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YA Librarian Margaret Walsh has set up a display in the second floor's Teen Central area spotlighting these winning novels, as well as as other ones like this year's Odyssey Award winner The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  Stop by the second floor if you get a chance and check out the display AND the books! 

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The sequel to 2010's Superman Earth One is finally here.  (Click here to reserve a copy from us.) Was it worth the wait? 

As recounted in this review of the first installment, writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis have "rebooted" the Man of Steel for the 21st century.  Volume Two takes place some time after the previous book, with reporter Clark (Superman) Kent trying to please his boss, Daily Planet editor Perry White, getting an apartment, making new friends (including a potential romantic interest) and discovering that colleague Lois Lane has been secretly checking out his background.

Meanwhile, the Second Army Advanced Technology Division, a secret US military unit, is trying to convince the government to find and possibly destroy Superman. The corrupt military dictator of a tropical island nation called Borada (uh-huh) refuses to let Superman assist his people during a tsunami.  Oh, and a criminal named Jenson, finding himself transformed into The Parasite, a creature who can suck the life force out of anyone he touches, goes on the rampage.   

Toss in some very mature themes not usually found in a Superman story (drugs; sex; online pornography) and a surprise appearance by another familar, also rebooted, character (hint: he's now got hair), and you've got one exciting adventure that starts slow, then builds to an exciting and compelling climax.  Straczynski manages to deliver sharply etched characters (Clark's neighbor Eddie will break your heart) and action in a solid script, which Shane Davis' art aptly complements.

Check out Superman Earth Two: Volume Two.  It was worth the wait.   

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From time to time we'll review new and not-so-new graphic novels on this blog.  First up is Batman Earth One,  writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank's new take on the Caped Crusader, following on the heels of 2010's Superman Earth One (previously reviewed here).  As with the earlier work, Batman EO offers a rebooted version of the hero's origin, motivation and supporting cast.  (Click here to reserve our copy.)

Similar in tone and feel to Christopher Nolan's recent Batman films, we once again relive the tale of how Bruce Wayne as a young boy witnessed the shocking muder of his parents and his vow to avenge them.  Devoting his life training himself in body and mind, the adult Bruce becomes the dreaded, Gotham City-based vigilante known as The Batman.  So far so good.

But Johns and Frank revise a lot of things.  Everybody in Gotham is on the take.  Bruce as a boy is a spolled brat.  Alfred Pennyworth, previously the loyal Wayne family butler, is now an ex-mercenary pal (with a mysterious past) of Bruce's father who becomes Bruce's guardian.  James Gordon is a defeated, harassed detective.  And wait till you see who the corrupt mayor of Gotham City is! 

Toss in a pedophile serial killer, Gordon's daughter Barbara, gloryhound detective Harvey Bullock, and Batman's first bumbling, nearly fatal outings, and you've got an exciting, suspenseful and dark tale, with terrific scripting and art, that'll keep you glued from beginning to end.  Like me, you'll want to read the next installment sooner than later!  Check out Batman Earth One!

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Read the list by clicking here and let us know what you think. 

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Have you gone through all three "Hunger Games" books and want to read more exciting dystopian science fiction novels set in unfriendly futures?  Check out our online Books For Hunger Games Fans  page here.  We've listed various titles you might find interesting by such authors as Kristen Cashore ("Fire"), James Dashner ("The Maze Runner"), Cory Doctorow ("Little Brother") and Maggie Stiefvater ("The Scorpio Races"), among others. 

Check out the list and let us know if we've left anybody out.  And let us know what you think of the books that are on the list too! 

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We all love to read, but there are so many choices, a reader could get dizzy trying to find the next good book.  Luckily, we have lots of ways to find your next favorite book!  NPR just released the Best Ever Teen Novels, which lists 100 great books for teens.  Have a mobile device? Then download the Teen Book Finder , an app that will connect you to the last three years of award winning teen books. Plus we have a collection of digital ebooks and audiobooks that you can take on the run. Guys and girls sometimes have specific reading preferencese, so blogs like

Guys Lit Wire and Readergirz help you find books you might enjoy. And of course, our own Read This page lists these choices, plus a lot more.  so don't wait, find something great to read next! 

The movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins' first installment in The Hunger Games trilogy opens this Friday, March 23, in theatres.  Here's the trailer:

Meanwhile, you just realized you've already read all three books in the Hunger Games series and want to read more.  Well, my colleague CT has put together a list of similarly themed titles that you may just find interesting.  Click here to read the list.

But that's not all!  Check out these other Hunger Games-related links:

*  Books related to the Hunger Games carried by Greenwich Library 

*  The Hunger Games official website (with countdown)

*  Entertainment Weekly's Hunger Games movie site

*  Learn important ideas from the Hunger Games Lessons site 

*  Here's a fun online game inspired by the Hunger Games

*  Ideas for Hunger Games inspired parties at school and the library

*  This site has info about the film

*  The Hunger Games Scavenger Hunt Wiki (this looks fun!)

*  The Internet Movie Database

*  Watch Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence's slightly odd interview with David Letterman online

Did we miss any?  Let us know.  Meanwhile, hope you enjoy these links, and have a great time watching the movie when it opens this Friday! 

The title says it all - Goodreads.  When I'm not sure what kind of Young Adult book to read next, I check out this social networking site designed for people who like to read.  You can get as involved as you like - just browse for book suggestions, read user reviews,  set up a profile to keep track of the books you're reading, or join groups and interact with other readers.  Check it out this link for Young Adult titles, http://www.goodreads.com/genres/young-adult but don't miss the related genres section of the page to further narrow down your choices.  You WILL find a good read on Goodreads.

NINE THOUSAND (!!!!) of you voted for your favorite books that were nominated this year.  And the winners are....

Can't watch the video where you are? Well, here's the list of winners:

(1)   Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster)

(2)   Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)

(3)   Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (Simon & Schuster)

(4)   I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (HarperCollins)

(5)   The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin)

(6)   Matched by Ally Condie (Penguin)

(7)   Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson (Little, Brown & Company)

(8)   Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (HarperCollins)

(9)   Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (HarperCollins)

(10)  Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Penguin)

And here's the acceptence speech from the winning author herself:

Congratulations to Ms. Clare and her fellow authors! And be sure to look for the winning books here at the library!