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CREATE (Colossal, Reading, Entertaining, Artsy, Teen Event) is Marion County Public Library's premiere festival of teen talent. CREATE celebrated its fifth year with a record breaking 134 entries in the categories of: fine arts; film making; writing; performing arts; and, edible books. Each year, Marion County teens ages 13-18 are invited to participate, and allowed to enter multiple categories.  

This year's festival began on a Friday night, with a reception at the library for teen participants and their families. On Saturday morning, the teen fine artists arrived and were treated to breakfast and a talk with an artist. This year the library welcomed Marion County public school teacher, and local ceramic artist, Gene Hotaling, to speak with the teen fine artists. The fine art was on display in the concourse area of the library, which was transformed into an art gallery, where the artists stood by their work and had the opportunity to speak with the judges and the public about what inspired them.

Meanwhile, outside under the library portico, the "Edible Book"competition was underway. "Edible Books" are one of a kind cake creations inspired by books. "Edible Books" can be an interpretation of a tale, a play on words, or simply book shaped. During the application process, the teens submitted a plan and description of their cakes, and brought the actual "Edible Book" to the library on Saturday morning. The "Edible Books" were on display throughout the morning, and there was cake for everyone to eat!

Later in the morning, the writer's conference began. This year, author and Florida Book Award gold medal winner, Adrian Fogelin, spoke to the teen writers and the public. After her speech, Ms. Fogelin led the teen writers in a creative writing workshop on how to think like an author.

In the afternoon, award winning and critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Billy Corben, spoke to the teen filmmakers about his secret to success: finding a good story and telling it well. This year, 21 films were screened for the judges and public, including both theatrical shorts and journalistic pieces.

Later in the afternoon, the teen talent show drew a crowd to the stage in front of the library. This year's talent included: martial artists; beat boxers; a capella singers; cloggers and more. During the talent show, the winners in all categories were announced, and trophies were presented.

Local: teachers; artists; bakers; photographers; writers; directors; actors; musicians and creative community members, served as judges. In addition to the judges' awards, the community was invited to vote for people's choice winners in the fine art, film making, performing arts, and "Edible Book" categories. Every participant received a swag bag, and winners in each category were awarded trophies and cash prizes.  

CREATE is sponsored by the Friends of the Ocala Public Library and supported by other community partners. This year's CREATE was a huge success, and Marion County librarians are already looking forward to next year's festival!

Erin D. Arnold 

Public Services Librarian III

Marion County Public Library System 

Ocala Headquarters  

Dowell, Frances O'Roark. The Sound of Your Voice, Only Really Far Away. Simon & Schuster, 2013.

The Sound of Your Voice, Only Really Far Away is the conclusion to the popular Secret Language of Girls trilogy. Middle school students, and once upon a time best friends Marilyn and Kate, continue to face many challenges. Acceptance, peer pressure, boys, family, and self-image issues test their friendship, but the girls learn how to be true to themselves and each other in the end. The story is told from different points of view, and follows the girls and their "friends" as they struggle with the many situations and feelings a typical middle school teenager faces. I liked this book.  I think it is well written, and is an accurate portrayal of the difficult, and often painful, situations a pre-teen in middle school faces.

Karen Houston

Niceville Public Library 

Summer's luck hasn't been very good lately; in fact, it's been really bad. She almost died from malaria, and has developed a phobia of mosquitoes, not to mention her obsession with DEET. Her parents must go to Japan for the summer to help an ailing relative. That leaves her, and her younger brother Jaz, with their grandparents, Obichaan and Jiichan, to fulfill the contract her parents made for the summer harvest. Obichaan cooks for the harvesters with Summer's help, Jiichan drives a combine, and Jaz, who has a hard time making friends, stays in his own little world. Their bad luck continues when Obichaan's back begins to hurt and she must lay down much of the day; Jiichan gets so sick he cannot drive the combine, and rain is on the way, threatening to ruin the wheat before they can get it cut. Summer knows it's up to her to turn their bad luck to "kouun," (good luck). Is she up to the enormous task? This novel has boy and girl appeal as Kadohata takes her readers into the dynamics of a Japanese-American extended family, as well as exploring the lifestyle of the American harvesting profession.
Martha Zimmerman
Niceville Public Library