And the Winner is...

Were you one of the 8,000+ teens who voted on the YALSA Teen's Top Ten during Teen Read week?? Want to know who won?

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Want to see the rest of the Teen Top 10? Check them out here!

Want to win $100 at Best Buy?

Thinking about entering our Teenz Ink short story writing contest? Want to know what you could win?

Grand prize is a $100 BEST BUY gift card and the runner-up prize is a $50 gift card to Borders or Barnes & Noble. A winner and a runner-up will be selected in each of two categories: Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12).

Get more Teenz Ink info here!

YouTube Contest!

It's that time of year again! Ask a Librarian is holding their Director's Chair video contest. The contest is open to Florida high school students.

If you like making videos for YouTube, this is your chance to win some great prizes. The grand prize is a digital video camera!

For a complete list of rules, click this link.

My picks for October

Fiction book- The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Princess Anidori has the gift of communication with animals. She especially likes talking to her horse, Falada. When she is betrothed to the prince of Bayern, her place is taken by her lookalike maid in waiting. Now Ani has to become a goosekeeper in order to make ends meet- and makes quite a few allies along the way. A fantasy novel remake of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Nonfiction book- The ABC's of Writing Fiction by Ann Copeland

How should you name your characters to fit their roles? What should your story's beginning be like? Where should it take place? All these tips and more can be found in this book- yes, in alphabetical order- about writing fiction. See what awesome characters and plots you can come up with!

Manga- Cantarella by You Higuri

Cesare Borgia is obsessed with power- he will obtain what he wants at any cost. Aided by his friend the assassin Michelotto, he will do anything to conquer the kingdom. Cesare has only one soft spot- his younger sister Lucrezia, who will not remain in an arranged marriage and who yearns for true love. A historical fiction manga about the Italian Renaissance with beautiful illustrations.

Anime- Maria watches over us

Yumi has entered the Lillian Academy for girls. What the shy and introspective Yumi would have never imagined is that Sachiko, a member of the prestigious Yamayuri Council, would want to be her "big sister". Now Yumi gets to meet the Student council- from rebellious Satou Sei, to cousins Rei and Yoshino who do everything together, to the softspoken Shimako who feels just as out of place as Yumi. One of my favorite series- which does not require big robots or power-ups to grab and keep your attention.

Website- Explore Health Careers

What does a physician assistant do? How much training do you need to become a physical therapist? Exactly what does an epidemiologist investigate? What is the difference between an MD and a DO? Which professionals can prescribe medications? All this and more can be found in this fantastic resource for those who are looking into becoming health care professionals.

It's almost Teen Read Week... get ready to vote!

Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country.

If you read nominated books throughout the year, you’ll be ready to vote for your favorites during Teen Read Week, October 12 - 18, 2008. Readers aged twelve to eighteen can vote right here, online, anytime that week.

Still need to check out some of the books on the list? Don't worry! We've got you covered.

Do you KnowHow2GO?

Looking to head to college, but not sure how to get there? Worried you can't afford it, won't find the "right" school, or just won't make the grade? Here's some help:

KnowHow2GO provides low-income students, and those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education, with the information and resources they need to prepare for college. KnowHow2GO took the extensive to-do list for college planning and created four simple steps
that students can follow with the help of adult mentors to make their college dreams a reality.

The 4 Steps to College:
1. Find Someone To Help.
2. Push Yourself.
3. Find the Right Fit.
4. Put Your Hands on Some Cash.

Check out www.KnowHow2GoTampaBay.org for more information on getting into college.

It's time...

... for our 4th annual

• The deadline for entries is Saturday, November 15, 2008.
• Short story must be 500-1000 words in length.
• Open to Hillsborough County teens in grades 6-12.
• Prizes will be awarded to a winner and a runner-up in two categories: Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12).
• Grand prize is a $100 gift card and the runner-up prize is a $50 gift card.

Entry forms and more details are available at your local library or in Hillsborough County Middle and High Schools. Or click here to submit your story online!