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1997 Top Titles for Adult New Readers

The Publishers Liaison Committee of PLA’s Adult Lifelong Learning Section is proud to announce its annual Top Titles for Adult New Readers—a compilation of outstanding books, fiction and nonfiction, that serve the needs of newly literate adults. The booklist is meant to recognize such titles and to encourage the availability of materials for the adult new reader.

Books chosen for the list demonstrate high appeal in terms of content, format, and artwork. Most titles are eighth-grade reading level or below on the Fry Readability Scale and are easily accessible with simple plots, short sentences, and uncomplicated vocabulary. With the exception of the classics, the books have been published in the current calendar year or the last half of the previous calendar year.

For more information contact Lorraine Jackson at (908) 329-4000, ext. 282, Ijackson@infolink.org. or Laura McCaffery at (219)424-7241, ext. 2212, lmccaffery@everest.acpl.lib.in.us. We encourage you to duplicate, distribute, and share this bibliography.

Distinguished Titles

The Children of Topaz: The Story of a Japanese-American Internment Camp. By Michael 0. Tunnell and George Chilcoat. New York: Holiday House, 1996. Fry Reading Level 7. Hardcover, $16.95. ISBN 0-8234-1239-3.
The diary of an elementary class chronicles the harshness of life in an internment camp at the Topaz Relocation Center in 1943.

Recommended Single Titles

Beginning Mountain Biking. By Julie Jensen. Beginning Sports Series. Minneapolis: Lerner, 1996. Fry Reading Level 3. Hardcover, $14.96 (ISBN 0-8225-3509-2).
Mountain bike basics in an easy-to-follow format.

Brides of Wildcat County: Tempestuous Opal’s Story. By Jude Watson. Brides of Wildcat County Series. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Paper, $5.99 (ISBN 0-689-81023-7).
A paperback romance set in frontier California in 1860, this chronicles the adventures of Opal, a former slave who has become a dressmaker.

Colin Powell: A Man of Quality. By Libby Hughes. Parsippany, NJ: Dillon Pr., 1996. Fry Reading Level 5. Hardcover, $13.95 (ISBN 0-382-39260-4); paper, $7.95 (ISBN 0-382-39261-2).
This is an up-close study of Powell’s life and career. He emerges as a man of integrity, secure in his accomplishments and himself.

Cooking the Irish Way. By Helga Hughes. Minneapolis: Lerner Pubs, 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Hardcover, $14.21 (ISBN 0-8225-0931-8).
Easy-to-prepare Irish favorites with suggested menus presented in a concise manner for beginning cooks.

Egypt, Kush, Aksum: Northeast Africa. By Kenny Mann. Piscataway, NJ: Dillon Pr., 1997. Fry Reading Level 7-8. Hardcover, $15.95 (ISBN 0-87518-655-6); paper $7.95 (ISBN 0-382-39657-x).
Part of the African Kingdoms of the Past series, this single title is recommended for its lovely illustrations, content, and simple presentation of the blending of factual history, culture, and myths of these three ancient countries of Africa.

Farmworker’s Friend: The Story of Cesar Chavez. By David R. Collins. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Bks., 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Hardcover, $16.13 (ISBN 0-87614-982-4), paper, $6.95 (ISBN 57505-031-5).
Sprinkled with family photos, this biography of Cesar Chavez details the life of the man who was successful in improving the working conditions of farm laborers.

I Feel A Little Jumpy Around You: A Book of Her Poems & His Poems Collected in Pairs. Naomi Shihab Nye and Paul B. Janeczko, editors. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. Fry Reading Level 3. Hardcover, $17 (ISBN 0-689-80518-7).
A volume of poems that illustrate the different and similar ways men and women view the world and each other.

The Life and Deatb of Crazy Horse. By Russell Freedman, drawings by Amos Bad Heart Bull. New York: Holiday House, 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Hardcover, $19.95 (ISBN 0-8234-1219-9).
Beautifully illustrated account of the life and death of famous Sioux Indian chief Crazy Horse, a hero of integrity, who never compromised or surrendered to any man.

Naked Mole Rats. By Gail Jarrow and Paul Sherman. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Bks., 1996. Fry Reading Level 4. Hardcover, $14.96 (ISBN 0-87614-995-6); paper, $8.95 (ISBN I- 57605-028-5).
Learners interested in nature or science will find a wealth of information about the subterranean rodents native to East Africa.

Niagara Falls: Nature’s Wonder. By Leonard Everett Fisher. New York: Holiday House, 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Hardcover, $16.95 (ISBN 0-8234-1240-7).
This title introduces the reader to the history and romance of the Niagara Falls Region in New York State.

Ray Charles: Soul Man. By Ruth Turk. Minneapolis: Lerner, 1996. Fry Reading Level 7. Hardcover, $17.95 (ISBN 0-8225-4928-x).
An entertaining look at the life and career of the “father of soul.”

Sacramento, California. By Terry Janson Dunnahoo. Parsippany, NJ: Dillon Pr., 1997. Fry Reading Level 5. Hardcover, $14.95 (ISBN 0-382-39333-3); paper, $7.95 (ISBN 0- 382-39334-1).
Complete with an index, visitor information section, and a historical timeline, this volume provides an in-depth look at the capital of California.

Snowbound: The Tragic Story of the Donner Party. By David Lavender. New York: Holiday House, 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Hardcover, $16.9S (ISBN 0-8234-1231-8).
Lavender pulls no punches as he describes the adventures and mishaps that befell the historic Donner party as they crossed the rugged west oto get to the gold fields of California in the 1840s.

A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems. by Janet S. Wong. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Bks., 1996. Fry Reading Level 5. Hardcover, $15 (ISBN 0-689-80788-0)
Imaginative collection of poems relating Wong’s experiences growing up Korean, Chinese, and American.

Will the Dollars Stretch? Teen Parents Living on Their Own: Virtual Reality Through Stories and Check-Writing Practice. By Sudie Pollock, Buena Park, CA: Morning Glory Pr., 1996. Fry Reading Level 3. Paper, $6.95 (ISBN 1-885356-12-9).
This title offers a common-sense approach to the realities of living on your own and making ends meet.

Distinguished Series

Oakland Readers. By Second Start Students. Oakland, CA: Second Start Adult Literacy Program, 1996. Fry Reading Level 1–4. Paper, $5 each.
Wore My New Clothes.
Them Words is in My Head.
I Didn’t Have the Bookwork.
Education is the Way Out.
Meuy’s Stories: Pieces of Life From Laos to America.
A moving collection of stories written by students involved in the Oakland, California Adult Literacy Program.

Recommended Series

The Achievers. Minneapolis: Lerner, 1996. Fry Reading Level 4–6. Hardcover, $14.96, paper, $ 5.95.
Julie Krone: Unstoppable Jockey. By Jeff Savage (ISBN 0-8225-2888-6; paper, 0-9225- 9728-4).
Junior Seau: High-Voltage Linebacker. By Terri Morgan (ISBN 0-8225-2896-7; paper, 0-8225-9746-2).
Ken Griffey, Junior: All Around Star. By Barbara Kramer (ISBN 0-8225-2887-8; paper, 0-8225-9729-2).
The winningest female jockey of all time, a football player of Samoan parentage who is a hero off and on the field, and a second generation baseball star who has fought his own demons and won, make this series believable and inspiring. Pertinent photographs and lifetime statistics are enhancements.

Action Event Series. By Jeff Savage. Parsippanny, NJ: Crestwood House, 1997. Fry Reading Level, 4–6. Hardcover, $14.95 each.
Demolition Derby (ISBN 0-89686-891-5)
Drag Racing (ISBN 0-89686-890-7)
Monster Trucks (ISBN 0-89686-889-3)
Mud Racing (ISBN 0-89686-888-5)
Super Cross Motorcycle Racing (ISBN 0- 89686-887-7)
Truck and Tractor Pullers (ISBN 0-89686- 886-9)
Here, in one action-packed series are the stars, statistics, history, and regulations of the many forms of motor racing for speed enthusiasts.

Both Sides Series. By Robert Young. Parsippany, NJ: Dillon Press, 1996. Fry Reading Level 6. Hardcover, $13.95; paper, $5.95.
The Real Patriots of the American Revolution (ISBN 0-8718-612-2; paper, 0-382- 39171-3).
The Transcontinental Railroad: America at Its Best? (ISBN 0-87518-611-4; paper, 0- 328-39172-1).
Timelines, bibliographies, and glossaries make this series highly usable. The balanced treatment given both sides of these historical incidents make the people come to life for the reader.

Nature in Action Series. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Bks., 1996. Fry Reading Level 5. Hardcover, $14.96; paper, $7.95 each.
Hurricanes. By D.M. Souza. (ISBN 0-87614- 861-5; paper, 0-87614-861-5).
Wildfire. By Patrick Cone (ISBN 0-87614- 936-0; paper, I-S7505-077-7).
Beautifully illustrated with color photos, this series provides comprehensive informa- tion on natural phenomena and includes an index and glossary in each volume.

The Wonders of the World Series. By Reg Cox & Neil Morris. Piscataway, NJ: Silver Burdett Pr., 1996. Fry Reading Level 7. Hardcover, $14.95; paper, $7.95 each.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (ISBN 0-382-39266-3; paper, 0-382- 39267-1).
The Seven Wonders of the Historic World. (ISBN 0-382-39269-8; paper, 0-382- 39270-1).
The Seven Wonders of the Modern World. (ISBN 0-382-39271-x; paper, 0-382- 39272-8).
The Seven Wonders of the Natural World. (ISBN 0-382-39273-6; paper, 0-382- 39274-4).
Each volume in this series includes a brief history and pictures of the special wonders from each period.

World Story Telling Series. Little Rock, AK: August House, 1996. Fry Reading Level 3.
Eleven Nature Tales. By Pleasant De Spain. Hardcover, $14.95 (ISBN 0-87483-447-3); paper $7.9S (ISBN 0-87483-458-9).
Trickster Tales. By Joseph Sherman. Hardcover, $28.95 (ISBN 0-87483-449); paper, $18.95 (ISBN 0-87483-450-3).
Wisdom Tales From Around the World. By Heather Forest. Paper, $17.9S (ISBN 0-87483-479-1).
Wonder Tales From Around the World. By Heather Forest. 1995. Paper, $17.95 (ISBN 087483-479-1).
Countries and cultures worldwide are represented in this delightful series. Usable for read-aloud and read-along. Short tales are excellent for ESL and multicultural programs. The illustrations enhance these universally appealing tales.