New Books - November 2008

E185.86 .B542 2005
(v.1, v.2, v.3)
Black Women in America
Hine, Darlene Clark.

Summary:
Now in its second edition (the first was published in 1993), this three-volume reference is vibrant with stories of remarkable women--325 biographies--and discussion of topics pertaining to arts, culture, family, gender, law, occupations, politics, religion, science, and sports. The cumulative effect of such focus is inspirational and will surely spur scholarship and achievement among readers high-school level and above. The second edition features 150 new entries (for a total of about 560 entries) and revisions and updates to all that have been retained; some 600 b #38;w photos support the text. Each signed entry includes references, and a general bibliography of basic resources is also included. Editor Hine (history, Northwestern U.) and a long list of contributing scholars have prepared a thoughtful and useful reference for a young field. Annotation #169;2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Booklist Review:
Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia (Carlson, 1993) was universally acclaimed, winning the 1994 Dartmouth Medal. The second edition, also edited by Hine, now comprises three volumes. The first edition's chronological coverage began with 1619 and ended in 1992. This edition extends coverage through 2004, noting Condoleezza Rice's confirmation as Secretary of State, Johnnetta Cole's leadership of United Way, and Laila Ali's boxing title. It includes approximately 150 topical entries and 325 biographies. Seventy-eight of the topical articles are new, including Black Panther Women, Marriage, Rape, Revolutionary War, Rock and Roll, Vietnam, and Voodoo. Updating, restructuring, and revising resulted in many first edition articles being incorporated into more comprehensive entries. For example, Historically Black Colleges and Universities replaces articles on individual colleges. Most topics that no longer have separate entries are accessible through the detailed index. Conversely, topics that have increased in importance since publication of the first-edition now have specialized articles. The second edition still includes a general article on Sports but also offers articles on Basketball, Golf, Tennis, and Track and Field. RBB praised the first edition for the quality of its illustrations; this edition includes 600 carefully selected illustrations ranging from archival images (e.g., a 1773 drawing of Phillis Wheatley from the Schomberg Center) to photographs of contemporary sports and entertainment figures (e.g., both Serena and Venus Williams). The new edition includes special features, often topical compilations of biographies. Biographies of 11 female entrepreneurs accompany the article on Beauty Culture, and Rock and Roll includes biographies of rhythm-and-blues singers. Sidebars highlight items of special interest, such as the text of a letter written by journalist and activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett (Antilynching Movement) and a biography of Union spy Elizabeth Bowser (Civil War). Biographical articles added to this edition include those for Halle Berry, Gail Devers, Alexis Herman, and Condoleezza Rice. Both new articles and those retained from the first edition have updated bibliographies, including books, articles, and Web sites. A chronology, a thematic outline of entries, a bibliography listing items published through 2004, and a directory of contributors complete the set. Some contributors are also subjects of articles (e.g., Marian Wright Edelman). The second edition of this landmark reference work is an essential purchase for academic, public, and high-school libraries, especially those with well-worn first editions. Because Black Women in America is such a valuable source and because the new edition does not include all of the entries in the first, libraries should retain the first edition, perhaps in the circulating collection. ChristineWhittington. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - November 2008

RC86.9 .N344 2005

EMT-Basic Review : A Case-Based Approach

Nagell, Kaye D.

Book Review:

"The authors deliver on their goal of helping students identify strengths and areas for additional study. EMT-Basic Review is useful for first-time students looking for a supplement and for current EMTs preparing to recertify."

"The authors’ purpose is to “help you focus on the most important ideas and identify areas in which you need additional study.” EMT-Basic Review is divided into 27 chapters, mirroring EMT-B course content. For example, the “need-to-know” airway management information is condensed into bulleted lists. Headings are: Anatomy, Ventilation, Breathing Control, Breathing Assessment, Airway Management and Supplemental Oxygen. Fifty multiple-choice questions, along with three scenarios, help readers assess factual recall and application of airway management knowledge. The answer key follows immediately—an improvement over flipping to the back of the book."

Book Review: Greg Friese, MS, EMT-B

New Books - November 2008

RC86.7 .A43 2005

Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured

Pollak, Andrew N.

Summary:
Created by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this textbook covers all topics included in the U.S. Department of Transportation EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum. Edited by Gulli (Northwest Orthopaedic Surgeons) et al., this ninth edition offers new features and revisions. These include enhancement of patient assessment content with summary tables, new chapters on ALS and weapons of mass destruction, and case studies. A DVD is included, providing an overview of the skills necessary to succeed on the EMT- Basic practical examination. Annotation #169;2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - November 2008

JK1758 .D4818 2008
Guia de Ciudadania/Naturalizacion en USA
Published by: by LearningExpress (Author)

Description:

"This is a Spanish translation of our English title: U.S. Citizenship A Step by Step Guide. . . This guide covers all requirements for citizenship, sample INS questions, a civics and history review, lists of resources and sample application forms. It also presents true-life stories of people who have recently become citizens". Product Description by LearningExpress

Breast Cancer Tree of Remembrance

For the 12th consecutive year, the Palomar College Library, Palomar College Health Services and Phi Theta Kappa are collaborating to make the Breast Cancer Tree of Remembrance available to the staff, students, and faculty of Palomar College as well as to members of the community. This tree is a vehicle for honoring and remembering loved ones who have been afflicted with the disease. Pink ribbons are provided upon which to write the name of the loved one and then the ribbon is tied to the tree.

At the Escondido Center our Breast Cancer Tree of Remembrance is located in the Ernest J. Allen (EJA) Library. EJA Library hours are Monday –Thursday: 8 AM to 8 PM, Friday: 8 AM to Noon and Saturday: 9 AM to 1 PM.

The ribbons of honor and memory from the Tree of Remembrance are saved each year and carried in a breast cancer walk event by a member or members of the Palomar College community. Last year the ribbons from the 2006 Tree of Remembrance were carried in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Balboa Park by Team Strident headed by library manager and breast cancer survivor Katherine Gannett. This year Gannett will carry ribbons from the 2007 Tree of Remembrance. Katherine will be joined in this task by members of the Palomar College Women’s Basketball Team at the 2008 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at San Diego’s Balboa Park on October 19. The team is coached by Sheri Jennum, the basketball team’s Head Coach. Of the money raised by the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 100% goes to cancer programs and research here in San Diego County. You can still donate after the 19th by going to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer San Diego page.

For more information contact Katherine Gannett at the Palomar College Library (744-1150, ext. 2613) or Marlene Forney at Escondido Center’s Ernest J. Allen Library (ext. 8113).

Calling all ESL students and teachers!

Have you ever tried the LearningExpress Library database? This database includes practice tests for reading and writing skills that can help you improve your ability to communicate effectively in English. The database MasterFILE Premier provides complete issues of magazines like Consumer Reports, Popular Science, and Time that allow you to practice your reading skills while learning about the world around you. If your Instructor gives you reading assignments in USA Today, use the Newspaper Source database to read articles from 1985 to as recently as the previous week's issue.

These databases are available to all Palomar students and staff from both the Escondido and San Marcos library locations. When off-campus students can still use them by logging on with their eservices ID and password.

Am I really saving the planet? It’s your right to know!

In support of the College’s general education curriculum, the library is now offering instructional sessions that focus on the Campus Explorations theme, the Environment and Sustainable Living: Global Crises and Solutions. Course instructors are encouraged to bring their classes to the library for a discussion on the conflicting research and news reports regarding the environment and sustainable living. For example, hybrid cars are the rave, but some sources say the cost of the production is not worth the benefit of driving one. Discussion on conflicting sources of information will be followed by instruction on how to find and evaluate information about the environment and sustainable living. If we believe it’s our responsibility to save the earth, it’s also our right and responsibility to be informed about how to save it.

To schedule a session, please complete the library instruction request form or contact Katy French at kfrench@palomar.edu or ext. 3640. At the Escondido Center you can also contact Marlene Forney (mforney@palomar.edu) at ext. 8113. We can also customize the session to support specific course assignments and student learning outcomes.

We look forward to hearing from you!


Katy French
Instruction / Information Competency Librarian

New Books - September 2008

RC591 .M6713 2007
I Have Asthma
Moore-Mallinos, Jennifer

Booklist Review:

In a simple narrative, a boy tells about his first asthma attack. Panicky when he can't catch his breath at soccer practice, he tries to calm down as his parents drive him to the hospital. The doctor gives him medicine in an inhaler and explains how asthma affects the lungs. After leaving the hospital, to the boy's surprise, the family returns to the soccer field. At first he is reluctant to get out of the car, but he is reassured by his teammates' cheers and hugs. Another boy confides that he has had asthma for years. The presentation concludes with 10 precautionary measures for children with asthma, a couple of projects, and a double-page spread of information for parents. The story's matter-of-fact tone is just right, acknowledging the boy's fears and offering practical advice on dealing with asthma. The engaging line drawings, brightened with colorful washes, add to the appeal of this relatively sturdy, large-format paperback. A Spanish-language version of the book, entitled Tengo asma (0-7641-3786-7), is also available. Phelan, Carolyn. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - September 2008

PN1995.9 .P6 A48 2002
American Film and Politics from Reagan to Bush Jr
Davies, Philip, 1948-

Summary:

Focusing on the two decades leading to the beginning of the 21st century, this collection examines central issues in American politics and society through the films of the period. Using everything from Oliver Stone to Disney, Clint Eastwood to John Sayles, "Jurassic Park" to "Dumb and Dumber," the international array of authors explore a number of themes. These include: the cinematic views of political institutions; of politically significant places; of the projection of major issues such as gender, family, and race; and the cultural politics of the film makers themselves in America at the start of a new century. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - September 2008

QH31 .C33 L98 2007
The Gentle Subversive : Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, and the Rise of the Environmental Movement
Lytle, Mark H.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Biologist Rachel Carson (1907-1964), an outspoken forerunner of the environmental movement and author of the National Book Award-winning The Sea Around Us (1951), is best known for her groundbreaking, highly controversial tome Silent Spring (1962), a scathing exposé of the effects of DDT and other pesticides. In this brief, fascinating ecological biography by historian and fellow environmentalist Lytle, Carson's life is separated into four chapters?Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter-each focusing on the genesis, gestation and publication of Carson's four books. Lytle takes care in balancing his account, devoting equal attention to Carson's family life (for decades, Carson took care of her ailing mother, sister and nieces) as well as the arduous path of her career. Although she ultimately achieved wide recognition both as a writer and an ecologist, clearing the way for landmark environmental policy change, Carson endured staggering setbacks, including years of overcoming gender prejudice in a male-dominated field, her costly familial burden and several battles with recurring breast cancer?a fight she would ultimately lose at age 56. Lytle's spirited, thoroughly documented re-telling sheds ample light on the implications of this remarkable scientist's commitment to "protect the living things she loved so dearly." Photos. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - September 2008

F1234 .B83 1971
The Wind That Swept Mexico: The History of the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1942
Brenner, Anita, 1905-

Synopsis

The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 with the overthrow of dictator Porfirio Diaz. The Wind That Swept Mexico, originally published in 1943, was the first book to present a broad account of that revolution in its several different phases. In concise but moving words and in memorable photographs, this classic sweeps the reader along from the false peace and plenty of the Diaz era through the doomed administration of Madero, the chaotic years of Villa and Zapata, Carranza and Obregon, to the peaceful social revolution of Cardenas and Mexico's entry into World War II.

New Books - September 2008

TD224 .C3 W348 2004

Thirst for Independence : The San Diego Water Story
Walker, Daniel, 1922-

Summary

Aimed at concerned citizens, this text explains some of the current issues and controversies surrounding San Diego's water supplies and systems. Walker provides historical background information and explains how politics determine who gets how much water in California. He also describes current plans for dealing with the effects of potential natural emergencies on this vital resource. Walker is a former Governor of Illinois, lawyer, and historian as well as the author of six books. Annotation #169;2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - September 2008

F802 .G7 R87 2002

Songs of the Fluteplayer : Seasons of Life in the Southwest
Russell, Sharman Apt

Summary

In "Songs of the Fluteplayer," the charm and challenge of the spectacularly beautiful American Southwest are irresistibly captured by a woman who risked much to discover a new life and greater meaning there. Sharman Apt Russell and her husband moved to the Mimbres Valley in southwestern New Mexico in order to lead a simpler yet more substantial life. Their efforts to be self-sufficient-building an adobe house, giving birth at home, growing their own food-shattered many ideals and forced compromises but also renewed their ties to each other and kindled their respect for the land and its people. The American Southwest that Russell fell in love with comes to life vividly in her writing. From Navajo weavers to illegal Mexican workers, trading posts to prehistoric pottery, water rights disputes to the omnipresent fluteplayer Kokopelli-the energy and wonder of the Southwest is celebrated in this enchanting book. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - September 2008

PN1998 .C44 2006

Chambers Film Factfinder

Publisher: Chambers

CHOICE Review:

This new addition to the Chambers "Factfinder" collection is a quick guide to a wide assortment of movie industry facts. The guide is presented in five major sections: "People in Film," "Film Categories and Genres," "Film-Producing Countries," "100 Notable Films," and "Film Reference." "Index of Film Titles" is included in the back. Actor and director biographies are short, with the editors providing the individuals' career highs and lows. "Film-Producing Countries" offers a brief history along with the current status of the industry in the country being cited. Key actors, directors, and movies are included. The section on 100 notable films gives a brief description of each movie with an explanation of why the film is noteworthy. Also worthwhile is the section that breaks down films by category and genre. Although much of this information is available from the Internet or from more extensive encyclopedias and guides, Chambers provides another at-a-glance guide to brief snippets on some of the industry's most important film stars and directors. Not considered a comprehensive work, this guide proves to be both entertaining and informative. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-/upper-level undergraduates, general readers. General Readers; Lower-division Undergraduates; Upper-division Undergraduates; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by M. W. Wildman. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - September 2008

QC981.8 .G56 G56 2006
Global warming [videorecording] : the rising storm
Whitford, Bradley

Editorial Reviews:

Our planet is warming. It is significantly warmer in the 21st century than it was in the last third of the 20th century. Indeed, four of the warmest years on record have occurred in this century. This global warming is being forced by the unabated burning of fossil fuels pouring CO2 into the atmosphere.... And this warming appears to be forcing dramatic regional and worldwide climate shifts.

This 2-disc series examines the science of global warming and presents viable solutions to the problem. Understanding the scientific facts and implementing the necessary solutions may be our last, best chance to save our planet.

Kudos

Hello Escondido!

My compliments to the staff of the Ernest J. Allen for a introducing this wonderful service to library users at the Escondido Educational Center.

Marlene Forney

New Books - May 2008

F1234 .R32 2006

Insurgent Mexico

Reed, John, 1887-1920.

The Mississippi Valley Historical Review:

"Mr. Reed's book describes insurgent Mexico from the newspaper correspondent's or magazine writer's point of view. Therein Mr. Reed presents to us a remarkable true and vivid picture of Mexico as it is today. Almost without comment on his part he describes the Mexican people, their country, their life, their customs, and so forth, choosing his details with unerring skill, and presenting the picture with charming directness and simplicity. In so doing Mr. Reed has succeeded in bringing before an Anglo-American public a sympathetic picture of a Spanish-American people, making clear therewith some of the striking differences that render understanding and intercourse between the two so difficult."

"Reed's Insurgent Mexico shows the writer as he is and at his best, as a realist in the artistic sense, who describes life as he sees it, on the human side. Always sympathetic, thoroughly steeped in his subject, Mr. Reed still succeeds in keeping his personality from the pages. Vividly dramatic, full of realism, in itself romance, accurate and sane, are these sketches that Mr. Reed affords us in his Insurgent Mexico - a contribution, be is said, to the human and artistic aspects of this trouble-torn country." Review: [untitled], by Lindley M. Keasbey The Mississippi Valley Historical Review (copyright 1915), Organization of American Historians.

New Books - May 2008

E175.85 .L64 2007

Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American history Textbook Got Wrong
Loewen, James W.

Library Journal Review:

Starred Review. Loewen (sociology, Univ. of Vermont; Mississippi: Conflict and Change), whose interest lies in looking for "weapons of mass instruction" in American history textbooks, first shared his findings over ten years ago in the best-selling first edition of this book. Here he presents his updated assessments, starting with an introduction that "re-caps" and "pre-caps" what the book covers, and explains his concept of the failings of 12 American history textbooks. He finds, for example, that Woodrow Wilson is still given hero status although he was almost single-handedly responsible for forcing the removal of any one who was not a WASP from all levels of government. He also notes that we are spending more time on the War of 1812 than on our longest war: Vietnam. In an age of "truthiness" and "spin," a work that asks us to challenge students with actual and chronological history, and with images and comments from diverse viewpoints, leaving each student to come to his or her own conclusions, would seem to be of particular importance. Even if your library has the first edition, you must get this update. A fascinating work; highly recommended. Suzanne Lay, Perry H.S. Lib., GA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - May 2008

HQ772 .I69 2007

Is It a Big problem or a Little Problem? : When to Worry, When Not to Worry, and What to Do
Egan, Amy.

Library Journal Review:

Starred Review. Many exasperated parents have wondered whether their three year old needs to have his or her hearing checked. Developmental concerns are common, but it can be difficult to tell what behavior is a "stage" and what is cause for genuine concern. The authors, Anderson, Amy Egan, Amy Freedman, and Judi Greenberg all speech, language, behavior, and occupational therapists at the Ivymount School's Center for Outreach and Education in Rockville, MD divide the book into three sections, "The Basics," "Understanding Development," and "Where Children Struggle." Within these, they illustrate specific concerns (e.g., "She can hear, why doesn't she understand?"), explore the range of normal, and examine signals that indicate a need for professional intervention. For "little problems," the authors teach how to rework an environment, routine, or communication strategy to alleviate triggers and encourage mastery. Their strategies for reteaching crucial developmental milestones range from the simple (e.g., no more sippy cups; straws not only improve speech skills but have a calming effect) to the progressive. Disclaimers aside, this book is the equivalent of a valuable appointment with a specialist. Never using an alarmist tone, the authors strike a perfect balance between advocating for early intervention and appreciating the ups and downs of typical childhood behavior. Highly recommended for all libraries. Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

DS79.76 .Z357 2007
City of Widows : An Iraqi Woman's Account of War and Resistance
Zangana, Haifa, 1950-

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. In her opening line, Iraqi novelist (and former prisoner of Saddam Hussein) Zangana lays out this Iraq primer's unapologetic intent: "that readers in the West will gain insight into a country they have impacted so fully and terribly." With 300,000 widows in Baghdad alone, another million across the country, and thousands of women imprisoned without acknowledgement-much less hope for legal recourse-Zangana's dispatches are different from those of U.S. and Iraqi officials who, she says, claim to support "women's empowerment" while sponsoring militant sectarian forces with "barbaric ideas" about women in society. The U.S. media, according to Zangana, is happy to fall in line: by repeating the story that Iraqis are killing Iraqis by the hundreds each day, the American reflex has become to blame the victims, rather than an occupation that has deliberately dismantled the country's only ways of coping. Putting the current moment in perspective with an engaging history of women's rights in Iraq, Zangana convincingly indentifies the current Iraqi moment "a terrible state of regression." This angry, unforgiving and powerful book is as vital as it is hard to swallow. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

S494.5 .B563 C86 2008
Uncertain Peril : Genetic Engineering and the Future of Seeds
Cummings, Claire Hope, 1943-

Publishers Weekly Review:

Former environmental lawyer and one-time farmer Cummings offers a persuasive account of a lesser-known but potentially apocalyptic threat to the world's ecology and food supply the privatization of the Earth's seed stock. For almost a century, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided seeds at no cost to farmers who then saved seeds from one harvest to another, eventually developing strains best suited to local or regional climates. But Cummings also tells how seeds became lucrative, patentable private properties for some of the nation's most powerful agribusinesses. Cummings bemoans the plague of sameness intensified by the advent of such fitfully regulated companies as Monsanto, which now not only own genetically modified seed varieties, but also sue farmers when wind inevitably blows seeds onto their neighboring fields. According to Cummings, this tyranny of the technological[ly]elite threatens agricultural diversity and taints food sources. Among the author's many startling statistics is that 97% of 75 vegetables whose seeds were once available from the USDA are now extinct. Cummings heralds plans for a Doomsday Vault to shelter existing natural seed stock, and finds comfort in organic farming's growth, but her authoritative portrait of another way in which our planet is at peril provides stark food for thought. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

New Books - April 2008

KF224 .H468 C65 2006

"Colored Men" and "Hombres Aquí" : Hernández v. Texas and the Emergence of Mexican-American Lawyering

Olivas, Michael A.

From the Publisher:

This collection of ten essays commemorates the 50th anniversary of an important but almost forgotten U.S. Supreme court case, Hernández v. Texas, 347 US 475 (1954), the major case involving Mexican Americans and jury selection, published just before Brown v. Board of Education in the 1954 Supreme Court reporter.
This landmark case, the first to be tried by Mexican American lawyers before the U.S. Supreme Court, held that Mexican Americans were a discrete group for purposes of applying Equal Protection. Although the case was about discriminatory state jury selection and trial practices, it has been cited for many other civil rights precedents in the intervening 50 years. Even so, it has not been given the prominence it deserves, in part because it lives in the shadow of the more compelling Brown v. Board case.
There had been earlier efforts to diversify juries, reaching back at least to the trial of Gregorio Cortez in 1901 and continuing with efforts by the legendary Oscar Zeta Acosta in Los Angeles in the 1960s. Even as recently as 2005 there has been clear evidence that Latino participation in the Texas jury system is still substantially unrepresentative of the growing population. But in a brief and shining moment in 1954, Mexican-American lawyers prevailed in a system that accorded their community no legal status and no respect. Through sheer tenacity, brilliance, and some luck, they showed that it is possible to tilt against windmills and slay the dragon.
Edited and with an introduction by University of Houston law scholar Michael A. Olivas, Colored Men and Hombres Aquí is the first full-length book on this case. This volume contains the papers presented at the Hernández at 50 conference which took place in 2004 at the University of Houston Law Center and also contains source materials, trial briefs, and a chronology of the case.

New Books - April 2008

QE721.2 .E85 P76 2007
Evolution : What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters

Prothero, Donald R.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Prothero, a geologist at Occidental College (After the Dinosaurs), explains how rich the fossil record has become. His goal is two-fold. First, he wants to demonstrate the wide variety of transitional forms that have been found, many within the past 20 years. Second, he aims to discredit the creationist movement. I have tried to document how they routinely distort or deny the evidence, quote out of context, and do many other dishonest and unethical things all in the name of pushing their crusade. He accomplishes both of his goals (though he can be repetitious regarding the creationists), and his descriptions of recent research, much of it his own, are compelling. Prothero explains that the Cambrian explosion of life forms was anything but an explosion, and presents the impressive transitional fossils between reptiles and birds, along with striking evidence for mammalian evolution, including the relationship among hominid groups. With good science and some specific rebuttals to creationist arguments, this book demonstrates the importance of paleontology to the study of evolution. 208 illus. (Nov.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

BQ5395 .Y66 2007
The Joy of Living : Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
Yongey Mingyur, Rinpoche, 1976-

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. This refreshing book is yet another sign that the next generation of Buddhism is creative, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary. Born in 1975 in Nepal, the author is among the generation of Tibetan lamas trained outside of Tibet, and he's also a gifted meditator. His brain activity has been measured during meditation, earning him the enviable sobriquet of "happiest man on earth." He fuses scientific and spiritual considerations, explaining meditation as a physical as well as a spiritual process. Mingyur Rinpoche knows from experience that meditation can change the brain. He experienced panic attacks as a child that he was able to overcome through intensive meditation. If diligently practiced, meditation can affect the "neuronal gossip" his imaginative rendering of brain cell communication that keeps us stuck in unhappy behaviors. The meditation master offers a wide variety of techniques, counseling ease in practice to avoid boredom or aversion. Less is more; practice shorter periods more often, he says. His approach will be especially welcome for anyone frustrated by meditation or convinced they're "not doing it right." This book is a fresh breath from the meditation room, written with kindness, energy and wit. Three cheers for a cheerful contemplative. (Mar. 6) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

HV875.56 .T36 R39 2007
The Baby Thief : The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption
Raymond, Barbara Bisantz.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. An episode in American adoption history little remembered by the public at large, the crimes of nationally-lauded Memphis orphanage director Georgia Tann are skillfully and passionately recounted by freelance writer Raymond, herself an adoptive mom. The portrait of Tann that emerges is a domineering, indefatigable figure with an insane commitment to ends-justify-the-means logic, who oversaw three decades of baby-stealing, baby-selling and unprecedented neglect. Meanwhile, she did more to popularize, commercialize and influence adoption in America than anyone before her. Tann operated carte blanche under corrupt Mayor Edward Hull Crump from the 1920s to the '50s, employing a nefarious network of judges, attorneys, social workers and politicos, whom she sometimes bribed with "free" babies; her clients included the rich, the famous and the entirely unfit (who more than occasionally returned their disappointing children for a refund). "Spotters" located babies and young children ripe for abduction-from women too uneducated or exhausted to fight back-and Tann made standard practice of altering birth certificates and secreting away adoption records to attract buyers and cover her tracks-self-serving moves that have become standard practice in modern adoption. A riveting array of interviews with Tann's former charges reveals adults still struggling with their adoption ordeal, childhood memories stacked with sexual abuse, torture and confusion. Raymond's dogged investigation makes a strong case for "ridding adoptions of lies and secrets," warning that "until we do, Tann and her imitators will continue to corrupt adoption." A rigorous, fascinating, page-turning tale, this important book is not for the timorous. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

HQ775 .T55 2008

It's a boy! : Understanding Your Son's Development from Birth to Age 18

Thompson, Michael, 1947-

Library Journal Review:

Psychologist Thompson and journalist Barker's previous three cowritten books including the high-profile Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys are all about parenting, and parenting boys in particular. In this more comprehensive work, they provide parenting advice tied to eight different stages of child development; there is a chapter on each and an additional one addressing the psychology of transitioning to parenthood. The clever format makes this both an easy resource for short reads about your child's current developmental stage and a good way to get answers to specific questions. Small insets contain quotations from a boy or a parent whom the authors interviewed, while larger insets focus on such typical parenting issues as determining when your child is ready for kindergarten, sibling rivalry, and corporal punishment (banned, as the authors point out, in many EU countries). The chapters on boys aged 14 18 are particularly strong, with useful, intelligent information about academic underachievement and boys' computer, video-game, and television usage. The authors encourage parents not to pathologize and, above all, to enjoy their boys. Recommended for all public libraries. Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

HT867 .B356 2007

Ending slavery : how we free today's slaves
Bales, Kevin.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. Bales (Understanding Global Slavery) provides a guide for eliminating the plague of slavery that continues to this day, involving some 27 million slaves worldwide producing $13 billion in goods and services. Bales provides a thorough overview of slavery, including its history, its methods, the lives of its victims around the world and the conditions under which it flourishes (modern slaves "are cheap, and they are disposable"); most importantly, Bales has put together guides to action at every level, from the individual to the community to the United Nations, in a six-point plan that includes protecting, arming and cloning "the liberators," enacting and enforcing effective antislavery legislation and, perhaps most important (and overlooked), helping freed slaves heal ("liberation is just the first step on a long road"). Alongside those goals, Bales also considers practical matters, including fundraising, increasing awareness among the general public and convincing governments to pay attention: though "all political leaders denounce slavery," its numbers are still up, "perpetrators go uncaught... and the minimal resources needed to rehabilitate freed slaves are not available." Shocking, saddening, angering and inspiring, this volume reveals in full a side of the global market many Americans simply do not know about, clueing readers in on "the extent of their own involvement in global slavery," and the unthinkable injustices that could be taking place even in their local communities. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

E185.2 .B545 2008
Slavery by another name : the re-enslavement of Black people in America from the Civil War to World War II
Blackmon, Douglas A.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. Wall Street Journal bureau chief Blackmon gives a groundbreaking and disturbing account of a sordid chapter in American history the lease (essentially the sale) of convicts to commercial interests between the end of the 19th century and well into the 20th. Usually, the criminal offense was loosely defined vagrancy or even changing employers without permission. The initial sentence was brutal enough; the actual penalty, reserved almost exclusively for black men, was a form of slavery in one of hundreds of forced labor camps operated by state and county governments, large corporations, small time entrepreneurs and provincial farmers. Into this history, Blackmon weaves the story of Green Cottenham, who was charged with riding a freight train without a ticket, in 1908 and was sentenced to three months of hard labor for Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel. Cottenham's sentence was extended an additional three months and six days because he was unable to pay fines then leveraged on criminals. Blackmon's book reveals in devastating detail the legal and commercial forces that created this neoslavery along with deeply moving and totally appalling personal testimonies of survivors. Every incident in this book is true, he writes; one wishes it were not so. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.

New Books - April 2008

E184 .M5 R587 2007
Mongrels, bastards, orphans, and vagabonds : Mexican immigration and the future of race in America

Rodriguez, Gregory.

Booklist Review:

As the largest contingent of the fastest growing minority population in the U.S., Mexican immigrants promise to put an indelible stamp on American culture and notions of race and ethnicity. Mexican scholar Rodriguez examines historical and social factors that have caused the current level of Mexican migration to the U.S. and the greatest contribution of Mexicans, the concept of mestizaje, or racial and cultural synthesis. Mexico's history of conquest and intermixing with the indigenous people has produced a greater tolerance for mixing than has the U.S. history of slavery and stricter definitions of race. Moreover, the evolution of attitudes of Mexican immigrants themselves-from desire to be counted as white to advocacy for a broader classification or none at all-adds to the more nuanced view of ethnic identity. Rodriguez traces changes in Mexican immigration, fueled by politics and economics in the U.S. and Mexico, and the growing Chicano movement. Rodriguez explores what effect this mestizaje, earned after a long history, though not so tortured as that of the U.S., will have on American culture, racial identity, and minority politics. Bush, Vanessa.

New Books - April 2008

HD4865 .U6 B68 2007

Nobodies : modern American slave labor and the dark side of the new global economy
Bowe, John.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. In this eye-opening look at the contemporary American scourge of labor abuse and outright slavery, journalist and author Bowe (Gig: Americans Talk About their Jobs) visits locations in Florida, Oklahoma and the U.S.-owned Pacific island of Saipan, where slavery cases have been brought to light as recently as 2006. There, he talks to affected workers, providing many moving and appalling first-hand accounts. In Immokalee, Florida, migrant Latino tomato and orange pickers are barely paid, kept in decrepit conditions and intimidated, violently, to keep quiet about it. A welding factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma imported workers from India who were forced to pay exorbitant "recruiting fees" and live in squalid barracks with tightly controlled access to the outside world. Considering the tiny island capital of Saipan, Bowe explores how its culture, isolation and American ties made it so favorable an environment for exploitative garment manufacturers and corrupt politicos; alongside the factories sprouted karaoke bars, strip joints and hotels where politicians were entertained by now-imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The detailed chapter gives readers a lasting image of the island, touted a "miracle of economic development," as a vulnerable, truly suffering community, where poverty rates have climbed as high as 35 percent. Bowe's deeply researched, well-written treatise on the very real problem of modern American slavery deserves the attention of anyone living, working and consuming in America. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

HV6432.7 .T69 2007
Tower stories : an oral history of 9/11
DiMarco, Damon.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. The only widely available oral history of 9/11 from the perspective of New Yorkers, this monumental work (originally released by Revolution in 2004) has been updated for the sixth anniversary of the national tragedy. In the weeks following the World Trade Center attack, DiMarco, in the tradition of Studs Terkel, wandered Manhattan collecting the stories of Gothamites who survived the collapse of the towers, came to help or simply bore witness-whether from elsewhere in the city, across the country or overseas. Two major themes emerge, the first concerning the heroism of common decency: Florence Engoran, five months pregnant on the day of the attack, was helped down 55 flights of stairs by near-strangers, "two men who promised that they were gonna stay with me the whole time down, which they did." In the same vein, Jan Demczur relates how he used his window washing tools to save himself and an elevator full of people, and Dr. Walter Gerasimowicz tells of the men who aided him when he was forced to evacuate without his crutches. The rigors of loss and mourning make a second theme: Patrick Charles Welsh, whose wife perished on Flight 93, says, "I was so devastated by this unheard cry of souls... This moan of humanity going straight up to heaven." Though a good idea, the scholarly essays that close the book, concerning the U.S.-Middle East relations, feel off-puttingly distant compared to the stories that precede them. DiMarco's contribution to the memory of that horrific day is enormous; the testimonies collected here form an amazing, one-of-a-kind account. Photos. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April 2008

PE1128 .A2 R454 2002
Book bridges for ESL students : using young adult and children's literature to teach ESL
Reid, Suzanne Elizabeth.

CHOICE Review:

Reid (Emory and Henry College) presents book titles and activity suggestions for teaching English as a second language. She covers the basics, picture books, reading and literature, history, science, mathematics, multicultural (mainly non-English) classes, and special populations from children to adults. The author critiques each book title, giving information on how the book might be useful and commenting on language level and illustrations. This makes her volume practical for busy classroom teachers. The book includes a bibliography of picture books, resources for teaching history, math, and science, and on multicultural themes, when most students in the class do not speak English and for special populations, along with a separate annotated bibliography of resources for teachers. All of these make the book easy to use. This practical book is recommended for professionals/practitioners and students preparing to become ESL teachers. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - April 2008

PZ7 .H2313 WHE 2007
When Randolph Turned Rotten
Harper, Charise Mericle.

School Library Journal Review:

Starred Review. PreS-Gr 2 Best friends Randolph (a beaver) and Ivy (a Canada goose) do everything together until Ivy receives an invitation to an all-girls sleepover at her cousin's beach house. Her constant chatter about the party has her friend feeling a little left out and a bit jealous. "That's when Randolph's insides changed from very-best-friend insides to horrible, rotten, awful, and icky insides." Ivy is totally oblivious to his feelings. She doesn't even find it odd when Randolph insists that she take a huge heavy blanket, a pointy stick for protection from beach bears, or a marshmallow necklace to throw at the bears should they attack. She even carries the extra-heavy suitcase that Randolph has filled with logs. At first, he is pleased with his rotten self, but then he begins to miss his best friend and feels remorse. Ironically, it is Randolph's rotten tricks that save the party when the guests are accidentally locked out of the house and must spend the night on the beach. The acrylic cartoons are colorful, yet simple. Facial detail is minimal, but still expressive. Randolph changes from nice guy to reprobate with just the addition of two heavy brows above his eyes. The illustrations add humor, extend the narrative, and complete the story with dialogue balloons. Readers will recognize a bit of themselves in Randolph. Friends (or siblings) will appreciate the strength of relationships and the importance of forgiveness. A great title for one-on-one or individual reading. Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April, 2008

PZ7.S5543 KEE 2007
Keeping Corner
Sheth, Kashmira.

Booklist Review:

*Starred Review* Engaged at 2 and married at 9, 12-year-old Leela is awaiting her anu ceremony, after which she will move to her in-laws' home. But her husband is killed, and she suddenly becomes a widow. Her loving family follows the Brahman customs: Leela's head is shaved, her bright clothes are exchanged for plain ones, and most difficult of all, she must "keep corner," unable to leave her family's home for one year. She fears the saying that a widow's life "is like a living death," but India's fight for independence is escalating, and through discussions with her brother and her female tutor, both followers of Gandhi, Leela begins to question tradition: "Who started this? And why? Can anyone benefit from it?" Burying herself in news reports, literature, and her own writing, Leela determines to forgo the tradition of widows, who seem to "melt into darkness," and with the support of her brother and tutor, she begins to dream of a hopeful future as an educated, professional woman. Sheth (Blue Jasmine, 2004) sets up a thrilling premise in which politics become achingly personal as Leela's brave, tumultuous coming-of-age plays out in intimate detail against the backdrop of her nation's independence. Idealistic teens will be caught up in the human-rights issues, and the vivid cultural specifics, memorable characters, and the bold adolescent's challenge to tradition will attract a wide readership. Engberg, Gillian.

New Books - April, 2008

G1541 .S1 L3 2007
An Atlas and Survey of Latin American History
LaRosa, Michael (Michael J.)

Book Description:

"An Atlas and survey of Latin American History makes the human and physical geography and the social, cultural, political, and economic history of Latin America accessible in sixty-eight clearly drawn maps and accompanying text. The topical overviews of movements and developments - from the earliest human settlement to the present day and from Mexico and the Caribbean to Cape Horn - bring to light patterns of continuity and change throughout the region and over time."--BOOK JACKET. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - April, 2008

PZ7 .G3626 EL 2008
Eleven
Giff, Patricia Reilly.

Publishers Weekly Review:

Starred Review. The day before he turns 11, Sam searches the attic for hidden birthday presents and discovers more than he bargained for: a newspaper clipping showing a photograph of him as a missing child. In this exquisitely rendered story of self-discovery, Giff (Lily's Crossing) creates what she calls a jig-saw puzzle of a book, showing readers how Sam pieces together artifacts and his own flashbacks to find out whether Mack, the man he has lived with for as long as he can remember, really is his grandfather. Learning the truth requires research, and Sam, a special-needs student who has trouble reading, solicits help from Caroline, a new girl at school. As they embark on two projects building a medieval castle for social studies and solving the mystery of Sam's past they also construct a solid friendship, despite Caroline's parents' plans for another, imminent move. Although the premise echoes that of Caroline Cooney's The Face on the Milk Carton, the similarity ends there. Evoking an entirely different mood and set of circumstances, this intimate story realistically examines friendship, family secrets and the struggles of a learning-disabled child trying to make sense of the world. Given the author's expertise at developing sympathetic characters and creating a suspenseful plot, readers will find the complexity of Sam's vulnerabilities to be as intriguing as the unfolding enigma of his past. Ages 8-13. (Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - April, 2008

GC11.2 P73 2001

Practical Handbook of Marine Science

Kennish, Michael J.

Book Description:

Broad coverage of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the marine realm, useful as a supplemental reference for undergraduate or graduate marine science courses. Its chapters cover physiography, marine chemistry, physical oceanography, marine geology, marine biology, and pollution and other anthropogenic impacts. The editor is affiliated with the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers U. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - March, 2008

D25 .B25 2006
Battlefield: Decisive Conflicts in History

Richard Holmes

Library Journal Review:

Renowned British military historian Holmes (Wellington: The Iron Duke) and Evans (The Military Heritage of Britain and Ireland) here describe almost 300 battles, from Megiddo in ancient Egypt (1475 B.C.E.) to the Second Gulf War in 2003, using as their source Holmes's Oxford Companion to Military History (he served as editor). Featuring selections from that book newly arranged and updated, the result is more than a dictionary or a chronology. Each chapter is dedicated to a chronological era and begins with a summary of military conditions, incorporating political, tactical, and technological evolutions into one informative narrative. Coverage then moves to the decisive battles of that time period, with maps illustrating their development and campaigns. The editors acknowledge current debates and research; their personal and incisive comments make this book more than a reference tool it will serve as a valuable introduction to the study of military history for beginners and a starting point that will inspire further reading. Recommended for all libraries, including those already holding the larger Oxford Companion. David Lee Poremba, Davenport, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - March, 2008

E185.96 .A4466 2008
The African American National Biography Gates, Henry Louis

Book Description
A landmark scholarly achievement published in February 2008 in 8 volumes. The African American National Biography presents history through a mosaic of the lives of thousands of individuals, illuminating the abiding influence of persons of African descent on the life of this nation from the arrival of Esteban in Spanish Florida in 1529 through to notable black citizens of the present day. In addition to Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr., the AANB includes a wide range of African Americans from all time periods and all walks of life, both famous and nearly-forgotten. In the words of AANB editor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., "These stories, long buried in the dusty archives of history, will never be lost again. And that is what scholarship in the field of African American Studies should be all about." About the author: Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, Harvard University. Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham is Professor of History and Afro-American Studies at Harvard University and editor of The Harvard Guide to African American History.

E310 .W56 2007

The great upheaval : America and the birth of the modern world, 1788-1800 Winik, Jay

Booklist Review
The great strengths of Winik's massive examination of this tumultuous period is his demonstration of how events in the U.S. and Europe were part of a process of cross-fertilization. The title dates are not arbitrary. In 1788, the U.S. began its operation under a new constitution; in 1800, after years of partisan divisions and social conflict, the Americans peacefully accepted the transfer of power from the Federalists to Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans. Between those years, the U.S. and Europe experienced turmoil, revolution, and wars that shaped the world for the next two centuries. American commitment to republican ideals influenced French revolutionaries; they, under the threat of foreign intervention, instituted a repressive regime that would presage twentieth-century totalitarianism. In Russia, the "enlightened" Catherine the Great was shocked by the violence in France and turned from liberalization to a strengthened autocracy. Her desire for expansion led to the destruction of the Polish state and war with the Muslim Turks, both of which had immense consequences in the twentieth century. An outstandingly wide-ranging account of this vital era in world history. Freeman, Jay. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Women's History Month Display

March is Women's History Month and the library has a very interesting display available for viewing until March 31.