Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Library Bookwatch

Library Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 1 January 2012 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Economic Studies Shelf Science Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Military Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Sports Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Fiction Shelf Autism Shelf
Large Print Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Education Shelf
Anthropology Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Social Issues Shelf Crafts Shelf
Civil War Shelf International Studies Shelf Memoir Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Archaeology Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Native American Studies Shelf Criminology Shelf Travel Shelf
Photography Shelf Reference Shelf Geology Shelf
Agriculture Shelf Mathematics Shelf Library Science Shelf
Poetry Shelf Law/Justice Shelf Political Science Shelf
Gardening Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library Music CD Shelf
Library DVD Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
Gaming Shelf Cookbook Shelf Biography Shelf
Nautical Shelf Business Shelf Psychology Shelf
Architecture Shelf Journalism Shelf Parenting Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

When Disaster Strikes
Matthew Stein
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428
White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781603583220, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Disaster will come, it can't always be avoided. "When Disaster Strikes: A Comprehensive Guide for Emergency Planning and Crisis Survival" is a guide from Matthew Stein as he walks readers through the basics of being prepared for the worst that life can strike with. Preparation is one's first defense against these events, and knowing basic first aid and survival techniques can be the difference between life and death. "When Disaster Strikes" is an excellent pick for anyone who doesn't want to be caught off guard by nature or other events rearing their ugly heads.

Green Card Stories
Sandra Amrhein, author, Ariana Lindquist, photography
Umbrage Editions
111 Front Street, Suite 208
Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781884167553, $40.00, www.umbragebooks.com

The path towards citizenship is often a difficult one. "Green Card Stories" seeks to share the stories of many immigrants, as they tell of why, how, and their experiences in trying to come to America and become a citizen. Immigration has been a hot topic for many years, with the debate seeming unending. These immigrants come from wide walks of life, trying to find something better, fleeing awfulness, stories of adoption, and much more, "Green Card Stories" proves to be heart warming, tragic, and triumphant all under the same cover, very much recommended.


The Economic Studies Shelf

Economics, eighth edition
William Boyes & Michael Melvin
South-Western Collection Publishers
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781439038697, $254.95, www.cengage.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded eighth edition, "Economics" continues to be an ideal introductory textbook covering all aspects of the subject. The collaborative work of academicians and economists William Boyes (Arizona State University) and Michael Melvin (Arizona State University and Barclays Global Investors), "Economics" is an 804-page compendium that covers macroeconomic basics, macroeconomic policy, product market basics, resource markets, public sector and market economy issues, as well as issues with respect to international trade and finance. Beginning with an explanation of why the study of economics is critically important, to such contemporary issues as the 2008 financial collapse leading to the present national and global problems of unemployment and inflation, to Keynesian, monetarist, and other economic perspectives, to the classic considerations of supply and demand, to labor and capital markets, to the relationship of governmental policies and income distribution, "Economics" presents an informed and informative text that is 'reader friendly' and comprehensive, making it ideal and highly recommended for academic curriculums and community library Economic Studies collections.


The Science Shelf

Growth and Replication of Living Organisms
Yuri K. Shestopaloff
AKVY Press
61 Danby Ave
North York, ON M3H 2J4
9780987778505, $39.95, www.akvypress.com

Reproduction is how life continues to exist throughout the centuries. "Growth and Replication of Living Organisms" is another entry of scientific research and theory from Yuri Shestopaloff, who continues from his previous volumes on the laws that govern life. Stating that biology, like physics, follows a strict set of laws, he demonstrates this statement with an elaboration of the principles with many examples. A core addition to college library collections that focus on biology, Shestopaloff grants a comprehensive and scholarly breakdown of the principles of this science, making "Growth and Replication of Living Organisms" a text not to be passed over.

The Manga Guide to Biochemistry
Masaharu Takemura, Kikuyaro, & Office Sawa
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250
San Francisco, CO 94107
9781593272760, $24.95, www.nostarch.com

Giant eyes, giant robots, a solid and scholarly introduction to biochemistry. These go together. "The Manga Guide to Biochemistry" is an original way to help inspire young readers with a taste for anime and Japanese style cartoons to get into biochemistry. Weaving the scientific information plainly into the story, as it follows Kumi as she learns how to juggle her diet by understanding just how the human body ultimately works. "The Manga Guide to Biochemistry" is an excellent pick for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of biochemistry in a fun way, or educators who want to make it a bit more appealing to their students.


The Language Studies Shelf

The Cherokee Syllabary
Ellen Cushman
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806142203 $34.95 www.oupress.com

Written to be accessible to linguists and lay readers alike, The Cherokee Syllabary: Writing the People's Perseverance chronicles the history of a modern writing system for the Cherokee language, first created in 1821 by a Cherokee metalworker named Sequoyah. Sequoyah's invention was not the same as an English alphabet, but rather a syllabary that transcribed spoken Cherokee syllables as well as Cherokee meanings. Author Ellen Cushman (Associated Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures, Michigan State University) argues that Sequoyah did not base his syllabary in English, a language he was not fluent in and may have deliberately avoided, but called his writing system an alphabet because he expected that Western linguists would automatically discount and discredit any writing system not declared to be an alphabet. The Cherokee Syllabary scrutinizes the syllabary's design and usage in script and print as well as its usage through history, and is an excellent contribution to both language studies and Native American studies shelves.

Reading The Gospel Of St. Mark In Greek
Norbert H. O. Duckwitz
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865167766, $19.00, www.bolchazy.com

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers is a premier publisher of works in Greek and Latin. There newest publication is "Reading The Gospel Of St. Mark In Greek: A Beginning", by Norbert H. O. Duckwitz (Professor of Classics, Brigham Young University). A 333-page work, "Reading The Gospel Of St. Mark In Greek" presents the entire text of New Testament 'Gospel of Mark' in biblical Greek, presenting students of Greek an original text to read and translate, thus honing their linguistic skills. "Reading The Gospel Of St. Mark In Greek" is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of running vocabulary and notes; an introduction to the Greek alphabet, pronunciation, cases, tenses, and moods; a grammatical appendix; and an extensive glossary. Of special note is the 'same-page' layout enables rapid reading, comprehension, and retention, making "Reading The Gospel Of St. Mark In Greek" a very highly recommended and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, theological, and academic library Greek Language Studies collections.


The Military Shelf

A Revolution in Military Adaptation
Chad C. Serena
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
9781589017832 $26.95 www.press.georgetown.edu

National security analyst and specialist in issues pertaining to the US Army Chad C. Serena presents A Revolution in Military Adaptation: The US Army in the Iraq War, an insider's view of the extremely long and complicated road from transforming military success into political and strategic victory - a transition the US Army was initially unable to achieve. To adapt, the US Army was forced to revolutionize how it supported and conducted its operations. Serena's testimony of what worked, what failed, and the lessons that can be drawn is absolutely indispensable reading for military strategists and policymakers as well as public and college library military studies shelves, and worthy of the highest recommendation.

Marigold: The Lost Chance for Peace in Vietnam
James G. Hershberg
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804778848 $39.50 www.sup.org

James G. Hershberg (Associate Professor of History and International Affairs, George Washington University) presents Marigold: The Lost Chance for Peace in Vietnam, an exhaustively documented, scholarly, and critical assessment of the secret and ultimately failed Polish-Italian peace initiative, codenamed "Marigold", that sought bring a peaceful end to the Vietnam War. Conventional wisdom postulates that Marigold was doomed from the beginning; Poland didn't have the authority to arrange direct talks, and neither Hanoi nor Washington were ready to negotiate. Marigold: The Lost Chance for Peace in Vietnam questions these assumptions, drawing upon recently revealed communist sources to reveal that Warsaw was authorized by Hanoi to initiate direct contact - yet any chance for an early peaceful resolution was dashed when President Johnson's administration chose to bomb Hanoi at a critical junction. It would be another two years before Washington would negotiate with Hanoi at all, and seven years before the end of the Vietnam War. A thoughtful and well-reasoned study, Marigold: The Lost Chance for Peace in Vietnam is highly recommended especially for American military history shelves.

World War II At Sea
Spencer C. Tucker, editor
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598844573, $189.00, www.abc-clio.com

"World War II At Sea" is a two volume, 751-page compendium that has been knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by military historian and academician Spencer C. Tucker. For more than just another naval history, "World War II At Sea" is a comprehensive, scholarly, superbly organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' guide to significant naval engagements between Allied and Axis naval forces around the world in what was a truly global conflict combined with detailed descriptive analysis of the changes in naval forces through war-time advancements in technology, ordinance, military innovations, strategies and tactics. Informed and informative, "World War II At Sea" is to be considered a core addition to personal, academic, and community library Military History reference collections in general, and World War II Naval History supplemental reading lists in particular.

Nelson's Refuge
Jason R. Musteen
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591145455, $29.95, www.navalinstitute.org

The Strait of Gibraltar was exceedingly important in the time where ships were the powerhouses of commerce. "Nelson's Refuge: Gibraltar in the Age of Napoleon, discusses Britain's control over this very important strait during the chaotic time of Napoleon and his wars of conquest. A strategic naval point, Britain put many of its resources into reinforcing the region, making it a vital point in recruiting Spain against Napoleon. "Nelson's Refuge" is an excellent addition to any world history collection focusing on great battles and campaigns.

The United States Coast Guard and National Defense
Thomas P. Ostrom
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786464807, $39.95, www.mcfarlandpub.com

The United States boasts two massive coasts, and their defense takes much effort to maintain. "The United States Coast and National Defense: A History from World War I to the Present" discusses the role of the coast guard for national defense in the past hundred years. Not just the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, they also must defend the great Lakes, and have been deployed to international coasts involving American interests. "The United States Coast and National Defensive" discusses this group's long history and importance in American history, often forgotten alongside the other branches of America's military.


The Philosophy Shelf

Taking Charge On Responsibility and Personal Identity
Manuel Cruz
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704
New York, NY 10038
9781441147394 $29.95 www.continuumbooks.com

Manuel Cruz (Professor of Contemporary Philosophy, University of Barcelona, Spain) presents Taking Charge On Responsibility and Personal Identity exploring driving forces behind thorny political, national, and personal dilemmas. In the modern world where behaviors once considered hedonistic or even nihilistic are becoming more and more incorporated into society - even commercialized - how are individuals and communities, even whole nations, to properly take responsibility for the greater freedoms of liberalization? To what degree should questionable behaviors be tolerated, or is even the word "tolerance" an excessively patronizing way to refer to the necessity of co-existing with different belief and values systems? What does it mean to express remorse, atonement, or even reparations for collective guilt over national or war crimes? "...I would venture to argue that, rather than to any gesture of one's own, guilt is related to unease over the fact that evil exists... One of the conclusions that can be drawn from all this is that the expression of 'collective responsibility' can only be understood as the way in which subjects take part or join in a design accepted by the group, and make it their own as a collective design insofar as they recognize its scope. The same thing happens with supposed collective guilt. The only thing that might be acceptable... would be common reparation for the damage caused, but not sanction and much less punishment." College libraries and advanced students and scholars of philosophy, especially political philosophy, will find Taking Charge a thoughtful, meticulous, and extensive discourse.

The Nature of Good & Evil
Samuel P. Oliner
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, Saint Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788962, $24.95, www.paragonhouse.com

What leads us to wantonly cause suffering of others? "The Nature of Good & Evil: Understanding the Many Acts of Moral and Immoral Behavior" is a discussion of what pulls humanity to do both sides of the coin. From simply following the ideas of society, understanding what causes people to do bad things, the cost of good, and why heroes are always important, "The Nature of Good & Evil" is a thoughtful look at the question that we all ask when people do monstrous things.

Suicide: The Philosophical Dimensions
Michael Cholbi
Broadview Press
2215 Kenmore Road
Buffalo, NY 14207
9781551119052 $24.95 www.broadviewpress.com

Suicide: The Philosophical Dimensions is a scholarly examination of the phenomenon of suicide, as applied through the strict methodology of a philosopher. Chapters explore the moral impermissibility or permissibility of suicide, the question of whether suicide can be a duty, suicide prevention and intervention, the costs, benefits, and ethical issues of assisted suicide, and more. "My worry is that those who think suicide needs no moral justification do not take seriously enough the fact that suicide is a species of killing, and insofar as killing is in general a serious moral wrong, it needs a compelling justification." Highly recommended as an excellent addition to college library philosophy shelves.

Well Begun Is Only Half Done
Vasileios Syros, editor
ACMRS
Arizona State University
Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866984362, $58.00, www.amazon.com

Among Aristotle's contribution to western culture were his political ideas. In "Well Begun Is Only Half Done: Tracing Aristotle's Political Ideas in Medieval Arabic, Syriac, Byzantine, and Jewish Sources", academician and historian Vasileios Syros (Doctor of Philosophy in Medieval and Modern History, University of Heidelberg and Ocent in Political History, University of Helsinki) has compiled an outstanding collection of eight informed and informative essays by leading scholars focusing on Aristotle's political ideas as adopted, adapted, and discussed in medieval and renaissance sources. A work of seminal scholarship, "Well Begun Is Only Half Done" is a seminal, 226-page compendium that is a unique contribution to Aristotelean Studies and a core addition to academic library collections and supplementary philosophy and political science studies reading lists.


The Sports Shelf

The Victor's Crown
David Potter
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199842759, $24.95, www.oup.com/us

Competition is natural to mankind, and has been a focus of the masses for centuries. "The Victor's Crown: A History of Ancient Sport from Homer to Byzantium" is an analysis of the long history of sport, with a focus on the classical world. From the invention of the Olympics to the Gladiatorial battles, he provides connections to the modern day of boxing and wrestling, who call their roots back to these events. A study that delves deeper into the human desire to compete, "The Victor's Crown" is an excellent addition to any world history collection that has a focus on sport or the classical world.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Good of the Novel
Liam McIlvanney and Ray Ryan, editors
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704
New York, NY 10038
9781441182876 $19.95 www.continuumbooks.com

The Good of the Novel is an anthology of specially commissioned essays by learned authors exploring the essence of a novel - what truly distinguishes this literary art form from drama or poetry? What invaluable lessons, emotions, and truths are best portrayed through the novel's format? And in the era of the Internet, when anyone with a keyboard can and will distribute their option, what is role is a literary critic to play? The specific works of notable authors are discussed at length, including "Atonement" by Ian McEwan, "Hotel du Lac" by Anita Brookner, "Intimacy" by Hanif Kureishi, and more. A thoughtful, honest, and strenuous critique of the literary medium itself as much as of individual novels, The Good of the Novel is an excellent choice for literary studies shelves, as well as a supplemental resource for aspiring writers seeking to better understand the gravitas of their craft.

The College Student's Guide To Writing A Great Research Paper
Erika Eby
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601386052, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Part of every college student's experience is the repeated necessity of writing research papers. "The College Student's Guide To Writing A Great Research Paper: 101 Easy Tips & Tricks To Make Your Work Stand Out" by Erika Eby is a 288-page compendium of practical advice, insightful commentary, and 'real world' instructions on the art, science and craft of writing effective research papers beginning with an informed discussion on just what a research paper is and what should be discovered before even starting one. Next is cogent advice on how to get started with a research project; then developing a thesis statement; doing the actual research; organizing and outlining the sourced information comprising the paper; avoiding plagiarism and proper citing methods; writing the introduction, body and conclusion of a research paper; formatting and page referencing; and finally the proofing and editing of the paper. Enhanced with sample research papers, helpful internet links, a glossary, a bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "The College Student's Guide To Writing A Great Research Paper" is of special and indispensable value for all college students regardless of their particular majors. It would also prove invaluable for anyone doing research for publications outside of academia as well and therefor highly recommend for personal and community library Writing/Publishing reference collections and supplemental reading lists as well.

Writing And Selling Articles For Profit
L. Perry Wilbur
Piccadilly Books, Ltd.
PO Box 25203, Colorado Springs, CO 80936
www.piccadillybooks.com
9780941599917, $15.95, www.amazon.com

In "Writing And Selling Articles For Profit", L. Perry Wilbur draws upon his years of experience and expertise as the author of 31 books and the sale of more than 5,000 freelanced articles (resulting his winning five George Washington Honor Awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge) to develop a compact 175-page compendium of tips, tricks and techniques for making money by writing and selling articles on any subject. Included are informed and informative instructions on picking marketable topics, turning ideas into saleable articles, writing effective query letters to prospective publishers, working with editors, getting paid, acquiring the rights to photos, marketing articles abroad, and so much more! Of special note is the instructive advice on avoiding common pitfalls as a writer of articles for publication. Covering all aspects from initial research to the finished copy, "Writing And Selling Articles For Profit" will prove an invaluable and thoroughly 'user friendly' addition to aspiring and practicing writers seeking to earn a living by and from their written work.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Disciplining Girls
Joe Sutliff Sanders
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421403182, $60.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Annie, Pollyanna, the orphan girl has quite the place in American literary culture. "Disciplining Girls: Understanding the Origins of the Classic Orphan Girl Story" discusses the roots of these stories, as Joe Sutliff Sanders presents a fascinating discussion of how children should be raised and the gender roles of young girls, and what society expected of them throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A dual study of American literature and history, "Disciplining Girls" is an excellent pick for community and college library collections.

Women's Power in Late Medieval Romance
Amy N. Vines
D.S. Brewer
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843842750 $95.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Part of the "Studies in Medieval Romance" series, Women's Power in Late Medieval Romance is a scholarly examination of the cultural and social power of women in the Middle Ages through their portrayals in literature of the era. Author Amy N. Vines (Assistant Professor in the Dept. of English, University of North Carolina at Greensboro) studies the influence wielded by female characters in intellectual, chivalric, and socio-political network contexts, keeping in mind that women of the day learned from and emulated their portrayals in fiction, among other educational sources. Of especial interest are the literary portrayals of intelligent or wealthy women, and how they applied these assets in a medieval system throughly grounded in the concept of patronage. Specific medieval romances examined in-depth include "Troilus and Criseyde", "Amoryus and Cleopes", "Partonope of Blois", and "Sir Launfal". Meticulous, nuanced, and thoughtful, Women's Power in Late Medieval Romance is especially recommended for college library literary and women's studies shelves.

Indian Angles
Mary Ellis Gibson
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780821419410, $39.95, www.ohioswallow.com

Poetry has more use than being flowery language. "Indian Angles: English Verse in Colonial India from Jones to Tagore" analyzes literature from English-occupied India to provide insight on the literary community of the era, as Mary Ellis Gibson argues that poetry was the dominant form of writing in English India until 1860. Discussing this poetry and their work, she provides an intriguing history of divergent writing styles, as Indian English writers were astray from their European based cousins. "Indian Angles" is a strong pick for any literary studies and history collection, highly recommended.

Jose Carlos Mariategui: An Anthology
Jose Carlos Mariategui
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W
New York, NY 10001
9781583672457, $29.95, www.monthlyreview.org

An idea begets more ideas. "Jose Carlos Mariategui: An Anthology" is a collection of writings from Jose Carlos Mariategui, who earned prominence for his prolific writings on Marxism throughout the first half of the twentieth century, writing from Mexico and advocating his ideas for the future of his country. Expertly translated from the original Spanish by Harry E. Vanden & Marc Becker, Mariategui's writings are of interest to anyone seeking Marxist philosophy from around the world. "Jose Carlos Mariategui: An Anthology" is a choice pick for community and library political studies collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Meeting the Leadership Challenge in Long-Term Care
David Farrell, Cathie Brady, and Barbara Frank
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529708 $48.95 www.healthpropress.com

Licensed nursing home administrator David Farrell and long-term care experts Cathie Brady and Barbara Frank present Meeting the Leadership Challenge in Long-Term Care: What You Do Matters, a studious guide written especially for administrators, directors, managers and leaders of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Chapters address challenges such as how to stabilize staffing (reducing money spent on expensive turnover); increase satisfaction among staff, residents, and family; improve problem solving skills in one's staff through effective leadership; and much more. "You need to start by attracting people with the right character traits and skill set. Character traits are far more important than skills, as skills can be learned." An excellent, grounded resource for industry professionals with managerial responsibilities, Meeting the Leadership Challenge in Long-Term Care deserves a place on the bookshelf of every nursing home or long-term care facility's administrator.

101 Questions & Answers About Hypertension
William Manger & Norman Kaplan
Hunter House
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914
Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897935715, $16.95, www.hunterhouse.com

Chronic stress can quickly turn to greater health problems. "101 Questions & Answers About Hypertension" is a guide to fighting off high blood pressure for a longer and healthier life. From pursuing a better diet, talking to one's doctor about proper medications, avoiding bad habits that can exacerbate problems, and much more. A strongly recommended read for those who feel they may be at risk for cardiovascular disease, "101 Questions & Answers About Hypertension" is a fine addition to any community library health collection.

50 Plus One
Michael Carney & Heather Z Hutchins
Eric Dobby Publishing
Kelly Spann
Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781933766270, $24.95, www.styluspub.com

A long life isn't worth living unless it is good. "50 Plus One: Medical Breakthroughs That may Help You Live Better" discusses recent advances of medical science, as Michael Carney and Heather Hutchins list recent advances of science and how they can help patients live longer and better lives without pain. From the products of controversial science, fighting addiction, the truth about alternative medicines, to cosmetic surgeries, "50 Plus One" is a fine read and strongly recommended for those who want to know how modern medicine can help them.

Multiple Sclerosis, fifth edition
Rosalind C. Kalb
Demos Medical Publishing
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303168, $24.95, www.demosmedpub.com

Multiple Sclerosis can shut lives down. "Multiple Sclerosis: The Questions You Have, the Answers You Need" discusses multiple sclerosis and how to face it as one who has been recently diagnosed with the disorder. From the current drug therapies, exercises, dealing with side issues that come with the disorders, and warnings about alternative medicines, Rosalind C. Kalb, vice president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) provides an excellent and much useful reference. An updated fifth edition, "Multiple Sclerosis" is a fine pick for health collections focusing on problems that most commonly affect seniors.

At Risk
Rafael Prez-Escamilla & Hugo Melgar-Quinonez
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
452 Cullen Performance Hall
Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558857087, $25.95, www.artepublicopress.com

Poverty kills, in a slow and crippling way. "At Risk: Latino Children's Health" discusses the impact of poverty on the life of children, in particular, Latino children who have higher instances of poverty throughout America. Offering insight to what many Latino and other poverty stricken Americans are facing, and how it is spelling out long term issues and disease, and the way things are going now, things will only get worse. "At Risk: Latino Children's Health" is a cautious and much needed investigation of health issues in today's America.


The Fiction Shelf

Leonardo
Curtis Bill Pepper
Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.
PO Box 775, Chambersburg, PA 17201
9780911469363, $35.00, www.hoodbooks.com

What went through the mind of a man centuries ahead of his time? "Leonardo: A Biographical Novel" discusses this enigmatic figure of history, tracing his own path to his artistry and brilliance scarred by own demons and a world that hated him for what he truly was. Tracing his unique habits, and his role in the tumultuous courts of the renaissance, "Leonardo" is a strongly recommended pick for any general fiction collection and for those who want to be entertained while understanding one of history's greatest minds and souls.

Dead Man's Brand
Norbert Davis
Black Dog Books
1115 Pine Meadows Ct.
Normal, IL 61761-5432
9781884449147, $22.95, www.blackdogbooks.net

Justice doesn't come easy when the corruption runs deep as hell. "Dead Man's Brand and Other Tales of the Old West" is a collection of stories of justice and what passes for it in the old west, as many struggle to put together their places and ideas throughout it all. For those who have developed a love on these settings of lawlessness where men try to deal with the truth behind it all, "Dead Man's Brand and Other Tales of the Old West" is an excellent and much recommended pick, not to be missed.

Higher Ground
James Nolan
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
PO Box 40831
Lafayette, LA 70504
9781935754060, $20.00, www.ulpress.org

The brutality of life is entertaining as it is depressing. "Higher Ground" is a novel from James Nolan set in a post-Hurricane devastated New Orleans as people try to put their lives back together. Channeling the noir genre strongly, Nolan creates the stories of countless characters and their own struggles for survival such as grandmothers resorting to drug dealing, stories of romance, murder accusations turned on accusers, and more, "Higher Ground" is an insightful read, much recommended for community library general fiction collections.

Seven Views of the Same Landscape
Esther Tusquets
Host Publications
1000 East 7th Street, Suite 201
Austin, TX 78702
9780924047893, $30.00, www.hostpublications.com

As Spain settles down, its youth still lives in uncertainty. "Seven Views of the Same Landscape" is a collection of short stories from Esther Tusquets, expertly translated from the original Spanish by Barbara F. Ichiishi. Tusquets presents seven short stories of youth growing up in Spain after the civil war, coping with the scars of a war they did not fight, and the meaning of becoming a woman, with an uncertain future. "Seven Views of the Same Landscape" is an insightful and enlightening collection of fiction.

Lions of the Sun
Harry Sidebottom
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
9781590203514, $24.95, www.overlookpress.com

Although millions live in the empire, it only takes one man to save it. "Lion of the Sun: Warrior of Rome" is a historical novel of Classical Rome. On the verge of collapse due to corruption from within, the Roman Emperor may be forced to bow to the king of the Barbarians. As it seems the empire is doomed to crumble, Ballista seeks to rise up and save his country and rout those who would do it harm. A riveting novel of epic adventure, "Lion of the Sun" is a read that will prove hard to put down once picked up.

Creatures Here Below
O. H. Bennett
Bolden
c/o Agate Publishing
1501 Madison Street
Evanston, IL 60202
9781932841626, $15.00, www.agatepublishing.com

Adulthood often comes at some way too fast. "Creatures Here Below" is a novel of family and the struggles to keep it together when faced with the realities of life. Mason, a boy becoming a young man, struggles with being the man of his family with his mostly absent father. As his mother tries to keep it all together, taking on boarders. Mason is barraged by the influence of his father's brief presence, the struggles, and the arrival of what may be love. "Creatures Here Below" is a moving and poignant coming of age novel, very much recommended.


The Autism Shelf

Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism
Mary Jane Weiss
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627706, $21.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

Good communication shouldn't be overlooked, especially when dealing with Autism. "Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism: A Parent's guide to Applied Verbal Behavior" is a guide to better understanding Autism from Mary Jane Weiss, who advises parents in how to teach their autistic children to better communicate with others and how to get around their possible deficiencies that stem from their autism. "Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism" is a fine pick for community library Autism and parenting collections.


The Large Print Shelf

Vengeance Rides the River
Hugh Martin
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230
West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781444807615, $20.99, www.ulverscroftusa.com

For vengeance, any hated of killing gets pushed aside. "Vengeance Rides the River" is an old west tale of vengeance and revenge from Hugh Martin, telling of Dave Lockheart, his murdered wife, and how it brings him to do things he never fought capable of, leaving violence and death is his wake. In the process, he may soon learn that vengeance and justice are not one in the same. "Vengeance Rides the River" is a riveting tale that fans of westerns will adore.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Israel and the Dead Seas Scrolls
Edmund Wilson
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412842488, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

Ancient knowledge is quite precious to historians. "Israel and the Dead Seas Scrolls" is an analysis of these documents found in a ten year period after World War II which offered new and fresh light on Christianity and Judaism. Edmund Wilson provides a level minded investigation of the scrolls and their contents and gives readers a clear understanding of their importance and their impact to all scholars, religious and secular alike. "Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls" is a strong addition to community and college library religious studies collections.


The Education Shelf

A Focus on Hope
Erik E. Morales and Frances K. Trotman
University Press of America
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9780761852728 $18.99 www.univpress.com

Erik E. Morales (associate professor of education, New Jersey City University) and Frances K. Trotman (professor of psychology, Monmouth University) present A Focus on Hope: Fifty Resilient Students Speak, which closely examines the academic well-being of fifty different students of color across a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Each student came from a family of low socioeconomic status; A Focus on Hope seeks to identify the qualities in the students' environments that best aided their success, including the symbiotic and reinforcing influences of multiple positive factors. An excellent resource for educational professionals seeking to reach out to their most disadvantaged students, A Focus on Hope is sorely needed especially in the tough economic times today when education is more vital than ever to securing a stable and rewarding future. Highly recommended.

Professors Behaving Badly
John M. Braxton, Eve Proper, and Alan E. Bayer
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421402192 $45.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Professors Behaving Badly: Faculty Misconduct in Graduate Education draws upon data gathered from faculty surveys to reveal serious instances of misbehavior, or even corruption among professors - from failing to give proper credit to graduate assistants who research or co-author projects, to refusing to allow their students to give differing viewpoints, to simply being unavailable when their students need them. Guidelines for identifying and avoiding misconduct are presented, all within the context of the graduate school environment - from the socialization process and role models to administering a disciplinary code of ethics. Tools for monitoring and evaluating the behavior of graduate teachers are also provided, in this practical, serious-minded reference and resource that no campus administrator or supervisor should be without. Highly recommended.

Getting It Done
Karin Chenoweth & Christina Theokas
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, 1st floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
www.harvardeducationpress.org
9781612501017, $26.95, www.amazon.com

A key element in the success or failure of an inner-city school is the leadership it has access too. The collaborative work of Karin Chenoweth (writer-in-residence at The Education Trust) and Christina Theokas (Director of Research at The Education Trust), "Getting It Done: Leading Academic Success in Unexpected Schools" is a 232-page compendium that focuses specifically on those qualities of leadership that have led to success in high-poverty and high-minority schools with respect to student achievement. Addressing leadership issues ranging from instructional and staff development responsibilities, to creating social climates and cultures conducive to learning, to managing outside relationship, and so much more, "Getting It Done: Leading Academic Success in Unexpected Schools" will prove invaluable reading for principles, superintendents, and anyone else charged with a leadership responsibility or role in a K-12 school setting.

Teaching Critical Thinking
Terry Roberts & Laura Billings
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West
Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596672086, $29.95, www.eyeoneducation.com

Critical thinking is a criminally underrated skill. "Teaching Critical Thinking: Using Seminars for 21st Century Literacy" is a discussion for educators who want to use a seminar approach for inspiring critical thinking in their students, including how to more effectively plan them and gain a greater understanding of them all as a whole. Focusing on the philosophy of the Paideia seminar for curriculum, "Teaching Critical Thinking" is a strongly recommended pick for any educator who is struggling to find a good way to pass this invaluable skill onto their students.


The Anthropology Shelf

Gwich'in Athabascan Implements
Thomas A. O'Brien
University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
9781602231443, $45.00, www.uaf.edu/uapress

Ancient tools offer an intriguing picture of the beginnings of human ingenuity. "Gwich'in Athabascan Implements: History, Manufacture, and Usage According to Reverend David Salmon" discusses the artifacts that have been uncovered in recent years in regards to the Athabascan people. Of immense interest to archeologists and anthropologists, many black and white photographs and sketches throughout discuss the creation, use, and purpose of many of these tools. Immensely interesting and insightful, "Gwich'in Athabascan Implements" is a core addition to any world history and anthropology collection.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Fever Dream
Dennis Palumbo
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590589595, $14.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

When a bank is robbed, the biggest concern may not be about the money lost. "Fever Dream" is a mystery following police psychologist Daniel Rinaldi as he becomes entwined in treating a sole survivor of a back robbery gone wrong. But as he digs deeper, he becomes more involved in the case and finds that the case may be linked in corruption that is deep within the state. "Fever Dream" is a riveting mystery that blends psychology and intrigue all throughout.

Picture of Lies
C. C. Harison
Gale Cengage Learning
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
9781432825065, $25.95, www.gale.cengage.com

One failure can lead one to obsessively assure it'll never happen again. "Pictures of Lies" is a novel following Investigative journalist Keegan Thomas who is coping with losing her own to a kidnapping. Driven to try to find other lost children who are lost to unsolved mysteries, it becomes her obsession and she finds herself on a working vacation among the Navajo people. She learns that her latest case goes deep and past generations, and that corruption can go very high. "Pictures of Lies" is a choice and thoughtful read for general fiction collections.

Paradise Walk
Mary Malloy
Leapfrog Press
PO Box 2110
Teaticket, MA 02536
9781935248217, $15.95, www.leapfrogpress.com

How true were Chaucer's stories, how close were they to real events? "Paradise Walk" is a historical mystery surrounding the writings of Chaucer and particularly the Wife of Bath. From the conspiracies of Henry the VIII, the legends of King Arthur, Mary Malloy blends many icons of English literature and mythology together for an intriguing story that plays with many creative ideas. "Paradise Walk" is an excellent read, very much recommended for community library collections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Rescue at Inspiration Point
Kate McLachlan
Quest
4700 Hwy 365, Suite A, PO Box 210
Port Arthur, TX 77642
9781619290051, $16.95, www.regalcrest.biz

Time is a delicate thing, and those who use it must understand that. "Rescue at Inspiration Point" is a time travel spin on the thriller, as a group of hostage negotiators try to save one of their own, taken hostage at a prison. Bennie returns to 1974 to learn more about the perpetrator, but breaks the rule to not get involved. The second in the Rip Van Dyke time travel series, "Rescue at Inspiration Point" explores many ideas, making for an original take on mystery and time travel.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Dog Training Bible
Andrea Arden
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764164330, $18.99, www.barronseduc.com

Training a dog can be a taxing endeavor, but the results may end up very much worth it. "Dog Training Bible" is a comprehensive reference from Andrea Arden as she presents plenty of knowledge on how to train your dog, from the very necessary house training, to more known commands, correcting problem behavior, and making the dog more sociable to not only humans but other animals that may be around the house as well. "Dog Training Bible" is a strong pick for anyone who is inviting a dog into their lives and wants a more harmonious relationship.


The Social Issues Shelf

Disability Through The Life Course
Tamar Heller and Sarah Parker Harris
Gary L. Albrecht, series editor
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781412987677 $75.00 www.sagereferenceonline.com

Part of the eight-volume "Disability: Key Issues and Future Directions" reference series, Disability Through The Life Course is a scholarly resource especially for undergraduate students, but also accessible to lay readers. Disability Through The Life Courses focuses on how disability issues affect all stages of life - not simply confining its analysis to childhood, adulthood, or old age like a great deal of disability-related literature does. A reference work first and foremost, Disability Through The Life Course includes biographies of notable contributors in the field of study; annotated data, statistics, tables, and graphs; an annotated list of organizations and associations; a chronology of critical historical events in the field of disability studies; and much more. Like the rest of the "Disability: Key Issues and Future Directions" series, Disability Through The Life Course is especially recommended for undergraduate and vocational reference shelves in the libraries of colleges that seek to train students for careers in the field.

Tortured Science
Dianne Quigley, Amy Lowman, & Steve Wing
Baywood Publishing Company
26 Austin Avenue, PO Box 337
Amityville, NY 11701
9780895037770, $64.95, www.baywood.com

The cost of great power is measured more than in dollars. "Tortured Science: Health Studies, Ethics, and Nuclear Weapons in the United States" discusses the hazards that many workers have faced working with nuclear weapons in recent history. Many ethicist come together to discuss this concern, and the concerns surrounding denial, suppression, and other actions used to keep outcries against these dangers under the radar. Calling for reform within the military industrial complex and within scientific research, "Tortured Science" brings another very strong concern about nuclear war and power, highly recommended.


The Crafts Shelf

The New Artisans
Oliver Dupon
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500515853, $45.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

When something is made by hand, it carries a certain legend and touch that cannot be reproduced by machines. "The New Artisans" discusses the renaissance of hand crafting in today's world, as Oliver Dupon shows the creation of many objects in many crafts, from art and creating jewelry, to carpentry and metalwork. With more than 800 full color photographs scattered throughout to show the results of this labor, "The New Artisans" is a fine pick for those who have developed a romance with the ways of human craftsmanship.


The Civil War Shelf

Demon of the Lost Cause
Wesley Moody
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219459 $30.00 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Demon of the Lost Cause: Sherman and Civil War History is a close study of the myths, misinterpretations, and historical reality surrounding Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during the American Civil War. Shortly after the South's defeat, Sherman was accused of being a Southern sympathizer, and for this reason became more popular in the recovering South than in the North. Thirty years later, he was demonized for enacting brutal warfare tactics that cost civilian lives and massive property destruction, particularly in his infamous "March to the Sea". "Lost Cause" pro-Confederacy historians especially emphasized this narrative, framing Sherman as a war criminal. Demon of the Lost Cause draws upon newspaper accounts, Sherman's letters and memories, biographies of Sherman and other historical sources to construct as accurate a picture as possible about Sherman's wartime actions. Just how severe were his alleged atrocities, and to what degree did different proponents - from Lost Cause historians to pro-Union historians to Sherman himself - control his narrative? A critical and balanced account that strives to evaluate the truth above all, Demon of the Lost Cause is highly recommended especially for public and college library Civil War shelves.

Gettysburg's Forgotten Calvary Actions
Eric J. Wittenberg
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado, CA 95762
9781611210705, $17.95, www.savasbeatie.com

As firearms take precedence in warfare, the cavalry has fallen by the wayside. "Gettysburg's Forgotten Calvary Actions" discusses the great Calvary charges that turned the tide of battle during the extended conflict at Gettysburg. Chronicling the men behind these daring moves, their locations with GPS coordinates, as well as photographs pointing to the conflict in the modern Gettysburg fields. "Gettysburg's Forgotten Calvary Actions" is an excellent pick for any fan of civil war history, highly recommended.

A Strange Engine of War
John W. Lamb
The Chesapeake Book Company
112 Elmhurst Road
Baltimore, MD 21210
9780982304921 $12.50

Independent scholar and historian John W. Lamb presents A Strange Engine of War: The "Winans" Steam Gun and the Civil War in Maryland, a study of the impact that a technological weapon of mass destruction had on the American Civil War. Examining its inception, its construction, and the dubious attitude that soldiers had toward it - though it was capable of firing 300 round per minute, its potential for friendly fire was disastrously high. Also present is the true story of Ross Winans, the pro-Southern Baltimore industrialist who was mistakenly credited with creating the gun, and who was briefly imprisoned for this. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating addition to Civil War shelves with a focus on Maryland.


The International Studies Shelf

Come From the Shadows
Terry Glavin
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebeck Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
9781553657828, $26.95, www.douglas-mcintyre.com

Afghanistan was once a peaceful and prosperous country, but that was decades ago. "Come From the Shadows" discusses the present and future of the Afghani people who have been at a long series of wars with the Soviet Union, the Taliban, and the United States. An intriguing case study of a people of many which have always only known conflict, and who strongly yearn for peace and independence for many years to come. "Come From the Shadows" is a strongly recommended study of the Afghani people and their attempts to determine their lot in life.

Egypt, the Arabs, and the World
Hani Shukrallah
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018-2729
9789774164866, $27.95, www.aucpress.com

In the coming years, Egypt is faced with the challenge of reforming the Arabic world, or letting the theocratic nature of it continue on. "Egypt, the Arabs, and the World" discusses history in the making, following the Egyptian revolution and other risings in the termed Arab Spring of 2011. Discusses the potential of democracy in the west, author Hani Shukrallah also discusses the perceptions of the west and their impact on the proceedings in this tumultuous period. "Egypt, the Arabs, and the World" is a scholarly and much needed break down of this curious period of history, very much recommended reading.

Fatal Faultlines
Irfan Husain
Arc Manor Publishers
PO Box 10339
Rockville, MD 20849-0339
9781604504781, $19.99, www.arcmanor.com

Why is America so hated around the world? "Fatal Faultlines: Pakistan, Islam, and the West" discusses the relations around the world that has put America at odds with the rest of the world. The United States hands out billions in foreign aid, yet many countries view America as a great evil. Discussing the reasons behind of this, shifting the blame onto many parties, author Irfan Husain provides a thoughtful and much recommended read for community and library international issues and politics collections, making "Fatal Faultlines" a strong, top pick for understanding the international scene in general.


The Memoir Shelf

Frozen Teardrop
Lucinda Ruh
Select Books
1 Union Square West
Suite 909, New York, NY 10003
9781590792131, $17.95, www.selectbooks.com

Art and athleticism, figure skating isn't as easy as strapping on some blades. "Frozen Teardrop: The Tragedy and Triumph of Figure Skating's Queen of Spin" is a memoir from famed champion figure skater Lucinda Ruh who shares her story. Stating that her drive to success led her to making great sacrifices to her personal life, threatening her health and psyche, her story is one of the common price of drive to succeed above and beyond what is expected. "Frozen Teardrop" is a choice pick for community and library sports and biography collections.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Technical Analysis
Jacinta Chan
Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780273751335, $49.99, www.pearson.com

Knowledge is the centerpiece of success for many traders. "Technical Analysis: How to Trade like Professional" is a guide to better trading and advice from Jacinta Chan, who advises readers on how to understand the market, learn it, and use it to make wise purchases and trades to create one's own fortune and get one's money working for them. From learning one's information, understanding it, the golden ratio, market psychology and more, Chan uses her experiences and success as an equity and futures broker to help would be traders break into the market. "Technical Analysis" is a must for anyone who wants to learn how to truly play the market.


The Archaeology Shelf

The Medieval Horse And Its Equipment
John Clark
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781843836797, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The horse was a valuable component of the Medieval world whether as a beast of burden drawing carts or plowing fields, or as an instrument of war for knights, or as a sign of wealth on the part of the aristocracy. We depend on archaeology to help illuminate the medieval world and as a seminal work of impeccable scholarship, "The Medieval Horse And Its Equipment" by John Clark (a distinguished medieval scholar and former Senior Curator at the Museum of London) this newly updated and expanded second edition is an illustrated, 202-page compendium organizing and presenting what archaeology has provided in terms of our understanding of how the horse and its accouterments was integrated into medieval society. Of special note are the details of medieval horse size based on skeletal remains. Informed and informative, "The Medieval Horse And Its Equipment" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library Archaeological Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

French Colonial Archaeology
Kenneth G. Kelly & Meredith D. Hardy
University Press of Florida
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813036809, $74.95, www.upf.com

The relics of colonialism still lurk about modern culture. "French Colonial Archaeology in the Southeast and Caribbean" looks over what was left behind along the east coast of the United states and the Caribbean, where the traditional French culture was imposed and is still strongly felt in modern culture, blended with other European influences throughout. The archeology in question is both literal and metaphorical, and proves to be an interesting dig of cultural, religious, architectural, culinary, and many other influences and how they contrast through our world. "French Colonial Archaeology in the Southeast and Caribbean" is a fine pick, much recommended for history, archaeology, and anthropology collections.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Religion & Human Rights
John Witte, Jr. and M. Christian Green, editors
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199733446 $29.95 www.oup.com/us

Religion & Human Rights: An Introduction is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors about the complicated relationship between different religions and universal human rights. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and indigenous religions have all been implicated in repressing human rights as well as supporting human rights. Yet perhaps the most valuable role of all religions is their affirmation of human dignity, and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions. Other qualities such as shame, respect, restraint, and regret are also inextricably tied to religious beliefs, and crucial human rights. Individual essays include "Keeping Faith: Reconciling Women's Human Rights and Religion", "The Phases and Functions of Freedom of Conscience", "Religion and Children's Rights", and much more. An invaluable addition to religious studies and world history shelves, Religion & Human Rights is highly recommended especially for college library collections.

Beyond the Mushroom Cloud
Yuki Miyamoto
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823240517 $26.00 www.fordhampress.com

Yuki Miyamoto (Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University) presents Beyond the Mushroom Cloud: Commemoration, Religion, and Responsibility After Hiroshima, a thoughtful and scholarly examination of how the Japanese populace remembers and memorializes the loss of so many of its citizens from the 1945 bombings at the close of World War II. True Pure Land Buddhism was the most established religious group in Hiroshima; they came to view the bombing in terms of karma, and the wheel of suffering that bound all people, while the much smaller Roman Catholic population viewed the terrible causalities in terms of sin and sacrifice. Of particular interest is the chapter entitled "Women in Atomic Bomb Narratives: Hagiography, Alterity, and Non-Nomological Ethics". Beyond the Mushroom Cloud is a welcome addition to modern Japanese Religious Studies shelves.

Parley P. Pratt and the Making of Mormonism
Edited with contributions by Gregory K. Armstrong, Matthew J. Grow, and Dennis J. Siler
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780870624018 $45.00 www.ahclark.com

Parley P. Pratt and the Making of Mormonism is an anthology of scholarly historical essays concerning the life and religious legacy of Parley P. Pratt, who joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, and was murdered in 1857 by the estranged husband of his twelfth wife. Pratt's contributions greatly shaped Mormon theology and identity, including his poetry, apologetics, and autobiography. Parley P. Pratt and the Making of Mormonism includes writings examining what, if any, role that Pratt's murder had in instigating the Mountain Meadows Massacre (noting that historical evidence suggesting that Pratt's murder caused the massacre is quite lacking), Pratt's influence on Mormon print culture, the family life of Pratt (notable given his extensive plural marriage), and much more. An excellent contribution to religious history and studies shelves, Parley P. Pratt and the Making of Mormonism is highly recommended for public and college libraries.

Playing with Shadows
Polly Aird, Jeff Nichols, and Will Bagley, editors
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780870623806 $45.00 www.ahclark.com

Volume 13 in the "Kingdom in the West: The Mormons and the American Frontier" series, Playing with Shadows: Voices of Dissent in the Mormon West is a compendium of primary testimonies from four individuals to left the Mormon faith: George Armstrong Hicks, Charles Derry, Ann Gordge, and Brigham Young Hampton. Termed "apostates" by Mormon founder Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saint leaders, these dissenters' words offer a different, disaffected perspective of the religion in the 1800's. Biographical portrayals of each dissenter as well as relevant newspaper articles, personal letters, journals, and sermons offer historical context to these reasoned oppositions to the Mormon creed. An excellent scholarly resource studying an oft-neglected side to the early history of the Mormon faith - that is, measured resistance to and disillusionment with it - Playing with Shadows is highly recommended especially for college library Religious Studies shelves, as is the rest of the "Kingdoms in the West" series.

Miracle on Second Avenue
Mukunda Goswami
Torchlight Publishing
PO Box 52
Badger, CA 93603
9780981727349, $24.95, www.torchlight.com

To spread a message is a noble goal, but it is not easy. "Miracle on Second Avenue: Hare Krishna Arrives in New York, San Francisco, and London 1966-1969" discusses the journey of one devoted swami, Bhaktivedanta, sought to spread the philosophy and spirituality of the Hare Krishan. Autor Mukunda Goswami, relays his tale of meeting the elder early in adulthood, and helping him establish the first Krishna temple in the Western world. "Miracle on Second Avenue" is a powerful read for those trying to understand the philosophy and purpose of the Krishna brand of spirituality.


The Native American Studies Shelf

Treaties and Treachery
Kurt R. Nelson
Caxton Press
312 Main Street
Caldwell, ID 83605-3299
9780870044991 $18.95 www.caxtonpress.com

Treaties and Treachery: The Northwest Indians' Resistance to Conquest chronicles the violent years of conflict from 1853 and 1859, when U.S. government officials began to transform the Oregon Territory into states. Native American tribes signed treaties to protect their way of life, but soon learned bitterly that the written promises they pledged their names to had little impact on their futures. Fierce fighting ensued, with atrocities committed on both sides; ultimately, the 1850's marked the end of the traditional way of life for virtually every major Native American tribe in the Northwest. Treaties and Treachery is as much a story about the clash of cultures as it is a military chronicle, and a welcome addition to Native American history shelves.

The Plains Political Tradition
Jon K. Lauck, John E. Miller, & Donald C. Simmons
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive
Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780982274927, $19.95, www.sdshspress.com

Local political scenes can prove to be very intriguing changes of pace from the national stage. "The Plains Political Tradition: Essays on South Dakota Political Culture" discusses the political landscape of South Dakota, discussing the debates that go on throughout the state. Dispelling the myth that the state only has rural conservatism, many writers from the state and those speaking as outsiders offer a unique analysis of a surprisingly diverse political culture. "The Plains Political Tradition" is an excellent and much recommended addition to any politics collection looking to gain insight on local and state level politics from all across the United States.


The Criminology Shelf

Identity Theft in Today's World
Megan McNally
Praeger
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313375880, $48.00, www.abc-clio.com

Your identity is the most valuable thing in your possession in today's world. "Identity Theft in Today's World" is a discussion of this dangerous crime which has taken a rise in recent years. With the increases in technology and the widening of the world, fraud seems easier than ever. Discussing how the crimes are committed and how to counter them and protect an identity, "Identity Theft in Today's World" is a choice and comprehensive collection for those who are seeking to understand the crime better and defend themselves from it.


The Travel Shelf

Great Journeys
Lonely Planet
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781742205892, $39.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

The destination is overrated, the journey is where the memories come. "Great Journeys: Travel the World's Most Spectacular Routes" is a unique travel guide from Lonely Planet, this time focusing on the pathways of the world. From wonders of the world like the Great Wall of China, cultural landmarks like Machu Picchu, to railways and historic highways, each entry has information on the route with plenty of full color photographs and diagrams. "Great Journeys" is a choice pick that shouldn't be overlooked by those who find great joy in traveling.


The Photography Shelf

A Turbulent Lens
Virna Haffer
Tacoma Art Museum
1701 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780924335327, $19.95, www.washington.edu

Photography was once viewed as not art, but that was before artists got a hold of it. "A Turbulent Lens: The Photographic Art of Virna Haffer" discusses the artistic work of Haffer, who throughout the middle of the twentieth century gained some renown to bringing an artistic touch to her photography, presenting a new angle on many topics, and catching sides to humanity rarely seen. Packed cover to cover with her classical black and white work, "A Turbulent Lens" is a choice and core addition to community library photography collections.


The Reference Shelf

The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012
The World Almanac
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10001
9781600571473, $34.95, www.worldalmanac.com

There is so much going on in the world that it is often impossible to keep on top of it all. "The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012" is a complete and comprehensive reference of statistics, news items, and more from all around the world. From a hefty dose of sports statistics, numbers surrounding the major events of 2011, what's coming in 2012, Census information, trivia, and a collection of full color photographs throughout, "The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012" proves to be an endlessly interesting and entertaining pick for those who want to learn about a good deal of everything.


The Geology Shelf

Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country, second edition
William J. Fritz & Robert C. Thomas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
1301 South Third Street West, 59801
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425815, $24.00, www.mountain-press.com

There are millions of years of history by the roadside. "Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country, second edition" is a guide for amateur and would be geologists from William Fritz and Robert Thomas as they apply their expertise to create a reference to the countless geysers and other attractions of nature that the Yellowstone region calls its own. With more geysers than anywhere else in the world, those with a strong interest in geology would do well with "Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country", highly recommended.


The Agriculture Shelf

Optimal Control of Greenhouse Cultivation
Gerrit van Straten, Gerard van Willigenburg, Eldert van Henten, and Rachel van Ooteghem
CRC Press
Suite 300
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781420059618 $104.95 www.crcpress.com

Optimal Control of Greenhouse Cultivation is a technical, scientific, and professional resource especially for manufacturers of technology designed to control greenhouse cultivation systems. Collecting the fruits of 30 years of research in greenhouse climate control, Optimal Control of Greenhouse Cultivation discusses incorporates advanced mathematics, engineering, and physics into its calculations and projected modeling. Chapters cover open-loop optimal control, feedback control, solar greenhouses, modeling greenhouse climate in response to control fluctuations in heating, ventilation, and other variables, and much more. An excellent resource especially for professional modelers and computer scientists in the field, Optimal Control of Greenhouse Cultivation tackles difficult agricultural planning challenges head-on and is especially recommended for graduate college library collections and agricultural science reference shelves.

Chocolate Forever
Anna Laven and Pim Pelders
Royal Tropical Institute
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9789460221033 $39.95 www.styluspub.com

Chocolate Forever: Dutch Knowledge on Sustainable Cocoa is not a cookbook of chocolate recipes, but rather a scholarly agricultural study of ways and means to sustainably harvest cocoa beans in the long term. Drawing especially on the lessons learned by Dutch agricultural professionals seeking to sustainable grow and harvest cocoa in the Netherlands, Chocolate Forever discusses means to gather, transmit, and implement knowledge as surely as the actual processes currently used, with an eye to how farmers are and should be trained in the present and future. Beautiful full color photography throughout enhances this excellent and groundbreaking promotion of long-term ecological responsibility in producing Dutch cocoa beans, with invaluable lessons applicable to a much broader range of crops and cultures. Highly recommended especially for college library agricultural studies shelves.

Cultivating a Movement
Sarah Rabkin, Irene Reti, & Ellen Farmer
University of California Santa Cruz
McHenry Library, UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
9780972334365, $19.95, www.library.ucsc.edu

Humanity must find its sustainability on its planet for its future. "Cultivating a Movement: An Oral History of Organic Farming & Sustainable Agriculture on California's Central Coast" discusses the movement towards organic growing in central California. Many writers from different angles of the farming process come together and discuss the value of organic farming and the history of the movement and promotion of said techniques. "Cultivating a Movement" is a fine pick for any agriculture or agricultural history collection.


The Mathematics Shelf

Math for Life
Jeffrey Bennett
Roberts & Company Publishers
4950 South Yosemite Street, F2 #197
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
9781936221341, $25.00, www.roberts-publishers.com

Numbers don't really lie. "Math for Life: Crucial Ideas You Didn't Learn in School" is an exploration of the mathematics of many important issues in today's society. Numbers are everywhere and often are manipulated, and author Jeffrey Bennett seeks to explain the ins and outs of these important numbers, and how they pertain to the national debt, student loans, the energy crisis, and even where numbers don't seem to apply like party politics. "Math for Life" is an excellent read for anyone who wants to better understand many of the issues that face our world.


The Library Science Shelf

The Black Belt Librarian
Warren Graham
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838911372 $45.00 www.alastore.ala.org

The Black Belt Librarian: Real-World Safety & Security is a no-nonsense practical guide to keeping a public library safe and secure while remaining open and accessible to the public. Chapters address ways in which to make the library safer, from installing a video camera system (one that shows people entering and exiting the library from a clear enough angle to identify them - vital in case a child is taken from the library), to the importance of keeping staff areas locked at all times, to basic security documentation, hiring the right quality of security personnel, and much more. Also present are tips, tricks, techniques, and guidelines for dealing positively with young patrons, defusing incidents as smoothly as possible, and determining when there is no choice but to ban a patron. "Make up a list of your numbered keys on your computer, the dates they were issued, and who obtained them. Now if a staff member loses his keys, you can immediately check to see what keys you issued him and what areas of the library have been made vulnerable; do any locks now need to be rekeyed?" Also highly recommended for librarians is "Pre- & Post-Retirement Tips for Librarians" (9780838911204, $47.00).

The ALA Book Of Library Grant Money, eighth edition
Ann Kepler, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910580, $175.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Now in a fully updated and expanded eighth edition, "The ALA Book Of Library Grant Money" continues to be the most authoritative reference for librarians of small, mid-sized, and large library systems to seek funding for their libraries from corporate, foundational, and governmental sources. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Ann Kepler, "The ALA Book Of Library Grant Money" is a 448-page, user friendly compendium of information presented alphabetically with each entry being identified by name and offering contact information, descriptions, financial summaries, grant data, lists of past grant recipients, grant-specific web site addresses. Of special note is an informed and informative introduction followed by a 'User's Guide'. Enhanced with the inclusion for four Indexes (Grantors by Total Grant Value; Grantors by State; Named Grants; and Professional Library Organization Grantors), "The ALA Book Of Library Grant Money" should be on the librarian reference shelf for all school, community, academic, corporate, and governmental libraries.

Graphic Novels in Your School Library
Jesse Karp
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910894, $50.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Graphic novels are more than thicker comic books, they're a gateway to keep young people reading. "Graphic Novels in Your School Library" is an advisory for readers who want to better embrace the graphic novel to help their school library attract more students. Better tracing the history of the medium, the many conventions behind it which share many ideas with traditional novels, the core classics and titles that should make the cornerstone of a library's collection, and their educational value. For any school librarian who seeks to keep their collection current, "Graphic Novels in Your School Library" is an excellent and practical start to helping even those who have no idea with to begin with these works.

Fairy Tale Fun!
Nancy Polette
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038-4512
9781555707736, $59.95, www.neal-schuman.com

Fairy tales are timeless, known across generations. "Fairy Tale Fun!" discusses how librarians can use these popular tales as a basis to encourage literacy and love of reading in a new generation of readers. Nancy Polette provides a comprehensive listing of many of these fairy tales, and references the film versions of many of these, with links to many YouTube videos. Using these resources, one can present an educational, fun presentation that will inspire further reading, as well as many other fun activities. For the librarian looking to catch the eyes of children for many years to come, "Fairy Tale Fun!" is an a strong resource that shouldn't be overlooked in any librarian's reference collection.


The Poetry Shelf

Evensong
Ingrid Wendt
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781935503934, $15.95, http://tsup.truman.edu

We solve problems and find solutions, and these little victories carry us through life. "Evensong" is a collection of poetry from Ingrid Wendt, a life long follower of the arts. Through her works, she presents a positive image of the world that realizes it's not perfect. "Evensong" is a fine assortment of verse, very much recommended reading. "Fan Letter from the Fourth Grade": You're big, he says./He says He didn't know/that first day of class my poems/were published, the fact/I'd written a book. He says, Would you like some candy?/and his hand works out of his jeans/pocket a lavender heart, its edges/worn down like chalk by who/knows how many washings: Hot Stuff,/Cool Cat, Ask Me, May I, whatever/words that were anyway only for fun, erased.


The Law/Justice Shelf

Rebuilding Justice
Rebecca Love Kourlis & Dirk Olin
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100
Golden, Colorado 80403
9781555915384, $16.95, www.fulcrum-books.com

Justice isn't for all when it costs millions of dollars. "Rebuilding Justice: Civil Courts in Jeopardy and Why You Should Care" discusses the rising costs, in time, money, and politics, that those pursuing justice face. Stating that the legal system has grown stagnant and in much need for reform. Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System Rebecca Love Kourlis and journalist Dirk Olin present their case of the many issues today's justice faces and what can be done to advance it, "Rebuilding Justice" is an exceedingly important and much recommended pick for community library legal studies collections.


The Political Science Shelf

Reverse Mission
Timothy A. Byrnes
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
9781589017757 $44.95 hc
9781589017689 $26.95 pbk www.press.georgetown.edu

In 1989, the murder of six Jesuits in El Salvador sparked widespread outrage among Jesuit communities in America because the murderers were in part funded by the US Government - this was far from the only instance in which American religious missions abroad would ultimately have an effect on American foreign policy. Author Timothy A. Byrnes (professor of political science, Colgate University) offers a close study of the interplay between American religious missions abroad and efforts to lobby the government's decision-making in Reverse Mission: Transnational Religious Communities and the Making of US Foreign Policy. Chapters particularly explore the dynamic history and political repercussions of Jesuit missions in El Salvador; how American government practices in Nicaragua were swayed by the Maryknoll sisters; and the connections between Benedictine communities in Vermont and Mexico. A scholarly and serious-minded study, Reverse Mission is quite thought-provoking and a worthy addition to college library political studies or religious studies shelves.

The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats
Raymond F. Smith
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
9781597977296, $30.00, www.patomacbooksinc.com

As the world grows more intertwined, diplomacy may be more important than ever. "The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats" discusses the importance of understanding political analysis in today's world where everything is sensitive, such as the case of the state department cables from WikiLeaks. Presenting insight into the diplomatic process and communications between them all, the importance of being professional, and much more, "The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats" is an excellent addition to community library politics collections.


The Gardening Shelf

Vertical Vegetables & Fruit
Rhonda Massingham Hart
Storey
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429986, $16.95, www.storey.com

Space is at a premium horizontally, so let's go vertical. "Vertical Vegetables & Fruit: Creative Gardening Techniques for Growing Up in Small Spaces" is a guide to embracing this non-traditional growing strategy. Encouraging making plants work with you to grow and create a gardening plan that stacks up and maximizes one's space, getting the most amount of growing space possible. With plenty of full color illustrations and step by step instructions on how to get vertical growing working, "Vertical Vegetables & Fruit" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to increase the amount they grow even when they don't seem to have the space to do so.


The Audiobook Shelf

Death Comes to Pemberley
P.D. James, author
Rosalyn Landor, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780449011157 $40.00 www.randomhouse.com

Death Comes to Pemberley is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of International Crime Writing Hall of Fame member P.D. James' sequel to Jane Austin's classic novel "Pride and Prejudice". In 1803, six years after Elizabeth and Darcy settled down to live on Darcy's estate, a terrible murder on the eve of the autumnal ball begins a dark and tangled mystery. Veteran television actress Rosalyn Landor lends her narrative talents to this riveting historical fiction whodunnit, highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections.

Micro
Michael Crichton and Richard Preston, authors
www.michaelcrichton.com
John Bedford Lloyd, narrator
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780060873080 $39.99 www.harpercollins.com

"Jurassic Park" author and "ER" co-creator Michael Crichton and award-winning science writer Richard Preston present Micro, the unabridged audiobook adaptation of their thriller about the perils of cutting-edge technology. Seven graduate students are recruited by a microbiology start-up, sent to a remote laboratory in Hawaii, and promised the opportunity to experience new discoveries. What they encounter is a hideous trap, and an insidious threat that pursues them through the wilderness. It will take all their physical and mental resources as well as their knowledge of nature to even have a chance of survival, let alone the ability to uncover the whole truth. Death can come in small but utterly lethal packages, in this tautly written novel superbly performed by John Bedford Lloyd. Highly recommended, especially for public library audiobook collections. 12 CDs, 14 hours.

Women in Blue or Gray
Written and told by Jim Weiss
Greathall Productions, Inc.
PO Box 5061
Charlottesville, VA 22905-5061
9781882513635 $14.95 www.greathall.com

Award-winning audio storyteller Jim Weiss presents Women in Blue or Gray: True Stories from Both Sides of the American Civil War is a down-to-earth recounting of the exploits of notable women during the Civil War. The women profiled include Sarah and Angelina Grimke, Lottie and Ginnie Moon, Anna Ella Carroll, Sallie Tompkins, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, and Harriet Tubman. An involving, family-friendly anthology, Women in Blue or Gray is highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections. 1 CD, 73 min.

Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com

Naxos is a premier publisher of both abridged and unabridged audio books with a very large catalog of titles with more being added every month. They are especially known for their productions of literary classics include to the massive unabridged collections of the works of T. H. White whose most well-known effort is the Arthurian novel "The Once And Future King" (Unabridged, NAX90112, $152.98, 29 CDs, 33 hours 03 minutes). Continuing his Arthurian tales with "The Witch In The Wood & The Ill-Made Night" (Unabridged, NAX86912, $67.98, 12 CDs. 13 hours 06 minutes) and "The Candle In The Wind & The Book Of Merlyn" (Unabridged, NA988012, $59.98, 9 CDs, 10 hours, 16 minutes) these superbly produced and technically flawless recordings are brought vividly to life by the gifted narrative talents of Neville Jason. These stories reveal the iconic characters of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Merlyn, Lancelot, Mordred, and all the famed (and occasionally infamous) members of the Knights of the Round Table in their complexity and entirety from youth to old age. Providing the rapt listener with a true 'theatre of the mind' experience, these two complete and unabridged audio book productions are certain to be enduringly popular additions to personal, academic, and community library collections. Also very highly recommended is Naxos audio book edition T. H. White's final Arthurian novel as dramatically narrated by Neville Jason, "The Sword In The Stone", which is available in both an Abridged (NA387412, $22.98, 3 CDs, 3 hours 52 minutes) and an Unabridged (NA885312, $54.98, 8 CDs, 9 hours 41 minutes) edition.


The Library Music CD Shelf

My Life
Sia Tolno
Africa Nostra
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$18.74 www.flipswitchPR.com

International music sensation Sia Tolno, whose roots lie in war-torn Sierra Leone, presents My Life, an album that condemns political corruption, the disrespect of women, and other evils while celebrating the joys of music and remembering shared festivities from her former home. A mixture of Afropop, elements of soul and rock, and the gravitas of traditional instruments, My Life resurrects a love of music that even warfare cannot exterminate, and is a superb addition to international music collections. The tracks are "Blamah Blamah" (3:50), "Odju Watcha" (4:31), "Di Ya Leh" (4:13), "Malaya" (3:41), "Polli Polli" (4:28), "Aya Ye" (3:30), "Ayiboh" (4:14), "Blind Samaritan" (3:51), "Kongossa" (5:28), "Tonia" (5:11), "Toumah Toumah" (4:37), and "Shame Upon U" (4:59).

My Lifelong Love
Georgia Stitt
www.GeorgiaStitt.com
Sh-K-Boom Records
c/o Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210
New York, NY 10019
$17.72 www.sh-k-boom.com www.millerwright.com

Award-winning composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt presents My Lifelong Love, a passionate album of thirteen of her original songs performed by an eclectic variety of popular singers. The songs share a common theme of love, from first love, to love long since lost, the soul-stirring love of great music, love for the next generation, and the importance of loving oneself. A refreshing and achingly beautiful musical experience, My Lifelong Love is highly recommended. The tracks are "Not Yet" (performed by Heidi Blickenstaff), "My Lifelong Love" (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), "Sing Me a Happy Song" (Shoshana Bean), "Sonnet 29" (Brian D'Arcy James), "The Wanting of You" (Susan Egan), "Communication" (Laura Osnes), "At This Turn in the Road Again" (Christopher Jackson), "A Very Short Song" (Laura Osnes), "If I Could" (Michael Arden), "Invested in You" (Jessica Molaskey & John Pizzarelli), "More of My Mother" (Kate Baldwin), "Kites and Children" (Anika Noni Rose) and "Love After Love" (Michael McElroy).

Brazilian Beat
Putumayo World Music
411 Lafayette St., 4th floor, NY, NY 10003
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$12.93 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Brazilian Beat is an enthusiastic anthology album, featuring music ranging from Afro-Brazilian rhythm to retro samba soul and bossa nova vocalizations. The songs are from a diverse array of artists, and brimming with the exhilarating joy of life. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Tamy", "Bruna Caram", "Macros Valle", "Brazilian Groove Band", "Monica da Silva", "BungaLove", "Fino Coletivo", "Brazuka Fina", "Roge", "Tita Lima", and "Marcello".


The Library DVD Shelf

Amazing Grace
Bill Moyers, host
Elena Mannes, producer and director
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285642 $29.99 www.acornonline.com

Hosted by distinguished journalist Bill Moyers, Amazing Grace is a DVD documentary of the incredible true story behind the widely beloved hymn "Amazing Grace", written by English clergyman (and ex-slave ship captain) John Newton, and first published in 1779. The hymn's power and beauty of the hymn would earn it an enduring place in American spiritual culture. Twenty-four renditions and performances of the hymn, from singers including Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Marion Williams, the Boys Choir of Harlem, and even prison inmates, enhance this captivating true story behind a song that has resonated in people's hearts and souls throughout the generations. Bonus features include biographies of Bill Moyers and features performers, a 54-min. portrait of folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, and a 12-page viewer's guide. Highly recommended. 80 min. plus bonus, full screen, SDH subtitles.

Hawaii: Roots of Fire
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772039 $195.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Ideal for viewers in grades seven through college, Hawaii: Roots of Fire is an extraordinary documentary about the geology underlying the Hawaiian islands and their amazing volcanoes. From the revolutionary invention of the theory of plate tetonics, to the latest findings about the age of the Hawaiian islands and their natural history, to the potentially life-threatening efforts that cutting-edge researchers undertake to gain invaluable data, Hawaii: Roots of Fire is as educational as it is fascinating. Highly recommended especially for public and school library DVD collections. 27 min.

Poirot Series 1
Based on stories by Agatha Christie
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.acornonline.com
9781598287356 $49.99 Blu-ray

Now in a newly remastered rendition restored to their original U.K. broadcast order, Poirot Series 1 kicks off this "must-have" set for fans of Agatha Christie and British mysteries. Available in both a 2-disc DVD Blu-ray and 3-volume DVD renditions, Series 1 features ten full-length mysteries starring award-nominated David Suchet as the titular Belgian genius Poirot, as well as Hugh Fraser as the kindly Captain Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon. A superbly memorable viewing experience, Poirot Series 1 brings the time, place, and very feel of Christie's novels to vivid life. Highly recommended. The episodes are "The Adventures of the Clapham Cook", "Murder in the Mews", "The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly", "Four and Twenty Blackbirds", "The Third Floor Flat", "Triangle at Rhodes", "Problem at Sea", "The Incredible Theft", "The King of Clubs", and "The Dream". 519 min., full screen, SDH subtitles.

Dr. Willoughby
Starring Joanna Lumley
Chad Campbell
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285611 $29.99 www.acornonline.com

Dr. Willoughby is a smartly written British comedy about an aging actress stuck in a dead-end career yet fighting ferociously to hang on. Onscreen, she plays the role of compassionate surgeon Dr. Willoughby; offscreen, she is on aggressive-at-best terms with her co-stars in her daytime hospital soap opera. Her efforts to secure her diva's position range from nasty, witty repartee, to stabbing fellow actors in the back (mostly metaphorically) to threatening her producer and lying to escape a charity gig. Starring selfish, borderline sociopathic, and utterly hilarious anti-heroine, Dr. Willoughby is a biting black comedy not to be missed. 6 episodes, 144 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.


The American History Shelf

Ten Tea Parties
Joseph Cummins
Quirk Books
215 Church Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781594745607 $18.95 quirkbooks.com

The historical impact of the Boston Tea Party is well-known - but it was not the only rebellion of its kind. Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot chronicles the lesser-known Tea Party rebellions, such as the Philadelphia Tea Party of December 1773, the York, Maine Tea Party of September 1774, the Wilmington, North Carolina Tea Party of March 1775, and more. Historian Joseph Cummins chronicles fierce American resistance to taxation without representation, which led to staggering financial lossses for the great trading companies of the era. Ten Tea Parties is a highly recommended addition to college and public library American History shelves, as it clarifies in extensive and accessible detail the turbulent times leading up to the American Revolution.


The World History Shelf

Contentious Liberties
Gale L. Kenny
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820340456 $24.95 www.ugapress.org

Contentious Liberties: American Abolitionists in Post-Emancipation Jamaica, 1834-1866 is a studious examination of the Oberlin College mission to Jamaica, began in the 1830s. This far-seeing missionary undertaking was meant to use emancipation in the British West Indies as a positive example to support the cause of American abolitionists, by showing that freed African slaves could be productive members of society. But this core mission became complicated white missionaries encountered the liberated black Jamaicans' reluctance to adopt Victorian societal norms pertaining to gender, family, and religion. A fascinating, in-depth account of conflicts between disparate cultures in the 1800's, Contentious Liberties is highly recommended as an excellent pick for international history shelves.

The Expert Cook in Enlightenment France
Sean Takats
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421402833 $60.00 www.press.jhu.edu

The Expert Cook in Enlightenment France is a close examination of not only the cuisine of eighteenth-century France, but of the men and women who created it, seeking to earn their place in society as culinary professionals. Drawing upon sources ranging from printed cookbooks and medical texts to building plans and commercial advertisements, author Sean Takats (assistant professor of history, George Mason University) brings a fascinating portrayal of what it was like to live and work amid the gourmet high culture of hundreds of years ago. A handful of black-and-white illustrations enhance this fascinating and unique historical portrayal, thoroughly accessible to lay gourmands and scholars alike.

Apollo & Vulcan
Guido Guerzoni
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611860061, $54.95, www.amazon.com

In addition to esthetic values, art has always had a commercial aspect to it that was reflective on marketplace values of quality, quantify, supply, and demand. In "Apollo & Vulcan: The Art Markets Of Italy" covers the economics of art as evidenced by the art markets of major Italian cities from 1400 to 1700 C.E. Author and academician Guido Guerzoni (a specialist in economic and social history, Cultural Management, Universia Bocconi, Milan, Italy) draws upon more than fifteen years of meticulous and seminal research and offers informed and informative analysis of the diverse art markets of that era for paintings and sculptures, along with such factors as the psychology of consumption as it relates to works of art, geographical areas of distinction, institutional typologies, and more. Presented in seven primary chapters, "Apollo & Vulcan" is enhanced with copious footnotes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making it very strongly recommended for academic library Art History and Italian History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Arabs
Heinz Halm
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558765467, $28.95, www.markuswiener.com

The rise of the Arabs in the first Millennia AD has had influence that continues to the modern day. "The Arabs: A Short History" discusses the impact of the Arabic nations and peoples throughout history, ranging back to pre-Islam to the modern uprisings all throughout. For those with a strong interest in history and want to see the origins and progressions of these people, "The Arabs" is an excellent starter point that will encourage readers to go further with their studies.


The Gaming Shelf

Understanding Chess Middlegames
John Nunn
Publicity Department
Gambit Books
info@gambitbooks.com
9781906454272 $24.95 www.gambitbooks.com

Three-time World Chess Solving Champion John Nunn presents Understanding Chess Middlegames, an excellent midgame strategy guide for intermediate to expert chess players. The middlegame is where the outcome of the chess match is usually decided; chapters examine the nuances of positional play, how to determine the circumstances in which certain pieces are more valuable than others, methods that can be used to corner the enemy king, and much more. Each lesson is illustrated with two point-by-point game examples, in this detailed and technical resource ideal for dramatically improving one's gameplay. Highly recommended.

Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds
Woody Evans
Chandos Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers (distribution)
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038-4512
9781843346418 $80.00 www.neal-schuman.com

Written especially for designers and programmers of computer or video games, Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds: Gaming and Beyond examines how to process amalgamates of information about virtual realms, particularly game worlds such as "Second Life", "EVE Online", or "Runescape". Chapters address the complexities of mapping virtual worlds, how information services can be practiced in virtual worlds, the experience of spending time in virtual worlds, and much more. "...there will always be games and distractions, however social, geolocative, or integrated into other aspects of your life they become... But in their ability to connect us to others in the fields of our own imaginations, games and virtual worlds empower us beyond anything a ticket to ride on Virgin Galactic can offer. When the virtual and the Real become consciously integrated and purposefully (maybe self-effacingly) self-aware, our clients and patrons will have something perhaps more precious than good search technique or searing knowledge of advanced query syntax. They'll have the power to create worlds within worlds, and to create new worlds out of old ones." A studious compilation of information professional tips, tricks, and techniques as well as a repository of insight for anyone seeking to possibly turn a profit off gathering and making accessible the raw data from online virtual worlds, Information Dynamics in Virtual Worlds lives up to its title and is an excellent complementary resource for game design, virtual world programming, and information studies shelves.

The United States Chess Championship 1845-2011
Andy Soltis
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786465286, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "The United States Chess Championship 1845-2011" offers a detailed chronological record of championship matches beginning with the first matches played out in 1845 to matches concluded in 2011. Reflecting a history of singular games, "The United States Chess Championship 1845-2011" is enhanced with the inclusion of a U.S. Championship Summary; Individual Records; Opening Index; ECO Openings Index; and a General Index, making this 286-page compendium deftly compiled and edited by Andy Soltis a highly recommended and core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Chess Book reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Cookbook Shelf

Veggiyana: The Dharma Of Cooking
Sandra Garson
World Wisdom
1501 East Hillside Drive
Bloomington, IN 47401
www.worldwisdom.com
9780861716364, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Showcasing 108 recipes derived from vegetarian dishes from diverse cultures and countries around the world, "Veggiyana: The Dharma Of Cooking" is a 360-page compendium of elegant recipes that encompass salads, main dishes, and even desserts. Very nicely organized and presented, the recipes are grouped according to how they are prepared: in a salad bowl, on the back burner of a stove, in a frying pan, or boiled in water. Of special note is the chapter on 'Dhal Bhat: Components for a Vegetarian Meal'. The recipes range from Sesame Broccoli; Maghreb Couscous with Seven Vegetables; and Turkish Pumpkin Pancakes; to Fragrant Split Pea Soup with Fresh Peas; Maine Autumn Risotto; and Rhubarb Ginger Chutney. Offering a culinary wealth of delicious and nutritious dining ideas, "Veggiyana: The Dharma Of Cooking" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library vegetarian cookbook collections!

The French Slow Cooker
Michele Scicolone, author
Alan Richardson, photography
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547508047 $22.00 www.hmhpub.com

Beautiful full color, full page photography of sumptuous dishes peppers The French Slow Cooker, a guide to creating French repasts with a tool that even novices can master quickly. Cooking teacher Michele Scicolone walks the reader through recipes ranging from Chicken Bouillabaisse to Slow-Cooked Salmon with Lemon and Green Olives, French Potato Salad, Moroccan Vegetable Couscous, Apricot French Bread Pudding, and many more. An extensive introduction that teaches cooks of all skill and experience levels how to effectively and safely use a slow cooker rounds out this excellent contribution to gourmet cookbook shelves.

Simply Thai Cooking, third edition
Wandee Young & Byron Ayanoglu
Robert Rose, Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, ON M4P 1E2
9780778802822 $19.95 www.robertrose.ca

Now in an updated third edition featuring 32 full color, full page photographs, Simply Thai Cooking is a wonderful compendium of authentic Thai recipes, as presented by restaurant entrepreneur Wandee Young and celebrity chef Byron Ayanoglu. A broad variety of spicy and flavorful dishes are covered, including Lemon-Chicken Soup, Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, Thai Shrimp-Cakes, Protein Tofu and Bamboo Shoots in Hot Sauce, Thai Banana Fritters, and many more - over 100 in all. A brief introduction familiarizing cooks of all backgrounds with the basics of Thai cuisine rounds out this excellent, easy-to-use resource especially recommended for international cookbook collections.

Rice & Curry
S.H. Fernando Jr., author
Susan Now, photographer
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
9780781812733 $19.95 www.hippocrenebooks.com

Full color photography enriches Rice & Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking, a sumptuous cookbook detailing how to create traditional Sri Lankan dishes, and flavorful variants thereof. Curry, rice, and chutney dishes figure prominently! An extensive introduction even offers a brief primer concerning travel in Sri Lanka, as well as detailed portrayal of Sri Lankan spices/ingredients and how to use them in cooking. The dishes include Mulligatawny (a hearty South Indian soup), Lamb/Mutton Curry, Mango Chutney, Caramel Pudding, and more. Rice & Curry is a wonderful, user-friendly addition to international cookbook collections.

Ramen To The Rescue
Jessica Harlan
Ulysses Press
Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781569759905, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Ramen noodles has long been a mainstay of financially stressed college students. In "Ramen To The Rescue", Jessica Harlan has compiled more than one hundred creative, nutritious, and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that elevate this inexpensive, humble, dried noodle into a culinary wealth of dishes that range from the 'tried and true' to the ethnically exotic. With recipes ranging from a Spinach-Ramen Breakfast Bowl; to Spaetzle-Style Ramen Noodles; to Ramen with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella; to Ramen Noodle Pudding, "Ramen To The Rescue" will prove to be a timely and much appreciated addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collection!


The Biography Shelf

Phillis Wheatley
Vincent Carretta
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820333380 $29.95 www.ugapress.org

Vincent Carretta (Professor of English, University of Maryland) presents Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage, a scholarly chronicle of Phillis Wheatley (1753?-1784), the first English-speaking person of African heritage to publish a book, and the second woman of any heritage to do so in America. Carretta traces what little is known of Wheatley's life and how she gained her freedom from slavery, her marriage, and how her widower fared after her untimely passing. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Wheatley's life is her skillful orchestration of a transatlantic network to produce, market, and distribute her writing. The fascinating life story of a truly extraordinary woman (illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs of artistic portraits), Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage is highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.

Robert Curthose: Duke of Normandy (c. 1050-1134)
William M. Aird
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc.
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843836605 $34.98 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Robert Curthose: Duke of Normandy (c. 1050-1134) is a detailed biography of Robert Curthose, eldest son of William the Conqueror and Duke of Normandy from 1087 to 1106. Robert Curthose was twice driven into exile, defeated his father in battle, and fought to defend his duchy from his brothers William Rufus and Henry who controlled the throne of England. His involvement in the success of the First Crusade (1095-99) earned him a legendary reputation in his own time, as a chivalric hero. Biographer William Aird (Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, Cardiff University) meticulously studies the dynamics of Norman political culture and medieval rulership, as well as Robert Curthose's legacy influencing the kings of England even after Henry I incarcinated him from 1106 to his death in 1134. Of especial interest is Aird's historical study of a ruthless power-drama commonly recounted from an English perspective. Robert Curthose: Duke of Normandy is highly recommended especially for public and college library biography shelves.


The Nautical Shelf

Winter in Fireland
Nicholas Coghlan
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645470 $34.95 www.uap.ualberta.ca

Winter in Fireland: A Patagonian Sailing Adventure recounts the sailing journey of author Nicholas Coghlan and his wife Jenny aboard their 27-foot sailboat, Bosun Bird, from Cape Town through the winter waters of the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan, dancing along edges of Tierra del Fuego (Fireland). Their adventure involved braving stormy waters, navigating channels and inlets, and encountering the whims and wonders of other cultures. Reflections on a lifelong love of sailing and incredible nautical adventures past and present fill this treasury for armchair travelers and sailing enthusiasts alike.


The Business Shelf

Decision Management Systems
James Taylor
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132884389 $29.99 www.mcp.com

James Taylor (CEO of Decision Management Solutions) presents Decision Management Systems: A Practical Guide to Using Business Rules and Predictive Analysis, a guide to improving decision making processes within one's business or corporation with the goal of improving responses to immediate problems, therefore providing better customer service, reducing fraud, managing risk more effectively, and promoting flexibility and growth. Chapters explore how to build robust and sustainable decision-making processes, as well as how to anticipate common obstacles. "Assigning optimal actions in this way works well for fixed sets of known customers. What it does not always do is suggest an optimal action for an unknown, new customer. One way to resolve this is to add the optimal action to the customer data set you have and then apply a decision tree-building algorithm to this data using a predictive analytic workbench. You can then mathematically build a decision tree that predicts who will get which action - a set of customer characteristics selects a branch in the tree that assigns a specific action to the customer." Business leaders responsible for personnel, customer service, or other areas requiring responsive, context-sensitive decision-making will find Decision Management Systems invaluable.


The Psychology Shelf

The Adolescent Brain
Valerie F. Reyna, Sandra B. Chapman, Michael R. Dougherty, and Jere Confrey, editors
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433810701 $79.95 www.apa.org/books

The Adolescent Brain: Learning, Reasoning, and Decision Making is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned psychologists about the latest cutting-edge discoveries and theories concerning young people's brains and mental processes, especially with regard to processing information and making difficult judgments. Individual writings include "Representation and Transfer of Abstract Mathematical Concepts in Adolescence and Young Adulthood", "Training the Adolescent Brain: Neural Plasticity and the Acquisition of Cognitive Abilities", "Risky Behavior in Adolescents: The Role of the Developing Brain", and much more. In a modern world that demands increasing amounts of education, skills and expertise in its emerging workforce, the scientific explorations of how young people cognitively develop in The Adolescent Brain take on a stringently urgent, immediately practical value. The Adolescent Brain is highly recommended especially for college library Psychology shelves.

Supporting Development in Internationally Adopted Children
Deborah A. Hwa-Froelich
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598571912 $39.95 www.brookespublishing.com

Deborah A. Hwa-Froelich (Professor and Director of the International Adoption Clinc, Saint Louis University) presents Supporting Development in Internationally Adopted Children, a distillation of her expertise in meeting the needs of thousands of children from outside the United States who are adopted into American famlies. Chapters address common issues in physical growth, health, and motor development; cognitive development; hearing, speech and feeding development; social communication development; and much more. While parents may this resource grounded heavily in the latest research and evidence useful, Supporting Development in Internationally Adopted Children is primarily a scholarly work intended for professionals rather than lay readers. Highly recommended, especially for experts in the fields of child psychology, pediatrics, social work, therapy, and education, and more.


The Architecture Shelf

Embedded Commissioning of Building Systems
Omer Akin
Artech House
685 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062
9781608071470 $129.00 www.artechhouse.com

Omer Akin (professor of the School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University) presents Embedded Commissioning of Building Systems an extensive, technical resource written especially for professionals. Chapters focus on the conundrum of devising architecture that serves the modern world's needs - needs driven by ever-expanding energy costs and the necessity of being environmentally friendly. Discussing a wealth of the latest developments including embedded commissioning as a means to evaluating one's construction plans, using the latest scanners for cost-effective modeling, communication protocols and data accessibility, just-in-time technology, and much more, Embedded Commissioning of Building Systems is an absolute must for any architectural design professional seeking to stay current with the latest digital, informational, and practical trends in the field.


The Journalism Shelf

Second Read
James Marcus and the staff of the Columbia Journalism Review, editors
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231159319 $24.50 http://cup.columbia.edu

Second Read: Writers Look Back at Classic Works of Reportage is an anthology of writings by practiced journalists examining critical works of reportage - stories that brought crucial information to ongoing public discourse and opinion. Individuals whose works are studied at length include Norman Mailer, Tom Wolfe, Rachel Carson, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and many more. Topics discussed include how reporters must question their own political assumptions to write a balanced story, the disturbing trend to substitute "truthiness" for researched facts in modern journalism, the role of a unique narrative style tempered by the risk of style overwhelming substance, and much more. Second Read is a choice addition to any Journalism Studies shelf, particularly those of college libraries, and highly recommended.


The Parenting Shelf

14 Ways to Protect Your Baby from SIDS
Rachel Y. Moon, M.D. and Farn R. Hauck, M.D., M.S.
Parenting Press
PO Box 75267
Seattle, WA 98125
978193690303030 $9.95 www.parentingpress.com

14 Ways to Protect Your Baby from SIDS: Safe Sleep Advice from the Experts is a practical guide to protecting one's child by expert medical doctors Rachel Y. Moon, M.D. and Farn R. Hauck, M.D., M.S. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is a dangerous threat to newborn infants, who are physically weak and less able to wake up or move their bodies if they are breathing in too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide while sleeping. Tips range from the importance of giving one's baby "tummy time" every day - that is, time when the infant is on their stomach while awake and supervised (both these details are extremely important!) so that they develop their muscles and learn to lift their heads - to never having a baby sleep in adult beds or cribs that don't meet safety standards, to offering the baby a pacifier at sleep time (statistics have shown that this reduces the risk of SIDS). An extremely easy-to-follow guide, 14 Ways to Protect Your Baby from SIDS deserves the absolute highest recommendation for both parents and public libraries, as its straightforward tips, tricks, and techniques will literally save lives.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design