Attachment J4 - BBR Mar-Apr Example.docx

Need help ordering books or changing your subscription status? Your local braille and talking-book library is always the place to start. For general information and to order books, call 888-NLS-READ (888-657-7323) to be connected to the appropriate library for you.

Emails and phone numbers for libraries around the country can be found in the final pages of this publication or visit www.loc.gov/nls and select “Find Your Library.”

Get books fast from BARD Most books and magazines listed in Braille Book Review are available to eligible readers for download on the NLS BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) site. To use BARD, contact your local braille and talking-book library or visit http://nlsbard.loc.gov for more information. The free BARD Mobile app for reading talking books on your personal smart phone or tablet is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon’s Appstore and can be used to read books with a refreshable braille display.

Do you live overseas?

American citizens living abroad may enroll and request delivery to foreign addresses by contacting the NLS Overseas Librarian by phone at 202-707-9261 or by email at nlsoverseas@loc.gov.

Music scores and instruction NLS music patrons may receive braille and large-print music scores and instructional recordings through the NLS Music Section. To learn more, email nlsm@loc.gov, call 800-424-8567 ext. 2, or visit www.loc.gov/nls/music.

About Braille Book Review Braille Book Review, published in braille and HTML, is distributed free to people who have a visual or physical disability that makes it difficult to read regular print. It can be found at www.loc.gov/nls/bbr or downloaded in BRF from BARD. It lists braille titles recently added to the NLS collection. The entire collection, with hundreds of thousands of titles, is available at www.loc.gov/nls/catalog.

Library of Congress, Washington, DC Catalog Card Number 53-31800

ISSN 0006-873X

Braille Book Review March–April 2025 Volume 94, Number 2

Contents

In Brief Books for Adults Adult Fiction Fantasy General Historical Fiction Mystery and Detective Occult and Horror Romance Science Fiction Short Stories Suspense and Thrillers Adult Nonfiction Astronomy Biography Cooking Education Government and Politics Hobbies and Crafts Inspiration LGBT Issues Poetry Psychology and Self-Help Religion Books for Children Children’s Fiction Animals and Wildlife Family Friendship Children’s Nonfiction Biography Braille Magazines

Abridged Talking Book Topics Books for Adults Adult Fiction Adventure Family Fantasy Historical Fiction Human Relationships Mystery and Detective Occult and Horror Religious Themes Romance Science Fiction Short Stories Spies and Espionage Suspense and Thrillers Westerns Adult Nonfiction Animals and Wildlife Biography Blindness and Disabilities Career Computers Cooking Education Literature Medicine and Health Music Nature and the Environment Philosophy Psychology and Self-Help Religion Science Social Sciences Sports and Recreation Stage and Screen Technology Travel US History World History Books for Children Children’s Fiction Adventure Animals and Wildlife Arts and Performing Arts Blindness and Disabilities Fiction Family Fantasy Folk and Fairy Tales Friendship Growing Up Historical Fiction Holidays Medical Themes Mystery and Detective Scary Stories School Science Sports Stories Children’s Nonfiction Biography Religion Sports and Recreation International Language Français Español

Library Phone List

In Brief

BARD Express software update released NLS has released a software update to BARD Express. Version 3.1.2 has been tested with the three latest versions of JAWS and NVDA and includes several improvements:

· Items per page, which is found under the View menu, now has a maximum value of 500 to allow for enhanced background system performance.

· BARD Express now supports more external storage devices.

· The global setting speed in the BARD Express player respects the speed setting of a book that has previously been adjusted.

To download the update, a user who already has BARD Express installed can open the program, open the Help menu, and choose Check for Updates. If, however, BARD Express is not already installed, it can be downloaded from www.loc.gov/nls/how-to-enroll/sign-up-for-bard-and-bard-mobile/welcome-to-bard-express.

Magazine changes at NLS NLS has added seven new braille magazines and four new audio magazines to its collection. The new braille magazines, which are available in hard-copy only, include:

· Aphra (monthly) – Dating, relationship, beauty, and fashion advice for women with features on friendship, careers, society, and pop culture.

· Good Vibrations (monthly) – News and reviews of vinyl records and hi-fidelity music equipment.

· Missy (monthly) – Pop culture magazine for teenagers with gossip, interviews, and horoscopes.

· Piano Tuners’ Quarterly (quarterly) – Advice and tips from professional piano tuners, news from the piano industry, and personal columns.

· Progress (monthly) – Current events, science, games, short stories, and seasonal (metric system–based) recipes; opportunities to develop pen pals. Available in contracted and uncontracted braille.

· Pure (monthly) – Articles on relationships, beauty, fashion, and horoscopes; interviews with celebrities and special-interest features.

· Shaping Up (monthly) – Health news, fitness features, and answers to common medical questions.

The new audio magazines, which are available on BARD or via magazine on cartridge, include:

· Fur Fish Game (monthly) – Covers a variety of outdoor pursuits for the practical outdoorsman.

· National Geographic History (bimonthly) – Explores more than 5,000 years of people and places, from Caesar to Napoleon, the Pyramids to the Parthenon, and the Trojan War to the Civil War.

· Stereophile (monthly) – Covers everything high-end and audiophile audio, from turntables and music servers to solid-state and tube amplifiers.

· Writer’s Digest (bimonthly) – A resource for writers that celebrates the writing life and what it means to be a writer in today’s publishing environment.

In addition, The Economist has recently changed its audio format, and NLS no longer has access to the audio files it has used in the past. A new producer has been found, but production will not resume until spring. Back issues from December 7, 2024, until the resumed date will not be available.

NLS has also discontinued production of Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists in braille.

Delays in TBT cartridge distribution Magazine-on-cartridge distribution of this issue of Talking Book Topics and the accompanying paper order forms may be delayed due to a change in production workflow. We apologize for the lack of earlier notice and appreciate your patience. If you are reading this issue via BARD or online but prefer to submit book requests via paper order form, printable PDFs of those order forms may be downloaded beginning in early April from the Talking Book Topics landing page, www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/talking-book-topics.

Newsstand The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. The items mentioned below are not part of the NLS program, and their listings do not imply endorsement or support. Prices and details about listed items were correct at the time of listing but are subject to change.

Third edition of The Rules of Unified English Braille available The International Council on English Braille (ICEB) has released a third edition of The Rules of Unified English Braille (UEB), the first update since 2013. This edition introduces a comprehensive index of all rules and incorporates many changes to the UEB code, including new rules for quotation marks and new additions to the Shortforms List. For more information and to download the publication in PDF or BRF, visit www.iceb.org.

New informational resources available in Spanish The National Technical Assistance Center on Blindness & Low Vision has translated many of its popular brief publications on transportation and employment to Spanish. To download and read these resources, visit www.ntac.blind.msstate.edu/spanish-resources. English versions may be found at www.ntac.blind.msstate.edu/consumers/finding-a-job and www.ntac.blind.msstate.edu/consumers/transportation.

Advances in accessible home appliances Both General Electric (GE) and Samsung have launched recent accessibility initiatives for their home appliances. GE has partnered with American Printing House for the Blind to create pre-printed sheets of braille stickers with eighty of the most common settings for household appliances. Samsung is working with TUAT, the creators of the free accessibility app Sullivan Plus, to incorporate QR codes into its appliances and make them easy to find and use for individuals who are blind or have low vision. For more information on these initiatives, visit www.aph.org/blog/new-partnership-creates-groundbreaking-product and www.mk.co.kr/en/it/11205674.

Hadley podcasts available by phone Hadley, an educational nonprofit for individuals who are blind or have low vision, now offers several podcasts, including Hadley Presents and Insights & Sound Bites, via phone. To listen to episodes featuring both experts and community members, call 847-558-1317. Braille for Everyday Use, a series of interactive workshops, is also available at 800-323-4238. For more information, visit www.hadleyhelps.org or email info@hadleyhelps.org.

Books for Adults The following books were recently produced for the NLS program.

Registered users can immediately download all titles and magazines from BARD, the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download service, at http://nlsbard.loc.gov. The free BARD Mobile app for reading talking books on your personal smartphone or tablet is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon’s Appstore and can be used to read books with a refreshable braille display. To order books or sign up for BARD service contact your local cooperating library. Regional library telephone numbers and email addresses are listed on the last pages of this magazine.

Books within the headings Adult Fiction and Adult Nonfiction are listed alphabetically by subject category, author last name, and title. For example, the title War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy would be listed in Adult Fiction under the Classics subject category and by the last name Tolstoy.

Patrons now have access to richer, more detailed descriptions of new titles added to the NLS collection. NLS now uses publisher-provided book descriptions for most new titles. These longer descriptions give patrons more insight into book content, making it easier for patrons to identify titles of interest. These descriptions appear in the NLS Catalog, on BARD, and in NLS publications as “Provided by publisher” and are taken verbatim from the publisher. These descriptions do not represent the position of the Library of Congress and may reference other works or supplementary materials not available from NLS or in the NLS edition.

Note: A notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of violence, strong language, or descriptions of sex. The word “some” before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in “some strong language.”

Adult Fiction

Fantasy

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands BR25489 by Heather Fawcett 4 volumes “When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series. Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby. Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers. She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans. But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart.” — Provided by publisher. Some strong language. 2024.

Be the Serpent BR25372 by Seanan McGuire 5 volumes “October Daye is finally something she never expected to be: married. All the trials and turmoils and terrors of a hero’s life have done very little to prepare her for the expectation that she will actually share her life with someone else, the good parts and the bad ones alike, not just allow them to dabble around the edges in the things she wants to share. But with an official break from hero duties from the Queen in the Mists, and her family wholly on board with this new version of ‘normal,’ she’s doing her best to adjust. It isn’t always easy, but she’s a hero, right? She’s done harder. Until an old friend and ally turns out to have been an enemy in disguise for this entire time, and October’s brief respite turns into a battle for her life, her community, and everything she has ever believed to be true. The debts of the Broken Ride are coming due, and whether she incurred them or not, she’s going to be the one who has to pay.” — Provided by publisher. Violence and some strong language. 2022.

The Truth of the Aleke BR25492 by Moses Ose Utomi 2 volumes “Seventeen-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the city, and when the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God’s Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home.” — Provided by publisher. Some violence and some strong language. 2024.

General

Somebody’s Fool: A Novel BR25227 by Richard Russo 5 volumes “Ten years after the death of the magnetic Donald ‘Sully’ Sullivan, the town of North Bath is going through a major transition as it is annexed by its much wealthier neighbor, Schuyler Springs. Peter, Sully’s son, is still grappling with his father’s tremendous legacy as well as his relationship to his own son, Thomas, wondering if he has been all that different a father than Sully was to him. Meanwhile, the towns’ newly consolidated police department falls into the hands of Charice Bond, after the resignation of Doug Raymer, the former North Bath police chief and Charice’s ex-lover. When a decomposing body turns up in the abandoned hotel situated between the two towns, Charice and Raymer are drawn together again and forced to address their complicated attraction to one another. Across town, Ruth, Sully’s married ex-lover, and her daughter Janey struggle to understand Janey’s daughter, Tina, and her growing obsession with Peter’s other son, Will. Amidst the turmoil, the town’s residents speculate on the identity of the unidentified body, and wonder who among their number could have disappeared unnoticed.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language. 2023.

Historical Fiction

The Blood Years BR25423 by Elana K. Arnold 4 volumes “From Michael L. Printz honoree & National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold comes the harrowing story of a young girl’s struggle to survive the Holocaust in Romania. Frederieke Teitler and her older sister, Astra, live in a house, in a city, in a world divided. Their father ran out on them when Rieke was only six, leaving their mother a wreck and their grandfather as their only stable family. He’s done his best to provide for them and shield them from antisemitism, but now, seven years later, being a Jew has become increasingly dangerous, even in their beloved home of Czernowitz, long considered a safe haven for Jewish people. And when Astra falls in love and starts pulling away from her, Rieke wonders if there’s anything in her life she can count on and, if so, if she has the power to hold on to it.Then war breaks out in Europe. First the Russians, then the Germans, invade Czernowitz. Almost overnight, Rieke and Astra’s world changes, and every day becomes a struggle: to keep their grandfather’s business, to keep their home, to keep their lives. Rieke has long known that she exists in a world defined by those who have power and those who do not, and as those powers close in around her, she must decide whether holding on to her life might mean letting go of everything that has ever mattered to her and if that’s a choice she will even have the chance to make. Based on the true experiences of her grandmother’s childhood in Holocaust-era Romania, award-winning author Elana K. Arnold weaves an unforgettable tale of love and loss in the darkest days of the twentieth century and one young woman’s will to survive them.” — Provided by publisher. Violence, strong language and descriptions of sex. Sydney Taylor Book Award. For senior high and older readers. 2023.

Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel BR24813 by Bonnie Garmus 5 volumes “Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman’s place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America’s most beloved TV cooking show. Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers.) The only man who ever treated her-and her ideas-as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He’s also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry. But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it’s the early 60s??) and the star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s singular approach to cooking (‘take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride’) and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn’t just teaching women how to cook, she’s teaching them how to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language, descriptions of sex and some violence. 2022.

Mystery and Detective

After Effects: The Calleshire Chronicles BR25216 by Catherine Aird 2 volumes “Muriel Ethel Galloway passed away at home, twitching and grasping at objects only she could see. Her family mourns, sad but unsurprised that an old woman suffering from heart disease should die suddenly. But when Mrs. Galloway’s son receives an anonymous call alerting him that his mother’s life was put in jeopardy by her doctors, he demands action from the Calleshire Police. As world-weary detective C. D. Sloan learns, Mrs. Galloway’s passing was just one in a string of eerily similar deaths. Dozens of elderly patients suffering from heart disease have been ‘gently pushed’ toward taking part in the Cardigan Protocol, a double-blind drug trial from the powerful pharmaceutical company Gilroy’s. Something, it seems, is very wrong. But what might have been a simple malpractice case morphs into something much more complex when the doctor in charge of the trials goes missing and the headquarters of Gilroy’s is burgled by animal rights activists. As Detective Sloan well knows, murder is never a simple matter.” — Provided by publisher. 1996.

Passing Strange: The Calleshire Chronicles BR24786 by Catherine Aird 3 volumes “The annual Horticultural Society Flower Show would have gone off without a hitch were it not for one very pesky murder. When nurse Joyce Cooper goes missing from the parish’s fortune-telling booth at the flower fair, her friends at the local church are immediately concerned. It’s not like this old lady, who plays the organ during service every Sunday without fail, and who, it’s told, lives for the purpose of helping others, to disappear without notice. So when she’s found strangled to death under a tarp, the community is thrown into an uproar. Who better to calm the crowd than Calleshire’s greatest detective? Alongside his bumbling sidekick, Constable Crosby, C. D. Sloan runs through the bizarre list of suspects—the daughter of a deceased anthropologist, a greedy developer, a jealous tomato gardener, and a set of wealthy farmers—to find out who would have benefited most from the beloved nurse’s death. What he finds will astonish the entire village.” — Provided by publisher. Some strong language. 1980.

Fear Nothing: A Detective D.D. Warren Novel BR25223 by Lisa Gardner 5 volumes “They were daughters of a monster—a father who slaughtered eight prostitutes before dying himself. Dr. Adeline Glen left the nightmare behind, and now she specializes in pain management. Her sister, Shana Day, followed in her father’s violent footsteps, first killing at age fourteen and being incarcerated for more than twenty-five years. After a brutal attack, Boston Detective D. D. Warren needs Adeline’s professional help to recover physically. But when a new psychopath known as the Rose Killer begins a reign of terror, D. D. must also consult the insane Shana—who claims she can help catch the madman. D. D. may not be back on the job, but she is back on the hunt. Because the Rose Killer isn’t just targeting lone women; he’s targeting D. D. And she knows there’s only one way to take him down...” — Provided by publisher. Violence and strong language. 2014.

Love You More BR25199 by Lisa Gardner 5 volumes “WHO DO YOU LOVE? One question, a split-second decision, and Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor. His wife, state police trooper Tessa Leoni, claims to have shot him in self-defense, and bears the bruises to back up her tale. For veteran detective D. D. Warren it should be an open-and-shut case. But where is their six-year-old daughter? AND HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO . . . As the homicide investigation ratchets into a frantic statewide search for a missing child, D. D. Warren must partner with former lover Bobby Dodge to break through the blue wall of police brotherhood, seeking to understand the inner workings of a trooper’s mind while also unearthing family secrets. Would a trained police officer truly shoot her own husband? And would a mother harm her own child? . . . TO SAVE HER? For Tessa Leoni, the worst has not yet happened. She is walking a tightrope, with nowhere to turn, no one to trust, as the clock ticks down to a terrifying deadline. She has one goal in sight, and she will use every ounce of her training, every trick at her disposal, to do what must be done. No sacrifice is too great, no action unthinkable. A mother knows who she loves. And all others will be made to pay. Love you more . . .” — Provided by publisher. Violence and strong language. 2011.

Puss in Boots: A Matthew Hope Mystery BR25092 by Ed McBain 3 volumes “A long shadow looms above her. Then a hand clamps over her mouth and a blade sinks into her back. Blood splatters on the film reel case beside her, and a young life is cut short. Lawyer Matthew Hope gets a call from Carlton Markham, who’s been arrested for his filmmaker wife’s murder but says he didn’t do it. Witnesses fly forward to proclaim his guilt, but Markham’s not giving up that easily on his innocence. And when Matthew digs deeper into the victim’s business—from heavy financial backers to sleazy egomaniacs—he finds she may not have been the perfect lady she had seemed. The one piece of evidence that could set Markham free and finger the real killer is the victim’s film reel. Only it’s gone, along with the film’s sexy star. Now Matthew needs to infiltrate the seedy side of the film industry in order to find the missing reel and solve the murder.” — Provided by publisher. Violence and strong language. 1981.

Occult and Horror

You Like It Darker: Stories BR25495 by Stephen King 7 volumes “‘You like it darker? Fine, so do I,’ writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel ‘the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,’ and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again. ‘Two Talented Bastids’ explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In ‘Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,’ a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In ‘Rattlesnakes,’ a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In ‘The Dreamers,’ a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. ‘The Answer Man’ asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful. King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.” — Provided by publisher. Violence, strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2024.

Romance

Rebel: Women Who Dare BR25373 by Beverly Jenkins 3 volumes “Valinda Lacy’s mission is to help the newly emancipated survive and flourish in post-Civil War New Orleans. When thugs destroy her school and target her, she runs for her life—into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq. An architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake admires Valinda’s determination; but when her father demands she return home to marry another man, her daring rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.” — Provided by publisher. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2019.

In the Likely Event BR25209 by Rebecca Yarros 4 volumes “When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful. Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now. Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River. Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right. Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life. He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language, some violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2023.

Science Fiction

Some Desperate Glory BR25206 by Emily Tesh 5 volumes “Since she was born, Kyr has trained for the day she can avenge the murder of planet Earth. Raised in the bowels of Gaea Station alongside the last scraps of humanity, she readies herself to face the Wisdom, the powerful, reality-shaping weapon that gave the majoda their victory over humanity. They are what’s left. They are what must survive. Kyr is one of the best warriors of her generation, the sword of a dead planet. When Command assigns her brother to certain death and relegates her to Nursery to bear sons until she dies trying, she knows she must take humanity’s revenge into her own hands. Alongside her brother’s brilliant but seditious friend and a lonely, captive alien, Kyr escapes from everything she’s known into a universe far more complicated than she was taught and far more wondrous than she could have imagined.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language, some violence and some descriptions of sex. 2023.

Short Stories

We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures BR25524 edited by Rob Costello 4 volumes “A YA anthology of short stories ranging in genres from horror to romance; featuring classic and original monsters and creatures; and highlighting authors from the LGBTQIA+ community, including Claire Kann, Kalynn Bayron, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, and H.E. Edgmon.” — Provided by publisher. Violence, strong language and descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2024.

Nobody Gets Out Alive: Stories BR25202 by Leigh Newman 3 volumes “Set in Newman’s home state of Alaska, Nobody Gets Out Alive is an exhilarating collection about women struggling to survive not just grizzly bears and charging moose, but the raw legacy of their marriages and families. Alongside stories set in today’s Last Frontier—rife with suburban sprawl, global warming, and opioid addiction—Newman delves into remote wilderness of the 1970s and 80s, bringing to life young girls and single moms in search of a wilder, freer, more adventurous America. The final story takes place in a railroad camp in 1915, where an outspoken heiress stages an elaborate theatrical production in order to seduce the wife of her husband’s employer. ‘Rich with wit and wisdom, showing us that love, marriage, and family are always bigger and more perilous adventures than backcountry trips’ (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), these keenly observed stories prove there are some questions—about love, heartbreak, and the meaning of home—that can’t be outrun, no matter how hard we try. Nobody Gets Out Alive is a dazzling foil to the adventure narratives of old.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language. 2022.

Liberation Day: Stories BR25203 by George Saunders 3 volumes “The ‘best short-story writer in English’ (Time) is back with a masterful collection that explores ideas of power, ethics, and justice and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans. With his trademark prose—wickedly funny, unsentimental, and exquisitely tuned—Saunders continues to challenge and surprise: Here is a collection of prismatic, resonant stories that encompass joy and despair, oppression and revolution, bizarre fantasy and brutal reality. ‘Love Letter’ is a tender missive from grandfather to grandson, in the midst of a dystopian political situation in the (not too distant, all too believable) future, that reminds us of our obligations to our ideals, ourselves, and one another. ‘Ghoul’ is set in a Hell-themed section of an underground amusement park in Colorado and follows the exploits of a lonely, morally complex character named Brian, who comes to question everything he takes for granted about his reality. In ‘Mother’s Day,’ two women who loved the same man come to an existential reckoning in the middle of a hailstorm. In ‘Elliott Spencer,’ our eighty-nine-year-old protagonist finds himself brainwashed, his memory ‘scraped’—a victim of a scheme in which poor, vulnerable people are reprogrammed and deployed as political protesters. And ‘My House’—in a mere seven pages—comes to terms with the haunting nature of unfulfilled dreams and the inevitability of decay. Together, these nine subversive, profound, and essential stories coalesce into a case for viewing the world with the same generosity and clear-eyed attention Saunders does, even in the most absurd of circumstances.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2022.

Ghost Lover: Stories BR25294 by Lisa Taddeo 3 volumes “Behind anonymous screens, an army of cool and beautiful girls manage the dating service Ghost Lover, a forwarding system for text messages that promises to spare you the anguish of trying to stay composed while communicating with your crush. At a star-studded political fundraiser in a Los Angeles mansion, a trio of women compete to win the heart of the slick guest of honor. In a tense hospital waiting room, an inseparable pair of hard-partying friends crash into life’s responsibilities, but the magic of their glory days comes alive again at the moment they least expect it. In these nine riveting stories—which include two Pushcart Prize winners and a finalist for the National Magazine Award—Lisa Taddeo brings to life the fever of obsession, the blindness of love, and the mania of grief. Featuring Taddeo’s arresting prose that continues to thrill her legions of fans, Ghost Lover dares you to look away.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 2022.

Suspense and Thrillers

Alone BR25185 by Lisa Gardner 4 volumes “Alone . . . Massachusetts State Trooper Bobby Dodge watches a tense hostage standoff unfold through the scope of his sniper rifle. Just across the street, in wealthy Back Bay, Boston, an armed man has barricaded himself with his wife and child. The man’s finger tightens on the trigger and Dodge has only a split second to react . . . and forever pay the consequences. Alone . . . that’s where the nightmare began for cool, beautiful, and dangerously sexy Catherine Rose Gagnon. Twenty-five years ago, she was buried underground during a month-long nightmare of abduction and abuse. Now her husband has just been killed. Her father-in-law, the powerful Judge Gagnon, blames Catherine for his son’s death . . . and for the series of unexplained illnesses that have sent her own young son repeatedly to the hospital. Alone . . . a madman survived solitary confinement in a maximum security prison where he’d done hard time for the most sadistic of crimes. Now he walks the streets a free man, invisible, anonymous . . . and filled with an unquenchable rage for vengeance. What brings them together is a moment of violence—but what connects them is a passion far deeper and much more dangerous. For a killer is loose who’s woven such an intricate web of evil that no one is above suspicion, no one is beyond harm, and no one will see death coming until it has them cornered, helpless, and alone.” — Provided by publisher. Violence, strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Resemblance BR25374 by Lauren Nossett 4 volumes “On a chilly November morning at the University of Georgia, a fraternity brother steps off a busy crosswalk and is struck dead by an oncoming car. More than a dozen witnesses all agree on two things: the driver looked identical to the victim, and he was smiling. Detective Marlitt Kaplan is first on the scene. An Athens native and the daughter of a UGA professor, she knows all its shameful histories, from the skull discovered under the foundations of Baldwin Hall to the hushed-up murder-suicide in Waddel. But in the course of investigating this hit-and-run, she will uncover more chilling secrets as she explores the sprawling, interconnected Greek system that entertains and delights the university’s most elite and connected students. The lines between Marlitt’s police work and her own past increasingly blur as Marlitt seeks to bring to justice an institution that took something precious from her many years ago. When threats against her escalate, and some long-buried secrets threaten to come to the surface, she can’t help questioning whether the corruption in Athens has run off campus and into the force and how far these brotherhoods will go to protect their own.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language, some violence and some descriptions of sex. Strong language, some violence and some descriptions of sex. 2022.

Adult Nonfiction

Astronomy

For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet BR24983 by Matthew Shindell 4 volumes “Mars and its secrets have fascinated and mystified humans since ancient times. Its vivid color and visibility to the naked eye, its geologic kinship with Earth, its potential as our best hope for settlement-Mars embodies everything that inspires us about space and space exploration. In this book, National Air and Space Museum Curator Matthew Shindell captures the majesty of the red planet and the work done by people on Earth to explore it. He connects our current period of human exploration of Mars to the work done through the centuries and across cultures by asking how the quest to understand Mars has shaped our knowledge of ourselves, our own planet, our solar system, and beyond. For the Love of Mars reveals why Mars has piqued scientists’ interest for centuries. It brings to light how difficult and sometimes flawed martian discoveries could be for earth-bound planetary explorers and, by focusing on the human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we have come to know and love, shows how Mars exploration became more sophisticated through the years in ways that helped expand knowledge about other facets of space and the universe. A must read for everyone curious about Curiosity and the Red Planet.” — Provided by publisher. Some strong language. 2023.

To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery BR25284 by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Lindsey Nyx Walker 4 volumes “This illustrated narrative explains the universe from the solar system to the farthest reaches of space. No one can make the mysteries of the universe more comprehensible and fun than Neil deGrasse Tyson. Drawing on mythology, history, and literature—alongside his trademark wit and charm—Tyson and StarTalk senior producer Lindsey Nyx Walker bring planetary science down to Earth and principles of astrophysics within reach. In this entertaining book, illustrated with vivid photographs and art, readers travel through space and time, starting with the Big Bang and voyaging to the far reaches of the universe and beyond. Along the way, science greets pop culture as Tyson explains the triumphs—and bloopers—in Hollywood’s blockbusters: all part of an entertaining ride through the cosmos. The book begins as we leave Earth, encountering new truths about our planet’s atmosphere, the nature of sunlight, and the many missions that have demystified our galactic neighbors. But the farther out we travel, the weirder things get. What’s a void and what’s a vacuum? How can light be a wave and a particle at the same time? When we finally arrive in the blackness of outer space, Tyson takes on the spookiest phenomena of the cosmos: parallel worlds, black holes, time travel, and more.” — Provided by publisher. Bestseller. 2023.

Biography What Every Blind Person Needs YOU to Know: A Handbook for the Families, Friends, and Colleagues of the Visually-Impaired BR25214 by Leanne Hunt 2 volumes “Written by someone who has walked the path of deteriorating eyesight and worked as a qualified crisis counsellor, this handbook is designed to show families, friends and colleagues of the visually impaired how to offer support without being patronising. For many people with sight loss, the real problems aren’t about mobility and access to information. Technology and training can cover these bases and, once a certain degree of competence has been reached, there are ample opportunities for independent exploration. The real problem that comes with being sight-impaired in the 21st century has to do with convincing others that few things are out of reach. Blind people have dreams as big as sighted people, and if they have the determination and courage to pursue those dreams, why stop them? If you or someone you know has been worried about helping a blind companion cope, this book may radically change your outlook. Prepare to be surprised, challenged and even inspired as you consider what new paths might open up as you adopt a fresh approach.” — Provided by publisher. 2016.

Golem Girl: A Memoir BR24752 by Riva Lehrer 5 volumes “What do we sacrifice in the pursuit of normalcy? And what becomes possible when we embrace monstrosity? Can we envision a world that sees impossible creatures? In 1958, amongst the children born with spina bifida is Riva Lehrer. At the time, most such children are not expected to survive. Her parents and doctors are determined to ‘fix’ her, sending the message over and over again that she is broken. That she will never have a job, a romantic relationship, or an independent life. Enduring countless medical interventions, Riva tries her best to be a good girl and a good patient in the quest to be cured. Everything changes when, as an adult, Riva is invited to join a group of artists, writers, and performers who are building Disability Culture. Their work is daring, edgy, funny, and dark—it rejects tropes that define disabled people as pathetic, frightening, or worthless. They insist that disability is an opportunity for creativity and resistance. Emboldened, Riva asks if she can paint their portraits—inventing an intimate and collaborative process that will transform the way she sees herself, others, and the world. Each portrait story begins to transform the myths she’s been told her whole life about her body, her sexuality, and other measures of normal. Written with the vivid, cinematic prose of a visual artist, and the love and playfulness that defines all of Riva’s work, Golem Girl is an extraordinary story of tenacity and creativity. With the author’s magnificent portraits featured throughout, this memoir invites us to stretch ourselves toward a world where bodies flow between all possible forms of what it is to be human.” — Provided by publisher. Strong language. 2020.

Tragedy to Triumph: The Story of Tom’s Heart BR24815 by Janet W. Mauk and others 3 volumes “Tragedy to Triumph—The Story of Tom’s Heart provides an up-close and personal look at the journeys of two individuals facing death as they present their individual perspectives as the donor family and the recipient. There are very few stories in life that grip you like the loss of a child. When that story hits home, it can feel like your very heart is being ripped out. This story is about life and death. When a family member or friend suffers end-stage organ failure, the pain is different but very real. Loved ones watch as you wither away before their eyes dying, waiting, and hoping for the ultimate gift, the gift of life, so they can go on living. Tragedy to Triumph—The Story of Tom’s Heart is the harrowing and heart-wrenching tragedy that struck him and his family. At the worst moment any family should ever have to deal with, the parents said ‘yes’ to organ, eye, and tissue donation so the lives of others could be saved and enhanced. For Tom’s mother, it offered hope in the midst of despair, a purpose in the midst of tragedy, and light in the midst of the darkest night of her life. By saying yes to donation, another mother and family did not have to wonder, wait, or face the death of their son, brother, or friend. Pete Radigan, who was in end-stage heart failure at Columbia Hospital, unsure if he would live or die, received Tom’s heart—the gift of life. This is their story.” — Provided by publisher. 2021.

Cooking

The Chicken Bible: Say Goodbye to Boring Chicken with 500 Recipes for Easy Dinners, Braises, Wings, Stir-Fries, and So Much More BR24484 by America’s Test Kitchen 16 volumes “Poultry enthusiasts unite! ATK has you covered from the basic to the spectacular with 500 recipes that deliver low-key dinners, game-day favorites, simple sandwiches, special-occasion showstoppers, and beyond. You can call chicken a lot of things. Blank canvas, weeknight go-to, lean protein, we’ve heard it all. But boring? That’s where we draw the line. Sure, it might have started to feel a bit redundant. But that’s not the chicken’s fault. ATK is here with the inspiration you need. It’s time those chicken pieces in your freezer got the respect they deserve. Chicken is the go-anywhere, eat-with-anything, highly transformable crowd favorite that always fills the bill. Find exactly what you’re looking for (and more!) with a wide breadth of themed chapters, including Easy Dinners, Classic Braises, Breaded and Fried, Pasta and Noodles, Savory Pies and Casseroles, and appliance-specific recipes. There’s even a dedicated chapter of recipes for cooking for two. And with an introduction detailing how to prep any chicken part, from pounding breasts and preparing cutlets, to whole bird skills like butterflying or breaking down a chicken, you’ll be a poultry pro in no time. Cozy up to succulent roast chickens with sauces made from pan drippings, sink your teeth into the crispiest, crunchiest fried chicken you’ve ever had, try your hand at sous vide for unbelievably moist chicken, or fire up the grill for anything from kebabs to beer can chicken. Feel like wingin’ it? Us too. Our favorite is our game-changing Korean Fried Chicken Wings, double-fried so they stay extra-crispy under their blanket of spicy, salty, slightly-sweet sauce. With over 500 recipes, you could eat chicken every night and never tire of it. (And yes, that’s a challenge.)” — Provided by publisher. 2021.

Easy Everyday Keto: Healthy Kitchen-Perfected Recipes BR24495 by America’s Test Kitchen 5 volumes “America’s Test Kitchen raises the bar on keto cooking with dishes that offer fantastic flavor, efficiency, and ease. Break free from the monotonous or time-consuming recipes that too often make up the reality of a keto diet and discover easier, naturally keto dishes that deliver inspiration, variety, and great taste—all while perfectly meeting your macros. In this meticulously tested, must-have collection we set our sights on regular meals anyone would enjoy, skipping the gimmicky ideas and seeking nourishing healthy fats and low-carb vegetables in recipes such as Lemon-Thyme Pork Tenderloin with Green Beans, Grilled Chicken Thighs with Shaved Zucchini Salad, One-Pan Steak Fajitas, Kimchi Beef Meatball Soup, and Green Shakshuka. Essential keto-friendly comfort foods help satisfy cravings with all-purpose keto wraps, pancakes, and simple sweets and snacks. Our recipes keep mealtime easy but interesting (most recipes take less than an hour), with plenty of variations to change up the routine (try making Butter-Basted Rib-eye Steak using Coffee-Chile Butter). Since eating outside the house is challenging, our Keto Meal Prep feature highlights the best make-and-take recipes—so you can skip that packaged snack bar and enjoy a bite of something homemade. A Keto essentials section and weekly meal plans will help to organize your shopping list, and healthy tips from our nutritionist make your goals achievable.” — Provided by publisher. 2020.

The New Cooking School Cookbook: Fundamentals BR24029 by America’s Test Kitchen 15 volumes Exploration of the fundamentals of cooking by the authors of Cook for Your Gut Health (BR23914) and Foolproof Preserving (BR21670). Provides focused courses on dishes including pizza, fried rice, fish on the grill, and birthday cake. Examines cooking principles, techniques, key takeaways, and food science. 2021.

The Savory Baker: 150 Creative Recipes, from Classic to Modern BR24360 by America’s Test Kitchen 6 volumes “The ultimate guide to savory baking using fragrant spices and herbs, fresh produce, rich cheeses and meats, and more. Baking is about a lot more than just desserts. This unique collection, one of the few to focus solely on the savory side of baking, explores a multitude of flavor possibilities. Get inspired by creative twists like gochujang-filled puff pastry pinwheels or feta-studded dill-zucchini bread. And sample traditional baked goods from around the world, from Chinese lop cheung bao to Brazilian pão de quejo. Our flexible recipes let you keep things simple by often using store-bought doughs and crusts, or go all out and make them from scratch using our foolproof methods. No matter what kind of baker you are, you’ll be inspired by the irresistible flavors, from everyday biscuits to showstopping breads, including: Quick breads, scones, biscuits, and pastries: Turn scones savory with panch phoran, an Indian spice blend with cumin, fennel, and mustard seeds. Bake the flakiest biscuits ever, packed with fresh sage and oozing with melty Gruyère. Even danish goes savory with goat cheese and Urfa chile. Tarts, galettes, and pies: Jamaican spiced beef patties or a flaky galette with corn, tomatoes, and bacon will be your new favorite lunch (or breakfast, or snack). Or make pizza chiena, the over-the-top Italian double-crusted pie of eggs, cheeses, and cured meats. Batter and stovetop ‘bakes’: Popovers bursting with blue cheese and chives dress up dinner, while bread pudding with butternut squash and spinach makes the brunch table. And savory pancakes are for anytime, whether you choose Chinese cōngyóubing or Korean kimchi jeon. Flatbreads, pizza, rolls, and loaves: Try alu paratha, the Northern Indian potato-stuffed flatbread. Shape mushroom crescent rolls or a challah enlivened by saffron and rosemary. And for kids of any age, bake a pizza monkey bread. Every recipe has a photo you’ll want to sink your teeth into, and ATK-tested techniques plus step-by-step photos walk you through rolling out pie and galette doughs; shaping breads and rolls; stretching pizza dough; and more.” — Provided by publisher. 2022.

Good Eats 4: The Final Years BR24283 by Alton Brown 8…