Upper School adds Mandarin to its language offerings joining Arabic as the latest addition to the program.

New Book List

May 14, 2003

Reference

The Dictionary of American History , Third Edition. 10 volumes

  • The first revision of this invaluable standard in 26 years
  • Contains more than 4,400 A-Z articles (1,400 articles from earlier editions have been completely rewritten, and all articles from previous editions have been updated and revised in light of recent developments and scholarship; includes more than 800 new topics not covered in previous editions)
  • Approximately 1,500 illustrations
  • More than 250 maps
  • Volume of archival maps and primary source documents
  • Research guide volume for students to major events and themes
  • Primary Documents Volume places evidence historians use to construct history in the hands of readers, with contextual material that guides users in their own interpretations

Biology. 4 volumes

This four-volume reference provides a broad introduction to many facets of biology, and concentrates in depth on a smaller number of central ideas and phenomena that are central to all biological processes. The 432 entries also discuss the history of the science, explore related fields, critical issues such as embryogenesis and commercial applications of biological research, and ethical issues. One of the major themes is molecular genetics, from genes and chromosomes to cloning and the Human Genome Project. Other topics include human physiology; comparative animal and plant physiology; health issues important to students such as smoking, alcohol, and sexually transmitted diseases; animal and plant diversity, and major environmental challenges. Entries range in length from a few paragraphs to several pages and contain suggestions for further reading. Other features include definitions, color illustrations, and glossaries and topic outlines in each volume. - Book News

Historical Atlas of Empires : From 4000 BC to the 21st Century - Nicolle, David

Following an interesting background essay, color photographs and maps and a readable text examine more than 30 large empires, arranged chronologically from Akkad through the Soviet Bloc and the place of empire in post-9/11 society. Each one receives four or six pages, with half the space devoted to graphics. The role of leaders in developing these large nations is emphasized. The maps, many of which are not available in traditional school resources, use color, cross-hatching, and text to show growth and change, and indicate topographical relief. Time lines run horizontally along the bottom of the opening pages of each section; boxes provide cultural trivia. – School Library Journal

 

 

Nonfiction

The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle: Memoirs of a WWII Bomber Pilot - Morgan, Robert with Ron Powers

As pilot of the World War II B-17 Flying Fortress bomber Memphis Belle, Morgan [an Asheville native and CDS grandparent] flew 25 successful combat missions to complete his tour of duty over Europe in 1942-3. He named his plane after his sweetheart and their romance attracted publicity, which the army used to promote the war effort. Although he and his crew survived their missions in Memphis Belle, Morgan's own relationship fell victim to the stress of a lengthy public relations tour. He transferred to the Pacific theater and flew 26 missions over Japan in a newly developed B-29 bomber, named Dauntless Dotty after the girl he eventually married. Morgan (colonel, USAFR, ret.) and Powers (a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and coauthor of James Bradley's Flags of Our Fathers) bring a new perspective to World War II literature. Morgan's propensity for "buzzing" airfields and his off-duty romantic affairs are interspersed with background history of the war. Written in a chatty style that is easy and exciting to read. – Library Journal

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 - Winchester, Simon

The New York Times calls this book "one of the best books ever written about the history and significance of a natural disaster: thrilling, comprehensive, literate, meticulously researched and scientifically accurate." The publisher's notes say "The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcano-island of Krakatoa -- the name has since become a by-word for a cataclysmic disaster -- was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly 40,000 people. Beyond the purely physical horrors of an event which has only very recently become properly understood, the eruption changed the world in more ways than could possibly be imagined. Dust swirled round the world for years, causing temperatures to plummet and sunsets to turn vivid with lurid and unsettling displays of lght. The effects of the immense waves were felt as far away as France. Barometers in Bogota and Washington went haywire. Bodies were washed up in Zanzibar. The sound of island's destruction was heard in Australia and India and on islands thousands of miles away. Most significantly of all -- in view of today's new political climate -- the eruption helped to trigger in Java a wave of murderous anti-western militancy by fundamentalist Muslims, one of the first eruptions of Islamic killings anywhere. Simon Winchester's long experience in world wandering, history and geology give this fascinating and iconic event an entirely new life and perspective."

Resistance and Betrayal: The Death and Life of the Greatest Hero of the French Resistance - Marnham, Patrick

In 1943, the Gestapo captured Jean Moulin, de Gaulle's chief envoy in France, at a Resistance meeting in Lyons. He was tortured, and he died in captivity. After the war, he became an icon of Resistance courage -- in the words of André Malraux, "the face of France." But Marnham's intricate and suspenseful reconstruction suggests that the resemblance was not entirely flattering. Moulin -- a shrewd civil servant, sometime Freemason, fellow-traveller, and arms smuggler -- embodied several of the political crosscurrents of interwar France, and his betrayal was probably the result of complex power struggles within the Resistance itself. Perhaps tellingly, the coffin placed with great ceremony in the Panthéon in 1964 did not contain Moulin, whose body was never found: "Lacking a body they reburied a ghost, and a patriotic legend was born." - The New Yorker


A Storm in Flanders: The Ypres Salient, 1914 – 1918; Tragedy and Triumph on the Western Front - Groom, Winston

"In Flanders fields the poppies grow/Between the crosses, row on row…" Countless students have memorized these lines, but the clipped lyricism of John McCrae's famous poem disguises the terror of its subject. The four-year-long Battle of Ypres transformed a quaint medieval town into a giant corpse factory, a place where hundreds of thousands of men were slaughtered for advances that were measured in yards. Ypres was a World War I laboratory in death, a staging ground for hideous innovations such as poison gas, tanks, land mines, and air strikes. Winston Groom ( author of Forrest Gump) tells how millions of soldiers, including a callow recuit named Adolf Hitler, were shaped by their ghastly experiences in this killing ground. – Amazon.com

Samuel Adams: Son of Liberty, Father of Revolution - Irvin, Benjamin

Examines the life of Samuel Adams, a hero of the American Revolution who is credited by some with having fired the first shot at Lexington Green, the "shot heard 'round the world."

1421: The Year China Discovered America - Menzies, Gavin

Menzies makes the fascinating argument that the Chinese discovered the Americas a full 70 years before Columbus. Not only did the Chinese discover America first, but they also, according to the author, established a number of subsequently lost colonies in the Caribbean. Furthermore, he asserts that the Chinese circumnavigated the globe, desalinated water, and perfected the art of cartography. In fact, he believes that most of the renowned European explorers actually sailed with maps charted by the Chinese. Though most historical records were destroyed during centuries of turmoil in the Far East, he manages to cobble together some feasible evidence supporting his controversial conclusions. Sure to cause a stir among historians, this questionable tale of adventure on the high seas will be hotly debated in academic circles. - Booklist

Hannibal Crosses the Alps: The Invasion of Italy and the Punic Wars - Prevas, John

When he left his Spanish base one spring day in 218 BC with his 100,000-man army of mercenaries, officers and elephants, Hannibal was launching not just the main offensive of the Second Punic War but also one of the great military journeys in ancient history. His masterful advance through rough terrain and fierce Celtic tribes proved his worth as a leader, but it was his extraordinary passage through the Alps - still considered treacherous even by modern climbers - that made him a legend. John Prevas combines rigorous research of ancient sources with his own excursions through the icy peaks to bring to life this awesome trek, solving the centuries-old question of Hannibal's exact route and shedding fresh light on the culture of Rome and Carthage along the way. - from the publisher

Teen Rights: A Legal Guide for Teens and the Adults in their Lives - Truly, Traci

Can you sign a contract? Own property? Find out what's acceptable and what's not, legally speaking.

Where the Germs Are: A Scientific Safari - Bakalar, Nicholas

Reliable, witty, and readable information about how to live with the germs that, like it or not, are our constant companions wherever we go and whatever we do. To varying degrees we all fear germs, but the scientific basis for this fear is not always so firm. How many people a year die from food-borne streptococcus infection? Which pet is more likely to give you a serious illness, a cat or a turtle? What’s the best way to prevent a cold (and no nonsense about vitamin C and avoiding going out in the cold with wet hair, please)? Which is a greater threat to health, botulism poisoning or exploding natural gas? You probably have some ideas about these things, but are you quite sure you’re right? Where the Germs Are will explain, with a few surprises along the way. You’ll learn, for example, that your nice clean kitchen is a more likely source of illness than your bathroom; that fast-food restaurants are less contaminated with E. coli than fancier table-service establishments; that your luxurious daily bath or shower is doing almost nothing for your hygiene; that a certain bacterium can make you sick even after it’s been boiled to death; and that one California scientist found the cure for smelly socks by creating cloth that kills germs. – from the publisher

Fatal Harvest Reader: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture - Kimbrell, Andrew

Over 30 essays take an unprecedented look at our current ecologically destructive agricultural system and offer a compelling vision for an organic and environmentally safer way of producing the food we eat. - from the publisher

Handmade Paper Collage - Ackerman, Dawn M.

Instructions, ideas, inspiration.

Understanding Lord of the Flies: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents - Olsen, Kirstin

Everything you ever wanted to know and then some about Lord of the Flies.

Blue Frontier: Saving America's Living Seas - Helvarg, David

A fascinating account of America's oceans and ocean politics, Blue Frontier explores the impact of history, commerce, and policy on marine life -- and by extension all life on earth. From the legacy of navy-funded research and development since World War II to the current newsworthy topics such as beach closures, collapsing fish stocks, killer algae, hurricanes, and oil spills, Blue Frontier takes readers on an adventure-filled tour of America's last great wilderness range. Despite today's wide-open development along our coasts and in offshore waters, Blue Frontier argues that sensible policies can still halt the onslaught of industrial destruction. An impassioned call for a new approach to ocean stewardship, Blue Frontier is essential reading for anyone interested in saving our maritime culture and heritage. – from the publisher

A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your African-American Ancestors - Smith, Franklin Carter

Clear, practical guidance on the unique challenges of African-American genealogy. In-depth, real-life case studies not only show you how to use numerous resources, but also demonstrate step-by-step techniques you can apply to your search. – from the publisher

Molecule Hunt: Archaeology and the Search for Ancient Data - Jones, Martin

Bio-archaeology, the science that finds and studies ancient DNA, has inspired its share of science fiction, but as Jones shows, the work of bio-archaeologists like him sheds light on what the distant past was like in ways never before thought possible. He presents science as a detective story, and the spirit of discovery he and his group manifest when analyzing a fossilized seed or piece of rice is infectious. As he reflects on the countless changes in his discipline since he began as an archaeologist 30 years ago, his sense of adventure remains constant, for he knows that each new discovery makes the whole picture a shade clearer. - Booklist

Hip Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African-American Culture - Kitwana, Bakari

An eloquent testament for black youth culture at the turn of the century. The only in-depth study of the first generation to grow up in post-segregation America, it combines culture and politics into a pivotal work in American studies. Bakari Kitwana, one of black America's sharpest young critics, offers a sobering look at this generation's disproportionate social and political troubles, and celebrates the activism and politics that may herald the beginning of a new phase of African-American empowerment. – from the publisher

Lusitania: The Cunard Turbine-Driven Quadruple-Screw Atlantic Liner - Warren, Mark D.

This volume is a reprint of five articles which appeared in Engineering magazine in 1907 about the Lusitania and were later collected into a rare book. Contains an introduction (including corrections to mistakes in the original book), 25 previously unpublished photographs, and rare diagrams of the vessel.

Future of Us Ocean Policy: Choices for the New Century - Cicin-Sain, Biliana

Provides an overview of key issues and concerns, with an in-depth analysis of the evolution of U.S. ocean policy and a timely discussion of the most important ocean and coastal issues facing the nation. The book assesses the current status of ocean policy, examines national and international trends, and considers choices for policymakers in the 21st century. – from the publisher

Listening to the Sea: The Politics of Improving Environmental Protection - Wilder, Robert J.

Emphasizing cheaper, more effective, and more holistic ocean and coastal protection, the author begins with a historical survey of current regulations, then discusses existing policies for regulating the extraction of offshore oil, how to achieve better energy efficiency, and obstacles that confound efforts to integrate science and policy in decision making about the protection of ocean resources. – Book News

Saltwater Wilderness - Vanstrum, Glenn

This book plunges the reader into the heart of the sea. It is an elegantly-written account of one photojournalist's experience studying marine natural history and ecology. Illustrated with classic black and white photography, and annotated with references to classic marine literature, this book takes the reader from California to New Guinea, Fiji, Palau, and Tonga, to the Caribbean, to Alaska, and back again. Along the way, a quest to shed light on marine limits, symbiosis, and biogeography ties the adventures together. It will appeal to anyone who snokels, swims, scuba dives, surfs, studies marine biology, or loves the sea. – from the publisher

Mother Goose on the Loose

Witty and irreverent, these cartoons from The New Yorker take a hilarious second look at our most beloved childhood stories and rhymes. The introduction by editor Bobbye S. Goldstein provides a brief overview of the history of cartoons and their use of irony, satire, perspective, and—of course—humor. For readers of every age to enjoy. – from the publisher

Ocean Politics and Policy: A Reference Handbook - Jacques, Peter

The politics involved in taking care of the oceans. Contents: 1 Currents in ocean politics: oceans in context / 2 Making waves: problems, controversies, and solutions / 3 Ocean security dilemmas: protecting the oceans and human systems / 4 Chronology / 5 People and events / 6 Statistics and data / 7 Documents / 8 Directory of nongovernmental organizations, research institutes, associations, US government agencies, and international agencies / 9 Selected print and nonprint resources / List of acronyms / Index

 

Fiction

Peace Like a River - Enger, Leif

Once in a great while, we [at Barnes & Noble] encounter a novel in our voluminous reading that begs to be read aloud. Leif Enger's debut, Peace Like a River, is one such work. His richly evocative novel, narrated by an asthmatic 11-year-old named Reuben Land, is the story of Reuben's unusual family and their journey across the frozen Badlands of the Dakotas in search of his fugitive older brother. Charged with the murder of two locals who terrorized their family, Davy has fled, understanding that the scales of justice will not weigh in his favor. But Reuben, his father, Jeremiah -- a man of faith so deep he has been known to produce miracles -- and Reuben's little sister, Swede, follow closely behind the fleeing Davy. Affecting and dynamic, Peace Like a River is at once a tragedy, a romance, and an unflagging exploration into the spirituality and magic possible in the everyday world, and in that of the world awaiting us on the other side of life. In Enger's superb debut effort, we witness a wondrous celebration of family, faith, and spirit, the likes of which we haven't seen in a long, long time -- and the birth of a classic work of literature. - Barnes & Noble

School of Night - Wall, Alan

Sean Tallow has only two overriding desires in life. One is to step into the shoes of his glamorous friend Daniel Pagett, and the other is to establish the truth about the "School of Night," a shadowy group of Elizabethans who clustered around Sir Walter Raleigh. Tallow pursues the School of Night and its entanglement in the question of whether the man from Stratford-on-Avon really could have written the plays ascribed to William Shakespeare. If he didn't, then who did? The harder he studies, the less light is thrown on this troublesome question, and the more his interest in the School of Night becomes a grim fixation. Just when it seems Tallow is ready to give up the quest, day becomes night; everything he once believed is turned on its head as he enters a fearful world where there are no longer any rules except survival. Like the original members of the School of Night, he finds himself treading on the wrong side of the law. – from the pubisher

The Screwtape Letters with Screwtape Proposes a Toast - Lewis, C. S.

A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C. S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging and humorous account of temptation - and triumph over it - ever written. – from the publisher. Replaces a much-read copy.

Wailing Wind - Hillerman, Tony

In this Chee/Leaphorn mystery, Hillerman is at the top of his form as his two Navajo peace officers look into both a past and present mystery. Religious fervency and single-minded greed become strange but necessary bedfellows in a plot filled, as always, with insights into the lives and beliefs of the "Dineh." When an abandoned pickup truck turns out to contain one very dead white man, Sgt. Jim Chee's instincts lead him to bring retired Lt. Joe Leaphorn into the case. Leaphorn's trademark curiosity sends him in search of possible links between this homicide and another two years earlier. – Publishers Weekly

The Crossing - McCarthy, Cormac

Volume two of McCarthy's Border Trilogy--following the much- acclaimed National Book Award-winning All the Pretty Horses (1992)- -treads familiar territory but probes deeper into the darkness of the human animal. Like its predecessor, The Crossing concerns a young American rancher living near the Mexican border in the 1930s, a time when the old West is grudgingly entering the modern world while Mexico is being torn apart by revolution. And like volume one's memorable hero, John Cole Grady, 16-year-old Billy Pawson is drawn south in a nearly mythical journey to find himself. Billy initially crosses into Mexico to take a wolf he had trapped on his New Mexico ranch back to the animal's native mountains. When he returns, he finds that his home has been plundered, and he and his 14-year-old brother set off for Mexico to find their family's stolen horses. Traveling through the lawless ruins of the post-revolutionary Mexican countryside, they encounter Gypsy wanderers, carnival actors, horse-traders, horse thieves, revolutionary soldiers, and men of various religions. Because McCarthy's is one of America's foremost literary craftsmen, the novel is also passionate and compelling. The author convincingly elevates seemingly ordinary events into near-religious moments. – Kirkus


Videos

Mondrian: From Naturalism to Abstraction

A study of the development of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian from his early naturalistic work to his famous abstract masterpieces. 52 minutes

Ceramics: Basic Throwing Skills

Ceramist Alleghany Meadows presents an introduction to throwing on the wheel and illustrates wedging the clay, centering it on the wheel, and throwing a cylinder.


Maps

United States.

This rather large map is kept in rolled storage. Also has insets of Alaska, Hawaii, major cities, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands..

Blank World Map.

We have two copies of this geography aid. The boundaries of countries are drawn in, but they are not named. Use a dry erase marker to color in or name countries or regions.

Blank US Map.

The boundaries of the states are drawn in, but they are not named. Use a dry erase marker to color in or name states or regions.

Iraq : a portrait of the country in maps and statistics - Hammond World Atlas Corporation

The World - National Geographic

The Making of Canada: the North - National Geographic

The Face and Faith of Poland - National Geographic

The United States - Hammond World Atlas Corporation

The Economic Evolution of the Former Soviet Union: From Communism to Capitalism - National Geographic

Traveler's Map of the West Indies - National Geographic