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Library Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 4 April 2014 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Business Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Music Shelf Political Science Shelf
Biography Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Mathematics Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Autism Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Art Shelf Folktale/Fairytale Shelf
Mythology Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Education Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Humor Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Getting Older Better
Pamela Blair
Hampton Roads
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
665 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781571747037, $18.95, www.amazon.com

"Getting Older Better: The Best Advice Ever on Money, Health, Creativity, Sex, Work, Retirement, and More" by holistic psychotherapist, spiritual counselor, and personal coach Pamela Blair is a 272 page guide comprised of practical advice in essay formats for women in the 'Boomer' generation covering more than one hundred topics and issues ranging from health, sexual libido, memory, and friendship, to dealing with the death of parents, the onset of widowhood, parenting adult children, and retirement. Informed and informative, "Getting Older Better: The Best Advice Ever on Money, Health, Creativity, Sex, Work, Retirement, and More" features practical and motivational ideas, suggestions, guidance for keeping a daily journal, and inspirational quotations from women on and about women's issues. Very highly recommended reading, it should be noted that "Getting Older Better: The Best Advice Ever on Money, Health, Creativity, Sex, Work, Retirement, and More" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Business Shelf

The Handbook Of International Trade And Finance, third edition
Anders Grath
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpageusa.com
9780749469542, $80.00, www.amazon.com

More and more American businesses and entrepreneurial enterprises are seeking to profit in international markets. Now in a thoroughly updated and revised third edition, financier Anders Grath draws upon his more than twenty years of experience and expertise in international trade within several major European financial institutions to expertly author "The Handbook of International Trade and Finance: The Complete Guide for International Sales, Finance, Shipping and Administration", a 240 page instruction guide specifically designed for those new to the field. Informed and informative, ""The Handbook of International Trade and Finance" covers a number of topics ranging from trade risks and risk assessment; export credit insurance: methods of payment; to trade and project finance alternatives; bonds, guarantees and standby letters of credit; structured terms of payment; currency exposure and risk management. Enhanced with a glossary of terms and abbreviations, as well as a comprehensive index, ""The Handbook of International Trade and Finance" is strongly recommended for professional, corporate, community, and academic library International Business reference collections. It should be noted that "The Handbook of International Trade and Finance: The Complete Guide for International Sales, Finance, Shipping and Administration" is also available in a Kindle edition ($55.99).


The American History Shelf

Henry Clay And The War Of 1812
Quentin Scott King
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786478750, $49.95, www.amazon.com

Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 - June 29, 1852) was an American lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. He served three different terms as Speaker of the House of Representatives and was also Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829. He lost his campaigns for president in 1824, 1832 and 1844. The War of 1812 was a 32-month military conflict between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, its North American colonies and its Indian allies. The outcome resolved many issues which remained from the American War of Independence, but involved no boundary changes. Clay was a dominant figure in both the First and Second Party systems. As a leading war hawk in 1812, he favored war with Britain and played a significant role in leading the nation to war in the War of 1812. "Henry Clay and the War of 1812" by Quentin Scott King is a 468 page history providing a detailed and documented biographical history of Henry clay's 46 year political career and involvement with preparing the presidential administration of James Madison for conflict with England. Enhanced with an appendix (The Treaty of Ghent, 1814); substantial chapter notes, a lengthy bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Henry Clay and the War of 1812" is very highly recommended for school and community library American History collections. It should be noted that "Henry Clay and the War of 1812" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.49).


The World History Shelf

Caesar's Blood
Rose Williams
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road
Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865168169 $15.00 www.bolchazy.com

Caesar's Blood: Greek Tragedy in Roman Life is a historical chronicle of the Caesar family, rulers of ancient Rome. Though Caesar's Blood reads as fluidly as a novel, it is a work of pure nonfiction, drawing upon the writings of ancient historians including Sallust, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Suetonius, and more. The result is a fascinating saga of power politics, murder, betrayal, rulership, instability, violence, statesmanship, and empire. Caesar's Blood is an extraordinary and thoroughly accessible saga of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and a turbulent era of the Roman Empire, highly recommended especially for world history collections.

Fizz: How Soda Shook Up the World
Tristan Donovan
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60610
9781613747223 $17.95 www.chicagoreviewpress.com

Fizz: How Soda Shook Up the World is an accessible yet in-depth history of soda pop, from its invention to its modern-day ubiquity. An extraordinary tour that focuses on eyebrow-raising historic moments, from snake oil salesmen who founded the best-known soda brands to how carbonated soft drinks flourished during Prohibition, aided Presidential candidates in their electoral battles, even influenced written laws. An inset collection of photographic plates, a bibliography, and an index round out this deliciously addictive glimpse into pop culture history, highly recommended for curious lay readers as well as for public and college library collections.

Robert Thornton And His Books
Susanna Fein & Michael Johnston, editors
York Medieval Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781903153512, $99.00, www.amazon.com

Robert Thornton (1418-1456) was a Yorkshire landowner, a member of the landed gentry. His efforts as an amateur scribe and manuscript compiler resulted in the preservation of many valuable works of Middle English literature, and have given him an important place in its history. Thornton's name is associated with two 15th-century manuscripts now held in different collections; Lincoln, Cathedral Library MS 91, the "Lincoln Thornton" manuscript, and British Library MS Additional 31042, the "London Thornton" manuscript. As many libraries of manuscripts were lost during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Thornton's private anthology became an extremely rare survival. Collaboratively compiled and edited by the academic team of Susanna Fein (Kent State University) and Michael Johnston (Purdue University), "Robert Thornton And His Books" is a 325 page compendium comprised of eight descriptively analytical papers by scholars expert in the life and work of Robert Thornton. Enhanced with illustrations; an informative Introduction and an informed Afterword; an extensive Bibliography; and Index of Manuscripts Cited; and a General Index, making "Robert Thornton And His Books" a seminal and very highly recommended addition to academic library British History reference collections and Robert Thornton Studies supplemental reading lists.


The Music Shelf

Music In Video Games: Studying Play
K. J. Donnelly, William Gibbons, Neil Lerner
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8, New York, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9780415634441, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Music has been an integral part of video games from their crudest beginnings to the sophisticated productions of today. The collaborative work of K. J. Donnelly (Reader in Film, University of Southampton, England), William Gibbons (Assistant Professor of Musicology, Texas Christian University), and Neil Lerner (Professor of Music, Davidson College), "Music In Video Games: Studying Play" is a 246 page compendium comprised of eleven outstanding academic essays addressing a wide variety of issues and history of the role music (often specific composers and compositions) have played in particular video game projects. Of special note is 'From Parsifal to the PlayStation Wagner and Video' by Tim Summers. The newest addition to the outstanding Routledge Music and Screen Media series, "Music In Video Games: Studying Play" is informed, informative, and will prove to be a welcome and popular addition to professional and academic library reference collections.


The Political Science Shelf

Good Government
Soren Holmberg & Bo Rothstein, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781781954126, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled, edited, and featuring an informative Introduction by Swedish academicians Soren Homberg (Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Gothenburg) and Bo Rothsetin (August Rohss Chair in Political Science, University of Gothenburg), "Good Government: The Relevance of Political Science" is a 368 page compendium comprised of fifteen erudite and informative papers focusing on different descriptively analytical aspects of what is meant by 'Good Government' and deftly organized into three major sections: What It Is; How To Get It; What You Get. Of special note is Lena Wangnerud's paper 'Why women are less corrupt than men'. Taken as a whole, "Good Government: The Relevance of Political Science" is a seminal work of outstanding scholarship and an invaluable, seminal contribution that is especially appropriate for academic library Political Science. It should be noted that "Good Government: The Relevance of Political Science" is also available in a hardcover edition (9780857934925, $150.00).

The Campaign Manager
Catherine Shaw
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com
9780813348636, $39.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded fifth addition, "The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections" by Catherine Shaw continues to be an essential and 'user friendly' how-to manual offering a wealth of practical advice, commentary, tips, and instructions for creating and running successful political campaigns whether they are on the local, state, and federal level. In "The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections", draws upon her more than two decades of campaign management experience and expertise to provide novice campaigner with a critically important guide to organization and running every aspect from candidate selection, to financing, staffing, to publicizing and promoting, to getting out the vote, and more! Simply stated, "The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections" is the 'bible' of political campaign management and should be a core part of every community and academic library Political Science collection in the country.


The Biography Shelf

Playing Before The Lord
Calvin R. Stapert
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802868527, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Franz Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 - 31 May 1809), was an Austrian composer and one of the most prolific and prominent of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms. He was also instrumental in the development of the piano trio and in the evolution of sonata form. A lifelong resident of Austria, Haydn spent much of his career as a court musician for the wealthy Esterhazy family on their remote estate. Isolated from other composers and trends in music until the later part of his long life, he was, as he put it, "forced to become original". At the time of his death, he was one of the most celebrated composers in Europe. "Playing Before the Lord: The Life and Work of Joseph Haydn" by Calvin R. Stapert (Professor Emeritus of Music, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a 304 page historical overview and study of the personal life and professional achievements of one of the great European musicians. A work of meticulous scholarship, yet highly accessible to the non-specialist general reader, "Playing Before the Lord: The Life and Work of Joseph Haydn" is strongly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Music History and Biography reference collections.

Crescent Moon over Carolina
C. L. Bragg
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
www.sc.edu/uscpress
9781611172690, $29.95, www.amazon.com

William Moultrie (November 23, 1730 - September 27, 1805) was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He fought in the Anglo-Cherokee War (1761) and served in the colonial assembly before the advent of the American Revolution. In 1775 he was commissioned colonel of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. In December of that year he led a raid on an encampment of runaway slaves on Sullivan's Island, killing 50 and capturing the rest. In 1776 his defense of a small fort on Sullivan's Island (later named Fort Moultrie in his honor) prevented Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker from taking Charleston, South Carolina. The Continental Congress passed a resolution thanking Moultrie. He was promoted to brigadier general and his regiment was taken into the Continental Army. Moultrie's skill failed to prevent the fall of Savannah, Georgia to the British in 1778. He was captured in the fall of Charleston to the British in 1780 and later exchanged. He was promoted to major general in 1782, the last man appointed to that rank by Congress. After the war he served as the 35th Governor of South Carolina (1785 - 87, 1792 - 94). He wrote Memoirs of the Revolution as far as it Related to the States of North and South Carolina (1802). "Crescent Moon over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty" by historian and biographer C. L. Bragg is a 336 page biography that serves to rescue an Moultrie from obscurity and provide a fitting and accurate descriptive assessment of his value to the American Revolution in general, and the fledgling state of South Carolina in particular. A masterpiece of historical scholarship that is readily accessible for non-specialist general readers as well as students of American history, "Crescent Moon over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community and academic library American Biography collections.

Upton Sinclair
Lauren Coodley
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
www.beacon.org
9780803243828, $28.95, www.amazon.com

Upton Beall Sinclair, Jr. (September 20, 1878 - November 25, 1968), was an American author who wrote close to one hundred books in many genres. He achieved popularity in the first half of the twentieth century, acquiring particular fame for his classic muckraking novel, The Jungle (1906). It exposed conditions in the U.S. meat packing industry, causing a public uproar that contributed in part to the passage a few months later of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. In 1919, he published The Brass Check, a muckraking expose of American journalism that publicized the issue of yellow journalism and the limitations of the "free press" in the United States. Four years after the initial publication of The Brass Check, the first code of ethics for journalists was created. In 1943, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction., Sinclair also ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a Socialist, and was the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of California in 1934, though his highly progressive campaign was defeated rather soundly. "Upton Sinclair: California Socialist, Celebrity Intellectual" by California historian Lauren Coodley is a 256 page biography that focuses upon Sinclair's political thought and career, while providing a chronological and historical context for appreciating a unique and influential man of his times. Informed, informative, and enhanced with the inclusion of two appendices, extensive notations, and a comprehensive index, "Upton Sinclair: California Socialist, Celebrity Intellectual" is very highly recommended reading and a welcome addition to community and academic library American Biography collections. It should be noted that "Upton Sinclair: California Socialist, Celebrity Intellectual" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.63).


The Literary Studies Shelf

Re-reading Italian Americana
Anthony Julian Tamburri
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
www.rowman.com
9781611476545, $70.00, www.amazon.com

The latest addition to the outstanding 'Fairleigh Dickinson University Press Series in Italian Studies', "Re-reading Italian Americana: Specificities and Generalities on Literature and Criticism" is a 198 page compendium comprised of eight major literary analyses by Anthony Julian Tamburri (Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute at Queens College, CUNY) that is organized into three sections. The first section (Preliminaries) deals with the general situation of Italian/American literature and its reception both in the United States and in Italy. It also discusses other social and cultural issues that pertain to Italian Americana. Section two (Specificities of Reading Prose) consists of six chapters, each discussing a specific author; three dedicated to prose (Pietro di Donato, Mario Puzo, Luigi Barzini), three dedicated to poetry (Joseph Tusiani, Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Rina Ferrarelli). Section three (Specifications of Reading Poetry) examines the current state of criticism dedicated to Italian/American literature, with the second part focusing in on a number of specific works. A work of impressive and meticulous scholarship, "Re-reading Italian Americana: Specificities and Generalities on Literature and Criticism" is enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, making it an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to academic library collections. It should be noted that "Re-reading Italian Americana: Specificities and Generalities on Literature and Criticism" is also available in a Kindle edition ($54.06).


The Psychology Shelf

The Psychology Book
Wade E. Pickren
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781402784811, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors. Psychology has the immediate goal of understanding individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases, and by many accounts it ultimately aims to benefit society. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist and can be classified as a social, behavioral, or cognitive scientist. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring the physiological and biological processes that underlie cognitive functions and behaviors. "The Psychology Book: From Shamanism to Cutting-Edge Neuroscience, 250 Milestones in the History of Psychology" by psychologist Wade E. Pickren (who served as the historian for the American Psychological Association from 1998 to 2012) is a 528 page compendium the chronicles the history of psychology from its aboriginal and metaphysical origins down to the mind sciences of the present day. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Psychology Book: From Shamanism to Cutting-Edge Neuroscience, 250 Milestones in the History of Psychology" is enhanced with the inclusion of extensive notes and recommendations for further reading and a comprehensive index, making it an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library History of Psychology reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Healthy Slow Cooker, second edition
Judith Finlayson
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778804796, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "The Healthy Slow Cooker" showcases 135 gluten-free recipes specifically appropriate for preparing in a crock pot or 'slow cooker'. Enhanced with color photography of the finished dishes, Judith Finlayson's recipes range from Warm Black Bean Salsa; Peppery Turkey Casserole; Greek-Style Beef with Eggplant; and Sausage-Spiked Chickpeas with Yogurt; to Vegetable Curry with Lentils and Spinach; Down-Home Tomatoes with Okra; Gingery Pears Poached in Green Tea with Goji Berries; and Basmati Rice Pudding. In addition to the clearly listed ingredients and step-by-step preparatory instructions, each recipe notes how many servings there are, the nutrients per serving, and practical tips for the kitchen cook, making "The Healthy Slow Cooker" an outstanding choice for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Athlete's Cookbook
Corey Irwin & Brett Stewart
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612432304, $15.95, www.amazon.com

While good nutrition is required for everyone to live a healthy life, it is an absolute necessity for athletes if they are to maximize their efforts in all manner of sports and physical activities. Good nutrition means well balanced meals that are as palate pleasing as they are appetite satisfying. Collaboratively compiled by the team of Corey Irwin and Brett Stewart, "The Athlete's Cookbook" is a 192 page compendium of day-by-day meal plans and 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, along with invaluable commentaries on pre-workout and post-workout nutrition. The dishes themselves range from appetizers like 'Wild Mushroom Soup'; to side dishes like 'Oven-Baked Rosemary-Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries', to entrees like 'Sauteed Shrimp & Red Bell Peppers in Lemon-Garlic Sauce', to desserts like 'Guilt-Free Peanut Butter Fudge'. Of special note is the section devoted to Beverages that includes a 'Chocolate Raspberry Recovery Drink'. Informed and informative, "The Athlete's Cookbook" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99) and very highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook
Gary Null
Essential Publishing
378 Northlake Blvd., Suite 109, North Palm Beach, FL 33408
www.essentialpublishing.org
9780977130962, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and related autoimmune diseases. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Proper nutrition is vital for anyone suffering from any form of arthritis or inflammation. Compiled with commentary by Gary Null, "Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing Through Natural Foods" is a 440 page compendium that begins with an extensive introduction to nutrition and foods as they relate to arthritis and inflammation. Of special note is the comments on foods to avoid! The 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes are organized into specific sections devoted to Appetizers, Side Dishes, Sauces & Dips; Soups; Salads; Entrees; and Desserts. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive list of Resources, a Conversion Table & Lists, and a comprehensive index, "Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing Through Natural Foods will prove to be an invaluable addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections in general, and absolutely essential for anyone having to deal with arthritis.

Eat Well And Stay Slim
Michael Guerard
Francis Lincoln
c/o Dalyn Miller Public Relations
9780711235366, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Translated into English by Alexander Carlier and enhanced with the color photography of Charlotte Lasceve, "Eat Well and Stay Slim: The Essential Cuisine Minceur" is a 336 page compendium comprised of 'nouvelle cuisine' recipes and commentary by French chef Michel Guerard. The dishes range from Artichoke Soup with Lemon Grass and Corinader Cream; Calamari in a Curry-Scented Veloute; Crunchy Vegetable Spring Rolls with a Spicy Sauce; and Grilled Red Mullet with a Carrot Confit; to Escalopes of Monkfish with Saffron; Quick-Cook Quality Beef with Peppercorns and Puy Lentils; Tropical Compote with Pineapple Sorbet; and Herb-Scented Panna Cotta with Raspberries. A culinary cornucopia of elegant dishes, meticulous and detailed preparation instructions, and even calorie counts for each dish per person, "Eat Well and Stay Slim: The Essential Cuisine Minceur" would make an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Charcuteria: The Soul Of Spain
Jeffrey Weiss
Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841529, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Profusely illustrated, this 464 page compendium of outstanding recipes compiled with extensive commentary by Jeffrey Weiss is an impressively presented collection of authentic Spanish recipes for a wide variety of truly elegant dishes. But more than just another cookbook, "Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain" provides detailed information on Spanish butchering and curing techniques for meats and fish. Informed and informative, and with recipes ranging from Basque Mother Sauces; to pickling peppers; to truly Spanish approaches to chicken soups; to desserts like a filloas (crepe) filled with fresh fruit, pastry cream, and powdered sugar; "Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain" offers a culinary wealth of authentic Spanish dining that will please any palate while satisfying any appetite. An unique and truly extraordinary work, "Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain" is highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain" is also available in a Kindle edition ($28.10).

The Vegan Pantry
Dunja Gulin
Ryland Peters & Small - CICO Books
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
www.rylandpeters.com
9781849754897, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, as well as following an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals. A follower of veganism is known as a vegan. "The Vegan Pantry" is a 144 page compendium compiled by Dunja Gulin and comprised of vegan recipes that are as healthy and delicious as they are kitchen cook friendly to prepare. Beautifully illustrated with full color photography, the recipes range from Fried Tofu Sandwiches; Macedonia-Style Baked Beans; Home Fermented Kimchi; and Hearty Miso Soup; to Lentil Moussaka; Spicy Potato Strudel; Raw Coca Milkshake; and Stuffed Babura Peppers in Sauce. Of special note are the recipes for Gluten-Free Bread; and a Fluffy Cake with Strawberry Coulis! Showcasing a total of sixty outstanding recipes, plus an introductory chapter on the fundamental basics of vegan cooking, "The Vegan Pantry" will prove to be an invaluable and appreciated addition to personal and community library Vegan and Vegetarian cookbook collections.

Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy
Paul Callaghan
Mercier
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781781171783, $31.95, www.amazon.com

Calso is Paul Callaghan who came to the culinary joys of the kitchen after losing his plastering business in the Great Recession of 2008. As the recipes comprising "Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy" demonstrate, even the most novice of kitchen cooks can produce nutritious, delicious, meal time dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snack time and anytime occasions! The recipes comprising this 288 page compendium range from a Cherry Tomato and Herb heart-Healthy Omelette; to a Pollock and Tomato Chowder; to Hot Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip; to an Italian Cottage Pie; to Red Velvet Cup Cakes. A vertiable cornucopia of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, and kitchen cook friendly dishes, "Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy" is especially recommended as an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections! It should be noted that "Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases, second edition
Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
Foreword by Soledad O'Brien
American Society for Microbiology Press
PO Box 605
Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781555818746 $39.95 pbk.
9781555818753 $39.95 digital http://www.asmscience.org/content/books

Medical doctor and founding Dean of the national School of Tropical Medicine Peter J. Hotez presents Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases, an in-depth discussion of neglected tropical diseases that among the most common infections of the world's poorest populations. Sicknesses covered include soil-transmitted helminth infections (such as hookworm infection), schistosomiasis (snail fever), tropical diseases that blind (such as river blindness and trachoma), mycobacterial infections, kinetoplastic infections (such as sleeping sickness and chagas disease), dengue, rabies, and much more. Now in an updated second edition, Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases scrutinizes how these illnesses have harmed impoverished communities for centuries, and the economic and societal obstacles to treatment. The possibility of alliances between nongovernmental development organizations, as well as public-private partnerships, may allow a ray of hope to shine on a persistent, cyclical world health problem. A handful of color photographs, diagrams, and an index enhance this "must-have" for college and public library health and medicine collections, highly recommended.

Bacterial Pathogenesis
Pascale Cossart & Stanley Maloy, editors
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
9781936113361, $135.00, www.amazon.com

A pathogen in the oldest and broadest sense is anything that can produce disease. Typically the term is used to mean an infectious agent (colloquially known as a germ) - a microorganism, in the widest sense such as a virus, bacterium, prion, fungus or protozoan, that causes disease in its host. The host may be an animal, a plant, a fungi or even another microorganism. The pathogenesis of a disease is the mechanism that causes the disease. The term can also describe the origin and development of the disease, and whether it is acute, chronic, or recurrent. The word comes from the Greek pathos ("disease") and genesis ("creation"). Types of pathogenesis include microbial infection, inflammation, malignancy and tissue breakdown. For example bacterial pathogenesis is the mechanism by which bacteria cause infectious illness. The collaborative compiled and co-edited by Pascale Cossart (Pasteur Institute) and Stanley Maloy (San Diego State University), "Bacterial Pathogenesis" is a 413 page compendium comprised of twenty-three research papers by experts in the field of bacterial pathogenesis and deftly organized into three major sections: Model Systems; General Concepts and Mechanisms; Therapeutics. Enhanced with a comprehensive Index, "Bacterial Pathogenesis" is the latest volume in the outstanding 'Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine' series and recommended as a core addition to professional and academic library Medical Science reference collections in general, and Bacterial Pathogens supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Mathematics Shelf

Financial Mathematics: A Comprehensive Treatment
Giuseppe Campolieti & Roman N. Makarov
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781439892428, $89.95, www.amazon.com

All economic systems, especially capitalism, are ultimately established upon the basis of financial mathematics. The collabortive work of Giuseppe Campolieti and Roman N. Makarov, "Financial Mathematics: A Comprehensive Treatment" is an 892 page compendium that brings together under a single cover a comprehensive and descriptive presentation of quantitative finance deftly organized into four major sections (Introduction to Pricing and Management of Financial Securities; Discrete-Time Modelling; Continuous-Time Modelling; and Computational Techniques). Enhanced throughout with figures, tables, and algorithms, "Financial Mathematics: A Comprehensive Treatment" also features an appendix (Some useful Integral Identities and Symmetry Properties of Normal Variables), as well as a glossary of symbols and abbreviations, a four page list of references, and a comprehensive index. A critically important acquisition for academic library Financial Studies and Mathematics reference collections, "Financial Mathematics: A Comprehensive Treatment" is an especially recommended textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of mathematics, finance, actuarial science, and economics.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Wilderness and Waterpower
Christopher Armstrong and H.V. Nelles
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552386347 $41.95 www.uofcpress.com

Wilderness and Waterpower: How Banff National Park Became a Hydroelectric Storage Reservoir is a thoughtful, in-depth history of why and how Banff National Park (Canada's oldest national park, situated in the Rocky Mountains) became substantially altered to serve as hydroelectric storage, and the legacy of this transformation up to the modern day. Conservationists, energy researchers, environmentalists and more will find this story of benefits, burdens, and externalities informative and thorough. The political dimensions of regulating electricity production in the national park are also strewn with invaluable lessons, as Wilderness and Waterpower covers the influence that Max Aitkin (later Lord Beaverbook), R.B. Bennett (a legal advisor destined to become prime minister), and many local politicians and bureaucrats had on the ongoing project. "With the growth in electricity demand being satisfied by other energy sources within the province, and with the capitalist imperative thus relaxed, what kept these elaborate engineering works on the Bow River in existence? They required costly maintenance. Why not tear them down, let the river revert to its wild state? Some people argued for such an outcome. But surprisingly, long after these hydroelectric works had outlived their functional usefulness, an unusual coalition of interests formed to keep the dams in place." Extensive notes and an index round out this welcome condition to public and college library collections.

Lakeshore Living
Paul J. Radomski & Kristof Van Assche
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611861181, $29.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Paul J. Radomski (lakshore habitat management expert for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and Kristof Van Assche (Associate Professor, Community Planning and development, University of Alberta), "Lakeshore Living: Designing Lake Places and Communities in the Footprints of Environmental Writers" is a 228 page compendium covering a variety of environmental management issues for lakes and wetlands. The importance of lakeshore and wetlands management is represented by the referencing to and invocation of Aldo Leopold, Sigurd Olson, and William Whyte. Of special note are the sections devoted to environmental asset creation, and preservation. A model of accessible scholarship, "Lakeshore Living: Designing Lake Places and Communities in the Footprints of Environmental Writers" is enhanced with the inclusion of extensive notes, recommended readings, references, and a comprehensive index. Informed and informative, "Lakeshore Living: Designing Lake Places and Communities in the Footprints of Environmental Writers" is an important contribution to professional, governmental, community, and academic library Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Lakeshore Living: Designing Lake Places and Communities in the Footprints of Environmental Writers" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Autism Shelf

Essential First Steps for Parents of Children with Autism
Lara Delmolino & Sandra L. Harris
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
www.woodbinehouse.com
9781606131893, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met. The collaborative work of autism experts Lara Delmolino and Sandra L. Harris, "Essential First Steps for Parents of Children with Autism: Helping the Littlest Learners" is a 154 page compendium of case studies and a review of evidence-based interventions and proven practices help parents prepare a strong foundation for their child's future development. Deftly written and superbly organized, parents will learn about the early indicators of ASD in children younger than 3 years; be able to identify the behaviors of 3 to 5 year olds with a confirmed diagnosis; benefit from research about effective treatments & teaching methods; employ strategies for boosting play, communication and self-help skills; and develop support for the rest of the family. Especially informed and informative for the non-specialist general reader, "Essential First Steps for Parents of Children with Autism: Helping the Littlest Learners" is highly recommended for parents of autistic children and will prove to be an invaluable addition to academic and community library Parenting Studies reference collections. It should be noted that "Essential First Steps for Parents of Children with Autism: Helping the Littlest Learners" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.95).


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

World Religions and Contemporary Issues
Dr. Brennan Hill
Twenty-Third Publications
PO Box 6015, New London, CT 06320
c/o Bob Todd Publicity
http://store.pastoralplanning.com/index.html
9781585959136, $34.95, 384pp, www.amazon.com

While there are a great many differences with respect to the major religions of the world, there are also some fundamental and shared values -- especially with respect to the social and environmental issues of our time. "World Religions and Contemporary Issues: How Evolving View on Ecology, Peace, and Women are Impacting Faith Today" is an in-depth academic study of the five major religions focuses on each group s response to some of the most critical social issues of our time: ecology, peace, and women s rights. Academician and theologian Brennan Hill (Professor Emeritus and past Chair of Theology at Xavier University) showcases illustrative examples of individual religious heroes and provides links to numerous digital sources for further research, making this a particularly timely and personalized approach to the study of world religions and their far-reaching impact at every level of society. This 384 page compendium is a model of meticulous scholarship, yet easily accessible for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in world religions and their approaches to the social and environmental problems of modern times. "World Religions and Contemporary Issues: How Evolving View on Ecology, Peace, and Women are Impacting Faith Today" is superbly organized and presenting, making it a strongly recommended and invaluable addition to both academic and community library Religion & Spirituality reference collections, and personal supplemental reading lists.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Making Self-Employment Work For People With Disabilities, second edition
Cary Giffin, et al.
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com
9781598574036, $42.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Making Self-Employment Work For People With Disabilities" is a 288 page compendium addressing the alternative of self-employment for men and women with some manner of handicap or disability that would hinder them in seeking competitive employment elsewhere. Readers will learn how to create a business plan based on their own particular goals and interests; use multiple revenue sources to finance their business; market their business through a variety of social media; retain financial and Social Security benefits while self-employed; utilize support services available through rehabilitation personnel, vocational counselors, school transition staff, and community programs. Enhanced with reproducible planning worksheets, resource lists for business owners, and illustrative case studies, "Making Self-Employment Work For People With Disabilities" is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to personal, vocational guidance counselor, and community library reference collections.


The Art Shelf

Folinsbee Considered
Kirsten M. Jensen
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 250, East Hampton, MA 01027-0250
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953904, $80.00, www.amazon.com

John Fulton Folinsbee (March 14, 1892 - May 10, 1972) was an American landscape painter and member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known today for his impressionist scenes of New Hope and Lambertville, New Jersey, particularly the factories, quarries, and canals along the Delaware River. Early in his career, Folinsbee painted in a tonalist style, with an interest in light and atmosphere that grew directly from his time with Harrison and Carlson in Woodstock. By the late nineteen-teens, he had moved away from tonalism into a more structured, impressionist style. In the mid-1920s, Folinsbee began studying the work of Cezanne, which led to a trip to France in the summer of 1926. The paintings that resulted from this trip, and those that followed later in the decade, reflect a deep understanding of Cezanne's compositional strategies and a desire to reveal the underlying structure of forms. Folinsbee's exploration of structure led eventually to an analytical, highly individual expressionist style in which he painted for the remainder of his career. His palette darkened, his brushstrokes loosened further, and his sense of light and atmosphere became more dramatic. These later works are concerned with conveying a sense of mood and an intense emotional response to the world around him. Folinsbee always had a sketchbook or a box of 8 x 10 inch canvasboards with him, ready to capture any scene that caught his eye. Although he painted "en plein air", directly from nature, Folinsbee would later transform his small-scale sketches into larger paintings in his studio, and frequently made a number of copies of the same scene on different sizes of canvas. "Folinsbee Considered" by Kirsten M. Jensen (Director of the John F. Folinsbee Catalogue Raisonne) is a magnificently produced in full color, 332 page compendium showcasing the life's work of a truly gifted American artist. Informed and informative, and in addition to a section of superbly reproduced full page plates of the artist's work, "Folinsbee Considered" is enhanced with the inclusion of a catalogue of selected landscape and genre paintings, a chronology, and exhibition history (1912-2012), a bibliography of the literature regarding Folinsbee, and a comprehensive index. "Folinsbee Considered" will prove to be an enduringly popular and invaluable addition to academic library American Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

From Realism to Abstraction: The Art of J.B. Taylor
Adriana A. Davies
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552387092 $49.95 www.uofcpress.com

From Realism to Abstraction: The Art of J.B. Taylor is an artbook showcasing the works of Canadian artist John Benjamin Taylor, also known as J.B. or "Jack" Taylor (1917-1970). In addition to beautiful color reproductions of Taylor's landscapes and abstractions, there are some vintage black-and-white photographs connected to Taylor's life and inspirations. An extensive text places Taylor's artistic evolution in context, as well as offering biographical background and historical commentary. A welcome addition to both personal and public library artbook collections, From Realism to Abstraction is highly recommended.


The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf

Folktales of Old China
Compiled by Li Nianpei
China Books & Periodicals, Inc.
360 Swift Avenue, Suite 48
South San Francisco, CA 94080
9780835100472 $14.95 www.chinabooks.com

Folktales of Old China: An Introduction to the Literary and Cultural Origins of People and Places is a guide to some of the most common and well-known folktale stories of China's rich history. Plot summaries, thematic discussion, and brief contextual analysis of fifty-nine legendary stories compose Folktales of Old China. The stories include five tales from "The Romance of Three Kingdoms", four stories from "Water Margin", four stories from "Pilgrimage to the West", seven stories from "The Yang Family of Generals", many individual stories, and much more. Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, even those who have no knowledge of Chinese history at all, Folktales of Old China is a welcome addition to public library collections, and especially recommended to prospective tourists interested in familiarizing themselves with the lore behind many of China's best-known historic sites.


The Mythology Shelf

Goddesses
Joseph Campbell
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way
Novato, CA 94949
9781608681822 $24.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

Goddesses: Mysteries of the Feminine Divine collects over twenty lectures delivered between 1972 and 1986 by author, teacher, and mythologist Joseph Campbell (1904-1987), known for his scholarly works "The Power of Myth" and "The Hero with a Thousand Faces". Material in Goddesses focuses especially upon the symbols and themes of the female divine, and their transformations as observed throughout history. Furthermore, Goddesses has never before been heard, read, or experienced except by those who attended the original lectures. Black-and-white illustrations and an extensive index enhance this scholarly, thoughtful, and analytical examination of goddess mythology and its modern-day legacy. "The principal deities of the patriarchal traditions were male deities. The most extreme example of this masculine accent is in our own Old Testament, where there are no goddesses. In the biblical tradition, the old goddesses were simply eliminated, whereas what the Greeks did, as we've already seen, was to marry the god to the Goddess, or to make the god the protector of the Goddess, or to make the Goddess the protector of the god. They established a relationship that tied themselves and their own deities to the land and the local cult in an interactive way."


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Afrofuturism
Ytasha L. Womack
Lawrence Hill Books
c/o Independent Publishers Group (dist.)
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60610
9781613747964 $16.95 www.ipgbook.com

Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture examines this storytelling phenomenon - science fiction and fantasy that integrates not only characters who are people of color, but also cultural aspects that differ from the mainstream WASP way of life, or even dare to redefine modern concepts of black culture. "Afrofuturism" is a broad term to encompass these original works in multiple media formats, including literature, cinema, music, and art. Author Ytasha L. Womack explores individual Afrofuturist works including the sci-fi literature of Samuel Delany, Octavia Butler, and N.K. Jemisin to multimedia artists inspired by African Dogon myths and Egyptian deities, to sci-fi and fantasy narratives draw upon the history and narrative of slavery, and much more. Afrofuturism is an excellent, welcome contribution to literary and cultural studies collections.


The Education Shelf

Mastering Media Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs, series editor
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street
Bloomington, IN 47404
9781936764563 $24.95 www.solution-tree.com

Part of the Contemporary Perspectives on Literacy series, Mastering Media Literacy is a professional guide written to help K-12 educators teach students media literacy - that is, a keen understanding of how to evaluate the validity of information shared through media ranging from television news to messages on Twitter or Facebook. With emphases on objective, critical thinking, Mastering Media Literacy shows how to help students adapt to the increased technological saturation of the modern world - an invaluable ability in th twenty-first century. "Engaging students in production activities is just one of the goals of media literacy education, the other goal being analysis. When we give students opportunities to analyze media messages, we help them understand how media producers use various techniques to create persuasive and influential communications..." In today's increasingly digital and interconnected world, Mastering Media Literacy is a "must-have" for high-school educators, worthy of the highest recommendation.

Bullying and Cyberbullying
Elizabeth Kandel Englander
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, 1st floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
9781612505992 $24.95 www.harvardeducationpress.org

Psychology professor Elizabeth Kandel Englander (founder/director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University) presents Bullying and Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know, a serious-minded and practical guide about countering both in-person and digital-based bullying in the twenty-first century. Written especially for educators, Bullying and Cyberbullying discusses why children engage in bullying, appropriate responses when seeing children engage in "gateway behaviors" (such as pointing or snickering at another student), when and how to utilize stricter disciplinary measures, how to work with parents (who may find it impossible to believe their own child is cyberbullying, or lying about it), and much more. Notes and an index round out this "must-read" for educators everywhere, from grade school to high school. Highly recommended.


The Audiobook Shelf

Jacob's Room
Virginia Woolf, author
Juliet Stevenson, narrator
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843797685 $41.98 CD / $28.00 digital www.naxosaudiobooks.com

Jacob's Room is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel about the life of a young man in the shadow of the Great War (World War I). Written in a dynamic style that captures the chaos of interactions between the many people connected to Jacob's life, Jacob's Room is both about the travails of the individual, and the drastic transformation of his entire world. As captivating today as it was during its first publication almost a century ago (in 1922), Jacob's Room is an choice addition to public and college library literary audiobook collections. 6 CDs, 6 hours 51 min.


The Library CD Shelf

Sonnet Love Songs
Deborah Anderson and Richard DeRosa
Classics Music Publishing
www.classicsmusic.net
$14.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Sonnet Love Songs is an album that sets classic literary sonnets (written by William Shakespeare, Alfred Tennyson, Louisa Sarah Bevington, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Christina Rossetti) to contemporary classical, jazz, and soft rock music. A beautiful marriage of word and song in celebration of life's greatest joy, Sonnet Love Songs is highly recommended. The tracks are "Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?" (4:14), "How Do I Love Thee?" (4:08), "Make War Upon This Bloody Tyrant Time" (3:08), "As an Unperfect Actor on the Stage" (3:30), "Weary With Toil, I Haste To My Bed" (3:23), "Surprised by Joy" (5:17), "If I Were Loved As I Desire To Be" (4:33), "Am I To Lose You?" (4:07), "My Letters!" (2:56), and "Love Me, for I Love You" (4:35).

Everything is Music
Atash
Ars Mundi Productions
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA www.amazon.com

Although the world music band Atash is based in Austin, Texas, their inspiration comes from traditions spanning the ocean - including sound and rhythms from Persia, Turkey, India, West Africa, Cuba and the Middle East. Everything is Music is their glorious creation that includes aid from the talented Naga Valli for Indian vocals, Uzbki percussionist Abbos Kosimov, jazz fusion guitarist Fareed Haque and chorus singers from the Haitian group Les Petits Chanteurs. Atash's reputation earned their album a generous amount of support from patrons of the crowdfunding website Indiegogo; now, the general public can (and should!) readily enjoy the fruits of their adventurous talent. The tracks are "Mistereph" (4:11), "Sajdeh (Ravish)" (3:51), "Baaraan (Rain)" (6:09), "Talangor (Flick!)" (4:35), "Tanguillo" (5:00), "Manaman Koli" (3:38), "Amshab" (7:12), "Sahara Spring" (9:21), and "Eshq" (8:16).


The Library DVD Shelf

The Ghosts In Our Machine
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1560290862 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, The Ghosts In Our Machine is a multiple award-winning documentary about how humans use animals... sometimes with careless cruelty. Photographer Jo-Anne McArthur guides the viewer to stories of animals in North America and Europe, revealing how creatures are used in the modern industries of Food, Fashion, Entertainment, and Research. Dark, thought-provoking, and challenging the common view of animals purely as property, The Ghosts In Our Machine is highly recommended. 92 min. original and 60 min. classroom versions are both present on the same DVD, with SDH Captions.

The Wisdom to Survive
A film by Old Dog Documentaries
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1560290382 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, The Wisdom to Survive: Climate Change, Capitalism & Community examines the dilemma of human inaction, despite the scientific community's consensus that climate change is underway. Why aren't people doing more to promote sustainability, or restrict harmful pollution, when failure to do these things will potentially harm the lives of billions? Activists and philosophers in the domains of science, economics, and spirituality discuss how we can change our societies for the better, collectively, to combat climate disruption. What is the alternative to blind adherence to a profit-oriented growth economy, and how can it reasonably be put into practice? Featured guests include Bill McKibben, Joanna Macy, Nikki Cooley, Roger Payne, Richard Heinberg, Amy Seidl, Stephanie Kaza, Gus Speth, Jihan Gearan, and Ben Falk, The Wisdom to Survive is a thought-provoking call to moral and spiritual arms.

The Story of Medicine
Hosted by Dr. Michael Mosley
Athena
c/o Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621721734 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

Award-winning science journalist Dr. Michael Mosley hosts The Story of Medicine: Pain, Pus & Poison, an eye-opening documentary about the history of drugs and medicine during the past 200 years. Three episodes reveal how humans have learned to harness the power of chemicals and nature's own biological defenses to mass-produce modern miracle cures. As fascinating as it is educational, The Story of Medicine is highly recommended especially for high school, public library, and college DVD collections. 3 episodes on 2 DVDs, 156 min. plus 27 min. bonus ("Seven Wonders of the Microbe World" shorts), SDH subtitles.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

All Star
Jesse Lonergan
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing
New York, NY 10038
9781561638352 $13.99 www.nbmpublishing.com

All Star is an original, black-and-white graphic novel about a young athlete's coming of age. The year is 1998, a scandal about President Bill Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky is beginning to unravel, and Carl Carter is on the verge of leading his high school baseball team to the state championship. A full scholarship to the University of Maine is on the line; perhaps he even has a chance at professional baseball. Carl is from a respectable middle class background, but the working class family of his best friend, Esden, is barely scraping by. As the end of the school year and the baseball season approach, Carl and Esden engage in a drunken bout of vandalism and petty theft - but star athlete Carl receives a much lighter punishment than Esden, who has a more troubled history. Carl's conscience burns at the injustice. The consequences of that fateful night fracture Carl's and Esden's friendship, and may deny Esden any hope of a bright future. Is there anything Carl can do? Thoughtful, provocative, and populated by believable human characters, All Star is highly recommended. All Star does contain some cursing and a few sexual allusions, though it is never explicit, and is therefore more suitable for teens and adults (or any reader who is mature enough to understand what the Lewinsky scandal was all about).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Madness in Miniature
Margaret Grace
Perservance Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel, Publishers
PO Box 2790
McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745439 $15.95 www.danielpublishing.com/perseverance

Madness in Miniature is a murder mystery set in a small town touched by globalization. When the opening of a giant chain crafts store coincides with an earthquake and an inexplicable murder, miniaturist/dollhouse-maker Gerry Porter and her computer-savvy granddaughter Maddie try to help the police track down the culprit. Did New York city slickers bring a cold-blooded killer with their commerce? Or did someone local take advantage of distractions to commit the heinous crime? Gerry tries to balance the battle against the frightening threat with the more mundane problems of her personal life, including a conflict that undermines her longstanding friendship with Henry Baker, in this intriguing interplay of hidden secrets!


The Humor Shelf

Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2014 Edition
Dean P. Turnbloom, editor
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455619740 $14.95 www.pelicanpub.com

Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2014 Edition continues its fine annual tradition of gathering the past year's most cutting-edge, sharply relevant, and topical cartoon mockery from periodicals worldwide. Republicans and democrats, right-wing and left-wing, President, Congress, and Senate, none are spared the merciless mockery of biting caricature. "Wow! The Dow Jones has gone well over 14,000! All I need now is a job." Highly recommended, especially for public library humor collections, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2014 Edition is sure to be a popular pick.


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


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