomenal success to a career-long focus on the motives
and priorities of film sponsors and benefactors. Whether it's a theatrical release or a streaming
movie, a major, big-budget tent pole or an intimate, character-driven indie drama, Diamond and
Weissman apply their time-tested approach and offer aspiring script writers a fresh way of
thinking will resonate with industry professionals, and cinephiles excited to peek under the hood
at what makes their favorite films tick. "Bulletproof" is that rare screen writing instructional
guide and manual penned by authors with both massive credits and decades of business
experience. Simply stated, "Bulletproof" is a 'must-read' for any and all aspiring script writers
seeking to get their work transformed in film productions. While unreservedly recommended for
community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Bulletproof" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $25.60).
The Education Shelf
Closing the Gap
Sarah Thomas, Nicol R. Howard, and Regina Schaffer
International Society for Technology in Education
www.iste.org
9781564847171 $34.95 amazon.com
Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom poses the question: how can
equal access and opportunity to digital tools, resources, and services for education best be
promoted? In America, not all students have equal access to the internet, especially at home.
Some live in rural areas with poor quality internet; some must share a computer with the whole
family; some only have personal access the internet through their smartphones; some have no
internet access at all outside of the classroom. Closing the Gap addresses solutions to the digital
divide, limited resources, and the homework gap, suggesting ways that teachers can help promote
digital equity. Chapters also cover how to assemble a team to identify and analyze local problems
with digital equity, as well as implement a plan to attack digital barriers. In an era where the
world is increasingly online, and classrooms draw upon digital resources more than ever, Closing
the Gap is a "must-read" for education professionals, highly recommended.
A Fragile Enterprise
Nancy Brigham
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781475846010, $35.00, HC, 182pp, www.amazon.com
Based upon thousands of interviews and hundreds of classroom observations, "A Fragile
Enterprise: Yesterday's Schools and Tomorrow's Students" by Nancy Brigham (who has been
engaged in education research and program evaluations for 35 years) recounts true stories from
the front lines of the battlefield that U.S. public education has become in the struggle of the
privileged few and the disenfranchised many, The stories tell how poor, minority, students with
disabilities and non-English speaking students are short changed by schools that are not level
playing fields, teachers who have ceased to care, and a system that seems willing to write off
some students and their families as expendable. "A Fragile Enterprise" reveals that: Despite the
massive expenditure of public funds, large-scale national education improvement efforts have
largely failed; Failing schools seldom have the resources and skills to implement the programs
that are thrust upon them; The charter school solution leaves behind the students who need help
the most; How seldom families are involved in meaningful ways in the education of their
children; What the best teachers do and why they do it that way. The basic message of "A Fragile
Enterprise is that the process of finding solutions must begin at the heart of the system, the
unique, irreplaceable children we are privileged to educate. Impressively well written, organized
and presented, "A Fragile Enterprise" is an extraordinary work of exhaustive research and
unreservedly recommended for both college and university library Contemporary Education
Policy collections, as well as the personal reading lists of education policy makers, education
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
What We Know About Grading
Thomas R. Guskey & Susan M. Brookhart, editors
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416627234, $29.95, PB, 236pp, www.amazon.com
Grading is one of the most hotly debated topics in education, and grading practices themselves
are largely based on tradition, instinct, or personal history or philosophy. But to be effective,
grading policies and practices must be based on trustworthy research evidence. "What We Know
About Grading: What Works, What Doesn't, and What's Next" is based upon a review of
100-plus years of grading research that presents the broadest and most comprehensive summary
of research on grading and reporting available to date, with clear takeaways for learning and
teaching. An indispensable guide that features thoughtful, thorough dives into the research from a
distinguished team of scholars, geared to a broad range of stakeholders, including teachers,
school leaders, policymakers, and researchers, each individual chapter deftly addresses a different
area of grading research and describes how the major findings in that area might be leveraged to
improve grading policy and practice. By distilling the vast body of research evidence into
meaningful, actionable findings and strategies, and unreservedly recommended for school
district, college, and university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections,
"What We Know About Grading" is the jump-start all stakeholders need to build a better
understanding of what works -- and where to go from here. It should be noted for the personal
reading lists of teachers and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"What We Know About Grading" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.55).
Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools
Jen Alexander
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681252452, $29.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
Today in the United States, at least one in four youth experiences trauma severe enough to
negatively affect their school success. Drawing on her extensive experience as a school
counselor, trainer, and mother, trauma expert Jen Alexander delivers a comprehensive
framework for building a safe, supportive school environment that helps all students learn and
thrive in "Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools: Your Guide to Creating Safe, Supportive Learning
Environments for All Students". She presents: Five key shifts in the way you view and approach
students, so that you are better equipped to support them; How to work together to prioritize
resilience by actively putting relationships first in your school; Implementing universal
instructional strategies that foster safety, connection, regulation, and learning for all students;
Using special supports, supplemental instruction, and coaching when universal strategies aren't
enough; Collaborate effectively with families and colleagues to meet each student's needs;
Incorporating restorative discipline practices that focus on restitution, not retribution; Creating a
personalized self-care plan to promote wellness and reduce the effects of job-related stress. An
ideal curriculum textbook in organization and presentation, "Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools"
is especially recommended for school district and academic library Educational Administration
& Educational Psychology collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of school
administrators, school district policy makers, academia, and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in the subject that "Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools: Your Guide to Creating Safe,
Supportive Learning Environments for All Students" is also available in a digital book format
(eTextbook, $26.21).
Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12
Engineering, and Medicine National Academies of Sciences
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309482608, $49.95, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
The majority of Americans learn most of what they know about science and engineering as
middle and high school students. During these years of rapid change for students' knowledge,
attitudes, and interests, they can be engaged in learning science and engineering through
schoolwork that piques their curiosity about the phenomena around them in ways that are
relevant to their local surroundings and to their culture. Many decades of education research
provide strong evidence for effective practices in teaching and learning of science and
engineering. One of the effective practices that helps students learn is to engage in science
investigation and engineering design. Broad implementation of science investigation and
engineering design and other evidence-based practices in middle and high schools can help
address present-day and future national challenges, including broadening access to science and
engineering for communities who have traditionally been underrepresented and improving
students' educational and life experiences. "Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12:
Investigation and Design at the Center" is a comprehensive textbook, instructional guide, and
educator's manual that is unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university
library Teacher Education and Education Administration collections and supplemental studies
reading lists.
Welcome to Writing Workshop
Stacey Shubitz & Lynne R. Dorfman
Stenhouse Publishers
282 Corporate Drive, Suite I, Portsmouth, NH 03801
9781625311665, $28.00, PB, 216pp, www.stenhouse.com
In "Welcome to Writing Workshop: Engaging Today's Students with a Model That Works"
Stacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman warmly welcome you to experience writing workshop for the
first time or in a new light with "Welcome to Writing Workshop". Through strategic routines,
tips, resources, and short focused video clips, teachers can create the sights and sounds of a
thriving writing workshop where: both students and teachers are working authors; students spend
most of their time writing -- not just learning about it; student choice is encouraged to help create
engaged writers, not compliant ones; students are part of the formative assessment process;
students will look forward to writing time -- not dread it. From explanations of writing process
and writing traits to small-group strategy lessons and mini-lessons, "Welcome to Writing
Workshop" will provide the know-how to feel confident and comfortable in the teaching of
writers. Primarily intended for classroom teachers wanting to effectively create and conduct
writing workshops for students, it should be noted that "Welcome to Writing Workshop" will
prove to be of extraordinary and practical interest to anyone wanting to conduct writer workshops
in other venues. While unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university
library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Welcome to Writing Workshop" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
On the Fringes
Jackie Ward
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785833519, $21.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Jackie Ward was a primary school teacher for over 25 years and a deputy head and special
educational needs coordinator (SENCO) at a primary pupil referral unit (PRU) for eight years
prior to taking early retirement and setting up her own business in 2016. She is now an
independent behavior and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) consultant working
in mainstream primary and secondary schools. In "On the Fringes: Preventing Exclusion in
Schools Through Inclusive, Child-centered, Needs-based Practice" she draws upon her years of
experience and expertise to scrutinize school exclusion procedures, and also reviews the SEND
Code of Practice in depth, particularly highlighting the role of early interventions in detecting
underlying SEN and medical needs. "On the Fringes" also explores a range of pre-emptive and
alternative approaches that can be employed as part of a whole-school approach to pastoral care
and behavior management that develops pupils self-awareness and self-regulation. "On the
Fringes" is unreservedly recommended to the attention of classroom teachers, building principles,
school superintendents, as well as school district and academic library Educational
Administration collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "On the Fringes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
The Monkey-Proof Box
Jonathan Lear
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781781353103, $22.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
"The Monkey-Proof Box: Curriculum Design for Building Knowledge, Developing Creative
Thinking and Promoting Independence" by award-winning teacher, education consultant and
author Jonathan Lear is a manifesto and instructional guide on how to dismantle the curriculum
we're told to deliver and construct in its place the curriculum we need to deliver. Jonathan sets
out how primary school teachers can deliver a curriculum rich in authentic learning experiences
that help children learn from one another and grow into empowered, knowledgeable and creative
thinkers who are driven by insatiable curiosity. In doing so, he inspires educators to unclutter
their classrooms of the latest shiny initiatives and to foster a more refined pedagogical approach
incorporating elements of facilitated and concept-based learning that simply improves pupils
learning. Suitable for teachers, middle leaders and head teachers in primary school settings, "The
Monkey-Proof Box" will prove to be an enduringly valued and useful addition to school district,
college, and university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections and
supplemental studies lists.
Student Affairs Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
Vicki L. Wise & Sebulun R. Davenport
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
http://www.ccthomas.com
9780398092634, $34.95, PB, 222pp, www.amazon.com
A unique book is a valuable tool for all student affairs educators, "Student Affairs Assessment,
Evaluation, and Research" opens with an exploration of the history of assessment in higher
education, in general, and then student affairs more specifically. Having established a historical
perspective, the reader then delves into chapters that align with the Assessment, Evaluation, and
Research (AER) competency and accompanying rubric. It provides the reader with a unique
approach to learning and understanding AER. It is designed in a format that describes/defines
this competency at the foundational, intermediate, and advanced outcome levels; suggests ways
to apply this competency in practice through case studies from student affairs; and provides tools
for the assessment of competency understanding. All chapters include relevant terminology
necessary for understanding, the competency applied to a case study, and an opportunity for
self-assessment. While the book is designed for those who are preparing to become student
affairs educators and for those who are new to this discipline, it is certainly filled with
information and resources for entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level professionals. The text is
not only a blueprint but also a global positioning system on assessment, evaluation, and research
in student affairs to guide the reader in the process of helping and educating students. "Student
Affairs Assessment, Evaluation, and Research" bridges the gap between who one is today and
who one wants to become as a future student affairs educator. As a guidebook, "Student Affairs
Assessment, Evaluation, and Research" is a unique, valuable, and unreservedly recommended
source to aid the student in developing real professional competency, making it an ideal and core
addition to school district, college, and university library Education Administration collections
and supplemental studies lists.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Birds of Paradox: The Life of Terns
Peter Trull
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764357640, $19.99, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com
Nesting along the sandy fringe of the North American coast from Maine to Florida, terns are
graceful symbols of our coastal beaches, yet they lead fragile and frantic lives. "Birds of Paradox:
The Life of Terns" by educator, storyteller, and photographer Peter Trull describes the physical
and behavioral differences among the four types of terns that nest in the Cape Cod area, their
migratory habits and predators, and why they are called birds of paradox. Both a photographic
journey and an ornithological diary, Trull describes his ten-plus years watching, recording, and
photographing these birds from Massachusetts to the coast of Guyana. More than 100
photographs depict day-to-day life and never-before-seen behaviors from inside the dynamic,
noisy nesting colonies. "Birds of Paradox: The Life of Terns" is an engagingly informative study
that offers momentary glimpses into the complexities of these erratic, agile seabirds (seemingly
carefree but always on the hunt) and their struggle to survive. As informative as it is fascinating,
"Birds of Paradox: The Life of Terns" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal, community, and academic library ornithology collections and supplemental studies
lists.
Hard to House Train
Peggy O. Swager
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee WA 98801
www.dogwise.com
9781617812262, $19.95, PB, 234pp, www.amazon.com
Some owners can house train their dogs without having to call on an expert. But when people
experience difficulty with house training, it can lead to a variety of very serious consequences for
the dog and frustration for the owner. While most trainers can offer standard house training
advice for puppies, dealing with on-going problems with older dogs (fear based peeing, male
marking, soiled crates) may be beyond the scope of what a dog trainer is equipped to handle. In
"Hard to House Train: Practical Solutions for Dog Trainers", Peggy Swager (an animal
behavioral specialist and professional dog trainer with over 20 years of experience) has
specifically designed an informative and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional reference guide
for trainers who encounter difficult house training cases. With in-depth information on proven
techniques as well as how to deal with the underlying behavioral problems with respect to both
dogs and their humans, "Hard to House Train" is an extraordinary and unreservedly
recommended addition to professional, community, and academic library collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Hard to House Train" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $7.96).
The Accidental Veterinarian
Philipp Schott, DVM
ECW Press
www.ecwpress.com
9781770414808 $16.00 pbk / $10.99 Kindle amazon.com
The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice is a candid, honest accounting of what it's
like to make a career our of treating small animals in need. Author Philipp Schott, DVM peppers
his memoir with a wealth of true-life anecdotes and the occasional pet care tip - from how to give
one's cat a pill to how to prevent an exceptionally intelligent dog from opening the fridge!
Heartwarming and thoughtful, The Accidental Veterinarian is highly recommended not only for
animal lovers, but also for anyone considering a career in veterinary medicine, as a "slice-of-life"
glimpse into what the job entails.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Making Your First Blockbuster
Paul Dudbridge
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932962, $34.95, PB, 250pp, www.amazon.com
A complete and comprehensive textbook on the subject of filmmaking, "Making Your First
Blockbuster: Write It. Film It. Blow it Up!" by Paul Dudbridge has everything a film maker
needs, from getting the script right, to the edit being tight, is laid out in an informal and easily
digestible style. "Making Your First Blockbuster" covers not only all the major components but
delves deep into the nuances that make the big blockbusters really deliver. This instructional
guide and manual uses examples from older and modern blockbuster movies, as well as the
author's own experiences on set to help demonstrate points clearly and make them easy to
understand. Aimed at the professional filmmaker, "Making Your First Blockbuster" provides
comprehensive coverage on how you can shoot and utilize special and visual effects in your films
as well as the techniques on how to shoot and edit action sequences safely, all whilst producing
epic results on screen. An ideal textbook for film making class curriculums, "Making Your First
Blockbuster" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community and academic
library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Making Your First
Blockbuster" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.87).
The Music Shelf
The Story of Motown, second edition
Peter Benjaminson
Rare Bird Books
453 S. Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angels, CA 90013
www.rarebirdbooks.com
9781947856233, $17.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
"The Story of Motown" by Peter Benjaminson is the story of Berry Gordy's triumph over
powerful, established financial interests, entrenched popular taste, bigotry and racism. By
inventing a sound that appealed to whites as well as blacks, and that was immediately identifiable
to an entire generation of listeners, Gordy demonstrated his genius as a producer; by breaking the
exploitive practice of "cover" records, he helped black artists control their own music and share
in the proceeds of hits; and by the sheer force of his will, courage, and intelligence, he
demonstrated that a black man from the urban ghetto could aspire to and conquer the heights of
traditional American business, including the movie business. Unfortunately, while doing all of
this, he also found new ways to exploit his talented artists and eventually lost many of them to
companies that paid them more. "The Story of Motown" is the story of the rise and fall of one of
the most important cultural touchstones in American history. An exceptionally well written and
detailed history, "The Story of Motown" is a compelling and impressively informative read from
beginning to end. Enhanced with the inclusion of a section of period photos of Motown
performers, and now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "The Story of Motown" is
an unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that "The Story of Motown" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $11.55) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (HighBridge Audio,
9781684410965, $29.99, CD).
The Fiction Shelf
Murmur
Will Eaves
Bellevue Literary Press
c/o NYU School of Medicine
550 First Ave., OBV A612, New York, NY 10016
www.blpress.org
9781942658641, $16.99, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
In his unique and deftly crafted novel "Murmur", author Will Eaves invites his reader into the
brilliant mind of Alec Pryor, a character inspired by Alan Turing who is the 'father' of artificial
intelligence and pioneer of radical new techniques to break the Nazi Enigma cipher during World
War II. A homosexual, Turing was later persecuted by the British state for "gross indecency with
another male" and forced to undergo chemical castration. Set during the devastating period
before Turing's suicide, "Murmur" evokes an extraordinary life, the beauty and sorrows of love,
and the nature of consciousness. A deftly crafted read from beginning to end, "Murmur" is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Murmur" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.01).
The Accidental Recluse
Tom McCulloch
Sandstone Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781912240180, $18.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
"The Accidental Recluse" by Tom McCulloch is the story of Johnny Jackson, a man who used to
be a famous film director, but it was his brother Duke was a hero. Just turned 75, JJ is heading
home from exile in Japan for one last blockbuster and a civic honoring. But home is where the
ghosts of his past reside, some darker than his dead brother's shadow. Johnny's sins may be about
to come to light. As an author, McCulloch has published poetry and short stories in various
journals, and with his first novel, "The Stillman", became an Amazon Rising Star. "The
Accidental Recluse" continues to showcase McCulloch as a novelist with a genuine flair for
originality and a distinctive and entertaining narrative storytelling style. An engaging read from
cover to cover, "The Accidental Recluse" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists
and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.
American Pop
Snowden Wright
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062697745, $26.99, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
The child of immigrants, Houghton Forster has always wanted more -- from his time as a young
boy in Mississippi, working twelve-hour days at his father's drugstore; to the moment he first laid
eyes on his future wife, Annabelle Teague, a true Southern belle of aristocratic lineage; to his
invention of the delicious fizzy drink that would transform him from tiller boy into the founder of
an empire, the Panola Cola Company, and entice a youthful, enterprising nation entering a
hopeful new age. Now the heads of a preeminent American family spoken about in the same
breath as the Hearsts and the Rockefellers, Houghton and Annabelle raise their four children with
the expectation they'll one day become world leaders. The burden of greatness falls early on
eldest son Montgomery, a handsome and successful politician who has never recovered from the
horrors and heartbreak of the Great War. His younger siblings Ramsey and Lance, known as the
"infernal twins", are rivals not only in wit and beauty, but in their utter carelessness with the lives
and hearts of others. Their brother Harold, as gentle and caring as the twins can be cruel, is
slowed by a mental disability -- and later generations seem equally plagued by misfortune,
forcing Houghton to seriously consider who should control the company after he's gone. A deftly
crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative storytelling that holds the
readers full attention from first page to last, "American Pop" will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "American Pop" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.99), while librarians should be aware of the large print paperback edition
(HarperLux, 9780062887429, $26.99).
House Of Secrets
Lynda Stacey
Charnwood Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444840292, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 366pp, www.amazon.com
Madeleine Frost has to get away. Her partner Liam has become increasingly controlling, to the
point that she fears for her safety and that of her young daughter Poppy. Desperation leads
Maddie to the hotel owned by her estranged father -- the extraordinarily beautiful Wrea Head
Hall in Yorkshire. There she meets Christopher 'Bandit' Lawless, an ex-marine and the
gamekeeper of the hall, whose brusque manner conceals a painful past. After discovering a diary
belonging to a previous owner, Maddie and Bandit find themselves immersed in the history of
the old house, uncovering its secrets, scandals, tragedies -- and, all the while, becoming closer.
But Liam still won't let go; he wants Maddie back. And when Liam wants something, he gets it
no matter who he hurts! A simply riveting and entertaining read from first page to last, this large
print edition of Lynda Stacey's deftly crafted novel "House of Secrets" is an extraordinary and
highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Contemporary
General Fiction collections.
The Healer's Daughter
Charlotte Hinger
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432849665, $25.95, Library Binding, 413pp, www.amazon.com
In "The Healer's Daughter: A Novel", Bethany Herbert is the daughter of a legendary healer who
leaves the South for the new black community of Nicodemus, Kansas. Despite the hardships, the
community comes to love the prairie. Bethany's mother, Queen Bess, comes to Nicodemus, as
does the handsome lawyer Jed Talbot, who galvanizes the settlers. Bethany resists the call of her
heart because Queen Bess warns her the best healers are chaste and single. When the Herbert
women's medical procedures are undermined, Bethany nearly succumbs to Queen Bess's call for
total segregation from the whites Bess hates. Sinister forces come into play through white
politicians seeking the black vote, and sabotage by a woman within Nicodemus who yearns for
the old color hierarchy. Very highly recommended, especially for community library collections,
"The Healer's Daughter" is as impressively entertaining a novel as it is thoughtful and thought-
provoking. Showcasing author Charlotte Hinger's genuine flair for originality and her distinctive
narrative storytelling style, it should also be noted for personal reading lists that "The Healer's
Daughter" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Heart of a King
Jill Eileen Smith
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800736200, $29.99, HC, 432pp, www.amazon.com
In her latest novel, "Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon", author Jill Eileen Smith writes
about four women who captured King Solomon's heart in different ways, while he indulges his
desires despite several dire warnings. For all his wisdom, did Solomon or the women he loved
ever find what they were searching for? A deftly penned historical romance set in biblical times,
"Heart of a King" is a compelling and entertaining read from cover to cover. While strongly and
unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Heart of a King" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800722401,
$15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Death of a New American
Mariah Fredericks
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250152992, $26.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
In 1912, as New York reels from the news of the Titanic disaster, ladies' maid Jane Prescott
travels to Long Island with the Benchley family. Their daughter Louise is to marry William
Tyler, at their uncle and aunt's mansion; the Tylers are a glamorous, storied couple, their past
filled with travel and adventure. Now, Charles Tyler is known for putting down New York's
notorious Italian mafia, the Black Hand, and his wife Alva has settled into domestic life. As the
city visitors adjust to the rhythms of the household, and plan Louise's upcoming wedding, Jane
quickly befriends the Tyler children's nanny, Sofia a young Italian-American woman. However,
one unusually sultry spring night, Jane is woken by a scream from the nursery -- and rushes in to
find Sofia murdered, and the carefully locked window flung open. The Tylers believe that this is
an attempted kidnapping of their baby gone wrong; a warning from the criminal underworld to
Charles Tyler. But Jane is asked to help with the investigation by her friend, journalist Michael
Behan, who knows that she is uniquely placed to see what other tensions may simmer just below
the surface in this wealthy, secretive household. Was Sofia's murder fall-out from the social
tensions rife in New York, or could it be a much more personal crime? "Death of a New
American" is a riveting page turner of a read from cover to cover and will prove to be a deftly
crafted and enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Death of a New American" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $13.99).
A Necessary Murder
M. J. Tjia
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785416460, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 330pp, www.amazon.com
In the year 1863, little Margaret Lovejoy is found brutally murdered in the outhouse at her
family's estate in Stoke Newington. A few days later, a man is cut down in a similar manner on
the doorstep of courtesan and professional detective Heloise Chancey's prestigious address.
Meanwhile, her maid, Amah Li Leen, must confront events from her past that appear to have
erupted into the present day. Once again, Heloise is caught up in a maelstrom of murder and
deceit that threatens to reach into the very heart of her existence. A deftly crafted murder mystery
by an author whose is a master of the genre, this large print edition of M. J. Tjia's "A Necessary
Murder" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense
collections and will leave dedicated mystery buffs looking eagerly toward M. J. Tjia's next
novel!
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Black City Dragon
Richard A. Knaak
Pyr
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633884946, $18.00, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
For sixteen hundred years, Nick Medea has guarded the gate between our world and Feirie,
preventing the Wyld (the darkest Feirie of all) from coming into Chicago to find human prey. But
since he defeated Oberon, more and more Wyld have been slipping through. Nick and his Feirie
companion, the shapeshifter, Fetch, have been busy hunting them down. Nick keeps coming
across the Dacian Draco, the sign of his ancient enemy Galerius, including a tattoo worn by a
human thug. Unfortunately, every trail ends as if years old. Claryce, Nick's reincarnated love, has
narrowly escaped two attempts on her life, and when Nick sees her wearing a broach with the
Draco on it, he knows they must look more deeply into her former lives. With Wyld and
gangsters wreaking havoc in Chicago, Nick and Claryce must confront the secrets of their pasts if
they are to have any hope of finding out Galerius's plans before it's too late to stop them. Nick
will need the help of all his friends, both human and Feirie, and the powers of the dragon within
him, to keep Galerius from endangering the gate, Chicago, and all of humanity. A historical
urban fantasy set in Prohibition-era Chicago, "Black City Dragon" by Richard a. Knaak combines
action, mystery, and romance against a backdrop of gangland wars and the threat of supernatural
horror. While very highly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy action/adventure
fans that "Black City Dragon" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Stone in the Skull
Elizabeth Bear
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765380135, $27.99, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
The Gage is a brass automaton created by a wizard of Messaline around the core of a human
being. His wizard is long dead, and he works as a mercenary. He is carrying a message from the
most powerful sorcerer of Messaline to the Rajni of the Lotus Kingdom. With him is The Dead
Man, a bitter survivor of the body guard of the deposed Uthman Caliphate, protecting the
message and the Gage. They are friends, of a peculiar sort. They are walking into a dynastic war
between the rulers of the shattered bits of a once great Empire. The first volume in award-
winning author Elizabeth Bear's new 'The Lotus Kingdom' trilogy, "The Stone in the Skull: takes
readers over the dangerous mountain passes of the Steles of the Sky and south into the Lotus
Kingdoms -- and will leave them looking eagerly toward the next thrilling addition to her latest
saga. While very highly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Stone in the Skull" is also
available in a paperback edition (978-0765380142, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Time Storm
Gordon R. Dickson
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781481483919, $16.00, PB, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Gordon R. Dickson (1923-2001) was one of the most prolific and popular science fiction writers
of the 20th Century, frequently nominated for the Hugo and Nebula Awards and winning three
Hugos and one Nebula. Originally published in 1977, Baen Books now brings back into print
"Time Storm" for a new generation of appreciative readers. A 'time storm' had devastated the
Earth, and all but a small fraction of humankind has vanished. In the rubble of the world, three
survivors had formed an unlikely trio: Marc Despard, determined to find a way to stop the time
storm; a leopard, dazed by the storm and following after Despard like a kitten; and a young
woman with an unbreakable bond to the leopard. Now, Marc searches relentlessly for a clue to
the nature of the storm, not guessing that the time storm threatens not just the Earth but the entire
universe -- and that his two companions were the only hope of reversing the distortions in the
fabric of the cosmos that were about to bring an end to all of space and time. For those to whom
"Time Storm" will be their first introduction into one of the all time masters of the science fiction
genre, it should be noted that there is a one-page listing of Gordon R. Dickson's other science
fiction novels and collaborations that are also available from Baen Books. While unreservedly
recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Time Storm" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.99).
The Western Fiction Shelf
Hangman's Reach
Dale Graham
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781444839784, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 246pp, www.ulverscroftusa.com
When Crado Bluestone buys some cattle to start his own ranch, it comes as a brutal shock when
he is accused of being a rustler and is strung up from a tree. The real cattle thieves, led by a killer
named Monk Purvis, leave him for dead. Help is close at hand, however, in the form of a Texas
Ranger, who rescues the hapless cowboy just before he chokes to death at the end of the rope.
But revenge burns deep in Bluestone's heart to even the score. Given a star by the ranger, Crado
seeks out the men who wronged him and in the process discovers there's more money to be made
as a bounty hunter than as a lawman. First capturing and then teaming up with a Mexican bandit,
meeting the woman who will be the love of his life, and a final showdown twist ending
showdown with the infamous Monk Purvis will hold the reader's rapt attention from cover to
cover. Dale Graham's "Hangman's Reach" is very highly recommended for community library
Large Print Fiction collections, as well as the personal reading lists of any dedicated western
novel fan.
Long Ride To Serenity
Harry Jay Thorn
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444839821, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Rio Jack Fanning made his living with his gun. Once as a Union soldier, then as one of General
Grant's hand picked officers, then as a Pinkerton Detective, and finally a town taming badge
carryng lawman. Now all he was looking for was ending his days as the law in a quiet little
border town that had accepted him for the job. But on the way there he stopped off at a place
called Serenity where straight off he found himself in a barroom fight that began a chain of
events that were to include corporate ordered murder, greed and corruption littering the long dark
trail from the East Coast of America to south Texas. Then there was Louise Kettle, a frontier
woman, and her unexpected love for a ageing gunfighter Jack Fanning whom some called The
Undertaker. Even though he is the fastest gun south of the Picket wire, now there is a stone-cold
killer after him who thinks he is on a mission from God. An inherently riveting read with more
plot twists and turns than a county fair roller coaster, fans of the western novel will particularly
enjoy the surprise ending that no one will see coming! This large print edition of Harry Jay
Thorn's "Long Ride To Serenity" is unreservedly recommended for all community library
Western Fiction collections and personal reading lists.
The Vigilance Man
Fenton Sadler
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444840452, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 232pp, www.amazon.com
For twelve-year-old Brent Cutler, seeing his father lynched was the most powerful influence on
his young life, giving him an abiding and lifelong hatred of injustice in any form. As an adult, he
arrives in a the town called Greenhaven as a representative of the District Attorney's office only
to find himself going head to head with the man responsible for the death of his father a decade
earlier. Then there is the problem presented by a gang of white slavers. There will be hard words
and tough actions before Cutler can finally lay the demons of his childhood to rest. Another
deftly crafted and refreshingly original western novel by a gifted writer with a distinct talent for
writing an inherently engaging western, Fenton Sadler's "The Vigilance Man" is an especially
recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library large print Western
Fiction collections.
Fugitive Sheriff
Edward Massey
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432854973, $25.95, HC, 375pp, www.amazon.com
From the moment he pins his father's bloodied star on his chest, Sheriff Simms fulfills his
calling, hunts his father's killer, and eludes the U.S. marshal with his fallen-away Mormon
deputies who hunt the sheriff for the bounty on his head levied because he maintains two
families. Over four years, the sheriff brings the killer to justice and stays a step ahead of the
marshals. When the deputized Judases capture Simms, his community engineers his escape.
Legislation dissolves his church and transfers its property to the government. The U.S. marshal
faces greater profits as court receiver. The murderer must stand before the firing squad if Sheriff
Simms is to no longer be a hunted fugitive. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$7.99), Edward Massey's "Fugitive Sheriff" is a deftly crafted and inherently riveting western by
an author with a distinctive narrative storytelling style combined with an inherent mastery of the
genre.
Terror In Tombstone
Paul Bedford
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444840414, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 280pp, www.amazon.com
Former lawman Rance Toller and his lover Angie Sutter foil a stagecoach robbery just outside
the frontier settlement of Tombstone, Arizona, and in the process capture the notorious
gunfighter Johnny Ringo. As a result, Rance is persuaded to accept the vacant position of town
marshal. Unfortunately, he soon falls foul of the Grand Central mining operators, led by E. B.
Gage, who want the law on their terms. With the dubious but lethal help of his new friend, Doc
Holliday, Rance has to fight for his life against Gage's ruthless enforcers. Another truly riveting
read from the pen of western novelist Paul Bedfor, this large print edition of "Terror In
Tombstone" is unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all western
action/adventure enthusiasts and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community
library Western Fiction collections.
Nolan's Law
Lee Lejeune
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444840438, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 296pp, www.amazon.com
After his mother and father die, and the girl he hopes to marry turns him down, Jude James
decides to abandon his rented homestead and ride for the West along with Josh Appleseed, a
young ex-slave seeking sanctuary. Eventually the two of them fall in with a gang led by Brod
Nolan, who claims to rob the rich to feed the poor. But there is more to this than meets the eye -
and the two friends find themselves embroiled in Nolan's feud with the murderous Sullivan clan
in series of bloodcurdling encounters in which they must kill or be killed. In "Nolan's Law"
western author Lee Lejeune writes the dialogue with a distinctive narration style that lends an
impressive Old West authenticity to a roller coaster of an action adventure story that finishes
with a surprising finale. A riveting read from cover to cover, "Nolan's Law" is an especially
recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction
collections.
The Money/Finance Shelf
How Finance Works
Mihir A. Desai
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696709, $35.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Mihir Desai is the Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School and
a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. In "How Finance Works: The HBR Guide to
Thinking Smart About the Numbers" Professor Desai guides the reader through the complex but
endlessly fascinating world of finance, demystifying it in the process. Through entertaining case
studies, interactive exercises, full-color visuals, and a conversational style that belies the topic,
Professor Desai tackles a broad range of topics that will give the knowledge and skills needed to
finally understand how finance works. These include: How different financial levers can affect a
company's performance; The different ways in which companies fund their operations and
investments; Why finance is more concerned with cash flow than profits; How value is created,
measured, and maximized; The importance of capital markets in helping companies grow.
Whether a student or a manager, an aspiring CFO or an entrepreneur, "How Finance Works" is
the colorful and interactive guide required to start thinking more deeply about the numbers and
their applications in the world of finance. While this exceptionally well written and
comprehensive introduction to the subject of finance is very highly recommended for both
community and academic library Money/Finance collections and supplemental studies lists, it
should be noted for students, academia, entrepreneurs, business executives, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that "How Finance Works: The HBR Guide to
Thinking Smart About the Numbers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.99).
The American History Shelf
Statehood and Union
Peter S. Onuf
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268105457, $100.00, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Originally published in 1987, this new edition of "Statehood and Union: A History of the
Northwest Ordinance" by Peter S. Onuf (who is the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation
Professor of History - Emeritus, at the University of Virginia) is an authoritative account of the
origins and early history of American policy for territorial government, land distribution, and the
admission of new states in the Old Northwest. In a new preface, Professor Onuf reviews
important new work on the progress of colonization and territorial expansion in the rising
American empire. A classic work of impeccable scholarship, "Statehood and Union: A History of
the Northwest Ordinance" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic
library American History collections in general, and Northwest Ordinance supplemental studies
lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that ""Statehood and Union: A History of the Northwest
Ordinance" is also available in a paperback edition (9780268105471, $14.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $14.24).
Mary Lincoln for the Ages
Jason Emerson
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809336753 $29.50 amazon.com
Mary Lincoln for the Ages is an exhaustive analytical bibliography covering virtually all material
written about Mary Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln. Here are brief summaries
and focused analyses of nonfiction books and pamphlets; newspaper articles; government
documents; juvenile books and articles; websites; poetry and music, fiction; works of
scholarship; anything and everything that significantly mentions this strong-willed woman
known for her loyal support of her husband - and for her notoriously unstable temperament. Mary
Lincoln for the Ages is an ideal, easy-to-use resource for college or scholarly reference libraries,
highly recommended.
The World History Shelf
Empire of the Winds
Philip Bowring
I. B. Tauris Publishers
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781788314466, $35.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Nusantaria (often referred to as 'Maritime Southeast Asia') is the world's largest archipelago and
has for centuries been a vital cultural and trading hub. Nusantara, a Sanskrit, then Malay, word
referring to an island realm, is here adapted to become Nusantaria -- denoting a slightly wider
world but one with a single linguistic, cultural and trading base. Nusantaria encompasses the
lands and shores created by the melting of the ice following the last Ice Age. These have long
been primarily the domain of the Austronesian-speaking peoples and their seafaring traditions.
The surrounding waters have always been uniquely important as a corridor connecting East Asia
to India, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. In "Empire of the Winds: The Global Role of Asia's
Great Archipelago", Philip Bowring (who is an Asia-based journalist and an expert on maritime
history, as well as the history of Southeast Asia) provides a history of the world's largest and
most important archipelago and its adjacent coasts. "Empire of the Winds" tells the story of the
peoples and lands located at this crucial maritime and cultural crossroads, from its birth
following the last Ice Age to today. Enhanced for academia with maps, illustrations, a glossary,
notes, a bibliography, and an index, "Empire of the Winds" is unreservedly recommended for
both community and academic library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Empire of the Winds" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.50).
The Civil War Shelf
Longstreet at Gettysburg
Cory M. Pfarr
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476674049, $39.95, PB, 215pp, www.amazon.com
Featuring an informative Foreword by Harold M. Knudsen, "Longstreet at Gettysburg: A Critical
Reassessment" by historian Cory M. Pfarr is the first book-length, critical analysis of Lieutenant
General James Longstreet's actions at the Battle of Gettysburg and persuasively argues that
Longstreet's record has been discredited unfairly, beginning with character assassination by his
contemporaries after the war and, persistently, by historians in the decades since. By closely
studying the three-day battle, and conducting an incisive historiographical inquiry into
Longstreet's treatment by scholars, "Longstreet at Gettysburg" deftly presents a documented
alternative view of Longstreet as an effective military leader, and refutes over a century of
negative evaluations of his performance. A seminal work of historical research and scholarship,
"Longstreet at Gettysburg" is a critically important and unreservedly recommended addition to
community and academic library American Civil War collections and supplemental studies lists.
It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Longstreet at Gettysburg" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Meade and Lee at Bristoe Station
Jeffrey Wm. Hunt
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611213966, $34.95, HC, 480pp, www.amazon.com
The American Civil War in the Eastern Theater during the late summer and fall of 1863 was
anything but inconsequential. Generals Meade and Lee continued where they had left off,
executing daring marches while boldly maneuvering the chess pieces of war in an effort to gain
decisive strategic and tactical advantage. Cavalry actions crisscrossed the rolling landscape;
bloody battle revealed to both sides the command deficiencies left in the wake of Gettysburg. It
was the first and only time in the war Meade exercised control of the Army of the Potomac on his
own terms. In "Meade and Lee at Bristoe Station: The Problems of Command and Strategy After
Gettysburg, from Brandy Station to the Buckland Races, August 1 to October 31, 1863", Jeffrey
Wm Hunt (Director of the Texas Military Forces Museum, the official museum of the Texas
National Guard in Austin, Texas and an Adjunct Professor of History at Austin Community
College) brilliantly dissects these and others issues. An exceptionally well organized and
presented work of simply outstanding scholarship that is enhanced for academia with the
inclusion of an informative Epilogue (An Assessment of Command), an eleven page
Bibliography, and a six page Index, "Mead and Lee at Bristoe Station" is an unreservedly
recommended core addition to personal, community, college, and university library American
Civil War collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Mead and Lee at Bristoe
Station" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.77).
Attack at Daylight and Whip Them
Gregory A. Mertz
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611213133, $14.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
"Attack at daylight and whip them" was the Confederate plan on the morning of April 6, 1862 as
the unsuspecting Union Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Major General Ulysses S. Grant,
had gathered on the banks of its namesake river at a spot called Pittsburg Landing, ready to strike
deep into the heart of Tennessee Confederates, commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston.
Johnston's troops were reeling from setbacks earlier in the year and had decided to reverse their
fortunes by taking the fight to the Federals. A brutal day of fighting ensued, unprecedented in its
horror. To succeed the Confederates needed just one final push but Grant did not sit and wait for
that assault. He gathered reinforcements and planned a counteroffensive. On the morning of
April 7, he intended to attack at daylight and whip them. The bloodshed that resulted from the
two-day battle exceeded anything America had ever known in its history. In "Attack at Daylight
and Whip Them: The Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862", Civil War historian Greg Mertz (who
grew up on the Shiloh battlefield, hiking its trails and exploring its fields) taps into five decades
of intimate familiarity with a battle that rewrote America's notions of war, making it an
impressive contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature and historical
studies. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library American
Civil War collections and supplemental studies curriculums, it should be noted for students,
academia, and Civil War buffs that "Attack at Daylight and Whip Them: The Battle of Shiloh,
April 6-7, 1862" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
The Parenting Shelf
Becoming a Mother
Mari Gallagher
Orpen Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781786050588, $22.00, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
In "Becoming a Mother: Reflections on Adoptive Parenthood", Mari Gallagher draws on a
combination of seminal and modern texts and personal memoir to present a unique view of what
it means to be an adoptive parent in Ireland today. "Becoming a Mother" has a particular focus on
inter-country adoptive parenting, and also looks at adoption from the viewpoints of the adopted
person and birth parent. An impressively informative, reader engaging, insightfully instructive,
and ultimately inspiring read, "Becoming a Mother" is highly recommended to the attention of
anyone contemplating adoption. While unreservedly commended for community and academic
library Parenting Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Becoming
a Mother" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Simple Acts
Natalie Silverstein, MPH
Gryphon House, Inc.
PO Box 10, 6848 Leon's Way, Lewisville, NC 27023
www.gryphonhouse.com
9780876598139, $19.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Teaching young children to be socially conscious, community oriented, and eager to volunteer
seems like a daunting task, especially for busy families with children of varying ages. "Simple
Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back" by Natalie Silverstein brings busy parents
practical, easy-to-do ideas, to involve the whole family in volunteering and helping others in the
community. As thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation as it is 'real world
practical' and effective, "Simple Acts" is very highly recommended for community library
Parenting instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Simple Acts" is also available in a digital book review (Kindle, $13.51).
Grandmothering
Linda Eyre
Familius
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
www.familius.com
9781945547904, $18.99, PB, 343pp, www.amazon.com
While Grandmothers may make the best cookies and give the best hugs, there's so much more to
being the kind of grandmother who leaves a legacy that stands the test of time. In
"Grandmothering: The Secrets to Making a Difference While Having the Time of Your Life",
author and grandmother Linda Eyre shares her secret formula for teaching grandchildren family
values, building meaningful connections with them, and giving them grit and resilience in an
ever-changing world. Broken into short, digestible chapters for quick reading, "Grandmothering"
is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guidebook that is comprised of time-tested advice and stories from
a panel of grandmothers. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix of easy, delicious recipes to
feed a everyone at the next family reunion, "Grandmothering" is unreservedly recommended for
community library Parenting instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Grandmothering' is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.69).
The Computer Shelf
The Linux Command Line, second edition
William Shotts
No Starch Press
245 - 8th Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-3910
www.nostarch.com
9781593279523, $39.95, PB, 504pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and revised second edition,"The Linux Command Line: A Complete
Introduction", computer expert William Shotts takes the aspiring Linux user from their very first
terminal keystrokes to writing full programs in Bash, the most popular Linux shell (or command
line). Along the way Linux users will learn the timeless skills handed down by generations of
experienced, mouse-shunning gurus: file navigation, environment configuration, command
chaining, pattern matching with regular expressions, and more. In addition to that practical
knowledge, Shotts reveals the philosophy behind these tools and the rich heritage that your
desktop Linux machine has inherited from Unix supercomputers of yore. Comprised of short,
easily-digestible chapters, Linux users will learn how to: Create and delete files, directories, and
symlinks; Administer their system, including networking, package installation, and process
management; Use standard input and output, redirection, and pipelines; Edit files with Vi, the
world's most popular text editor; Write shell scripts to automate common or boring tasks; Slice
and dice text files with cut, paste, grep, patch, and sed. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "The Linux Command Line" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and academic library Computer Software collections in general, and as Linux
supplemental studies textbook in particular. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Linux Command Line" is also available in a digital book format (eTextbook, $23.99).
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Comparative Legal History
Olivier Moreteau, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781781955215, $290.00, HC, 520pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the international team of Olivier Moreteau (Louisiana
State University), Aniceto Masferrer (University of Valencia, Spain), and Kjel A. Modeer
(University of Lund, Sweden), "Comparative Legal History" is a research handbook that presents
the field of comparative legal history in a uniquely holistic way, and illustrates how comparative
law and legal history are inextricably related. Cementing a solid theoretical grounding for the
discipline, legal historians and comparatists place this subject at the forefront of legal science.
Comprehensive in coverage, "Comparative Legal History" deftly collates theory and method for
comparative legal history, as well as discussing international legal sources and judicial and civil
institutions. Particular attention is paid to custom and codification, contracts, civil procedure and
ownership. By assessing the evolution of law across European, Asian, African and American
environments from the pre-modern era to the nineteenth century, the chapters provide stimulating
and enlightening cases of legal history through a comparative lens. A centrepiece for this field of
judicial scholarship, "Comparative Legal History" is a research handbook that will be an essential
resource for scholars interested in comparative law, legal theory and legal history, from both
legal and social science backgrounds, making it unreservedly recommended for college and
university library Judicial History Studies collections and supplemental studies curriculum
lists.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Sugar Smart Cookbook for Kids
Georgia Varozza
Harvest House Publishers
2975 Chad Drive, Eugene, Oregon 97408
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736975629, $12.99, Spiral Bound, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Food manufacturers from cereal makers to confectioners know that kids love sweets and so
universal seek to employ sugared sweetness as a lure. Add that to the fact that many foods, from
mustard to beef jerky to salad dressing also contain hidden sugar and it's no wonder that
childhood obesity, an early indicator of diabetes and other serious health risks, is on the rise.
That's why healthy food expert Georgia Varozza has created "The Sugar Smart Cookbook for
Kids", a spiral bound cookbook specifically designed to help parents reduce sugar amounts from
a child's daily diet, employ nutritious sugar solutions to meal preparation problems, and
showcase more than 100 truly family-friendly recipes that can be made in the kitchen in 30
minutes or less . From Cheesy Apple Nachos, to Greek Isles Salsa; to Stealth Kale, to Chicken
Salad Tortilla Wraps, and so many more, "The Sugar Smart Cookbook for Kids" will prove
essential and 'real world practical' in creating a better, more healthful way for a child (and an
adult!) to eat. While very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library
cookbook collections, it should be noted that "The Sugar Smart Cookbook for Kids" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Vegan in the House
DK Publishing, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dk.com
9781465480392, $25.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Vegan in the House: Flexible Plant-Based
Meals to Please Everyone" showcases a culinary compendium of recipes of everyday vegan
dishes that will have palate-pleasing, appetite satisfying dining experiences for everyone -- vegan
and non-vegan alike!. With nutritionally balanced vegan meals and flexible options, "Vegan in
the House" is an essential and unreservedly recommended cookbook for any family venturing
into plant-based or vegan cooking. With throughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from
Thai-Style Fritters with Beran Sprouts & Shredded Vegetables; Banh Mi Portobello Burgers with
Pickled Vegetables; and Cashew Paella with mushrooms & Paprika; to Spiced Chickpeas with
Spinach; Polenta Lasagna with Eggplant & Roasted Tomatoes; and Rhubarb Sorbet with Lemon,
"Vegan in the Hosue" is a delight to simply browse through and inspiring to plan meals with.
While an enduringly popular addition to any community library cookbook collection, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Vegan in the House" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99).
Plant-Based on a Budget
Toni Okamoto
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781946885982, $21.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Toni Okamoto is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website, food blog, and
meal plan that shows you how to save dough by eating veggies. She's also author of The Super
Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook. In "Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for
Under $30 a Week, in Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal" she draws upon her years of experience and
expertise to create a beautifully illustrated cookbook that showcases thoroughly 'kitchen cook
friendly' vegan based dishes that are suitable for any and all dining occasions. Of special note are
the recipes for Coconut Curry Soup; Peanut Butter Ramen Stir-Fry; Perfect Potluck Pasta Salad;
and Fried Tofu. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, family,
professional, and community library Vegan Cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Plant-
Based on a Budget" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.82).
The Art Shelf
The Master Guide to Drawing Anime
Christopher Hart
Drawing with Chrisopher Hart
c/o Sixth&Spring Books
104 West 27th Street, 3rd Fl, New York, NY 10001
www.sixthandspringbooks.com
9781936096862, $19.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Nothing brings anime artists more satisfaction than creating original characters to use in a comic
strip or graphic novel. In "The Master Guide to Drawing Anime: How to Draw Original
Characters from Simple Templates", Christopher Hart (the leading author of art instruction books
in the US) helps aspiring anime artists reach this goal by providing insight into the six most
popular anime types: schoolgirls, schoolboys, preteens, vengeful bad guys, humorous
personalities, and fantasy figures. Hart supplies templates for each; an extensive array of "menus"
of head and body types, outfits, and accessories; and detailed, accessible, step-by-step
demonstrations and drawing exercises. Plus, Hart showcases some of the best anime artists in the
world for this title -- including Inma R., Tabby Kink, Ayame Shiroi, Euro Pinku, and Tina
Francisco. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Master Guide to
Drawing Anime" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended reference guide and manual for
personal and community library instructional art collections.
In Bloom
Rachel Reinert
https://rachelreinert.com
Get Creative 6
c/o Mixed Media Resources
9781640210202, $19.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Rachel Reinert is the perfect artist to explain the intricacies of drawing flowers. With the
straightforward, step-by step, illustrated instructions that are the hallmark of her teaching style,
"In Bloom: A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing Lush Florals" covers more than 30 flowers from
around the world, from beloved tulips, roses, violets, and tiger lilies to the more exotic proteas,
kangaroo paws, and birds of paradise. Featuring matte paper stock and instructions on coloring
your drawings, "In Bloom" is an exceptionally beautiful book with a decidedly modern feel and
an unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and art school/art
department library instructional reference collections.
The Sports Shelf
Before They Were the Cubs
Jack Bales
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476674674, $39.95, PB, 262pp, www.amazon.com
Founded in 1869, the Chicago Cubs are a charter member of the National League and the last
remaining of the eight original league clubs still playing in the city in which the franchise started.
In "Before They Were The Cubs: The Early Years of Chicago's First Professional Baseball
Team", author Jack Bales draws upon newspaper articles, books and archival records to chronicle
the team's early years. Bales deftly describes the club's planning stages of 1868; covers the
decades when the ballplayers were variously called White Stockings, Colts, and Orphans; and
relates how a sportswriter first referred to the young players as Cubs in the March 27, 1902, issue
of the Chicago Daily News. Reprinted selections from firsthand accounts provide a colorful
narrative of baseball in 19th-century America, as well as a documentary history of the Chicago
team and its members before they were the Cubs, "Before They Were The Cubs" is a 'must read'
for the legions of dedicated Cubs fans and will prove to be of immense interest to scholars and
non-specialist general readers alike with respect to the history of American baseball. While
especially recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Before They Were The Cubs" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99).
Archery from A to Z
Christian Berg
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811738347, $21.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Christian Berg is the editor of Petersen's Bowhunting magazine (the nation's leading bowhunting
publication), and host of the popular Petersen's Bowhunting Radio podcast. An avid archer,
Christian's job has allowed him to spend the last decade learning from and collaborating with
many of the nation's foremost archery experts. In "Archery from A to Z: An Introductory Guide
to a Sport Everyone Can Enjoy" he draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to
create a thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide for beginners that covers all the basics
ranging from purchasing the first bow to shooting techniques, plus an introduction to competitive
archery and numerous resources to help new shooters further their archery journeys. A
comprehensive and profusely illustrated manual, "Archery from A to Z" is an invaluable and
highly recommended resource for anyone interested in getting involved in this exciting sport,
including parents whose children have expressed a desire to shoot a bow. While unreservedly
recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Archery from A to Z" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Rise of the Superheroes
David W. Tosh
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.krausebooks.com
9781440248160, $24.99, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
David W. Tosh has been an avid fan of comic strips, animated cartoons, and comic books for
most of his life. Since 2003, he has been a cataloger for Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas,
specializing in comic books, original comic and animation art, and vintage rock posters. In "Rise
of the Superheroes--Greatest Silver Age Comic Books and Characters" he draws upon his
impressive expertise to create a visual and entertaining adventure exploring one of the most
popular and significant eras of comic book history. From 1956 to 1970, the era gave us
Spider-Man, The Avengers, X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and a flurry of other
unforgettable and formidable characters. The Silver Age redefined and immortalized superheroes
as the massive pop culture titans they are today. Lavishly illustrated with comic book covers and
original art, "Rise of the Superheroes" illustratively chronicles: The new frontier of DC Comics,
with a revamped Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, and new characters including
Hawkman; Marvel's new comics featuring Thor and The Fantastic Four; The pop art years that
saw Batman's "new look" and the TV series; Independent characters, including Fat Fury and
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents; Spotlights new and re-imagined superheroes, like Wonder Woman, who
have become central to modern pop culture. Of special note is the inclusion of the values of these
comics, which are popular with collectors. While very highly recommended to all comic book
fans, as well as both community and academic library collections, it should be noted that "Rise of
the Superheroes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Audiobook Shelf
The British in India
David Gilmour
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781978649019, $34.99, MP3 CD, www.amazon.com
The British Raj was the rule by the British Crown in the Indian subcontinent from 1858 to 1947.
The region under British control was commonly called British India or simply India in
contemporaneous usage, and included areas directly administered by the United Kingdom, which
were collectively called British India, and those ruled by indigenous rulers, but under British
tutelage or paramountcy, and called the princely states. Comprised of illuminating and individual
anecdotes drawn from memoirs, correspondences, and government documents, "The British in
India: A Social History of the Raj" weaves a rich tapestry of the everyday experiences of the
Britons who found themselves in "the jewel in the crown" of the British Empire. Sir David
Gilmour (who is one of Britain's most admired and accomplished historical writers and
biographers) fully and informatively captures the substance and texture of their work, home, and
social lives, and illustrates how these transformed across the several centuries of British presence
and rule in the subcontinent, from the East India Company's first trading station in 1615 to the
twilight of the Raj and Partition and Independence in 1947. Ably narrated by Michael Page, "The
British in India" takes the listener through remote hill stations, bustling coastal ports, opulent
palaces, regimented cantonments, and dense jungles, revealing the country as seen through
British eyes, and wittily reveling in all the particular concerns and contradictions that were a
consequence of that limited perspective. "The British in India" is unreservedly recommended for
personal, community, college, and university library audio book collections. (2 Discs, 23 Hours
11 Minutes).
Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior
Catherine Hanley, author
Jennifer M. Dixon, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com/new-releases.html
9781541434417, $29.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Matilda was a daughter, wife, and mother. But she was also empress, heir to the English crown --
the first woman ever to hold the position-and an able military general. "Matilda: Empress, Queen,
Warrior" by historian Catherine Hanley, "Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior" is a new biography
that deftly explores Matilda's achievements as military and political leader, and sets her life and
career in full context. Hanley provides fresh insight into Matilda's campaign to claim the title of
queen, her approach to allied kingdoms and rival rulers, and her role in the succession crisis.
Hanley highlights how Matilda fought for the throne, and argues that although she never sat on it
herself her reward was to see her son become king. Extraordinarily, her line has continued
through every single monarch of England or Britain from that time to the present day. Skillfully
narrated by Jennifer M. Dixon, this complete and unabridged audio book edition is especially and
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections. (11 CDs, 13
Hours).
Uncivil Warriors: The Lawyers' Civil War
Peter Charles Hoffer, author
Joe Barrett, narrator
HighBridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
https://highbridgeaudio.com
9781684415687, $29.99, CD, www.amazon.com
In the Civil War, the United States and the Confederate States of America engaged in combat to
defend distinct legal regimes and the social order they embodied and protected. Depending on
whose side's arguments one accepted, the Constitution either demanded the Union's continuance
or allowed for its dissolution. After the war began, rival legal concepts of insurrection (a civil
war within a nation) and belligerency (war between sovereign enemies) vied for adherents in
federal and Confederate councils. This superbly produced, complete and unabridged audiobook
edition of "Uncivil Warriors: The Lawyers' Civil War" by Peter Charles Hoffer (who is a
Distinguished Research Professor of History at the University of Georgia) is deftly narrated by
Joe Barrett and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library
American Civil War collections. 6 CDs, 7.5 Hours.
How to Think about War
Thucydides, author
Johanna Hanink, translator
David de Vries, narrator
HighBridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
https://highbridgeaudio.com
9781684571246, $24.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Thucydides (c. 460 - c. 400 BC) was an Athenian historian and general. His "History of the
Peloponnesian War" recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year
411 BC. Thucydides intended his account of the clash between classical Greece's mightiest
powers-Athens and Sparta-to be a "possession for all time". Today, it remains a foundational
work for the study not only of ancient history but also contemporary politics and international
relations. Ably translated into English by Johanna Hanink and expertly narrated by David de
Vries, "How to Think about War" features speeches that have earned the History its celebrated
status -- all of which were originally delivered before the Athenian Assembly, as well as
Pericles's funeral oration and the notoriously ruthless "Melian Dialogue". Organized by key
debates, these complex speeches reveal the recklessness, cruelty, and realpolitik of Athenian war
fighting and imperialism. This complete and unabridged audiobook edition of "How to Think
about War" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library audio book
collections. (3 CDs, 3 Hours).
The Library CD Shelf
Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow
Ann Sweeten
www.annsweeten.com
Orange Band Records
$13.19 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow is an original, new age solo piano album by experienced and
talented musician Ann Sweeten. Her diagnosis with leukemia during the album's conception
influenced its creation, especially the title, which speaks to the past, reaches beyond the
immediate present, and stretches out to hope in the future. The thoughtful liner notes are
especially recommended, as they express soul-searching emotions swept within the music's
enfolding soundscape. Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow is highly recommended for both
personal and public library music CD collections. The tracks are "Across the Midnight Sky",
"Before Today, Beyond Tomorrow", "Beyond the Clouds", "The Empty Swing", "Saying
Goodbye", "Philadelphia 22", "Vanish", "Lullaby for Blackie Boo", "Through Winter Panes", and
"Like Smoke Through a Keyhole".
The Presence of Wonder
Composed and performed by Pam Asberry
www.pamasberry.com
Recorded, Mastered, and Engineered by Joe Bongiorno
www.pianohaven.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
The Presence of Wonder is a solo piano album composed and performed by Pam Asberry, a
classically musician and professional piano teacher. The songs draw upon neoclassical and new
age elements, blending tradition and innovation into a joyous, vibrant soundscape. A treasure for
piano connoisseurs, The Presence of Wonder is highly recommended for gift-giving or public
library music CD collections. The tracks are "The Presence of Wonder", "Nebula", "Lullaby for
Mackenzie", "Nocturne", "Above the Clouds", "The Love of Thousands", "An Invisible Thread",
"Surrender", "Something Found", "Devotion", "The Kindness of Strangers", "Wishes in the
Wind", and "Now". 48 min. 10 sec.
The Library DVD Shelf
Patrimonio
A film by Lisa F. Jackson and Sarah Teale
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Patrimonio is a documentary about an ongoing David-and-Goliath struggle over the destiny of
Todos Santos, a small coastal community in Baja California, Mexico. A multi-billion developer
plans to construct a mega hotel/housing complex, "Tres Santos", to be marketed to affluent
Americans as "mindful" and "holistic". But is such a sprawling influx of residents sustainable in
a region that has historically supported less than ten thousand people? Todos Santos' limited
water supply has long been a painful concern; the developers have promised to build a
desalination plant, but desalinating water inevitably creates salty brine wastewater to dispose of -
where? The development and population influx could threaten the delicate local ecosystem,
which resident fishermen have depended on for generations. Patrimonio is a thought-provoking
look at how tenuous "sustainable growth" truly is, and is a welcome addition to public library
DVD collections. 83 min.
Reb Elimelech and the Chassidic Legacy of Brotherhood
Written, directed, and produced by Hanoch Teller
www.hanochteller.com
SISU Home Entertainment, Inc.
22-19 41st Ave., Ste. 509, Long Island City, NY 11101
$59.00 www.sisuent.com
Reb Elimelech and the Chassidic Legacy of Brotherhood is a DVD documentary about one of the
most celebrated founders of the Chassidic (also known as "Hasidic") movement in Judaism. His
core principles about the importance of loving one's fellow man regardless of personal
connection, affiliation, or religiosity resonate to this day within and beyond the hearts of his
followers. Enriched with music by Suki Berry and vocalists Avraham Fried and Abish Brodt,
Reb Elimelech and the Chassidic Legacy of Brotherhood is eye-opening, inspirational, and highly
recommended, especially for public and synagogue library DVD collections. Bonus material
includes "The Making of 'Reb Elimelech'" (20 min.) and a trailer. 63 min., widescreen, English
with optional subtitles in Spanish or Hebrew, closed-captioned.
The Biography Shelf
Good Queen Anne
Judith Lissauer Cromwell
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476676814, $55.00, PB, 270pp, www.amazon.com
Queen Anne (1665-1714) was not charismatic, brilliant or beautiful, but under her rule, England
rose from the chaos of regicide, civil war and revolution to the cusp of global supremacy. She
fought a successful overseas war against Europe's superpower and her moderation kept the crown
independent of party warfare at home. "Good Queen Anne: Appraising the Life and Reign of the
Last Stuart Monarch" by historian Judith Lissauer Cromwell is biography that reveals Anne
Stuart as resolute, kind and practical -- a woman who surmounted personal tragedy and poor
health to become a popular and effective ruler. "Good Queen Anne" is enhanced for academia
with the inclusion of an informative Afterword (The Age of Anne), twelve pages of Notes, a six
page Bibliography, and a three page Index. While unreservedly recommended for both
community and academic library biography collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Good Queen Anne" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Dreamer and the Doctor
Jack Nisbet
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632172020, $24.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Dr. Carrie Leiberg was a pioneer physician who fought hard for public health while nurturing
both a troubled son and a fruit orchard. Her husband, John Leiberg, was a Swedish immigrant
and self-taught naturalist who transformed himself from pickax Idaho prospector to special field
agent for the US Forest Commission and warned Washington DC of ecological devastation of
public lands. "The Dreamer and the Doctor: A Forest Lover and a Physician on the Edge of the
Frontier" by biographer Jack Nisbet opens a window into the human and natural landscape of a
century past that reflects all the thorny issues of our present time. An inherently fascinating
biography that reads with all the drama and storytelling narrative of a finely penned novel, "The
Dreamer and the Doctor" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic
American Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Dreamer
and the Doctor" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Monument Man
Harold Holzer
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
www.papress.com
9781616897536, $35.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
As the artist who created the statue for the Lincoln Memorial, John Harvard in Harvard Yard,
and The Minute Man in Concord, Massachusetts, Daniel Chester French (1850 - 1931) is
America's best-known sculptor of public monuments."Monument Man: The Life and Art of
Daniel Chester French" by Harold Holzer (Director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy
Institute at Hunter College, City University of New York) is the first comprehensive biography of
this fascinating figure and his illustrious career. Full of rich detail and beautiful archival
photographs, "Monument Man" is a deftly nuanced study of a preeminent artist whose evolution
ran parallel to, and deeply influenced, the development of American sculpture, iconography, and
historical memory. It is interesting to note that "Monument Man" was specially commissioned by
Chesterwood / National Trust for Historic Preservation. The release of this definitive biography
will coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Chesterwood, his country home and
studio, as a public site and with a major renovation of the Lincoln Memorial. "Monument Man"
includes a comprehensive geographical guide to French's public work, making it an ideal and
unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library American
Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Monument Man" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.49).
The Automotive Shelf
The Electric Car in America, 1890-1922
Kerry Segrave
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476676715, $49.95, PB, 263pp, www.amazon.com
The electric vehicle seemed poised in 1900 to be a leader in automotive production. Clean,
odorless, noiseless and mechanically simple, electrics rarely broke down and were easy to
operate. An electric car could be started instantly from the driver's seat; no other machine could
claim that advantage. But then it all went wrong. As this history details, the hope and confidence
of 1900 collapsed and just two decades later electric cars were effectively dead. They had
remained expensive even as gasoline cars saw dramatic price reductions, and the storage battery
was an endless source of problems. An increasingly frantic public relations campaign of lies and
deceptive advertising could not turn the tide. "The Electric Car in America, 1890-1922: A Social
History" is an extraordinary and illustrated automotive history that will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to both community and academic library collections -- and a 'must read' titles for
anyone with an interest in the electric car possibilities of the present and future.
The Gardening Shelf
Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden
David Squire, Allan Bridgewater, Gill Bridgewater
Creative Homeowner
www.creativehomeowner.com
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781580118279, $19.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Packed from cover to cover, with practical advice from leading cultivation specialists, "Plant
Combinations for an Abundant Garden: Design and Grow a Fabulous Flower and Vegetable
Garden" is concise, easy-to-use, profusely illustrated instruction manual and guide that covers
virtually every aspect of garden design and maintenance from choosing a plot, to selecting plants,
to maximizing space, and even building raised beds. "Plant Combinations for an Abundant
Garden" shows how to create productive gardens by selecting the perfect plant combinations. A
comprehensive plant directory provides handy information on summer-flowering annuals,
herbaceous perennials, shrubs, small trees, climbers, water plants, bamboos, culinary herbs, fruits
and vegetables. Practical advice and step-by-step instructions are included for building up layers
of soil with mushroom compost, covering weeds with mulch, protecting plants with nets and
plastic and much more. Ideal for the novice and with enduringly value as a reference for even the
more experienced gardeners, "Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden"is unreservedly
recommended for personal and community library collections as a complete course of instruction
on every aspect of flower and vegetable gardening.
Container Gardener's Handbook
Frances Tophill
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781620083307, $19.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
With "Container Gardener's Handbook: Pots, Techniques, and Projects to Transform Any Space"
anyone can add some greenery to their life as UK-based horticulturalist, television presenter, and
the author of "First-time Gardener" Frances Tiphill shows how to use overlooked pots to their
full potential and transform any garden -- whether it's a modest balcony, a small square of patio,
or just a windowsill. "Container Gardener's Handbook" covers a range of different planting
schemes and types of container, from urns and troughs to chimney stacks and hanging baskets.
Featuring expert advice here on what to grow, from bonsais, bulbs and bamboos to tumbling and
creeping plants and flowers, aspiring gardeners will learn how to make a living wall, a pond in a
metal trough, or even their own homemade containers. "Container Gardener's Handbook"
includes: 41 inspired projects for creative and sustainable container gardens; How to use
containers to bring nature to the most inhospitable and smallest of spaces; Choosing the right
size, shape and materials for containers; How to pair plants and pots, upcycle existing items, and
create personal containers; Advice on drainage, compost, additives, fertilizers, mulch, feeding,
watering, deadheading, and more. With its creative ideas and step-by-step instructions illustrated
throughout with bright and informative photography, "Container Gardener's Handbook" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Gardening instructional
reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Container Gardener's
Handbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.71).
The Literary Studies Shelf
Odysseys of Recognition
Ellwood Wiggins
Bucknell University Press
Bucknell University
1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837
www.bucknell.edu/UniversityPress.xml
9781684480371, $34.95, PB, 342pp, www.amazon.com
Literary recognition is a technical term for a climactic plot device. "Odysseys of Recognition:
Performing Intersubjectivity in Homer, Aristotle, Shakespeare, Goethe, and Kleist" by Ellwood
Wiggins (Assistant Professor of German at the University of Washington in Seattle) claims that
interpersonal recognition is constituted by performance, and brings performance theory into
dialogue with poetics, politics, and philosophy. By observing Odysseus figures from Homer to
Kleist, Professor Wiggins offers an alternative to conventional intellectual histories that situate
the invention of the interior self in modernity. Through strategic readings of Aristotle, this
elegantly written, innovative study recovers an understanding of interpersonal recognition that
has become strange and counterintuitive. Penelope in Homer's Odyssey offers a model for agency
in ethical knowledge that has a lot to teach us today. Early modern and eighteenth-century
characters, meanwhile, discover themselves not deep within an impenetrable self, but in the
interpersonal space between people in the world. Recognition, Professor Wiggins contends, is the
moment in which epistemology and ethics coincide: in which what we know becomes manifest
in what we do. "Odysseys of Recognition" is an erudite, insightful, exceptionally well written and
seminal work of outstanding scholarship and very highly recommended for college and university
library Literary Studies collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Odysseys of
Recognition" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.20).
Virgil and Renaissance Culture
L. B. T. Houghton & Marco Sgarbi, editors
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866985659, $75.00, HC, 238pp, www.amazon.com
The poetry of Virgil occupied a central position in the intellectual, artistic, and political lives of
the Renaissance. Collaborative compiled and co-edited by L. B. T. Houghton and Marco Sgarbi,
"Virgil and Renaissance Culture" is comprised of twelve erudite and insightful studies by
scholars from a range of academic disciplines, covering the crucial areas of education and court
culture, the visual arts, music history, philosophy, and Neo-Latin and vernacular literature. In
addition to offering new perspectives on some familiar texts and artifacts, these essays present a
wealth of intellectual and historical material that has received little or no previous scholarly
attention. A unique work of seminal scholarship that includes illustrations and a five page Index,
"Virgil and Renaissance Culture" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal reading lists and academic library Literary Studies collections.
The Architecture Shelf
The ABC's of Triangle, Square, Circle
Ellen Lupton & J. Abbott Miller, editors
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
www.papress.com
9781616897987, $29.95, HC, 72pp, www.amazon.com
The Bauhaus, the legendary school in Dessau, Germany, transformed architecture and design
around the world. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Ellen Lupton (who is the Senior
Curator of Contemporary Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and founding
director of the Graphic Design MFA, program at Maryland Institute College of Art) and J. Abbott
Miller (who uses design to explore and interpret art, architecture, performance, fashion, and
design, and as a partner in the New York office of Pentagram, combines the work of editor,
writer, curator, and designer), "The ABC's of Triangle, Square, Circle: The Bauhaus and Design
Theory" broke new ground when first published in 1991 by introducing psychoanalysis,
geometry, early childhood education, and popular culture into the standard political history of the
Bauhaus. Ellen Lupton and J. Abbott Miller's multidisciplinary approach changed the field of
design writing and research. This new edition of "The ABC's of Triangle, Square, Circle" is
unreservedly recommended for professional, community, and academic library Contemporary
Architectural Studies collections and features a new preface by Lupton and Miller in their
collection of visually and intellectually stimulating essays that is essential reading for educators
and students in the field of architecture.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Protecting Pollinators
Jodi Helmer
Island Press
2000 M St NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
www.islandpress.org
9781610919364 $28.00 pbk / $17.26 Kindle amazon.com
Beekeeper Jodi Helmer presents Protecting Pollinators: How to Save the Creatures That Feed
Our World, a discussion of the birds, bats, insects, and other pollinators who are absolutely
essential to life on earth. Yet half of the 200,000 species of pollinators are threatened, putting
agriculture at risk. Chapters examine the latest and most promising conservation efforts, from
cities creating butterfly highways to citizen scientists working to monitor migration. Thoroughly
accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Protecting Pollinators is a welcome contribution to
public library environmental studies shelves.
The Business Shelf
Becoming a Manager, second edition
Linda A. Hill
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696969, $35.00, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com
New business managers have to learn how to lead others rather than do the work themselves, to
win trust and respect, to motivate, and to strike the right balance between delegation and control.
Many fail to make the transition successfully. Now in a newly updated and revised second
edition, "Becoming a Manager: How New Managers Master the Challenges of Leadership" by
Linda Hill (who is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard
Business School, and the faculty chair of the Leadership Initiative) deftly traces the experiences
of nineteen new managers over the course of their first year in the role. Professor Hill reveals the
complexity of the transition, highlighting the expectations of these managers, their subordinates,
and their superiors. We hear the new managers describe how they reframed their understanding
of their roles and responsibilities, how they learned to build effective cross-functional work
relationships, how and when they used individual and organizational resources, and how they
learned to cope with the inevitable stresses of leadership. Professor Hill vividly shows that
becoming a manager is a profound psychological adjustment (a true transformation) as well as a
continuous process of learning from experience. "Becoming a Manager" is a veritable treasury of
essential leadership wisdom that will be an enduringly valued reference turned to again and again
by business managers throughout the course of their career. While very highly recommended for
corporate, community, college, and university library Business Management instructional
reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this new edition of
"Becoming a Manager" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.36).
Premium Is the New Black
Alan O'Neill
Orpen Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781786050663, $22.00, PB, 154pp, www.amazon.com
In today's volatile and intensely competitive business arena, 'Ordinary' customer service is simply
not good enough for a company to succeed. In "Premium Is the New Black: In a World of
Dynamic Change Put Customer Experience at the Heart", Alan O'Neill draws upon his work with
household name brands over twenty years to outline his experience-based advice in a highly
structured and easy-to-read way by using real-life examples and insights gained in the
marketplace. The lessons learnt from working with some of the best global brands are what
comprises "Premium Is the New Black" and can be applied to all public sector industries and
corporations. The key principle of this practical guide is how to ensure customers of all business
types get great experiences consistently -- making them more likely to buy from that business
repeatedly and become strong advocates for that brand. While a very highly recommended
addition to corporate, community, college, and university library Business Management
instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Premium Is
the New Black" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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