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In the Stacks is a weekly newspaper column by librarian Kathy Ward that highlights parts of the Juneau Public Library's collection by topic. You can browse these columns by date or by topic.

Non-Fiction

“What’s a Christian to do with Harry Potter?” by Connie Neal, discusses the conflicts Christians may feel when confronting the Harry Potter books. The author presents thoughts on all sides of the issue from Christian parents, writers, kids, and ministers. Her goal is not conversion to any point of view, rather, to provide enough information that readers of all convictions will be able to hold informed opinions about Harry Potter.

“The Ultimate Color Printer Craft Book,” by Susan Krzywicki and Laurel Burden, has tons of information about buying a printer, finding drawing programs, stocking up on art supplies, and using them all to create some really nice projects. This is not a book for beginning computer users - basic computer skills are needed! Each project has a color photo, materials list, instructions, and skill level. Projects include jigsaw puzzles, stamps, stationery, clothing, and more.

“Around Sarah’s Table,” by Rivka Zakutkinsky and Yaffa Leba Gottlieb, started in 1991 with a group of Hasidic women who began meeting weekly for lunch and Torah study. Out of those meetings came this book, a collection of Torah teachings related to life. Each chapter incorporates the personal and spiritual in a seamless and readable blending.

“Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young Buddhists,” by Sumi Loundon, is a collection of essays by Buddhists (okay, they aren’t that young -- in their twenties and thirties) covering experiences as diverse as choosing boyfriends, becoming a nun, and teaching meditation in a juvenile detention unit.

“Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers,” by Michael Baden, has more than you ever wanted to know about how murderers are found and convicted. Baden discusses autopsies and evidence gathering, throwing in tidbits about famous cases to illustrate his points. Fascinating, but not for the easily queasy.

“A Quiet World,” by David Myers, is about the author’s growing deafness and how he and his family cope. Myers’ deafness is hereditary; his mother was deaf by her 40s, and so he has had some familiarity with the difficulties, but he finds that to be deaf himself is quite different than he’d imagined. Along with his personal story, he offers tips on making conversation more comfortable, and discusses new technologies that are bridging gaps between the hearing and the deaf.

“Lords of the Harvest,” by Daniel Charles, covers the advent of genetically engineered foods and why they became controversial. Following the careers of three young scientists who were working to improve plant productivity for Monsanto, a chemical company trying to break into the biotech world, the author paints a picture of good intentions twisted by aggressive business practices.

“The Grief Recovery Handbook,” by John James and Russell Friedman, is for those dealing with death, divorce, and other losses (including the end of addictions, graduation, retirement, and other events that we think of as happy events). From this fascinating perspective, the authors identify misleading ideas that our culture has about dealing with grief and ultimately offer the tools that will set the griever on the path to recovery.

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