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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"!
All the Hometown Boys
Brad Larson
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299322205, $28.95, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com
In the summer of 1917 three Wisconsin National Guard companies came together to form the
150th Machine Gun Battalion of the now famous 42nd "Rainbow" Division. As true comrades,
they relied on one another for support as they fought in every major battle of the American
Expeditionary Forces, including the landmark battle of Chateau Thierry, which cost the unit
dearly. As one of Wisconsin's most celebrated units, a soldier coming from the battalion was
selected to represent the state at the unveiling of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in
Washington, D.C., in 1921. Today, the 150th is all but forgotten, in part because their unit history
was never written. Through letters, diaries, and other recollections, Brad Larson (who has been
the director of the Oshkosh Public Museum since 1989 and has been researching and presenting
public programs about the 150th Machine Gun Battalion for many years) tells us the story of
these Guardsmen's experiences as he traces the path of their wartime service and considers the
impact of war's trauma and tedium on their lives. Definitively researched, impressively
informative, exceptionally well organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation and
commentary style, "All the Hometown Boys" is extraordinarily informative and inherently
engaging read from beginning to end. A work of superbly crafted scholarship, "All the
Hometown Boys" is a 'must' for both community and academic library 20th Century American
Military History collections, World War I supplemental studies lists, as well as Wisconsin
History 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 "All the Hometown Boys" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
The Misunderstood Mission of Jean Nicolet
Patrick J. Jung
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870208799, $28.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
For years, Wisconsin's schoolchildren have heard the story of Jean Nicolet's arrival in their state.
But the popularized image of the hapless explorer landing with billowing robe and guns blazing,
supposedly believing himself to have found a passage to China, is based on scant evidence. It is a
false narrative that was perpetuated by fanciful artists' renditions and repetition. In more recent
decades, historians have pieced together a story that is not only more likely but more complicated
and interesting. In "The Misunderstood Mission of Jean Nicolet: Uncovering the Story of the
1634 Journey", Patrick Jung (a professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering with a Ph.D. in
history and anthropology) deftly synthesizes the research about Nicolet and his superior Samuel
de Champlain, whose diplomatic goals in the region are crucial to understanding this much
misunderstood journey across the Great Lakes. Additionally, historical details about
Franco-Indian relations and the search for the Northwest Passage provide a framework for
understanding Nicolet's famed mission. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$15.95), and unreservedly recommended for personal, community and academic library
Wisconsin History collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted that "The
Misunderstood Mission of Jean Nicolet" is enhanced for academia with an informative
Introduction, a two page listing of Acknowledgments, twenty pages of Notes, a sixteen page
Bibliography, and a nine page Index.
The Free Society in Crisis
David Selbourne
Prometheus Books
9781635885301, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
The Free Society in Crisis: A History of Our Times assesses the stability of free societies and
argues that they are under threat from two angles: the "market free-choice" and "moral
free-choice" approaches that together are threatening democratic principles and processes.
Between economic-driven support for market-determined influences and the idea of individual
rights separate from civic responsibility, democracy and community become lost. This book
returns to the original contentions of the Founding Fathers as it assesses what makes a
commonwealth and why modern political and social trends are destroying that ideal. Any
political studies reader should find it essential reading.
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).
A Sidecar Named Desire
Greg Clarke & Monte Beauchamp
Dey St.
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway, New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062696380, $19.99, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Throughout history, there has been no greater catalyst for creativity among writers than alcohol in
the form of a good, stiff drink -- or so they claim. "A Sidecar Named Desire: Great Writers and
the Booze That Stirred Them" is a graphic volume in which authors Greg Clarke and Monte
Beauchamp take the on an unforgettable literary bar crawl that is packed from cover to cover
with historical factoids, anecdotes, booze trivia, and fascinating detours into the lives of many
successful and acclaimed writers -- along with literary-themed cocktail recipes such as Ernest
Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon and Philip Larkin's Gin and Tonic (set to verse). For the
literary-minded drinker, whether wine, gin, vodka, beer, whiskey, or tequila is the elixir of
choice, "A Sidecar Named Desire" will prove to be an inherently fascinating, informative, and
occasionally iconoclastic read. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), "A
Sidecar Named Desire" is a fun and recommended read for all aspiring and laboring writers.
While highly recommended for community and academic library collections, it should also be
noted that "A Sidecar Named Desire" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781982554552, $25.99, CD).
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.
Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood
Ellen M. Drolette
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605546094, $24.95, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com
Ellen M. Drolette has been working in the field of early care and education for 25 years. She has
served on the board of NAFCC, is a Global Leader with the World Forum Foundation, and was
named a Master Leader in 2016 by Exchange Magazine. She is a family child care provider in a
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) accredited program. In addition to
working in direct care, Drolette trains and mentors people at the New Americans in Child Care
Project. Caregiver fatigue and low morale is a problem in many early care settings. In
"Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood", Ellen draws upon her years of experience
and expertise to focus on the many reasons why early childhood professionals who can suffer
from low staff morale that causes such a high industry turnover rate. Included are ways to
motivate and inspire classroom teachers and others to view their work in a way that is healthy,
intentional, and creates a high-quality early childhood environment. Personal stories from the
field highlight how educators have themselves stayed motivated. The conversational style offers
opportunities for self-reflection and group work. Practical steps help caregivers find ways to
refuel and bump up morale, providing the energy needed to tackle long-term strategies.
"Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood" is a critically important and unreservedly
recommended addition to school district, college, and university library Teacher Education &
Classroom Management instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists.
The Heart and Science of Teaching
C. Bobbi Hansen
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807759516, $29.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
In "The Heart and Science of Teaching: Transformative Applications That Integrate Academic
and Social - Emotional Learning", C. Bobbi Hansen (Associate Professor in the School of
Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego) shows her readers why and
how to connect essential social - emotional factors and critical cognitive aspects of learning for
all students. "The Heart and Science of Teaching": Explores the transformative power of SEL on
student learning and well-being; Highlights the critical importance of the teacher-student
relationship in the classroom; Illustrates how teacher feedback can assist students in developing a
growth mindset; Brings voices of real teachers in each chapter who share their application of the
chapter's ideas, and their positive results with their students: Lists targeted book, website, and
video resources in each chapter with more examples and information to support teachers'
implementation; Examines the implications of current research in neuroscience for classroom
teaching; Describes evidence-based models of teaching and how they positively affect student
engagement and learning; Shows how to support project-based and other student-led learning
while connecting to standards; Describes how to use blogs, podcasts, and an array of web tools to
promote engaged learning. Blending the latest research in education, neuroscience, and cognitive
psychology, "The Heart and Science of Teaching" is a practical resource that will assist K - 12
teachers in creating an emotionally supportive classroom environment that makes a positive
difference in student learning. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.45),
"The Heart and Science of Teaching" is recommended as a core addition to school district,
college, and community library Teacher Education instructional reference collections and
supplemental studies lists.
Introduction to Human Geography Using ArcGIS Online
J. Chris Carter
ESRI Press
9781589485181, $74.99, www.esripress.esri.com
Introduction to Human Geography Using ArcGIS Online is an introductory textbook for college
undergrads and high school advanced students, and covers the basics of human geography,
including culture, religion, economics, and more. Each chapter bases its study on mapping and
analysis exercises using ArcGIS Online, a program accessed through a free account that teaches
the basics of geographical mapping using the ArcGIS system. This blend of college-level
geography overview and ArcGIS mapping basics results in an enhanced survey as color maps
abound on nearly every page and data supports discussion of geographic population studies,
global industry and systems, economic surveys, and more. This basic, contemporary primer
contains the latest data-based explorations, and can't be beat.
Corwin
www.corwin.com
Catlin R. Tucker's Power Up Blended Learning: A Professional Learning Infrastructure to
Support Sustainable Change (9781506396767, $34.95) will best be appreciated by those who
already have the foundation ideas of blended learning processes under their belt. This audience
will find this a continuation of blended learning, taking it to a new level of professional learning
as it provides a comprehensive approach and shows how professionals can learn with colleagues
through a range of methods, from coaching to lesson planning and rubrics. Vignettes from those
who have moved to the blended learning model accompany statistical support and a collection of
resources and applied strategies for blended learning coaches and educators. From co-teaching
models and coaching routines to devoting energy to reflection, this is an engrossing study in
blended techniques proven to work. Amy Tepper and Patrick Flynn's Feedback to Feed Forward:
31 Strategies to Lead Learning (9781544320229, $31.95) focuses on receiving and processing
the kinds of feedback that promote growth and leadership, and is designed for school leaders at
all levels (it should be noted that many a business reader will find many concepts applicable to
their practice, as well). The educator-specific modules include explanations of standards and core
skills, field-tested lesson examples, and feedback samples that move through different grade
levels and content. The business-applicable portions include evidence collection notes and
templates, discussions of how to determine strength and growth areas, and keys leaders can use
for understanding and applying 'feed forward'. Shanna Peeples' Think Like Socrates: Using
Questions to Invite Wonder & Empathy Into the Classroom, Grades 4-12 (9781506391649,
$34.95) focuses on creating a sense of discovery and empathy in a classroom: one that is based
on communication, inquiry, and respect. Teachers are provided step-by-step lessons designed to
use student questions as a way of assessing thinking, providing both writing exercises and debate
questions and keys for assessing effectiveness over different content areas. The protocols for
using inquiry with adults summarizes the application of various questions at all grade levels and
shows how to help students identify their guiding principles and approaches. These are solid
educator resources that deserve a place in any professional collection.
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.
Unleashing Your Dog
Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce
New World Library
9781608685424, $15.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible
should be included in every new dog owner's resource kit. It is more than just a dog care or
behavior modification guide, but uses the latest research in canine science to consider the real
nature of the dog, its interactions with man, and how to enhance a dog's freedom and enjoyment
of life in ways that help dog and owner alike. The idea is to let the dog be a dog while reinforcing
behaviors that work for all. The author is a professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology and has long contributed to animal behavior with numerous books and articles. This is
an outstanding survey of dog nature, freedom, and how to build a happier, healthier life for
animal and owner alike.
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).
Cape May
Chip Cheek
Celadon Books
c/o Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillan.com
https://celadonbooks.com
9781250297150, $26.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
In late September 1957, Henry and Effie are very young newlyweds from Georgia who arrive in
Cape May, New Jersey for their honeymoon only to find the town is deserted. Feeling shy of each
other and isolated, they decide to cut the trip short. But before they leave, they meet a glamorous
set of people who sweep them up into their drama. Clara, a beautiful socialite who feels her
youth slipping away; Max, a wealthy playboy and Clara's lover; and Alma, Max's aloof and
mysterious half-sister, to whom Henry is irresistibly drawn. The empty beach town becomes their
playground, and as they sneak into abandoned summer homes, go sailing, walk naked under the
stars, make love, and drink a great deal of gin, Henry and Effie slip from innocence into betrayal,
with irrevocable consequences. Erotic and moving, "Cape May" is a novel about marriage, love
and sexuality, and the lifelong repercussions that meeting a group of debauched cosmopolitans
has on a new marriage. With "Cape May", author Chip Creek showcases a genuine flair for a
distinctive narrative storytelling style -- one that engage the reader's rapt entertained attention
quickly. While very highly and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary
General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Cape May" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Tiger Queen
Annie Sullivan
Blink
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
9780310768777, $17.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
In the mythical desert kingdom of Achra, an ancient law forces sixteen-year-old Princess Kateri
to fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. For Kateri, winning also means fulfilling a promise
to her late mother that she would protect her people, who are struggling through windstorms and
drought. The situation is worsened by the gang of Desert Boys that frequently raids the city wells,
forcing the king to ration what little water is left. The punishment for stealing water is a choice
between two doors: behind one lies freedom, and behind the other is a tiger. But when Kateri's
final opponent is announced, she knows she cannot win. In desperation, she turns to the desert
and the one person she never thought she'd side with. What Kateri discovers twists her world
(and her heart) upside down. Her future is now behind two fateful doors -- only she's not sure
which holds the key to keeping her kingdom and which releases the tiger! A skillfully crafted and
simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Tiger Queen" will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Tiger Queen" by Annie Sullivan is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
The Cliff House
RaeAnne Thayne
HQN Books
c/o Harlequin Books
https://www.harlequin.com
9781335004901, $26.99, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
After the death of their mother, sisters Daisy and Beatriz Davenport found a home with their aunt
Stella in the beautiful and welcoming town of Cape Sanctuary. They never knew all the dreams
that Stella sacrificed to ensure they had everything they'd ever need. Now, with Daisy and Bea
grown, it's time for Stella to reveal the secret she's been keeping from them - a secret that will
change their family forever. Bea thought she'd sown all her wild oats when she got pregnant far
too young. The marriage that followed was rocky and not destined to last, but it gave Bea her
wonderful, mature, now eleven-year-old daughter, Marisol. But just as she's beginning to pursue
a new love with an old friend, Bea's ex-husband resurfaces and turns their lives completely
upside down. Then there's Daisy -- sensible, rational, financially prudent Daisy. She's never taken
a risk in her life -- until she meets a man who makes her question everything she thought she
knew about life, love and the power of taking chances. Another deftly written novel by RaeAnne
Thayne, "The Cliff House" is a heartwarming story in which Stella, Bea and Daisy will discover
that the path to true happiness is filled with twists and turns, but love always leads them back
home. While very highly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Cliff House" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781982646530, $39.99, MP3 CD).
Flights of Fancy
Jen Turano
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764233197, $29.99, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
To escape an unwanted marriage, heiress Isadora Delafield runs away and disguises herself as a
housekeeper. She finds a position at the home of self-made man Ian MacKenzie's parents. Ian is
unexpectedly charmed by Isadora and her unconventional ways, but when Isadoras secret is
revealed, will they still have a chance at happy-ever-after? "Flights of Fancy" is another
wonderfully entertaining page-turner of a novel by Jen Turano. While unreservedly
recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for the growing legion of Jen
Turano fans that "Flights of Fancy" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764231674,
$15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.03).
Of Fire and Lions
Mesu Andrews
WaterBrook Press
c/o WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
10807 New Allegiance Drive Suite 500, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com
9780735291867, $14.99, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Belili is a Hebrew girl who escaped death nearly seventy years earlier as the Babylonians
ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected her survival
skills in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshipers, blending in with all the
others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch,
Belili still thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear -- until the night
Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The
Persian Army invades, and Bellili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the
conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh
alone? Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened
Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who
conquers both fire and lions. A simply riveting read in which author Mesu Andrews presents a
whole new take on a classic Old Testament story, "Of Fire and Lions" is unreservedly
recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections. "Of Fire and Lions" is also
available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99). Librarians should
note that there is a large print Library Binding edition available "Of Fire and Lions"
(9781643581552, $36.95, 500pp).
The Revenge of the Foxes
A. K. Welsapar
Glagoslav Publications
www.glagoslav.com
9781912894109, $22.55, PB, 122pp, www.amazon.com
Moscow, during the collapse of the Soviet system: In a hospital, young people awaiting heart
operations and possible death, live just for today with mischief-making and even love affairs,
under the stringent gaze of the old matron, Baba Nastya. Here one of the patients, a young
Turkmen, meets a Greek Comsomol boy, a Russian Stalinist with a 'robotic' heart, and the lovely
but tragic Mary. To whom does the future belong -- to the soulless robots or the poetical souls?
A. K. Welsapar's "Revenge of the Foxes" is a deftly crafted novel by a writer who was declared
by his government to be an 'enemy of the people'. Ably translated for the benefit of an American
readership from Russian into English by Richard Govett, "Revenge of the Foxes" is an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary
Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Revenge of the
Foxes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Bivouac
Kwame Dawes
Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
9781617757105, $15.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
When Ferron Morgan's father dies in suspicious circumstances, his trauma is exacerbated by the
conflict within his family and among his father's friends over whether the death was the result of
medical negligence or if it was a political assassination. Ferron grew up in awe of his father's
radical political endeavors, but in later years he watched as the resurgence of the political right in
the Caribbean in the 1980s robbed the man of his faith. Ferron's response to the death is further
complicated by guilt, particularly over his failure to protect his fiancee from a brutal assault. He
begins to investigate the direction of his life with great intensity, in particular his instinct to keep
moving on and running from trouble. "Bivouac" by Kwame Dawes is a sharply focused portrayal
of Jamaica at a tipping point in its recent past, in which the private grief and trauma condenses a
whole society's scarcely understood sense of temporariness and dislocation. A deftly crafted and
absolutely riveting read, "Bivouac" is an especially recommended addition to community and
academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Bivouac" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.42) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (Highbridge Audio Books, 9781684416622, $29.99,
CD).
Sin City Retribution: Stolen Steel
Rick Hart
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620236192, $19.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
Based on a true story, "Sin City Retribution: Stolen Steel" by Rick Hart is thrilling read from
cover to cover, as a member of a back-patched, outlaw motorcycle club tells a tale of the gritty,
honor-bound, romantic life of a Sin City Biker. The story follows Hart who as a club member is
known to his fellows as Turk. He navigates the turbulent streets of 1970s era Los Vegas.
Stripping bare the untold stories of an evasive and covert band of brothers, Turk recounts his
exploits with the Noblemen Motorcycle Club. High-speed chases, gruesome wrecks, accidental
movie cameos, and truck-stop brawls are only some of Turk's crusades with his club; but his real
motivation as a Nobleman remains a closely-guarded secret. Because unknown to his comrades,
Turk is out for information -- and retribution. A blending of personal memoir with elements of
organized crime, "Sin City Retribution: Stolen Steel" is a riveting read from cover to cover.
While very highly recommended for community library American Biography & True Crime
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sin City Retribution: Stolen Steel"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Where Dandelions Bloom
Tara Johnson
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496428356, $14.95, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com
Cassie Kendrick is on the run. Her abusive father arranged her marriage to a despicable man, but
she's discovered an escape. Disguised as a man, Cassie enlists in the Union army, taking the
name Thomas Turner. On the battlefields of the Civil War, keeping her identity a secret is only
the beginning of her problems, especially after she meets Gabriel Avery, a handsome young
photographer. Anxious to make his mark on the world and to erase the darkness and guilt lurking
from his past, Gabriel works with renowned photographer Matthew Brady to capture images
from the front lines of the war. As Gabriel forges friendships with many of the men he
encounters, he wonders what the courageous, unpredictable Thomas Turner is hiding. Battling
betrayal, their own personal demons, and a country torn apart by war, can Cassie and Gabriel
learn to forgive themselves and trust their futures to the God who births hope and healing in the
darkest places? A deftly crafted and original Civil War era novel by an author with a genuine
flair for immediately engaging her readers with a distinctive narrative storytelling style, "Where
Dandelions Bloom" is an especially recommended addition to community library collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Where Dandelions Bloom" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.24).
The Little Girl on the Ice Floe
Adelaide Bon
Europa Editions
214 West 29th Street, Suite 1003, New York, N.Y. 10001
www.europaeditions.com
9781609455156, $17.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
When Adelaide's parents find her mute and unable to explain why she is crying, they bring her to
the police station and file a complaint against "X" for sexual assault. Adelaide grows up without
showing any outward signs of damage. As a teen and then as an outwardly cheerful young
woman, she suffers in silence, battling her demons alone. Twenty-three years later, Adelaide
receives a call from the juvenile squad. An investigator has reopened the classified case of "the
electrician" and DNA analysis points to a man known to the police as a serial burglar. He is
subsequently charged with assaulting 72 minors between 1983 and 2003, and it is suspected that
he has hurt hundreds of others who never filed complaints. In the spring of 2016, at the Paris city
court, along with 18 other women, Adelaide confronts the rapist who destroyed her life. An
extraordinary literary novel written in a precise and delicate prose, as well as exceptional
emotional poise and passion, In "The Little Girl on the Ice Floe" Adelaide Bon tells a sensitive
story that is both terrifying and all too common. A masterpiece of literary fiction which is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "The Little Girl on the Ice Floe" is
unreservedly commended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
A Desperate Hope
Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764233142, $29.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Eloise Drake's prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she believes is finally behind her. A
mathematical genius, she's now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in
1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man
responsible for her deepest heartbreak. Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off
the map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new
reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the
demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his
town--but he needs Eloise's help to succeed. Alex is determined to win back the woman he
thought he'd lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the
odds against them. Another deftly penned novel by an author with a distinctive narrative
storytelling style that engages the reader's total attention and holds it from first page to last,
Elizabeth Camden's "A Desperate Hope" offers a hopeful, encouraging, and entertaining message
for her readers experiencing suffering that assures them God is deeply in love with them, no
matter what they go through. While highly recommended for community library general fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Desperate Hope" is also available
in a paperback edition (9780764232107, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.69).
The Rabbi Finds Her Way
Robert Schoen & Catherine deCuir
Stone Bridge Press
www.stonebridge.com
9781611720525, $16.95, PB, 316pp, www.amazon.com
A Pearl Ross-Levy novel by Robert Schoen with Catherine deCuir "The Rabbi Finds Her Way"
features a compelling, inspiring, and often funny narrative that weaves the experiences and
insights that shape the young rabbi as she finds her way through the challenges of her profession.
As Pearl's lifelong friendship with a high school classmate (the victim of a serious car accident)
evolves it opens her eyes to the world of religion. And whether she's discussing women's rights in
the Bible with a bat mitzvah student, meeting the man she'll soon marry, encouraging a
congregant with Alzheimer's to tell a joke whose punch line he's forgotten, or struggling with the
anguish of a man who believes he's unwittingly committed a murder, Pearl reveals her
intelligence, empathy, grit, and humor. The Rabbi's strength and faith grow as she continues to
see that God does, indeed, work in strange ways. As deftly crafted and wonderfully entertaining
as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Rabbi Finds Her Way" is a unique, extraordinary,
and highly recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Rabbi Finds Her Way" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.98).
The Plotters
Un-Su Kim
Doubleday & Company
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780385544382, $25.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Behind every assassination, there is an anonymous mastermind (a plotter) working in the
shadows. Plotters quietly dictate the moves of the city's most dangerous criminals, but their
existence is little more than legend. Just who are the plotters? And more important, what do they
want? Reseng is an assassin. Raised by a cantankerous killer named Old Raccoon in the crime
headquarters "The Library," Reseng never questioned anything: where to go, who to kill, or why
his home was filled with books that no one ever read. But one day, Reseng steps out of line on a
job, toppling a set of carefully calibrated plans. And when he uncovers an extraordinary scheme
set into motion by an eccentric trio of young women (a convenience store clerk, her wheelchair
bound sister, and a cross-eyed librarian) Reseng will have to decide if he will remain a pawn or
finally take control of the plot. A deftly written and unfailingly entertaining thriller of a read from
cover to cover, "The Plotters" showcases author Un-Su Kim's genuine flair for a riveting
narrative storytelling style. While very highly recommended for community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Plotters" is also available in a paperback edition (Anchor, 9780525564805, $16.95) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Batman: The Court of Owls
Greg Cox
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785658167, $24.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
For generations, an apocryphal cabal known only as the Court of Owls has controlled Gotham
from the shadows, wielding fear and violence through its undead assassins -- the Talons. Dating
back centuries, its leaders are men and women of wealth and influence who meet in secrecy,
hiding their identities behind stark white masks. Employing science and alchemy, they sought to
kill Bruce Wayne who, as Batman, dealt them their greatest defeats. Even then they faded back
into the darkness, and he could not eliminate them entirely. Now, Gotham City is plagued with a
series of brutal murders in which mutilated bodies are burned almost beyond recognition.
Batman and his allies--including Nightwing and Batgirl -- quickly realize that the Talons have
returned, yet the reason for the killings remains tauntingly unknown. As the heroes seek answers,
their path stretches back more than a century. Should the Owls obtain what they seek, it could
grant them power that no one could counter. With each moment that passes, more victims appear.
Batman must stop the Talons before they kill again. A 'must read' prose novel for the legions of
Batman fans, in "Batman: The Court of Owls", author Greg Cox does full justice to the Caped
Crusader and will be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Batman: The Court of Owls" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Moctu and the Mammoth People
Neil Bockoven
Waldorf Publishing
9781642550771, $16.95, www.waldorfpublishing.com
Fans of Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear and other stories of prehistoric peoples' lives and
adventures will relish Moctu and the Mammoth People: An Ice Age Story of Love, Life and
Survival, the story of a Cro-Magnon boy who not only battles a tribal rival for leadership and
love, but also encounters and is captured by a fearsome group of Neanderthals. This is no casual
story. Award-winning geologist and author Neil Bockoven took two years to review all the
current genetic and archeological research about these primitive peoples (our earliest ancestors),
and this attention to detail is reflected in a story line that captures not only Moctu's experiences,
but the nature of the physical and tribal world in which he operates. Solid science drives this
story and - uniquely for a novel - it is annotated in an addendum to the book. Jean Auel's fans, in
particular, will find Bockoven's approach delightfully well detailed, backed by scientific and
archaeological facts.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars
Glendy Vanderah
Lake Union
9781542040068, $24.95, www.apub.com
Where the Forest Meets the Stars is about hardship, transformation, and a woman who cultivates
solitude until a mysterious child shows up at her isolated cabin. Ursa claims to have come from
the stars in search of miracles, but Jo doubts her tale and the presence of miracles. It will take her
equally-reclusive neighbor to solve the mystery of the child, and to awaken Jo to the possibilities
of the impossible through renewed bonds and the mounting evidence of miracles. A beautiful
story of mystery, revival, and discovery evolves in an evocative, inspirational read highly
recommended for anyone with an interest in transformational processes and change.
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!
Milwaukee Noir
Edited by Tim Hennessy
Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
9781617757013 $15.95 pbk / $10.42 Kindle amazon.com
Part of the gritty "Noir Series" of anthologies showcasing promising writers and their stories,
Milwaukee Noir is an anthology about the dark side of Wisconsin's largest city. Known for
manufacturers, booze, and a burgeoning immigrant city, Milwaukee is the perfect setting for
these tales of intrigue, suspense, and mystery from a diverse allotment of authors. Captivating to
the final page, Milwaukee Noir is especially recommended for connoisseurs of the genre! It
should be noted for personal reading lists that Milwaukee Noir is also available in a Kindle
edition ($10.42).
The Betrayal
Steven Bosworth
Austin Macauley Publishers
https://www.austinmacauley.com
9781787107373, $22.95, PB, 452pp, www.amazon.com
Dean Nash feels that something is missing from his life and, one day, is invited to a night club,
and, suddenly, everything changes after meeting the owner, Nick Burns. Nash is involved in a
robbery masterminded by Burns and soon begins to grasp every opportunity, following
instructions from his new mentor. Their actions quickly fall under investigation by a government
agency headed by Jon Wagstaff. Nash not only has the fear of Wagstaff around every corner, but
soon enters into a journey of self-awareness over a past he knows nothing about. Nash's best
friend, Shaun Neal, is completely unaware of Nash's involvement in the robbery and suddenly,
driven by anger following the death of his new girlfriend, goes on the rampage after Nash. The
final standoff sees Wagstaff, Burns, Neal and Nash in a shootout ending with an unfortunate
death, but which men survive to see another day remains to be seen. A truly riveting read from
cover to cover, "The Betrayal" showcases author Steven Bosworth's distinctive narrative
storytelling style as a novelist. While unreservedly recommended for community library
Contemporary Suspense/Thriller Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Betrayal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.50).
Murder In Belgravia
Lynn Brittney
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683318934, $26.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
As World War I engulfs Europe, a special task force is formed in the affluent Mayfair district of
London in 1915 to tackle the city's thorniest crimes against women. When the bobbies and
Scotland Yard come up short, there's only one telephone number to dial: Mayfair 100. Lynn
Brittney's "Murder In Belgravia" begins with an aristocrat having been murdered, and his wife, a
witness and possible suspect, will only talk to a woman. With the blessing of London's Chief
Commissioner, Chief Inspector Beech, a young man invalided out of the war, assembles a crew
of sharp, intrepid, and well-educated women to investigate. But to get at the truth, Beech,
Victoria, Caroline, Rigsby, and Tollman will venture into the city's seedy underbelly, a world
where murder is only the first in a litany of evils. All the more impressive when considering that
"Murder In Belgravia" is author Lynn Brittney's debut for her Mayfair 100 murder mystery series.
A deftly scripted and darkly compelling story of a movement far ahead of its time in combating
the prejudices against women in law enforcement, "Murder In Belgravia" will leave its fully
entertaining readers looking eagerly toward the next Mayfair 100 novel. While certain to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Murder In Belgravia" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $7.80).
A Dream of Death
Connie Berry
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683319870, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Autumn has come and gone on Scotland's Isle of Glenroth, and the islanders gather for the Tartan
Ball, the annual end-of-tourist-season gala. Spirits are high. A recently published novel about
island history had brought hordes of tourists to the small Hebridean resort community. On the
guest list is American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton. Kate who has reluctantly returned to the
island where her husband died, determined to repair her relationship with his sister, proprietor of
the island's luxe country house hotel, famous for its connection with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Kate
has hardly unpacked when the next morning a body is found, murdered in a reenactment of an
infamous unsolved murder described in the novel -- and the only clue to the killer's identity lies
in a curiously embellished antique casket. The Scottish police discount the historical connection,
but when a much-loved local handyman is arrested, Kate teams up with a vacationing detective
inspector from Suffolk, England, to unmask a killer determined to rewrite island history -- and
Kate's future. A deftly crafted mystery by a master of the genre, Connie Berry's "A Dream of
Death" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs that "A Dream of Death" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$10.69).
Murder from Scratch
Leslie Karst
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683319535, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Santa Cruz restaurateur Sally Solari's life is already boiling over as she deals with irate cooks and
other staffing issues at the busy Gauguin restaurant. The rainy December weather isn't cooling
things down, either. So she's steamed when her dad persuades her to take in Evelyn, her
estranged blind cousin whose mother has just died of a drug overdose. But Evelyn proves to be
lots of fun and she's a terrific cook. Back at the house she'd shared with her mom, Evelyn's
heightened sense of touch tells her that various objects (a bottle of cranberry juice, her
grandfather's jazz records) are out of place. She and her mom always kept things in the same
place so Evelyn could find them. So she suspects that her mother's death was neither accident nor
suicide, no matter what the police believe. The cousins' sleuthing takes Sally and Evelyn into the
world of macho commercial kitchens, and the cutthroat competitiveness that can flame up
between chefs. Sally will have to chop a long list of suspects down to size or end up getting
burned! Another deftly written and compelling mystery from author Leslie Karst (who has
degrees in English literature, law, and culinary arts), "Murder from Scratch" is a riveting read that
also features recipes! While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Murder from Scratch" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.69).
And Then You Were Gone
R. J. Jacobs
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683319597, $26.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under
control. Even better, her life is coming together: she's got a great job, her own place, and a
boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees --
wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning
after they set sail, the boat is still adrift... and Paolo is gone. A strong swimmer, there's no way
Paolo drowned, but Emily is at a loss for any other explanation. Where else could he have gone?
And why? As the hours and days pass by, each moment marking Paolo's disappearance, Emily's
hard-won stability begins to slip. But when Emily uncovers evidence suggesting Paolo was
murdered, the investigation throws her mania into overdrive, even as she becomes a person of
interest in her own personal tragedy. To clear her name, Emily must find the truth -- but can she
hold onto her own sanity in the process? "And Then You Were Gone" by practicing psychologist
R. J. Jacobs is a deftly crafted and riveting novel by an author with a genuinely distinctive
storytelling style that will engage the readers fully entertained attention from first page to last.
While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "And Then You Were Gone" is also available in a paperback edition
(HarperCollins, 9781443457736, $22.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.80).
Dying for Devil's Food
Jenn McKinlay
Berkley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
www.dreamscapeab.com/audiobooks
9780451492630, $7.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Melanie Cooper has zero interest in catering her fifteen-year high school reunion, but Angie
insists it's only right that they bask in the success of Fairy Tale Cupcakes--and Mel's engagement
to the delicious Joe DeLaura is the cherry on top! Everything is going better than expected until
Cassidy Havers, resident mean girl and Mel's high school nemesis, picks a fight. No longer
willing to put up with Cassidy's bullying, Mel is ready to tell the former homecoming queen to
shut her piehole and call it a night. But as Mel and Joe prepare to depart, Cassidy is found dead
in the girl's bathroom, next to a note written in lipstick that points right to Mel--making her the
prime suspect. Now, Mel must follow the clues to find the real killer and keep her reputation
from being frosted for a crime she didn't commit. An original and terrifically entertaining read by
an accomplished author who is a master of the genre, "Dying for Devil's Food" is unreservedly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Dying for Devil's Food" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Dreamscape Media, B07QTBXSR1, $30.62, 7 Hours 20 Minutes). It should also be noted for
librarians that there is also a paperback large print edition (Wheeler Publishing Large Print,
9781432863425, $26.99, 329pp).
Murder on Trinity Place
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399586637, $26.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
The year of 1899 is drawing to a close. Frank and Sarah Malloy are getting ready to celebrate the
New Year at Trinity Church when they notice Mr. Pritchard, a relative of their neighbor's
behaving oddly and annoying the other revelers. Frank tries to convince Pritchard to return home
with them, but the man refuses and Frank loses him in the crowd. The next morning Sarah and
Frank are horrified to learn Pritchard was murdered sometime in the night, his body left on
Trinity Place, the side street near the church. The police aren't too interested in the murder, and
the family are concerned that the circumstances of the death will reflect badly on Pritchard's
reputation. To protect the family from scandal, Nelson asks Frank to investigate. Frank and Sarah
delve into Pritchard's past and realize there may have been a deadly side to the dawning of the
new century. Another superb mystery in author Victoria Thompson's 'Gaslight Mystery' series,
"Murder on Trinity Place" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Murder on Trinity Place" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.99).
Sunshine State
D. P. Lyle
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608093366, $26.95, HC, 354pp, www.amazon.com
Jake Longly and Nicole Jamison are confronted with the most bizarre case yet. Serial killer Billy
Wayne Baker now denies that two of his seven murders were actually his work. An anonymous
benefactor, who believes Billy Wayne's denials, has hired Longly Investigations to prove Billy
Wayne right. Billy Wayne had confessed to all seven. Not only did the confessed serial killer
have the motive, means, and opportunity for murder, but his DNA was found at each crime
scene. Bizarre doesn't quite cover it. Jake and Nicole travel to the small Gulf Coast town of Pine
Key, Florida, where three of the murders occurred. The local police, FBI, state prosecutor, and
crime lab each did their jobs, uncovered overwhelming evidence of Billy Wayne's guilt and even
extracted a full confession. Is Billy Wayne simply trying to tweak the system to garner another
fifteen minutes of fame? It's likely all a game to him, but, if he's being truthful someone out there
is getting away with multiple murders. How? Why? And most importantly, who? Dark clouds
loom in the Sunshine State. D. P. Lyle's "Sunshine State" is another deftly penned suspense
thriller of a read by a master of narrative storytelling. While unreservedly recommended as an
addition to community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Sunshine State" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Murder Book
Lissa Marie Redmond
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738754277, $15.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com
After being brutally stabbed at her desk late one night, Lauren Riley works her way backwards
through the haze to piece together who attacked her and why. A mysterious phone message
forces her to enlist the help of a retired lieutenant to track down a witness who is desperate not to
be found. As she digs into the Buffalo Police Department's hidden past she uncovers a terrible
secret, one a fellow officer would kill to protect. "The Murder Book" by Lissa Marie Redmond
(who is a retired cold case homicide detective and who has handled a number of high-profile
cases) is a simply riveting read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists
of dedicated mystery buffs that "The Murder Book" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $8.99).
The Cairo Brief
Fiona Veitch Smith
Lion Fiction
c/o Lion Hudson
www.lionhudson.com
9781782642497, $12.95, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Intrepid reporter sleuth Poppy Denby is invited to attend the auction of the Death Mask of
Nefertiti. The auction is to be held on the country estate of Sir James Maddox, a famous explorer
and Egyptologist. Representatives of the world's leading museums will be bidding on the mask
which was found, in Egypt, under murderous circumstances. Poppy and her colleagues from The
Daily Globe, who are trying to stay one step ahead of their rivals from The London Courier,
dismiss rumors of an ancient curse. But when one of the auction party is murdered, and someone
starts stalking Poppy, the race is on to find the killer before 'the curse' can strike again. A deftly
crafted and inherently riveting mystery in author Fiona Vetich Smith's 'Poppy Denny Investigates'
series, "The Cairo Brief" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs it should be noted that "The Cairo Brief" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $12.30).
Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes
Karen Rose Smith
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781617739606, $7.99, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Daisy is a widowed mom of two teenagers for whom she feels especially protective. Then when
her aunt Iris started dating the wealthy and not-quite-divorced Harvey Fitz, Daisy is worried --
especially after his bitter ex stormed in and caused a scene at the party Daisy's Tea Garden was
catering. Then there was the gossip she overheard about Harvey's grown children being cut out of
his will. Daisy didn't want her aunt to wind up with a broken heart -- but she never expected Iris
to wind up a suspect in Harvey's murder. Now the apple bread and orange pekoe is on the back
burner while the cops treat the shop like a crime scene -- and Daisy hopes that Jonas Groft, a
former detective from Philadelphia, can help her clear her aunt's name and bag the real killer
before things boil over! A riveting entertainment of a whodunnit mystery from first page to last,
"Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes" by Karen Rose Smith is unreservedly recommended for the
personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs and certain to be an enduringly popular
addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Broken Bone China
Laura Childs
Berkley
9780451489630, $26.00, www.penguinrandomhouse.com
Broken Bone China is the 20th book in the author's Tea Shop Mystery series, and presents yet
another murder scenario to test Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning. She and her friend
are catering a former tea when a drone causes a hot air balloon to fail, killing all on board.
Theodosia is a witness, but she also finds that one of the victims may have been the target of an
attack. Her investigation uncovers many possibilities in this striking story of too many suspects
and equally challenging personal connections.
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).
Knight: A Chronicle of the Sibyl's War
Timothy Zahn
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765329677, $24.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Nicole Hammond was just trying to survive on the streets of Philadelphia, then she and her
partner Bungie were abducted by a race of mysterious moth-like aliens and taken to a strange
ship called the Fyrantha. Now she is a Sibyl, a special human that has the ability to communicate
with the aliens and their ship, and no one is happy. Competing factions control different parts of
the Fyrantha with the humans and other sentient aliens caught in the middle. But Nicole is done
being bullied, and now she has a plan to take control of the ship. She just has to outsmart war
profiteers and slavers to do it. "Knight: A Chronicle of the Sibyl's War" by the Hugo Award
Winning author Timothy Zahn is a superbly crafted science fiction action/adventure novel by a
master of the genre. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community
library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions
of Timothy Zahn fans that "Knight: A Chronicle of the Sibyl's War" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio,
9781541469044, $29.99, CD).
Thorn
Anna Burke
Bywater Books
P.O. Box 3671, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3671
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612941431, $16.95, PB, 215pp, www.amazon.com
On a cold day deep in the heart of winter, Rowan's father returns from an ill-fated hunting trip
bearing a single, white rose. The rose is followed by the Huntress, a figure out of legend. Tall,
cruel, and achingly beautiful, she brings Rowan back with her to a mountain fastness populated
solely by the creatures of the hunt. Rowan, who once scorned the villagers for their superstitions,
now finds herself at the heart of a curse with roots as deep as the mountains, ruled by an old
magic that is as insidious as the touch of the winter rose. Torn between her family loyalties, her
guilty relief at escaping her betrothal to the charming but arrogant Avery Lockland, and her
complicated feelings for the Huntress, Rowan must find a way to break the curse before it
destroys everything she loves. There is only one problem -- if she can find a way to lift the curse,
she will have to return to the life she left behind. And the only thing more unbearable than
endless winter is facing a lifetime of springs without the Huntress. A riveting and original
romantic thriller of a fantasy novel by an author with a total mastery of the genre, Anna Burke's
"Thorn" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Fantasy Action/Adventure collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all
dedicated fantasy fiction fans that "Thorn" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$7.99).
House of Assassins
Larry Correia
Baen Books
9781481483766, $25.00, www.baen.com
House of Assassins is a moving fantasy about a forgotten warrior, Ashok Vadal, once a member
of a high caste who devoted his life to battles that imparted justice to all around him via the
sword. Ashok's view of himself radically changes when he discovers he's just a part of a broader
political scheme, and his quest for vengeance results in a destructive force the world is
ill-equipped to battle. As a rescue mission enters the picture, Ashok discovers he still is caught in
a game: this time one dictated by the gods. A compelling saga is woven in an engrossing
story.
The City in the Middle of the Night
Charlie Jane Anders
TOR
9780765379962, $26.99, www.tor-forge.com
The City in the Middle of the Night tells of the planet January, where humanity is barely alive
due to a permanent frozen darkness contrasted on the other side by a blazing inferno. There are
only two habitable cities on this world, and in one of them Sophie, a student, has been sent into
exile and certain death for her revolutionary behaviors. Saved by ice creatures, Sophie finds an
odd family structure under impossible circumstances: a family she will die to protect. From
broken ideals to separated connections, this story of a night world and a wanderer under siege is
compelling, heart-wrenching, and hard to put down.
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).
Wealth Made Easy
Dr. Greg Reid
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781946885463, $19.95, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Expertly compiled and deftly written by Greg Reid, "Wealth Made Easy: Millionaires and
Billionaires Help You Crack the Code to Getting Rich" is comprised of insightful, real-world
strategies, tips, and stories that will forever redefine the way we gauge our own success and set
ourselves on the path toward our wildest dreams with respect to money management and
financial investment. Replete with exclusive, personal advice from those living at the top tier of
wealth the contributors include: Dan Fleyshman (who is the youngest founder of a publicly
traded company); Wayne Henuset (co-owner, chairman, and president of Energy Alberta
Corporation and president of Willow Park Wines & Spirits); Jules Haimovitz (an entertainment
executive best known for having created the Showtime, Lifetime, Sundance, and Smithsonian
cable channels); Ron Klein (the inventor of the magnetic strip on the credit card); Dr. Gene N.
Landrum (founder of the Chuck E. Cheese concept of family entertainment); Tonino
Lamborghini (the founder of the Tonino Lamborghini Company and heir to the Lamborghini
fortune); Walter O'Brien, executive producer and writer for the ScorpionTV series; Brian
Sidorsky, founder and CEO of Landsdowne Equity Ventures, a highly profitable family-owned
real-estate business. Impressively organized and presented, "Wealth Made Easy" is an inherently
fascinating informative, thought-provoking, and potentially life changing read. While very highly
recommended for both community and academic library Money/Finances collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Wealth Made Easy" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.82) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio,
9781543682267, $19.99, CD).
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
Mathematics for Computer Graphics and Game Programming
D. Kothari, et.al.
Mercury Learning
9781683923565, $69.95, www.merclearning.com
Mathematics for Computer Graphics and Game Programming: A Self-Teaching Introduction is
designed to explain the math concepts involved in computer graphics and design, and reviews
basic concepts to more complicated image generation processes. As studies progress from basic
algorithms to simple geometry, programmers in general and game designers in particular receive
a solid discussion of techniques that even delve into 3D modeling. Readers with a basic
programming and math background will appreciate the chapters that move from two- to
three-dimensional representations, and will this an excellent basic reference.
Switching to ArcGIS Pro from ArcMap
Maribeth H. Price
ESRI Press
9781589485440, $49.99, www.esripress.esri.com
Switching to ArcGIS Pro from ArcMap discusses the new software which is so different that
prior ArcMap users of the old program often find challenges applying previous results or
approaches to the new environment. ArcMap users who need to come up to speed quickly and yet
still do their jobs will find this basic primer on ArcGIS Pro a lifesaver. It is for users with that
familiarity with ArcMap, and focuses on how ArcGIS Pro differs in workflows and results. The
actual process of making change while still using the older program makes this a treasure trove of
time-saving techniques that is a 'must' for any professional ArcMap user making that
change.
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
Simply Delicious
Darina Allen
Kyle Books
9780857835550, $27.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com
Simply Delicious: The Classic Collection offers a hundred tested, foolproof recipes gathered
nearly 30 years after her original book and TV serious made Darina Allen famous, and provides
newcomers with a range of hearty comfort food that will prove appealing and relatively easy to
put together. Farmhouse Chicken, for example, is enhanced with bacon and, after some easy
prep, moves from oven to table in an hour. An alternative to the usual Tomato Soup,
Vine-Ripened Tomato & Spearmint Soup is made with Bechamel Sauce, Tomato Puree, and
fresh spearmint to give it a different flavor. A simmered Greek Lamb With Onion & Lima Bean
Stew stands out from other stews, yet is fairly simple to put together. Color photos abound,
making this an appealing 'best hits' compilation of Allen's top dishes.
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).
Wisconsin Cheese Cookbook
Kristine Hansen
The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
9781493037919, $24.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Wisconsin's artisan cheese scene is steeped in tradition and bursting with innovations. Local
cheesemakers attract visitors from all over the world. Cheese is a huge part of the state's tourist
draw and homegrown character. Everyone who calls Wisconsin home or visits for a day will love
this book of the best recipes to cook with cheese. "Wisconsin Cheese Cookbook: Creamy,
Cheesy, Sweet, and Savory Recipes from the State's Best Creameries" features stunning photos
and 60 recipes from the 28 creameries featured will include comfort-food staples like pizza, mac
'n cheese, and grilled-cheese sandwiches, as well as wow-worthy dinner-party favorites such as
mascarpone cheesecake, plus picnic-friendly salads and delicious breakfasts. The noteworthy
creameries covered in the "Wisconsin Cheese Cookbook" include Carr Valley Cheese and Emmi
Roth in Southwest Wisconsin; BelGioioso Cheese and Sartori in Northeast Wisconsin; Holland's
Family Cheese in Northwest Wisconsin; and Clock Shadow Creamery in Southeast Wisconsin. A
'must' for all dedicated cheese lovers, the "Wisconsin Cheese Cookbook" is unreservedly
recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections.
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.
Artist Toolbox
Walter Foster Creative Team
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781633226975, $14.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
The "Artist Toolbox: Drawing Tools & Materials" first discusses how to create a drawing
workspace -- in particular, ensuring proper lighting and storage. Then it details all of the most
popular drawing media including: the differences between and advantages of each, their
purposes, and the effects that each tool can create. "Artist Toolbox" also covers every drawing
tool, including all pencil grades, flat sketching pencils, charcoal and vine charcoal, white
charcoal, conte crayons, conte pencils, colored pencils, and pastel. Surfaces and supports are
discussed as well to provide a thorough introduction to everything you need to learn to draw.
Step-by-step drawing projects round out this thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide. With
its practical tips, techniques, clear instructions, beautiful artwork, and detailed demonstrations for
a comprehensive look at drawing, "Artist Toolbox" will make an expert out of anyone who wants
to learn this classic technique. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.87),
"Artist Toolbox) is especially recommended to beginning artists and art hobbyists who are
interested in fully understanding the focus and function of essential art tools of the trade.
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).
Once & Future
Cori McCarthy & Amy Rose Capetta
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781549115882, $30.00, CD, www.amazon.com
When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is
revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged
backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps
Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and
equality to all humankind. Superbly narrated by Lauren Fortgang who does full and complete
justice to this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Once & Future" by Cori
McCarthy and Amy Rose Capetta, science fiction fans will have a particular appreciation of this
action/adventure fantasy loosely based on the King Arthur mythos but with a very special SciFi
twist. A technical flawless recording, "Once & Future" is certain to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to personal and community library audio book collections. (9 CDs,
11 Hours).
Ghosts of Gotham
Craig Schaeffer
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781721358151, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Irresistibly drawn to mysteries, if only to debunk them, reporter Lionel Page exposes supernatural
frauds, swindlers, and charlatans. His latest case is an obsession -- at least for an ancient and
wealthy heiress: verify the authenticity of a lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript circulating through
New York City's literary underworld. But the shrewd Regina Dunkle offers more than money. It's
a pact. Fulfill her request, and Lionel's own notorious buried past, one he's been running from
since he was a child, will remain hidden. As Lionel's quest begins, so do the warnings. And
where rare books go, murder follows. It's only when Lionel meets enigmatic stranger Madison
Hannah, his personal usher into the city's secret history, that he realizes he's being guided by a
force more powerful than logic... and that he isn't just following a story. He is the story. Now that
the true purpose of his mission is revealing itself in the most terrifying ways, it may finally be
time for Lionel to believe in the unbelievable. An original and riveting story by Craig Schaeffer,
"Ghosts of Gotham" is dramatically and effectively narrated by Susannah Jones in this complete
and unabridged audio book novel, making it unreservedly recommended for personal and
community library audio book collections. (12 CDs, 14 hours, 38 minutes).
The Book of Flora
Meg Elison
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781721354245, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com
In the wake of the apocalypse, Flora has come of age in a highly gendered post-plague society
where females have become a precious, coveted, hunted, and endangered commodity. But Flora
does not participate in the economy that trades in bodies. An anathema in a world that prizes
procreation above all else, she is an outsider everywhere she goes, including the thriving
all-female city of Shy. Now navigating a blighted landscape, Flora, her friends, and a sullen
young slave she adopts as her own child leave their oppressive pasts behind to find their place in
the world. They seek refuge aboard a ship where gender is fluid, where the dynamic is uneasy,
and where rumors flow of a bold new reproductive strategy. When the promise of a miraculous
hope for humanity's future tears Flora's makeshift family asunder, she must choose: protect the
safe haven she's built or risk everything to defy oppression, whatever its provenance. Expertly
narrated by Shakina Nayfack, "The Book of Flora" by Meg Elison is a deftly crafted, thoroughly
entertaining, and impressively original audio book that is especially recommended to the
attention of dedicated science fiction fans and community library audio book collections. (7 CDs,
9 Hours).
Optic Nerve
Maria Gainza, author
Read by Kyla Garcia
HighBridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
https://highbridgeaudio.com
9781684572847 $29.99 amazon.com
Masterfully performed by Kyla Garcia, Optic Nerve is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a
daring novel, the English-language debut of Argentinian writer Maria Gainza. Here is one view
askew after another of episodes in art history - Picasso organizes a cruel banquet in alleged
tribute to Rousseau; El Greco visits the Sistine Chapel and is dismayed by the body images that
Michelangelo created; and much more - which interact with the narrator's life. Sensual,
capricious, and bold, Optic Nerve is an extraordinary tour de force, highly recommended. 5 hours
on 4 CDs.
Afternoon of a Faun
James Lasdun, author
Read by Simon Vance
HighBridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
https://highbridgeaudio.com
9781684418794 $24.99 amazon.com
Superbly performed by Simon Vance, Afternoon of a Faun is an original audiobook about a
journalist who learns that an old flame is about to publish a memoir that accuses him of raping
her, twenty years ago. He wracks his memories - did he truly commit sexual assault in the past?
He remembers a time when the two of them were intoxicated, but the details are hazy, and
dreamlike. Is she a victim wronged, or mistaken in her mind, or something else entirely? The
answers are not immediately clear-cut in this suspenseful psychological drama, highly
recommended. 4 hours on 4 CDs.
Hachette Audio
www.hachetteaudio.com
These seven new audiobook productions are highly recommended for readers seeking vivid
writers and readers, and run the gamut from strong nonfiction to leisure reader drama. Thriller
writer James Patterson has two new arrivals. He works with Max DiLallo on The Chef
(9781549175851, $35.00), which receives a vivid reading by Michael Ziants. This brings to life a
blend of action revolving around the dual careers of police detective and celebrity food truck chef
Caleb Rooney, who finds he is under investigation for a murder committed in the line of duty.
His efforts to save his reputation involve ventures into crime and food worlds alike. Brendan
DuBois works with Patterson on The First Lady (9781549119385, $30.00), which enjoys an
excellent narration by Deborah McBride as it tells of a President's affair and the First Lady's
disappearance. A fine drama keeps readers on their toes and guessing, enhanced by the audio
format. Ben H. Winters' Golden State (9781478917748, $35.00) enjoys a fine rendition by Kiff
Vandenheuvel as it explores a world ruled by truth. In this alternate society, law and truth reign
and the Speculative Service keeps alive the concept of freedom in a Golden State similar to
California, where Americans retreated upon the erosion of truth and government. Sound
familiar? There's lots to like in this absorbing story which reveals the Golden State's operations,
secrets, and deeper social implications. Whitney Scharer's The Age of Light (9781549173424,
$35.00) is narrated by Therese Plummer, who captures the sharp, underlying observations and
sense of discovery that tells of a Vogue model turned famous photographer. Lee's search for an
artistic self and her encounter with Surrealist artist Man Ray creates an engrossing story set
against the backdrop of Bohemian Paris during World War II. Chris Christie's Let Me Finish:
Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics
(9781549175442, $35.00) is narrated by Christie himself, which lends an authenticity to his
impassioned and candid, outspoken consideration of New Jersey politics in general and Trump's
presidency in particular. As Christie sets the record straight about his actions and interactions,
readers receive a series of candid insights into not just Christie, but the Republication party and
political processes as a whole. Richard Castle's Crashing Heat (9781549122231, $30.00) is
narrated by Robert Petkoff and tells of Nikki Heat's faceoff with marriage. Her journalist
husband provides her with pleasure and pain, but she still loves him even though in some ways,
he's ruining her life. When he's given the opportunity to be a visiting professor at his former
school, a female reporter found dead in his bed involves both of them in a terrible crisis that
seems to hold no end in this riveting story. Ocean Robbins wrote and reads the audio version of
31-Day Food Revolution: Heal Your Body, Feel Great, and Transform Your World. It shows
how to free oneself from toxic food, outlines the problems of ingredients that adversely affect the
body, and shows how in just over a month, healthier food choices can succeed in helping with
weight loss and better living. Anyone interested in connections between sugar, processed foods,
and unhealthy animal products who want to eat and feel better will find this audio a key to
beginning the transformation process.
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.
Megg Farrell & Friends
Megg Farrell
http://www.meggfarrell.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $TBA digital itunes.com spotify.com
Available digitally on iTunes and Spotify, Megg Farrell & Friends is a country album inspired by
the deep friendships and shared love of music that Megg Farrell found in the southern states of
America. Inspired by classic country stars such as Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris, she founded
the group "Megg Farrell & Friends". Their album is an unforgettable celebration of Americana,
and a choice pick for fans of the genre! The tracks are "Feelin' Single", "Lovesick Harmony",
"New Orleans Waltz", "When I Learned To Sing", "Tulsa Queen", "New York Love Song", "Ooh
Las Vegas", "Blues In The Womb", and "If I Were A Woman".
Benji & Rita
Benji Kaplan and Rita Figueiredo
www.benjiandrita.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Created and performed by Benji Kaplan and Rita Figueiredo, Benji & Rita is an album of
arranged music inspired by classic songs from the couple's homelands in New York and Brazil.
Both Portuguese lyrics are present in this showcase of the best of both music worlds. Rich,
emotional, and adventurous, Benji & Rita is a unique treat for multicultural album connoisseurs!
The tracks are "Sao Francisco e brasileiro", "Piocera", "Memorial Day", "Valsa da metropole",
"Zenite e Nadir", "Santa Efigenia", "Impetuosa atracao", "Swing do jazz", "Cajubim", "Nao armo
no moco", "Passatempo", "Bryant Park", "Lundu dos orixas", and "A moura do maracaxa".
Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Overture
The Great Kat
http://www.greatkat.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $0.99 MP3 amazon.com
Guitarist/violinist The Great Kat, a.k.a. "The World's Fastest Guitar Shredder", has released
another single in which she guitar-shreds a classic work of music at breakneck speed. Mozart's
The Marriage of Figaro Overture is a revolutionary performance of a timeless composition with
unfettered, vivacious abandon. An eye-opening new way to experience Mozart, Mozart's The
Marriage of Figaro Overture is extraordinary, mesmerizing, and highly recommended!
Riptide
Atlas Maior
atlasmaior.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Riptide is a jazz album that draws upon American and Progressive Jazz, Middle Eastern and
Indian traditions, and Latin American musical elements. Music artist Atlas Maior has crafted
original melodies that experiment with maqamat (the Middle Eastern modal system) as well as
harmonic progressions found in American jazz. A wide range of musical played by talented band
members are incorporated into the performance: Joshua Thompson on alto saxophone, Charlie
Lockwood on the oud (Middle Eastern fretless lute), Josh Peters on the oud, and Ted Camat on
drums and percussion. Guest artists contribute to this bold treasure, highly recommended
especially for connoisseurs of original jazz creations. The tracks are "The Curse", "Riptide",
"Nastaran", "Chamber of Mirrors", "Cumbia Raposa", "Oryx", "Trata", "Iddaa!!", "Huzzam Hive
Pt. 1", "Huzzam Hive Pt. 2", and "Osman Pehlivan".
The Gumption
Tanika Charles
Record Kicks
$14.89 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
Award-nominated Canadian soul star Tanika Charles presents The Gumption, an album of songs
that speak to heartrending emotions - vulnerability, uncertain love, forbidden fruit, and more.
Reflecting the will to grow and improve, The Gumption carries a lasting beauty that resonates in
the listener's heart and mind. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of soul. The
tracks are "Tell Me Something", "Going Home", "Love Overdue", "Remember to Remember",
"Cool Scorpio", "Dans Les Nuages", "Cadillac Moon", "Upside Down", "First & Last", "Look At
Us Now", "Since You Been Gone", and "Always Restless". 38 min.
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.
Anote's Ark
A film by Matthieu Rytz
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
An official selection of the 2018 Sundance film festival, Anote's Ark is a documentary about the
Pacific island nation of Kiribati, a remote land threatened with eradication due to rising sea
levels. President Anote Tong searches for options for his people, ranging from mass migration to
building underwater cities. Many citizens are already traveling overseas to escape rising water,
abandoning 4,000 years of Kiribati culture. Anote's Ark superbly captures the heartrending
beauty of this island paradise, and the quiet desperation of the ongoing, existential threat. Highly
recommended, especially for school and public library DVD collections. 77 min.
Finding Joy
Starring Amy Huberman and Aisling Bea
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$34.99 www.acornonline.com
Finding Joy is a six-episode, life-affirming comedy crafted with wit and aplomb. Created, written
by, and starring Amy Huberman as the routine-centric Joy, whose stable life becomes upended by
a difficult breakup with her live-in boyfriend. Then a promotion forces her to replace her
network's star vlogger, the Happy Hunter, and her new job sends her to increasingly unusual
places that people visit in search of happiness, from wrestling matches to wellness retreats. To
make matters worse, Joy can't seem to stop running into her ex and his gorgeous new girlfriend!
Will Joy find her own path to happiness? Charming and heartwarming, Finding Joy is a
delightful treasure. Bonus materials include a 33 minute behind-the-scenes featurette. 6 episodes,
156 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Agatha Raisin, series two
Starring Ashley Jensen
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
Starring Emmy and SAG-nominated actress Ashley Jensen, Agatha Raisin season is a DVD 3-
disc set of three feature-length murder mysteries that early retiree Agatha Raisin solves in a cozy
small town. She has a knack for unearthing the culprits behind the most bizarre of crimes, but her
love life is a complicated tangle possibly beyond all human reason! The feature-length episodes
are "The Wizard of Evesham", where Agatha suspects her hair salon stylist of blackmailing
clients; "The Fairies of Fryfam", where a local woman hires Agatha to unearth evidence of a
marital affair; and "The Curious Curate", where the arrival of a handsome curate creates a buzz,
but a sudden murder leaves one of Agatha's friends as the prime suspect. Bonus material includes
a behind-the-scenes featurette (52 min.) and a seven-minute "Agatha Asks" segment. Agatha
Raisin series two is a treat for connoisseurs of British mysteries, highly recommended. 3 DVDs,
287 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Qi Gong 30-Day Challenge
Lee Holden
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
1594395512 $29.95 www.ymaa.com
As defined by the National Qigong Association, qigong is a mind-body-spirit practice that
integrates breathing techniques, movement, massage, and focused intent to improve one's health.
Qi Gong 30-Day Challenge is a DVD for viewer-friendly guide for people of all activity levels
and backgrounds. Qigong expert Lee Holden demonstrates a series of 30 seven-minute routines.
One can benefit from Qi Gong 30-Day Challenge in as little as seven minutes a day (or complete
multiple routines for a more sustained exercise session), the better to cultivate a habit that is
excellent for improving one's mood, releasing tension, and revitalizing energy. Qi Gong 30-Day
Challenge is highly recommended as a supplement to fitness DVD libraries, especially as an
introduction to anyone who is new to qigong. 215 min.
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 Fourth String
Janet Pocorobba
Stone Bridge Press
www.stonebridge.com
9781611720464, $16.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
The word sensei in Japanese literally means "one who came before", but that's not what Janet
Pocorobba's teacher wanted to be called. She used her first name, Western-style. She wore a
velour Beatles cap and leather jacket, and she taught foreigners, in English, the three-stringed
shamisen, an instrument that fell out of tune as soon as you started to play it. Vexed by the music
and Sensei's mission to upend an elite musical system, Pocorobba, on the cusp of thirty, gives up
her return ticket home to become a lifelong student of her teacher. She is eventually featured in
Japan Cosmo as one of the most accomplished gaijin, "outside people," to play the instrument.
Part personal memoir, part biography of her Sensei, "The Fourth String: A Memoir of Sensei and
Me" looks back on the initial few years of that apprenticeship, one that Janet's own female
English students advised her was "wife training," steeped in obedience, loyalty, and duty. Even
with her maverick teacher, Janet is challenged by group hierarchies, obscure traditions, and the
tricky spaces of silence in Japanese life. Impressively well written with a distinctive narrative
storytelling style, "The Fourth String" is an inherently fascinating, thoughtful, and compelling
read, making it unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library
Contemporary Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Fourth String" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.67).
Rising Son
Sandra Vea
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632172419, $22.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Masao Abe was a second-generation Japanese American who was swept up in the momentum of
history during World War II. Born in southern California but educated as a teenager in Japan
during the 1930s, he returned to the US and was drafted into the US Army. As he completed
basic training, the attack on Pearl Harbor put his military career in limbo because the US
government didn't know what to do with him or how to think about him--was he an enemy or a
patriot? Masao was eventually recruited to join the secretive Military Intelligence Service: he was
trained to accompany American soldiers as they fought their way across the islands in the Pacific.
His assignment was to convince Japanese Imperial soldiers to lay down their arms, and to read
captured documents looking for enemy strategies. He went to war with a bodyguard because his
commanders knew he wore a target on his front and his back. "Rising Son: A US Soldier's Secret
and Heroic Role in World War II" is little-known slice of history reveals how the confluence of
race, war, and loyalty played out when the nation called for the service of those it judged most
harshly. It is interesting to note of biographer Sandra Vea that Masao Abe is the father of her
partner, Alan Abe. She coaxed Masao's story out of him through years of interviews and
corroborating research. While very highly recommended for both community and academic
library biography collections in general, and World War II supplemental studies reading lists in
particular, "Rising Son" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Starlight Man
Mike Ashley
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781944520649, $22.95, PB, 462pp, www.amazon.com
Writers and reviewers throughout the last 100 years have been extolling the virtues of the tales of
novelist and short story writer Algernon Blackwood (14 March 1869 - 10 December 1951). But
Blackwood was a rolling stone and kept virtually no papers or private records. When Mike
Ashley decided to research Blackwood's life in 1978 he had no idea that over forty years later he
would still be researching. A first edition of the biography was published in 2001 but that had to
be edited down, and Ashley knew at that time that there were still many unanswered questions.
Since then some of those questions have been answered and though there still remains some
mystery about Blackwood (and maybe that adds to his aura and fascination) Ashley has now
brought the biography up to date in this new edition of "Starlight Man: The Extraordinary Life of
Algernon Blackwood", restoring the text that was removed and adding more of the results of his
researches. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and
academic library American Biography collections, this new and expanded edition of "Starlight
Man" is the most extensive and thorough study of Blackwood's life and works revealing more
about the mystic, the adventurer, the innocent, the seeker.
An Englishman in Texas
Ron Kenney, author
Kimberly Davis, editor
Madville Publishing LLC
PO Box 358, Lake Dallas, TX 75065
9781948692021, $16.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
"An Englishman in Texas" is a deftly scripted and impressively candid memoir by Ron Kenney,
who was an English jockey who came to the United States in 1960. This autobiographical
account begins with his childhood in the northeast of England during WWII. Ron then goes on to
describe how, with no knowledge of horses, he was sent four hundred miles from home at 14
years of age to apprentice as a jockey. Ron had been turned away by the foreman at the coal mine
because he was too small. The story also follows Ron through his coming of age to his coming to
America when he was 30. It follows his fortunes in pursuit of the American Dream. "An
Englishman in Texas" also tells of riding horses for some of the wealthiest and most famous
horse trainers in Texas. Deftly edited by Kimberly Davis, "An Englishman in Texas" is the
intensely personal and inherently interesting story of Ron's loves, his betrayals, and introduces
the people who helped him along the way, making this memoir an unreservedly recommended
addition to personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library Contemporary
American Biography collections.
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.
Formula 1: Car by Car: 1980-89
Peter Higham
Evro Publishing Limited
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781910505236, $79.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
The third volume in the simply outstanding, decade-by-decade history of Formula 1 racing,
"Formula 1: Car by Car: 1980-89" by Peter Higham (who for nearly 30 years worked for
Haymarket Consumer Media, the publisher of motor racing magazines and websites, and for half
of that period was director of LAT Photographic, which is the world's largest motor racing photo
archive), features: A year-by-year treatment covering each season in fascinating depth, running
through the teams (and their various cars) in order of importance; The two teams that dominated
the decade (McLaren and Williams) taking all but two of the drivers' and constructors' titles
including McLaren's World Champions were Niki Lauda (1984), Alain Prost (1985, 1986 and
1989) and Ayrton Senna (1988), while Williams's were Alan Jones (1980), Keke Rosberg (1982)
and Nelson Piquet (1987); The two other significant winning teams which were Brabham, who
took Nelson Piquet to two drivers' titles (1981 and 1983), and Ferrari, which won two
constructors' titles (1982 and 1983). Also featured are other winning marques such as Benetton,
Ligier, Lotus, Renault and Tyrrell. Profusely illustrated with more than 600 photos (entirely in
color and all from the magnificent archives of LAT Images) show every type of car raced by
every team and driver, presenting a comprehensive survey of all participants. The sweep of the
decade covers sustained technical advances, particularly in carbon-fiber construction and
ever-increasing power outputs. Of special note is the informatively detailed text that includes car
specifications and technical essentials. A nostalgic joy to browse through by all dedicated
Formula 1 racing fans, Peter Higham's "Formula 1: Car by Car: 1980-89" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and academic library Automotive History collections in
general, and Formula 1 Racing supplemental studies lists in particular.
Chevelle Restoration and Authenticity Guide 1970-1972
Dale McIntosh & Rick Nelson
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613254295, $36.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
The high-water mark of the muscle car era is usually credited as 1970, and for good reason;
Chevrolet was now stuffing high-powered 454 engines into Chevelles. Adding a larger
displacement above the still-available 396 (402) offered buyers the option to order the most
powerful production car of that era. The 1970-1972 Chevelles remain the most collectible of the
model to this day. Author and historian Dale McIntosh pairs with restoration expert Rick Nelson
to provide this bible of authenticity on the legendary 1970, 1971, and 1972 Chevelle models.
Everything about restoring your Chevelle back to bone-stock is covered meticulously, including
step-by-step instructions for chassis and interior restoration. Understanding date variances on
parts applicable to the build date of your Chevelle is vital to a factory-correct restoration, and
including them in this book provides a depth of coverage on these cars that is unequaled.
Restoring a 1970-1972 Chevelle back to concours correct takes a certain amount of expertise.
Thankfully, Rick and Dale have done a lot of the heavy lifting on the research side. With this
authenticity guide, you can be confident that you have all the correct components and options
accurately and expertly represented for your stock restoration. These fine details put the Chevelle
Restoration and Authenticity Guide 1970-1972 a cut above the rest. Profusely illustrated
throughout, "Chevelle Restoration and Authenticity Guide 1970-1972" is expertly organized and
presented, making it a valued and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
and community library 20th Century Automotive History collections in general, and Chevelle
repair and restoration instructional reference collections in particular.
Ford 429/460 Engines: How to Rebuild
Charles Morris
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613254929, $29.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
In this newly revised and profusely illustrated edition of "Ford 429/460 Engines: How to
Rebuild", dedicated Ford expert Charles Morris covers all the procedures, processes, and
techniques for rebuilding a 385 Series big-block engine. A detailed step-by-step text provides
details for determining whether the engine actually needs a rebuild, preparation and removal,
disassembly, inspection, cleaning, machining and parts selection, reassembly, start-up, and
tuning. Also included is a chapter in building the special Boss 429 engines, as well as a bonus
chapter on the Ford 351 Cleveland, Ford's little brother to the big-block. An ideal instruction and
reference guide on the subject, "Ford 429/460 Engines: How to Rebuild" will prove to be a
welcome addition to personal, professional, community library, and technical college autoshop
collections.
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).
Growing Your Own Tea Garden
Jodi Helmer
CompanionHouse Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781620083222, $18.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
The ideal do-it-yourself instruction guide and manual for the gardener and tea enthusiast,
"Growing Your Own Tea Garden: The Guide to Growing and Harvesting Flavorful Teas in Your
Backyard" is packed with inspiration, illustrations, and practical instructions for cultivating and
enjoying delicious teas on even the most modest plot of ground. Author Jodi Helmer (who is an
experienced journalist who writes about food, gardening, farming, the environment and
sustainable living) will help even the most novice of gardeners to effectively and successfully
plan and plant a productive backyard tea garden. With sample garden designs and cultivation
advice, Jodi shows how to choose the right crops for a particular soil and climate, and starting
with the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), then going on through a comprehensive survey of tisanes,
or herbal teas, readers will discover how to grow the full range of herbal infusions that make
wonderful teas, from flowering chamomile and lavender to chicory roots, rose hips, lemon
verbena, peppermint, aromatic bergamot and more. Jodi also shows how to harvest, dry and store
tea to enjoy all year long, -- along with brewing tips and creative recipes. It should be noted that
sample tea garden designs include instructions for growing tea in container gardens and raised
beds, understanding the differences between black tea, green tea, white tea and herbal tea, drying
and storing tea leaves for consumption on cool autumn days, and 'Let it steep: how to brew the
perfect cup of tea'. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Growing Your
Own Tea Garden" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and
community library DIY Gardening instructional reference collections.
Growing Berries and Fruit Trees in the Pacific Northwest
Tara Austen Weaver
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632171559, $19.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
"Growing Berries and Fruit Trees in the Pacific Northwest" by Tara Austen Weaver is a complete
and comprehensive instructional reference and guide to backyard fruit tree and berry bush
growers covering recommended varieties and climate info specifically for the Pacific Northwest
both west and east of the Cascades with their ideal climates for growing berries and fruit trees.
Also included are informative sidebars showcasing historical orchards, fruit enthusiast societies,
gleaning organizations, and more. Also included are several recommended cultivars of each of
the following types of fruit: Berries -- strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi
berries, plus less common berries such as lingonberries, elderberries, currants, gooseberries,
jostaberries, and a section on wild berries; Fruit trees -- apples, pears, Asian pears, cherries,
peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, plus less common fruit trees such as figs, persimmons, and
quince. Beautifully illustrated, exceptionally well organized and presented, "Growing Berries and
Fruit Trees in the Pacific Northwest" is an ideal, unique, and unreservedly recommended addition
to community, college, and university library collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Growing Berries and Fruit Trees in the Pacific Northwest" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Herbs
Holly Farrell, author
Jason Ingram, illustrator
White Lion Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9780711239364, $16.00, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com
The culinary herbs showcased in "The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Herbs: The Art and
Science to Grow Your Own Herbs" provide flavors and scents unlike any other. Culinary herbs
are a living trove of fresh flavors for any cook, with an almost alchemical power to transform the
simplest dish. Herbs can be used as seeds, flowers, or leaves; cooked and eaten themselves or
used to infuse a dish or drink. They are popping up in artisan gin, ice cubes and cocktail syrups;
in foraged dishes and kitchen gardens of the best restaurants as chefs realize that often the only
way to capture that elusive flavor is to have home-grown, freshly harvested herbs on their
doorstep. With "The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Herbs" these intense flavors can now be
a reality for gardeners and food enthusiasts with any size of garden, from an acre to a window
box. Underpinned by the authority of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the expertise of Holly
Farrell "The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Herbs" combines practical elements with
inspiration and beauty. Aspiring herb gardeners will find out how to grow herbs in all situations,
how to plant, propagate and harvest, then the 80 most exciting herbs are identified, illustrated and
their uses explained. "The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Herbs" is enhanced with the
inclusion of Jason Ingram's specially commissioned photography for 12 projects which show
how to develop a herb garden at the next level and use herbs in the most interesting ways from
planting a herb roof to making herbal oils. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$10.57), "The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Herbs" is an especially recommended addition
to personal, community, and academic library Gardening instructional reference collections.
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).
Turning the Flywheel
Jim Collins
Harper Business
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway, New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062933799, $14.99, PB, 46pp, www.amazon.com
"Good to Great" is a companion guidebook to the author Jim Collins' "Turning the Flywheel: A
Monograph to Accompany Good to Great". The key to business success is not a single innovation
or one plan. It is the act of turning the flywheel, slowly gaining momentum and eventually
reaching a breakthrough. Collins teaches readers how to create their own flywheel, how to
accelerate the flywheel's momentum, and how to stay on the flywheel in shifting markets and
during times of turbulence. Combining research from his Good to Great labs and case studies
from organizations like Amazon, Vanguard, and the Cleveland Clinic which have turned their
flywheels with outstanding results, Collins demonstrates that successful organizations can disrupt
the world around them (and reach unprecedented success) by employing the flywheel concept. As
thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Turning the Flywheel" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library
Business Management collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
entrepreneurs, business students, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "Turning the Flywheel" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio,
9781473217713, $31.85).
Leading Loyalty
Sandy Rogers, Leena Rinne, Shawn Moon
Amacom
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway, New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780814439395, $24.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
For any business or entrepreneurial enterprise to thrive in today's economy, it's not enough for customers to merely like you. They have to love
you. Win their hearts and they will not only purchase more -- they'll talk you up to everyone they
know. But what turns casual customers into passionate promoters? What makes people stick with
you for the long haul? "Leading Loyalty: Cracking The Code To Customer Devotion" is the
result of an extensive study that involved 1,100 stores and thousands of people and features
examples that stood out in terms of revenues and profitability. "Leading Loyalty" shows how to:
Make warm, authentic connections; Ask the right questions; Listen to learn; Discover the real job
to be done; Take ownership of the customer's issue; Follow up and strengthen the relationship;
Share insights openly and kindly; Surprise people with unexpected extras; Model, teach, and
reinforce these essential behaviors through weekly team huddles. Even small improvements
mean a big boost to a bottom line and improve business overall. While very highly recommended
for community, corporate, and academic library Business Management instructional reference
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of entrepreneurs, business owners
and managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Leading
Loyalty" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781721348251, $24.99, CD).
Management and Leadership
Alex Stajkovic & Kayla Sergent
Research Paradigms Applied, LLC
www.stajkovic.biz
9781733827508, $19.95, PB, 70pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of Alex Stajkovic (who is the M. Keith Weikel Distinguished Chair in
Leadership at the Wisconsin of School Business) and Kayla Sergent (who is an Assistant
Professor of Organizational Behavior at Edgewood College School of Business), "Management
and Leadership: What Can MBA Do in My Workday?" is a straight-forward, easy-to-read,
pocketbook formatted reference guide to classic theories in work motivation. Making business
choices based on fiery proclamations, flimsy data, and equivocal recommendations leads to
questionable results. Evidence-based answers are needed for career and corporate success.
Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Management and Leadership" should be
considered a 'must read' reference for all MBA students and graduates as they seek to establish
themselves in the corporate world.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Emotion Code
Dr. Bradley Nelson
St. Martin's Essentials
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250214508, $27.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly revised and expanded edition. "The Emotion Code: How to Release Your
Trapped Emotions for Abundant Health, Love, and Happiness" by renowned holistic physician
and lecturer Dr. Bradley Nelson skillfully lays bare the inner workings of the subconscious mind.
Dr. Nelson deftly reveals how emotionally-charged events from your past can still be haunting
you in the form of "trapped emotions" in the form of emotional energies that literally inhabit your
body. These trapped emotions can fester in your life and body, creating pain, malfunction, and
eventual disease. They can also extract a heavy mental and emotional toll on you, impacting how
you think, the choices that you make, and the level of success and abundance you are able to
achieve. Perhaps most damaging of all, trapped emotional energies can gather around your heart,
cutting off your ability to give and receive love. "The Emotion Code" offers a powerful,
effective, and simple way to rid yourself of this unseen baggage. Dr. Nelson's method gives you
the tools to identify and release the trapped emotions in your life, eliminating your "emotional
baggage," and opening your heart and body to the positive energies of the world. Filled with
real-world examples from many years of clinical practice, "The Emotion Code" is unreservedly
recommended for both community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement
instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Emotion
Code" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Macmillan Audio, 9781250222015, $39.99, CD).
The Secret Lives of Adults
Allison Keating
Y Lolfa
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780717179565, $28.00, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Adulthood is tough. As we try to divide ourselves between our partner, children, parents,
siblings, friends and colleagues, it is no wonder we can feel overwhelmed, often neglecting the
most important relationship of all -- the one we have with ourselves. In "The Secret Lives of
Adults: Your Seven Key Relationships - How to Make Them Work", Allison Keating (a
Chartered Psychologist with the Psychological School of Ireland) invites the reader to audit and
improve their seven key relationships, looking at how their past has influenced who you are
today by answering four essential questions: Is there a big gap between your public and private
self?; What are your expectations of others and of yourself?; Do you understand why you react to
certain comments?; Do you repeat patterns of behavior in your relationships? "The Secret Lives
of Adults" provides do-it-yourself exercises and techniques to help the reader understand why he
or she behaves as they do in each part of their life, allowing them to unlock the secret to less
stressful and more meaningful relationships. Impressively organized and presented, "The Secret
Lives of Adults" is an extraordinary, life-changing, life-enhancing, and 'user friendly' read. While
very highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Secret Lives of Adults" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $11.89).
Three Rules for Living a Good Life
Lou Holtz
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781594719066, $16.95, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com
In "Three Rules for Living a Good Life: A Game Plan for after Graduation", the legendary
former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz shared three easy to remember and impossible to
forget rules for life during a commencement address at Franciscan University Steubenville. The
are: Do what is right; Do everything to the best of your ability; Show people you care. That
address, now expanded into book form, offers a quick, sometimes humorous, and always
practical formula for recent college graduates and other young adults to reach success in their
business, personal, and spiritual lives. A quick and easy read that is as inspired and inspiring as it
is insightful and life-changing, it should be noted that "Three Rules for Living a Good Life" is
also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Strangeness of Truth
Fr. Damian Ference
Pauline Books & Media
50 St. Paul's Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3433
www.paulinemedia.com
9780819891266, $16.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Our lives are filled with questions, and our world is filled with answers: in the cloud, online, and
in libraries of books. But the answers to the most important questions are rarely straightforward.
In fact, sometimes the truth is downright strange. But somehow, even in its strangeness, truth
reveals a clarity that calls forth a response from the depths of one's being. If you allow yourself to
be open to the strangeness of truth, it can change your life. That is the principle and inspiring
message of "The Strangeness of Truth: Vibrant Faith In A Dark World" by Rev. Damian J.
Ference (who is a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, and who has served as Director of Human
Formation and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio).
While very highly recommended for church, seminary, and academic library Christian Studies
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Strangeness of Truth" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
The Magnificent Journey
James Bryan Smith
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
www.ivpress.com
9780830846382, $22.00, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
The secular world holds to such maxims as: "Look out for yourself first" and "Nice guys finish
last". But following that path leaves Christians feeling isolated and anxious, and can even take
them to a place of spiritual ruin. There is a road to life in the unshakeable kingdom of God, but
it's not an easy journey. In "The Magnificent Journey: Living Deep in the Kingdom, James Bryan
Smith (who is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, serves as the
director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University, is a
founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovare, and an ordained
United Methodist Church minister who has served in various capacities in local churches) shows
us the better road, the road less travelled, but the road full of riches. Along the way he introduces
us to new spiritual practices that will provide the sustenance we need for the deepest, most
joy-filled journey of our lives -- the journey into the heart of God. Inspired and inspiring, "The
Magnificent Journey" is very highly commended to the attention of all Christians regardless of
denominational affiliations. It should be noted that "The Magnificent Journey" is also available in
a paperback edition (9780830846399, $21.88) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
One Coin Found
Emmy Kegler
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9781506448213, $18.99, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Emmy Kegler is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Northeast Minneapolis. She is the
coordinator and editor of Queer Grace, an online encyclopedia for LGBTQ and Christian life,
and a sought-after speaker. Emmy has had a complicated relationship with the Bible. As a queer
woman who grew up in both conservative Evangelical and progressive Protestant churches, she
knows too well how Scripture can be used to wound and exclude. And yet, the stories of
Scripture continue to captivate and inspire her -- both as a person of faith and as a pastor to a
congregation. So she set out to fall in love with the Bible, wrestling with the stories inside, where
she met a God who continues to seek us out -- appearing again and again as a voice, a presence,
and a promise. Whenever we are pushed to the edges, our voices silenced, or our stories
dismissed, God goes out after us -- seeking us until we are found again. And God is seeking out
those whose voices we too quickly silence and dismiss, too. Because God's story is a story of
welcome and acceptance for everyone -- no exceptions. Emmy shows us that even when we feel
like lost and dusty coins (rusted from others' indifference, misspent and misused) God picks up a
broom and sweeps every corner of creation to find us. Inspired and inspiring, "One Coin Found:
How God's Love Stretches to the Margins" is especially recommended reading for all members
of the Christian community -- regardless of their denominational affiliations.
The Essential Karl Barth
Keith L. Johnson
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9781540960733, $40.00, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Karl Barth (May 10, 1886 - December 10, 1968) was one of the most influential theologians of
the 20th century. His work is considered essential reading for every dedicated student of
Christian theology. Reading Barth's theology poses a challenge, however, because of the sheer
size of his corpus, the complexity of his claims, and the distance between his context and the
context of his readers. "The Essential Karl Barth: A Reader and Commentary" by Keith L.
Johnson is an accessible and ideal introduction by a respected scholar in Barthian studies who
offers a one-stop resource on Barth's thought, providing a selection of his most important
writings, critical commentary, and detailed introductory and concluding chapters. While
unreservedly recommended for community, church, seminary, college, and university library
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, clergy, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the life and work of Karl Barth, that is
compendium is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.58).
Budgeting for a Healthy Church
Jamie Dunlop
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
www.zondervan.com
9780310093862, $14.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Jamie Dunlop has served as Associate Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC
since 2009 where, in addition to general pastoral duties, he oversees administration and adult
education and coordinates oversight of several non-profits based at the church. Prior to joining
the church staff, he worked for a decade in business, managing an operating unit of a large
consultancy while serving his church as a lay elder. In "Budgeting for a Healthy Church:
Aligning Finances with Biblical Priorities for Ministry" Pastor Dunlop draws upon his years of
experience and expertise to present the church budget as a financial tool and a pastoral tool. A
church's philosophy of ministry is locked into its budget, and so the budget will either stifle or
accelerate any attempts to move a congregation toward a biblical model of church health. As
such, the church budget is a far more potent pastoral tool than many church leaders realize.
"Budgeting for a Healthy Church" deftly examines each section of the budget in light of Biblical
principles to show how a church budget can lock in healthy approaches to ministry. Whereas
most books on church budgeting are "how" books, explaining how the budgeting process should
work, this is a "what" book, helping church leaders determine the pastoral implications of what
they choose to fund in their budgets. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Budgeting for a Healthy Church" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) and
unreservedly recommended for church and seminary collections, as well as the personal reading
lists of Protestant pastors and ministers regardless of denominational affiliations.
Diverse Voices in Modern US Moral Theology
Charles E. Curran
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781626166318, $104.95, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
In "Diverse Voices in Modern US Moral Theology", Charles E. Curran (who is the Elizabeth
Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University) presents the
diverse voices of US Catholic moral theologians from the mid-twentieth century to the present.
Professor Curran discusses eleven key individuals in the development and evolution of moral
theology as well as the New Wine, New Wineskins movement. This diversity, which differs from
the monolithic understanding of moral theology that prevailed until recently, comes from the
diverse historical circumstances or Sitz im Leben of the authors. Each of these theologians
developed her or his approach in light of these circumstances and in response to shifts in the
three audiences of moral theology -- the Church, the academy, and the broader society. While
also available in a paperback edition (978-1626166325, $34.95) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $19.92), "Diverse Voices in Modern US Moral Theology" unreservedly recommended
for seminary and academic library Contemporary Christian Studies collections, and certain be an
important resource for clergy, students and scholars of US Catholic moral theology, as well as
non-specialist general readers seeking to understand the current state of moral theology in
America today from a Catholic perspective.
A Critical Study of the Rule of Benedict - Volume 3
Adalbert de Vogue
New City Press
202 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565486010, $49.95, PB, 354pp, www.amazon.com
The work of Adalbert de Vogue, OSB (1924 2011) serves as the basis of all serious study of the
Rule of Benedict. "A Critical Study of the Rule of Benedict: Liturgy, Sleeping Arrangements,
and the Penal Code (RB 8-20, 22-30, 42-46)" is third volume in the New City Press series "A
Critical Study of The Rule of Benedict" and interprets The Rule, especially those facets of
monastic life that secular readers might find unimportant such as prayer regimen, psalmody,
correction of faults, and everyday routines like sleeping arrangements. Written in accord with
standards of meticulous scholarship in an accessible translation by Benedictine Sister Colleen
Maura McGrane, this volume specifically traces how Benedict departed from earlier Rules and
explains why, more than 1,500 years later, monasteries still follow these practices. "A Critical
Study of the Rule of Benedict: Liturgy, Sleeping Arrangements, and the Penal Code (RB 8-20,
22-30, 42-46)" is a critically important and unreservedly recommended addition to seminary and
academic Benedictine Studies collections.
Practical Holiness
Albert Hasse, OFM
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781640601970, $15.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
In "Practical Holiness: Pope Francis as Spiritual Companion" features anecdotes about people
and stories about saints as part of an informative exploration of Pope Francis's apostolic
exhortation, Rejoice and Be Glad: On the Call to Holiness in Today's World. While there are no
cookie-cutter approaches to holiness, "Practical Holiness" encourages you to rediscover your own
unique way of living out the Beatitudes and Jesus's two-fold command of love and the "five great
expressions of love of God and neighbor" which are essential for any Christian in our
self-absorbed, digital culture. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter, as well as forty
personal questions at the end of "Practical Holiness", make this ideal for reflection, adult faith
formation, book clubs, spiritual directors and their directees, and further catechesis during the
RCIA's Mystogogia period between Easter and Pentecost. Inspired and inspiring, "Practical
Holiness" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.69).
Give Up Worry for Lent!
Gary Zimak
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781594718816, $13.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
During the season of Lent, Catholics and other Christians frequently give up something they
enjoy as a measure of penance or self-discipline -- and often fall back into old habits at the first
"Alleluia!" In Give Up Worry for Lent!, Gary Zimak (Director of Parish Services at Mary,
Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church in North Wales, Pennsylvania) offers fellow worriers
practical, scripture-centered advice on how to relinquish the need to control the uncontrollable
(not just for Lent but for good) and how to find peace in Christ. From Ash Wednesday to Easter
Sunday, Zimak guides you to ponder a scripture passage and to apply it to your own life by
following four simple steps: Read, Reflect, Respond, Pray. As you continue to meditate on
scripture and practice the simple action steps at the end of each reflection, you will find it easier
to replace old worries with new messages of hope and to change your life forever. Inspired and
inspiring, "Give Up Worry for Lent!: 40 Days to Finding Peace in Christ" is especially
recommended to the attention of all members of the Roman Catholic community.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Redeeming Relevance in the Book of Leviticus
Rabbi Francis Nataf
Urim Publications
c/o KTAV Publishing House
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9781602803343, $21.95, HC, 104pp, www.amazon.com
The Jewish people has a rather peculiar relationship with the book of Leviticus. On the one hand,
almost all serious Jews are aware that many of Judaism's most important laws and ideas are to be
found in the Torah's middle book. Yet in spite of these highlights, Leviticus also contains
material that the average reader will find less stimulating. Many of its laws are directed to the
priestly elite in charge of the Temple service. In "Redeeming Relevance in the Book of Leviticus:
Explorations in Text and Meaning", Rabbi Francis Nataf (a Jerusalem-based educator and writer)
tells us that the Torah's middle book is actually also its most important. That is because the sons
of Aharon and their descendants serve as a model for the entire Jewish people. Once we know
what is expected from them, we can have a better idea of what is expected from us. As illustrated
in this volume of Redeeming Relevance, the central Torah principle encrypted in Leviticus is
nothing less than a call for all Jews to do their utmost to help the rest of mankind. This is the
center of the Torah; the rest is commentary. Impressively informative and exceptionally well
presented, "Redeeming Relevance in the Book of Leviticus" is very highly recommended for
community, synagogue, and academic library Judaic Studies collections and personal reading
lists.
Monsters and Monstrosity in Jewish History
Iris Idelson-Shein & Christian Wiese, editors
Bloomsbury Academia
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781350052147, $114.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Jews have occupied a liminal position within European society and culture, being deeply
immersed yet outsiders to it. For this reason, they were perceived in terms of otherness and were
often represented as monstrous beings. However, at the same time, European Jews invoked, with
tantalizing ubiquity, images of magical, terrifying and hybrid beings in their texts, art and
folktales. These images were used by Jewish authors and artists to push back against their own
identification as monstrous or diabolical and to tackle concerns about religious persecution,
assimilation and acculturation, gender and sexuality, science and technology and the rise of
antisemitism. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Iris Idelson-Shein (who is
the Gerda Henkel Research Fellow at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany) and
Christian Wiese (who holds the Martin Buber Chair in Jewish Thought and Philosophy at Goethe
University Frankfurt am Main, Germany), "Monsters and Monstrosity in Jewish History: From
the Middle Ages to Modernity" brings together an impressive cast of contributors from around
the world, this fascinating volume that will prove to be an enduringly invaluable resource for
academics, postgraduates and advanced undergraduates interested in Jewish studies, as well as
the history of monsters. While "Monsters and Monstrosity in Jewish History" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and academic library Judaic History & Culture
collections and supplemental studies curriculum reading lists. It should be noted for students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Monsters and
Monstrosity in Jewish History" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $92.39).
The Sacred Exchange
Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, editor
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881233339, $23.95, PB, 490pp, www.amazon.com
Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, "The Sacred Exchange: Creating
a Jewish Money Ethic" is the newest addition to the CCAR Press Challenge and Change series.
This anthology of 36 informative articles creates a rich and varied discussion about the ethics of
money from a Judaic perspective. Our use of and relationship with money must reflect our
religious values -- "The Sacred Exchange" aims to start a comprehensive conversation within the
Jewish community about how Judaism can guide us in this multi-faceted relationship. A unique
and ground-breaking anthology, "The Sacred Exchange" will prove to be a welcome and
enduringly valued addition to synagogue, community, college, and university library Judaic
Studies collections, as well as the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Railroading Shelf
The Southwold Railway 1879 - 1929
David Lee, Alan Taylor, and Rob Shrland-Ball
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781473867581, $60.00, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com
"The Southwold Railway 1879 - 1929: The Tale of a Suffolk Byway" showcases of one of East
Anglia's minor railways: A 3ft gauge railway, single track, just over 8 miles long from
Halesworth (connections to London) across the heathland and marshes of East Suffolk to the
seaside resort and harbor of Southwold. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Southwold
Railway 1879 - 1929" collates the research and memories of one of the last surviving passengers
with maps and pictures to tell a fascinating tale of immaculate passenger service, management
from a distant London office, closure at very short notice, and twenty-first century revival.
Extraordinarily informative, "The Southwold Railway 1879 - 1929" is particularly recommended
for the personal reading lists of all railroading history buffs and will prove to be an enduringly
popular and valued addition to both community and academic library Railroading History
collections and supplemental studies lists.
Twenty First Century Narrow Gauge: A Pictorial Journey
James Waite
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781473887671, $70.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com
James Waite has been a skilled railway photographer for many years. In the illustrated pages of
"Twenty First Century Narrow Gauge: A Pictorial Journey" he has brought together period
photographs of many of the world's steam-worked narrow gauge railways in the twenty-first
century, concentrating mostly on views which show the scenery, both natural and man-made,
through which they ran. They are accompanied by extended captions; the fruit of extensive
research containing much historical information about the railways and their locos. "Twenty First
Century Narrow Gauge: A Pictorial Journey" also offers many fascinating insights into the
districts and communities which they serve, along with anecdotes about his adventures while
visiting them which are often amusing and always informative. A welcome addition to all
personal, community, and academic library railroading history collections, "Twenty First Century
Narrow Gauge: A Pictorial Journey" is a truly extraordinary volume that will be especially
appreciated by dedicated railroading history buffs.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Backcountry Flies
Steve Kantner
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811737111, $29.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
A South Florida fixture for the past 50 years, Steve Kantner has walked (and fished) practically
every foot of surf, pier, and canal bank that's accessible on foot. He has written for Salt Water
Sportsman, Florida Sportsman, Fly Rod & Reel, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, and the South
Florida Sun-Sentinel, and has served as editor-at-large and opinion columnist for Florida Fishing
Weekly. He is the author of Ultimate Guide to Fishing South Florida on Foot and contributed to
A Passion for Tarpon and A Net Full of Tails. Florida's coastal fishing has suffered over the
years, and more and more anglers are turning toward the inland waters to fish for trophy
largemouth bass, peacock bass, snook, baby tarpon, cichlids, and a host of other exotic species.
In "Backcountry Flies: Tying and Fishing Florida Patterns, from Swamp to Surf", Kantner draws
upon his years of experience and expertise to create a profusely illustrated instructional guide and
manual specifically dedicated to fly patterns for these fish and includes step-by-step instructions
as well as fishing information that will prove invaluable -- especially to the novice angler. While
very highly recommended, especially for community library collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Backcountry Flies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$22.79).
The Predator and Varmint Hunter's Guidebook
Patrick Meitin
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.krausebooks.com
9781440248504, $24.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Predators and varmints offer many fun and affordable ways to enjoy the shooting sports with
almost year-round hunting opportunities. From small ground squirrels and prairie dogs to
freezer-filling wild hogs and potentially lucrative coyotes and bobcats, nowhere else can the
firearms enthusiast receive so much shooting opportunity. In "The Predator and Varmint Hunter's
Guidebook", experienced hunter Patrick Meitin covers the many different varmints and predators
available to be hunted around the country, in addition to the best tactics, rifles, handguns, optics,
ammunition and more, to employ for hunting success. "The Predator and Varmint Hunter's
Guidebook" features: An overview of the many species of varmints and predators in North
America; Proven hunting and shooting tactics for the most popular species; Long-range shooting
tips and tactics; Insights into the rifles, handguns, gear and optics used by top predator and
varmint hunters, including suppressors and airguns; In-depth discussion of the best cartridges for
predator and varmint hunting; Expert advice on handloading many popular cartridges; Equipment
directory featuring the latest hunting and shooting gear. Profusely and usefully illustrated
throughout, "The Predator and Varmint Hunter's Guidebook" is an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal and community library Hunting/Fishing instructional
reference collections. It should be noted that "The Predator and Varmint Hunter's Guidebook" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.74).
The Science Shelf
Virginia Rocks!
Albert B. Dickas
Mountain Press
9780878426881, $18.00, www.mountain-press.com
Virginia Rocks! A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Old Dominion provides destination visitors and
geology students alike with a practical guide to some 50 of the best sites in the state for viewing
rocks, minerals, and landforms, and adds to this publisher's state-by-state 'Geology Rocks!' series.
Rock hounds and geology students will find these site references key to locating visual examples
of Virginia's geological wonders, and will find the color photos of rocks and landscapes to be
perfect accompaniments to the descriptions of terrain and geologic features unique to each
area.
The Technology Shelf
Electrical Engineering Exam Prep: Problems and Solutions
R.R. Gupta and J.R. Claycomb
Mercury Learning
9781683921127, $49.95 www.merclearning.com
Electrical Engineering Exam Prep: Problems and Solutions provides several thousand questions
and answers covering various types of electrical engineering exams, and is a top reference for any
electrical engineering student looking to pretest their knowledge of key concepts. The multiple
choice questions and their answers provide opportunities for self-study and covers topics ranging
form measurement and power systems to engineering mathematics, instrumentation, circuitry in
various systems, and more. College-level students who believe they are already well versed in the
basics will welcome the opportunity to test this knowledge using this primer before taking their
first tests.
Artech House
www.artechhouse.com
Nam-Trung Nguyen, et.al.'s updated edition of a classic engineering reference, Fundamentals and
Applications of Microfluidics, third edition (9781630813642, $149.00), provides professionals
and students alike with a solid discussion of the field, revising and expanding sections to include
new material and approaches to understanding and working with microfluidic power sources,
drug delivery systems, and more. It will serve as both a basic introductory primer to microfluidics
and as a refresher course to choosing the best fabrication and technology for microfluidic
applications. Engineers will appreciate the wealth of data tables and calculations within the
survey which will allow them to quickly get up to speed. Victor C. Chen's second edition of The
Micro-Doppler Effect in Radar (9781630815462, $189.00) is written by an expert in radar
technology ans has been updated and expanded to include the latest information in
micro-Doppler radar. This book examines how to both generate and analyze micro-Doppler
signatures from radar signals, and covers various applications of micro-Doppler from health to
engineering technology. Charts, graphs, and equations enhance discussions specific to radar
technology.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Magic: The Gathering Cards
Ben Bleiweiss
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.krausebooks.com
9781440248801, $27.99, PB, 512pp, www.amazon.com
Ben Bleiweiss is the general manager of StarCityGames.com, the world's largest Magic retailer.
He is an expert in Magic finance, pricing Magic cards for the past 15 years, including the
20-million inventory of singles cards at Star City Games. Magic: The Gathering is the world's
most played trading card game. Now for the first time in the game's 25-year history, Ben has
drawn upon his experience and expertise to create the only guide on the market to capture all the
magic (and value) of thousands of cards released for MTG. Featuring 165 unique card sets,
"Magic: The Gathering Cards - The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide" beautifully showcases
the rarest and most valuable cards on the secondary market, including an Alpha Black Lotus
worth more than $27,000! There are also a wealth of expert tips for collecting and card
investing. Authoritative and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Magic: The
Gathering Cards - The Unofficial Ultimate Collector's Guide" is an essential acquisition for all
dedicated Magic: The Gathering fans and collectors -- and will prove to be an enduringly popular
addition to community and academic library collections as well!
The Political Science Shelf
The Democracy Fix
Caroline Fredrickson
The New Press
120 Wall Street, floor 31, New York, NY 10005
www.thenewpress.com
9781620973899, $25.99, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Despite representing the beliefs of a minority of the American public on many issues,
conservatives are in power not just in Washington, DC, but also in state capitals and courtrooms
across the country. They got there because, while progressives fought to death over the nuances
of policy and to bring attention to specific issues, conservatives focused on simply gaining power
by gaming our democracy. They understood that policy follows power, not the other way around.
Now, in "The Democracy Fix: How to Win the Fight for Fair Rules, Fair Courts, and Fair
Elections", Caroline Fredrickson (who has had a front-row seat on the political drama in DC for
decades while working to shape progressive policies as special assistant for legislative affairs to
President Clinton, chief of staff to Senator Maria Cantwell, deputy chief of staff to Senator Tom
Daschle, and president of the American Constitution Society) persuasively argues that it's time
for progressives to focus on winning. "The Democracy Fix" shows how Democrats can learn
from the right by having the determination to focus on judicial elections, state power, and voter
laws without stooping to their dishonest, rule-breaking tactics. The underlying message is that
Democrats must be ruthless in thinking through how work to change the rules of the game to
regain power, expand the franchise, end voter suppression, win judicial elections, and fight for
transparency and fairness. Offering a 'real world' blueprint for political success in the era of
Trump and the forthcoming 2020 elections, "The Democracy Fix" should be on the personal
reading list of every political activist seeking a restoration of American values that have been so
badly undermined these past two years as evidence by the Muller Report. While very highly
recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections, it
should be noted that "The Democracy Fix" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$16.24) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781974954674,
$39.99, CD).
The Travel Shelf
London's Best Cocktail Bars
Susan Cohen
IMM Lifestyle Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781504801058, $14.99, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
With numerous watering-holes to choose from, it can be daunting trying to pick the best spot for
an evening out on the town in a city as large and diverse as London, Englad. That's why London
food and drink expert Susan Cohen decided to help narrow down the selection by presenting the
creme de la creme of hot cocktail spots in London in "London's Best Cocktail Bars", the hippest,
most up-to-date guide to London's diverse and stylish cocktail scene. It offers lively descriptive
reviews of 48 top venues across the city, from smart hotels and rooftop bars to craft cocktail
hotspots, over-the-top concept bars, and celebrity-spotting destinations. Each revealing entry
includes a concise description, contact and reservation details, nearby tube stops, whether food is
served, opening hours, and lavish color photos. Locations are pinpointed on easy-to-read maps.
While very highly recommended for personal and community library Travel Guide collections
with respect to London, England, "London's Best Cocktail Bars: The Most Popular Hotspots 48
Top Venues with Maps, Recipes, Reviews, Contact & Reservation Details, Hours, Nearby Tube
Stops, and Lavish Photography" is an ideal, profusely illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly'
resource for planning truly memorable itineraries for anyone visiting London for either business
or pleasure.
The Crafts Shelf
Practical Leatherwork
Carsten Bothe
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764357442, $19.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Leather is a strong and versatile material, and indispensable when you're working, hunting, or
exploring outdoors. In "Practical Leatherwork: Cutting, Sewing, Finishing, and Repair ", hunter
and outdoor professional Carsten Bothe offers the ultimate beginner's guide for this useful hobby.
With its photo-rich, step-by-step instructions, anyone can learn the techniques of cutting, sewing,
and finishing to make, or repair essential leather items. Aspiring leather crafters will learn how to
make a seam, to wet-form, to apply button studs and rivets, and everything else needed to master
the basics. Featuring five useful projects that are good-looking, and able to be put to practical use
will help the readers put what they have learned into practice: make their own belt, dog leash,
belt bag, knife sheath, and leather holster. Whether a hunter, reenactor, knifemaker, scout,
horseback rider, or bushcraft fan, or using leather in other ways, here is an effective and
thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide to a new skill that will be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and community library leather crafting
collections.
Beadwoven Glamour
Isabella Lam
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.KalmbachHobbyStore.com
9781627005654, $22.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Living and working in Israel, Isabella Lam started beading in 2009. She is a popular teacher at
the Bead&Button Show. She has been published in numerous beading magazines in Europe as
well as in Bead&Button, Beadwork, and Bead Design. In "Beadwoven Glamour:
Crystal-Embellished Jewelry" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to provide a
beautifully illustrated instructional guide that is ideal for the advanced beginner or intermediate
stitcher looking for fine, sparkly, beautiful jewelry to make, wear, and cherish for years to come.
This project-focused instruction manual showcases some 25 necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and
earrings, many with color variations and some presented in sets. Each self-contained project
presents all the instructions and tips on the project pages. Of special note is a basics section to
help beginners get started quickly. Clear instructions and illustrations break each piece down step
by step so every beader can be successful. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to
personal, professional, and community library collections, it should be noted that "Beadwoven
Glamour" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.41).
The Woodworking Shelf
Woodworking
Tom Carpenter
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497100053, $29.99, PB, 488pp, www.amazon.com
Comprised of complete step-by-step instructional guides with respect to skills, techniques, and
projects that are enhanced with more than 1,200 photos and illustrations, "Woodworking" by
Tom Carpenter offers a complete and illustrated 'how to' compendium showcasing 41 complete
do-it-yourself project plans, complete with easy-to-follow diagrams and expert guidance. With
Tom Carpenter's "Woodworking" aspiring DIY woodworking enthusiasts will find all the
information and project plans that a beginning woodworker needs to develop a hobby that will
last a lifetime, -- and that any experienced woodworker will want as a reference resource!
Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Woodworking" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, high school woodshop, and community library
woodworking instructional reference collections.
Scroll Saw Wooden Bowls
Carole Rothman
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565239616, $19.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
While wood bowls are commonly made on a lathe, this newly updated and expanded edition of
"Scroll Saw Wooden Bowls" is a guided resource that showcases 30 projects for crafting
beautiful bowls with the more accessible scroll saw. Each individual project contains clear
instructions and beautiful illustrations. The projects are organized in a progressive learning
format, so everyone can find something exciting to make -- even a new scroller! Beginning
crafters can start with the most basic starter bowl and gradually work their way toward more
elaborate bowls -- such as laminated swag bowls; a flared lobed bowl made with varied angles; a
thin, eight-segmented bowl; and an inward curving bowl. Original patterns for other types of
vessels include a vase, a ginger jar, and a candy dish. For advanced wood crafters, an appendix
expands upon the earlier material and pushes the wood artist to create new patterns or adapt the
existing ones to create art of their very own. Expertly organized and thoroughly 'user friendly' in
presentation, "Scroll Saw Wooden Bowls" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular
addition to personal, professional, and community library collections -- as well as a textbook for
highschool and technical college woodshop curriculums.
Essential Joinery
Marc Spagnuolo
Spring Hosue Press
www.springhousepress.com
9781940611877, $27.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
Marc Spagnuolo is a woodworking enthusiast, video producer, author of Hybrid Woodworking,
co-host of the Wood Talk podcast, and host of the popular web series The Wood Whisperer. He
has contributed to FineWoodworking.com, Popular Woodworking Magazine, Woodcraft
Magazine, and WOOD Magazine throughout his career. His unique blend of humor, technology,
and solid woodworking information makes The Wood Whisperer one of the most trusted brands
within the woodworking industry. Whether it's a kitchen cabinet or an 18th century highboy, the
foundation for all types of woodworking can be boiled down to a handful of essential joinery
skills. Once learned, these joinery methods can be used to create almost anything the
woodworker's mind can imagine. From Marc Spagnuolo's workshop of The Wood Whisperer, the
popular YouTube host and best-selling author Marc Spagunolo teaches his preferred, time-tested
methods for creating these joints in "Essential Joinery: The Fundamental Techniques Every
Woodworker Should Know". Rather than working solely by hand or machine, Spagunolo teaches
woodworkers how to choose the joinery methods that make the most sense for the task at hand.
And, in his easy-going and accessible style that promotes comfort and confidence, he provides
several styles and methods for creating each joint. With "Essential Joinery", beginners and pros
alike will learn to hone the joinery skills that will take their woodworking to the next level.
Profusely illustrated with thoroughly 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions, "Essential Joinery"
is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community library
woodworking collections, as well as a textbook for highschool and technical college woodshop
curriculums.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Akashic Records: One True Love
Gabrielle Orr
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
www.ozarkmt.com
9781940265582, $13.00, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
In theosophy and anthroposophy, the Akashic records are a compendium of all human events,
thoughts, words, emotions, and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future. They
are believed by theosophists to be encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the
etheric plane. A practical guide to accessing Akashic records, Gabrielle Orr's "Akashic Records:
One True Love" principle purpose is to ignite and maintain the love within you and that you will
thereby find your true self in the process of working with the divine energy of the Akashic
Records. Developing a connection to the Akashic Records requires both heart and spirit. I am
going to use a common medium (language) to explain the process and the guidelines of
connecting to this source. "Akashic Records: One True Love" is essential a workbook in the form
of a manual that will teach you everything you need to know in order to successfully access your
Akashic Records. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), readers are urged to
follow the guidelines and instructions carefully and in the given sequence so that they will
receive the most benefit from this class.
Finding Your Way in the Spiritual Age
Dr. Dan Bird
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
www.ozarkmt.com
9781940265568, $11.50, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com
Our daily lives are intertwined with the "other side", but there is really no reason to be afraid. We
are on our own individual paths with signs all around us from passed loved ones, our Spiritual
Guides, Guardian Angels, and more, and they operate only from the level of love. Reading
"Finding Your Way in the Spiritual Age" is like having a talk with the author, he says what he
believes and offers suggestions for anyone on how to relax and learn from your Spiritual
experiences. The information comprising "Finding Your Way in the Spiritual Age" is down to
earth, simply explained and meant to be enjoyed in an informal, yet very interesting way. The
world is truly changing on many levels, and this read may help you along your path. Very highly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections, "Finding Your Way
in the Spiritual Age" by Dan Bird offers metaphysical studies students with a common sense
approach to the increasing interest in Spirituality. It should be noted that "Finding Your Way in
the Spiritual Age" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Rowan: 40 Years: 40 Iconic Hand-Knit Designs
Sixth&Spring Books
104 West 27th Street, 3rd Fl, New York, NY 10001
www.sixthandspringbooks.com
9781640210288, $27.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
In 1978, founders Stephen Sheard and Simon Cockin established the needlecraft oriented
magazine 'Rowan' with a specialization in kits. They soon expanded into the global market and
became known for their quality yarns and their exclusive and exquisite knits. Featuring the work
of such renowned knitwear designers as Kaffe Fassett, Martin Storey, Louisa Harding, and Sarah
Hatton, and compiled/edited by the editorial staff of Sixth&Spring Books "Rowan: 40 Years: 40
Iconic Hand-Knit Designs" celebrates the magazine's legacy with gorgeous sweaters, cardigans,
wraps, and more. While it offers a gallery of covers, never-before-seen images from the original
magazines, and a brief history, half of the designs have been knit again using modern colors and
newly photographed with updated styling to prove Rowan's designs are as fashionable today as
they were years or decades ago. Every knitter will turn to this book for patterns and inspiration,
making it an ideal and welcome addition to personal, professional, and community library
Needlecrafting instructional reference collections.
Morse Code Quilts
Sarah J. Maxwell
Landauer Publishing
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.landauercorp.com
9781947163065, $14.99, PB, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Sarah J. Maxwell is a talented fabric and pattern designer for Studio 37 Fabrics, a division of
Marcus Fabrics, with countless quilts to her credit. Her work has been featured regularly in both
McCall's Quilting and McCall's Quick Quilts. Sarah's quilts have also appeared in Make Modern,
Simply Modern, American Patchwork & Quilting, Quilts & More, and many other magazines. In
"Morse Code Quilts" she draws upon her very special expertise to show aspiring quiltmakers
how to use Morse code to customize their quilts with morse code based secret messages and
hidden meanings. A baby quilt can contain the child's name and birthday, or a wedding quilt
might feature the happy couple's names along with the date of their vows. Favorite quotations,
popular sayings, and simple sentiments are all wonderful opportunities to create a unique quilt!
Beautifully illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Morse
Code Quilts" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library
Quilting Needlecraft instructional reference collections.
Stitched So Sweet
Tracy Souza
Martingale & Company
9781604688922, $20.99, www.ShopMartingale.com
Stitched So Sweet: Whimsical Embroidery Patchwork and Applique features seasonal projects
that blend embroidery, patchwork, and applique, and creates whimsical motifs to celebrate
different times of the year. Each project receives a seasonal emphasis, so, for example, a pillow
project is presented with different motifs for different times of the year. The focus on
mix-and-match designs that capture the seasons but which also can be displayed year-round lend
to a fun craft guide filled with home decor projects that are delightfully unique.
The Philosophy Shelf
Tom Petty and Philosophy
Randall E. Auxier and Megan Volpert, Eds.
Open Court
9780812694659, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com
Tom Petty and Philosophy: We Need to Know reviews the various songs Tom Petty wrote and
their connections with his philosophy, and adds to the growing series Popular Culture and
Philosophy which relates modern culture to the writings and perspectives of all kinds of
philosophers. Petty fans and many a musician will find this a solid discussion of concepts of
justice, loyalty, and authentic love; but it goes beyond his songwriting messages to examine his
relationships with recording companies and others involved in promoting his words. The result is
an excellent survey that is especially interested for modern philosophy students and Tom Petty's
fans alike.
The Wisconsin Shelf
The Handy Wisconsin Answer Book
Terri Schlichenmeyer & Mark Meier
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578596614, $21.95, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com
"The Handy Wisconsin Answer Book" provides a exhaustively detailed and in-depth look at the
Badger state's fascinating history, people, myths, culture, geography, and trivia. "The Handy
Wisconsin Answer Book" also covers Wisconsin's industries, politicians, arts, media, culture,
sports dynasties and legends as it brings the state's past and present to life. Readers will learn
about the earliest people in the Great Lakes area, the Paleo-Indian People, French explorers,
traders, the Paul Bunyan "myth," today's numerous ethnic festivals, including Brat(wurst) Days,
Polka Days, Cheese Days, and the Wisconsin Highland Games, and more! "The Handy
Wisconsin Answer Book" answers to nearly 1,400 questions the Badger State's unique and
interesting history, people, and places ranging from Why is Wisconsin called "Wisconsin"?; How
much snow falls in Wisconsin?; What is the Wisconsin state dance?; and Which Native
American tribes called Wisconsin home?; to Was there a Civil War POW camp in Wisconsin?;
How many acres of State Forests does Wisconsin have?; What is the most popular attraction in
the state?; Where did the Green Bay Packers get their name?; How many towns in Wisconsin
claim to be the UFO Capital of the World? Illustrating the unique character of the state through a
combination of facts, stats, and history, as well as the unusual and quirky, "The Handy Wisconsin
Answer Book" answers intriguing questions about people, places, events, government, and places
of interest, making it a 'must have' for every school and community library throughout Wisconsin
and an ideal resource for Wisconsin based trivia contests and anyone who is newly immigrated to
Wisconsin.
The Criminology Shelf
The New Evil
Michael H. Stone, MD and Gary Brucato, PhD
Prometheus Books
9781633885325, $18.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
The New Evil: Understanding the Emergence of Modern Violent Crime returns to Dr. Stone's
'Gradations of Evil Scale', a measurement system first introduced in his The Anatomy of Evil,
and provides dozens of cases that illustrate all the categories defining circumstances of
psychological evil. It also adds the latest research on biological and psychiatric influences on
serial killing, torture, murder sprees, and more, often adding philosophical reflections on defining
evil and its associative behaviors. Clinical experience blends with analysis of case histories,
writings, and more to offer further insights into criminal behaviors and violence in a book
recommended for psychology, sociology, and criminology readers alike.
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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