NEW ARRIVALS

NEW ARRIVALS

ADULT FICTION

"Cross Roads" by Fern Michaels -  "A year and a half has passed since the ladies of Pinewood received their presidential pardons...But a happy homecoming at the old Virginia farmhouse is marred by the hijacking of Nikki and Kathryn's private jet. It seems their few fellow passengers are not ordinary travelers--they're an elite group of Interpol agents who truly need the Sisterhood's help."


"Call Me Mrs. Miracle" by Debbie Macomber - "Debbie Macomber brings you the gift of a story that defines Christmas and everything it means. A story that's destined to become a Christmas classic."..inside front cover

"Chasing the Night" by Iris Johansen -  "Johnasen delivers an exhilarating thriller filled with her trademark paranormal elements, truly heinous villains, and intriguing multidimensional heroes. [It] will keep the author's fans on the edge of their seats."--Booklist

"Edge" by Jeffrey Deaver -“Fans of Deaver’s fiendishly clever suspensers (The Burning Wire, 2010, etc.) won’t be surprised by the nonstop deceptions, reversals, shocks and surprises, but this time they’re even more varied than usual, and, given the characters’ backgrounds, a lot more plausible. The result is his most successful thriller in years.”—Kirkus reviews (starred review)

"Fall of Giants" by Ken Follett - "Fall of Giants stands with Ken Follett's best... Fall of Giants is classic Follett. It's long - almost 1,000 pages; it's populated with hundreds of characters whose lives are intertwined; it's set on a tumultuous world stage; it's a good read....Everything in this novel is oversized, from the scope of history it covers to the characters he creates. It's a book that will suck you in, consume you for days or weeks, depending upon how quick a reader you are, then let you out the other side both entertained and educated. That's quite the feat."
-USA Today
  
"Indulgence in Death" by J.D. Robb - "The latest addictive addition to Robb’s long-running series features spiky humor; a cleverly constructed, adrenaline-raising plot; and the requisite amount of sexy passion between Eve and her soulmate, Roarke. "--John Charles, Booklist
 
"Legacy" by Danielle Steele - "This, compelling, centuries-spanning novel brilliantly interweaves the lives of two women--a writer working in the heart of modern academia and a daring Sioux Indian on an incredible journey in the eighteenth century. The result is an unforgettable story of courage in the face of the unknown."--inside front cover

"Our Kind of Traitor" by John le Carre - "Those readers who have found post–cold war le Carré too cerebral will have much to cheer about with this Russian mafia spy thriller..... Le Carré ratchets up the tension step-by-step until the sad, inevitable end. His most accessible work in years, this novel shows once again why his name is the one to which all others in the field are compared."--Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"The Red Queen" by Philippa Gregory - In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history."...inside back cover

"Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks -"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past... she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven." -- Amazon

"World and Town" by Gish Jen - "[This] novel portrays Hattie Kong, a retired high-school biology teacher who grew up in China, the daughter of an American missionary and a Chinese father descended from Confucius. After the deaths of her husband and best friend, Hattie seeks peace in the small New England town of Riverlake. But her father’s relatives are anxiously petitioning her to move her parents’ remains to the ancestral family graveyard; her great unrequited love, neuroscientist Carter, has resurfaced; and a church group has settled a traumatized Cambodian immigrant family on the property across from Hattie’s. Taking note of Chhung’s “Pol Pot facial,” Hattie takes his teenage daughter under her wing. But every relationship is jeopardized as conflicts rooted in the larger world, from a cell-phone tower to domestic violence, a gang’s trafficking, and religious hypocrisy, turn this haven into a battleground. Science is pitted against faith, karma against grace, and mayhem against forgiveness. Sharply funny and wisely compassionate, Jen’s richly stippled novel slyly questions every assumption about existence and meaning even as it celebrates generosity, friendship, and love." --Donna Seama, Booklist 
 

ADULT BIOGRAPHY



"Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1" by Harriet Elinor Smith - "This volume—the first of three—makes public autobiographical dictations in which Twain unpredictably pursues the many side-excursions of his remarkably creative life. Embedded in a substantial editorial apparatus, these free-spirited forays expose private aspects of character that the author did not want in print until he had been dead at least a century.... But perhaps the most important side-excursions are those retracing the imaginative prospecting of a miner for literary gold, efforts that resulted in such works as Roughing It and Innocents Abroad. A treasure trove for serious Twain readers. --Bryce Christense, Booklist
"Cleopatra A Life" by Stacy Schiff - "What dazzles us in Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra, are not the alluring mythologies about the evasive queen, but the astonishing if rare historical facts that Schiff has meticulously and lovingly excavated. Schiff offers not just Cleopatra's story but the story of an amazing era, one that has vanished but still affects us, questioning the way we look at myth, history and ourselves"--Azar Nafisi

"Decision Points" by George W. Bush - "In this candid and gripping account, President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life."--inside front cover 


The Diary of Frida Kahlo" by Frida Kahlo - "Frida Kahlo, one of the most dynamic figures of 20th-century art, has very nearly become a saint, so legendary is her tumultuous and tragic life. While there is no dearth of books about Kahlo and her work, none are as poignantly revealing as this diary, which includes her own words and pictures. We find the genesis of some of her most famous paintings, her love letters, and sketches of people she knew such as her husband, the Mexican mural painter Diego Rivera, and numerous studies for self-portraits. The most fascinating part of the book is the facsimile diary, in its exact size, reproduced here for the first time, with color illustrations. It is accompanied by an English translation with explanatory commentaries." -- Amazon


"The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt" by T. J. Stiles - "Truly remarkable....A landmark study that significantly enhances one's understanding of U.S. economic history...[Stiles is] on the most exciting writers in the field."--Foreign Affairs

ADULT NON-FICTION


" At Home: A Short History of Private Life" by Bill Bryson - "Fascinating.... Join this amiable tour guide as he wanders through his house, a former rectory built in 1851 in a tranquil English village.... [It] takes a very particular kind of thoughtfulness, as well as a bold temperament, to stuff all this research into a mattress that's supportive enough to loll about on while pondering the real subject of this book -- the development of the modern world....  Bryson is fascinated by everything, and his curiosity is infectious...[his] enthusiasm brightens any dull corner.... You'll be given a delightful smattering of information about everything but...the kitchen sink."— Dominique Browning, The New York Times Book Review

"Broke: The Plan to Restore Our Trust, Truth and Treasure" by Glenn Beck -- "Packed with great stories from history, chalkboard-style teachable moments, custom illustrations, and Glenn Beck’s trademark combination of entertainment and enlightenment, Broke makes the case that when you’re traveling in the wrong direction, slight course corrections won’t cut it—you need to take drastic action. Through a return to individual rights, an uncompromising adherence to the Constitution, and a complete rethinking about the role of government in a free society, Glenn exposes the idea of “transformation” for the progressive smokescreen that it is, and instead builds a compelling case that restoration is the only way forward."--Amazon

"The Dead Hand" by David E. Hoffman - "Drawing on memoirs, interviews in both Russia and the United States, and classified documents from deep inside the Kremlin, David E. Hoffman examines the inner motives and secret decisions of each side and details the deadly stockpiles that remained unsecured as the Soviet Union collapsed. This is the most fascinating story of how Regan, Gorbachev, and a previously unheralded collection of scientists, soldiers, diplomats, and spies changed the course of history."---back cover

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the Book) A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race" by Jon Stewart - "Stewart (America: The Book) seeks to expand his audience to aliens who might land on earth after the extinction of the human race and be puzzled over the artifacts we've left behind. ..In place of skits there are elaborate, color illustrations accompanied by captions written with his trademark deadpan humor;.. Nothing is off-limits here, not even Benjamin Franklin, whose pithy saying "Nothing is certain but death and taxes" Stewart expands upon. The book ends with a plea to the aliens to reconstruct the human race from DNA in the hope that, with guidance from the visitors, "we could overcome the baser aspects of our nature... and give this planet the kind of caretakers it deserves," revealing the tears behind Stewart's clown."--Publisher's Weekly 

"Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World" by Liaquat Ahamed - "Ahamed, noted the New York Times, illuminates wise parallels between the misplaced confidence that spawned the global depression in the 1930s and the illusory calculations of risk that led to the current financial crisis. "--Bookmarks Magazine
 

"A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn - "...the first scholarly work to tell America's story from the bottom up--from the point of view of, and in the words of, America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers."--inside front cover

"The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson - "The Warmth of Other Suns is a sweeping and yet deeply personal tale of America's hidden twentieth-century history--the long and difficult trek of southern blacks to northern and western cities. This is an epic for all Americans who want to understand the making our modern nation."--Tom Brokaw

MYSTERY

"Bury Your Dead" by Louise Penny -"At the start of Agatha-winner Penny's moving and powerful sixth Chief Insp. Armand Gamache mystery , Gamache is recovering from a physical and emotional trauma, the exact nature of which isn't immediately disclosed, in Québec City. When the body of Augustin Renaud, an eccentric who'd spent his life searching for the burial site of Samuel de Champlain, Québec's founder, turns up in the basement of the Literary and Historical Society, Gamache reluctantly gets involved in the murder inquiry. Meanwhile, Gamache dispatches his longtime colleague, Insp. Jean Guy Beauvoir, to the quiet town of Three Pines to revisit the case supposedly resolved at the end of the previous book. Few writers in any genre can match Penny's ability to combine heartbreak and hope in the same scene. Increasingly ambitious in her plotting, she continues to create characters readers would want to meet in real life. "--Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 

"Crossfire" by Dick Francise and Felix Francis - "A blissfully satisfying blend of suspense, revenge and horse-racing info in a multi-layered mystery that's presumably Felix Francis's distinctive contribution to his father's legendary series."--Kirkus Reviews 

"A Holiday Yarn" by Sally Goldenbaum - "Death puts a damper on the Christmas festivities in Goldenbaum's engrossing fourth cozy featuring Izzy Chambers and the other members of her Sea Harbor, Mass., knitting circle... When "controversial fashion editor" Pamela Pisano turns up dead with a pistol in her hand on the snow-covered back porch of the Pisano family estate, it appears a clear case of suicide. Particularly distraught is Mary Pisano, Pamela's cousin, who recently inherited [the estate] and is in the process of converting the house into a bed-and-breakfast. When a painter Mary hired falls to his death off a ladder onto some granite rocks, this accident is more than a little suspicious. Of course, a killer is at work, and the knitters must tap old memories and old police records before they can bring the mystery to its unexpected conclusion."--Publishers Weekly


"Moonlight Mile" by Dennis Lehane - "An old case takes on new dimensions in Lehane's sixth crime novel to feature Boston PIs Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro,...Patrick and Angie are married, the parents of four-year-old Gabriella, and barely making ends meet with Patrick's PI gigs while Angie finishes graduate school. But when Amanda's aunt comes to Patrick and tells him that Amanda, now a 16-year-old honor student, is once again missing, he vows to find the girl, even if it means confronting the consequences of choices he made that have haunted him for years." --Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 


"Painted Ladies" by Robert B. Parker - "Is there a more promising opening in contemporary crime fiction than Boston PI Spenser opening his office door to a new client? Instantly we get Spenser's clear-eyed view of the client, what his or her dress and stature have to say, and the rat-a-tat-tat of Spenser's wise-guy answers to the client's queries...A series of unflagging excellence."--Booklist   

"Red Herring" by Archer Mayor - "Archer Mayor doesn't do quaint. He might use poetic imagery to describe the austere beauty of New England's rugged mountains and snowbound villages, but as far as their crime content is concerned, his police procedurals are about as authentic as it gets."--Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

"The Rembrandt Affair" by Daniel Silva -" The perfect book for fans of well-crafted thrillers...the kind of page-turner that captures the reader from the opening chapter and doesn't let go."--The Associated Press


AUDIO BOOKS


"The Confession" by John Grisham -"The Confession is the kind of grab-a-reader-by-the-shoulders suspense story that demands to be inhaled as quickly as possible. But it's also a superb work of social criticism in the literary troublemaker tradition of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle....Brilliant"--Washington Post


"The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" by Walter Mosley - "Mosley’s dramatic departure from his Easy Rawlins and Leonid McGill crime novels appears to be a very personal one, a deeply thoughtful, provocative, and often beautiful meditation on aging, memory, family, loss, and love. Ptolemy and Robyn are truly indelible characters. Mosley’s story is ultimately life affirming, and his writing is by turns gritty and sublime. Baby boomers caring for aged parents, or thinking about their own mortality, will line up for The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Mosley’s fans of any age will also embrace it, and every library will be better for adding it."  --Thomas Gaughan, Booklist 

DVD

"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers" - "This acclaimed film tells the riveting story of how one man's profound change of heart created a landmark struggle involving America's newspapers, its president and Supreme Court - a political thriller whose events led directly to Watergate, Nixon's resignation and the Vietnam War."--back cover


"How to Train Your Dragon" -"... rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story....the unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds in this 'wonderful good-time hit!'...Gene Shalit, Today


"The Last Song" - "Miley Cyrus shines as the star of this heartwarming coming-of-age movie that will strike your emotional chords. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks (Dear John, The Notebook), The Last Song follows Ronnie (Cyrus) and her estranged father as he tries to restore the loving relationship they once had. But reconnecting with his rebellious daughter isn’t easy, so he chooses the one thing they still have in common — music. Complete with not-to-be-missed bonus features — the Miley Cyrus music video “When I Look At You,” exclusive interviews with the actress and more — this uplifting and touching drama about family, first loves and second chances is a heartfelt story to you won’t soon forget." -- Amazon


"The Expendables" - "..a tight-knit team of skilled combat vets turned mercenaries. Hired by a powerful covert operator, the team jets off to a small South-American country to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Once there, they find themselves caught in a deadly web of deceit and betrayal. Using every weapon at their disposal, they set out to save the innocent and punish the guilty."--back cover


"The Crash of 1929" - ""The Crash of 1929"captures the unbounded optimism of the age and the shocking consequences when reality finally hit, exploring a fateful year through the words and experiences of the descendants of several titans of finance."--back cover


"Date Night" - Steve Carell and Tina Fey are “a match made in comedy heaven” (Ben Lyons, E!) in this uproarious adventure about an ordinary couple in the right place...on the wrong night. Phil and Claire Foster are a sensible, suburban husband and wife slogging through their daily lives and marriage. But a case of mistaken identity sets off a n outrageous chain of events involving small-time thieves, big-city mobsters, corrupt cops and a crazed cabbie, as the Fosters’ “date night” turns into a wild ride they’ll never forget"--Amazon

"Grown Up" - Just because you grow older doesn't mean you have to grow up! ...From the people who brought you Click, comes this hilarious and heartwarming film that proves that men will be boys." --back cover

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" - "Filled with death-defying escapes and unexpected twists at every turn--Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a fun-filled adventure that will keep your pulse pounding long after the credits end."--back cover


"Place of Execution" - "Based on the novel by award-winning author Val McDermid, Place of Execution is a gripping psychological thriller, told in the present and the past, that blurs the lines between reality and illusion."-- back cover


"The Karate Kid" - "...an absorbing story of a preadolescent boy's struggle to find his own inner strength. .. Through an unlikely relationship with an adult, the boy not only learns to protect himself through martial arts, but develops the much more important qualities of respect and the mastery of one's own mind and body. This is an intense and often violent film that fully engulfs its viewers--be prepared to gasp and cheer out loud, and know that you may never look at the act of putting on and taking off a jacket in the same way again. (Ages 8 and older with parental guidance)" --Tami Horiuchi
 
"Iron Man 2" - "Robert Downey Jr. returns as billionaire Tony Stark in this thrilling sequel to the worldwide blockbuster. Now that his superhero secret has been revealed, Tony’s life is more intense than ever. Everyone wants in on the Iron Man technology, whether for power or profit…but for Ivan Vanko (“Whiplash”), it’s revenge! Tony must once again suit up and face his most dangerous enemy yet, but not without a few new allies of his own. Co-starring Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, Iron Man 2 is a “total blast!”"--Amazon

"True Blood: The Complete Second Season" - "When we last checked in with Sookie Stackhouse, the mystery surrounding a Bon Temps serial killer had finally been solved, to the town’s infinite relief. Sookie is thrilled that her vampire soul mate, Bill Compton, has escaped with his life (or is it death?) after coming to her daylight defense. On other fronts, Sookie’s pal Tara Thornton sets down new roots with an affluent benefactor, Maryann Forrester; Sam Merlotte resolves to get in shape-shift shape after a forest foray; roguish brother Jason finds new purpose with an anti-vampire sect; and detective Andy Bellefleur licks his wounds after being proven wrong about Jason’s guilt. But just as things are settling down, some deadly new twists threaten to ratchet up the saga of Sookie Stackhouse to bloody new heights!"--Amazon



MUSIC

"One Light One Sun" by Raffi - "The most popular children's singer in the English-speaking world."--The Washington Post


JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY

"Many Rides of Paul Revere" by James Giblin - "Giblin's book sets the record straight on Paul Revere's life and his role in the American Revolution. Beginning with his father's journey to America, this biography presents a lucid account of Revere's childhood, his limited education, his training in his father's workshop, his brief military career, and his adult life as a silversmith, family man, and Revolutionary War leader....Unlike some biographies of Revere, this one does not relate (only to refute) certain legendary "facts," though it does note the ways in which the historical record contradicts the famous poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," which is reprinted here. Giblin notes that Longfellow, in attempting to create an American hero rather than to write an accurate history, "more than achieved his goal." That's a gracious concession from a writer who has taken the latter path here, and with notable success." Phelan, Carolyn--Booklist 


JUVENILE DVD

"How to Train Your Dragon" -"... rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story....the unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds in this 'wonderful good-time hit!'...Gene Shalit, Today

"The Secret of Kells" - "Magic, fantasy and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times."--back cover

"Toy Story 3" - "Pixar's 3-D computer animation is top-notch as always and the voice talent in this film is tremendous, but in the end, it's Pixar's uncanny ability to combine drama, action, and humor in a way that irresistibly draws viewers into the world of the film that makes Toy Story 3 such great family entertainment."--Amazon



JUVENILE FICTION

"Trickster's Queen" by Tamora Pierce - "Aly, the hero of Trickster's Choice, continues her work for the raka rebellion, using her spying network to overthrow the evil regents and bring her mistress, Dove, to the throne. The flaccid plot and the cookie-cutter sameness to the characters make this 400-pager drag, but the magic and exotic settings, plus Pierce's trademark quips and strong female characters, give the book bounce."...THE HORN BOOK, c2005. 

"Realms of the Gods" by Tamora Pierce - "Daine...is an ideal heroine--adventurous, intelligent and gifted with magical powers."--School Library Journal

YOUNG ADULTS 

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins - "Katniss has survived her ordeal at the Quarter Quell, and she and her family are safe in District 13. Gale is there as well, but Peeta is being held at the Capitol as President Snow’s very special prisoner. Events move quickly, but realization unfolds slowly as Katniss learns that she has been a pawn in more ways than she ever supposed and that her role as the face of the revolution is one with unanticipated consequences, including a climbing death toll for which she holds herself personally responsible. Collins does several things brilliantly, not the least of which is to provide heart-stopping chapter endings that turn events on their heads and then twist them once more. But more ambitious is the way she brings readers to questions and conclusions about war throughout the story. There’s nothing didactic here, and the rush of the narrative sometimes obscures what message there is. Yet readers will instinctively understand what Katniss knows in her soul, that war mixes all the slogans and justifications, the deceptions and plans, the causes and ideals into an unsavory stew whose taste brings madness. That there is still a human spirit yearning for good is the book’s primrose of hope." Grades 6-12. --Ilene Coope, Booklist 

"My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, & Fenway Park" by Steve Kluger - "In his first novel for young readers, Kluger revisits themes in his adult titles: baseball, romantic sparring, and social activism....At the center are heart-pulling romances (even a few among adults) and a broadening sense of what family means. A few plot twists will require readers to suspend belief, and the voices tend to sound alike. Still, the appealing characters are bright, passionate, and fully engaged in their lives, and many readers will lose themselves in this original, high-spirited story." Gillian Engberg.. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2008.  


Sky is Everywhere" by Jandy Nelson - Lennie has always been the companion pony to her sister Bailey's race horse. When Bailey dies suddenly while rehearsing the lead in Romeo and Juliet, Lennie is thrust into the spotlight..Lennie is not prepared to deal with her grief. Nor is she equipped to confront the affection she feels for her dead sister's fiance. Adding to her emotional roller coaster is the gorgeous, musically gifted new boy in town who is clearly in love with her. Lennie is sympathetic, believable, and complex. Readers will identify with her and root for her to finally make the first steps toward healing. Nelson incorporates poems, written by Lennie and left for the wind to carry away, that help readers delve deeper into her heart. Bonus: teens unfamiliar with Wuthering Heights will likely want to find out what all the fuss is about. A story of love, loss, and healing that will resonate with readers long after they have finished reading." Shauna Yusko. 288pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010. 

PICTURE BOOKS

"Aggie the Brave" by Lori Ries

"Bedtime for Bear" by Bonny Becker

"Bink & Gollie" by Jate DeCamillo


"Bones and the Roller Coaster Mystery" by David A. Adler

"Born Yesterday: Diary of a Young Journalist" by James Solhein


"Button Up!" by Alice Schertle


"Cat the Cat, Who is That" by Mo Willems


"Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten" by Audrey Vermick


"Let's Do Nothing" by Tony Fucile


"The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash" by Trinka Hakes Noble

"Martha" by Gennadii Spirin

"Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt" by David Catrow

"Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland" by Wong Herbert Yee


"Nabeel's New Pants" by Fawzia Gilani-Williams


"Oh, Daddy" by Bob Shea

"Sea Mice and the Stars" by Kenneth Steven

"Snook Alone" by Marilyn Nelson


"What About Bear" by Suzanne Bloom

Library Ratings

The November/December 2010 Vermont Magazine has this letter.

"Just a quick not to say I enjoyed the article on Carnegie libraries. It is truly a testament to the state that "Vermont has the highest number of libraries per capita." I would recommend the Greensboro Free Library to your attention..."a library serving their townspeople in special and important ways." Having just finished a capital campaign and a major renovation, the Greensboro Free Library is even more user friendly, downright comfy and truly a community asset."

Jane Hoffman

Greensboro and New York City 

NEW ARRIVALS

ADULT FICTION

"The Burning Land" by Bernard Cornwell - In "The Burning Land" Bernard Cornwell draws readers once again into a thrilling, violent world "with the hypnotic skill of an old seer seated about an ancient campfire" (Wall Street Journal), continuing the epic, rousing saga of the birth of England and the legendary king who made it possible-- back cover

"Freedom: A Novel" by Jonathan Franzen - “Jonathan Franzen’s new novel, Freedom, like his previous one, The Corrections, is a masterpiece of American fiction . . . Freedom is a still richer and deeper work—less glittering on its surface but more confident in its method . . . Like all great novels, Freedom does not just tell an engrossing story. It illuminates, through the steady radiance of its author’s profound moral intelligence, the world we thought we knew.”—Sam Tanenhaus, The New York Times Book Review (cover review)

"The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - "The still, radiant center of an ambitious and remarkable novel, Prince Myshkin – the idiot—stands above and apart from characters who vividly and violently embody the passions and conflicts of nineteenth century Russia. An almost comically innocent Christ figure, Myshkin is a “wholly beautiful man” in a land of sinners, a man whose faith in the power of beauty contrasts sharply with the materialistic mores of his society. In him, his creator, Dostoyevsky, sees Russia’s redemption."—back cover

"The Passage" by Justin Cronin - "Justin Cronin has written a wild, headlong, sweeping extravaganza of a novel. "The Passage" is the literary equivalent of a unicorn: a bona fide thriller that is sharply written, deeply humane, ablaze with big ideas, and absolutely impossible to put down." -- Jennifer Egan, author of "The Keep"

"Tinkers" by Paul Harding - "An old man lies dying. As time collapses into memory, he travels deep into his past where he is reunited with his father and relives the wonder and pain of his impoverished New England youth. At once heartbreaking and life affirming, Tinkers is an elegiac meditation on love, loss, and the fierce beauty of nature."--back cover

ADULT NON-FICTION

"Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century" by Michael Hiltzik - "Fascinating. A construction epic..of a beautiful immensity, a piece of infrastructure without compare..reflecting Depression-era America [and] astutely conveying the characters of its creators. Hiltzik marvelously captures the times of the Hoover Dam." — Booklist

"The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy" by David E. Hoffman - "Revealing, alarming and compelling throughout...This richly reported account vividly chronicles the insanity of the arms race" -- T.J. Stiles, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Finnigan's, Slaters and Stonepeggers: A History of the Irish in Vermont" by Vincent E. Feeney - "If it is true that we are not real until we are recorded in history, then this book makes the Irish in Vermont real. It is a must for all Irish Americans in Vermont, and for everyone else, for that matter. It is all our story." -- Greg Delanty, poet, Saint Michael's College

BIOGRAPHY

"Imperfect Ending" by Zoe Fitzgerald Carter - "In her wise and moving memoir, journalist Zoe Carter tackles a difficult subject -- her mother's decision to end her own life after years of severe illness. Under what circumstances can her family make peace with this choice? Many of us will find ourselves facing this kind of dilemma as our parents move toward death, and I cannot imagine a better guide than this thoughtful, compassionate book." -- Julie Metz, author of "Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal"

MYSTERY

"Alexandria" by Lindsey Davis - "Especially captivating...a hilarious portrayal of academia circa A.D. 77, replete with rancorous board meetings, pretentious intellectual wrangling, and petty professional jealousies." -- The Wall Street Journal

JUVENILE FICTION

"Fork in the Trail" by Laurie Calkhoven - "Girls are able to select their own endings in this interactive story that takes place on the campus of Innerstar University! Readers can imagine themselves as the main character, a girl who has learned all about the trees and flowers that grow in the woods around campus. When it's time for a hike in the woods, she leads the way. But when she and a few friends get lost in the thick of the forest, can she bring them back to safety? With more than 20 different endings, girls will enjoy this book again and again to see how different decisions change the story. Plus, each book comes with a secret access code to unlock additional endings online! " -- Product Description, Amazon

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"Life in the Boreal Forest" by Brenda Z. Guiberson - Each of the stunning paintings in this catalog of the Boreal Forest, the great northern forest, is breathtakingly beautiful. They are in the style of Audubon and other great naturalist painters. They breathe life into the creatures, give texture to their fur and feathers and capture a sense of place…” -- The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

"Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson - "Holding true to the original title for adults, Three Cups of Tea, this moving story will amaze and inspire young readers...This truly exceptional and moving title should not be missed." --School Library Journal, starred review

PICTURE BOOKS

"All the World" by Elizabeth Scanlon

"Benny and Penny in the Big No No" by Geoffrey Hayes

"Gruffalo" by Julia Donaldson

"Pearl & Wagner: One Funny Day" by Kate McMullen

NEW ARRIVALS

MYSTERY

"The Search" by Nora Roberts - "Number-one New York Times-bestselling author Nora Roberts presents a novel set in the Pacific Northwest, where an island provides sanctuary, the lush forests seduce the unwary, and a man and a woman find in each other the strength to carry on." - inside front cover

"Scarlet Nights" by Jude Deveraux - "As Deveraux continues her series, she brings to life the sort of sweet and spunky heroines who attract the muscular men her fans expect and enjoy. So this is another guilty-pleasure romance of suspense that will hook readers and leave them with a smile."-- Patty Engelman, Booklist

"Ice Cold" by Tess Gerritsen - "Tess Gerritsen's relentless, inventive novel takes readers on a pulse-pounding thrill ride through a mysteriously isolated town...as a silent watcher waits." - back cover

"Hangman: A Decker/Lazarus Novel" by Faye Kellerman - "Murder, a missing woman, and a sociopath from the past sweep Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus into a labyrinth of mystery and danger in this electrifying new tale of suspense from New York Times bestselling author Faye Kellerman...." --inside front cover

YOUNG ADULTS

"Saving Sky" by Diane Stanley - " In this provocative title, award-winning author Stanley asks young readers to consider what courage might look like in an America under psychological and physical siege...Readers will have much to discuss after finishing this beautifully written, disturbing book." -- Frances Bradburn, Booklist

"Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater - "Grace and Sam met six years ago when she was attacked by werewolves. Sam changed from a yellow-eyed wolf to a yellow-eyed boy and carried her home. Although bitten, Grace survived and did not change, the only werewolf victim ever to do so....This novel is perfect for Twilight fans or a Romeo and Juliet list. It is sensuous, intense, riveting, and so very satisfying." --Bonne Kunzel, VOYA

"Linger" by Maggie Stiefvater - "In Shiver, Grace watched Sam struggle to remain human instead of succumbing to the call of the wild, brought on by the bitter Minnesota cold. In this sequel, Sam, now human, watches Grace, the only victim of a werewolf attack who didn't turn, go through the same struggle as her body demands that she take the form of a wolf....This riveting narrative, impossible to put down, is not only an excellent addition to the current fangs and fur craze but is also a beautifully written romance that, along with Shiver, will have teens clamoring for the third and final entry..."--Bonnie Kunzel, VOYA

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"Binky, The Space Cat" by Ashley Spires - "The ink-and-watercolor illustrations in this graphic novel perfectly capture idiosyncratic feline behaviors, and readers will instantly recognize the truth in Binky's perception of reality and appreciate the humor...With plenty of visual gags and a cute hero, this book is perfect for kids who are transitioning from easy readers to early chapter books, while the dry humor will also keep strong readers engaged."--Eva Volin, Booklist

PICTURE BOOKS

"Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink" by Victoria Karr

"The Dollhouse Fairy" by Jane Ray

"Leonardo the Terrible Monster" by Mo Willems

NEW ARRIVALS

MYSTERY

"Sizzling Sixteen"by Janet Evanovich - "Stephanie Plum, half-Italian, half-Hungarian, a shrewd mixture of smarts and dumb luck, works for her cousin Vinny as a bail bondswoman in Trenton, New Jersey. Vinny, however, is in deep fecal matter, owing too much money to the very scary guys who have kidnapped him. Stephanie, office manager Connie, and Lula, plus-sized and focused (if not on the job at hand), manage to spring Vinny (more than once) and find a lot of money to pay what he owes. Along the way, they facilitate a cow stampede and an alligator escape; are assisted by a bunch of Hobbit con-goers; and find their office going up quite thoroughly in flames. Stephanie wrecks the usual car and ping-pongs between the hot and dangerous Ranger and the hot and domestic Morelli. Ranger says the “love” word to Stephanie, but it is Morelli at the end, offering her a pink, lacy thong. In the first few pages, Evanovich both catches readers up on the hilarious and cockeyed history of the preceding 15 books and gives fans a little more of everything they want, including the return of beloved stoner Mooner. Funny, scary, silly, and sweet." --GraceAnne A. DeCandido -- Booklist

"Whiplash" by Catherine Coulter - "In Coulter's fab 14th FBI paranormal romantic thriller (after KnockOut), FBI special agents Dillon Savich and his wife, Lacey Sherlock, look into the possible haunting of a U.S. senator by his dead wife as well as a more earthly crime: Germany's Schiffer Hartwin Pharmaceutical, which has its U.S. headquarters in Connecticut, might be deliberately withholding an inexpensive cancer fighting drug, Culovort, to force cancer patients to require the far more expensive Eloxium, in short supply. The FBI probe dovetails with one by PI and part-time ballet teacher Erin Pulaski, who's hired by a Yale professor worried about his cancer-stricken father being affected by the shortage. In a wild coincidence, Bowie Richards, the FBI special agent in charge of the New Haven field office, also hires Erin—to babysit his daughter, a ballet student of hers. The attraction between Bowie and Erin grows as they help Dillon and Lacey crack a complicated double case. Coulter fans will want to see more of this new crime-fighting duo." (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. -- Publisher's Weekly

NEW ARRIVALS

FICTION

"House Rules" by Jodi Picoult - The prolific Picoult crafts a cunning whodunit that explores what it's like to be not only a teenager with Asperger's syndrome but also an AS kid accused of murder...Told from multiple viewpoints, ...the mystery unfolds at a spellbinding pace. But Picoult also does an exceptional job communicating the complexities of Asperger's syndrome and the challenges confronting AS families." Carol Haggas. 544 pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

" Spies of the Balkans" by Alan Furst - "With extraordinary authenticity, a superb cast of characters, and heart-stopping tension as it move from Salonika to Paris to Berlin and back Spies of the Balkans is a stunning novel about a man who risks everything to fight back against the world's evil. " --inside front cover

"Matterhorn" by Karl Marlantes - "an unforgettable novel that transforms the tragedy of Vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice; a parable not only of the war in Vietnam but of all war, and a testament to the redemptive power of literature." -- inside back cover

"Secrets of Eden" by Chris Bohjalian - "Secrets of Eden is both a haunting literary thriller and a deeply evocative testament to the inner complexities that mark all of our lives."--inside front cover

"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" - by Helen Simonson - "Change is threatening the little world of Edgecombe St. Mary. Lord Dagenham is about to sell of part of his ancestral estate to developers, and Pakistanis have taken over the village shop. Major Ernest Pettigrew is definitely old school, but he has been lonely since his wife died, and though he is prey to various unattached ladies it is with shopkeeper Mrs. Ali that he forms a bond, nourished by their mutual interest in literature. Meanwhile, his ambitious son Roger comes to town with a sleek American girlfriend and starts renovating a nearby cottage. And the village ladies are busy hatching plans for the annual Gold Club dance,...There is a great deal going on in these pages---sharply observed domestic comedy, late-life romance, culture clash, a dash of P.G. Wodehouse, and a pinch of religious fundamentalism."--Booklist

NON-FICTION

"Change Your Brain, Change Your Body" by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. - "Whether you're just coming to get your body into shape, or are already fit and want to take it to the next level, Change Your Brain, Change Your Body is all you need to start putting the power of brain-body connection to work for you today." --inside front cover

"Broke, USA From Pawnshops to Poverty, Inc. - How the Working Poor Became Big Business" by Gary Rivlin - "Timely, shocking, and powerful, Broke, USA offers a much-needed look at why our country is in a financial mess and gives a voice to the millions of ordinary Americans left devastated in the wake of the economic collapse."--inside back cover

BIOGRAPHY

"Nomad" by Ayaan Hisi Ali - "Nomad is a portrait of a family torn apart by the clash of civilizations. But it is also a touching, uplifting, and often funny account of one woman's discovery of today's America. While Hirsi Ali lives much of what she encounters, she fears we are repeating the European mistake of underestimating radical Islam. She calls on key institutions of the West...to enact specific, innovative remedies that would help other Muslim immigrants to overcome the challenges she has experienced and to resist the fatal allure of fundamentalism and terrorism."--inside front cover

MYSTERY

"Private" by James Patterson - "Private, the world's most powerful investigative firm, takes on three twisted, almost unsolvable crimes. James Patterson's most electrifying series yet." --inside front cover

"61 Hours" by Lee Child - "The countdown has begun. Get ready for the most exciting 61 hours of your life. #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child's latest thriller is a ticking time bomb of suspense that builds electric tension on every page." -- inside front cover

"This Body of Death" by Elizabeth George - "...Detective Inspector Lynley returns, still grieving the deaths of his wife and unborn child in Cornwall, but moving forward, assisting New Scotland Yard in an investigation involving a young woman whose body was found in a London cemetery. George intersects this plotline with a real-life case, the Bulger kidnapping, involving the harrowing kidnapping and murder of a toddler by three boys. Re-imagining this case, with all the details a novelist can bring to bear, seems in bad taste at best. Except for Inspector Lynley, whose character is always intriguing, the two plots limp along, making little headway. In addition, the new love interest that George provides for Lynley seem contrived." -- Connie Fletcher, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010

AUDIO BOOK

"The Lion" - Nelson DeMille - "As suspenseful, gripping and prophetic as The Lion's Game, The Lion is a chilling novel about global terrorism -- and the consequences of fighting a war with no end in sight. Told with his signature dry wit and filled with the fast-paced action for which he is famous, this is DeMille at his very best." -- back cover

JUVENILE FICTION

"The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan - "Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the (Percy Jackson and The Olympian's) series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge yet--the chilling prophecy of the Titan's curse."--back cover

YOUNG ADULT

"Fang" by James Patterson - "The Maximum Ride series' flock of winged children is of Africa for a photo op while providing humanitarian aid. Then, Max's rival, Angel, prophesies that best-friend Fang will be the first to die and it will happen soon. When Dr. Gunther-Hagen introduces Max to Dylan, a gorgeous new bird kid who has been designed to be Max's perfect mate, Max's voices tell her Dylan is perfect for her. But how does this affect her commitment to Fang? This will excite the legions of fans waiting for this installment in the flock's story." --Booklist

DVD's

"The Lightning Thief" - Modern and mythical worlds collide in this thunderous fantasy-adventure... Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager...he's just learned he's the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt - the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible cross-country journey to prove his innocence, recover the bolt and prevent a war amongst the gods that could destroy our world! -- back cover

"An Education" - When Jenny, ...a bright young school girl who longs for adulthood, meets David, a dashing older man, he introduces her to his vibrant world of glamorous friends, chic jazz clubs and her own sexual awakening. Will she let this affair ruin her dreams of attending Oxford, as her headmistress fears? -- back cover

"CopOut" - Officers Jimmy Monroe and Paul Hodges have their weapons drawn on a gun-wielding killer. They agree to shoot on three. But, wait, does that mean 1..2..shoot or 1...2...3.. then shoot? Punches hit hard and laughs hit harder ...as bickering-but-got-your-back Brooklyn buddy cops. -- back cover

"Brooklyn's Finest" - Experience the volatile and deadly world of one of New York's most dangerous precincts through the eyes of the men and women pledged to protect and serve. -- back cover

"The Blind Side" - "This real-life story of family and of Michael's growth into a blue-chip football star will have you cheering with its mix of gridiron action and heartwarming emotion.--back cover

"Shutter Island" - When U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels arrives at the asylum for the criminally insane on Shutter Island, what starts as a routine investigation quickly takes a sinister turn. As the investigation unfolds and Teddy uncovers more shocking and terrifying truths about the island, he learns there are more places that never let you go. -- back cover

"Alice in Wonderland" - Alice, now 19 year old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny.--back cover

NEW ARRIVALS

ADULT FICTION

"31 Hours" by Masha Hamilton - "A woman in New York awakens knowing, as deeply as a mother s blood can know, that her grown son is in danger. His name is Jonas... We soon learn that Jonas is isolated in a safe-house apartment in New York City, pondering his conversion to Islam and his experiences training in Pakistan, preparing for the violent action he has been instructed to take in 31 hours. Jonas's absence from the lives of those who love him causes a cascade of events, and as the novel moves through the streets and subways of New York we come to know intimately the lives of its characters. We also learn to feel deeply the connections and disconnections that occur between young people and their parents not only in this country but in the Middle East as well. Carried by Hamilton's highly-lauded prose, this story about the helplessness of those who cannot contact a beloved young man who is on a devastatingly confused path is compelling on the most human level." - Amazon

"The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Mohsin Hamid - "A young Pakistani man, educated at Princeton and employed in a highly prestigious financial-analysis firm in New York, was about to start a brilliant career and had fallen for a young woman whose commitment to him, it must be admitted, was partial and elusive when the terrorist attacks occurred. Answering to his own conscience, he could not remain in the U.S. By the pull of his true personal identity, he must return to Pakistan, despite his reluctance to leave the enigmatic but beguiling young woman behind. From the perspective of a few years later, the young man relates his American experiences to an American man he meets in a cafe, whose visit to Lahore may or may not have to do with the young man's recent anti-American activities. This novel's firm, steady, even beautiful voice proclaims the completeness of the soul when personal and global issues are conjoined." - Brad Hooper, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2007.

"Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See - In prewar 1930s Shanghai, carefree sisters Pearl Chin and younger, prettier May are the 'beautiful girls' whose images on posters beckon viewers to buy products. They openly scoff at their parents' superstitious, old-world ways, but they soon learn that the good life is but an illusion. The Japanese army's brutal invasion of the city makes their lives as beautiful girls impossible. Their businessman father loses everything to the ruthless mob, and to pay off his debts he forces his daughters into arranged marriages to Chinese men living in the United States. See is masterly in her powerful depictions of the prejudice and harsh treatment the sisters encounter as they try to assimilate into the strange new world of Los Angeles. Possibly the best book yet from the author of Peony in Love; highly recommended." - LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.

" So Much for That" by Lionel Shriver - "Shep Knacker's long-cherished plan to use the million dollars from the sale of his handyman business to retire to a tropical island receives a gut- wrenching blow when his wife, Glynis, is diagnosed with a rare cancer. Transformed into a full-time caregiver, the good-natured Shep is buoyed during the illness of self-centered, vindictive, and obnoxiously demanding Glynis by his working mate and best friend, Jackson Burdina, whose teenage daughter, Flicka, also has a terminal disease. Ironically, Glynis tenaciously clings to life, while Flicka, with whom she bonds, wants to end hers. Jackson, meanwhile, acutely conscious that he's going broke, rails pungently against government regulations and the insurance industry. A mouthpiece for the plight of middle-class workers, Jackson's diatribes about contemporary society--the medical, educational and banking systems, exorbitant taxation, political chicanery--ring painfully true. As Shep's Merrill-Lynch account dwindles and further medical calamities arise, Shriver twists the plot to raise suspense until the heart-lifting denouement." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2009.

"Big Girl" by Daniel Steel - "Victoria Dawson has always felt like an outcast. When her little sister Grace is born, father Jim tells Victoria she was the 'tester cake,' and they finally got it right with the beautiful Gracie. Victoria grows up in her sister's shadow, and though she loves Gracie dearly, she's anxious to leave home. The pain doesn't stop there, though. Her father calls her first job at a prestigious private school in Manhattan 'pathetic,' and Victoria begins a battle with her weight and her belief that she is unlovable (even though men pursue her). The premise of the story is sound, but it doesn't ring true: the parents are two- dimensional, cruel monsters and Victoria seems to have everything: fantastic job, amazing apartment, perfect best friends. It's hard to believe that her parents would still wield such power. Steel barely grazes the surface of an important topic, but it's not reality that has positioned her at the top of bestseller lists." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2010.

"Coming Home" by Mariah Stewart - Grady left the FBI to mourn his murdered wife and lived for several years in solitary grief in their Montana home. Now he's ready to get back to the world of the living. The first thing he wants to do is visit his sister, Mia, who lives near the Chesapeake Bay. That's where he finds a new love." - BRODART CO., c2010

"A River in the Sky" by Elizabeth Peters -"Set in 1910, the novel takes Amelia and her husband, Emerson, to Palestine, where an English adventurer, George Morley, is planning to excavate Jerusalem's Temple Mount in search of the Ark of the Covenant. Gen. David Spencer, the director of Military Operations in London, suspects Morley of spying for the Germans. Spencer wants Egyptologists Amelia and Emerson to stop Morley from undertaking a project sure to offend the three religious groups that consider the temple site holy. Meanwhile, son Ramses embarks on a treacherous journey to convey to his parents important information learned from two travelers he meets while on a dig in Samaria. Once again, MWA Grandmaster Peters uses vivid settings, sharp characterizations, and deft dialogue to transport the reader to another time and place." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2010.

"In the Fullness of Time" by Vincent Nicolosi - "On Monday, November 23, 1963 President John F. Kennedy was buried in Arlington. During the stillness of this momentous day, Tristan Tecumseh Hamilton begins a long look back at his life and times, and at the life and time of his neighbor and fellow townsman, President Warren G. Harding, who died mysteriously in San Fransisco forty years before. Throughout the final week of November 1963, the assassination and burial of President Kennedy becomes the mirror through which the now aging Tristan views the storied and long-buried past as it rises all around him. Power and love, ambition and loyalty, war and the devotion to home these universal themes weave through the rich and intricate tapestry of the magisterial American epic that encompasses the world from the vantage of home." - Publisher's description

BIOGRAPHY

"Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea" by Richard Phillips -Captain Philips of the Maersk Alabama writes about the hijacking of his ship by Somali pirates and his ordeal as their hostage. A mariner of 30 years' experience when his ship was taken, he had in place all the security precautions to keep his crew safe and hidden. This left him as the only possible hostage and led to an ordeal of several days in a lifeboat in the hands of pirates whom he portrays, with compassion and balance, as alternately conciliatory, vicious, and simply not all there. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy assembled a task force large enough to fight a small war, and tension steadily rose, as did Phillips' fear for his life. The pirate leader decamped, and the other three died in a classic hostage rescue by U.S. Navy SEALs.... one closes the book with an overpowering sense that this time, for once, the good guys won." Roland Green, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010

"The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama" by David Remnick -"Remnick's major contribution to the river of Obama books is a sharply honed work of 'biographical journalism' unique in its multiplicity of perspectives, contextual richness, and astute analysis of the president's 'political, racial, and sentimental education.'.. Remnick vividly depicts Obama as a novice campaigner, resented state senator, and restless member of Congress; a charismatic man of discipline and brilliance, conviction and conciliation, who connected with exactly the right people to support his visionary, fast-tracked political ascendency. In his spectacularly encompassing, analytical, and dramatic portrait, Remnick calibrates the deepest reverberations of Obama's transformative journey to the White House. Donna Seaman. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010.

"Thought for Jesse: A Father's Tribute" by Nathan Strong - "... as much a work of scholarship and theology as it is a loving ode to his son, Jesse Warner Strong, a seminary student who died on patrol in Iraq. ...Strong discusses the purpose of life, marriage and divorce, parenting, counseling and revival, and thoughts on the reflection of God in our lives and the call to missions." - Amazon

"Spoken from the Heart" by Laura Bush - "In this brave, beautiful, and deeply personal memoir, Laura Bush, one of our most beloved and private first ladies, tells her own extraordinary story." - inside front cover

MYSTERY

"Aunt Amity Down Under" by Nancy Atherton - "Lori Shepherd has received bad news. Her neighbors, Ruth and Louise Pym, may be dying. When the eccentric sisters ask her to find their long-lost brother before it's too late, naturally, she can't refuse. Her journey to find him leads her to New Zealand. With the help of a charming Kiwi and the otherwordly guidance of Aunt Dimity, Lori unravels a web of secrets that has haunted the Pym family for generations." BRODART CO., c2009.

"Death of a Valentine" by M.C. Beaton - "...a Valentine's Day parcel explodes in the face of the Scottish Highlands' Lammas festival queen, Annie Fleming, as soon as she tries to open it, killing her instantly. Hamish Macbeth, newly promoted to sergeant, would rather investigate with only his trusty pets in tow, but is instead forced to tote along his new constable, the less than professional Josie McSween. Considered prim and proper and a right innocent, Annie turns out to have been leading a less than virtuous double life, with no shortage of suspects in her murder. A much sought after bachelor, Hamish desperately tries to break the case, while Josie, with dreams in her eyes, strives to crack Hamish's heart. Will Josie succeed in getting Hamish to say I do at the altar? For all the book's farcical moments, Beaton takes care as usual to provide a satisfying police procedural." - Publisher's Weekly - Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"The Shadow of Your Smile" by Mary Higgins Clark -"When a deceased nun, Sister Catherine, becomes a candidate for sainthood in this gripping thriller from bestseller Clark (Just Take My Heart), Monica Farrell, a 31-year-old Manhattan pediatrician, becomes the target of those who don't want her to inherit what's left of a fortune created by her unknown grandfather, Alex Gannon, with whom Catherine had a secret love child before she took up holy orders. That child, given up for adoption, became Monica's father. Monica must now testify whether two boys became cancer-free due to prayers to Sister Catherine so she can qualify for beatification. Meanwhile, Olivia Morrow, Catherine's 82-year-old dying cousin, ponders whether to tell Monica she's Alex's granddaughter. Clark skillfully mixes spiritual questions with down and dirty deeds as she reveals Gannon Foundation funds have been steadily siphoned off by greedy heirs and associates who will stop at nothing, even murder, to keep their criminal misbehavior under wraps." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2010.

"Deception" by Jonathan Kellerman - "Deputy Chief Weinberg assigns LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis a particularly sensitive murder case at the outset of bestseller Kellerman's smooth if routine 25th Alex Delaware novel (after Evidence). Elise Freeman, a teacher and tutor at exclusive Windsor Preparatory Academy in Brentwood, is found dead in her Studio City apartment in a bathtub full of dry ice. Despite Elise's having left a DVD accusing three fellow teachers at the academy of repeated sexual harassment, Weinberg wants (for personal reasons) the investigation to involve the school as little as possible. As usual, psychologist Alex Delaware takes an active role in the investigation, which finds the victim had lots to hide. A boyfriend, students, teachers, and administrators are all anxious to keep those secrets hidden--and at least one of them is willing to kill again. Milo and Alex form an odd but effective duo as they trade banter and insights while sorting out the lies and deceptions." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2010.

"Split Image" by Robert B. Parker -"The body found in the trunk of the car was that of a low level mobster and it had all the appearances of being a mob hit. While it was reason for concern, it took on new meaning when a high-ranking crime figure was later found dead on Paradise Beach, where coincidentally, tough guy Reggie Galen and his wife Rebecca lived. Police Chief Jess Stone and his ex-wife, Sunny Randall, team up to solve the case and rekindle old feelings." - BRODART CO., c2009.

"Fantasy in Death" by J. D. Robb - "Lt. Eve Dallas, a top homicide cop for the New York Police and Security Department (the law enforcement agency for a mid 21st-century New York City), faces one of the more challenging cases of her career... When someone cuts off the head of Bart Minnock, the genius founder of the computer gaming company U-Play, apparently while he was role-playing against an imaginary opponent in a prototype of a fantasy adventure that could rock the industry, Eve investigates. Security logs show no one entered Minnock's building around the time of his murder, presenting a futuristic variation on the classic locked-room mystery. Aided by her husband, Roarke, who was a potential business rival of the victim, Dallas focuses on who would benefit from Minnock's death." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2009.

"The Mapping of Love and Death" by Jacqueline Winspear - " A Maisie Dobbs mystery based on a true story about the discovery of a collapsed dugout from World War I containing the bodies of a cartography team and their equipment. The American parents of the dead cartographer hire Maisie to find 'the English Nurse,' the young man's mysterious lover--and possibly his killer, as the autopsy evidence points to his having been murdered shortly before the dugout collapsed. Only a few hours after having hired Maisie, the Americans are attacked and badly beaten, prompting Maisie to take it upon herself to discover their attacker. Maisie and her assistant, Billy, take on the case in their usual careful and contemplative style, even as difficulties in Maisie's personal life challenge her concentration. Readers who preferred the earlier novels in the series will be pleased with this entry and those waiting for Maisie to finally find a love interest will have something to cheer about. A must read for series fans, especially because the ending hints that big changes are on the way for Maisie." - Jessica Moyer. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010.

ADULT NON-FICTION

"A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North Central North America" by Roger Tory Peterson - "1,293 species in 84 families are described and illustrated." - back cover

"29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving can Change Your Life" by Cami Walker - "Walker presents a story that gets to the core of the emotional pain and loneliness that people feel when suffering from a serious disease like multiple sclerosis (MS), which she was diagnosed with at age 35. Readers will instantly connect with this narrative of her journey to find an alternative to withering away in her apartment. Through the help of a spiritual leader, Walker begins to heal herself emotionally by giving away 29 gifts in 29 days. Her story unfolds nicely, and the reader is left with a good picture of what it's like to live with MS. Walker turns what could have been a book about self-pity into a great read about pain and a creative way to get on with life." - LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.

"A Conservationist Manifesto" by Scott Russell Sanders - How should we act in response to alarming environmental havoc? As with every great endeavor, such as the abolition of slavery, what's needed is a declaration of values and intent. A manifesto. Sanders, a proven voice of reason and clarity, offers exactly such a document in the hope of shaping an effective green movement. But first he has some stories to share, terms to define, and fresh perspectives to establish. Writing lucidly and stirringly from his home base in Indiana, Sanders views preserving wilderness as a Sabbath in space instead of in time. People who practice an 'ethic of restraint' are ark builders because their simpler ways of living are 'vessels' holding the wisdom we need to survive the 'rising flood' of environmental concerns. Sanders writes crisply about what it really means to call a place home; reminds us of our 'common wealth,' the living world; and decries 'endless consumption.' Generosity of spirit and love of life underpin Sanders' 40-point blueprint for ecological health." Donna Seaman. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.

JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY

"The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum" by Candace Fleming - "Big-top pioneer Barnum had an equally indelible effect on the history of museums and zoology. This biography captures the spirit of the man and his era. While Fleming lauds his accomplishments, she doesn't shy away from ethical issues that, from a modern perspective, threaten to tarnish his legacy. The handsome book design includes an abundance of photographs and illustrations, sidebars and subheadings" - THE HORN BOOK, c2010

JUVENILE FICTION

"Scat" by Carl Hiaasen - "Hiassen's smooth writing, whacked-out humor, and highly entertaining cast of oddball characters keep the plot clipping along." - Publisher's Weekly

"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly - "Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing an unusual year with unique sensitivity and wit." - inside front cover

"The Dragon of Trelian" by Michelle Knudsen - "Together, Calen and Meg discover that their unlikely friendship may be the only thing standing between the kingdom of Trelian and a devastating tragedy. Can an apprentice, a princess, and a dragon combine their strength and magic to bring down a secret traitor before it's to late?" -inside front cover

"Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin - "Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude." - Booklist

"Everything for a Dog" by Ann M. Martin -“Martin's book honors the unique companionship and healing powers that have earned dogs the title of man's best friend, and it will resonate with both the reader who is already a dog owner or who, like Henry, pines to be one.”— Shelf Awareness

"Shelf Awareness" by James Preller - “Preller displays a keen awareness of the complicated and often-conflicting instincts to fit in, find friends, and do the right thing. Although there are no pat answers, the message (that a bystander is hardly better than an instigator) is clear, and Preller’s well-shaped characters, strong writing, and realistic treatment of middle-school life deliver it cleanly.”— Booklist

"Project Sweet Life" by Brent Hartinger - "Hartinger’s comedy of errors is improbable but entertaining. The characters ring true, and teens will appreciate that the trio puts more effort into evading work than they would have expended at a real job. An amusing story with great teen appeal. Grades 6-9. --Lynn Rutan

"11 Birthdays" by Wendy Mass - "It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited---after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together. When Amanda turns in for the night, glad to have her birthday behind her, she wakes up happy for a new day. Or is it? Her birthday seems to be repeating iself. What is going on?! And how can she fix it? Only time, friendship, and a little luck will tell. . . "

"A Dog on His Own" by Mary Jane Auc - "...canine K-10 is an engaging character, whose lively narrative intimately details shelter life and survival challenges. Though some of the others are archetypes and there are a few potentially disturbing scenes, the dogs’ experiences facing their fears and learning the true meaning of friendship and family will resonate with kids. This is a compelling, affectionate story of opening not just one’s home, but also one’s heart." Grades 4-6. --Shelle Rosenfeld

"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead - "Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time"....Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise...This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers." –Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT School Library Journal

"Ragtag" by Karl Wolf-Morgenlander - "When the Talon Empire is pushed out of its woods, the raptor inhabitants begin to take over Boston, home of the Feathered Alliance. Soon young swallow Ragtag is leading the Feathered Alliance in the fight to save Boston, searching simultaneously for help from his missing eagle friend. Well-developed characters and quick pacing combine for an entertaining adventure for animal fantasy fans." - THE HORN BOOK, c2010

YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY

"Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose - "Claudette Colvin was 15 when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus. While Rosa Parks became an icon for doing the same nine months later, Colvin become a footnote of history. Until now. Hoose, author of We Were There, Too!: Young People in U. S. History (2001), interviewed Colvin and came away with this winner of the 2009 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Colvin's matter-of-fact account of her individual courage is especially compelling set against the larger context of the Civil Rights era.... An unforgettable story."- LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2010.

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children and Don't You Weary" by Elizabeth Partridge - "Few of the many books about the Civil Rights era discuss the importance of children and teens to the movement. Children as young as eight were threatened, arrested, and mistreated alongside their parents and teachers. Here, Partridge gives voice to these children, particularly the ones who participated in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. This photo-essay brings to life the events leading up to the march, which concluded in a speech made by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. before a crowd of 30,000. The images grip the reader with their intimate depictions of the courage of the many and the few." - LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2010.

"Adventures in Cartooning" by James Sturn Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost - "Not quite a how-to book, as the cover might suggest, this is rather a stupendous new high for children's graphic novels, spearheaded by comics maestro Sturm." - Booklist

PICTURE BOOKS

"Can You Find Colors"

"Into the Wild" by Lerryn Korda

"Dog Wants to Play" by Christine McDonnell

"Feeding the Sheep" by Leda Schubert

"Can You Make a Scary Face" by Jan Thomas

"Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraodinare" by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser

"Stretch" by Doreen Cronin and Scott Menchin

"I Love My White Shoes" by Eric Litwin

"Love-a-Duck" by Alan James Brown

"Here Comes the Garbage Barge!" by Jonah Winter

"Robot Zot!" by Jon Scieszka and David Shannon

"The Longest Night" by Marion Dane Bauer

"I'm the Best" by Lucy Cousins

"Chester's Masterpiece" by Melanie Watt

"Yucky Worms" by Vivian French

"Mirror, Mirror" by Marilyn Singer

"The Django" by Levi Pinfold

"The Pirate Cruncher" by Jonny Doddle

DVD's

"The Young Victoria" - "Based on the courtship and early reign of England's longest-serving monarch, THE YOUNG VICTORIA is a majestic tale of romance, intrigue and power." - back cover

"It's Complicated" - "hilarious look at marriage, divorce and everything in between" starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin - back cover

"Star Trek" - "On a thrilling journey filled with incredible action, the new recruits of the U.S.S. Enterprise will voyage through unimaginable danger in one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed movies of the year." - back cover

"The Hangover" - "Now this is what I'm talkin' about! A funny movie, flat out, all the way through." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Brothers" - "During Sam Cahill's fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan he is shot down. The worst is presumed, leaving an enormous void in the family. Despite a dark history, Sam's charismatic younger brother, steps in to fill the void." - back cover

"Avatar" - "A reluctant hero. An epic journey. A choice between the life he left behind and the incredible new world he's learned to call home. Return to James Cameron's AVATAR - the greatest adventure of all time." - back cover

"UP" - "a hilariously uplifting adventure where the sky is no longer the limit....Carl Frederickson, visiting the lost worlds of his childhood dreams, realizes that sometimes life's biggest adventures aren't the ones you set out looking for." - back cover

"Calamity Jane" - "This 1953 musical is very much a vehicle for Doris Day...as a wild cowgirl who can outshoot and outsing the range." - Amazon

"The Outsider" - Johnny Gault (Tim Daly) is a cold-blooded gunslinger who wasn't looking for trouble but finds it when he rides into a dusty little town. An excalating feud over land between ranchers and new settlers is ready to explode into violence."

"The Organizing Papertrail" - "the video will not only help you 'pay the piper' on time, but will also show you how to neatly arrange those bits and pieces of paper, magazines, and priceless works of art which are scattered throughout your house."

"Food, Inc." - "...lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing how our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health"

MUSIC

"Love Never Dies" by Andrew Lloyd Webber