NEW ARRIVALS - JUNE 2012

ADULT FICTION

 "Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama" by Alison Bechdel - "a thrilling tale of filial sleuthery, about her mother: voracious reader, music lover, passionate amateur actor. Also a woman, unhappily married to a closeted gay man, whose artistic aspirations simmered under the surface of Bechdel's childhood . . . and who stopped touching or kissing her daughter good night, forever, when she was seven. Poignantly, hilariously, Bechdel embarks on a quest for answers concerning the mother-daughter gulf." -- Amazon.com

"The Beginner's Goodbye" by  Anne Tyler - "A beautiful, subtle exploration of loss and recovery, pierced throughout with Anne Tyler's humor, wisdom, and always penetrating look at human foibles." -- inside front cover

"Bring Up the Bodies: A Novel " by Hilary Mantel - "The sequel to Hilary Mantel's international bestseller and Man Booker Prize winner Wolf Hall explores one of the most mystifying and frightening episodes in English history: the downfall of Anne Boleyn."-- inside front cover

"Calico Joe" by John Grisham -"A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball." -- inside front cover

"A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 5)" by George Martin - "In the aftermath of a colossal battle, Daenerys Targaryen rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way east—with new allies who may not be the ragtag band they seem. And in the frozen north, Jon Snow confronts creatures from beyond the Wall of ice and stone, and powerful foes from within the Night’s Watch. In a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics lead a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, to the greatest dance of all." -- Amazon.com

"Fifty Shades of Grey" by E. L. James - "Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever." -- back cover

"Home" by Toni Morrison -"A deeply moving novel about an apparently defeated man finding his manhood - and his home." -- inside front cover

"Kill Shot" by Vince Flynn -"In Flynn's newest page-turner, the stakes are higher than they've ever been as Mitch Rapp embarks on the journey that will turn him into America's most deadly asset. The nonstop action in this shockingly realistic political thriller will keep your pulse pounding till the very end." -- inside back cover

"Sacre Bleu: A Comedy of Art" by Christopher Moore -"A delectable confection of intrigue, passion, and art history -- with cancan girls, baguettes, and fine French cognac thrown in for good measure -- Sacre Bleu is another masterpiece of wit and wonder from the one, the only, Christopher Moore." -- inside front cover

"Submission" by Amy Waldman - "In this deeply humane novel, the breadth of Amy Waldman’s cast of characters is matched by her startling ability to conjure their perspectives. A striking portrait of a fractured city striving to make itself whole, The Submission is a piercing and resonant novel by an important new talent." -- Amazon.com

MYSTERY

"11th Hour" by James Patterson -"11th Hour is the most shocking, most emotional, and most thrilling Women's Murder Club novel ever." -- inside front cover

"Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch" by Nancy Atherton - "Along with the previous entries in this charming series, this cozy book is just the thing when looking for a gentle read. The world seems a gentler place while reading Atherton." -- Deadly Pleasures

"Deadlocked: Stookie Stackhouse No. 5" by Charlaine Harris -"Mixes humorous southern-fried fantasy with biting satirical commentary." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Elegy for Eddie" by Jacqueline Winspear -"With an affecting story line and graceful prose, Winspear has again created a powerful and complex novel, one that will linger in memory as a testament to her talent and humanity" -- Jay Stafford, Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Guilty Wives" by James Patterson and David Ellis -"In the morning's harsh light, Abbie awakens on a yacht, surrounded by police. Something awful has happened--something impossible, unthinkable. Abbie, Winnie, Serena, and Bryah are arrested and accused of the foulest crime imaginable. And now the vacation of a lifetime becomes the fight of a lifetime--for survival. GUILTY WIVES is the ultimate indulgence, the kind of nonstop joy-ride of excess, friendship, betrayal, and danger that only James Patterson can create." -- inside front cover

"The Innocent" by David Baldacci - "America has enemies--ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target.
But Will Robie may have just made the first--and last--mistake of his career . . ." -- inside front cover

"The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection" by Alexander McCall Smith -"In this latest episode in the beloved, best-selling series, the kindest and best detective in Botswana faces a tricky situation when her personal and professional lives become entangled." -- inside front cover

"The Wind through the Keyhole" by Stephen King - "The Wind Through the Willows is sure to facsinate avid fans of the Dark Tower epic. But this novel also stands on its own for all readers, and enchanting and haunting journey to Roland's world and testimony to the power of Stephen King's storytelling magic." -- inside front cover

ADULT NON-FICTION

"Back to the Land: The Enduring Dream of Self-Sufficiency in Modern America" by Dona Brown -"What a splendid account of a movement that's usually caricatured. It taught me a lot about the state of Vermont, but also about the political and committed history of back-to-the-landers across American history. Forget your stereotype of the rugged individualist: this story turns out to be a lot more interesting than that!" -- Bill McKibbens, author of Eaarth" Making a Life on a Tough New Planet

"Bringing up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting" by Pamela Druckerman -"I couldn't put Bringing up Bebe down! It's smart, funny and fascinating, insightful, provocative, and genuinely eye-opening. I love Pamela Druckerman's honesty, rueful humor, and her premise that parents of all cultures should be able to learn from one another." -- Amy Chua, Yale Law Professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Republic

"Damn Good Advice (For People With Talent!): How to Unleash Your Creative Potential" by George Lois -"a look into the mind of one of America's most legendary creative thinkers, George Lois. Offering indispensable lessons, practical advice, facts, anecdotes and inspiration, this book is a timeless creative bible for all those looking to succeed in life, business and creativity. These are key lessons derived from the incomparable life of 'Master Communicator' George Lois, the original Mad Man of Madison Avenue.

Organised into inspirational, bite-sized pointers, each page offers fresh insight into the sources of success, from identifying your heroes to identifying yourself. The ideas, images and illustrations presented in this book are fresh, witty and in-your-face. Whether it's communicating your point in nanosecond, creating an explosive portfolio or making your presence felt, no one is better placed than George Lois to teach you the process of creativity."-- Amazon.com

"Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power" by Rachel Maddow -"Drift never makes the case war might be necessary. America would be weakened dramatically if we had underreacted to 9/11. However, Rachel Maddow makes valid arguments that our country has been drifting toward questionable wars, draining our resources, without sufficient input and time. People who like Rachel will love the book. People who don't will get angry, but aggressive debate is good for America. Drift is a book worth reading." -- Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO, FOX News

"Northeast Fruit & Vegetable Gardening: Plant, Grow and Eat the Best Edibles for Northeast Gardens (Fruit & Vegetable Gardening Guides)" by Charlie Nardozzi - "The variety of terrains, soils, and circumstances where you can garden in the Northeast is remarkable. From the rocky crags of coastal Maine to the mountains of the Adirondacks, the Northeast has a varied topography that makes gardening exciting, sometimes challenging, but also very rewarding. Whether you’re an urban gardener in Boston or cultivating your garden in the wide-open spaces of Vermont, you’ll be sure to find Northeast Fruit & Vegetable Gardening an invaluable resource. It’s the next best thing to having a master gardener as your neighbor.

So let’s get growing in the Northeast! Northeast Fruit & Vegetable Gardening tells you everything you need to know to be successful.

"Where the River Rose: Stories of a Vermont Town's Flood Recovery and Rebirth" edited by David Goodman -"On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont with unprecedented fury. Around the state, some 3,500 homes suffered damage, and more than 1400 households were displaced either temporarily or permanently.

Waterbury, population 5,000, took one of the hardest blows of any town in Vermont... When the River Rose tells the inspiring story of how Waterbury confronted disaster and found hope amid the ruins. The stories included in this collection are emblematic of the strength, resilience and generosity that Vermonters have shown in response to this calamity. At times poignant, funny, and uplifting, the people of Waterbury tell in their own words how neighbors helped neighbors to recover - together." -- Amazon.com

BIOGRAPHY

"Cronkite" by David Brinkley - "Walter Cronkite exemplified the glorious age of trusted journalism, and rightfully so. In this deeply researched and brilliantly analytic biography, Douglas Brinkley captures Cronkite's essence. He treats him not as an icon but as a real human with passions, loves and occasional enmities. It's a fascinating and valuable tale." -- Walter Isaacson

"The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson" by Robert Caro -"Combining the best techniques of investigative reporting with majestic storytelling ability, Caro has created a vivid, revelatory institutional history...he seems to have perfectly captured and understood Johnson's capacity for greatness." -- Jill Abramson, New York Times

"Philip Hoff: How Red Turned Blue in the Green Mountain State" by Samuel Hand - "This is the story of one of the most exciting and important periods in Vermont history, and of the man most responsible for shaping it." -- inside front cover

AUDIO 

"Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly
"Misty of Chincoteaque" by Marguerite Henry

DVD's

Adult

"Albert Nobbs"
"The Devil Inside"
"Gasland"
"The Grey"
"One for the Money"
"Red Tails"
"This Means War"
"True Blood: The Complete 4th Season"
"The Vow"

 Juvenile

"Dr. Seuss - The Lorax"

MUSIC

"Songs for Japan"

JUVENILE FICTION

"Bluefish" by Pat Schmatz - "With a cast of utterly believable characters, Pat Schmatz has crafted a story rich in moments of trust and connection, told with humor, heartbreak, and fearless honesty." -- inside front cover

"The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale"  by Carmen Deedy - "Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his hard life dodging fishwives brooms and carriage wheels and trade his damp alley for the warmth of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. When he learns that the innkeeper is looking for a new mouser, Skilley comes up with an audacious scheme to install himself in the famous tavern. Once established in the inn, Skilley strikes a bargain with Pip, the intelligent mouse-resident, and his fellow mice. Skilley protects the mice and the mice in turn give to Skilley the delectable Cheshire cheese of the inn. Thus begins a most unlikely alliance and friendship. The cat and mouse design a plan to restore Maldwyn wounded raven and faithful guard in the service of Queen Victoria to his rightful place in The Tower, but first they must contend with a tyrannical cook, a mouse-despising barmaid, and an evil tomcat named Pinch. Will the famous author suffering from serious writer s block who visits the Cheshire Cheese pub each day be able to help?" -- Amazon.com


"The Flint Heart" by Katherine Paterson -"This luminous fantasy...is a tale that promises to capture the hearts of readers with an enchantment all its own." -- inside front cover

"The Great Wall of Lucy Wu" by Wendy Wan Long Shang -"Wendy Wan-LongShang's debut novel is a heartwarming and hilarious lesson in the way life often reveals silver linings in the most unexpected clouds." -- inside front cover

"The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein -"What it (the missing piece) finds on its search for the missing piece is simply and touchingly told in this fable that gently probes the nature of quest and fulfillment." -- Amazon.com

"The Silver Bowl" by Diane Stanley -"Unwanted at home, Molly goes to work for the king of Westria as a humble scullery maid. She arrives at the castle with no education, no manners, and a very disturbing secret: She sees visions, and those visions always come true.

One day, while she's working in the king's great hall, young Prince Alaric passes by. Molly finds him unbearably handsome—but also unbearably rude. But what does it really matter? She'll probably never see him again.

In time Molly is promoted to polishing silver and is given a priceless royal treasure to work on: the king's great ceremonial hand basin. But there's something odd about it. The silver warms to her touch, a voice commands her to watch and listen, and then the visions appear. They tell the story of a dreaded curse that has stalked the royal family for years. There have already been deaths; soon there will be more.

As tragedy after tragedy strikes the royal family, Molly can't help but wonder: Will the beautiful Alaric be next? Together with her friends Tobias and Winifred, Molly must protect the prince and destroy the curse. Could a less likely champion be found to save the kingdom of Westria?" -- inside front cover

"When Life Gives You OJ" by Erica Perl - "This is an utterly beguiling book...featuring an engaging almost-eleven-year-old who is looking for a dog to call her own and and annoying/endearing grandpa who has a really weird idea about how she might get one. It is also a richly featured examination of the complexities of young friendships and of a three-generation family's abiding love." -- Judith Viorst

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart" by Candace Fleming - " In alternating chapters, Candace Fleming masterfully moves between Amelia's life -- as a child, a woman, and a flier -- and the search for her missing plane. ...With stunning photographs, maps of Amelia's route, and handwritten documents throughout, the story of Amelia Earhart's disappearance feels every bit as dramatic and real as it did back in 1937." -- inside front cover

"Drawing from Memory" by Allen  Say -"Part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history, Drawing from Memory presents a complex look at the real-life relationship between a mentor and his student. It is a book that will inspire the artist in all of us."--inside front cover

"In the Sea" by David Elliott - "The briny deep is home to an enormous variety of fascinating creatures, from the dainty sea horse to the fearsome shark, from the spiny sea urchin to the majestic blue whale. In striking woodcut illustrations, diverse creatures glide through blue and green waters, while succinct, witty poetry examines their behavior and interactions. In this companion volume to On the Farm and In the Wild, David Elliott and Holly Meade explore the depths of the ocean in a collection of poems sure to thrill budding oceanographers and landlubbers alike." -- Amazon.com

"Maid of the North: Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World" by Ethel Johnston Phelps - "Ethel Johnston Phelps sought out these 21 folk and fairy tales featuring women as heroic, clever figures rather than the usual rolls of docile maiden in distress or villainous ogre causing distress. They are delightful tales from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including Scandinavian, American Indian, Japanese, Celtic, East Indian, and Russian." -- American Library Association, Booklist

BOARD BOOKS

"Dear Zoo: A Lift the Flap Book" by Rod Campbell
"Mealtime" by Elizabeth Verdick 

PICTURE BOOKS

"And There is Spring" by Julie Fogliano
"Another Brother" by Matthew Cordell 
"Baby Bear Sees Blue" by Ashley Wolff 
"Bailey" by Harry Bliss 
"Bus Called Heaven" by Bob Graham 
"Chirchir is Singing" by Kelly Cunnane 
"Chloe" by Peter McCarty
"Duckling Gets a Cookie" by Mo Willems 
"Eloise" by Kay Thompson
"Eloise in Paris" by Kay Thompson 
"Extra Yarn" by Mac Barnett
"Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" by Sherry Duskey Rinker
"Green" by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
"Into the Outdoors" by Jan Thomas
"Is Everyone Ready for Fun?" by Jan Thomas
"Ladybug Girl and Bingo" by David Soman
"Making a Friend" by Alison McGhee
"Mouse & Lion" by Rand Burkett
"Nothing Like a Puffin" by Sue Soltis
"One Cool Friend" by Toni Buzzeo
"Princess of Borscht" by Leda Schubert
"Red Sled" by Lita Judge
"Arthur's Eyes" by Marc Brown

YOUNG ADULT

"Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness - Award-winning author Patrick Ness creates an astonishingly powerful and breathtakingly exciting novel in which a boy on the brink of manhood must run from everything he knows -- and in which the road to adulthood has never been more dangerous."-- inside front cover

"Revolution" by Jennifer Donnelly - "After her little brother's murder and her mother's subsequent breakdown, high- school-senior Andi feels like a ghost. She is furious at her father...when he arranges for Andi to join him in Paris: ... In France though, Andi, a passionate musician, discovers a diary written during the French Revolution by a young woman with whom Andi develops an increasing fascination. Donnelly links past and present with distracting contrivances--culminating in time travel--that work against the novel's great strengths. But the ambitious story...will wholly capture patient readers with its sharply articulated, raw emotions and insights into science and art; ambition and love; history's ever-present influence; and music's immediate, astonishing power: 'It gets inside of you . . . and changes the beat of your heart.' Gillian Engberg. 496pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010.

 

NEW ARRIVALS -APRIL 2012

ADULT FICTION

"Betrayal"  by Danielle Steel - " In this riveting novel, Danielle Steel reveals the dark side of fame and fortune. At the same time, she brilliantly captures a woman's will to navigate a mindfield of hurt and loss--toward a new beginning."--inside back cover

"The Buddha in the Attic" by Julie Otsuka - "Julie Otsuka's long-awaited follow-up to When the Emperor Was Divine, is a tour de force of economy and precision, a novel that tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" nearly a century ago." -- inside front cover

"The Call" by Yannick Murphy - "A triumph of quiet humor and understated beauty...Murphy's subtle, wry wit and an appealing sense for the surreal leaven moments of anger and bleakness, and elevate moments of kindness, whimsy, and grace." -- Publisher's Weekly

"The Cat's Table" by Michael Ondaatje -  "an eleven-year-old in Columbo boards a ship bound for England. At mealtimes he is seated at the "cat's table" with a ragtag group of "insignificant" adults and two other boys. ..As the narrative moves between the decks and holds of the ship.. it tells a spellbinding story...about the magical, often forbidden, discoveries of childhood and a lifelong journey that begins unexpectedly with a spectacular sea voyage."--inside front cover

"A Clash of Kings" by George R. R. Martin - "In this eagerly awaited sequel to A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin has created a work of unsurpassed vision, power, and imagination. A Clash of Kings transports us to a world of revelry and revenge, wizardry and warfare unlike any you have ever experienced." -- back cover

"Cliff Walking" by Stephen Russell Payne - "Cliff Walking is a dramatic story of suspense, love, and redemption, written with clarity, passion, and great sympathy for, and understanding of, all aspects of human nature."--Howard Frank Mosher

"A Feast for Crows" by George R. R. Martin - "With A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth volume of the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and stands as a modern masterpiece in the making." -- back cover

"The Free World" by David Bezmozgis - "The Free World follows a contentious Latvian Jewish family as they join the chaotic exodus of Soviet Jews in 1978...Hoping to settle in America, the Krasnanskys end up stuck in Rome for the summer, poor, crowded into shabby rooms, and maddened by byzantine and corrupt bureaucracy. As they struggle to survive this baffling limbo, they are deluged with memories and become entangled in a casually brutal criminal underworld. Bezmozgis infuses every scene with prismatic significance, covering astonishing swath of Jewish and Soviet history, immigrant traumas, sexual drama, and family angst. A brilliantly ironic and beautifully human novel of exile and yearning." -- Donna Seaman, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011

"A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin - "George R. R. Martin has created a genuine masterpiece, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Mystery, intrigue, romance and adventure fill the pages of the first volume in an epic series sure to delight fantasy fans everywhere." -- back cover

"Home Front" by Kristin Hannah - "At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family. Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, and ultimately, hope." -- inside back cover

"I've Got Your Number" by Sophie Kinsella -"a thoroughly modern romantic love triangle... a laugh out-loud comic caper...Fresh, fast-paced, and fiercely funny, Kinsella proves once again that in chick-lit, it's less about predictably feel-good denouement, and more about the rollicking good ride it takes to get there." -- Publishers Weekly, c2012.

"Lone Wolf" by Jodi Picoult - "Another tour de force by Picoult, Lone Wolf brilliantly describes the nature of a family: the love, protection, and strength it can offer -- and the price we might have to pay for those gifts. What happens when the hope that should sustain a family is the very thing tearing it apart." -- inside back cover

"A Storm of Swords" by George R. R. Martin - "Here is the third volume of George R. R. Martin's magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Together, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, destined to stand as one of the greatest achievements of imaginative fiction." -- back cover

"A Moment in the Sun" by John Sayles - "A brutal picaresque complete with melancholy whores, militaristic robber barons, desperate cutthroat prospectors, and puppet soldiers. [Moment's] greatest achievement is to illuminate the parallel between imperialism and racism fin turn-of-the-century America -indeed, to shine so glaring a light on it that even if we screw our eyes shut, the horror remains." -- William T. Vollmann, Bookforum

MYSTERY

"Along Came A Spider" by James Patterson - "Along Came A Spider is written simply, powerfully...In Patterson's Washington, there's not a cartoonish power broker or marble monument in sight. Ultimately, the novel's foundation is the character of Alex Cross, detective, psychologist, and family man." -- Washington Post Book World

"Believing the Lie" by Elizabeth George - "In the seventeenth Inspector Lynley mystery, Bernard Fairclough, ...uses his pull to get Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of New Scotland Yard on a death investigation involving Fairclough's nephew....The plot gets mired at times, though, in George's overexpansive exposition--she can take most of a page to lay out a character's musings over whether to don a winter or a summer suit. Tension would be greater with less verbiage, but this is still great George."--Booklist

"Celebrity in Death" by J.D. Robb - "It's spooky enough when Lt. Eve Dallas attends the big-bash opening of a film based on of her exploits but even more spooky when the actress who plays Peabody goes missing--and is found drowned in the pool at the director's swank building. Apparently, the actress was disliked, which gives Eve plenty of leads. Robb's 'In Death' series shows no signs of flagging; don't miss."--LJ Prepub Alert Online Review, Library Journal

"The Chalk Girl" by Carol O'Connell -"Kathy Mallory of the NYPD's Special Crimes Unit and wounded by a horrific childhood, concentrates her entire being on the vengeful pursuits of bad guys...The case (she is called out to solve) turns on one witness, an eight-year-old girl with a rare genetic disease that leaves her physically and emotionally vulnerable, who knew a serial killer's first victim, found hanging from a tree in Central Park....O'Connell delivers shock after shock, held together by exquisitely detailed police and forensic procedure and by the riveting, punishing figure of Mallory herself."--Booklist

"The Cruelest Month" by Louise Penny - "When some villagers decide to celebrate Easter with a seance at the old Hadley house, one of their party dies of fright. Was this a natural death, or was it murder? Brilliant, compassionate Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to investigate, and the case will force him to face his own ghosts as well as those of a seemingly idyllic town where relationships are far more dangerous than they seem."--back cover

"Defending Jacob" by William Landay - "William Landay makes bold use of his genuine storytelling gift, his amazing ability to craft believable dialogue, and, above all, his extraordinary understanding of what it means to be a husband and father to present us with an unforgettable tale of an ordinary marriage and family in crisis....It's the story of a man who adores his wife and child, but more than that, it's a novel that describes the fine edge between love and madness, and the lies we sometimes tell ourselves."--Nicholas Sparks

"November Hunt" by Jess Lourey - "Tom Hunter dies in a freak hunting accident, but aspiring PI Mira (October Fest) learns that Tom had a dark secret that probably led to his untimely death."-- Library Journal

"One Blood" by Graeme Kent - "Sister Conchita is temporarily posted to a small mission in the Western Solomons to keep an eye on three elderly nuns before the new priest arrives, and one of her first ideas is to hold an open house. All the locals and a group of tourists are in attendance when one of the American men is found dead. Naturally the curious sister can't resist snooping around, which means she's more than ready to serve as assistant to the new policeman, Ben Kella, who has been exiled to the islands by bureaucrats wanting the troublesome cop out of their way. Soon Ben and Sister Conchita realize that their investigating has roots that reach back to World War II--to Lieutenant John F. Kennedy and the other survivors of PT-109, which landed nearby in 1943. Now it's the fall of 1960, and the American presidential elections are only a few weeks away. Can Ben and Conchita solve the crime and avert a scandal?"--American Library Association

"Private Games" by James Patterson - Private, the world's most renowned investigation firm, has a monumental task. Four hundred of the firm's top agents have been dispatched to London where they will provide security for competitors in the 2012 Olympic Games. When a high-ranking member of the games' organizing committee is killed just hours before the opening ceremony, Agent Peter Knight knows they're in for trouble."--Brodart Co.

"The Rope" by Nevada Barr - "Readers who have eagerly followed Anthony and Agatha award winner Barr's Anna Pigeon novels know that Pigeon is a ranger with the U.S. National Park Service. But how did she arrive at that pass? Here we learn that Pigeon, 35 and disappointed in love, goes on a bus in New York City and headed west, finally taking seasonal work at the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area. When she failed to return after a hike, her coworkers assumed she'd moved on; in fact, someone had imprisoned her at the bottom of a dry natural well, without supplies or even clothing."--Library Journal

"Still Life" by Louise Penny - " Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec and his team of investigators are called to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal and yet a world away. Jane Neal, a longtime resident of Three Pines, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul this holiday season... and is certain that Jane died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter..."--back cover

ADULT NON-FICTION

"Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong" by Raymond Bonner - "Moving, enraging, suspenseful, and enlightening, Anatomy of Injustice is a vital contribution to our nation's ongoing, increasingly important debate about inequality and the death penalty."--inside front cover

"Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas" by Dale Carpenter - "Dale Carpenter's Flagrant Conduct does for Lawrence v. Texas what Richard Kluger's Simple Justice and Anthony Lewis's Gideon's Trumpet did for Brown v. Board of Education and Gideon v Wainwright. It tells the story of a profoundly dramatic and important Supreme Court decision in a way that brings to life the stakes, the participants, the Justices, and the drama of the constitutional controversy. It is a landmark achievement." --Geoffrey R. Stone, author of Perilous Times

"Frommer's Japan 10th Edition" by Beth Reiber with Janie Spencer

"Frommer's New York City 2012" by Brian Silverman, Richard Goodman & Kelsy Chauvin

"Lifting the Yoke: Local Solutions to America's Farm and Food Crisis" by Ron Krupp - "It is time to revitalize America’s local food networks. Ron Krupp navigates the issues and provides exemplary stories of people doing just that. The grim tale of our global food system may leave you feeling powerless, but you are sure to find inspiration in this book, thick with examples of grassroots efforts focused on putting people, integrity, and real food back into America’s food consciousness." – Meghan Sheradin, Executive Director, Vermont Fresh Network

"Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest, from Madison Avenue to Wall Street" by John Nichols - "John Nichols recognized right away that the fight in Wisconsin was about a lot more than one state. It was the fight we had all been waiting for, the one where the people say 'We have had it!' John didn't just tell us what was happening in Wisconsin. He told us that what was happening in Wisconsin could happen anywhere." -- Michael Moore

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as told to Alex Haley - "If there was one man who articulated the anger, the struggle, and the beliefs of African Americans in the 1960s, that man was Malcolm X. His Autobiography is not an established classic of modern America, a book that expresses like none other the crucial truth about race and racism in our times."--back cover

REFERENCE

"Guiness World Records 2012"
"Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition"
"The 2012 Rand McNally Road Atlas"
"The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012"

DVD's

 ADULT

"Belly Dance for Beginners"
"Courageous"
"Downton Abbey"
"Freedom Riders"
"Friendly Persuasion"
"The Game of Thrones"
"The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall"
"The Philadelphia Story"

 JUVENILE

"The Adventures of TinTin"
 "The Brave Little Toaster"
"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"

MUSIC

"Dream with Me" by Janet Evancho

JUVENILE FICTION

"City of Orphans" by Avi - "Thirteen-year-old Maks Geless, the oldest son of Danish immigrants, makes eight cents a day hawking The World on Manhattan street corners in 1893. Newbery Medalist Avi tells his story in a vibrant, unsophisticated, present-tense voice...and it's a hard life....The contrasts among Mak's family's squalid tenement existence; Emma's incarceration in the Tombs, the city's infamous prison; and the splendor of the Waldorf bring a stark portrait of 19th-century society to a terrifically exciting read, with Ruth's fine pencil portraits adding to the overall appeal."--Publisher's Weekly, c2011.

"Hidden" by Helen Frost - "With care and precision, Frost deftly turns plainspoken conversations and the internal monologues of her characters into stunning poems that combine to present three unique and thoughtful perspectives on war, family, love and loss. Heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful, this is one to savor."--Kirkus Reviews

"Silvermist and the Ladybug Curse" by Gail Herman - "Silvermist is the calmest water-talent fairy around, and as cool as a deep mountain lake. But then an 'unlucky' white ladybug lands on Silvermist's head, and her orderly world goes topsy-turvy. She's never been the type of fairy to lose things or have accidents or make mistakes, until now. Silvermist doesn't believe in bad luck and silly old fairy superstitions but all her troubles began after she found the white ladybug. Could the other fairies be right? Is Silvermist really under a curse?" -- Brodart Co.

"Sunrise" by Erin Hunter - "A mysterious murder in the ranks has ripped ThunderClan apart but more secrets still remain to be discovered. Jayfeather is determined to find out who his real parents are. He'll have to trample through a forest of lies in order to uncover the truth. Hollyleaf is shocked by her Clan's disobedience of the warrior code, and distraught enough to strike out at some she's always admired. And Lionblaze must bear horrified witness to events that will change everything he believes."--Brodart Co.


"Troublemaker" by Andrew Clements - "Clay Hensley is no stranger to the principal's office, and he is sure that his latest prank--drawing a picture of the principal as a donkey--will land him there again, hopefully impressing his older brother, Mitchell who has just returned for a brief jail stint...Clements offers a characteristically engaging story with realistic dilemmas and topic kids will respond to."--Shelle Rosenfeld, American Library Association

"Water Balloon" by Audrey Vernick - "a well-paced coming-of-age story that offers a realistic depiction of growing pains....With her parents recently separated, Marley will be living with her father while her mother is away...Vernick conveys Marley's uncertain navigation of new experiences and conflicting emotions with sincerity and keen perception."--Publisher's Weekly

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"An Egg is Quiet" by Dianna Aston & Sylvia Long - "From Tiny hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, oval ladybug eggs to tubular dogfish eggs, gooey frog eggs to fossilized dinosaur eggs, it magnificently captures the incredible variety of eggs and celebrates their beauty and wonder."--inside front cover

"Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature" by Joyce Sidman & Beth Krommes - "This is one of those rare children's books that make you look at the physical world differently...spirals are beautiful--whether we see in them hints of infinity, a visual banquet, as well: working in her signature scratchboard style and employing a gorgeous burnished palette, Krommes creates spiral-packed nature scenes that have a timeless, classic beauty."--Publishers Weekly

"Titanic Sinks!" by Barry Denenberg -  "This book puts a new spin on the sinking of the Titanic. The book blends fact and fiction in an unusual way to create an engrossing story in a book with a unique design....The Titanic disaster continues to have a hold on our imaginations, and this remarkable work of historical fiction is grounded in meticulous research."--ABC-CLIO, Inc., c2012.

BOARD BOOKS

"Moo, Baa, La La La!" by Sandra Boynton
"Smile" by Roberta Grobel Intrater
"What Shall We Do With the Boo-Hoo Baby?" by Cressida Cowell and Ingrid Godon

PICTURE BOOKS

"All the Water in the World" by George Ella Lyon and Katerine Tillotson
"The Balloons over Broadway" by Melissa Sweet
"Blackout" by John Rocco
"The Dot" by Peter J. Reynolds
"The Great Fuzz Frenzy" by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
"Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life" by Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm
"Me...Jane" by Patrick McDonnell
"No Two Alike" by Keith Baker
"The Princess and the Pig" by Jonathan Emmett and Poly Bernatene
"Three by the Sea" by Mini Grey
"What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry

YOUNG ADULT

"Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi- "In a dystopian future America, 'ship breaker' Nailer discovers a wrecked clipper ship and its sole survivor, Nita. Nailer chooses to protect Nita and help her find her family. Bacigalupi's novel vividly depicts a bleak vision: a 'whole waterlogged world...torn down by the patient work of changing nature.' This thriller will grab readers' attention as Nailer and Nita 'crew up' to survive."--The Horn Book,c2010.

"Somebody: Please Tell Me Who I Am" by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis - "strong characters and storytelling are used to explore the slow and painful recovery of an injured teenage soldier. ...he is deployed to Iraq where he receives a head injury and suffers brain damage in the line of duty....The authors carefully demonstrate the effect the tragedy has on everyone involved, particularly Ariela's attempts to maintain a social life in college, while vividly bringing Ben's struggles to life...Readers will likely sense where the story is headed, but the journey is powerful and worthwhile."--Publisher's Weekly, c2012.

 

 

NEW ARRIVALS - DECEMBER

ADULT FICTION

 "11/22/1963" by Stephen King - "On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? The author's new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination. In this novel that is a tribute to a simpler era, he sweeps readers back in time to another moment, a real life moment, when everything went wrong: the JFK assassination." - Baker & Taylor

"The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach - "This remarkable coming-of-age story, set at a New England college during an extraordinary baseball season, marks Harbach as a writer to watch. But you don't have to be a huge sports fan to be drawn into the novel's two love stories or to cringe at one young shortstop's fall from grace. The Art of Fielding has been praised by authors as diverse as Jonathan Franzen, Tea Obreht and James Patterson. Read just a few pages of this wise and tender story, and you'll easily see why." -- BookPageXTRA Online Review. BOOKPAGE, c2011.

"Christmas Wedding" by James Patterson - "Gaby Summerhill's four children come together for a Christmas homecoming they'll never forget. Gaby surprises them all with a wedding announcement?plus another gift that might give the family a chance for holiday cheer." -- BOOKPAGE, c2011.

"Devil's Gate" by Clive Cussler - "Kurt Austin, Joe Zavala, and the NUMA Special Assignments team are in full action in this ninth series installment (after Medusa). Sixty years ago on a cold and stormy night, a mysterious Russian defector loaded a curious cargo onto a U.S. plane. While he was killed in a gun battle with agents, the plane escapes but crashes into the sea. Six decades later, a cargo ship bursts into flames in the Azores; Kurt Austin sees pirates fleeing the scene but then witnesses their ship blowing up. As he and the rest of the team investigate, they find themselves up against an evil adversary who is working for an ambitious African dictator with a deadly extortion plan. Can the NUMA team stop him from destroying the world's major cities? Verdict Coauthored with Brown (Black Rain; Black Sun), Cussler's latest is the most breathtakingly suspenseful, wildly inventive, enjoyable thriller in the 'NUMA Files' series to date! Hard- core fans will snap it up." -- Cynde Suit, LJ Xpress Online Review. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2011.

"Swamplandia" by Karen Russell - "Thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree has lived her entire life at Swamplandia!, her family’s island home and gator-wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades. But when illness fells Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, the family is plunged into chaos; her father withdraws, her sister falls in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, defects to a rival park called The World of Darkness. As Ava sets out on a mission through the magical swamps to save them all, we are drawn into a lush and bravely imagined debut that takes us to the shimmering edge of reality." -- Amazon.com

 MYSTERY

"As the Pig Turns An Agatha Raisin Mystery" by M.C. Beaton -  "Terrific..Beaton does a brilliant job of depicting Agatha's struggles with aging and keeping her detective agency afloat. Her romantic upheavals (will she ever marry close friend Sir Charles Fraith?) continue to tantalize." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Explosive Eighteen" by Janet Evanovich - “No less than her plotting, Evanovich’s characterizations are models of screwball artistry. . . . The intricate plot machinery of her comic capers is fueled by inventive twists.”—The New York Times  

"Red Mist" by Patricia Cornwell - "Determined to find out what happened to her former deputy chief, Jack Fielding, murdered six months earlier, Kay Scarpetta travels to the Georgia Prison for Women, where an inmate has information not only on Fielding, but also on a string of grisly killings. The murder of an Atlanta family years ago, a young woman on death row, and the inexplicable deaths of homeless people as far away as California seem unrelated. But Scarpetta discovers connections that compel her to conclude that what she thought ended with Fielding's death and an attempt on her own life is only the beginning of something far more destructive: a terrifying terrain of conspiracy and potential terrorism on an international scale. And she is the only one who can stop it." -- Amazon.com

"Tag Man" by Archie Mayor - "Mayor's 22nd Joe Gunther procedural (after 2010's Red Herring) offers strong ensemble play from Gunther, head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, and VBI staffers Willy Kunkle, Sammie Martens, and Lester Spinney as well as their Brattleboro police colleague, Ron Klesczewski." Publishers Weekly  

"V is for Vengeance" by Sue Grafton - "Kinsey Millhone (U is for Undertow) doesn't look the other way when she sees trouble, so when she spots a woman shoplifting, she immediately informs store authorities. This sets off a chain of events, as the woman is soon found dead of an apparent suicide. Her fiance doesn't believe she killed herself, and Kinsey's quest to find the truth puts her on the trail of a major shoplifting ring. Grafton's latest alphabetical mystery brings Kinsey into contact with a number of shady characters, from gangsters and gamblers to unhappy and unfaithful spouses. VERDICT Kinsey plays a smaller role in this story, which may not please some of her many fans, but Grafton's pioneering sleuth is as clever and witty as ever." --Linda Oliver, Colorado Springs. 448pg. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2011.

"Zero Day" by David Baldacci - "Readers expect excitement and intrigue in David Baldacci's books, and Zero Day is no exception...As Baldacci's new hero narrowly escapes countless close calls, the pairing of the author's imagination and knowledge create a wild ride for the reader. Puller is gutsy, brash and likable. Best of all, he survives to reappear in the next book of this new series." (The Free-Lance Star )

ADULT NON-FICTION

"Quest, Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World" by Daniel Yergin - ""The search for sufficient, clean energy represents the defining challenge of this generation. Daniel Yergin has masterfully connected the forces of economics and geopolitics with the complex science of energy production and climate change. The Quest provides a lucid guide through the forest of issues that stands between us and a sustainable energy future." — Susan Hockfield, president, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

"Rome,A Cultural, Visual and Personal History" by Robert Hughes - “With elegance and beauty, Hughes majestically conducts us through the rich history of Rome . . . In a delightful guide, Hughes—whose The Shock of the New was recently named by Britain's Guardian one of the 100 greatest nonfiction books of the 20th century—provides a sometimes cantankerous but always captivating tour through the remarkable depth and breadth of the ancient city.” —Publisher’s Weekly (starred)

"Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War" by Andrew Roberts - “Gripping. . . . splendid history. A brilliantly clear and accessible account of the war in all its theaters. Roberts’s prose is unerringly precise and strikingly vivid. It is hard to imagine a better-told military history of World War II.” (Timothy Snyder, The New York Times Book Review )

BIOGRAPHY

"George F. Kennan: An American American Life" by John Lewis Gaddis - "We can be grateful to John Lewis Gaddis for bringing Kennan back to us, thoughtful, human, self-centred, contradictory, inspirational - a permanent spur as consciences are wont to be. Masterfully researched, exhaustively documented, Gaddis's moving work gives us a figure with whom, however one might differ on details, it was a privilege to be a contemporary...George F. Kennan: An American Life works brilliantly as a piece of intellectual history, and as a biography of a fascinating and complex man. Fortunately, both Gaddis and Kennan write beautifully. -- Gideon Rachman Financial Times

"Catherine the Great" by Robert Massie -  "Once upon a time, there was a minor German princess named Sophia. She went on to become the world's richest and most powerful woman, ruler of its then-largest empire, revered as "Catherine the Great." Her accomplishments and shortcomings as an autocrat and a woman make for a remarkable saga, and though many have tried, there may be no better author to take on the daunting task of chronicling than Robert K. Massie,...Massie situates Catherine's early life and three-decade reign amidst the tumult of the European Enlightenment, enriching his own narrative with telling excerpts of her letters and rich discussions of her political environment and personal motivations. The result is an utterly memorable book, a towering accomplishment, one of the year's best in any genre. --Jason Kirk, Amazon.com

"Then Again" by Diane Keaton - "“Although peek-behind-the-curtain moments are delicious—Woody Allen! Warren Beatty! Jack Nicholson!— the best parts of the book have nothing to do with Keaton’s considerable star power. At its heart, this is a manuscript about a mother and a daughter, with insights and confessions and lessons to which all readers can relate.” – The Wall Street Journal

DVD's

"Buck"

"Despicable Me"

"Exit Through the Gift Shop"

"Gnomeo and Juliet"

"Jane Eyre"

"Pacific"

"Seven Brides and Seven Brothers"

"Sherlock: Season One"

"Tillman Story"

"Unsinkable Molly Brown"

"Water for Elephants"

MUSIC

"Free to Be You and Me" by Marlo Thomas

JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY

"Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez" by Kathleen Krull - "K-3 Showing how Chavez developed into an advocate and spokesman for migrant workers, Krull focuses on the march he led as part of a grape- pickers strike. The brief text creates a complex view of Chavez, and the mixed-media paintings are suffused with a variety of emotions. There are no sources, but this is an excellent choice for furthering understanding of racism, of nonviolent protest, and of the lives of workers before unions." -- THE HORN BOOK, c2003.

JUVENILE FICTION

"Big Nate Boredom Buster: Super Scribbles, Cool Comix, and Lost of Laugh" by Lincoln Pierce - "For kids (and adults) who display Big Nate–like symptoms (uncontrolled doodling, wisecracking, and Cheez Doodle consumption, to name just a few), look no further. Big Nate Boredom Buster will blow your pants off! This paper-over-board activity book is filled to the brim with exciting activities for Nate fans of all ages. There is plenty of space for kids to get creative, and all the favorite characters from Nate's world are included—the know-it-all Gina, Nate's best buddies, Francis and Teddy, his rival, Artur, and his least favorite teacher, Mrs. Godfrey, aka Godzilla. With personality pop quizzes (which Big Nate character are you most like?), the fabulous fun 'o' meter, cosmic cookie fortunes, create your own comix, the "honor roll or not?" amazing maze, rock and roll rhymin', knockout knock-knock jokes, and much more, Nate's world pops off the pages with more than 500 black-and-white illustrations that you get to help create" -- Amazon.com

"The Emerald Casket" by Richard Newsome - "Gr. 4-6. Gerald Wilkins, an Australian kid billionaire, finds himself inadvertently hunting another ancient relic with his sleuthing friends, twins Ruby and Sam, in the second installment of the Archer Legacy series. While learning more about his family and their long-held secrets, Gerald, who has barely acclimated to his inherited wealth in England, accepts an invitation to visit the gem-collecting Gupta family in India. Marketplaces, temples, old forts, and tombs provide lots of places to get into and out of tight spots and fight off a bevy of villains, who are also intent on finding the titular casket. A fun romp for action-loving readers."-- Karen Cruze, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

"First Light"  by Rebecca Stead - " Fourteen-year-old Thea lives in Gracehope, a hidden community underneath the ice. When Peter's family goes to Greenland, their paths intersect and they discover a close connection. Peter and Thea are vividly realized, and their frustrations with the secrets kept by the older generations are keenly felt. The story is immediate and compelling, and Gracehope itself is sketched with sure strokes." -- THE HORN BOOK, c2007.

"It Could Always Be Worse" by Margot Zemach - "A wise rabbi doles out surprising advice to a man complaining of overcrowded quarters in this Yiddish folktale; Zemach's exuberantly chaotic illustrations earned her a Caldecott Honor. Ages 3-up. " Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc, Publisher's Weekly

"Le Petit Prince: French Edition:" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery - "In 2000 Harcourt proudly reissued Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's masterpiece, The Little Prince, in a sparkling new format. Newly translated by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Richard Howard, this timeless classic was embraced by critics and readers across the country for its purity and beauty of expression. And Saint-Exupéry's beloved artwork was restored and remastered to present his work in its original and vibrant colors. " -- Amazon.com

"Ranger's Apprentice Collection: The Ruins of Gorlan, The Burning Bridge, The Icebound" by John Flanagan - “The last few years have seen the publication of many fantasies, but few have the appeal of this original story.” —Booklist, starred review, on The Ruins of Gorlan

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"Incredible Journeys: Amazing Animal Migrations" by Dwight Holing - "This book is a rich resource for students in grades 2 to 6 to read and explore the immense variety of animal adaptations, not only for migration but for survival. . . . The first six pages alone would make the book worth having as a resource through middle school because of the precision and clarity of the explanations of factors affecting migration. . . . I strongly recommend Incredible Journeys as a resource for almost any grade and even for the interested adult. It's a lovely book" -- NSTA

"Come Back Salmon" by Molly Cone - "An inspiring story of young scientists in action, featured on Nova: how schoolchildren in Everett, Washington, worked with their teachers to clean up Pigeon Creek and reclaim it as a salmon spawning ground. Candid color photos of boys and girls of several ethnic groups, plus a text based on recorded conversations with the kids, lend drama and immediacy; additional scientific facts (e.g., how salmon scales tell the age of the fish; how salmon build a nest or  appear in boxes.)" -- (Nonfiction. 10-12) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP

 

"The Gift of the Tree" by Alvin Tresselt - "With a new title, larger format, and expansive new illustrations, a reissue of The Dead Tree, the prolific author's 1972 account of the natural end of an oak's long life: rotting wood attracts insects and then leaves holes that become homes for other creatures; after the tree falls, it continues to nurture and provides homes for the forest wildlife until there remained only a brown ghost of richer loam where the proud tree had come to rest.'' Sorensen, a Danish painter who also reillustrated Tresselt's Sun Up (1991), contributes sun-dappled, impressionistic illustrations that beautifully reflect an evocative text that's a reminder that just 20 years ago young children could be expected to take words like ``garner'' and ``moldered'' in their stride. One of the best of a spate of spring books designed to encourage the treasuring of trees." -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP

"Dinosaurs Go Green" by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown - "tackle the important, timely subject of environmental protection and preservation in this classic Dino Tales: Life Guides for Families picture book, now reissued with a new title and fresh cover design. Kids will learn easy, practical ways to give back to the earth from these friendly, familiar dinosaur characters, including how to conserve natural resources, find new uses for old things, the ins-and-outs of recycling, tips for planting a tree, and much more. Originally published as Dinosaurs to the Rescue! in 1994, this eco-friendly picture book is now printed on recycled paper with nontoxic soy inks." -- Amazon.com

"Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm" by David Shapiro - "Join in the adventure as Ari, Jenna, and Caleb unlock the secret of time travel and journey back 15,000 years to witness the great Missoula Floods of the Ice Ages, the largest floods to have ever washed over the face of the earth. Experience the world of the not so distant past when giant mammoths and saber-toothed cats roamed the Pacific Northwest. Ride along with the time travel kids as they tour the changing landscapes from back of the mythic Thunderbird and work together to survive the dangers of the Ice Age Cataclysm!" -- Amazon.com

"Franklin and Winston: A Christmas That Changed the World" by Douglas Wood - "Ages 6-10. Wood (No One But You) pulls back the curtain on history to offer a snapshot of Winston Churchill's Christmas 1941 visit to the Roosevelt White House. The mix of famous quotes, humanizing anecdotes, and references to both monumental work (war strategizing) and holiday fun imbue this volume with an inviting fly-on-the-wall tone. Moser (Oh, Harry!), too, effectively balances light and serious with his watercolor portraits, which were often inspired by archival photos." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2011. 

BOARD BOOKS

"Book of Sleep" by Na Il Sung

"Hooray for Fish" by Lucy Cousins

PICTURE BOOK

"Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man" by Michael Chabon

"Best Friend on Wheels" by Debra Shirley

"Book! Book! Book!" by Deborah Bruss

"The Doorbell Rang" by Pat Hutchins

"The Good Luck Cat" by Joy Harjo

"Granpa" by John Burningham

"Maggie B." by Irene Haas

"Martha Speaks" by Susan Meddaugh

"Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs" by Tomie dePaola

"Otis and the Tornado" by Loren Long

"SkySisters" by Jan Bourdeau Waboose

"Sea Gifts" by George Shannon

"Thanks to the Animals" by Allen Sockabasin

"Three Cheers for Catherine the Great" by Cari Best

 YOUNG ADULT

"My Name is Not Easy" by Debby Dahl Edwardson - "Told by five different narrators covering the time period 1960-65, this is essentially Luke s story, whose native and, as the title indicates, difficult-to-pronounce name is not revealed until toward the end. Forbidden to use their language, fed unfamiliar food and under the thumb of priests and nuns, some strict and some kind but whose religion is unfamiliar, Luke s homesickness is visceral. The good wishes and intentions of other children, their teachers and their parents all fail to offer comfort or to soften the hardships endured. Details of the outside world and the concerns of the day are woven in to the narrative, often highlighting how astonishingly oblivious the world is to the reality of life in Alaska. The rivalry between Indian and Eskimo is made equally vivid, along with the stereotypes and bias that both sides believe about the other. Readers will see these children become adolescents, imbibing of the rebellion that the decade is known for in the lower 48 and allowing proximity to build bridges of understanding and hope, even in the midst of death and loss. Not herself Iñupiaq, Edwardson (Blessing s Bead, 2009) makes clear in a note that this is a reflection of the childhood experiences of her contemporaries, including her husband, on whom the character of Luke is based." --Kirkus Reveiws --Kirkus Reveiws

"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray -  "(High School) When sixteen-year-old Cameron was five, he jumped ship on the 'It's a Small World' ride at Disney World and nearly drowned. 'The thing is, before they pulled me out, everything had seemed made of magic...But the minute I came to on the hard, glittery, spray-painted, fake snow...I realized it was all a big fake. The realest thing I'd ever experienced was that moment under the water when I almost died.' This sets the theme for the even wilder ride that follows, when Cameron's erratic behavior leads to a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob (a.k.a. mad cow) disease. With the student body that used to ignore him throwing a save-Cameron pep rally and decorating the gym with paper cows, Cameron and his friend Gonzo, a hypochondriac dwarf, flee the hospital on a mission (as detailed by a punk-rock angel named Dulcie) to save the world from 'dark energy' -- or do they? Bray gleefully tosses a hallucinogenic mix of elements into the adventure -- snow globes, fire demons, a talking yard gnome, a demon-fighting New Orleans jazz musician, and more -- but their origins can all be found in Cameron's mundane pre-diagnosis life. So is his trip 'just a ride,' as https://www.facebook.com/greensborofreelibrary.org his Mom once told him about 'It's a Small World'? Readers will have a great time trying to sort everything out and answer the question at the heart of it all: even if Cameron's experiences are all a dream, are they any less real?" -- THE HORN BOOK, c2009.

"Shelter" by Harlen Coben - "Being the new kid at his high school is the least of Mickey Bolitar's worries; how about a missing girlfriend and dad's possible rising from the dead? Walking to school one morning, Mickey is accosted by an eerie old lady (whom he dubs Bat Lady) who dramatically declares that his father is alive, despite the fact that Mickey saw his dad die in a car accident. Bat Lady is only on a back burner of Mickey's lively mind; in the forefront is finding out what happened to new girlfriend Ashley Kent, who stopped coming to school one day. Attempts to learn more have been stonewalled by teachers and the administration. Mickey teams up with two unlikely sidekicks: Ema, a sarcastic overweight goth girl whom Mickey rescued from humiliation in gym class, and Spoon, a hacker nerd who knows all about Mickey's mad basketball skilz (which he's keeping under wraps). Many daredevil acts ensue. ... Most of the time, Mickey's short-attention-span snark seems both age appropriate and believable. His mother's struggle with drug addiction adds poignancy. A not-bad-at-all entry into the teen market for this adult author." -- KIRKUS MEDIA LLC, c2011.

NEW ARRIVALS - OCTOBER

https://www.facebook.com/greensborofreelibrary.org 

NEW ARRIVALS

ADULT FICTION

"Animal Magnetism" by Jill Shalvis - "Brady Miller is always on the move as he covers global hot spots for an independent security contractor. Still, when his foster 'brothers' Adam and Dell say they need his help with their veterinary practice/animal rescue business, he can't say no, though the month he promises to stay in Idaho might seem like an eternity. His visit begins with a bang when Lilah Young rear-ends his parked truck while dealing with a Jeep-ful of puppies, piglets, and a duck. Running her own kennel/pet-sitting service, finding homes for abandoned animals, and studying to be a vet take up all of Lilah's time. Brady seems like he might be too much of a distraction....  Verdict Shalvis (Slow Heat) ramps up the pet-friendly book trend with this story of two people who are looking for very different things while reluctantly finding common ground and perhaps rescuing each other. The cute-as-can- be four-legged critters keep the humor and the humanity at full throttle. This steamy, romantic barn-burner is recommended for most collections."--Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2011.

"Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage" by Kieran Kramer - "Kramer's crisp, witty writing is unfortunately undermined by a straw-man villain in the third Impossible Bachelors Regency romance.... Runaway wife Jilly Jones set up Hodgepodge, a bookstore, on London's Dreare Street with a trusted but eccentric family friend. Dreare lives up to its name: its inhabitants suffer bad luck, and her handsome neighbor, Capt. Stephen Arrow, is a rowdy rascal. Stephen is attempting to sell his ramshackle inherited house despite an infestation of boorish relatives. When a lawyer shows up and announces that all of Dreare Street is in arrears, the colorful inhabitants come together in a hilariously terrible plan to save the day. The delightful romance and comedy-of-errors feel only falter when Jilly's husband shows up and his paper-thin subplot briefly takes center stage." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2011.

"The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris" by David McCullough - "The Greater Journey is the enthralling, inspiring—and until now, untold—story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, politicians, architects, and others of high aspiration who set off for Paris in the years between 1830 and 1900, ambitious to excel in their work....

Nearly all of these Americans, whatever their troubles learning French, their spells of homesickness, and their suffering in the raw cold winters by the Seine, spent many of the happiest days and nights of their lives in Paris. McCullough tells this sweeping, fascinating story with power and intimacy, bringing us into the lives of remarkable men and women who, in Saint-Gaudens’s phrase, longed “to soar into the blue.” The Greater Journey is itself a masterpiece." -- AMAZON.COM

"Kill Me If You Can" by James Patterson - "During an attack on Grand Central in New York, hard-up art student Matthew Bannon finds a bag containing $13 million worth of diamonds, so of course he takes it. ... Soon he's being trailed by the Ghost, an assassin who just rubbed out a high- ranking member of the Diamond Syndicate and was supposed to retrieve the gems. And he's being trailed by a rival assassin. Another biggie from Patterson (and Karp, a producer also responsible for the Lomax and Biggs series). Interesting tidbit: Patterson was the first writer in the world to sell one million ebooks."-- LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2011.

"One Summer" by David Baldacci - "Baldacci, the author of a string of best-selling thrillers, once again steps outside his comfort zone.... A man is on his deathbed (literally) when his wife is killed in a car accident. Well-meaning relatives take charge of the three children, but then, miraculously, the man (whose illness is described as, as always, fatal) makes a full recovery. And now he must bring his family back together and rediscover the beauty of life itself. Readers completely unfamiliar with this sort of movie-of-the-week story might be entertained, but others will be in for a disappointment." -- David Pitt. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

"Race" by Clive Cussler - "In the fourth Isaac Bell novel, set in 1910, the Van Dorn Detective Agency's chief investigator is hired by a powerful newspaper publisher to keep his star aviator safe from her own husband (who has already spent time in an insane asylum for killing a man and who has just murdered his wife's lover). Bell, juggling the dual tasks of protecting the flyer and locating her psychopathic husband, soon discovers that very little about this assignment is as straightforward as it first seemed. Full of twists and turns--and one whopping big surprise--the story should keep readers glued to their chairs. ...Cussler, ably assisted by Scott, demonstrates that he is not only comfortable writing stories set in the past, but that, at this late stage of his career, which has seen both hits and misses, he's also capable of turning out some of his best work." -- David Pitt.  AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

"Split Second" by Catherine Coulter - "FBI agents Lucy Carlyle and Cooper McKnight, along with husband-and-wife agents Savich and Sherlock, track a serial killer dubbed the Black Beret, who turns out to be related to the notorious Ted Bundy. Savich also investigates when convenience store owner Mr. Patil is shot in two different robbery attempts. A coincidence? Savich has a hard time buying that. Who wants Mr. Patil dead? Lucy also delves into her family's past after her father, on his deathbed, cries out, asking his mother why she killed his father. Lucy had been told her grandfather left the family, so she looks through her grandmother's house for proof of what really happened. Her personal life is changing, too, as she finally warms up to Coop. Told from several points of view, including the serial killer's, the novel moves quickly, thanks to short chapters and numerous plot twists. One plot element, the appearance of a magic ring, requires significant suspension of disbelief and proves jarring in this otherwise realistic and, in the main, riveting story." Sue O'Brien. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

MYSTERY

"Damage Done" by Hilary Davidson - "Travel writer Lily Moore is called back to New York by news of the death of her younger sister, Claudia, but on arrival, she discovers that the body found in the bathtub of her apartment isn't Claudia's...So who died in the apartment that Lily still pays for? Where is Claudia? And how are Claudia's close friend and onetime lover, wealthy Tariq Lawrence, and Lily's ex-fiance, real-estate magnate Martin Sklar, involved? With the help of her best friend, Jesse, and a couple of sympathetic cops, Lily traces strands of a tangled web back to a shady rehab facility. Travel-journalist Davidson does a fine job with characterizations, gradually fleshing out the Moore sisters' backstory, and she keeps plot tangents under control to spin a tale of nonstop action with a nice final twist. An entertaining and promising crime- fiction debut, with the potential for a sequel."-- Michele Leber. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2010.

"Dark Fire" by C. J. Sansom -"Hunchback Matthew Shardlake may be one of the sharpest lawyers in sixteenth- century England, but his skills have failed him in the defense of a friend's niece accused of murder. When Henry VIII's vicar general, Thomas Cromwell, spares the convicted girl's life for 14 days, Shardlake knows the reprieve comes at a hefty price: in that time, the lawyer must find a lost cache of 'dark fire,' the liquid weapon of mass destruction Cromwell has promised to deliver to the increasingly ill-tempered king. With the help of one of Cromwell's impudent servants, Shardlake pursues clues leading him to alchemists, aristocrats, and barristers alike. But in a country bitterly split between Roman Catholics and the newly formed Church of England, it's difficult to distinguish friend from foe. The body count climbs ever higher as Shardlake inches closer to the truth-- and toward the deadline for his client's execution. Like his gripping debut, 'Dissolution 'BKL Ap 1 03, Sansom's second Shardlake thriller is suffused with rich period detail and an aura of foreboding."-- Allison Block. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2004

"Flash and Bones" by Kathy Reichs -  "In a landfill near the Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, workers discover human bones in a 35-gallon drum of asphalt. It turns out there's a man's body in the drum, but identifying it could take some doing. There are a couple of possible candidates, including a recently missing Georgia man and a NASCAR driver who vanished more than a decade ago..., but Temperance Brennan isn't entirely sure the body belongs to either of those people. When she finds that the drum also contains a highly toxic substance, and then another man disappears, Brennan begins to suspect this case is much bigger than a body in a drum. Despite the popularity of the Fox TV series Bones, which is based on the Brennan novels, Reichs has done an excellent job of keeping the books separate from their television spin- off. The literary Brennan remains older and more layered than her television incarnation, and the novels remain deeper, darker, and more complex. A fine entry in a consistently solid series." -- David Pitt. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

"Revelation" by C. J. Sansom - "Sansom once again demonstrates his consummate knowledge of Tudor England's politics and culture, and even the sounds and smells of sixteenth-century London's streets. This time out, the reign of King Henry VIII is in its twilight years, but His Majesty is nevertheless interested in taking a new wife, who would be his sixth. Religious issues continue to clash, as they have during much of his reign-- Protestant reformist ideas slamming up against more traditional religious dogma and practices. It is a dangerous time; people 'must be careful what they say in public these days.' Shardlake has been assigned a peculiar case: a boy whose religious-oriented rantings have caused him to be incarcerated in a Bedlam hospital for the mentally unstable. When his good friend is found murdered, Shardlake is off and running to connect all the puzzling dots between the two cases. Like its predecessors, this installment in the series is sophisticated entertainment, with an intricately but not confusingly wrought plot."-- Brad Hooper. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.

"Pirate King: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes" by Laurie R. King - "Author Laurie King's many readers will be delighted to learn that her character Mary Russell, known to mystery fans as the wife of famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes and a detective in her own right, is off on a new adventure. The play's the thing--or in this case a moving picture--and a film within a film forms the imaginative backdrop in Pirate King, a wild and woolly tale that plays artfully with the confusion between reality and make-believe.... She's up to her neck in kidnapping, cutlasses, topmast stays'ls and port deadeyes, and way too far up in the rigging for her own taste. There's also the Pirate King himself to contend with, decked out in ostrich plumes, with a parrot that spouts English lyric poetry. And Holmes himself appears, in a hilarious overboard (literally) scene. Undaunted, Ms. Russell--armed with weapons of her own--manages to scale the barricades and quell the uprising, to the satisfaction of all hands." -- BOOKPAGE, c2011. 

"Sherlockian" by Graham Moore - "This debut literary thriller, which revolves around a central mystery in Arthur Conan Doyle's life..., weaves together two very different perspectives and time periods. At the annual Baker Street Irregular convention in 2010, newly minted 'Irregular' Harold immediately begins investigating the murder of Alex Cale, a top Sherlock Holmes scholar who had bragged about finding the famously missing volume of Conan Doyle's diary. But when Cale is found dead in his hotel room, the diary is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, back in 1900, Conan Doyle, desperately sick of his famous character, decides he must channel his own creation to find the person who sent him a letter bomb. Teaming up with his friend Bram Stoker, the author finds the situation is much more complicated, involving suffragettes, cryptic tattoos, and murder. VERDICT The constant switching of narrators can be jarring, but Moore does an excellent job of making his characters and settings feel real, using his thorough knowledge of the Holmes stories to good effect." --Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib., CA. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2010.

"Sovereign" by C. J. Sansom - "The ... mystery ...whisks dedicated readers ... off to the north of England--the city of York, to be specific-- as the city prepares for its turn to host King Henry VIII's 'progress' through the northern regions of his kingdom, the purpose of which is to settle local legal disputes. Shardlake, one smart guy, is a London lawyer who has, this time out, been appointed to travel to York to help prepare cases for presentation before His Majesty. The king's chief minister, Archbishop Cramner, has also employed Shardlake for another task: to ensure the safekeeping of a man currently imprisoned in York, charged with conspiracy against the crown, and make certain he is kept well enough for removal to London for further 'interrogation.' And once in York, a third task falls upon our man Shardlake. Atmosphere abounds in this marvelously drawn novel, which essentially is all about conspiracies to unseat King Henry, centered on resistance to his dynasty and his Protestantism, which were both unpopular in the North."-- Brad Hooper. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2007. 

"Treason at Lisson Grove" by Anne Perry - "Page reprises his role as reader of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels ... in Perry's latest Victorian mystery. Inspector Thomas Pitt and his superior, Victor Narraway, investigate the murder of a man who was a secret informant 'prepared to divulge details of a potentially devastating international plot against the British government.' After Narraway and Charlotte Pitt narrowly escape with their lives, they realize Narraway was lured to Ireland in order to oust him from his position so a plot could be carried out to remove the queen from her throne. Page is comfortable with dialects, including stodgy, upper-crust British (for Queen Victoria) and Irish and French. When tempers rise, listeners can almost see the characters' flaring nostrils. Page's reading has enough urgency to move the mystery along yet never sounds hurried."-- Marna Rundgren. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

ADULT NON-FICTION

"1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created" by Charles C. Mann - "this tome surveys up-to-date scholarship on the ramifications of Columbus' voyage. Eschewing condemnation or exaltation, Mann aims to explain all that was exchanged during the centuries in which ships connected continents. Diseases, pests, plants, people, and silver are the major transports into which he delves, and he presents them in their scientific, geographic, economic, and historical aspects.... Shaping a sprawl of information, he emphasizes how homogenization was unleashed by transoceanic trade, as is illustrated most minutely in discussions of the potato, the rubber tree, and mixed- race societies. With its theme of globalization, Mann's survey should interest not only history readers but also those concerned about the environmental and social impacts of contemporary world commerce."-- Gilbert Taylor. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

"A Language Older Than Words" by Derrick Jensen -"Singular, compelling and courageously honest, this book is more than just a poignant memoir of a harrowingly abusive childhood. It relates the extraordinary journey of one man striving to save his own spirit and our planet's. Comparing his physically and sexually abusive father's destruction of his family with humankind's systematic destruction of civilization, New York Times Magazine contributor Jensen (Listening to the Land) tells a story about the hope for regeneration in a landscape of human and natural desolation. Throughout, Jensen mobilizes his experiences as student, teacher, environmentalist, beekeeper, high jumper, abused child and survivor to delve deeper inside his own wounded psyche while condemning the constrictions of a culture that fosters abuse. In lyrical prose, Jensen calls for accountability and urges people 'to live in dynamic equilibrium with the rest of the world.' Rather than naively proposing an answer to the ills of modernity, he demonstrates the complexity of the problems by examining an array of environmental and sociopolitical atrocities,...and what he sees as the reckless production of plutonium to further space exploration and the maltreatment of indigenous peoples by self-serving neighbors. His visceral, biting observations always manage to lead back to his mantra: 'Things don't have to be the way they are.' Jensen's book accomplishes the rare feat of both breaking and mending the reader's heart." -- CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2000.

"Bento's Sketchbook" by John Berger - "...Let's start with the title, which alludes to a long-rumored but never-found sketchbook by the philosopher Spinoza, to whom Berger refers affectionately as 'Bento' (the nickname for Benedict) and whom he excerpts liberally....Berger delves deeply into the processes of making and responding to art, of thinking and being, of narrative and history, of the essence of humanity. Taking inspiration from the possibility of a Spinoza sketchbook, the author 'began to make drawings prompted by something asking to be drawn.' In the process, he began to focus on what he drew and why he drew, connecting the creation of art to everything from philosophy to politics to religion. Each of the prose pieces--some as short as a paragraph, few longer than a couple of pages--is self- contained, yet this volume isn't exactly a collection of essays, for none are titled and all are thematically interconnected as well. Whether he's extending an analogy that compares making a drawing to riding a motorbike or discusses storytelling in a manner that could apply just as well to drawing ... he makes such interaction and interconnection seem central to the human condition. Berger's readers will see with fresh eyes." -- KIRKUS MEDIA LLC, c2011.

"Fiery Tale: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery" by Eric Foner - "A mixture of visionary progressivism and repugnant racism, Abraham Lincoln's attitude toward slavery is the most troubling aspect of his public life,... Foner...traces the complexities of Lincoln's evolving ideas about slavery and African-Americans: while he detested slavery, he also publicly rejected political and social equality for blacks, dragged his feet (critics charged) on emancipating slaves and accepting black recruits into the Union army, and floated schemes for 'colonizing' freedmen overseas almost to war's end. Foner situates this record within a lucid, nuanced discussion of the era's turbulent racial politics; in his account Lincoln is a canny operator, cautiously navigating the racist attitudes of Northern whites, prodded--and sometimes willing to be prodded--by abolitionists and racial egalitarians pressing faster reforms. But as Foner tells it, Lincoln also embodies a society-wide transformation in consciousness, as the war's upheavals and the dynamic new roles played by African-Americans made previously unthinkable claims of freedom and equality seem inevitable. Lincoln is no paragon in Foner's searching portrait, but something more essential--a politician with an open mind and a restless conscience."-- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2010.

"That Used To Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back" by Thomas Friedman -  "Gr 8 Up. In this ambitious novel, Cameron, a 16-year-old slacker whose somewhat dysfunctional family has just about given up on him, as perhaps he himself has, when his diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob, 'mad cow' disease, reunites them, if too late. The heart of the story, though, is a hallucinatory--or is it?--quest with many parallels to the hopeless but inspirational efforts of Don Quixote, about whom Cameron had been reading before his illness. Just like the crazy--or was he?--Spaniard, Cam is motivated to go on a journey by a sort of Dulcinea. His pink- haired, white-winged version goes by Dulcie and leads him to take up arms against the Dark Wizard and fire giants that attack him intermittently, and to find a missing Dr. X, who can both help save the world and cure him. Cameron's Sancho is a Mexican-American dwarf, game- master hypochondriac he met in the pot smokers' bathroom at school who later turns up as his hospital roommate. Bray blends in a hearty dose of satire on the road trip as Cameron leaves his Texas deathbed--or does he?--to battle evil forces with a legendary jazz horn player, to escape the evil clutches of a happiness cult, to experiment with cloistered scientists trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, and to save a yard gnome embodying a Viking god from the clutches of the materialistic, fame-obsessed MTV-culture clones who shun individual thought. It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way." --Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.

"Veganist: Lost Lost Weight, Get Healthy, and Change the World" by Kathy Freston - "Freston promises readers who gives up meat, dairy, and eggs that they will effortlessly lose weight, avoid cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's, save money, help the poor, reduce their carbon footprint and animal suffering, and evolve spiritually. Freston, coining the word 'veganist,' puts a soft edge on the vegan lifestyle: 'It's not about hard lines or purity or perfection but about intention and holding ideas loosely and taking steps in the direction of the kind of person you want to be.' ...The book provides 'tips for making the switch,' FAQs answered by Dr. Barnard, and sample menus, but no recipes, so readers used to meat and potatoes may be stymied by how to prepare 'flax seed and whole-grain pizza with classic margherita topping.' Even so, for the novice, this book offers a gentle, guilt-free path to a meatless (or even, as Feston says, 'vegan-ish') life."-- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2011.

BIOGRAPHY

"In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir" by Richard B. Cheney -  "...anyone who has been listening to Cheney all these years will find more detail in his memoir but nothing startling. The phrase 'We were right' appears more than once. ... Much of the book, which was written with Cheney's daughter, Liz, is about settling scores. ... Despite occasionally praising Bush as a strong leader, Cheney has relatively little to say about his former boss. True, this is Cheney's book, but he subtly makes efforts to show that when it came to making decisions, running confabs with world leaders, and taking the lead on a variety domestic issues, he was the decisive one in the administration. ... Surprisingly, considering Cheney's taciturn demeanor, the tone of the narrative is often chatty, and his account of growing up in Wyoming proves particularly interesting. What Cheney never really addresses is how his ability to play the system allowed him to make the best possible choices in his life and career. Five military deferments meant he didn't serve in Vietnam (though he says he would have answered the call if asked). Access to cutting-edge medical care means he is still alive when most other men with his heart condition would have been long gone. The truest thing about this book is that everyone--supporters and haters--will get exactly what they expect." -- Ilene Cooper. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

AUDIO BOOKS

"Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins -  "Playwright and audio dramatist Beverley Cooper has done a masterful job in adapting Collins's classic Victorian suspense novel to the audio medium. Within the framing story of a courtroom setting, each character stands up to describe the events that he or she has witnessed; the words of testimony then fade into a flashback scene, so the listener can experience the story as it unfolds. The actors are simply marvelous, particularly Douglas Campbell as the oily, sinister Count Fosco and Cedric Smith as Lord Percival Glyde, the manipulative gold digger with secrets to hide. Suzanne Hoffman sounds appropriately sweet and lovely as Laura, the damsel in distress, and Gina Wilkinson gives a nice contrasting performance as her practical, intelligent and down-to- earth sister, Marian. The story is well paced and suspenseful, while background music adds a subtly ominous atmosphere without distracting from the tale. Likewise, the production uses just the right amount of sound effects. With its colorful characters and air of mystery, this superb dramatization truly does the tale justice." -- CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2006.

DVD's

"Black Swan"

"Bridesmaids"

"Burlesque"

"Hanna"

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

"Ken Burns Protection"

"Monsters Inc."

"Thor"

JUVENILE FICTION

"Big Nate Boredom Buster: Super Scribbles, Cool Comix, and Lots of Laughs" by Lincoln Pierce - "Class clown. Self-described genius. Mischief maker. Big Nate knows trouble. Nate may not be Joe Honor Roll, but he knows he's meant for BIG fun. He's always up for scribbling, games, jokes, laughs, and creating comics. And now YOU can join him!

An awesome way to guarantee 100% relief from boredom—learn to doodle, draw, and write the Big Nate way" -- AMAZON.COM

"Emerald Casket" by Richard Newsome -  "Gr 3-6--This old-fashioned adventure series continues along in its Biedermeyer-esque fashion, with many unlikely coincidences and melodramatic danger. The world's youngest billionaire, Gerald Wilkins; twins Ruby and Sam; and Indian femme fatale Alisha are on the hunt for a mysterious casket with supernatural powers. Evil Sir Mason Green, along with his murderous henchman, 'the thin man,' uses the children to try to steal this casket once they find it just as he did in The Billionaire's Curse (HarperCollins, 2010). They all head to India in search of a death cult that curiously shares the same symbology as Gerald's family crest. Character development is nil; new characters are introduced only to become stock figures so often found in this type of adventure, and the story is entirely plot driven. Some Australian slang will be unfamiliar to American readers." --B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2011.

"Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze" by Alan Silberberg - "Ages 9-14. ... From the cover-- with its saturated color, cartoony kids and sunshiny graphic elements--I expected another knockoff of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. And it does begins that way. We have Milo, who is filled with angst as he prepares to enter seventh grade at his fifth school in a couple of years. We have his cranky older sister and his vaguely absent father. Then there is the imaginary Dabney St. Claire, the suave inner voice of cool, who attempts to help Milo navigate the waters of junior high. But there is more to this story than meets the eye. Soon the narrative offers a hint that something is troubling Milo and his little family. It was one brief phrase that grabbed me: 'After my mom first got sick.' References to the death of Milo's mother are carefully constructed and beautifully done. ...When writing a book about death, it would be easy to bathe the loss in life lessons and advice. Silberberg, thankfully, does neither. He grabs onto the 13-year-old's voice and holds tight. Milo grows and changes the way a young teen typically does--through the day-to-day activities of school and home. His dreams of the unattainable Summer Goodman, ridiculous as they are to everyone but him, keep hope alive. And one unlikely friendship--with a grieving widow next door--plays an important part in his healing, as well. The only obvious lesson here is the one about not judging a book by its cover. Milo is a treasure." -- BOOKPAGE, c2010.

"The Moffats" by Eleanor Estes -  "Who else but a member of the Moffat family could, during kindergarten recess, accidentally hitch a ride out of town on a boxcar? Or wind up trapped in the breadbox outside the delicatessen store? ...

This charming book has been making readers smile for over half a century. It reflects a gentler era, when the jolly chief of police had time to sit on the curb to hear a little girl's "crimes" and a little boy's escapade on a train was not cause for media panic, just a simple redirecting by the agreeable engineer. Eleanor Estes,... and Caldecott medalist Louis Slobodkin (Many Moons) make a lovely team in this story of benign humor and sweet times." (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

"Ninth Ward" by Jewell Parker Rhodes - "Gr. 5-8. Born with a caul and gifted with the ability to see ghosts, Lanesha isn't one of the popular girls at her school, but that doesn't bother her. ... She has Mama Ya-Ya, who has cared for her ever since her mother died in childbirth, her Ninth Ward community, and her dreams of becoming an engineer. Mama Ya-Ya also has some supernatural abilities, and she has a premonition regarding Hurricane Katrina that she doesn't understand:..., Lanesha stores up water, food, flashlights, and candles to prepare for the worst. When the worst comes, she uses all of her abilities in math and physics to save herself, her friend TaShon, and their dog from the devastating floods that destroy her neighborhood but not her hopes for the future. Lanesha's heroic courage and resourcefulness achieve near- fabulist proportions as she figures out what she and her friends need to do to survive and escape the flood waters, and that is of course the point of the story--the importance of faith, intelligent action, and resilience in the face of crisis, even if some level of realism is sacrificed in the process. The details of the storm and its aftermath, however, are tangibly rendered, from the horrifying noise of the storm itself to the sunburn, the thirst, and the noxious character of the water that surrounds them as they await help for days on the roof of their home. The supernatural bits convey important elements of the culture, as do Lanesha's walks through her neighborhood before the storm, giving a strong sense of what was lost and what remains for a Ninth Ward girl." -- THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV. OF ILLINOIS, c2010.

"War Horse" by Michael Morpurgo - "Gr. 5-8. ... this searing World War I novel reveals the unspeakable slaughter of soldiers on all sides fighting against people who are just like them. The story is told by an English farm horse, Joey, and, as in Cynthia Kadahota's 'Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam' (2007), the first-person narrative blends the animal's physical experience with what men say. On the farm, Joey has close ties to Albert, who is too young to join up when his dad first sells Joey to the army. Charging into battle under machine-gun fire, Joey is captured by the Germans, who train him to haul ambulances and guns. His reunion with Albert in battle is sentimental and contrived, but the viewpoint brings close the fury of the thundering guns, the confusion, and the kindness of enemies who come together in No Man's Land to save the wounded horse. Joey's ability to understand the language wherever he is--England, France, Germany--reinforces the novel's antiwar message, and the terse details speak eloquently about peace."-- Hazel Rochman. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2007.

JUVENILE NON-FICTION

"The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery" by Sandra Markle - "Gr. 4-6. In 1996, biologist Karen Lips revisited a high mountain forest in Panama, where she had studied Panamanian golden frogs four years earlier. On this trip, though, she found only dead frogs. After a pathologist discovered unusual sacs under their skin, a newspaper article about Lips' research led to communication with other scientists worldwide and the discovery that a fungus was killing off the frogs....Project Golden Frog collects healthy animals and keeps them in zoos and conservation centers until the fungus can be controlled and the frogs can be safely returned home. ... Notable for clarity, directness, and simplicity of writing and design alike, this volume, both handsome and fascinating, begins with the hunt for the frogs' killer and ends with the urgent need to create a safe environment for their return to the wild. Excellent photos, microscopic views, and maps illustrate the book. ...While few readers will take up Markle's suggestion to 'become the science detective who finally stops this killer,' many will absorb the notion that scientific research can be intrinsically interesting and vitally important. Pair this book with Turner's The Frog Scientist (2009)." -- Carolyn Phelan.AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011

"Franklin and Winston: A Christmas That Changed the World" by Douglas Wood - "Gr. 5-8. ...This remarkably readable title describes a unique moment in time--the meeting of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the White House over the Christmas holidays. ...The tightly written narrative is filled with fascinating details, such as the fact that Churchill stomped up and down the halls of the White House at night in his nightgown. Anecdotes make the men human, but there is also much history here: what was planned, what was said, what was accomplished. It would be hard to overpraise Moser's striking artwork. Based on photos, the images capture the dramatic moments. There are many books about those who fought in WWII. This compelling offering gives a clue as to what it was like to be in the seat of power, watching the world burn and trying to stop it."-- Ilene Cooper.  AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2011.

"Mysteries of the Komodo Dragon: The Biggest, Deadliest Lizard Gives Up Its Secrets" by Marty Crump - "Gr 4-7–... While Crump's lively text does not supply a stage-by-stage description of the animal's life cycle and physiology, it does give enough data to satisfy many readers and researchers. More importantly, it follows a long-term research project into the chemical makeup of “dragon drool” and the possible practical applications of the chemicals in this deadly substance to human pharmacology. Clear, color photos depict dragons from hatchlings to adults, scientists hiding in blinds and weighing catches, and zookeepers cuddling dragons with “gentle” dispositions. Conservation efforts underway to protect this rare and threatened species are included. ... A surefire selection in terms of appeal and information." –Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC

YOUNG ADULT

"Going Bovine" by Libba Bray - "Gr 8 Up. In this ambitious novel, Cameron, a 16-year-old slacker whose somewhat dysfunctional family has just about given up on him, as perhaps he himself has, when his diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob, 'mad cow' disease, reunites them, if too late. The heart of the story, though, is a hallucinatory--or is it?--quest with many parallels to the hopeless but inspirational efforts of Don Quixote, about whom Cameron had been reading before his illness. Just like the crazy--or was he?--Spaniard, Cam is motivated to go on a journey by a sort of Dulcinea. His pink- haired, white-winged version goes by Dulcie and leads him to take up arms against the Dark Wizard and fire giants that attack him intermittently, and to find a missing Dr. X, who can both help save the world and cure him. .... It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way." --Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.

"Shelter" by Harlan Coben - "Gr. 9 Up. ... Sophomore Mickey Bolitar's happy, globe-trotting family returned to the States so that the teen could complete high school. Then Mickey sees his father killed in an accident and his bereft mother, who has taken to using drugs, enters rehab. Mickey goes to live with his Uncle Myron. On the way to school one morning, he encounters the Bat Lady, an old woman who lives in a dilapidated house, who tells him that his father is not dead, and disappears. Strangely enough, Ashley, a girl with whom Mickey has formed a relationship, also disappears. When he tries to find out what happened to her, he learns more than he bargained for about Ashley, the Bat Lady, and his own family....Myron Bolitar, the protagonist in Coben's adult mystery series, tries to take care of Mickey but doesn't really know how to be a parent. The boy has more freedom than most teens, giving him the opportunity to search for answers to his questions. Edgy and action-filled, the novel has interesting, likable characters, and it should fly off the shelves. The ending ties up some loose ends but leaves readers awaiting the sequel." -- Diana Pierce, Leander High School, TX. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2011.

PICTURE BOOKS

"Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man" by Michael Chabon

"Blink & Gollie" by Kate DiCammillo

"Book! Book! Book!" by Deborah Bruss

"Bumble Ardy" by Maurice Sendak

"Doorbell Rang" by Pat Huchins

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff

"Martha Speaks" by Susan Meddaugh

"Otis and the Tornado" by Loren Long

"A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea" by Michael Ian Black

"Prehistoric Pinkerton" by Steven Kellogg

"Splash" by Ann Jones

"Stand Straight, Ella Kate" by Kate Klise

"Who Stole Mona Lisa?" by Ruthie Knapp