Best Locally Produced Books

(February 24, 2005)

Wolfner Library is a member of the oldest network of cooperating libraries in America. Established in 1931 by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress, regional libraries continue to share books in alternative formats for those unable to read standard printed materials.

Many regional libraries supplement the NLS collection with locally recorded material of provincial content that is rich in its depth and variety. Local collections reflect a diverse audience whose reading appetite is not sated by the NLS basic collection; furthermore, librarians encourage that audience to explore and make use of, by collaborative interlibrary loan, member libraries' holdings.

This recommended reading list is a sampling that exemplifies network libraries local recordings that enhance the national collection. Regional recordings comprise an important collection of unique and rare materials for our patrons. It is a service not likely to be duplicated by the commercial e-book community.

Caveat lector! (Let the reader beware!) The titles listed are recordings narrated by dedicated volunteers and may not match the quality of NLS produced books. As local recording studios migrate from analog to digital recording of books, the superior recording quality combined with a more effective electronic distribution system will enhance the interlibrary loan process among NLS network libraries.

Please enjoy a selection of readings from around the country and select additional readings of locally recorded materials by exploring the NLS Online Catalog at http://www.loc.gov/nls/.

--Dr. Richard J. Smith
Wolfner Library Director

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!

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ARIZONA

Arizona Goes to War edited by Brad Melton and Dean Smith.
WOD 761.
World War 2 presented Arizona with many incredible challenges and adventures.  Thousands of airmen trained there, German POWs were interned at Papago Park in Phoenix, and heroes such as Silvestre Herrera and Ira Hayes brought honor to the state.  The essays in this book explore Arizona 's role at the war front and the home front.  Narrated by Joe Giumette. Introductory sections written by Senator John McCain, Marshall Trimble, and Brad Melton are also narrated by them.

Navajo Weapon by Sally McClain.
WOD 767.
A detailed account of the development and achievements of the Navajo code talkers of World War 2 and the cooperation of the Navajo people with the United States Marine Corps.  Narrated by Louella Marshall and for the Navajo portions of the text, Nan Benally.

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901: Arizona Territories: A Novel by Nancy Turner.
WOD 760.
Inspired by the author's family memoirs, Sarah's diary portrays the joys and hardships of living out west at the end of the 1800s. Beginning at age seventeen, she recounts events over twenty years, including Indian attacks, marriages, births, and deaths. Narrated by Evelyn Howell.

FLORIDA

For the Love of Roses: In Florida and Elsewhere b y Barbara Oehlbeck.
WOD 747.
Instructions for the gardener in selecting, growing, and enjoying the results of the successful cultivation of roses. Narrated by Tim Hochuli.

Time Travelers Strictly Cash by Spider Robinson.
WOD 758.
Four stories from the drinking establishment that is out of this world! Human or otherwise, hale and hearty or down and out, regardless of race, creed, or dimension of origin, everyone is welcome at Callahan's, but time travelers must pay in cash. Narrated by Al Jules.

Tourist Season: A Novel by Carl Hiaasen.
WOD 801.
A group of terrorists plot a series of violent events designed to deter tourists from considering Florida as a vacation spot. Violence. Narrated by Harold Roberts.

HAWAII

The Best of Honolulu Fiction: Stories from the Honolulu Magazine Fiction Contest edited by Eric Chock and Darrel Lum.
WOC 571.
This book features stories from the Honolulu Magazine Fiction Contest. This yearly contest is for short stories that reflect Hawaii in setting, characters, or theme. Pamela Ball, Marie Hara, Nora Okja Keller, R. Zamora Linmark, Gary Pak, Graham Salisbury, and Lois-Ann Yamanaka are just some of the short story authors included in this collection. Narrated by Beatrice Pace.

Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom by K.S. Tom.
WOC 572.
A journey through Chinese customs. Narrated by Stephen Fleming.

The Polynesian Family System in Ka'u, Hawaii by E.S. Craighill Handy and Mary Kawena Pukui.
WOC 573.
This insightful study of the Hawaiian family explores the manner and customs accompanying all circles of life. Concludes with a chapter on the history and ecology of Ka'u by Elizabeth Green Handy, and with an introduction to the new edition by Terence Barrow. Narrated by Dave Del Rocco.

IDAHO

Across the Snowy Ranges: The Lewis and Clark Expedition in Idaho and Western Montana by James R. Fazio.
WOD 731.
An abridged account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition between Lemhi Pass and the Snake River at Lewiston, Idaho. Provides readers with a fascinating interpretation of the Lewis and Clark Expedition journals in words, images and cartography. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Larry Weeks.

Hear Me My Chiefs by Lucullus Virgil McWhorter.
WOD 732.
Legends and history of the Nez Perce collected for the historian and general reader. A major portion of the book examines the Nez Perce War of 1877. For junior and senior high and adult readers. Narrated by Larry Weeks.

Is Idaho in Iowa by Tim Woodward.
WOD 778.
Mixups between these two states are so common as to be unbelievable says Idaho Statesman and writer, Tim Woodward. For junior and senior high and adult readers. Narrated by Edith Bond.

INDIANA

Angle of Attack:  Harrison Storms and the Race to the Moon by Mike Gray.
WOD 802.
In the panic that followed the Soviet launch of Sputnik, Harrison Storms assembled a technical empire to address the most ambitious engineering project ever undertaken to get a man on the moon.  This is a look at the corporate and technological drama in the United States Space Program. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Fred McCarthy.

Rhymes of Childhood by James Whitcomb Riley.
WOD 805.
Published in 1896 this collection of Riley poems uses children and childhood as its theme.  Riley's folksy style combined with "the child dialect" gives us a child's view of life. Selections include:  "The Way the Baby Came", "The Circus Day Parade" and "She Displains It." Narrated by James Mitchell.

Young Hoosier Book Award Picture Book Nominees, 1999-2000.
WOD 775.
The 1999-2000 Young Hoosier Book Award nominees for the kindergarten through third grade picture book category.  Books include:  "Library Dragon", "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly", and "Double Trouble in Walla Walla " which was the category winner that year. Narrated by Elaine Gilmore, Marg Ringel, Doug Conrads and Wilma Gibbs.

KENTUCKY

Death in Bloodhound Red by Virginia Lanier.
WOD 807.
JoBeth Sidden is a bloodhound trainer with a special talent for harrowing search and rescue missions. Her current mission is a personal one, she is suspected of murder. She must prove herself innocent or risk loosing the freedom and independence she has fought for all her life. Anthony Award. Strong language. Narrated by Priscilla Barnes.

Head o'W-Hollow by Jesse Stuart with a foreword by Robert Penn Warren.
WOD 721.
Short stories portraying life in the mountains of Kentucky. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Harry Rietze.

Red Hot to Monkey's Eyebrow: Unusual Kentucky Place Names by Robert M. Rennick.
WOD 720.
This book presents some of the classic accounts of Kentucky 's oddest place names. Most of them were collected through interviews with local residents over the past thirty years. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Roger Stapleton. 

LOUISIANA

The Bone Lady: Life As a Forensic Anthropologist by Mary H. Manhein.
WOD 765.
Eminent forensic anthropologist Mary Manhein offers a fascinating glimpse into her career and work at Louisiana State University 's FACES lab. A mother and wife who did not pursue anthropology until her thirties, she mesmerizes and educates with some of her lesser publicized, but equally compelling cases. Contains explicit descriptions of crime scenes. Narrated by Katheleen Mayeux.

Elvis, Hank, and Me: Making Musical History on the Louisiana Hayride by Horace Logan with Bill Sloan.
WOD 764.
An intimate look at country music's early stars as told by Horace "Hoss" Logan, the producer and emcee of the radio show Louisiana Hayride which introduced these musicians to the world. Beginning in 1948, Logan chronicles professional and personal experiences with legends Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many other future stars. Contains some strong language. Narrated by Scotty Drake.

Plastic Jesus by Poppy Z. Brite.
WOD 766.
Lovers Seth Grealy and Peyton Masters are members of the rock band, The Kyds. Beginning with the murder of Seth, Brite retraces their touching relationship rooted in a famed sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle. Loosely based on the rock group, The Beatles. Violence and strong language. Narrated by Neena Kelfstrom.

MARYLAND

Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman.
WOD 768.
In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz's death should be just another statistic.  But the slain lawyer's notoriety makes the case front page news and points to Tess Monaghan's friend as the likely murderer. Narrated by Susan Rittenhouse.

Do You Remember?: The Whimsical Letters of H.L. Mencken and Phillip Goodman by Jack Sanders.
WOD 770.
Good friends, H.L. Mencken and Phillip Goodman spent several years trying to outdo each other in tall tales that catch the vivacity and boisterousness of German and Jewish immigrants on the eastern seaboard in the late nineteenth century. Narrated by Alan Mayers.

Finding the Charm in Charm City: Affectionate Views of Baltimore by Anthea Smith.
WOD 769.
Whether you are new to Baltimore or have lived here all your life, we invite you to explore the sites that truly make Baltimore our "Charm City." For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Maxine A. Cohen.

MASSACHUSETTS

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan.
WOD 726.
Appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within resonate in this Coretta Scott King Award winning adaptation of a tale from Zambia. Blackbird shares his color with envious birds in the forest, but warns them that true beauty comes from inside. For preschool through grade 2. Narrated by Fred Griffin.

Mrs. Jack by Louise Hall Tharp.
WOD 727.
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept nineteenth century Boston astir as she assembled one of the nation's great art collections, and associated with Henry Adams, Henry James, Whistler, John Singer Sargent and other leaders of her day. This is a carefully documented biography of a most improper Bostonian. Narrated by Julia Terry.

The Wellfleet Whale and Companion Poems by Stanley Kunitz.
WOD 728.
Kunitz, recipient of many awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, was named United States Poet Laureate in 2000. In this collection, he observes life on Cape Cod, in particular events surrounding the stranding of a whale in Wellfleet. Some violence and some descriptions of sex. Narrated by George Potter.

Yaz: Baseball, the Wall, and Me by Carl Yastrzemski.
WOD 725.
A perfectionist and natural athlete, Carl Yastrzemski amassed 400 home runs and 3,000 hits in his 23 seasons with the Red Sox. His candid autobiography describes life with the team, playing the game, and his family. Narrated by John Deming. 

MICHIGAN

Barnyard Song by Rhonda Gowler Greene.
WOD 781.
When barnyard animals catch the flu, the farmer cares for them until their usual voices return. 2004 Michigan Reads! selection. For preschool through grade 2. Narrated by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Guardian of the Great Lakes: The U.S. Paddle Frigate Michigan by Bradley A. Rodgers.
WOD 736.
A biographical study of the USS Michigan, the first iron-hulled war steamer in the United States Navy. Not merely a naval ship's history, the story of the USS Michigan is viewed as one of the richest single sources of mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth-century Great Lakes history. Narrated by Andy Anderson.

McTaggart's Red Keg, 1867 to 1868: Logging from A-Z on the Tittabawassee in Michigan by Irene Hargreaves.
WOD 723.
Stories of logging and lumber camps in Michigan. Narrated by Richard Vogt.

Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides.
WOD 738.
The neighborhood boys are obsessed with the five Lisbon sisters. The boys are attending the strict Lisbons' first party when thirteen-year-old, Cecilia Lisbon succeeds on her second attempt to kill herself. They are on hand again a year later when the other sisters follow Cecilia's lead. Even after the boys become men, they still try to sort out what happened and why. Strong language, violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Narrated by Michael Donovan.

MINNESOTA

The Broken Blade by William Durbin.
WOD 779.
In 1800, thirteen-year-old Pierre LaPage never dreams he will be leaving Montreal to paddle a canoe 2,400 miles. But when Pierre 's father has an accident, Pierre quits school and enlists as voyageur for the Northwest Company so his family will have money to survive the winter. Life is hard for Pierre as the youngest brigade member. But there is no turning back. Pierre must endure the harsh trip to Grand Portage and home again. Grade 5 through 8 and other interested readers. Narrated by Ernest Martz.

Canoeing with the Cree by Eric Sevareid.
WOD 773.
Account of the 1930 canoe voyage from Minneapolis to Hudson 's Bay by teenage, future newscaster Eric Sevareid and a companion. Originally published in 1935, this is both an adventure tale and a historical record of canoe trekking sixty years ago. Narrated by Al Esterline.

Dining Car Line to the Pacific: An Illustrated History of the NP Railway's "Famously Good" Food, with 150 Authentic Recipes by William A. McKenzie.
WOD 777.
Behind the scenes story of the Northern Pacific Railway's acclaimed dining car service. Based on railroad records from the 1860s through the 1960s and recollections of former employees of the dining car service. Includes 150 recipes for foods served on the line. Narrated by Clare O'Connor.

Reapers of the Dust: A Prairie Chronicle by Lois Phillips Hudson.
WOD 780.
Reminiscences of the author's early life in Wyoming and North Dakota and, when the dust storms drove them west, the family's existence as migrant pickers near Seattle. Despite drought, depression, changing schools and the other uncertainties of life, the child was not without hope or security. Narrated by Calista Williams.

MINNESOTA

The Conscience of a Liberal: Reclaiming the Compassionate Agenda by Senator Paul Wellstone.
WOD 755.
Minnesota Senator recounts the story of his election to the United States Senate and his passionate championing of various progressive causes while serving in that body. Narrated by Stuart Holland.

The Dead Survivors by K.J. Erickson.
WOD 772.
Frank Beck dies. But what seems to be a simple suicide, looks like it might be a murder tied to his ancestry and the Battle of Gettysburg. Minneapolis Homicide Detective Marshall Bahr needs to understand the battle before he can solve this case. Narrated by Barbara Morison.

Hiding in the Open: A Holocaust Memoir by Sabina S. Zimering.
WOD 756.
Sabina was one of two sisters who survived the Holocaust by posing as Catholic Poles. They later went to Germany to work for the Gestapo. Narrated by Madeline Hamermesh.

MISSISSIPPI

The Cabal and Other Stories by Ellen Gilchrist.
WOD 733.
An ironic novella about a psychiatrist is followed by five short stories. In "The Cabal" a group of patients who consulted Dr. Jim Jaspers are confounded when he goes berserk at a funeral and begins spouting their secrets all over town. Some strong language. Narrated by Ruthe Korelitz.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris.
WOD 734.
Sookie's boyfriend has been very distant, in fact, in another state distant. Now she is off to Mississippi to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead, a little haunt where the vampire elite go to chill out. But when she finally finds Bill, caught in an act of serious betrayal, she is not sure whether to save him or sharpen some stakes. Southern Vampire series, Book 3. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and violence. Narrated by Lucy Posey.

Looking Out for Sarah by Glenna Lang.
WOD 735.
Winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award. Describes a day in the life of Perry, a seeing eye dog. He guides his owner, Sarah, to the grocery store and the post office and on a school visit. He dreams about the month that he and Sarah walked from Boston to New York. For kindergarten through grade 3. Narrated by Judy Marsh.

MISSOURI

Called to Courage: Four Women in Missouri History by Margot Ford McMillen.
MODTB 5.
Profiles the lives and achievements of four women who played important roles in the history of Missouri, including Native American Ignon Quaconisen, pioneer Olive Boone, African American Martha Jane Chisley, and businesswoman Nell Donnelly. Heather Roberson, joint author. Missouri Heritage Reader. Series Code MOHR. Narrated by Violet Kurtz.

Orphan Trains to Missouri by Michael Patrick.
MODTB 1.
Chronicles the history of the orphan trains that transported children from New York to the Midwest in the hopes of cleaning up the streets of New York and finding them good homes. Missouri Heritage Reader. Series Code MOHR. Narrated by Tom Collier.

Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression by Kate Lied.
WOD 284.
The story of Agnes, Clarence, and their daughter, Dorothy, moving to Idaho to dig potatoes during the Great Depression was written by Kate Lied when she was eight years old. Lied, granddaughter of Agnes and Clarence, tells how the crop helped the family survive. For kindergarten through grade 3. Narrated by Joyce Groebel.

"That's a Winner!" by Jack Buck.
MODTB 3.
An autobiography in which sports announcer Jack Buck, known as the voice of the Saint Louis Cardinals, discusses his early life, his experiences working on an iron ore boat on the Great Lakes, his stint in the military during World War 2, his college years, and his decades-long broadcasting career. With Rob Rains and Bob Broeg. Narrated by Tom Collier.

MONTANA

The Hanging Tree and Other Stories by Dorothy Johnson.
WOD 762.
Ten stories of early frontier life written by Dorothy Johnson.  Johnson spent most of her life writing and teaching in Montana.  These classic Western stories reflect her talent for telling tales of the settlers and Native Americans who experienced the tragedies and triumphs of the Old West. Narrated by Lea Blunn.

Haywire Town by Robert McCaig.
WOD 808.
This western set in early 1950s Montana, matches the wits of the story's hero, Ben Colby, with Lance Raith and his gang who are trying to destroy the mining town of Tempest.  Ben, an electrical engineer, finds a new life and a cause to fight at the Caliban Power Company, owned by Kate Sewell and her granddaughter, Anastasia. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Shaun Bresnahan.

Warpath: The True Story of the Fighting Sioux by Stanley Vestal.
WOD 748.
White Bull, nephew to Sitting Bull, Chief of the Sioux, was known as the warrior who killed Custer.  This biographical collaboration between the author and White Bull, reveals a man who prided himself on the exciting and glorious war deeds of his youth.  But more than a biography, the book is a guide for studying the principals of Native American warfare. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Richard Smith.

NEBRASKA

To Bucktail and Back-A Million Miles of Memories: A Collection of Stories from Tom Allan, Omaha World-Herald Nebraska Byways Columnist by Tom Allan.
WOD 742.
Reminiscing on six decades as a newspaperman, the author presents a humorous and heartfelt look at his journalism career. His innumerable trips throughout the state, encompassing as much as 50,000 miles per year, included interviews with Nebraska 's famous and infamous personalities. The author toured the Sandhills and beyond, to write his column "Nebraska Byways." Narrated by Bonnie Quinn.

Together Apart by Dianne E. Gray.
WOD 741.
Several months after barely surviving the devastating blizzard of January 1888, fourteen-year-old Hannah and fifteen-year-old Isaac both leave their abusive homes to work for Eliza Moore, the judge's widow, who is publishing a newspaper to promote women's suffrage. Their story, told in the alternating perspectives of a boy and a girl, reveals late nineteenth century attitudes toward women's rights and class consciousness. For grades 5 through 8. Narrated by Frances Buell.

The Weight of Dreams by Jonis Agee.
WOD 743.
Raised on a ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills, Ty Bronte, abused by his father and virtually abandoned by his mother, joins forces with a rich drug dealer and troublemaker, Harney Rivers. After a drunken fight leads to the near death of a young Native American, Ty flees Nebraska for the peaceful life of a horse trainer and trader in Kansas. A brutal act from Harney compels Ty to return to Nebraska in order to confront his past and his family. Some violence and some strong language. Narrated by Tami Works.

NEW JERSEY

Afro-Americans in New Jersey: A Short History by Gale R. Wright.
WOD 809.
A short history of African Americans in New Jersey from colonial times to the present. Narrated by Charles Cronin.

Gretchen, the Bicycle Dog by Anita Heyman.
WOD 754.
Here is the heartwarming true story of how one spunky, curious dachshund triumphs over adversity. Meet Gretchen, who narrates her own tale of the family who dotes on her, her common but unfortunate accident, and the set of wheels that gives Gretchen back her zip and freedom. This story of unflappable will, determination, and joy in life will be appreciated by children, pet owners, and anyone who has ever overcome a challenge. For kindergarten through grade 3. Narrated by the author.

Pupniks: The Story of Two Space Dogs by Ruth Lubka.
WOD 751.
Presents the story of the two Soviet dogs, Belka and Strelka, who were sent into space in 1960, paving the way for the first Soviet manned flight. For grades 2 through 4. Narrated by the author.

NEW YORK - ANDREW HEISKELL

Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall.
WOD 753.
Set during the Depression and World War 2, Barbadian immigrants strive to surmount poverty and racism and make Brooklyn their new home. Narrated by Jean Grier.

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell.
WOD 750.
The story of Mary's romantic choice between Henry Carson, the son of a rich industrialist, and Jem Wilson, a working class man, and the rivalries between them. Narrated by Louise Favier.

Tono-Bungay by H.G. Wells.
WOD 752.
George Ponderovo witnesses the spectacular rise of Tono-Bungay, a bogus medicine invented by his uncle, against the backdrop of the degenerate imperial society of Edwardian London. Narrated by William Rogers.

NORTH DAKOTA

Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber.
WOD 745.
Buffalo Valley, North Dakota, is a dying town. Lindsay Snyder used to visit her grandmother there, and now she has become the town's only schoolteacher. As Lindsay comes to know the town and its people, she learns she has a serious disadvantage: she is not Dakota born. Buffalo Valley Trilogy, Book 1. Series Code BVT. Narrated by Sally Fleig.

Pearl by Lauraine Snelling.
WOD 744.
Pearl Hossfuss, a young school teacher from Chicago, is being pressured into marriage by her father. In hopes of thwarting his plans, she applies for a teaching job in the Dakotah Territory. She takes up lodgings at Dove House in Little Missouri. Narrated by Mary Ann Meidinger.

The Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling.
WOD 364.
For Roald and Ingeborg Bjorklund it was the promise of a free land that lured them from their beloved home in Norway. But they soon discover America is nothing like they had envisioned it. Still they begin their long journey into the Dakota Territory and the Red River. But there is no way for them to forsee the price they will have to pay to live in this land. Red River of the North series, Book 1. Series Code RRN. Narrated by Rebecca Sundhagen.

OKLAHOMA

Marauders of the Indian Nations: The Bill Cook Gang and Cherokee Bill by Glenn Shirley.
WOD 729.
In the mid-1890s, a band of murderers and thieves terrorized law abiding citizens of Indian Territory. They plundered at will the towns and trains of what is now northeastern Oklahoma. Vying for dominance were Bill Cook and Cherokee Bill Goldsby, two of the most vicious badmen ever. This book follows their bloodstained trail to its violent and inevitable conclusion. Strong language. Narrated by Alice Raple.

Pretty Boy by William Cunningham.
WOD 730.
A novel about the life and times of Pretty Boy Floyd. Strong language. Narrated by David R. Slemmons.

Shell Shaker by LeAnne Howe.
WOD 810.
Why was Red Shoes, the most formidable Choctaw warrior of the eighteenth century, assassinated by his own people? Why does his death haunt Auda Billy, an Oklahoma Choctaw woman, accused in 1991 of murdering Choctaw Chief Redford McAlester? Moving between the known details of Red Shoes' life and the riddle of McAlester 's death, this novel traces the history of the Billy women whose destiny it is to solve both murders with the help of a powerful spirit known as the Shell Shaker.

PENNSYLVANIA - PHILADELPHIA

From These Hills, from These Valleys: Selected Fiction about Western Pennsylvania edited by David P. Demarest, Jr.
WOD 757.
A sampler of 24 works of fiction highlighting life in Western Pennsylvania. Selections include work by Hervey Allen, Taylor Caldwell, Conrad Richter, Thomas Bell, Marcia Davenport, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Agnes Sligh Turnull, Willa Cather, and K.C. Constantine. Narrated by Arthur Gehring.

Price of a Child by Lorene Cary.
WOD 739.
In 1855, a Southern slave abandons her child to obtain freedom. She is Ginnie of Virginia who escapes while with her master in Philadelphia. The novel portrays her hiding from slave catchers, agonizing over the son she left behind and reinventing herself as Mercer Grey to become a famous abolitionist. Narrated by Delwyn.

Thee, Hannah! by Marguerite De Angeli.
WOD 740.
Nine-year-old Hannah, a Quaker living in Philadelphia just before the Civil War, longs to have some fashionable dresses like other girls, but comes to appreciate her heritage and its plain dressing when her family saves the life of a runaway slave. For grades 3 through 6. Narrated by Jean Harland. 

PENNSYLVANIA - PITTSBURGH

The French Invasion of Western Pennsylvania by Donald H. Kent.
WOD 811.
In the eighteenth century, the rival colonial powers of France and Great Britain vied for control of the "Ohio Country," an area which included what is now western Pennyslvania. The French sent armed forces from Canada to occupy this region in 1753. As French and British interests clashed all over the globe, the French invasion of British territory in western Pennsylvania was one more step toward war, both the French and Indian War in America and the Seven Years' War in Europe. Narrated by Robert Isenberg. [Narrator's last name is pronounced "Eye-zin-berg"]

The Good Provider: H.J. Heinz and His 57 Varieties by Carl C. Alberts.
WOD 813.
A look at the mind, character, and rise to power of one of America 's industrial pioneers. H.J. Heinz began poor, had a phenomenal early success, suffered an agonizing failure, and persevered to become one of the millionaire "Lords of Pittsburgh." Narrated by Mtume Imani.

The Women of Troy Hill by Claire Ansberry.
WOD 812.
Troy Hill is an isolated neighborhood in Pittsburgh, and the women of the title are its tightly knit community of long time female residents. Now in their eighties and older, most have known each other since childhood. Their stories span the twentieth century, offering a picture of domestic life's ups and downs. "Men worked. Women neighbored." This look at a simpler time is a reminder of the important things in life. Narrated by Mtume Imani. [Narrator's name is pronounced "Em-too-me Im-ah-nee"]

SOUTH CAROLINA

Final Curtain by Mignon Ballard.
WOD 722.
Aspiring actress Martha Virginia Brown was only twenty when she died in an apparent fall while appearing in summer stock in the North Carolina foothills some fifty years ago. Now, her great niece and namesake, Ginger Cameron, comes to Fiddler's Glen to unearth the mostly forgotten details of her great aunt's death, and to escape her former boyfriend. Narrated by Suzanne Allen.

A Short History of Charleston by Robert Rosen.
WOD 737.
Chronicles the South's most renowned and charming city, and has been hailed by critics as witty and entertaining. Beginning with the founding of the city and ending after Hurricane Hugo's rampage, the fast paced narrative takes the reader on a journey from the Caribbean Islands to the great rice plantations. Narrated by Dixon Durham.

The Winter of Our Discount Tent: A Humorous Look at Flora, Fauna, and Foolishness Outdoors by Jim Mize.
WOD 718.
According to Jim Mize, nature has no mercy, just a sense of humor. In this hilarious romp through the woods, Mize proves why readers praise him as an amusing combination of Marlin Perkins and Lewis Grizzard. The way Mize tells it, such overlooked creatures as fleas, flying squirrels, and chipmunks become curiosities of hilarious proportions. For high school and adult readers. Narrated by Glenn Gardner.

SOUTH DAKOTA

The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg.
WOD 771.  
It begins with the sudden revelation of astonishing secrets that have shaped the personalities and fates of three siblings, and now threaten to tear them apart.  In this moving novel, truths are unearthed that force one seemingly ordinary family to reexamine their desperate lives and themselves to determine if it is too late to mend the hurts of the past. Narrated by Mr. Kellison.

Ten Turtles to Tucumcuri: A Personal History by Klink Garrett.
WOD 814.  
From its founding in 1929, Railway Express Agency (REA) dominated the transportation industry until the 1960s.  In return for a monopoly on passenger train service, the express company was obligated to accept any and all shipments within the United States.  REA handled carloads of cattle, race horses such as Seabiscuit, and a hungry nation's fruits and vegetables.  The history of REA coincides with the career of Klink Garrett, who began as a temporary employee in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1934 and stayed with REA until 1973, by which time he was a senior executive and a member of the company's board of directors. Narrated by Mr. Genova.

The Work of Wolves by Kent Meyers.
WOD 763.
In this unforgettable story of horses, love, and life, a violent chain of events unsettles the inhabitants of a quiet reservation town in South Dakota.  Illuminates the strong bonds that connect people to one another and to the land on which they live.  Narrated by Mr. Belner.

TEXAS

Give the Pig a Chance and Other Stories by David Rice.
WOD 749.
Culture and place figure prominently in Rice's work; most of the stories are set in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and explore issues surrounding contemporary Mexican American life near the border. In the title story, two cousins fight over the death of a potbelled pig but come to a sincere reconciliation in the end. In "Tina La Tinaca," a woman grieving over the death of her son grows so obese that when she dies, an emergency crew must widen the doorway of her home so that her body can be removed. Narrated by Ev Lunning.

Santitos: Sexo, Humor y Realismo en una Novela Magica by M.A. Escandon.
WOD 724.
The author has woven an unforgettable, character rich story with a Latin flavor, which takes us on a journey that explores the nature of sin and absolution, the pain of loss and the resurrection of desire. Contains some descriptions of sex and strong language. Narrated by Sandy Litschi.

Ten Texas Feuds by C.L. Sonnichsen.
WOD 719.
For twenty years, grassroots historian Sonnichsen went door to door through the backcountry of east and south central Texas to coax tales from reluctant informants and peruse county documents on the colorful feuds that bloodied the state's early history. From these human explosions emerged legendary gangs such as the Regulators, Moderators, Hoodoos, Heel Flies, and Boots. Personal vengeance righted intolerable wrongs and settled unbearable grievances. Narrated by Michael Neibergall.

WASHINGTON

At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald.
WOD 803.
In 1963, two Irish teachers arrive in London to tutor the child actors at the Temple Stage School. Freddie Wentworth, a woman of great charisma, has been running the school for decades despite its continual teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. Drama is taught and drama ensues as people fall in love, conjure rescue schemes and carry on in hilariously human ways. Narrated by Laurie Bialik.

Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings by Jonathan Raban.
WOD 806.
Raban chronicles his trip up the Inside Passage from Seattle to Juneau in a ketch. He set out to retrace George Vancouver's 1792 route and to meditate on the lure of the sea, but his journey also became one of personal introspection. Narrated by Carter Bentley.

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan.
WOD 815.
This fictional saga based on historical figure, Mehrunnsia, the Sun of Women, chronicles her rise of status from daughter of a Persian refugee to twentieth and most loved wife of Salim, a seventeenth century emperor of Mughal India. The novel is rich with details of life in royal court and rich in drama as it charts the determined life of an astutely intelligent and beautiful woman fighting against great odds. Narrated by Sneha Mathan. 

WISCONSIN

An Irishman in the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Memoirs of James P. Sullivan, Sergt., Company K, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers by William J.K. Beaudot and Lance J. Herdegen.
WOC 570.
The war memoirs of Wisconsin 's James P. Sullivan, who spent four years in the "Iron Brigade". Narrated by Dorothy Reisinger.

Black Hawk: An Autobiography by Black Hawk.
WOD 816.
The life story of the Sauk chief Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, which includes the massacre of the Sauk at Bad Axe, Wisconsin, in 1832. Edited by Donald Jackson. Narrated by Nancy Bell.

Stairstep Farm: Anna Rose's Story by Anne Pellowski.
WOC 569.
Depicts the life of a youngster of Polish descent growing up on a Wisconsin farm in the Great Depression of the 1930s with many lively brothers and sisters and loving parents. Anna Rose dreams beyond her chores to the day she can start school. For grades 3 through 6. Narrated by Eleanor Hoehn.

Twilight Mist: A Story of Love on the Great Lakes by Ann Justice.
WOD 759.
During the hot, dry summer of 1871 Katrina Bergeman, a brewer's daughter from Milwaukee, falls in love with a Civil War veteran from Chicago. Can their love protect them from the inferno of the Peshtigo Fire? Descriptions of sex. Narrated by Virginia Abendroth.