Certainly not these games.

Totally and unexpectedly awesome.
I have to say that the actual Gotham villain plot was not the greatest.  Kate Kane aka Batwoman battles against Alice, new leader of the Religion of Crime and in my opinion a poorly constructed mash-up of original Gotham super-villains The Mad Hatter, The Joker, and The Riddler.

Beyond the wonky “ooh we’re out to get Gotham” plot, the backstory of how Kate becomes the Batwoman was amazing. “Separated” from the military after a personal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell event, Kate finds herself lost and seeking a way to still serve when a chance encounter with the BatMAN tells her just what to do next. When her father discovers her vigilantism and that she won’t quit, he decides to help her, even in developing the suit and colors. The red and black suit becomes just as feared in Gotham as the black and gold. And with good reason.

I’m a fan.

You can find it upstairs in Adult Services, or put it on hold by clicking the above pic!

Review by Miss Regina

Most teens don’t bother to use LinkedIn, because they assume it is an adult social networking site.  And with no games or fancy new timelines like FB, I can see where you guys get that impression.  BUT, it is actually a very important site for young people just as much, and can really come in handy when you start filling out those college and job applications.

So, What IS LinkedIn?

LinkedInis a professional networking site.  Similar to a social networking site, but more focused on your work activities.   You can keep track of your jobs, your skills and even your coworkers!  Many potential employers glance at LinkedIn profiles to see what their applicants have been doing with their time.

How young adults like you can use LinkedIn:

• To keep a running record of jobs and assignments you’ve had.  It doesn’t have to be a big job, or even a long one.  Babysitting consistently or even mowing lawns as your own business, counts!  Employers will be glad to see that you started your own company and stuck with it!
• To network with people in the fields you’re interested in. Want to be a game designer?  How about interacting with a few who are already in the business through LinkedIn groups?  Use the site to get a jump-start on the “who you know”, part of finding a job.
• To explore careers, colleges, and even hobbies.  You can find groups from just about every school and career field on LinkedIn.  Each group has members who are willing to answer your questions, give feedback, and offer FREE advice.
• To collect recommendations! One awesome feature on the site, is that you can add people to your network, teachers (if they’re willing), former bosses, and even your friendly neighborhood librarians (hint hint).  There’s then an option you can select to ask each of them for a recommendation.
• To find jobs!  Because LinkedIn is a professional site, it is much easier to find job information through their site.  You can even apply directly from the website.  This is much better than some other job websites because this way you’re applying with your resume and recommendations already in their view!

Jenna and Lucas are pains at home.

Jenna is too silly and free-spirited for her prestigious and acadademic family. Her parents worry about her, and her younger sister doesn’t even want to be seen with her. Lucas, son of a single mom, gets horrible grades despite his intellect. Both teens and families are surprised when a representative from Camp Fielding visits their home to invite/recruit them.

Camp Fielding is weird.  There are no real teachers, only elaborate problems and scenarios for campers to decipher.  There also seems to be a problem with mysterious disappearances, strange dead baby birds, and campers who suddenly become eerily intelligent. As they race to figure out what is causing their fellow campers to cough up feathers, Jenna and Lucas realize that they aren’t sure what is more frightening; what they’re uncovering, or the fact that it’s too crazy to believe!

Discovering the secret of Camp Fielding is intense, and it unfolds at various points in the story.  This creepy and yet funny book made some realistic points about academic pressure, hormones and the benefits of not fitting in. Realism aside, there were mythical and political points that should engage any reader that loves a good mystery.

Good, quick read.

We know, we know…you’re busy and you don’t feel like reading anything else, but yes, that IS a Hunger Games companion book.  And YES, that brand new Common book is on the shelf.  Come on, you know you want to read just a couple pages of Uncharted before the Gaming Alliance plays the new game this month.

Trust us, we won’t tell anyone you were reading. (click on the covers to find each book in our catalog)