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!

My Picks for September

Fiction Book- I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier

Adam Farmer was having a normal day- until his girlfriend Amy calls and lets him know that a reporter has found out that there is nobody by the name of Farmer in the town that his father supposedly came from! Turns out that his father had uncovered a scandalous conspiracy, and now the Farmer family has to hide in order to save their own lives. Adam's memories slowly come back to him- who really is he?

Nonfiction book- The Teen Brain Book by Dale Carlson

How does your brain change when you are a teenager? Aren't you glad you can plan ahead now? Isn't thinking abstractly wonderful? Then why are you so confused about the many things in your life? All this and more in one simple and fun book.

Manga- Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders by CLAMP

Kentarou, Takeshi, and Eri may seem like normal students of the CLAMP school who run a bakery. But they are also superheroes who dress up in armor to battle when necessary! Especially when it comes to keeping the Imonoyama Shopping District from taking over CLAMP School!

Anime- Saint Seiya

Seiya is the Knight of Pegasus. He and his comrades the Bronze Saints are now to protect Saori Kido, who is the reincarnation of the Goddess Athena. Now they must channel the power of the Cosmos and reach the mystical Gold Cloth of Sagittarius! Another fantastic old school anime.

Website- Chem4Kids

What are the noble gases? How does a catalyst affect a chemical reaction? What is the most common element on the Earth's surface? How are lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates different? Find out all this and more at Rader's Chem 4 Kids. Also includes sister sites for astronomy, biology, earth science, mathematics, and physics.

Got Art?

Art Builds Florida is a statewide student art contest. It is designed to encourage student artwork and promote Florida’s strategic plan to further the development of arts and culture throughout Florida, Culture Builds Florida’s Future.

The contest is open to all Florida high school students grades 9 through 12. Hillsborough teens can enter the Region 3 category, Learning and Wellness. Entries can be submitted between September 8, 2008 and November 7, 2008, by following these instructions.

Wizard Rock-umentary hits Mtv

This summer, we had rave reviews and a great crowd for our Wizard Rock extraviganza. Over 250 people turned up at John F. Germany library to rock out with The Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, Draco and the Malfoys and Justin Finch-Fletchley, just a few of the bands out there inspired by the hit series of Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling.

Well, apparently we're not the only ones to think this blend of fandom and rock n'roll is pretty cool... Mtv reports that Wizard Rock is the subject of a "rockumentary" by two young fans. Check the story here...

Great Fantasy Series Article

10 Great Fantasy Book Series

Some of them I have read and enjoyed, others I was familiar with but had not had the chance to pick up yet, and there are a couple that I admit I had not heard of before but will be taking a look at soon. My favorite made third place!