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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 26, Number 7 July 2016 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Science Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Economic Studies Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Geography Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Education Shelf
Fiction Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Beer Shelf Journalism Shelf
Literary Studies Shelf Architecture Shelf Political Science Shelf
Art Shelf Photography Shelf Autism Shelf
Military Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf Multimedia Shelf
Parenting Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
Civil War Shelf Music Shelf Travel Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Library Science Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Business Shelf Gardening Shelf Technology Shelf
Gaming Shelf Self-Help Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Poetry Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Crafts Shelf Agriculture Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Computer Shelf Sports Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time
Mark Salisbury
Disney Editions
c/o Disney Hyperion
125 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10023
www.disneyhyperionbooks.com
9781484737699, $29.99, www.disneybooks.com

Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time is published nearly sixty years after Carroll's classic and is based on a new silent film pilot which began a series, and captures the creations of Walt Disney as he evolved animation projects around Alice and revived the classic with new art and inspirational themes. From book to theme park attraction and beyond, Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time captures the cinematic prowess of Disney and the results of his efforts, and packs in gorgeous color photos throughout to accent not just various Alice renditions, but the changing approaches which have helped redefine the classic story for new visual audiences.

The Accidental Taxonomist, second edition
Heather Hedden
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573875288, $39.50, www.infotoday.com

The second updated edition of The Accidental Taxonomist provides an in-depth guide to building information taxonomies and comes from an expert instructor who offers a step-by-step assessment of the process. Her latest edition updates taxonomy standards, includes the latest research and reference materials including new data, and expands various discussion points, while new real-world examples explain the software, design process, and the creation and management of taxonomy programs. Add specific routines from automatic indexing to creating associative relationships and you have a reference that is a 'must' for any collection strong in taxonomy development.

Chain of Title
David Dayen
The New Press
126 Wall Street, floor 31, New York, NY 10005-4007
www.thenewpress.com
9781620971581, $27.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

In the depths of the Great Recession, a cancer nurse, a car dealership worker, and an insurance fraud specialist helped uncover the largest consumer crime in American history, and thereby revealing a scandal that implicated dozens of major executives on Wall Street. They called it foreclosure fraud: millions of families were kicked out of their homes based on false evidence by mortgage companies that had no legal right to foreclose. Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak did not work in government or law enforcement. They had no history of anti-corporate activism. Instead they were all foreclosure victims, and while struggling with their shame and isolation they committed a revolutionary act: closely reading their mortgage documents, discovering the deceit behind them, and building a movement to expose it. In "Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street's Great Foreclosure Fraud" David Dayen (a columnist for the Fiscal Times) deftly recounts how these ordinary Floridians challenged the most powerful institutions in America armed only with the truth -- and for a brief moment they brought the corrupt financial industry to its knees. A consistently compelling, informed and informative read from beginning to end, "Chain of Title" is a truly exceptional study that should be a part of very community and academic library collection in the country. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Chain of Title" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.39).

Twister
Genanne Walsh
Black Lawrence Press
http://www.blacklawrence.com
9781625579379, $19.95, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com

By turns terrifying and humorous, clear-eyed and deep- hearted, "Twister" by Genanne Walsh brings the reader into the center of a storm as a small Midwestern town mourns the death of a young soldier. The novel opens with Rose, the soldier's fiercely independent mother, whose flame-red hair turns white overnight from grief. Chapter by chapter, her community is revealed and transformed, creating a web of secrets, betrayals, and hopes that ratchet up tension as the tornado approaches. As the storm drives into the heart of town, pasts are revealed and lives are shaken to the core. Exceptionally well written and consistently compelling from beginning to end, "Twister" is an unforgettable and extraordinary debut as a novelist for Genanne Walsh who has established herself as a keen observer of people, nature, and the ineffable. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists as well as community and academic library Literary Fiction collections, "Twister" is confidently and highly recommended.

One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography
Margaret Mackey
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
www.uap.ualberta.ca
9781772120394, $60.00, PB, 596pp, www.amazon.com

"One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography" is a significant and unique contribution to our understanding of reading and literacy development in which Margaret Mackey (Professor, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta) draws together memory, textual criticism, social analysis, and reading theory in an extraordinary act of self-study. A unique work of exemplary scholarship, "One Child Reading" reflects a remarkable academic undertaking. Seeking a deeper sense of what happens when we read, Mackey revisited the texts she read, viewed, listened to, and played as she became literate in the 1950s and 1960s in St. John's, Newfoundland. This tremendous sweep of reading included school texts, knitting patterns, and games, as well as hundreds of books. The result is not so much a memoir but rather a deftly theorized exploration of how a reader is constructed. "One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography " is especially commended to the attention of librarians, classroom teachers, and anyone involved in literacy development. A consistently compelling read that is as thoughtful as it is thought-provoking, "One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography" is an essential and highly recommended addition to community, college, and academic library collections.

The Labor Relations Process, 11th edition
William H. Holley, William H. Ross, Roger S. Wolters
Cengage Learning, Inc.
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
www.cengageptr.com
9781305576209, $372.95, HC, 774pp, www.amazon.com

Drawing upon their many years of experience and expertise as academicians and globally recognized arbitration experts, William H. Holley Jr. (Auburn University, William H. Ross (University of Wisconsin - La Crosse), and Roger S. Wolters (Auburn University) have effectively collaborated in writing this newly updated and expanded 11th edition of "The Labor Relations Process" covering all aspects of the labor movement, labor relations, and collective bargaining. The result is an impressively well written, organized, and presented volume that will prove to be a comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' curriculum textbook. Packed from cover to cover with real-world examples and quotes from practitioners in the field, "The Labor Relations Process" deftly explores labor's history from inception to current and emerging trends, touching on government, white-collar, and international contexts for an unmatched perspective of the topics. Individual chapters include an in-depth analyses of the relationship between management and labor, including key participants in the processes, and the rights and responsibilities of each. Labor agreements, collective bargaining, contract administration, arbitration, and other critical issues and processes highlight the complex, exciting nature of organized labor, and introduce your students to the many professional opportunities available to them today. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix (Collective Bargaining negotiations Exercise), a three page Author Index, and a twelve page Subject Index, "The Labor Relations Process" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library collections. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Labor Relations Process" is also available in a Kindle edition ($150.84 Rent / $247.49 Purchase).

Lost Among the Birds
Neil Hayward
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632865793, $28.00, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com

Birding was a lifelong passion. It was only among the birds that Neil found a calm that had eluded him in the confusing world of humans. But this time he also found competition. His growing list of species reluctantly catapulted him into a Big Year--a race to find the most birds in one year. His peregrinations across twenty-eight states and six provinces in search of exotic species took him to a hoarfrost-covered forest in Massachusetts to find a Fieldfare; to Lake Havasu, Arizona, to see a rare Nutting's Flycatcher; and to Vancouver for the Red-flanked Bluetail. Neil's Big Year was as unplanned as it was accidental: It was the perfect distraction to life. Neil shocked the birding world by finding 749 species of bird and breaking the long-standing Big Year record. He also surprised himself: During his time among the hummingbirds, tanagers, and boobies, he found a renewed sense of confidence and hope about the world and his place in it. Inherently interesting and impressively well written, organized and presented, "Lost Among the Birds: Accidentally Finding Myself in One Very Big Year" is especially recommended as an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Lost Among The Birds" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.59).


The Science Shelf

The Mysterious World of the Human Genome
Frank Ryan
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633881525, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

The Mysterious World of the Human Genome covers exciting new discoveries in the science, such as how the DNA and related chemical compounds in our cells work, and comes from a physician and evolutionary biologist who describes ways in which the genome works as a holistic system. As discussions range from genomic evolutionary processes and what kinds of information is preserved in DNA to how molecules and proteins developed, readers gain fine insights into how a basic understanding of these biological processes lead to a better understanding of life. No science collection should be without this discussion, which is also accessible by and recommended to general-interest audiences, as well.

The Human Side of Science
Arthur W. Wiggins and Charles M. Wynn Sr.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633881563, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

The Human Side of Science: Edison and Tesla, Watson and Crick, and Other Personal Stories Behind Science's Big Ideas provides a lively, humorous book about the idea that science is driven by the quirks, oddities, and personalities of the scientists and innovators behind it, and provides an unusual focus that goes beyond biographical inspection and into the processes of partnerships and collaboration, fiery encounters, opinions and options, and more. The result is a powerful examination of personalities and how their individual pursuits and interactions led to scientific discoveries, advancements, and not a few controversies, in the process.

Natural Products Desk Reference
John Buckingham, Caroline M. Cooper, Rupert Purchase
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439873618, $129.95, www.crcpress.com

The Natural Products Desk Reference provides a concise discussion of the key types of natural products on the market, and surveys the types of ingredients and formulas that can be defined as 'natural'. From the classification and organization of natural products and their formulas to stereochemistry and compounds, tables, definitions, bibliographic references, and 'skeleton' illustrations of these natural products provide chemical abstracts and descriptions of multicellular organizations. College-level chemistry students as well as anyone interested in the physical makeup of natural products will find this a detailed, invaluable guide!


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Stress Solution
Arthur P. Ciarmicoli, EdD, PhD
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608684083, $16.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

The Stress Solution: Using Empathy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Develop Resilience is recommended for self-help and psychology collections and offers a range of therapeutic tools for fighting the results of stress. While many books address stress and offer routines for alleviating symptoms or causes, this book offers specific insights on how to tackle the root cause of most stress: the drive to excel. Chapters focus on empathy-oriented approaches to behaviors and feelings and discuss how to change the basic neurochemistry of the brain to allow a more natural thought process leading to better perception and thinking patterns. Real-life stories from the author's psychology practice accompany advice on how to tackle performance addiction and its consequences.

Dr. Blaylock's Prescriptions for Natural Health
Russell L. Blaylock, MD
Humanix Books
www.humanixbooks.com
9781630060244, $26.99, HC, 404pp, www.amazon.com

Specifically written for the non-specialist general reader who is finding that their medical conditions don't get better and that their prescription drugs don't live up to their expectations. In the page of "Dr. Blaylock's Prescriptions for Natural Health" readers will learn: Specific supplement recommendations for nearly any health issue we could face; How to fight back against the diseases of aging with a simple anti-inflammatory diet; Why we must avoid specific substances in our food that can damage your brain, heart, lungs, and other organs -- especially for anyone over the age of 50; How we can drink our daily veggies without messy juicing; Safe and effective natural remedies for a full range of conditions including cancer, brain and heart disorders, diabetes, digestive illness, skin problems, pain, and prostate concerns. Dr. Blaylock also discusses diagnosis and treatment of dozens of medical conditions plaguing men and women: cancer, skin problems, brain and heart diseases, prostate disorders, diabetes, and many more. In addition, he reveals how to relieve common troubles such as pain, ringing in the ears, constipation and other digestive issues, vision problems, mood disorders, and other ailments. Readers will also see how natural products are superior to many pharmaceutical drugs, and learn more about the exciting new field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Health/Medicine collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists for anyone with an interest in what alternative medicine has to offer as a supplement to traditional western medicine, it should be noted that "Dr. Blaylock's Prescriptions for Natural Health" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.49).

The Nourished Belly Diet
Tammy Chang
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612435503, $14.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Tammy Chang is a certified nutrition consultant who gives nutrition classes, workshops, and food demonstrations. Tammy is also a graduate of the Three Stone Hearth Apprentice Program in Berkeley that prepares food according to the nutritional philosophy of traditional diets. She is a co-founder of Common Seed Nutrition, a group of nutrition consultants dedicated to making nutrition education accessible to everyone. In "The Nourished Belly Diet: 21-Day Plan to Heal Your Gut, Kick-Start Weight Loss, Boost Energy and Have You Feeling Great" Tammy draws upon her years of experience and expertise to present an impressively 'reader friendly' guide and reference that includes an extraordinary number of holistic recipes that include entries for breakfast, salads and sauces, veggie sides, entrees, and 'sweet treats'. Of special note is the inclusion of five appendices (Guide to Healthy Cooking Oil; Guide to Antioxidants; Complete List of Belly Boosters; Protein in Common Foods; Tea It Up!); two pages of Recommended Resources; and a two page Index. A delight to plan menus with, and while "The Nourished Belly Diet" is unreservedly recommended for personal, family, and community library collections, it should also be noted that a Kindle edition is also available ($9.99).

Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide
Lani Simpson, DC, CCD
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
www.hunterhouse.com
9781681625683, $32.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Dr. Lani Simpson is a chiropractic doctor and a Certified Clinical (bone) Densitometrist (CCD). She has been an expert in women's health care for 25 years, treating thousands of patients with a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to health. Part whistle-blower book, part bone health bible, "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide" is the first consumer book to expose the shocking difficulty of getting an accurate bone density reading and the serious risks of long-term use of osteoporosis medications, which are often prescribed based on inaccurate readings. In addition to this vital information about bone density testing, Dr. Simpson cuts through the confusion and inaccuracies surrounding osteoporosis and explains what readers can do now to build and maintain healthy bones for life. Dr. Simpson shares her well-rounded, whole-body approach to bone health, including discussions of digestive health, diet, supplements, exercise, and how aging affects the bones. Readers learn surprising facts about what foods and medicines might hurt bone health and which ones will help build strong bones. Also included is a thorough discussion of calcium supplementation and how to do it right. "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide" is the key to long, healthy, fracture-free golden years. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, commentary, organization and presentation, "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide" will prove to be an invaluable and enduringly popular addition to community library Health/Medicine collections. It should be noted for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject that "Dr. Lani's No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide " is also available in a paperback edition (9780897936613, $18.95) and in a Kindle format ($10.99).


The Economic Studies Shelf

Economics Versus Reality
John M. Legge
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412862516, $29.95, www.transactionpub.com

Economics versus Reality: How to Be Effective in the Real World in Spite of Economic Theory belongs in any college-level collection strong in economic theory and history, and offers an intriguing comparison between real world economics and textbook scenarios of the subject. In many ways mainstream economic approaches fail to apply to life, and this has been evident for over a hundred years as formulas for math attempted to explain non-economic aspects of human life. By probing the changing history of both economics and human development, John M. Legge succeeds in presenting a thought-provoking (if not potentially controversial) analysis of the ways in which economic theory has failed under changing social conditions. It's a highly recommended 'must' for any economics collection.

International Monetary Cooperation
C. Fred Bergsten & Russell A. Green, editors
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
www.piie.com
9780881327113, $23.95, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

The issue of countries artificially manipulating the value of their currencies is at the center of most debates about trade in the United States today. Critics of liberalizing trade have charged, for example, that China has suppressed the value of its currency in order to make its exports cheaper and imports more expensive. Thirty years ago, however, the Reagan administration confronted Japan with the same accusation. Then in a secret meeting in 1985, finance ministers from the United States, Japan and three other major economies in the world gathered in New York City at the Plaza Hotel in an effort to resolve a crisis caused by that criticism. The Plaza Accord coordinated exchange rates among the countries present, in turn depreciating the dollar and restoring some equity to the global market. Was that meeting a success? Or did it usher in 30 years of tensions that have hurt, rather than helped, the cause of improved trade? In late 2015, policymakers and academics held a Plaza Retrospective conference in Houston to evaluate the accord's successes and drawbacks, and how its collaborative spirit can be applied to today's increasingly integrated world economy. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Fred Bersten and Russell Green, "International Monetary Cooperation: Lessons from the Plaza Accord After Thirty Years) features analytical contributions by former Treasury Secretary James A. Baker III and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul A. Volcker, along with several others. Both informative and thought-provoking, "International Monetary Cooperation: Lessons from the Plaza Accord After Thirty Years" is especially commended and a critically important addition to professional, governmental, and academic library Contemporary Economics reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject that 'International Monetary Cooperation: Lessons from the Plaza Accord After Thirty Years" is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.95).

Five Easy Theses
James M. Stone
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544749009, $26.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

America today confronts a host of urgent economic problems that are self-generated within our country and imposed upon us from abroad through the phenomena of globalization. Many of these economic problems are seemingly intractable, but some we are entirely capable of solving according to James M. Stone (Founder and Chief Executive of the Plymouth Rock group of insurance companies, and former chairman of the U.S. commodity Futures Trading Commission. In "Five Easy Theses: Commonsense Solutions to America's Greatest Economic Challenges", Stone presents specific, common-sense solutions to a handful of our most pressing challenges, showing how simple it would be to shore up Social Security, rein in an out-of-control financial sector, reduce inequality, and make healthcare and education better and more affordable. The means are right in front of us, Stone explains, in various policy options that if implemented could preserve or enhance government revenue while also channeling the national economy toward the greater good. Thoroughly accessible in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Five Easy Theses" is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the necessity of economic reforms and problem solving. While a critically important and unreservedly commended addition to community and academic library American Economics collections and supplemental studies reading lists, it should be noted that "Five Easy Theses" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Chessmen
Peter May
Quercus
1290 Sixth Ave., NY, NY 10104
www.quercus.com
9781623656041, $26.99, HC, 308pp, www.amazon.com

Living again of the Isle of Lewis, the ex-Detective Inspector Fin McLeod is working as a security officer for a local landowner. While investigating illegal activity on the estate Fin encounters the elusive poacher and former childhood friend Whistler Macaskill. But while Fin catches up with Whistler, the two witness a freak natural phenomenon--a 'Bog Burst'--which spontaneously drains a loch of its water, revealing a mud-encased light aircraft with a sickeningly familiar moniker on its side. Both men immediately know that they will find inside: the body of Roddy Mackenzie, a friend whose flight disappeared more than seventeen years before. But when Whistler's face appears to register something other than shock, an icy chill of apprehension overtakes Fin. What secret has Whistler been hiding from him, and everyone else on the island? Fin is unprepared for how the truth about the past will alter the course of the future. The concluding volume to 'The Lewis Trilogy', author Peter May's outstanding trilogy, "The Chess Men" is another riveting read that is a "must" for the legions of Peter May fans. While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Chess Men" is also available in a paperback edition (9781623657154, $14.99) and in a Kindle format ($12.99).

Leave Her to Hell / Let Me Kill You, Sweetheart / Take Me Home
Fletcher Flora
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com

Once again Stark House Press presents three 'time lost' noir classics. This time Fletcher Flora is the author and the three novels presented under one cover include Leave Her to Hell (an unconventional private eye novel); Let Me Kill You, Sweetheart (a murder mystery set in a small Midwestern town); and Take Me Home (the story of a writer who falls in love with a troubled young lesbian). Fletcher began writing in 1950 with a series of sardonic short stories (his life time published total would reach 150), and wrote his first full length novel in 1954 (Strange Sisters), going on to write a total of 21 distinctly off-beat novels in his literary career. This three story anthology, "Leave Her to Hell / Let Me Kill You, Sweetheart / Take Me Home" is enthusiastically recommended for the personal reading lists of mystery fans, community library Mystery/Suspense shelves, and academic library 20th Century American Literary Fiction collections.

The Stronghold
Lisa Carter
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781501816314, $24.99, HC, 306pp, www.amazon.com

Drug violence, revenge killings, and kidnapping are nothing new along the U.S.-Mexican border. But now teenage girls are disappearing from the Apache reservations of Arizona and New Mexico. Apache tribal cop Pilar To-Clanny and FBI Special Agent Alex Torres have a long and tumultuous history. When someone close to them disappears, Pilar and Alex must risk everything to rescue the child, including facing the unresolved issues of the past, and venture into the no-man's land of the drug cartels. Can Pilar and Alex work together to stop a sadistic killer before he strikes again? On a quest to rescue those they love, who will rescue them? Another terrifically entertaining thriller combining romance and suspense from the pen of Lisa Carter, "The Stronghold" is an extraordinary and very highly recommended addition to community library collections. For the personal reading lists of Lisa Carter fans and anyone else who appreciates a well crafted novel, it should be noted "The Stronghold" is also available in a paperback edition (9781426795480, $14.99) and in a Kindle format ($9.99).

A Front Page Affair
Radha Vatsal
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781492632665, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

The Lusitania has just been sunk, and headlines about a shooting at J.P. Morgan's mansion and the Great War are splashed across the front page of every newspaper. Capability "Kitty" Weeks would love nothing more than to report on the news of the day, but she's stuck writing about fashion and society gossip over on the Ladies' Page -- until a man is murdered at a high society picnic on her beat. Determined to prove her worth as a journalist, Kitty finds herself plunged into the midst of a wartime conspiracy that threatens to derail the United States' attempt to remain neutral, and to disrupt the privileged life she has always known. An impressively well written and consistently compelling read from beginning to end, Radha Vatsal's "A Front Page Affair" is the first book in what is justifiably expected to be an outstanding series featuring rising journalism star Kitty Weeks. While very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "A Front Page Affair" is also available in a Kindle edition. Librarians should also be aware that "A Front Page Affair" has a large print edition (Thorndike Press, 9781410490841, $31.99) as well.

Buffalo Jump Blues
Keith McCafferty
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780525429593, $26.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

In the wake of Fourth of July fireworks in Montana's Madison Valley, Hyalite County sheriff Martha Ettinger and Deputy Sheriff Harold Little Feather investigate a horrific scene at the Palisades cliffs, where a herd of bison have fallen to their deaths. Victims of blind panic caused by the pyrotechnics, or a ritualistic hunting practice dating back thousands of years? The person who would know is beyond asking, an Indian man found dead among the bison, his leg pierced by an arrow. Farther up the valley, fly fisherman, painter, and sometime private detective Sean Stranahan has been hired by the beautiful Ida Evening Star, a Chippewa Cree woman who moonlights as a mermaid at the Trout Tails Bar & Grill, to find her old flame, John Running Boy. The cases seem unrelated -- until Sean's search leads him right to the brink of the buffalo jump. "Buffalo Jump Blues" weaves a gripping tale of murder, wildlife politics, lost love, and is another terrific read from the pen of Keith McCafferty. The fifth book in McCafferty's outstanding Sean Stranahan Mystery Series, "Buffalo Jump Blues" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs it should be noted that "Buffalo Jump Blues" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Attack on Titan: Lost Girls
Created by Hajime Isayama
Stories by Hiroshi Seko
Art by Ayumu Kotake
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993353 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Enriched with a handful of black-and-white illustrations, Attack on Titan: Lost Girls is a trio of short stories offering insight into Mikasa and Annie, two capable female soldiers from the wildly popular "Attack on Titan" manga and anime series. Attack on Titan is set in a horrific, post-apocalyptic world, where gigantic, nigh-invulnerable Titans stalk and devour human beings. The surviving remnants of humanity huddle behind mysterious walls that keep the Titans out... but when these walls are breached one by one, humanity becomes prey for giants! The military's valiant efforts to fight back are sabotaged by corruption, bureaucracy, conspiracy, and worse. Two of the stories in "Attack on Titan: Lost Girls" were originally bonus features of the Japanese Blu-ray releases, while the introduction and title story are brand new. (Newcomers to the "Attack on Titan" saga should note that " Lost Girls" reveals certain major plot twists from the series.) Blending intense military action, conflicted characterization, and a strong sense of genuine horror, Attack on Titan: Lost Girls is a "must-read" for fans of the series.

Conspiracy!
Judith K. Dial & Thomas A. Easton, editors
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
www.nesfapress.com
9781610373104, $17.00, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

As usual, NESFA (the New England Science Fiction Association) has published still another outstanding and memorable anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories by a series of authors who individually and collectively are masters of the genre. "Conspiracy!" is both the title and the underlying them of the short stories comprising this exceptional collection that ranges from Masons and Dragons (David Clements), the Bavarian Illuminati (Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald) and the New World Order Shariann Lewitt); the Shaver Mystery (science writer Jeff Hecht); cell phones and weather control (Rev DiCerto); Atlantis and Lemuria (Paul DiFilippo); Roswell (H. Paul Shuch of SETI fame); Mermaids (Cat Rambo and Mike Resnick); ancient immortals who guide our breeding (Steven Popkes); quality management (Allen Steele); Santa Claus (James Cambias); -- and then there are the squirrels (Sarah Smith). A riveting read from first page to last, "Conspiracy!" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to the personal reading lists of all science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts, as well as community, college, and university library Contemporary Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com

David B. Coe's Shadow's Blade (9781476781259, $26.00) pairs fantasy and mystery as it tells of weremyste P.I. Justis, who can wield magic effectively in his job until he loses his mind at any full moon. This defect has already resulted in him losing his job as a cop; but can he be an effective P.I. when investigations cross into full moon territory? In this story, Phoenix is under siege from a magical battle, and Justin finds his powers and life both tested as he makes decisions that embrace who he is and his role in many worlds. Eric Flint's Ring of Fire IV (9781476781242, $25.00) gathers a number of sequels based by Flint's creation of the world 1632, but the authors of these tales include big names such as Mercedes Lackey, David Brin, and more - along with Flint himself. In many ways the Americans transported in time are changing the 17th century for the good, but they continue to be challenged by many aspects of the strange past they have landed in and are altering. Prior familiarity with the 1632 story is recommended for a satisfying segue into these spin-offs which offer fine new extrapolations of a very different past unwittingly challenged by residents of the future.


The Geography Shelf

The Handy Geography Answer Book
Paul A. Tucci
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578595761, $21.95, 450pp, www.amazon.com

Geography is more than just maps and finding your destination. It is about the land, the people on that land, the delicate balance of nature, and our very interdependence upon it, despite the miracles of technology and grocery stores. It's about the effects of nature on places and people, as well as how politics, borders, cities, and towns affect our lives. This newly updated and expanded third addition of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" by Paul Tucci traces the history of geography from Eratosthenes and Alexander von Humboldt, to latitude and longitude, and the latest advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides insights into economic, social, historic, culture, religious, political, and climate geography, plus oceanography, demographics, and more. "The Handy Geography Answer Book" is an informed and informative tour the world, including its natural features, and the ever-changing mark humans make on our planet. With knowledgeable answers to 1,200 questions from the trivial (longest, hottest, tallest), to how geography has influenced history, religion, architecture, and the location of cities. From covering such questions as: Who first had the idea that there is a magnetic North Pole? What is interesting about Google's "Streetview"? How many people are projected to live on the planet in 2050? Which state has the highest annual divorce rate? What are the largest and smallest counties in the U.S.?, and so much more, this new edition of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" is a "must" for all school and community library Geographical Studies collections, as well as the personal reading lists for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of geography.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery
Annabel Smoker
Palgrave Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
www.palgrave-usa.com
9781137362407, $21.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Gaining your first job as a nurse or midwife is becoming not only highly competitive but an increasingly more complex process. "Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery" by Annabel Smoker (Lecturer in Nursing and Faculty Lead for Employability at the Faculty of Health Science and University of Southampton, UK.) will enable the reader to get ahead of the other applicants with an informed, informative, practical and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide offering application advice, interview preparation techniques, a comprehensive overview of the selection process and insider tips. You'll also find a wealth of information on career planning, continuing professional development and next steps. Offering scenarios, practice questions and the thoughts and observation of newly qualified professionals anyone seeking to become a licensed nurse and/or midwife should consider "Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery: A Practical Guide" an essential and critically important read. While very highly recommended for community, college, and university library Health/Medicine collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of aspiring candidates for nursing school or midwifery programs that "Launching Your Career in Nursing and Midwifery: A Practical Guide" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.87).


The Education Shelf

Service Learning and Literary Studies in English
Laurie Grobman & Roberta Rosenberg, editors
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
www.mla.org
9781603292016, $40.00, HC, 296pp, www.amazon.com

An educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to provide a pragmatic, progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs, 'service learning' can help students develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment, often while addressing pressing community needs. One goal of literary studies is to understand the ethical dimensions of the world, and thus service learning, by broadening the environments students consider, is well suited to the literature classroom. Whether through a public literacy project that demonstrates the relevance of literary study or community-based research that brings literary theory to life, student collaboration with community partners brings social awareness to the study of literary texts and helps students and teachers engage literature in new ways. "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" traces the history of service learning in the United States, including the debate about literature's role, and outline the best practices of the pedagogy. The essays comprising "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" cover American, English, and world literature; creative nonfiction and memoir; literature-based writing; and cross-disciplinary studies. Contributors describe a wide variety of service-learning projects, including a course on the Harlem Renaissance in which students lead a community writing workshop, an English capstone seminar in which seniors design programs for public libraries, and a creative nonfiction course in which first-year students work with elderly community members to craft life narratives. "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" closes with a list of resources for practitioners and researchers in the field. A model compendium of exceptionally well written, organized and presented scholarship, "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" is a critically important addition to college and university Educational Studies reference collections. For the personal reading lists of students, academics, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "Service Learning and Literary Studies in English" is also available in a paperback edition (9781603292023, $25.00) and in a Kindle format ($16.99).

Two Books Are Better Than One!
Shari Frost
Capstone Press
1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, MN 56003
www.capstonepub.com
9781496606082, $24.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

It is no longer sufficient to teach letters, letter sounds, sight words, and simple texts in kindergarten through second grade. Not when children today are expected to read and comprehend texts in a variety of genres with increasing complexity. Then they must integrate the ideas and concepts from those texts into their own writing. "Two Books are Better Than One: Reading and Writing (and Talking and Drawing) Across Texts in K-2" by Shari Frost (who in the course of her academic career has served as an elementary classroom teacher, a reading specialist, a professional developer, and an instructor at the university level, and who is currently a consultant with literacy coaches, intervention specialists, classroom teachers, and children in classrooms to support the improvement of literacy instruction in the Chicago Public Schools) helps teachers meet those demands. Each individual chapter contains an anchor lesson focused on a different way of connecting texts, including: by theme, characters, perspective, structure, or genre. The lessons feature research-based and common-core-aligned strategies: interactive read-alouds; shared reading and writing; scaffolded small group reading; accountable talk; close reading; and opinion, narrative, and explanatory writing. Each anchor lesson features two high-quality children's books, and each chapter is rounded out with a list of other recommended book pairs to support classroom teachers in creating their own lessons. While very highly recommended for elementary school classroom teachers in grades K-2 and a critically important addition to college and university Teacher Education reference collections, it should be noted that "Two Books are Better Than One: Reading and Writing (and Talking and Drawing) Across Texts in K-2" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn
Mike Anderson
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416621836, $27.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Offering students choices about their learning, says author Mike Anderson in "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn: The Key to Student Motivation and Achievement", is one of the most powerful ways teachers can boost student learning, motivation, and achievement. Anderson offers numerous examples of choice in action, ideas to try with different students, and a step-by-step process to help you plan and incorporate choice into your classroom. "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" covers: What effective student choice looks like in the classroom; Why it's important to offer students choices; How to create learning environments, set the right tone for learning, and teach specific skills that enable choice to work well. When students have more choices about their learning, they can find ways of learning that match their personal needs and be more engaged in their work, building skills and work habits that will serve them well in school and beyond. "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" teacher-friendly guide offers everything you need to help students who are bored, frustrated, or underperforming come alive to learning through the fundamental power of choice. "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" is so well written, organized and presented that it is very highly recommended for teachers and homeschooling parents alike. While very highly recommended for school and academic library Teacher Education instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.57).

Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning
Barbara Allan
Facet Publishing
7 Ridgmount Street, London, England, WC1E 7AE
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783300709, $75.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Barbara Allan is an author and trainer. Her background includes managing workplace and academic libraries. She has spent many years working in business schools where her focus was on enhancing learning, teaching and the student experience, and the internationalization and employability agendas. The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving due to changes in the student population (millennial's, increasing diversity, changing work habits), technology (the rise in the use of social media) and learning spaces (the increase in physical and virtual social learning spaces). In "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" Allan presents the first book to bring together recent developments in both theory and practice, covering a wide range of tools and techniques which will suit students in different contexts, from large groups of 500+ to very small classes of research students. Making extensive use of case studies, examples, checklists, and tables, "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" features: an analysis of the current higher education landscape, the changes that are occurring and the diverse nature of student populations; an exploration of new theories of digital literacy including case studies demonstrating how library and information workers have applied these models in practice; a demonstration of the many different ways in which academic library and information services are working in support of student employability; a theoretical overview of different approaches to teaching and learning including Kolb's learning cycle, Laurillard's conversational framework for university teaching, Entwistle's teaching for understanding at university, Land and Meyer's threshold concepts and the Higher Education Academy's work on flexible pedagogies; practical guidance on designing, developing and evaluating courses and other learning and teaching events in different situations including face-to-face, flipped classroom, blended learning, and online learning; and an exploration of approaches to personal and professional development including 90+ approaches to workplace learning; accredited courses; short courses, conferences and workshops; networking through professional organizations; and developing online networks. "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" will be essential reading for different groups working in colleges and universities including library and information workers, staff developers, educational technologists, educational development project workers, educational change agents and students of library and information science who are planning their careers in higher education institutions. Simply stated, "Emerging Strategies for Supporting Student Learning" is a critically important and invaluable addition to professional, college, and university library Educational Studies and Library Science collections and supplemental reading lists.

Cultivating the Genius of Black Children
Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605544052, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org

Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early Years is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in early childhood education for black children. Research, experience, and the latest studies combine in a reference directed to early childhood educators interested in creating classrooms in which Black children learn and grow on many levels. From different cultural influences specific to Black children and how they learn to incorporating this knowledge into a classroom endeavor, this book is filled with important keys to success and shows teachers how to better involve kids and families alike in the education process.

Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com

Linday Dacey, et.al.'s Well Played, 6-8: Building Mathematical Thinking Through Number and Algebraic Games and Puzzles (9781625310330, $25.00) offers an excellent gathering of details in its third book in a series, and shows teachers how to make games and puzzles a solid part of the classroom experience. Explanations of the math lessons in each game or puzzle delve into how the approach will help students, while variations for different learning levels and classroom accounts of the games and puzzles in action make for a top survey. From basic directions to materials needed and extending the lesson objective, this is a top pick for teachers who would inject play and learning into a math curriculum. Kate Roth and Joan Dabrowski's Interactive Writing Across Grades: A Small Practice with Big Results (9781625311153, $27.95) covers the basics of interactive writing experiences and their educational foundations, and will appeal to PreK-5 grade level teachers looking for a step-by-step application of the concepts to writing methods and teaching approaches. Chapters provide examples of real classroom writing from different grades as they illustrate different phrases of interactive writing teaching and show how to build skills, while classroom case history examples emphasize the experiences and process even more. The result is a solid guide for any teacher of these grade levels who would integrate an interactive writing program into the classroom.

Corwin
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com

Justin W. Patchin and Sameer Hinduja's Bullying Today: Bullet Points and Best Practices (9781506335971, $24.95) goes beyond most books that speak about bullying to provide educators and school leaders with bullet points for addressing bullying by making meaningful changes. Some 15 years of research went into this book's strategies, with a range of real-world examples gathered from a variety of sources to combine prevention strategies, tips on identifying bullying behaviors, and understanding its different displays. Especially invaluable is coverage of response options and their overall effectiveness (or ineffectiveness). Kikanza Nuri-Robins and Lewis Bundy's Fish Out of Water: Mentoring, Managing, and Self-Monitoring People Who Don't Fit In (9781506303024, $27.95) provides a powerful resource for managing people who don't fit into mainstream culture because of sexual or gender orientation, income, or ethnicity. While the focus is on the school structure, many of the strategies for working with children who are bullied because of these differences can provide much food for thought for other organizational structures as well. That said, teachers will find this a powerful toolbox for handling these kids and those who surround them, with chapters covering individual expression, marginalization, self-monitoring, and more. The result will help teachers identify, work with and address many common issues specific to this group, with case history examples throughout offering many keys to success. Michael Rafferty, Colleen Morello and Paraskevi Rountos' 30 Big-Idea Lessons for Small Groups: The Teaching Framework for ANY Text and EVERY Reader (9781506334387, $29.95) is more than a teacher's guide: it outlines a framework of strategies for intermediate-grade readers that encourages students to interact with texts by considering ideas related to the texts, debating them in small groups, learning how to mark up the important points of texts for deeper thinking, and developing analytical and evaluative skills relating texts to wider concerns such as social issues and world problems. Reproducible forms are one of the tools provided in this teacher's guide which discusses a variety of moves to support these skill sets and how to implement and evaluate their results. Specific texts and their engagement possibilities leave nothing to guess and chart all the possible ways teachers can use these key readings to foster a greater attention to depth and detail in intermediate-level students.


The Fiction Shelf

City Of Rocks
Michael Zimmer
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785412103, $29.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

When the McCandles gang shows up in the town of Coalville, Idaho, the place erupts in violence. Seventeen-year-old Joey Roper feels compelled to avenge the deaths at City of Rocks -- no matter what. "City Of Rocks" is another riveting western from the imaginative pen of Michael Zimmer who once again proves himself to be a master of the western action/adventure genre. "City Of Rocks" is very highly recommended to the attention of all western fans and especially for community library Large Print Fiction collections.

Silence in the Dark
Patricia Bradley
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800724184, $14.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Two years ago, Bailey Adams broke off her engagement to Danny Maxwell and fled Logan Point for the mission field in Chihuahua, Mexico. Now she's about to return home to the States, but there's just one problem. After Bailey meets with the uncle of one of the mission children in the city, she barely escapes a sudden danger. Now she's on the run -- she just doesn't know from whom. To make matters worse, people who help her along the way find themselves in danger too -- including Danny. Who is after her? Will they ever let up? And in the midst of the chaos, can Bailey keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again? With lean, fast-paced prose that keeps readers turning the pages, Patricia Bradley has once again written still another superbly crafted story. Also available in a library binding edition (Christian Mystery Series, 9781683240013, $35.95, 500pp), "Silence in the Dark" is very highly recommended for community library collections General Fiction collections. For the legions of Patricia Bradley fans, it should also be noted that "Silence in the Dark" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.39).

Land of Silence
Tessa Afshar
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496414007, $22.99, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com

Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father's textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left. No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man called Jesus whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body -- and soul? An impressively crafted, inherently appealing, consistently engaging, and compelling read from first page to last, "Land of Silence" is enthusiastically recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Land of Silence" is also available in a paperback edition (9781496406460, $14.99) and in a Kindle format ($7.86).

One Of Us Is Sleeping
Josefine Klougart, author
Martin Aitken, translator
Open Letter Books
c/o University of Rochester
Lattimore Hall 411, Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
www.openletterbooks.org
9781940953373, $15.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com

Deftly translated into English by Martin Aitken, "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is the debut novel by Josefine Klougart who is one of Denmark's most exciting, celebrated young writers. "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is a hauntingly memorable novel about loss in all its forms. Working in the vein of Anne Carson, Josefine Klougart's "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is both true-to-life and incredibly poetic in its relating of a brief, intense love affair and the grief and disillusionment that follow its end. While she recounts the time with her lover, the narrator is also heading back home, where her mother is dying of cancer. This contrast between recollection and the belief that certain things will always be present in your life (your parents, your childhood home, your love) and the fact that life is a continual series of endings runs throughout this novel, underpinning the striking imagery and magnificent prose. A consistently compelling read from beginning to end, "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "One Of Us Is Sleeping" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Septimania
Jonathan Levi
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468312485, $27.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

On an spring afternoon in 1978 in the loft of a church outside Cambridge, England, an organ tuner named Malory loses his virginity to a dyslexic math genius named Louiza. When Louiza disappears, Malory follows her trail to Rome. There, the quest to find his love gets sidetracked when he discovers he is the heir to the Kingdom of Septimania, given by Charlemagne to the Jews of eighth-century France. In the midst of a Rome reeling from the kidnappings and bombs of the Red Brigades, Malory is crowned King of the Jews, Holy Roman Emperor and possibly Caliph of All Islam. Over the next fifty years, Malory's search for Louiza leads to encounters with Pope John Paul II, a band of lost Romanians, a magical Bernini statue, Haroun al Rashid of Arabian Nights fame, an elephant that changes color, a shadowy U.S. spy agency and one of the 9/11 bombers, an appleseed from the original Tree of Knowledge, and the secret history of Isaac Newton and his discovery of a Grand Unified Theory that explains everything. It is the quest of a Candide for love and knowledge, and the ultimate discovery that they may be unified after all. Impressive, extraordinary, inherently fascinating, consistently compelling, "Septimania" clearly documents author Jonathan Levi as a masterfully imaginative storyteller and a consummate novelist. While unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Septimania" is also available in a Kindle format ($14.99), and will be published in a paperback edition (9781468314281, $16.95) in April, 2017.

Making Manna
Eric Lotke
Brandylane Publishers
5 South First Street, Richmond, VA 23219
www.brandylanepublishers.com
9781939930224, $16.00, PB, 294pp, www.amazon.com

Libby Thompson is just fourteen years old when she flees her abusive home with her newborn son, Angel. Now they must build a life for themselves on hard work and low wages, dealing with police who are sometimes helpful-but not always-and a drug dealer who is full of surprises. As Angel gets older, he begins asking questions about his family, and Libby's tenuous peace threatens to crumble. Can a son without a father and a young woman without a past make something beautiful out of a lifetime of secrets? "Making Manna" deftly explores the depths of betrayal, and the human capacity to love, flourish, and forgive in the face of heartbreaking odds. A thoroughly engaging and especially well crafted read from beginning to end, "Making Manna" clearly establishes author Erick Lotke as an impressively gifted novelist. While unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Making Manna" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).

The Lost Garden
Li Ang
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231175548, $75.00, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com

"The Lost Garden" by Li Ange begins with the family of Zhu Yinghong, whose father, Zhu Zuyan, was imprisoned in the early days of Chiang Kai-shek's rule. Zhu Zuyan spends his days luxuriating in his Lotus Garden, which he builds according to his own desires. Forever under suspicion, he indulges as much as he can in circumscribed pleasures, though they drain the family fortune. Eventually the entire household is sold, including the Lotus Garden. "The Lost Garden" then tranfers to modern-day Taipei, where Zhu Yinghong falls for Lin Xigeng, a real estate tycoon and playboy. Their cat-and-mouse courtship builds against the extravagant banquets and decadent entertainments of Taipei's wealthy businessmen. Though the two ultimately marry, their high-styled romance dulls over time, leading to a dangerous, desperate quest to reclaim the enchantment of the Lotus Garden. Ably translated into English for an American readership by Howard Goldblatt, "The Lost Garden" is a consistently compelling read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Lost Garden" is also available in a paperback edition (9780231175555, $25.00) and in a Kindle format ($14.74).

The Last House Officer
Gwyn Williams
Y Lolfa
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781784611224, $17.00, PB, 299pp, www.amazon.com

Owen Morgan is a junior doctor trying to find his feet in the modern Welsh healthcare system. Unfortunately he is peculiarly ill-equipped to survive the demands of the ever-changing world of hospital medicine - or indeed of his feisty Indian wife, his two sons, and their tumultuous home life. Born to Welsh working-class parents, Owen and his family must overcome cultural issues, health issues, family quarrels, and personality incompatibilities during the biggest upheaval in medical training for decades as a Labour government pushes through its controversial reforms. And then there is Colleen. The very lovely, ever loyal Colleen - the love of Owen's life. If only he knew it. An exceptional and deftly crafted story, "The Last House Officer" clearly showcases author Gwyn Williams as an impressively gifted novelist. "The Last House Officer" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.

The Lamentations of Zeno
Ilija Trojanow, author
Philip Boehm, translator
Verso
20 Jay Street, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201-8346
www.versobooks.com
9781784782191, $19.95, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Zeno Hintermeier is a scientist working as a travel guide on an Antarctic cruise ship, encouraging the wealthy to marvel at the least explored continent and to open their eyes to its rapid degradation. It is a troubling turn in the life of an idealistic glaciologist. Now in his early sixties, Zeno bewails the loss of his beloved glaciers, the disintegration of his marriage, and the foundering of his increasingly irrelevant career. Troubled in conscience and goaded by the smug complacency of the passengers in his charge, he starts to plan a desperate gesture that will send a wake-up call to an overheating world. "The Lamentations of Zeno" by German novelist Ilija Trojanow is deftly translated into English for an appreciative American readership by Philip Boehm. A compelling and complex work, "The Lamentations of Zeno" is an consistently compelling read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for academia and the non-specialist general reader that "The Lamentations of Zeno" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

The Lawless West
Jon Tuska, editor
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785412097, $29.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Jon Tuska (is the co-founder of the Golden West Literary Agency, as well as co-author or co-editor of numerous works on the American West, including the "Encyclopedia of Frontier and Western Fiction", "Westward the Women" and "Billy the Kid") "The Lawless West"), "The Lawless West" is comprised of three classic western stories by three classic western authors. These simply outstanding tales include: "From Missouri" by Zane Grey; "Over the Northern Border" by Max Brand; and "Riders of the Dawn" by Louis L'Amour. "The Lawless West" is a 'must read' for all devoted western action/adventure fans. This particular large print edition is especially recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collections.

The Devil's Anvil
Steve Hayes
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444827880, $20.99, Large Print Paperback, 232pp, www.amazon.com

The two murderous McClory cousins have busted out of Yuma Pen, heading for Indian Territory leaving a trail of death in their wake. Somebody has to bring them in - and that job falls to Deputy US Marshal Liberty Mercer, a young and dedicated woman who sets off to run the outlaws to ground. But to reach the McClory stronghold in Silver Rock Canyon, Mercer and her makeshift posse consisting of Raven Bjorkman, Latham Rawlins (who turns out is the brother of Liberty's one-time love Latigo) and the bounty hunting Dunn brothers must cross the deadly, searing desert known as the Devil's Anvil. Steve Hayes is a consummate master of the western action/adventure genre and in "The Devil's Anvil" has written yet another truly riveting yarn that showcases one of the most unusual law enforcers the west has ever know. Extraordinarily entertaining from first page to last, "The Devil's Anvil" is very highly recommended for community library Western Fiction collections, as well as the personal reading lists for all dedicated western buffs.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Dog Diet Answer Book
Greg Martinez, DVM
Fair Winds
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
9781592337026, $22.95, www.quartoknows.com

The Dog Diet Answer Book is recommended for any dog owner who would understand their dog's diet needs and diagnose common health issues based on that diet, and tells how to make home-cooked meals and treats for a pet that address different dietary needs. From identifying and avoiding allergens to the problems inherent in commercial food choices, how to devise and apply an elimination diet, and how to tailor a diet plan based on a dog's breed and weight, The Dog Diet Answer Book holds everything needed to adjust a dog's meals for optimum health.

Birds in Trouble
Lynn E. Barber
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781623493592, $29.95, www.tamupress.com

Birds in Trouble explains the population challenges and conservation status of selected birds, explains why habitats are endangered and in turn affect the ability of these birds to survive, and presents a focus designed to increase awareness of bird species and their declining numbers. Lynn E. Barber's own extraordinarily realistic bird art accompanies discussions of how to help conserve these species. The result is a specific focus on specific challenges: a perfect choice for any conservation reader already familiar with generalities who wants more in the way of particular case studies of selected species.

Greening Your Pet Care
Darcy Matheson
Self-Counsel Press Inc.
4152 Meridian Street, Suite 105-471, Bellingham, WA 98226
www.self-counsel.com
9781770402614, $12.95, PB, 124pp, www.amazon.com

Darcy Matheson is a television journalist, dog blogger, and columnist for Modern Dog magazine. The long-time animal advocate is a frequent contributor to TV, radio, and magazines on pet issues. She is the founder of PetFundr, a leading crowdfunding site solely dedicated to helping animal welfare projects. In "Greening Your Pet Care: Reduce Your Animal's Environmental Paw Print" she shows how any pet owner can minimize their pet's environmental impact: how it is fed, how it stays clean, and how it is housed. "Greening Your Pet Care" is devoted to a careful presentation of the best practices to keep any pet environmentally friendly. Matheson also identifies ownership tips and ideas to reduce and deal with waste and to take care of any pet's well-being with the most sustainable approaches. Simply stated, "Greening Your Pet Care" is specifically intended for the modern owner who thinks not only of the joy of having pets but being responsible for providing their care and well-being. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, commentary, organization and presentation, "Greening Your Pet Care" is very highly recommended for community library Pets/Wildlife collections and veterinarian clinic pet care reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Greening Your Pet Care" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).

Home Alone And Happy!
Kate Mallatratt
Hubble & Hattie
www.hubbleandhattie.com
9781845848613, $19.99, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com

People with a canine companion shouldn't wait until their dog becomes anxious when left alone at home before investing time in teaching him how to become comfortable alone? Owners often assume that their dog will sleep, yet many dogs suffer from anxiety and stress when left alone, and some owners only discover this when their dog becomes destructive, or a neighbor complains about his barking. "Home alone and happy!: Essential life skills for preventing separation anxiety in dogs and puppies" is written by Kate Mallatratt to address the need to educate pet owners before the problems of separation anxiety arise. Beautifully illustrated, with worksheets to evaluate your dog's level of contentment and chart his progress, "Home Alone And Happy" is specifically commended to the attention of all dog owners wanting to learn how their canine companion can spend quality time alone and avoid the stress of separation anxiety.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing the Blockbuster Novel
Albert Zuckerman
Forge
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765382467. $28.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Albert Zuckerman, legendary literary agent, has worked with many bestselling authors, including Ken Follett, Olivia Goldsmith, Antoinette Van Heugten, Michael Lewis, and F. Paul Wilson. Zuckerman is a master at teaching writers the skills necessary to crack the bestseller list. In a newly revised edition of "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" Zuckerman has added an analysis of Nora Roberts's "The Witness", which he uses along with classic books like "Gone With the Wind" and "The Godfather", to illustrate his points. Zuckerman's commentary on Ken Follett's working outlines for "The Man From St. Petersburg" provide a blueprint for building links between plot and character. A new introduction discusses social media and self-publishing. "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" is an essential instruction for any aspiring author seeking to become a successful novelist. Of special note is the first chapter on "Getting Started", and the concluding chapter devoted to "Getting It Published and onto the Bestseller Lists". Simply stated, "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" should be considered a 'must read' for all beginning writers -- and offers a wealth of thoughtful and thought-provoking information for even the more experienced novelist. While very highly recommended for both community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Writing the Blockbuster Novel" is also available in a paperback edition (9780765382474, $15.99) and in a Kindle format ($8.99).

Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot
Jane K. Cleland
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781599639673, $16.99, PB, 230pp, www.amazon.com

Suspense is one of the most powerful tools a writer has for captivating readers but it isn't just for mystery or action/adventure thrillers. From mainstream fiction to memoir, suspense creates the emotional tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. "Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot" by award-winning author Jane Cleland is a hands-on guide to weaving suspense into any narrative. "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot" shows aspiring authors how to navigate genre conventions, write for their audience, and build gripping tension to craft an irresistible page-turner. "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot" explains how to: Implement thirteen no-fail techniques to construct an effective plot and structure for your story; Use Cleland's 'Plotting Road Map' to add elements of suspense like twists, reversals, and moments of danger; Write subplots with purpose; Improve descriptions, character development, sentence structure, and more. Packed with case studies, exercises, and dozens of examples from best-selling authors, "Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot" is the perfect key to writing suspenseful, engaging stories that leave readers wanting more. Simply stated, every aspiring writer, regardless of the genre they are working in, should give a careful reading to what Jane Cleland has to offer in "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot". For the personal reading lists of aspiring novelists, it should be noted that "Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes
Margie Towery
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875264, $45.00, PB, 140pp, www.amazon.com

In publishing there are three major categories of indexes: Bibliographic index (a regularly updated print periodical publication that lists articles, books, and/or other information items); General Index (a detailed list, usually arranged alphabetically, of the specific information in a publication); Subject Indexing (describing the content of a document by keywords). Among the community of professional indexers, Margie Towery is well know for the quality of expertise as consummate indexer. In "Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes: Confessions of an Award-Winning Indexer", Margie has distilled her more than two decades of experience for the benefit of novice indexers. "Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes " defines and explores the characteristics of quality indexes: audiences and accessibility, metatopics and index structure, accuracy, comprehensiveness, conciseness, consistency, clarity, reflexivity, readability, and common sense. Writing in an engaging and accessible style, Margie shares her own struggles in indexing and offers strategies for overcoming challenges such as bias and language, indexing blocks, and working with authors. Her digressions into research on reading and decision-making provide a wider context for thinking about quality, while her suggestions and checklist for evaluating indexes round out this essential volume for professional indexers at every skill level. Simply stated, "Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes" is emphatically and unreservedly recommended as mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to become a professional indexer.

Indexing Tactics & Tidbits
Janet Perlman
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875257, $45.00, PB, 170pp, www.amazon.com

"Indexing Tactics & Tidbits: An A to Z Guide" by Janet Perlman (who draws upon her more than 30 years of experience and expertise as a professional indexer of books and journals) is very highly-recommended reference for indexing professionals. A master indexer, Janet Perlman presents a treasure trove of practical, in-depth explanations and advice present in an alphabetical format. While bringing her own in-depth, conversational style and a multitude of fresh topics to the table, "Indexing Tactics & Tidbits" provides answers and insights on such vital subjects as audience analysis, clients and contracts, computers and software, ethics and standards, index depth and length, index structure, periodical indexing, professional resources, quality and usability, work methods and strategies, and much more. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, content, organization and presentation, new and experienced indexers alike will appreciate how "Indexing Tactics & Tidbits comprehensively and accessibly addresses the tasks of indexing by one of the truly preeminent indexers working in publishing today. Indeed, "Indexing Tactics & Tidbits" will prove to be a core and valued addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections in general, and Indexing supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Cookbook Shelf

Portland Farmers Market Cookbook
Ellen Jackson
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632170156, $27.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

The Portland Farmers Market is a year-round farmers market consistently named among North America's Top Ten. Ellen Jackson's "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" is a timely and enduring tribute to the farmers, chefs and shoppers, who embrace their world-class market like no other. Showcasing 100 seasonally organized recipes for every meal of the day, "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" also includes stories of the market's farmers and producers, shopping and cooking tips, and glorious color photography. The "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" is a celebration of a place and its people, who are proud to share their bounty with the Portland community and beyond. Featuring thoroughly kitchen cook friendly recipes that range from a Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette; Olive-Oil Poached Albacore with Summer Beans and Pickled Peppers; and Grilled Lobster Mushrooms with Oregon Walnut Puree; to Fresh shell Bean Minestrone with Parmesan Brodo; Honey-Glazed Figs with Lemon ricotta and Almond Cookies; and a Chocolate-Pear Bread Pudding, "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library collections. It should be noted that "Portland Farmers Market Cookbook" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).

Secrets of the Pie Place Cafe
Kathy Rice
Lake Superior Port Cities
PO Box 16417, Duluth, MN 55816-0417
www.lakesuperior.com
9781938229329, $19.95, PB, 182pp, www.amazon.com

A seasonal compendium of short stories and recipes compiled and presented by Kathy Rice, "Secrets of the Pie Place Cafe" is an outstanding culinary collection of kitchen cook recipes for dishes ranging from Pie Place Breakfast Potatoes; Japanese Peanut Noodle Salad; Split Rock Chicken Brie Sandwich; and Bumbleberry Pie; to Chorizo Stuffed Peppers and Grilled Peach Salsa; Saffron Butternut Squash Soup; Pork Tenderloin with Bleu Cheese Applejack Gravy; and Gingerbread Waffles. Nicely enhanced with color photography throughout, the combination of stories and the recipes associated with them make for a wonderfully entertaining read from beginning to end. Ideal for browsing and planning menus with, "Secrets of the Pie Place Cafe" is very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Jersey Shore Cookbook
Deborah Smith
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781594748721, $22.95, HC, 260pp, www.amazon.com

The Jersey Shore is the coastal region of the state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about 141 miles of oceanfront from Sandy Hook in the north to Cape May Point in the south. That is the region that Deborah Smith draws from in her compilation of recipes comprising "The Jersey Shore Cookbook: Fresh Summer Flavors from the Boardwalk and Beyond". Beautifully embellished with the color photography of Thomas Robert Clarke, this culinary treasure trove showcases dishes that range from Grilled Jersey Peaches with Greek Yogurt and Granola (Lasolas Market); Oysters Gratinee (Fratello's Restaurant); Grilled Tuna Nicoise Salad with Dijon-Thyme Vinaigrette (Black-Eyed Susans); and Pan-Seared New Jersey Black Sea Bass with White Peach, Tomato, and Basil Salsa (Shore Fresh Seafood); to New Jersey Skate with Summer Vegetable Ratatouille (The Blue Pig Tavern); Lobster Thermidor (Knife and Fork Inn); Seared Viking Village Scallops with Grilled Corn, Zucchini, and Roasted Tomatoes (The Gables); and Creme Brulee (The Grenville Hotel and Restaurant). Of special note is the succinct descriptive history provided for each restaurant from which a recipe is provided. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Jersey Shore Cookbook" will prove to be a treasured addition to any personal, family, or community library Regional Cookbook collection. It should be noted that "The Jersey Shore Cookbook" is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.99).

One More Slice
Lelia Lindholm
New Holland UK
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781780094588, $19.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Leila Lindholm, of Swedish-Moroccan background, began her career in the restaurant world. During her career as a chef, Leila has worked at several well known restaurants including Aquavit in New York, Operakallaren and Fredsgatan 12 in Stockholm. Today she works primarily in TV, where she has gained a huge following. Her primetime cooking show is called Leila's Food and airs on Swedish lifestyle channel, TV4 Plus. In "One More Slice: Sourdough Bread, Pizza, Pasta and Sweet Pastries" Linholm has drawn upon her years of experience and expertise to compile an impressively illustrated culinary compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for a series of dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. The recipes range from a Sweet Potato Cheesecake; Strawberry Belgian Waffles; Flourless Brownies; and an Ice Cream Bobe with Raspberry Meringue; to a Chocolate Baguette; Olive Bread; Twin Peaks Cherry Pie; and Sweet-Shaped Ravioli with Butternut Squash. A delight to simply browse through and ideal for planning memorable menus with, "One More Slice: Sourdough Bread, Pizza, Pasta and Sweet Pastries" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "One More Slice" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Short Order Dad
Robert Rosenthal
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781634509800, $17.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Although it's written with a sense of humor, "Short Order Dad: One Guy's Guide to Making Food Fun and Hassle-Free" by Robert Rosenthal is a serious culinary resource for dads (and anyone else) wanting to make great tasting food at home - even if they have never used a chef's knife or a roasting pan before. "Short Order Dad" offers step-by-step instructions in basic techniques and presents a playbook of simple recipes that achieve the most taste with the fewest ingredients and the least effort. "Short Order Dad" also covers all the essentials, from shopping ingredients and cooking tools to appetizers, soups and salads, snacks, entrees, sauces and dressings, sides, desserts, cocktails and more, to make anyone a successful chef. Beautifully illustrated throughout, the recipes range from Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes; Braised Chicken with 41 Garlic Cloves; Toasty Bruschetta; and Seared Tuna Wrap with Mango Chutney; to Grapefruit Avocado Salad; Baked Potato Fries; Chocolate Covered Strawberries; and The Vesper Martini. While very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Short Order Dad" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.98).

Pure Food
Kurt Beecher Dammeier
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781942952176, $34.95, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com

With the proliferation of artificial additives, hormones, antibiotics, and the thousand other man-made substances and chemical cocktails lurking in our grocery bags, eating healthy, natural foods is trickier than ever. It's no coincidence that America's health is flagging, with obesity and type 2 diabetes now at epidemic levels. But planning menus with chef, restaurateur, food entrepreneur, retailer, and nutrition educator Kurt Dammeier's "Pure Food: A Chef's Handbook for Eating Clean, with Healthy, Delicious Recipes" will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to prepare meals that are demonstrably easier to make and much healthier to eat because each of the more than 70 features recipes are based on pure, additive-free ingredients and preparation instructions. Unlike most cookbooks, the recipes comprising "Pure Food" are organized in threads which start with a primary meal component like chicken, and progress through a series of dishes that use the primary ingredient in different ways to help kitchen cooks to get the most from their cooking. The recipes range from Oven Dried Tomatoes; Beef and Mushroom Lasagna; Lamb Gyros; and Old Bay Roasted turkey Breast Plus Stock; to White Fish Salad; Farror Cakes with Bacon and Parsley; Purple Potato Salad with Pea Vines; and Beecher's No-Bake Super-Light Cheesecake. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Pure Food" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Pure Food" is also available in a Kindle edition ($20.49).

The Magic of Broths
Nick Sandler
Kyle Books
192 - 198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, England, SW1V 1DX
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781909487413, $22.95, www.kylebooks.com

The Magic of Broths provides some 60 recipes for broths and stocks and comes from a chef and food writer who offers a fine selection of the best which can be easily made at home with a minimum of prep time or ingredients. Color photos and nutritional information accompany each recipe, which covers stocks for all kinds of meats, vegetables and fish and shows how to make variations, then pair them with meats and added light ingredients. The result is a fine collection of recipes perfect for any looking for light, restorative broth bases.

From Tea Cakes to Tamales
Nola McKey
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781623494094, $29.95, www.tamupress.com

From Tea Cakes to Tamales: Third-Generation Texas Recipes is written by culinary historian and illustrated by Cora McKown as it explores Texas's vintage recipes and the evolution of its culinary history. Here more than a hundred third-generation and older recipes share dishes and traditions with a focus on Texas' cultural diversity, including recipes for Norwegian, Italian, Czech and Chinese influences, among other ethnic groups that made lasting impressions on Texas foods. More than a cookbook, this includes narratives from family experiences and creates a powerful presentation that is especially recommended for culinary history readers interested in Texas food heritage.

Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com

Leon's Happy Salads by Jane Baxter and John Vincent (9781840917185, $19.99) is recommended for salad enthusiasts and those who aren't wild about salads, and offers a new contribution to the Leon series of cookbooks that focuses on different kinds of salads. Readers shouldn't expect a compendium of familiar favorites: Leon provides many innovative and appealing salads, from a Middle Eastern Spiced Quinoa and Get Figgy With It salad to sole filets in a Coconut Kinelaw and a Smoked Chicken with Diced Pear dish. The variety of dishes makes for a real winner that will appeal even to those who eschew traditional salads. Claus Meyer's The Nordic Kitchen: One Year of Family Cooking (9781784721626, $29.99) features four seasonal chapters and a focus on different produce to be found at different times of year, with recipes for Rhubarb Cake, Tartlets with Summer Vegetables in Bechamel sauce, and Quick and Easy Rye Bread. While there are a good number of fish-based recipes here, the book includes many of diverse dishes making it a special recommendation for those who would try seasonal Nordic cuisine with ingredients available outside of the region. Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea (9781784721466, $24.99) comes from a Master P tissier who presents nearly a hundred recipes for sweet and savory afternoon treats, and pairs lovely full-page color photos with individual recipes and six themes menus produced from them. Some of the highlights include a Scandinavian Apple Cake, a Clementine and Pomegranate Cake, and classic Linzer Torte, and while the dishes all require preparation, any who love to bake will find these creations easy and fun to assemble, and perfect for entertaining.


The Beer Shelf

The Beer Geek Handbook
Patrick Dawson
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612125312, $14.95, www.storey.com

The Beer Geek Handbook: Living a Life Ruled by Beer gathers beer facts, pairs them with a fun approach to the art of tasting and understanding both beer and those who imbibe, and blends humor with fun facts about beer to provide a cartoon-enhanced compendium of beer details and culture. Within the chatty and lively format are serious discussions about the differences between different styles of beer, how to best appreciate them, and how to understand what makes a superior beer. The result is a fun approach perfect for novices who like beer but need more information in a less serious, weighty tone than competing beer books offer.


The Journalism Shelf

Words Matter
Edited by Amanda Dahling and Mary Kay Blakely
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th St., Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826220899 $29.95 amazon.com

Words Matter: Writing to Make a Difference presents examples of exceptional "long form" journalistic writing by various graduates of the Missouri School of Journalism. These writings are grouped into three categories: profiles, first person journalism, and personal memoirs. Each essay is followed up with a "postscript" in which the author describes what they learned about writing, journalism, and the business of getting published. An excellent resource for self-study or for instructors or students in writing programs, Words Matter is highly recommended, particularly for college library collections.

Health and the Media
Valentina Marinescu & Bianca Mitu, editors
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476663029, $39.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Valentina Marinescu (Professor at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work at Bucharest University in Bucharest, Romania) and Bianca Mitu (a Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom) "Health and the Media: Essays on the Effects of Mass Communication" is comprised of ten major essays analyzing the relationship between medicine and the media from different perspectives. Each of these new essays fill a gap in this emerging field by providing new information on approaches to health communication and important reevaluations of health literacy theories. The contributors discuss ideas and methodologies across a range of topics, including multifaceted health communication, media coverage of maternal health, the rhetoric of diagnosis in autoimmune illness, media representation of the sick in data-driven healthcare, and health news coverage in print media. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Health and the Media: Essays on the Effects of Mass Communication" is unreservedly recommended for professional, college, and academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist readers with an interest in the subject that "Health and the Media: Essays on the Effects of Mass Communication" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.99).


The Literary Studies Shelf

Proust for Beginners
Steve Bachmann, author
Van Howell, illustrator
For Beginners LLC
155 Main Street, Suite 211, Danbury, CT 06810
9781939994448 $15.95 www.forbeginnersbooks.com

Lavishly illustrated with black-and-white sketches and caricatures on almost every page, Proust for Beginners is a guide to the life and works of French novelist Marcel Proust (1871-1922), who is particularly well-known for the modernist classic "In Search of Lost Time". Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Proust for Beginners explains the complex subjects and themes that Proust tackled, in a clear, reader-friendly style. The cartoons and caricatures add a unique dash of zest and flair to this excellent resource for high school, college, and public library literary studies collections!

The Tempest
Cass Foster
Five Star Publications Inc.
PO Box 6698, Chandler, AZ 85246-6698
www.FiveStarPublications.com
9781589852365, $8.99, PB, 98pp, www.amazon.com

Educator, director, playwright, and nationally known stage fight choreographer, Cass Foster is a lifelong master of Shakespearean theater. He devotes himself to making Shakespeare more approachable to students and theater companies alike through his highly lauded Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series. "The Tempest" is the eighth and newest addition to this outstanding series but is an abridged, condensed version of the play so that it can be performed in approximately one hour. Especially recommended for students and local community theatre groups, Cass Foster's edition provides the same lyrical language enjoyment that the unabridged original provides.

Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov
Michael C. Finke & Michael Holquist
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
www.mla.org
9781603292672, $40.00, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com

The literary works of Anton Chekhov are unflinching in the face of human frailty. With their emphasis on the dignity and value of individuals during unique moments, they help us better understand how to exist with others when we are fundamentally alone. Written in Russia at the end of the nineteenth century, when the country began to move fitfully toward industrialization and grappled with the influence of Western liberalism even as it remained an autocracy, Chekhov's plays and stories continue to influence contemporary writers. The essays comprising "Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov" provide classroom strategies for teaching Chekhov's stories and plays, discuss how his medical training and practice related to his literary work, and compare Chekhov with writers both Russian and American. This compilation of essays also aims to help classroom instructors with the daunting array of new editions in English, as well as with the ever-growing list of titles in visual media: filmed theater productions of his plays, adaptations of the plays and stories scripted for film, and amateur performances freely available online. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov" is very highly recommended for college and university library collections. For the personal reading lists of students, teachers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the work of Anton Chekov, it should be noted that "Approaches to Teaching the Works of Anton Chekhov" is also available in a paperback edition (9781603292689, $24.00) and in a Kindle format ($14.40).

Bob Seger's House and Other Stories
Michael Delp & M. L. Liebler, editors
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814341940, $24.99, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Michael Delp (former Director of Creative Writing at the Interlochen Arts Academy) & M. L. Liebler (an award-winning poet, literary arts activist, and professor), "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories" is a unique collection of twenty-two short stories written by some of Michigan's most well-known fiction writers. The scope of this literary anthology reflects the dynamic and diverse writing that is currently taking place by people who consider their home to be the Great Lakes state. Stories are far-ranging, from the streets of Detroit and the iconic presence of the auto industry to the wild tracts of the Upper Peninsula, to a couple on the west coast trying to figure out parenting. "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories" vibrates with that tension, of metal versus rock and human frailty taking on the pitfalls and hardships of living in this world. An inherently and consistently compelling read comprised of deftly written literary masterpieces, "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bob Seger's House and Other Stories" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.19).


The Architecture Shelf

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction, fourth edition
Rob Thallon
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631863721, $29.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Now in an newly updated and expanded fourth edition, the "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" by Rob Thallon, (a professional architect and the Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Oregon) is a comprehensive visual handbook filled with hundreds of meticulous drawings showing the framing details you need to understand when building with wood. This new edition of a classic instructional guide reflects the most recent changes in residential frame construction. "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" contains more details for engineered wood products, fasteners, and seismic hold-down requirements, as well as the latest IRC code updates. It is well annotated and covers foundations, floors, walls, stairs, and roofs. Because examples are taken from actual job sites, "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" is enhanced with invaluable visual aids that can help builders and homeowners alike to tackle a wide range of framing projects. Comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, content, organization and presentation, "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Architectural Studies instructional reference collections.


The Political Science Shelf

American Maelstrom
Michael A. Cohen
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780199777563, $29.95, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com

Michael A. Cohen is a national political columnist for The Boston Globe. He writes regularly on American politics and U.S. foreign policy and has previously been a columnist for the Guardian and Foreign Policy. In "American Maelstrom: The 1968 Election and the Politics of Division" he provides a detailed analytical history of the election of 1968 which was immediately caught up in a swirl of powerful forces, and the nine men who sought the nation's highest office that year attempted to who attempted to ride those political forces to victory -- or merely just survive them. On the Democratic side, Eugene McCarthy energized the anti-war movement; George Wallace spoke to the working-class white backlash; Robert Kennedy took on the mantle of his slain brother. Entangled in Vietnam, Johnson, stunningly, opted not to run again, scrambling the odds. On the Republican side, 1968 saw the vindication of Richard Nixon, who out-hustled Nelson Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan and George Romney, by navigating between the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party. The assassinations of first Martin Luther King, Jr., and then Robert Kennedy seemed to push the country to the brink of chaos, a chaos reflected in the Democratic Convention in Chicago, in which for the first time in American political history such an event became a kind of televised horror show. Vice President Hubert Humphrey emerged as the nominee, and, finally liberating himself from Johnson's grip, nearly overcame the lead long enjoyed by Nixon who, by exploiting division and channeling the national yearning for order, would be the last man standing. Enhanced with the inclusion of forty-six pages of Notes; an eight page Bibliographic Essay, and a thirty-five page Index, "American Maelstrom" is an impressively well written, researched, organized and presented study that will prove to be an invaluable and appreciated addition to both community and academic library 20th Century American History and Political Science reference collections. For personal reading lists of academics and non-specialist readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "American Maelstrom" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Art Shelf

The Art of Disney's Dragons
Foreword by David Lowery
Introduction by Tom Bancroft
Disney Editions
1101 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201
9781484747162 $29.99 www.disneybooks.com

The Art of Disney's Dragons is a gorgeous, full-color compilation of concept art featuring dragons from three generations of Disney movies, parks, and resorts - even some ultimately unused concepts. From the villainous Maleficent of "Sleeping Beauty", to the wisecracking Mushu of "Mulan", to the animated and 2016 live-action renditions of Pete's Dragon and more, The Art of Disney's Dragons is an extraordinary tour of ideas, memories, designs, and dreams. Outside of the foreword, the introduction, there is virtually no text; the dragon art speaks for itself. Back-of-the-book notes identify the origin of each artwork, without distracting from their splendor. The Art of Disney's Dragons is highly recommended for Disney fans and dragon fans alike!

Gerhard Richter: Panorama
Nicholas Serota & Mark Godfrey, editors
Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9781938922923, $65.00, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com

Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist who has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, as well as photographs and glass pieces. His art follows the examples of Picasso and Jean Arp in undermining the concept of the artist's obligation to maintain a single cohesive style. First published on the occasion of the major retrospective exhibition that opened at Tate Modern in 2011, this newly expanded edition of "Gerhard Richter: Panorama" continues to offer the most complete overview of the artist's entire career to date. This stunningly illustrated survey encompasses works from the late 1950s to the present and includes his photo-paintings, abstractions, landscapes, seascapes, portraits, color charts, grey paintings, glass and mirror works, sculptures, drawings and photographs. All this combines to provide a definitive account of Richter's achievements. It also includes studio photographs, archival images and texts by an array of international critics and curators. This expanded edition of "Gerhard Richter: Panorama" includes a new text by Mark Godfrey that covers works made since the 2011 exhibition, including the Strip, Flow and Birkenau paintings, as well as an updated chronology. With more than 300 illustrations, and an interview between Richter and Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, "Gerhard Richter: Panorama" remains the most comprehensive survey of one of the world's pre-eminent contemporary artists and is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Contemporary Art History collections in general, and Gerhard Richter supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Photography Shelf

Oregon: A Photographic Journey
Greg Vaughn
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376606, $12.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "Oregon: A Photographic Journey", veteran travel photographer Greg Vaughn takes his readers on an impressively memorable photographic journey of the state of Oregon, sharing the spectacular, diverse landscape this part of the country is known for. Readers will enjoy these beautiful and informatively captioned images showcasing the beauty of Oregon's famous coast with sea stacks, the snowcapped peaks of the Cascades, lush old-growth forests, and fertile valleys. From the cascading waterfalls, serene lakes, and raging rivers of western Oregon to the craggy mountains, deep canyons, and painted hills in eastern Oregon, "Oregon: A Photographic Journey" a breathtaking journey and one that is ideal for the armchair traveler and the on-site visitor alike. A truly exceptional volume of breathtaking photography, "Oregon: A Photographic Journey" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Outdoor Photography and American Travel collections.

EAA Oshkosh: The Best AirVenture Photography
James P. Busha, Hal Bryan; Dick Knapinski
Voyageur Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760351840, $24.99, Flexibound, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Every year the skies over Oshkosh, Wisconsin, rumble with the sound of aircraft engines. It's the annual week long aviation air show is sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), an international organization based in Oshkosh, and is the largest of its kind anywhere in the world. EAA Oshkosh showcases the many types of aircraft that have appeared there and even offers a glimpse of the lively crowds and campgrounds including: Warbirds; Vintage aircraft; Home-Built aircraft; Seaplanes; Ultralights; and EAA firsts (i.e., the F-35, all of Burt Rutan, the SR-71, etc.) Drawing on the EAA's photo archive dating back to 1953, Very highly recommended, especially for dedicated aviation enthusiasts and community library aviation collections, "EAA Oshkosh" brims from cover to cover with fascinating stories, history, and photography. Simply stated -- paging through "EAA Oshkosh" is the next best thing to actually attending the show!

Iconocracia
Ivan de la Nuez
Turner
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9788416354733, $30.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Ivan de la Nuez, an essayist, art critic and exhibition curator born in Havana in 1964, has been the head of the Cultural Activities Department at the Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona (2009-2011) and the Exhibitions Director at La Virreina Centre de la Imatge (2000-2009). He collaborates with Babelia, El Pais newspaper's cultural insert, as well as different magazines and newspapers in the United States, Europe and Latin America. Compiled, edited and presented by Nuez, this bilingual edition of "Iconocracia: An Image of Power and the Power of Images in Contemporary Cuban Photography" brings together the works of approximately 30 Cuban photographers from different generations and political perspectives. This impressively presented collection reflects the diversity of contemporary Cuban society and culture, making it a critically important, unique, and highly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Photography collections.


The Autism Shelf

Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism
Susan Helghway & Susan kidd Webster
Future Horizons
721 West Abram Street, Arlington, TX 76013
www.fhautism.com
9780986067327, $24.95, PB, 188pp, www.amazon.com

Federal law requires that every school district educate school age children. An essential part of a well rounded education is the building of a child's self-esteem so they can make informed choices. "Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism" is a STARS 2 adapted version of the original STARS guidebook that is focused on school-aged children. The STARS 2 model concentrates on four areas: Understanding Relationships, Social Skills Training, Sexual Awareness, and Assertiveness with the goals of promoting positive sexuality and preventing sexual abuse. Assessment tools help identify the strengths and needs of each individual, and then the activities can be catered to address specific needs. The collaborative effort of Susan M. Heighway (who is a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Madison, Wisconsin), and Susan Kidd Webster (a Senior Lecturer and Field Faculty Associate at the University of Wisconsin in Madison) "Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism: STARS 2) is very highly recommended for professional, school district, college, and university educational reference collections for teaching and working with autistic children.


The Military Shelf

The Battle Of Jutland
John Brooks
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9781107150140, $49.99, HC, 584pp, www.amazon.com

The naval engagement known as the Battle of Jutland was a battle on the high seas fought by the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, against the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer during the First World War. The battle was fought from 31 May to 1 June 1916 in the North Sea, near the coast of Denmark's Jutland Peninsula. It was the largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleships in the war. "The Battle of Jutland" by military scholar John Brooks is a major new account of the Battle of Jutland and begins with the building of the two fleets wherein Brooks reveals the key technologies employed, from ammunition, gunnery and fire control, to signaling and torpedoes, as well as the opposing commanders' tactical expectations and battle orders. In describing Jutland's five major phases, Brooks offers important new interpretations of the battle itself and how the outcome was influenced by technology, as well as the tactics and leadership of the principal commanders, with the reliability of their own accounts of the fighting reassessed. "The Battle Of Jutland" draws on contemporary sources which have rarely been cited in previous accounts, including the dispatches of both the British and German formations, along with official records, letters and memoirs. An impressively well researched, written, organized and presented study, and one that adheres to the highest standards of scholarship, "The Battle Of Jutland" is enhanced with the inclusion of a twenty-seven page Bibliography; a seven page Index of Warships and Formations; and a twenty page General Index. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century Military History and 20th Century Naval History collections in general, and World War I supplemental studies lists it particular, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject the "The Battle Of Jutland" is also available in a Kindle edition ($31.20).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts Vol. 1
MAYBE
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993414 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com

The first volume of To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts debuts a black-and-white manga (Japanese comics) series set in a post-war world with an uneasy coexistence between humans and Incarnates, super-soldiers that were permanently transformed into fantastic monsters of myth and legend. But not all Incarnates can retain their humanity, and one by one these "Sacred Beasts" are turning upon the humans they once fought for. Nancy Schaal Bancroft is the daughter of an Incarnate soldier, who witnessed her father's execution at the hands of a "Beast Hunter". Her mission of revenge is turned upside-down when she begins to learn more about the Sacred Beasts, and the deadly threat posed by the ones that lose their minds! A fine balance of action, fantasy, and flawed yet courageous characters, To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts is highly recommended.

Tokyo ESP 5
Hajime Segawa
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993025 $15.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Tokyo ESP 5 continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese comics) series set in a world where a sizeable percentage of Tokyo's entire population has suddenly gained psychic abilities. Volume 5 begins with the struggle of two young women, taken hostage by psychic terrorists, who must fight to survive and escape. The "White Girl" Rinka and her comrade Urushiba reappear, but why is the government persecuting the duo once hailed as heroes? The second half of volume 5 reveals events in Rinka's and Urushiba's recent past. A corrupt human trafficking ring has been selling psychic humans from Tokyo as slaves, and Rinka is recruited to stop it - but the enemy employs a telepath specifically to ferret out infiltrators. Rinka must undergo a severe anti-telepathy countermeasure... with psychological repercussions far beyond what anyone could have guessed! Excitement, fierce fighting, and intrigue abound, in this soul-stirring saga of heroes and multiple factions of ruthless villains.

Ninja Slayer 5: One Minute Before the Tanuki
Original work by Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez
Art by Yuki Yogo
Script by Yoshiaki Tabata
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993551 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Ninja Slayer 5: One Minute Before the Tanuki continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese comics) adaptation of the shockingly grisly Ninja Slayer saga. The Ninja Slayer series is set in the wretched cyberpunk hive of Neo Saitama, a place where superhumanly powerful "ninja souls" merged with mortal humans rule and terrorize through Laomoto Khan's Soukai Syndicate. Humanity's only hope may be the ferocious Ninja Slayer! Once an ordinary man, the Ninja Slayer lost his beloved family, transformed into a rogue ninja soul, and exists for little reason other than to kill all other ninja. In One Minute Before the Tanuki, the Ninja Slayer desperately seeks an antidote for the "Takeuchi" virus before it can claim the life of his mentor. The Ninja Slayer cannot find the antidote on his own; he needs the help of genius computer hacker and mysterious journalist Nancy. But neither cyberspace nor real life is safe from rival ninja attacks! Will the obsessed cyber-ninja Daedalus burn out both their minds in mid-hack? Full-throttle, no-holds-barred violence is the sushi of the day! It should be noted that Ninja Slayer is a series explicitly for mature readers (ages 16+) due to graphic carnage, sexual situations, and strong language.

Nichijou My Ordinary Life 3
Keiichi Arawi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993322 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Suitable for readers of all ages, Nichijou My Ordinary Life 3 is a black-and-white, short-story-anthology manga (Japanese comics) about school students who are mostly ordinary, except when various ludicrous, improbable, or flat-out ridiculous things happen. From a principal so tongue-tied he can't stutter the command end to an outdoor assembly in heat-stroke weather (even as his students collapse one by one!); to a glue mishap that risks utterly swallowing a young scientist, her robot, and their cat; to a slacker student's attempt to copy off a stonewalling classmate's homework and more, Nichijou blends the mundane and the surreal into a fine puree of whimsy. Volume 3 of Nichijou makes as good a jumping-on point as any, due to the episodic nature of its mini-stories!

Breaking the 10, Volume 1
Sean Michael Wilson and Michiru Morikawa
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
9781681120218 $12.99 www.nbmpub.com

Breaking the 10, Volume 1 is the first half of a two-part graphic novel series about one man's rage against the heavens. After David loses his wife and son to car accident, he is so filled with rage that he decides to break the Ten Commandments, one by one, in order to get God's attention. His resolve attracts the notice of two mysterious figures, Mr. White and Mr. Black. Though they have mortal human forms, they also embody philosophical principles. Mr. White is a deeply religious servant of God, while Mr. Black is a humanist who rejects the concepts of both God and Satan. Each of them tries to win David over, and notably, neither of them wants David to break the most ominous of the Ten Commandments... "Thou Shalt Not Kill". Part character-driven story, part moral treatise, Breaking the 10 is compelling, thought-provoking, and highly recommended. Breaking the 10 is suggested for older teen and adult readers due to some mature language and situations.

Last Man: The Order
Balak, Sanlaville, & Vives
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626720503 $9.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

Last Man: The Order is the fifth graphic novel in a fantastic series spanning conspiracies and worlds. Marianne and young Adrian have successfully tracked down Richard Aldana, and become entangled in a deadly fighting competition. (Also, Richard's true motive for previously abandoning Marianne and Adrian is finally revealed.) But behind the crime boss that makes all three of them battle for public entertainment lurks a far more ruthless enemy - one whose reach and boundless greed threatens not only their lives, but also the entire Valley of Kings. Elements of magic and cyberpunk merge freely in this exciting action-adventure! Highly recommended.

The Marquis of Anaon 3: The Providence
Script by Fabien Vehlmann
Artwork by Matthieu Bonhomme
Cinebook Ltd.
56 Beech Ave., Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7TA, UK
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781849182775 $13.95 www.nbnbooks.com

The Marquis of Anaon 3: The Providence is a color graphic novel continuing the grim and dangerous adventures of a wandering truth-seeker during the 1700's. The Marquis of Anaon hopes his fortunes may take a turn for the better when he accepts a generous employment offer from the Countess of Alemedia. They embark upon a sea voyage, yet when their ship crosses paths with a rotting derelict, it becomes an evil omen of horrors to come! The Providence is a self-contained adventure, and makes an excellent introduction to The Marquis of Anaon series. Recommended for readers ages twelve and up due to violence and disturbing scenes.

Cinebook Ltd.
56 Beech Ave., Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7TA, UK
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com

Four color graphic novels from Cinebook are installments in series packed with suspense, adventure, and deadly danger. "Alone 5: Eye of the Maelstrom" (9781849182966, $11.95) by Gazzotti & Vehlmann continues a disturbing story about a group of children who have awakened in an empty city, and who must learn to survive alone. Even as a nightmarish truth about where they are comes to light at last, a terrifying presence appears, so menacing that it can seemingly force people to kill one another with bloodied weapons! "Valerian and Laureline 11: The Ghosts of Inverloch" by Mezieres and Christin (9781849182935, $11.95) furthers the chronicles of two agents of Galaxity, capital of the future Terran Empire, in their peacekeeping quest through time and space (although alien friends and associates sometimes drop by at the most inconvenient times). "XIII 21: Return to Green Falls" by I. Jigounov and Y. Sente (9781849183017, $11.95) progresses the intrigue surrounding XIII, an amnesiac man whose hopes for a normal life crumble beneath the relentless pursuit of a mysterious organization. Who expending immense resources to capture him alive, and why? "Leo Episode 3: The Survivors Quantum Anomalies" is the third installment in a parallel science fiction series to "The Worlds of Aldebaran". Marie and a group of eleven other survivors narrowly escaped death when an accident befell their Aldebaran-bound ship. Escaping via a small shuttle, they land on an unknown planet and must work together to survive. Can their ability to jump into the future help them, or will it only make the situation worse? All four graphic novels are exciting from cover to cover, and highly recommended.


The Audiobook Shelf

Midnight Bites
Rachel Caine, author
Angela Dawe, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781494516048, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com

The sixteenth volume in Rachel Caine's enormously popular Morganville Vampire series, "Midnight Bites" is a series of short stories, including six of which were never before published, and sixteen that have been part of several diverse anthologies, that continue to fill in and expand on the heros and villains, the living and the undead, that populate this unique Texas town. What is particularly unusual about this audio book anthology is that the listener doesn't need to have read any of Rachel Caine's previous vampire novels in order to be able to easily follow and appreciate the stories which are roughly chronologically presented. Impressively narrated by Angela Dawe who brings these stories fully to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' listening experience, "Midnight Bites" is an extraordinary and recommended addition to community library audio book collections, and is a "must" for the legions of vampire enthusiasts in general, and Rachel Caine fans in particular! (11 CDs, 14 Hours, Unabridged).

Along Came Mr. Right
Gerri Russell, author
Read by Dara Rosenberg
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781522613459 $9.99 www.brillianceaudio.com/mp3

Along Came Mr. Right is an unabridged MP3 audiobook (plays on MP3-CD players or transfers to portable devices) brimming with romance. Olivia Tyler is a foster mother, burned by an ex-boyfriend who humiliated her on Facebook. On the night of a charity auction for her adoption agency, she encounters a mysterious and wondrously romantic man. Max Right seems perfect - handsome, chivalrous, and poised to make a fortune with his algorithm-based matchmaking app. He's also someone else's fiance! Or is the matter more complicated than that? Along Came Mr. Right is a charming love story for modern times, sure to enchant connoisseurs of the genre. 1 disc, 7 hours 43 min.

The Weekenders
Mary Kay Andrews, author
Read by Kathleen McInerney
www.marykayandrews.com
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427272270 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The Weekenders is an eyebrow-raising murder mystery, set on the idyllic Belle Isle of North Carolina. Some vacationers stay for the summer; others only are "weekenders" who come just for a weekend. Riley Griggs was prepared to enjoy time with friends and family, but instead of meeting her husband by ferry, she instead encounters a process server with papers. Each of her friends on the island has his or her own dark troubles. Riley must get to the bottom of the mystery of Belle Island, the secrets hidden among her alleged friends, and the true motivations of the husband she thought she knew. It's a summer to remember in this excellent choice for connoisseurs of the genre! 12 CDs, 15.5 hours.

Boar Island
Nevada Barr, author
Read by Barbara Rosenblat
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427272539 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Boar Island: An Anna Pigeon Novel is the unabridged audiobook continuing the suspenseful story of Anna Pigeon, a National Park Service Ranger. When Elizabeth, the adopted teenage daughter of Anna's paraplegic friend Heath Jarrod, is harassed by a cyberstalker, they decide to bring Elizabeth east to Anna's new post as Acting Chief Ranger at Acadia National Park in Maine. But Elizabeth's stalker follows them to Boar Island, near the park... and a sudden murder at Acadia proves that at least one remorseless killer is afoot. A superb performance by multiple Audie and Earphone Award winner Barbara Rosenblat brings this intensely chilling saga to life! Highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. 10 CDs, 12.5 hours.

Absolutely, Positively
Heather S. Webber, author
Performed by Dina Pearlman
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781522693796 $9.99 MP3 CD, www.brillianceaudio.com

Absolutely, Positively is an audiobook on MP3 CD; it can play on MP3-CD enabled players or be transferred to portable devices. The story features Lucy Valentine, who has inherited a unique gift for finding things from a long line of psychic ancestors. Lucy makes use of her talent by running a matchmaking agency, and when the secret of her powers is revealed to the public, she suddenly has far more clients than she knows how to handle! But what about her own love life, or the sexy fireman-turned-private eye who has stolen her heart? Things take an oddball turn when a mysterious masked man in a cowboy hat begins throwing handfuls of cash all about town. Can Lucy get to the bottom of the cash-scattering mystery, find true love for her clients, and turn the romantic heat up on her own private life all the same time? Absolutely, Positively is a lighthearted mystery-romance, perfect for cozy listening! 1 MP3 CD, 9 hours.

The Seventh Sense
Written and read by Joshua Cooper Ramo
jramo.com
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478909101 $30.00 www.HachetteAudio.com

The Seventh Sense: Power, Fortune and Survival in the Age of Networks is the unabridged audiobook rendition of Joshua Cooper Ramo's insights into how technology-driven connections have changed the world - and are still changing it. The modern internet and smartphones have enabled people to create global networks as never seen before, and those who have mastered these networks achieve phenomenal success - whether they are business leaders, generals, investors, politicians, or terrorists (one particularly grim example is ISIS, a terrorist organization unparalleled in its mastery of social media). The Seventh Sense ultimately isn't just about witnessing the power of human connections, but also harnessing that power to change the world. Highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10 hours.

The Colonists
Raymond F. Jones, author
Justine Lerman, narrator
Speculative!
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781511357081, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com

What qualities are needed to leave Earth behind and never return? To start life anew on a far off planet? A desire to leave and never return? A pioneer spirit? How would you select someone to take that trip? Dr. Ashby believes in testing, but are his parameters correct? His experiment with human volunteers is unique and fully immersive as he seeks to answer those questions -- and the reply may not be what you would expect. Raymond Jone's "The Colonist" is a terrific science fiction yarn that is brought to live in a genuine 'theatre of the mind' experience with the superbly executed narration by Justine Lerman. "The Colonist" is very highly recommended for community library audio book collections and the listening pleasure of dedicated science fiction fans.

The Creature from Cleveland Depths
Fritz Leiber, author
Jim Roberts, narrator
Speculative!
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781511357098, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com

Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) was equally adept at writing science fiction, fantasy and horror. In the course of his career his literary works were honored with the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy awards. Now in a complete and unabridged audio book edition of a classic Fritz Leiber science fiction short story, narrator Jim Roberts performs "The Creature from Cleveland Depths". The story of a writer and his wife who refuse to move below-ground after the cold-war gets hot. However, the writer still serves as a consultant for a below-ground company seeking to come up with new "gadgets". His latest product idea is called "The Tickler", a device that is with you at all times to remind you of appointments and "suggests" little motivations to improve efficiency. Then the device begins to have unintended and frightening consequences which only the inventor seems to recognize. With flawless production values, this audio book edition of "The Creature from Cleveland Depths" is unreservedly recommended for community library audio book collections and a "must" for the legions of Fritz Leiber fans.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HachetteAudio.com

James Patterson and Marshall Karp's NYPD Red 4 (9781478928072, $35.00) enjoys a dual narration by Edoardo Ballerini and Jay Snyder as it tells of a manhunt for a murderer who covets money and blood alike. An elite police task force faces its biggest challenge yet as political tempers flair under an assault which seems unending. All come to life in an audio that's gripping and compelling. Peter Brown's The Wild Robot (9781478938334, $25.00) is read by Kate Atwater and presents an unusual scenario: robot Roz is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of how she got there. Her struggles to survive occupy more of her attention than her missing memory, until it begins to return and threatens the unusual friendships and home she has just begun to cultivate. Both are vividly-read productions and shine in audio format.

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain and Renee Paley-Bain's Murder, She Wrote series expands yet again with a new addition, Design for Murder (9781501261671, $24.99), performed by veteran narrator Sandra Burr who lends her much-experienced, engrossing voice to a new story of death that overtakes the modeling industry's top runway glamour figures. One is a novice at the job; the other a famous cover girl. Both are found dead under mysterious circumstances, and there's only one connection between them. Jessica is forced to consider all possibilities in a riveting thriller that offers many twists and turns in the course of solving murders. William Stolzenburg's Heart of a Lion (9781480532083, $29.99) receives an excellent reading by Mike DelGaudio who brings to life the story of a mountain lion's two thousand mile trek from the American West to the Atlantic coast. In 2011 an SUV hit a three-year-old mountain lion on a Connecticut parkway. Author William Stolzenburg traced his roots across the years and here produces an outstanding saga that springs to life in audio and is especially recommended for natural history enthusiasts.


The Library CD Shelf

It's Time
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble
www.almaafrobeat.com
Slow Walk Music
www.slowwalkmusic.com

It's Time is the third music CD from Alma Afrobeat Ensemble. Half of the album consists of remixes by DJs given complete creative freedom (their only guideline was that the remixes "shouldn't sound like the originals") while the other half is live studio Afrobeat with very little overdubbing. All songs stir the desire to dance, a universal Afrobeat quality that spans continents. It's Time is a thoroughly vivacious experience, highly recommended! The tracks are "It's Time" (6:49), "Live and Let's Live" (8:13), "Shakedown" (8:32), "Lost" (8:35), "Siempre Presente" (4:22), "DWB Breakdown" (5:30), "Ain't It Time" (3:48), "Lost in Dub" (6:08), and "Room Enough for Us" (6:52).

Aupres du Poele
Ten Strings and a Goat Skin
tenstringsandagoatskin.com
$14.06 US / $20.00 CDN (physical CD) maplemusic.com
$7.99 download itunes.com

Aupres du Poele ("around the woodstove") is the latest music CD from Canadian acoustic trio Ten Strings and a Goat Skin. The songs draw on a variety of sources, especially old-school Franco-Canadian, Breton, Irish, and Scottish music. Modern elements such pump organ add a touch of cutting-edge funk to those exuberant, trans-cultural indie songs! The tracks are "The Ukrainian Expedition" (4:44), "Aupres du Poele" (3:18), "Igen" (6:27), "When First I Came to Caledonia" (4:28), "Shoot the Moon" (4:33), "Maluron Lurette "4:29), "The Town" (4:45), "Lament for Buckles" (4:5), "Maudit Anglais" (4:49), "Coal Not Dole" (3:12), and "Duhk Duhk Goat" (7:28). Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of fresh and original music is "The Three Voices" ($15.00 CD/$9.99 download) by Victor Prieto, a transformation of Celtic-Galician dance tunes brought to life with Prieto's memorable accordion play and a grand performance of bass, drums, piano, saxophone, and more.

Beyond Karma
Gyuto Monks of Tibet
Featuring Kim Cunio & Heather Lee
$16.98 amazon.com

Beyond Karma is a music CD of sacred sounds from a variety of different cultures. Australian sacred music duo Kim Cunio and Heather Lee join The Gyuto Monks of Tibet in this celebration of religious diversity and sacred traditions. The tremendous resonance of the Gyuto Monks' harmonic chant is an experience to cherish and remember; it not only music, but also tantric practice. Highly recommended, especially for international and spiritual music collections. Also a choice pick for listeners eager to broaden their musical horizons is the Spanish-language album "Selva" ("Jungle", $TBA) by Peruvian guitarist Ciro Hurtado.

In the Midst of Stars
Majestica
majesticamusic.com
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

In the Midst of Stars is a beautiful music album by talented duo Majestica - bassist and multi-instrumentalist Cass Anawaty, and award-winning multi-flutist Sherry Finzer. The two have created an extraordinary medley of ambient tracks, reflecting inspiration from the natural world as well as a celebration of human ingenuity. A "must" for connoisseurs of fine instrumental music, In the Midst of Stars is especially for recommended meditation or relaxation. The tracks are "In the Midst of Stars" (4:31), "Carousel" (4:01), "In Bloom" (5:31), "Close of Day" (5:01), "Lone Mountain" (5:10), "View from the Summit" (4:13), "How Does it Feel" (5:07), and "Aurora Australis" (10:31). 44 min 8 sec.

Extra-Deluxe-Supreme
Hazmat Modine
Barbes Records
barbesrecords.com
$10.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 amazon.com

Extra-Deluxe-Supreme is the third studio album by the band Hazmat Modine, a group known for their signature tuba and harmonica as well as horn section, guitars, accordion, and much more. Extra-Deluxe Supreme draws upon a medley of American musical traditions including Gospel, rhythm and blues, country, and early jazz. At once both a celebration of and an imaginative spin upon quintessentially American music, Extra-Deluxe Supreme is a joy to experience. The tracks are "Another Day" (4:22), "Plans" (5:10), "Your Sister" (5:35), "Up & Rise" (5:25), "Arcadia (Coffee, Salt & Laces) (5:33), "Moving Stones" (3:58), "Whiskey Bird" (6:03), "All of My Days" (4:50), "End of Sweet Dreams" (5:00), and "Most of All" (4:40).

You Ain't Never Been to Texas
Johnny Lee
www.johnnyleemusic.com
c/o Webster Public Relations (publicity)
PO Box 23015, Nashville, TN 37202
www.websterpr.com
$11.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com

You Ain't Never Been to Texas is a bona fide country music album, featuring the guitar play and stirring vocals of Johnny Lee. Love, loss, courage, pride, and celebration of the Lone Star State are recurring themes in this "must-have" for country music fans! Highly recommended. The tracks are 'Lonesome Love List", "What's Forever For", "Who's Left, Who's Right", "Deep Water", "Never Been to Texas", "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", "Good Lovin' Woman Bad", "Wish I Could Love That Way Again", "2 Steps from the Blues", "Who Did You Love", "Bullets First", and "Worth Watching".


The Library DVD Shelf

California Redwoods to Death Valley
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244th Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
9781604902082 $24.95 DVD
9781604902310 $24.95 Blu-ray www.Bennett-Watt.com

Part of the "Discoveries... America National Parks" series (each program is available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats), California Redwoods to Death Valley showcases a diversity of national parks and historic sites in California, including Redwoods National and State Parks, Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Sand to Snow National Monument, Cesar Chavez National Monument, Pinnacles National Park, Channel Island national Park and much more. Beautiful, panoramic photography makes this educational and edifying DVD the next best thing to witnessing California's natural splendor in person! Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD collections. 50 min.

Yalom's Cure
A film by Sabine Gisiger
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
www.firstrunfeatures.com
$24.95 www.yalomscure.com

Yalom's Cure is a DVD documentary about the life's work of author, scholar, and psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom. Yalom is especially well known for his efforts in developing "existential psychotherapy", a practice that integrates philosophy into psychotherapy, and Yalom's books have been incorporated into college courses in psychology. Part biography, part exploration of the human psyche, Yalom's Cure reveals how Yalom's work in the field of psychotherapy changed the ways in which psychotherapists can help patients in need. Yalom's Cure is highly recommended, especially for public and college library DVD collections. 74 min., optional English subtitles.

Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art
A film by James Crump
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art is a DVD documentary about the inception of "land art" in the late 1960's and early 1970's. A handful of artists, including Michael Heizer, Walter de Maria, and Robert Smithson created gigantic expressions in the American southwest desert. Astounding in their scope and audacity, these works include "Spiral Jetty", "Double Negative", and "Lightning Field". Troublemakers includes rare footage as well as interviews with Smithson, Heizer, Nancy Holt, Dennis Oppenheim, Carl Andre, Virginia Dwan, Charles Ross, and more. Troublemakers is highly recommended for community library and as well as personal art history DVD shelves. DVD extras include artist and filmmaker biographies, as well as a discussion between director James Crump and the director of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Philippe Vergne. 72 min. optional English subtitles.

Janet King Series 1: The Enemy Within
Starring Marta Dusseldorp
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
$49.99 www.acornonline.com

Janet King Series 1: The Enemy Within is 2-disc DVD set featuring Australian actress Marta Dusseldorp in the award-winning role of senior crown prosecutor Janet King. Returning from maternity leave, King is immediately assigned a controversial case involving a respected police officer. As King traces connections between criminal cases that appear unrelated at first glance, and jockeys with a colleague whose guiding principle is "victory at any cost", she gradually reveals a conspiracy that could condemn both the police and the judiciary. The quest for justice puts King and her family in mortal danger, in this edge-of-seat suspenseful courtroom drama! Bonus features include 18 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a photo gallery. Janet King Series 1 is recommended for mature viewers due to strong language, violence, sexual situations, and disturbing images. 2 DVDs, 8 episodes, 474 min., SDH subtitles.

Tendu Toning
Rachel Speck
SpeckFitness
www.speckfitness.com
$25.00 amazon.com

Tendu Toning: Where Ballet Meets Fitness is a one-hour fitness DVD that combines muscle-toning exercises from ballet with bodybuilding techniques. Retired professional ballerina Rachel Speck demonstrates how basic ballet steps can lead to a stronger, healthier body. The recommended, inexpensive exercise equipment to pair with Tendu Toning is a small glide disc (a paper plate or power towel can be substituted, depending on one's workout surface), a resistance band, and a barre or chair to provide a chest-high handhold and aid in balance. Ankle weights or small hand weights are optional. The program includes a "squat" warm-up series working legs, glutes, and hips; an "attitude" series that focuses on the glutes, hamstrings, and back; a "band kick back" series that targets the legs and back with the resistance band; the "lunge" series with gliding and use of the barre; floor work for the arms and abs; and finally a cool down. One does not need the skill of an expert dancer for Tendu Toning; anyone who can balance on one foot can enjoy the full fitness benefit of this excellent strength-building workout! Highly recommended. 60 min.

Fear of 13
David Singleton
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
DVD, $19.95, www.firstrunfeatures.com

Nick, a death row inmate, petitions the court to be executed. As he goes on to tell his story, it gradually becomes clear that nothing is quite what it seems. Nick spins his tale with all the twists and turns of classic crime drama, with a final shocking twist that casts everything in a new light. Part confessional and part performance, "Fear of 13" is a haunting psychological thriller that is a stylistically daring experiment in storytelling. With its flawless production values and riveting storyline, "Fear of 13" is very highly recommended, especially for community library DVD collections.


The Multimedia Shelf

Virginia Beauty: A Love Song for the Commonwealth
Joyce Johnson Rouse
Rouse House Music
PO Box 450, Independence, VA 24348
www.earthmama.org
$12.00 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

Composer Joyce Johnson Rouse (a.k.a. "Earth Mama") created Virginia Beauty: A Love Song for the Commonwealth as a tribute to Virginia's natural beauty, hardworking people, and rich history. A medley of expert musicians perform Virginia Beauty in standard, bluegrass, abbreviated, and instrumental versions. Virginia Beauty is also enriched with bonus materials; when the CD inserted into a computer, the user gains access to printable documents and suggestions for using the song in performance and education. Highly recommended! The audio tracks are "Long Version", "Bluegrass Version - Featuring Dale Ann Bradley", "Short Version", and "Instrumental Track".


The Parenting Shelf

Mindsets for Parents
Mary Cay Ricci & Margaret Lee
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618215246, $16.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com

All parents want their children to be successful in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. But it's not just about giving your kids praise or setting them on the right direction. Research shows that success is often dependent on mindset. Hard work, perseverance, and effort are all hallmarks of a growth mindset. That's where "Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids" by Mary Cay Ricci (an education consultant, speaker) and Margaret Lee (an education administrator and consultant in Maryland) comes in. Designed to provide parents with a roadmap for developing a growth mindset home environment, "Mindsets for Parents " has a conversational style and uses real-world examples make the popular mindsets topic approachable and engaging. It includes tools for informally assessing the mindsets of both parent and child, easy-to-understand brain research, and suggested strategies and resources for use with children of any age. "Mindsets for Parents " gives parents and guardians powerful knowledge and methods to help themselves and their children learn to embrace life's challenges with a growth mindset and an eye toward increasing their effort and success! Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, commentary, organization and presentation, "Mindsets for Parents" is very highly recommended for community library Parenting Skills instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mindsets for Parents" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.63).


The American History Shelf

Being Japanese American
Gil Asakawa
Stone Bridge Press
1393 Solano Avenue, Suite C, Albany CA 94706
www.stonebridge.com
9781611720228, $18.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Gil Asakawa is a journalist, editor, author, speaker and blogger who covers Asian American, Japanese American and Japanese culture in blogs and social media. He writes regular columns for and is a member of the Editorial Board for the Pacific Citizen, the national newspaper of the Japanese American Citizens League, and his columns are also published in the Nikkei Voice, the national newspaper of Japanese Canadians. "Being Japanese American: A JA Sourcebook for Nikkei, Hapa . . . & Their Friends" is entertaining compendium is a celebration of Japanese American history and heritage. While detailing favorite foods, customs, words, games, and holidays, it also explores the painful history of Japanese immigration and the WWII internment of Japanese Americans, with suggestions for connecting to your own Japanese American community and passing on traditions across generations and into intermarried families. This revised second edition Of "Being Japanese American" has fresh interviews with Japanese Americans about their life experiences and explores contemporary Japanese pop culture like anime and J-pop, with information on traveling to visit your Japanese roots and lists of resources on the Web and social media. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Being Japanese Americans" is especially recommended to the attention of Japanese American readers, and is a critically important addition to both community and academic library American History collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Being Japanese American" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).

Chicago Transformed
Joseph Gustaitis
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334988 $29.95 www.siupress.com

Chicago Transformed: World War I and the Windy City is an extensively researched analysis of how the demands of the First World War from 1913 to 1919 fundamentally changed the city of Chicago. Chapters address Chicago's economic, cultural, and political history, as well as the impact of the war on Chicago's soldiers, wartime daily life in Chicago (sometimes described as "wheatless, meatless, and coalless"), Chicago women and their participation in the first sexual revolution, Chicago's evolving ethnic demographics, and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes, and an index round out this welcome contribution to American History shelves, highly recommended especially for college library collections.

Jefferson, Lincoln, and the Unfinished Work of the Nation
Ronald L. Hatzenbuehler
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334902 $19.50 www.siupress.com

Jefferson, Lincoln, and the Unfinished Work of the Nation examines how two of America's greatest leaders, President Jefferson and President Lincoln, grappled with the political problems facing the nature. Each chapter focuses on a different vital issue confronted by both men: race and slavery, the pros and cons of political parties, state rights vs. federal authority, religion and the presidency, the president's powers under the American Constitution, and the appropriate political economy for a republic. Author Robert L. Hatzenbuehler (professor emeritus of history, Idaho State University) draws upon Jefferson's and Lincoln's own words in their written correspondence, essays, and speeches in this fascinating study, enhanced with extensive source notes and an index. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American History collections.

The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862
John A. Haymond
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476665108, $39.95, PB, 276pp, www.amazon.com

The U.S.-Dakota War was the bloodiest Indian conflict of the 19th century and erupted in southwestern Minnesota during the summer of 1862. In the war's aftermath, a hastily convened commission of five army officers conducted trials of 391 Indians charged with murder and massacre. In 36 days, 303 Dakota men were sentenced to death. In the largest simultaneous execution in American history, 38 were hanged on a single gallows on December 26, 1862 -- an incident now widely considered an act of revenge rather than judicial punishment. Providing fresh insight into this controversial event, "The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862: Revenge, Military Law and the Judgment of History" by conflict historian John A. Haymond (who is also the executive director of the Mower County Historical Society in Austin, Minnesota) deftly examines the Dakota War trials from the perspective of 19th century military law. Haymond discusses the causes and far-reaching consequences of the war, the claims of widespread atrocities, the modern debate over the role of culture in lawful warfare and how the war has been depicted by historians. Impressively researched and notably well written, organized and presented, "The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862" is an exceptional work of historical scholarship and very strongly recommended for community and academic library Native American Studies and 19th American History collections. For students and non-specialist general readers it should be noted that "The Infamous Dakota War Trials of 1862" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.99).


The World History Shelf

Among the Headhunters
Robert Lyman
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780306824678 $25.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com

Among the Headhunters: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival in the Burmese Jungle lives up to its title as an amazing true story of endurance, survival, and rescue. When a Curtiss C-46 Commando crashed on the mountainous border between India and Burma in August of 1943, all but one of the twenty-one passengers and crew survived, in the largest ever parachute evacuation of an airplane. These survivors were stranded in the extremely remote and unmapped land of the Nagas of the Patkoi Hills, a tribe of headhunters known to practice human sacrifice, whose village had been burned twice by the British. Japanese soldiers were also relatively close. United States Army Air Forces were able to send sustenance, but the survivors' rescue would ultimately take nothing less than a military expedition. Among the Headhunters is an unforgettable true-life story of danger, suspense, courage, and reconciliation. Highly recommended!


The Civil War Shelf

The Second Day at Gettysburg
David L. Shultz and Scott L. Mingus Sr.
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611210743 $32.95 www.savasbeatie.com

The Second Day at Gettysburg: The Attack and Defense of Cemetery Ridge, July 2, 1863 is an in-depth historical and military analysis of American Civil War's largest and bloodiest battle. The battle of Gettysburg lasted three days; the second day marked the most significant turning point of Gettysburg, and ultimately, the entire Civil War. Historian David L. Shultz and award-winning history author Scott L. Mingus research, trace, and reconstruct each detail of the battle's progression, in language accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Enhanced with occasional black-and-white photography, a bibliography, and an index, The Second Day at Gettysburg is highly recommended for public and college library Civil War shelves, as well as for personal edification.


The Music Shelf

Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies
James A. Cosby
Marketing Department
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476662299, $35.00, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com

Rock music today is universal and its popular history is well known. Yet few know how and why it really came about. Taking a fresh look at events long overlooked or misunderstood, "Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies: How America Gave Birth to Rock and Roll" by pop culture expert James A. Cosby (who is a regular contributor on pop culture matters for PopMatters.com) tells how some of the most disenfranchised people in a free and prosperous nation strove to make themselves heard, and in the process changed the world. Describing the genesis of rock and roll, "Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies" covers everything from its deep roots in the Mississippi Delta, key early figures, like deejay "Daddy-O" Dewey Phillips and gospel star Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and the influence of so-called "holy rollers" of the Pentecostal church who became crucial performers--Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. Enhanced with the inclusion of twenty-four pages of Notes, a ten page Bibliography, and a nineteen page Index, "Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community, college, and university library American Music History collections. It should be noted for the personal reading of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.99).


The Travel Shelf

National Parks of America
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781760340643, $29.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

A number of books on the market cover the national parks of America, but few hold the dramatic contemporary visual approach of Lonely Planet's National Parks of America, which provides a sweeping panoramic set of images of all 59 parks cross the country to accompany the usual tips on what to do, what to see, and how to plan a trip. Would-be park visitors - especially those who plan a trip to more than one park - will appreciate an approach that focuses on each park's unique landscapes and wildlife and how to make the most of seeing both. From best places to stay and itineraries to park features, this is an excellent survey recommended for destination-bound or armchair readers alike.

Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico
Mike White & Douglas Lorain
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu
9780874179965, $24.95, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of seasoned backpackers Mike White and Douglas, "Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico" is more than just a simple guide book. It also features occasional black-and-white photo illustrations, covers trail etiquette, wilderness ethics, and safety issues for backpackers, and even includes an introductory section on 'Using this Guide'. In addition to major backpacking trails ranging from Utah's Zion Park Travers, to Arizona's Tono Trail - Grandview to Hermits Rest; to New Mexico's Pecos Skyline Trail, "Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico" also features a two page listing of Best Rips by Season; and a four page Index. Informed and informative, "Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and an ideal trip planning resource. While very highly recommended for community library Travel Guide collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico" is also readily available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).

Best Tent Camping: Kentucky
Johnny Molloy
Menasha Ridge Press
2204 - 1st Avenue South, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
www.menasharidge.com
9781634040044, $15.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

An impressively well written, organized and presented car-camping guide to the scenic beauty, nature sounds, and general escape from civilization, "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" by travel writer Johnny Molloy will leads the Kentucky visitor to the very best tent camping destinations within the Bluegrass State. Accurate describing not only of the campgrounds themselves, but also the fun outdoors activities nearby them, this newly revised and expanded second edition of "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" uses a rating system which includes campground privacy, security, beauty, quiet, and cleanliness, and offers inside tips on just how to be enjoy each particular campground destination. "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" also details prices, opening and closing dates, websites, and other information that will help travelers to utilize and enjoy their vacationing and recreational tent camping time and experience to the fullest. While very highly recommended for personal and community library Travel Guide reference collections, it should be noted that "Best Tent Camping: Kentucky" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).

Last-Minute Travel Secrets
Joey Green
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781613735046, $16.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

For a great many people traveling today (especially by air), getting from one place to another is all too often an exercise in frustration, inconvenience, disappointment, irritation, resentment, and exhaustion. Fortunately, "Last-Minute Travel Secrets" by Joey Green truly lives up to its subtitle: "121 Ingenious Tips to Endure Cramped Planes, Car Trouble, Awful Hotels, and Other Trips from Hell". Readers will discover how to correct uncomfortable accommodations using everyday household products such as: Uncorking a wine bottle with a sneaker; Protecting your car from bug splatters with cooking spray; Finding your car in a parking lot using a water bottle; Use a motel bathtub as a washing machine; Muffle the sound of crying babies using tampon earplugs; Purify and desalinate ocean water with a T-shirt; and so much more! "Last-Minute Travel Secrets" also includes interesting and strange travel sidebars and fascinating trivia to keep you entertained until your lost luggage arrives. Offering a wealth of practical tips, tricks and techniques for the traveler, "Last-Minute Travel Secrets" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Travel Guide collections. It should be noted that "Last-Minute Travel Secrets" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Women's Studies Shelf

Tongue of Fire
Donna M. Kowal
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438459738, $75.00, HC, 222pp, www.amazon.com

In "Tongue of Fire: Emma Goldman, Public Womanhood, and the Sex Question", Donna M. Kowal (Associate Professor of Communication Studies at The College at Brockport, State University of New York) informatively examines the speeches and writings of the Most Dangerous Woman in the World within the context of shifting gender roles in early twentieth-century America. As the notorious leader of the American anarchist movement, Emma Goldman captured newspaper headlines across the country as she urged audiences to reject authority and aspire for individual autonomy. A public woman in a time when to be public and a woman was a paradox, Goldman spoke and wrote openly about distinctly private matters, including sexuality, free love, and birth control. Recognizing women's bodies as a site of struggle for autonomy, she created a discursive space for women to engage in the public sphere and act as sexual agents. In turn, her ideas contributed to the rise of a feminist consciousness that recognized the personal as political and rejected dualistic notions of gender and sex. This impressively researched and exceptionally well written, organized and presented study is a very highly recommended addition to community and academic library Women's Studies and 20th Century American History collections. Students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the life and accomplishments of Emma Goldman should note that "Tongue of Fire" is also available in a Kindle edition ($71.25).


The Library Science Shelf

Forging the Future of Special Collections
Melissa A. Hubbard, Robert H. Jackson, Arnold Hirshon, eds.
Neal-Shuman Publishers
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838913864, $85.00, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Once treated as exclusive spaces for valuable but hidden and under-utilized material, over the past few decades library special collections departments have been transformed by increased digitization and educational outreach efforts into unique and highly visible major institutional assets. What libraries must now contemplate is how to continue this momentum by articulating and implementing a dynamic strategic vision for their special collections. Drawing on the expertise of a world-class array of librarians, university faculty, book dealers, collectors, and donors, "Forging the Future of Special Collections" is a collected volume of expert articles that survey the emerging requirements of today's knowledge ecosystem and charts a course for the future of special collections. Expanding upon the proceedings of the National Colloquium on Special Collections organized by the Kelvin Smith Library of Case Western Reserve University in October 2014, "Forging the Future of Special Collections" is a timely resource for special collections librarians, administrators, academics, and rare book dealers and collectors that: recounts the factors that governed the growth and use of special collections in the past; explores ways to build 21st-century special collections that are accessible globally, and how to provide the expertise and services necessary to support collection use; gives advice on developing and maintaining strong relationships between libraries and collectors, with special attention paid to the importance of donor relations; provides critical information on how libraries and their institutions' faculty can best collaborate to ensure students and other researchers are aware of the resources available to them; showcases proactive, forward-thinking approaches to applying digital scholarship techniques to special collections materials; looks at how the changes in the way authors work from analog to digital increases the importance of archives in preserving the aspects of humanity that elevate us; and examines sustainable and scalable approaches to promoting the use of special collections in the digital age, including the roles of social media and crowdsourcing to bring collections directly to the user. More than simply a guide to collection management, "Forging the Future of Special Collections" details myriad ways to forge the future of special collections, ensuring that these scholarly treasures advance knowledge for years to come. Simply stated, no private, community, governmental, corporate, college, or university library should be without it's own copy of "Forging the Future of Special Collections". No academic Library Science collection would be either adequate or complete without the inclusion of "Forging the Future of Special Collections".


The Philosophy Shelf

Batman, Superman, and Philosophy
Edited by Nicolas Michaud
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601
www.opencourtbooks.com
9780812699180 $19.95 amazon.com

Part of the excellent "Pop Culture and Philosophy" series, Batman, Superman, and Philosophy: Badass or Boyscout? is an anthology of edifying essays by learned authors about the philosophy inherent in the popular superhero comic book characters Batman and Superman. Both are bound by a personal code never to kill, yet each follows a very different style to pursue their vigilante goal. Essays question which superhero makes a better role model or inspiring myth; which is more moral or rational; and even question which could better fight terrorism. Enhanced with references and an index, Batman, Superman, and Philosophy scrutinizes these pop culture favorites with the rigorous logic, and the conclusions may surprise comic book fans, movie fans, and amateur philosophers alike!


The Business Shelf

Thirteeners
Daniel F. Prosser
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
www.thirteenersbook.com
9781626341593, $22.95, https://greenleafbookgroup.com

Deserving of ongoing mention as a powerful assessment of company business strategies is Thirteeners, a survey that explains why nearly ninety percent of modern businesses fail to execute their own business strategy successfully. Here the key is identified as being a problem in relationship developments, and Thirteeners shows companies how they can move from a focus on singular models to relational models simply by changing their value models and focus on competition and control. This alternative involves adopting behaviors that foster better collaborative processes and using revised behaviors to build strong relationships to cultivate better workplace engagements. Business leaders will find this a 'must' consideration of different options to overcome common barriers to success.

Successful Management in the Digital Age
John Harte
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412863247, $27.95, www.transactionpub.com

Successful Management in the Digital Age is recommended for business collections strong in management and organizational behaviors, and reviews the market approaches and trends that lead to business success in the modern world. The focus is on organizational changes designed to meet this changing environment, with chapters using many examples from real-world business to consider how customers are approached, gained, and how value is created by branding and marketing processes. From big changes in advertising approaches to the realities of changing environments, this is a top pick for any concerned with rearranging business structures to address changing environments.

The Trusted Executive
John Blakey
Kogan Page
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpageusa.com
9780749474225, $27.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

John Blakey is one of the UK's leading executive coaches and a member of the CEO coaching faculty at Manchester Business School, as well as Vistage International and the National Health Service. In "The Trusted Executive: Nine Leadership Habits that Inspire Results, Relationships and Reputation" Blakey draws upon his years of experience and expertise to help business and governmental leaders create a trust-building strategy for a globalized, technology-enabled, diverse, and increasingly skeptical world. Through innovative coaching exercises, personal anecdotes, inspirational CEOs and well-researched business models, "The Trusted Executive" provides the tools leaders need to create a strategy for building trust in themselves and their companies. Author John Blakey presents a three-pillared approach to trustworthy leadership based on ability, integrity, and benevolence, as well as explaining how to develop and measure organizational trust, handle trust violations, and manage a constantly changing work environment and diverse workforce. While very highly recommended for community, corporate, governmental, and academic library Business Management instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, professionals, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject, that "The Trusted Executive" is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.86).


The Gardening Shelf

Garden Design Bible
Tim Newbury
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600632443, $19.99, www.octopusbooks.co.uk

Garden Design Bible: Gardens to Adapt for Your Space provides asset of planting plans and forty projects that make use of them, using detailed diagrams and color illustrations throughout to cover key garden design features, paths, fences and edging choices, and the best plants to pick for different kinds of gardens. Filled with details on incorporating nature and different kinds of lighting into the overall garden plot, this is a 'must' for any gardener who would design a space from scratch.

The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects
Mat Pember & Dillon Seitchik-Reardon
Hardie Grant Books
c/o Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9781743790991, $34.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of Australian gardening experts Mat Pember and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon, "The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects: Easy Activities For Edible Gardening and Backyard Fun" is a fun and practical collection of outdoor DIY projects that will transform your backyard living space into the ultimate functioning vegetable garden. "The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects" includes thirty-eight hands-on, step-by-step activities that will help cultivate handiness and get the aspiring gardener out into the garden. It's easy and a whole lot of fun to get hands dirty building cubbyhouses, making dream planter boxes, and harvesting edible green walls made out of inexpensive or up-cycled materials. Individual chapters include projects for kids, vertical gardening, garden basics, using recycled materials, and more. There are projects for every skill level, ranging from the first-time novice gardener, to those who seriously know their way around a circular saw. A collection of recipes for what to do with the produce you've grown in the kitchen truly makes this the ultimate gardener's kitchen companion as well. The Little Veggie Patch Co. crew will inspire the green thumb in every reader. Profusely illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, organization and presentation, "The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects" will prove to be an outstanding and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library gardening instructional reference collections.


The Technology Shelf

An Introduction to 3D Printing
Victoria Zukas & Jonas A. Zukas
First Edition Design Publishing
c/o Computational Mechanics Associates
5903 Wakehurst Way, Baltimore, MD, 21239-0314
www.compmechanics.com
9781622878963, $29.95, PB, 132pp, www.amazon.com

3D printing refers to the various processes used to synthesize a three-dimensional object. In 3D printing successive layers of material are formed under computer control to create an object. These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source. Basically, a 3D printer is a type of industrial robot. The collaborative project of Victoria and Jonas Zukas, "An Introduction to 3D Printing " provides an overview of 3D print technology. It also serves to take the confusion out of the jargon and make sense out of common shortcuts. "An Introduction to 3D Printing" deftly describes the basic processes, the materials used, and the application of the technology in industry, space, medicine, housing, clothing and consumer-oriented products such as jewelry, video game figures, footwear, tools and what must now seem like an infinity of bunnies, eagles and busts of Star Wars and Star Trek figurines in a dazzling array of colors. Informed and informative, "An Introduction to 3D Printing" is enhanced throughout with black-and-white photography for a text that is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, content, organization, and presentation. While very highly recommended for corporate, community, college, and university library Science/Technology collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists that "An Introduction to 3D Printing" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.95).


The Gaming Shelf

The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-1987
Brett Weiss
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764346187 $34.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Featuring over 400 full-color photographs of vintage video game catridges, packaging, advertisements, and screenshots, The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-1987 lists the most memorable, original, and impactful video games of 1977 to 1987. This decade encompasses the inception of home video game consoles, the great video game crash of 1983 (a time when overproduction of poor quality games all but extinguished the market), and Nintendo's miraculous revival of the medium. Each video game is carefully selected with particular attention to how well it holds up today, as well as its contributions to the entertainment form's evolution. Author Brett Weiss discusses not only conversions of wildly popular arcade games (Joust, Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man) and treasured classics (Adventure, Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Yar's Revenge), but also lesser-known games that had phenomenal gameplay for their time (Antarctic Adventure, Moon Patrol) and games that broke new ground in genres available to console gamers (DragonStomper for the Atari 2600, one of the earliest console role-playing games, first released in 1982). Each spotlighted game has a handful of pages devoted to its history and influence, as well as a vivid description of its interactive gameplay. A bibliography and an index round out this "must-have" for classic video game players and collectors!


The Self-Help Shelf

Goal Mapping
Brian Mayne
Watkins Publishing
Angel Business Club
www.watkinspublishing.com
9780393064551, $19.95, PB, 244pp, www.amazon.com

Brian Mayne is an inspirational speaker, author and trainer, presenting on an international stage. His core message of self-improvement through the practice of personal Response-Ability and purpose led motivation have proven as effective and popular with the corporate world as with the many individuals who come to experience his public presentations. In "Goal Mapping: How to Turn Your Dreams into Realities" he presents his system as a tried, tested, proven and popular method for setting and achieving goals in any area of life, and in any endeavor. "Goal Mapping" aims to have an impact on both the left and the right sides of the brain, to create power. "Goal Mapping" uses imagery and the language of the subconscious, it combines words with pictures and symbols. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, content, organization and presentation, "Goal Mapping" is unreservedly recommended for personal self-help/self-improvement reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that "Goal Mapping" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).

Sacred Stress
George R. Faller & Heather Wright
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.skylightpaths.com
9781594736148, $16.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Stress can limit our perspective, leaving us feeling trapped and out of control. But stress can also be a force for good: It is our challenges that most compel us to reach out for relationship. And our proudest moments come after overcoming obstacles we thought were insurmountable. Based on personal experience and their work as therapists, and drawing on decades of psychological research, George R. Faller (Founder and President of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy and who teaches at the Ackerman Institute in Manhattan) and The Rev. Dr. Heather Wright (an ordained Presbyterian minister who is also a licensed professional counselor and executive director for a faith-based counseling center) have come to see that stress can be healthy and positive. In "Sacred Stress: A Radically Different Approach to Using Life's Challenges for Positive Change" they effectively collaborate to equip the reader with the skills and the knowledge needed to re-frame thinking about stress, understand and embrace our darker emotions, and become stronger through difficulty. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Sacred Stress" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Stress Management Studies and Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Sacred Stress" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Living in Blue Sky Mind
Richard Gentei Diedrichs
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, Ca 95023
www.msipress.com
9781942891161, $12.95, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com

We live with minds as open and spacious as the deep blue sky. "Living in Blue Sky Mind: Basic Buddhist Teachings for a Happy Life" by Richard Gentei Diedrichs (an ordained a Zen priest in 1984 by Genki Takabayashi Roshi and currently a Dharma teacher in the Children's Program at Daifukuji Zen Temple in Kona, Hawaii) presents basic Buddhist teachings that keep us on the wholesome path of self-realization toward a happy life. "Living in Blue Sky Mind" is a compilation of simple lessons, anecdotes of personal transformation, and reflective questions to guide us along Buddha's enlightened way. As with such examples as: "Buddha advised that we not speak with malice if we want to create connection and happiness around us."; "We learn that to be happy, we need to end our suffering and the suffering of those around us."; and "We are fortunate to have a way to be happy with what we have and with who we are." Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Living in Blue Sky Mind" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary and content. While very highly recommended for community, college, and university library Buddhist Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Living in Blue Sky Mind" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).

Eyes Wide Open
Will Johnson
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594770005, $12.95, PB, 98pp, www.amazon.com

In "Eyes Wide Open: Buddhist Instructions on Merging Body and Vision", Will Johnson (who is the founder and director of the Institute for Embodiment Training, which combines Western somatic psychotherapy with Eastern meditation practices) meditation practices are used to awaken the body and create a mind like a mirror, enabling us to literally see things as they are. "Eyes Wide Open" craws on the story of the seventh-century Chinese monk Shenxiu to create a meditation practice for profound relaxation, inclusion and connection to the world around us, and realization of our essential nature; explains how our attitudes, beliefs, and bodily tensions distort our perceptions and lead to our sense of separation from the world outside our bodies; and details techniques of vision, such as sky gazing, eye gazing, and mirror gazing, that lead to an ecstatic mindfulness. Through this new kind of seeing, divisions between our inner and outer world start to drop away. We can begin to experience an intimate connectivity to the world we look out onto. By cleansing the mirror of the mind, we can come out of the dreams of who we think we are and awaken into our true, essential nature. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, content, organization and presentation, "Eyes Wide Open" is strongly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Buddhist Studies collections in general, and meditation supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the Buddhist approach to meditation that "Eyes Wide Open" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.98).

The Manuals of Dhamma
Ven. Ledi Sayadaw
Pariyatti Publishing
867 Larmon Road, Onalaska, WA 98570
www.pariyatti.org
9781681720319, $19.95, PB, 392pp, www.amazon.com

Ledi Sayadaw was a leading Buddhist scholar of his day. Revered by his contemporaries and regarded as an authority by Western interpreters of Theravada texts, he made a break with the past and strove to make the entire record of the Buddha's teaching accessible to the general population, not only the Sangha. Now made available to an American readership, "The Manuals of Dhamma" is a collection of writings from an outstanding figure in the resurgence of the Buddha's teachings. "The Manuals of Dhamma" is a mixture of detailed analysis, vivid stories, and examples for meditators. Indeed, this English translation of Venerable Sayadaw's writings provides inspiring guidance and valuable information for the practice of Dhamma. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Manuals of Dhamma" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Buddhist Studies collections, as well as the personal reading lists for anyone with an interest in Buddhism.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

In His Image
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow
Maggid / The Toby Press
c/o Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
www.tobypress.com
9781592643714, $24.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

At a time when religion is distorted to crush, belittle, and negate Man, when personal responsibility is replaced by passive faith, and human endeavor is deemed unworthy, "In His Image" by Rabbi Yuval Cherlow seeks to reinstate one of the fundamental truths of Judaism: the creation of Man in the image of God. Rabbi Cherlow explores the significance of Man's divine image, and its far-reaching halakhic, ethical, psychological, and existential implications. Rather than demeaning, argues Rabbi Cherlow, Judaism is based on the profound glorification of Man, his strengths and freedoms, rights and responsibilities. "In His Image" is an exceptionally well organized and impressively presented manifesto of Jewish humanism, making it a very strongly recommended addition to synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental studies lists. For the personal reading lists it should be noted that "In His Image" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

When a Lie Is Not a Sin
Rabbi Dennis S. Ross
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com
9781580238588, $18.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

The difference between truth and falsehood is often clear and simple. But when life gets complicated, the Hebrew Bible can help. The Hebrew Bible is true and wants us to tell the truth, even as biblical characters behave in less than truthful ways. What's more, where some of the lies people tell in the Hebrew Bible stories are punished, others are ignored and still others are rewarded. The Hebrew Bible's mixed-message of "Do as I say, not as they do" shows that lies, little and big, whether told to protect or advance oneself or when intended to preserve the peace, often occur under involved circumstances and demand careful consideration. By viewing an array of situations in light of the Hebrew Bible ranging from the routine but delicate to the once-in-a-lifetime dilemma, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin: The Hebrew Bible's Framework for Deciding" by Rabbi Dennis S. Ross (serves at Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany, New York and directs Concerned Clergy for Choice at Family Planning Advocates of New York State) will make a difference in how observant Jews think and live. Offering a candid and informative look at religion and truthfulness, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" is ideal for all members of the Jewish community who are interested in exploring the religious basis for personal decision making, conscience and morality. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" is recommended reading for Jews of all denominations for personal study or as a textbook in Torah study groups. Indeed, "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" will prove to be a thoughtful and thought-provoking read for Christians and social justice activists as well. While commended as an addition to synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "When a Lie Is Not a Sin" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Touch of the Sacred
F. Gerritt Immink
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802869159, $30.00, www.eerdmans.com

The Touch of the Sacred: The Practice, Theology, and Tradition of Christian Worship provides theological reflections on worship's roots in religious practice, exploring the methods and meaning of what process as it pertains to sacraments, prayer, and the figure and purpose of Jesus Christ. Christian theologians and those who would receive a blend of Biblical text and theological analysis will appreciate a book that is packed with analytical insights and much food for thought on the process of Christian worship and its teachings. The most likely reader of this in-depth survey will be preachers and teachers of Christian processes who will find F. Gerritt Immink detailed explanations to be thought-provoking and involving.

Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians
Mark A. Tietjen
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
www.ivpress.com
9780830840977, $20.00, PB, 173pp, www.amazon.com

S ren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) had a mission. The church had become weak, flabby and inconsequential. Being a Christian was more a cultural heritage than a spiritual reality. His chosen mission became to reintroduce the Christian faith to Christians. How could he break through to people who were members of the church and thought they were Christians already? Like an Old Testament prophet, Kierkegaard used a variety of pointed and dramatic ways to shake people from their slumber. He incisively diagnosed the spiritual ailments of his age and offered a fresh take on classic Christian teaching. In "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians", Mark Tietjen (Chaplain and Grace Palmer Johnston Chair of Bible at The Stony Brook School in Stony Brook, New York) thinks that Kierkegaard's critique of his contemporaries strikes close to home today. All members of the Christian community today need to listen to one of the most insightful yet complex Christian thinkers of any era. Through an examination of core Christian doctrines including the person of Jesus Christ, human nature, Christian witness and love, Tietjen's "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians" helps us hear Kierkegaard's missionary message to a church that often fails to follow Christ in our lives. Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Almighty Matters
Nicholas Berry
Resource Publications, Inc.
c/o Wipf and Stock Publishers
199 West 8th Avenue, Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401-2960
http://wipfandstock.com
9781498234238, $34.00, HC, 154pp, www.amazon.com

"Almighty Matters: God's Politics in the Bible" by Nicholas Berry (Professor of Politics Emeritus at Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania) explores the underlying politics of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles by uncovering their political-theological connection in a single story line. The politics of the New Testament completes the politics of the Old. Although it has long been recognized that the Hebrew Bible prominently portrays the political development of God's Chosen People, the role of Jesus as a politician, the founder of a movement aimed from its beginning at subverting and capturing the Roman Empire, has not been recognized. Putting the Hebrew and Christian Bibles' political approach foremost shows why so much of it is hidden and why, until recently, Jewish-Christian relations have been contrary to God's design. A model of theological scholarship that is fully accessible for non-specialist general readers, "Almighty Matters" is as informative and thought-provoking as it is impressively well organized and presented. While very highly recommended for church, seminary, community, and academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Almighty Matters" is also available in a paperback edition (9781498234214, $21.00) and in a Kindle format ($9.99).

The God Who Saves
Glenn Pemberton
Leafwood Publishers
c/o Abilene Christian University Press
Box 29138, Abilene, TX 79699
www.acupressbooks.com
9780891124825, $44.99, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com

"The God Who Saves" by Glenn Pemberton (who teaches Old Testament at Abilene Christian University, including a popular undergraduate course on Israel's wisdom and devotional literature, and who has been a preacher among Christian churches for over twenty years.) is a textbook that dives into the Old Testament from the perspective of ancient Israel. With captivating and rich in content, enhanced by maps, tables, biblical reading assignments, discussion topics, and further research prompts, the conversation within "The God Who Saves" is deepened in is ability to reach both academic and spiritual concepts. Indeed, "The God Who Saves" also provides supporting materials available to instructors, such as multiple quiz and exam questions, course syllabi and schedules, and more. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, commentary, organization and presentation, "The God Who Saves" is an ideal text for Biblical Studies, Old Testament, and Hebrew Bible classes and individual studies reading lists for biblical students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.

The Book of Matthew
Thomas Moore
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.skylightpaths.com
9781594736209, $19.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

In his fresh and life-giving translation of the Gospels with sparkling commentary, spiritual innovator Thomas Moore strips the Gospels of their theological agendas and reclaims them as a fundamentally new way of imagining human life. He blends scholarship and pastoral guidance to highlight the Gospels' teachings on earthly, rather than other worldly, living in which community, compassion, inclusiveness, prayer and healing are key elements. Enhanced with the inclusion of an Introduction to Gospel, an Introduction to the Book of Matthew, two pages of Notes, a one page listing of Suggestions for Further Reading, "The Book of Matthew" is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring. While very highly recommended for church, community, seminary, and academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Book of Matthew" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Praying Together
Sam Ingrassia & Vicki Ingrassia
New Hope Publishers
PO Box 830711, Birmingham, AL 35283-0711
www.newhopepublishers.com
9781596694736, $14.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Praying together as a Christian couple is important. Praying together offers an array of benefits including better relationship, more respect, more intimacy, deeper love for your spouse, better communication, an enhanced spirituality, and more. "Praying Together: A Simple Path to Spiritual intimacy for Couples" by Sam and Vicki Ingrassia offers a guilt-free understanding of the hidden reasons we as couples aren't going to the Lord in prayer as a team. Birthed from their own shortcomings and transformed marriage, Sam and Vickie share a model for prayer within the marriage relationship that is compelling, simple, biblical, and powerfully transforming. While each chapter closes with sample Scripture and prayer for husbands and wives to use together, "Praying Together" equips couples to pray with one another. While very highly recommended for church, seminary, and community library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of all Christian couples regardless of their denominational affiliation that "Praying Together" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).

Words for Our Lives
Matthew the Poor
Ancient Faith Publishing
PO Box 748, Chesterton, IN 46304-0748
http://store.ancientfaith.com
9781936270514, $16.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Father Matta El Meskeen or Matthew the Poor (20 September 1919 - 8 June 2006) was an Egyptian Coptic Orthodox monk. He was the key figure in the revival of Egyptian monasticism which began in 1969 when he was appointed to the Monastery of St Macarius in the Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. By the time of his death the community had grown from 6 aged monks to 130 monks, and many other monasteries had revived, and new ones opened. He was twice nominated to become Coptic Pope, but was not chosen in either case. Abba Matta was also a theologian, and author of 181 books and hundreds of journal articles on Biblical exegesis, Ecclesiastical rites, spiritual and theological matters, and much more. "Words for Our Lives: The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor" constitutes the first appearance in English of a selection of the informal talks Abba Matta gave to his fellow monks and to visitors. In simple, accessible language, he addresses subjects ranging from Scripture to the church year to everyday life in the world. To read these talks is to sit at the feet of one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our age. "Words for Our Lives" is as inspired as it is inspiring, making it very highly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation in general, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Coptic Christianity in particular. It should be noted that "Words for Our Lives" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Living the Mass
Christopher Lucas, OCSO
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612616841, $15.99, PB, 124pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "Living the Mass: A Deeper Look at the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist" by Trappist monk Christopher Lucas we encounter the Holy Eucharist as paschal mystery, the "Source and Summit of the Christian Life." We encounter God's love for us through what God has done and is doing for us in the Eucharist. "Living the Mass" presents the paschal mystery defined in a Trinitarian mode as the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. "Living the Mass" also presents new theology on the paschal mystery based primarily on the abandonment text of Matthew 27:46. God gives God's self to us in love through the Mass as the ongoing work of redemption, and we imitate that love in response by living the Mass in everyday life by professing Christ, growing in virtue, overcoming sinful tendencies, increasing in knowledge of God, and exercising faith, hope, and love. Inspired and inspiring, "Living the Mass" is unreservedly recommended to the attention of clergy and the general church community.

The God Who Heals
Johann Christoph Blumhardt & Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
Plough Publishing House
PO Box 398, Walden, NY 12586
www.plough.com
9780874867473, $18.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled by Johann and Christoph Blumhardt, "The God Who Heals: Words of Hope for a Time of Sickness" is comprised of sixty short daily reflections, each one being based on a verse from the Bible, that will guide a Christian who is facing serious sickness to a rock-solid faith and trust in the will of God. With confidence in the healing power of God and the possibility of miracles, the Blumhardts, (a father-son team of pastors renowned for their healing ministry), point us away from our troubles and toward a Creator who is supremely wise and good and wants the best for each of us. In a world where medical advances seem to promise a cure for everything, it's tempting to believe that we can live free of pain. But we know that even the best medicine cannot extend life forever or solve the riddles of physical and emotional illness. How, then, to respond to the inevitability of suffering? And how to help those who live in fear of disease to conquer their daily worry about their diagnosis? Turn for comfort and hope drawn from the Word of God in the meditative reflections that are presented in "The God Who Heals". While very highly recommended for church and community library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all Christians, regardless of their denominational affiliation, that "The God Who Heals" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

A Harvey Cox Reader
Robert Ellsberg, editor
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
www.orbisbooks.com
9781626981706, $30.00, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com

Harvey Cox is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Church who retired in 2009 as the Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. One of the most creative American theologians of the past fifty years, he is best known as the author of "The Secular City", aptly considered to be a true classic in religious studies. Compiled and edited by Robert Ellsberg (Publisher of Orbis Books and General Editor of the Modern Spiritual Masters Series), "A Harvey Cox Reader" is comprised of selections drawn from his entire career, showing surprising lines of continuity, while offering an exciting example of the dialogue between faith and an ever-evolving culture, and ending with a challenging essay, "Why I Am Still a Christian". Thoughtful and thought-provoking, these contributions by Harvey Cox are insightful, inspiring, and consistently compelling. While very highly recommended for church, community, and academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy and non-specialist general readers throughout the Christian community that "A Harvey Cox Reader" is also available in a Kindle edition ($22.87).

Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach
Thomas P. Rausch
Michael Glazier
c/o The Liturgical Press
2950 Saint John's Road, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814683200, $24.95, PB, 322pp, www.amazon.com

Systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs. Subdisciplines of systematic theology are dogmatics, ethics and philosophy of religion. Systematic theology seeks to understand and render more intelligible the central doctrines of faith and to show how they are related to each other. It tries to demonstrate how these doctrines are rooted in Scripture and develop in the history of the church; most important, it strives to more adequately express and sometimes reinterpret the church's doctrinal tradition, always in the interest of better communicating the mystery of salvation and bringing it into a dialogue with culture. "Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach" by Thomas P. Rausch, SJ, (T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and a specialist in ecclesiology) is intended to be concise and accessible, an introduction that explores basic themes in Catholic systematic theology from a biblical, historical, and contemporary perspective, always aware of today's theological pluralism. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, descriptively explanatory and instructively illuminating, "Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach" is very highly recommended for clergy, seminary, and academic library Christian Studies collections.

Ancient Faith for the Modern World
Brian Schmisek
ACTA Publications
4848 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
www.actapublications.com
9780879465711, $14.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com

Impressively well-researched, engaging, and accessible, "Ancient Faith for the Modern World: A Brief Introduction to the Apostles' Creed, by Brian Schmisek (Director of the Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University - Chicago) carefully and succinctly explains each of the Roman Catholic church's twelve "articles" of the Apostles' Creed, and in doing so deftly explores their meaning for a twenty-first century Christian faith. Included at the end of each chapter is a "bottom line" summary of that article of the creed and questions for discussion on how the belief can impact our daily life. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in commentary, organization and presentation, "Ancient Faith for the Modern World" is very highly recommended for Catholic school, seminary, church, and academic library Christian Studies collections, as well as the personal reading lists for all members of the Catholic community.

Move Toward the Mess
John Hambrick
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.cookministries.com
9780781413374, $16.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Some pastors preach boring sermons. Some church music is dull. But here's the thing: If Jesus had been boring, the disciples wouldn't have followed him and the Pharisees wouldn't have killed him. So if as a member of the Christian community, and especially if you are the pastor of a church, and you find yourself bored, don't waste another minute. If your church service feels like a failed pep rally that never leads to the actual game, then it's time for you to follow Jesus onto the field where the opposition is real and the stakes are extraordinary. It will get messy. It won't always be comfortable. But you'll make a difference. And to help you accomplish that transformation is the purpose and reason that John Hambrick (who is part of the leadership team at Buckhead Church, which is the urban campus of North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Georgia) has written and presents "Move Toward the Mess: The Ultimate Fix for a Boring Christian Life". Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Move Toward the Mess" an invaluable contribution to Christian Studies collections, as a consistently engaging read that is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Move Toward the Mess" is also readily available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Called to Community
Charles E. Moore, editor
Plough Publishing House
PO Box 198, Walden, NY 12386
www.plough.com
9780874867435, $18.00, PB, 378pp, www.amazon.com

Why, in an age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God's people. Increasingly, today's Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ's call to share their lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of God. Of course, such a life together with others isn't easy. The numerous contributions comprising "Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People" are, by and large, written by practitioners of Christianity, that is, people who have pioneered life in intentional community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long haul. Whether you have just begun thinking about communal living, are already embarking on sharing life with others, or have been part of a community for many years, the pieces "Called to Community" will encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. Organized into fifty-two chapters, each of which can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion, "Called to Community" is an extraordinary and welcome addition to personal reading lists, as well as church, seminary, community, and academic library Christian Studies collections. It should be noted that "Called to Community" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).


The Biography Shelf

With My Eyes Wide Open
Brian 'Head' Welch
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780718030605,$24.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

A life-changing spiritual awakening freed Brian "Head" Welch from a stranglehold of drugs and alcohol and prompted him to leave the highly successful nu-metal band KoRn in 2005. What followed was a decade-long trial by fire, from the perils of fathering a teen lost in depression and self-mutilation to the harsh realities of playing solo and surviving the shattering betrayal of a trusted friend. In this intensely inspiring redemption saga, perhaps most inspiring is Brian's radical decision to rejoin KoRn and reconcile with the tribe of people he once considered family in the metal music scene. Brian returned to his musical roots with a clear head and a devoted heart. Though his story is wild, hilarious, and deeply poignant, the message is simple: God will love you into the freedom of being yourself, as long as you keep the relationship going and never, ever quit. "With My Eyes Wide Open" is a deeply engaging and candid personal story that is a consistently compelling read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for community library Contemporary American Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "With My Eyes Wide Open" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99) and in an MP3 CD format (Brilliance Audio, 9781511369824, $19.99).

Fitting In
Colin Thompson
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781785920462, $25.00, HC, 232pp, www.amazon.com

Take one small boy; add manic depression, three wives, three daughters, two divorces, amazing creative talent, and Asperger's syndrome and you have the memoir of Colin Thompson who invites the reader to explore his almost-unbelievable life from past to present -- though not necessarily in that order. Filled with family photographs and mesmerizing illustrations personally drawn by the Colin, readers will step inside the life and mind of a truly extraordinary man who has lived a truly extraordinary life. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "Fitting In" is an exceptional memoir that is very highly recommended for community and academic library American Biography collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Fitting In" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).

Flying Uncle's Junk
Don Bloch
North Star Press of St. Cloud
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0451
www.northstarpress.com
9781682010297, $16.95, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com

Don Bloch spent more than twenty years with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, where he made undercover buys of heroin, cocaine, and other drugs on the streets of Minneapolis. As a DEA pilot, he flew undercover and surveillance missions in many cities across the United States. He also flew in the Mexican mountains of Sinaloa hunting opium poppy fields, and in the jungles of South America hunting cocaine laboratories. "Flying Uncle's Junk" is the detailed and riveting story of his experiences and adventures in America's drug wars. An inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "Flying Uncle's Junk" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary American Biography collections. Also very highly recommended is Don Bloch's first biographical memoir, "A Shadow at the Gate" (9780878397853, $16.95, PB, 320pp).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Patchwork Quilted Bags
Reiko Washizawa
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804846660, $16.95, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com

Prolific quilter Reiko Washizawa has written on all forms of quilting, from full-sized star quilts to small quilted goods for babies. She specializes in welcoming the beginner to the world of quilting, and in bringing a contemporary twist to traditional designs. In "Patchwork Quilted Bags: Totes, Purses and Accessories", she shows even the most novice of quilters how to create unique bags that put a little charm into carrying stuff around or storing the things that are not needed every day. "Patchwork Quilted Bags" is comprised of full-sized quilting patterns and step-by-step instructions for 19 different projects, along with techniques for assembling the perfect patch, make it ideal for novice and practiced crafters alike. The Projects range in size from large totes to small pouches in a zakka vein, as well as: A bird-themed travel bag; An elegant lace-rimmed bucket bag; A colorful clasp purse; A round bag/basket; A fold-away eco bag; A baby bag with bottle "cozy"; Adorable animal-themed totes; A Union-Jack themed pouch; and more! "Patchwork Quilted Bags" is a colorful and user-friendly quilting book shows lots of creative ways to use every type of patch from squares to yo-yos, and every type of print from florals to newsprint. Of special note are the pages showcasing different patchwork quilts add inspiration for mixing traditional and contemporary patterns. Simply stated, "Patchwork Quilted Bags" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Needlecraft and Quilting instructional guide collections.

Pieced Hexies Deux
Mickey Depre
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604602791, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com

Pieced Hexies Deux: 10 New Designs to Rock Your Quilts continues Depre's hexie focus in a second book which profiles five symmetrical designs, six asymmetricals, and six hexie stars, including directions for English Paper Piecing and basting. Instructions include materials needed for different sizes and paper preparation, cutting, assembly and fabric preparation, while a wealth of color photos of both different steps and finished products make for a production that makes the hexie design easy to understand. Quilters and needleworkers will find this an excellent and inspirational survey.

Martingale
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.ShopMartingale.com

Angela Walters and Christa Watson's The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting: Long-Arm and Sit-Down (9781604687279, $29.99) teaches how to finish a quilt using both special and traditional sewing machines, and comes from a long-arm-quilting expert and a home-sewing-machine specialist who offer machine quilters a range of tips. More than just an instructional on using machines, this guide covers the basics of what kinds of quilting projects and stitching lends to particular machines, how to incorporate a variety of tips into a quilting effort, and how to machine quilt with better, more polished results. Moda All-Stars' Scraps Made Simple (9781604687590, $26.99) comes from fifteen top Moda fabric designers who show how to make the most of precut scrap collections. From different sizes of precuts to different approaches to patterns, these Moda designers show how to make the most of a stash or shopping expedition and pair clear materials lists and cutting instructions with full-page color photos of each completed quilt. Karen M. Burns compiles Sew Many Gifts: 19 Handmade Delights to Give or Keep (9781604687446, $24.99), featuring a range of easy, quick projects that lend to professional, polished-looking results and gift-giving. From bags and aprons to table runners and baby blankets, patterns, step-by-step instructions, and color photos throughout make for an appealing production even novices will find attractive and inspirational.


The Poetry Shelf

Barrier Island Suite
Kendall Dunkelberg
Texas Review Press
c/o Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781680030655, $8.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com

The poems by Kendall Dunkelberg that comprise "Barrier Island Suite" are inspired by the life, art, and writings of Walter Inglis Anderson, who spent much of his adult life exploring the barrier islands of Mississippi, sketching and painting their flora and fauna, and chronicling his adventures in numerous logs. The islands form a liminal space between the land and sea, between nature and culture, between madness and conformity. Elements of the Anderson's life, including his travels, his struggles with mental illness, and his murals at Oldfields, the Ocean Springs Public School and Community Center, and the cottage at Shearwater Pottery are also incorporated. A deftly crafted and consistently compelling body of work, the kind of verse that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "Barrier Island Suite" is very highly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Barrier Island Suite" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.95).


The Money/Finance Shelf

Plan Your Estate, 13th edition
Denis Clifford
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413322859, $44.99, PB, 544pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded thirteenth edition, "Plan Your Estate" continues to be a definitive and reliably informative reference for anyone wanting to create a will, a trust, avoid probate, create a living well or a power of attorney, and minimize estate and gift taxes on a state and/or federal level. "Plan Your Estate" also covers the naming of guardians for children, leaving property to children, strategies for business owners, leaving property to charity, and a great deal more. "Plan Your Estate" also comes with a website at www.nolo.com that features hundreds of articles and FAQs on estate planning, useful legal forms, and in-depth profiles of estate planning lawyers for any given area of the country. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Plan Your Estate" is an absolutely vital reference and resource that should be a part of every personal, professional, community, and academic library Money/Finance instructional reference collection. It should be noted that "Plan Your Estate: 13th Edition" is also available in a Kindle format ($25.74).


The Crafts Shelf

Weave Leno
Martha Reeves
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764351013, $24.99, HC, 64pp, www.amazon.com

Martha Reeves is a master weaver specializing in bead leno who has conducted extensive research and testing to develop ways of expanding leno weaving techniques. A recipient of the Handweaver's Guild of America Certificate of ExcellenceLevel II: Master, Reeves lectures widely and offers leno workshops. In "Weave Leno: In-Depth Instructions for All Levels, with 7 Projects", Martha presented step-by-step and illustrated instructions on how to master and enjoy the lace-like, intricate, often mysterious-seeming leno weave. A comprehensive guide specifically designed for both new weavers and advanced-level weavers alike, "Weave Leno" combines historical information about leno with the best practical instructions and "secret" tips resulting from Martha's years of research and sampling. Leno weaves, also called gauze weaves, are very sheer, yet at the same time very durable because they are made with four warp threads that are twisted around each other. Colorful photos of leno fabrics and the 'user friendly' instructions, along with seven beautiful projects, will help weavers learn bead leno and many other techniques and structures like leno pick-up and Tarascan lace. Very highly recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft Studies collections, "Weave Leno" is a one-of-a-kind resource for anyone who wants to learn to create this versatile weaving structure or further refine their leno skills.


The Agriculture Shelf

Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests
Robert M. Harveson, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890545072, $139.00, PB, 140pp, www.amazon.com

Profusely illustrated with just under 300 color images throughout, this APS Press edition of "Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests" is practical, comprehensive, exceptionally well written, organized and presented guide to the diagnosis and management of sunflower diseases and pests covering: Usage, breeding, and production; Diagnose and treat diseases, insect pests, and common disorders; plus expert management recommendations. Enhanced with the inclusion of a two page Appendix; a ten page Glossary; and a seven page Index, "Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests" is a core and invaluable addition to professional, community, college, university, and governmental library Agricultural instructional reference collections in general, and the supplemental studies reading lists for the commercial and non-commercial growing of sunflowers in particular.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Totem Animals Plain & Simple
Celia M. Gunn
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781571747488 $14.95 pbk / $9.49 Kindle amazon.com

Totem Animals Plain & Simple is a reader-friendly guide to understanding more than 60 totem or "spirit guide" animals. After a general introduction to the concept of totem animals, there is an alphabetical listing of more than 60 totem animals, and what each one symbolizes. A handful of stylized black-and-white illustrations enriches this insightful reference and resource. Totem Animals, Plain & Simple is highly recommended, especially for metaphysical studies collections and personal reading lists.


The Computer Shelf

Microsoft Access 2016 Programming Pocket Primer
Julitta Korol
Mercury Learning
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781942270812, $29.95, www.merclearning.com

Microsoft Access 2016 Programming Pocket Primer comes with a cd-rom that contains all of the project files mentioned in this book plus all images from the text, and is arranged in such a way that busy professions who need to apply Access programming basics in a short period of time receive all they need to get up to speed fast. From the basics of Access and how to work with or customize its various functions to common tasks and basic start-up knowledge, those with some programming background who are unfamiliar with Access will find the jump-start attention specific and useful, packed with all the code and examples needed.


The Sports Shelf

Strong & Sculpted
Brad Schoenfield
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781492514565, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com

Strong & Sculpted: The Total-Body Training Program for Shaping Your Ultimate Physique provides a science-based program that pairs goal-oriented science with training programs designed to produce a sculpted figure, and offers a four-phase program that can be customized to suit any level of reader at any point in their training program. Users are encouraged to build a foundation of routines for muscle development, then move beyond them to more targeted shaping purposes. They are also encouraged to create variations on these recommendations, customize workouts, and adopt new exercises as goals and physique changes. Color photos and step-by-step anatomical drawings accompany the recommendations and any exerciser will find them precise and easy to follow.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Where DID They Film That? Italy
Romina Arena
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781610351829, $18.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com

Where DID They Film That? Italy: Famous Film Scenes and Their Italian Locations could have been featured in our Travel Books section, but is reviewed here because any with a special interest in Italian film production or settings will find it enlightening and specific. Those who plan on travel to Italy who have this in mind will also delight in the blend of cultural insights, discussions of famous film locations, cuisine, and shooting choices to be specific and well-blended with color photos throughout and the practicalities of travel in Italy. The resulting blend of travelogue for destination-oriented readers and insights on Italian film settings will delight those who want a special and different view of Italy's scenes.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide 2016-17
Judith Miller & Mark Hill
Miller's Guides
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781784721398, $27.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

Miller's Collectibles Handbook & Price Guide 2016-17 packs almost 4,000 items into this latest price guide, revising all prices in its 24th year and including sections on character collectibles, films, pens, music boxes, posters, toys, and jewelry. More than just a listing of collectibles and prices, this latest edition includes special sections that discuss trends, pricing details, and what to look for when appraising collectibles. The result is a 'must' for any who regularly collect across a range of pieces and who look for the latest values and influences on collectible prices.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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