Phenomenal Reads With Emily: I'll Give You The Sun

  You know you love a book when you ask Siri to call you one of the characters names. She now calls me Jude. I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson is mostly about two twins named Noah and Jude, their family, and people they meet. Noah tells the story when he and Jude are 13-14 years old, and Jude tells the story when she and Noah are 16. Noah is a boy with little friends. He draws to pass time, while Jude is popular and surfs. Each twin has a secret that they are keeping from the other. Jude worries if she tells her secret, Noah will never talk to her again. Noah believes that by keeping his secret, he is protecting his family. All The characters are connected in wild and unbelievable ways.
   Now I'll Will talk about the characters.
   Noah: Noah is absolutely my favorite character in theis book. With only a few pages into his point of view, I already felt I knew him and was in love with his character. He is just do devoted, sweet, and super talented. His character was just simply perfect and likeable.
   Jude: Jude is also very talented, she just doesn't really know it. She is an excellent person, that you'd think is on a path to success, but she gets a little lost along the way. She starts hanging out with the popular crowd, and after something happens that hurts her family, and completely destroys her brother, she changes dramatically- and so does Noah.
    This book is great. I finished it in 5 days, because it was so interesting I couldn't put it down. I felt that the characters were extremely realistic and in depth. Jandy Nelson describes the characters like she actually knows them. Also, both characters are very relatable. There are many surprises in their path, all of which you will not see coming. I can not stress this enough; read this book. It will forever change your life. 5 out of 5 stars. Fantastic work Jandy Nelson.
                                                                          - Emily

Check out another "Phenomenal Reads With Emily":

All The Bright Places

Or look at this "Bookworm Review":

Every Soul A Star

Stuck to the Screen: Great iPod and iPhone Apps: Part 2A

   Bored of the apps and games on your iPod or iPhone? Well, we're here to help you. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite apps and games.

1. The Sims FreePlay- Free
Description: In this game, you control the actions of virtual people, called sims. This game has many different quests so you can make your sim town even better. I've had this game for about two and a half years. My current level: 34.
 2. Minecraft Pocket Edition- $6.99
Description: I personally don't think this game need a a description. I mean, who doesn't know what Minecraft is? Let me tell you this. It is supper addicting. Every time I see I can update it, I squeal.
 3. Tsum Tsum- Free
Description: You connect Tsum tsums' to earn points. This game is really simple, and a pleasure to play! I currently only own one Tsum Tsum but want more!
 4. SimCity- Free
Description: You build a city for sims and take care of them. For example, they need lighting and water too! This game is very fun. It's so amazing to see your city grow!
 5. Geometry Dash Lite- Free
Description: In this game you tap your screen to hop over spikes and hop on objects to help you avoid the spikes. Extremely addicting and fun. There is also a regular Geometry Dash that is $1.99 and has more levels, but I haven't purchased it. I find no need because I haven't even completed one level yet!
 6. Inquizitive- Free
Description: In this app there are tons of Disney based quizzes and trivia. It is very fun, even if you aren't a huge Disney fan. It's really great when your bored and don't know what to do.
 7. Superimpose-$0.99
Description: This app is great for editing pictures. You can change a pictures background, recolor things, and much more. It also has a lot of cool filters. It is definitely worth $0.99 if you ask me!
 8. Room Planner Home Design- Free
Description: In this app you can make a 2D model of a house or other building and then see it in 3D. It is amazing. Now I know this may not be to popular among kids, but I have always been into making floor plans (I watch HGTV sometimes). I can't believe this app is free.
 9. Bakery Story- Free
Description: All these games are really great. In this particular one, you own a bakery. It is really fun to see it grow. You can customize your bakery, and choose what foods are made and served. I am currently on level 26.
 10. 1010!- Free
Description: In this game you are given a grid in which you place blocks. If you complete a row or column it disappears, and that's how you earn points. This game is really quite fun.

  I hope this has helped you find some really good apps and games!

       
                                                                            -Emily

Click the link below to see other great games and apps!

          Stuck To The Screen Part 1

Make a Summer To-Do List

     What do you plan to do this summer vacation? Clean. Draw. Write. Play. The possibilities are endless! To keep track of all of these wonderful things (that you MUST do), you can create a summer to-do list! It's easy, simple, and can be fun! But most importantly, it will serve as a reminder of all of your goals.

Step 1: Think! :) Obviously, before you make the to-do list, you have to think about everything you going to put on it! While you probably already have a good idea of what you want, allow me to list a few suggestions below!

• Read (our book suggestions can be found on our books page)
• Draw, paint, color, or sketch
• Tidy up your room
• Have sleepovers (check out our sleepovers label)

Step 2: Gather your supplies! Once you have thought of most of your plans (you'll probably think of more along the way!), it's time to get all needed materials!

• Paper (lined or blank; you pick)
• Different colored pens or pencils
• Any decorations or pictures you may want to add (ex. paper flowers, beads, etc.)
• Glue (used to apply decorations)

Step 3: ***CREATE*** the to-do list! This is the best step for me, and maybe you too! When you make your to-do list, don't just make it in one color! You can organize your goals while making it pretty just by doing this! For example, you can use orange for craft-related goals, purple for "chore"-related ones (ex. cleaning), blue for goals that involve reading, and green for social goals (goals that have to do with other people). You can do whatever you want to do! Use different colors and categories if you wish! Don't forget to include the check boxes! When your done writing down these plans, you get to ~~DECORATE~~ your list! Color, add, draw...I'll leave it up to you! ;)

Step 4: Hang up your to-do list! Where is a good spot for you? On your whiteboard? Wall? Bulletin board? Wherever you hang it, make sure that it is in a spot that you will easily see it and be reminded of your goals. After all, what good is a to-do list if you never look at it?

*~*~*~*CONGRATULATIONS*~*~*~*

You have successfully created your own summer to-do list!

I hope this will be helpful to you during your summer vacation.

Don't forget to check off completed to-do's!

By Julia

Love it? Loved it? Did it? Comment below and share with friends! :)

Phenomenal Reads With Emily: All The Bright Places

 

  Recently I have read All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Let me tell you this: I could not put it down. I finished this book in about 3 days, not because it was a quick read, but because I literally could not put it down. All The Bright Places is about two teens: Theodore Finch (Theodore Freak) and Violet Markey (Violet Remarkey-able). They first meet at a bell tower at their high school, and save each other from jumping off. Violet is depressed because her sister died, and she blames herself. Finch is mentally ill, and has been bullied most of his life. When they team up on a school project, they become friends. This is where their beautiful and tragic story starts.

   I came across this book looking for novels to enjoy over the summer. In an hour of looking, I found myself  with a long list of a little over 15 books, with All The Bright Places at the very top. I was so anxious to get my hands on this book, that I got it from the library the very next day. Jennifer Niven is a genius. I repeat, a GENIUS. This book is one of my new favorite books. If you do not read it, your life will not be complete (I might be exaggerating just a bit). Overall, this book was lovely.

                                                                                       -Emily

Check out another "Phenomenal Reads With Emily":

The School for Good And Evil

Or look at this "Bookworm Review":

Out of my Mind

Book worm reviews: Every Soul a Star

Every Soul a Star
By Wendy Mass

      A large group of people watch silently as the moon slowly covers the sun. It's getting darker and darker, making it seem more like nighttime than daytime. A group of newly made friends stand together, the performance that brought them together standing in the sky.              

        Ally stares up at the sky, taking in the beauty of it all. Bree stands still, looking up, up into the sky. Jack smiles as the solar eclipse takes place. It's so beautiful.
   
       Every Soul a Star is an attention-grabbing, heart-warming story about a group of friends who experience one of the greatest things in life. They all have different personalities, interests, and hobbies, but they manage to form a strong bond of friendship.
      Ally loves astronomy. Growing up on the Moon Shadow Campground helped her with that. She lives on the Moon Shadow Campground, which her family owns, with the rest of her family. Her parents moved there when she was four, knowing what would occur there in a handful of years.
      Bree, however, lives in a town. She hopes to be a model. Her parents, however, don't see what she sees in fashion. Her younger sister, Melanie, doesn't see it either. While Bree tries her best to look her best, her sister is getting straight A's. Bree plans on many things for the approaching summer, but when her parents tell her about their plans, her life seems to be thrown away.
     Jack is fatherless. He loves to draw aliens. Oh, and he can fly. Now let me give you some explanations to clarify the last sentences. His father left before he was born. All the evidence of his father are some pictures from the neck down. He draws the aliens and is good at it. Not everyone can draw. The flying, well, I shouldn't give it away! ;) ;) ;)

     These three kids, along with siblings and friends, witness something amazing. Through it all they learn a lot about friendship and themselves.

By Julia

Check out another Bookworm Reviews:

    Out of My Mind

Or check out  Phenomenal Reads with Emily!

The School for Good and Evil

Stuck to the Screen: Great iPod and iPhone Apps: Part 1

Hello! Em here! Today we explore the world of apps! Here are a few of my favorites that I hope you enjoy too!! P.S They are in order of how much I like them, 1 is the best, but all of these apps I adore!


1. The Sims Freeplay (BEST. GAME. EVER.)
2. Minecraft!!!
3. Virtual Families 2
4. Home Design Story
5. My Talking Tom
6. High school Story
7. My Boo
8. Toca Boca Hair Salon 2
9. Toca Town (I know, it's a little kid game but I love it. :p)
10. Sky burger

Enjoy!! Write in the comments on this post to share your favorites!!

Phenomenal Reads with Emily: The School For Good And Evil

Hello! I am writing you this from the nerd side! I'm here to tell you about books that I really enjoyed! Here's my first book that I'm reviewing, The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. This book takes you through the fantasy word of Sophie and Agatha, two BFFs in their town of Gavaldon. In this fast paced adventure, the girls learn that it's the inside that really counts. Here you learn about both girls and watch as their personality change throughout the story. They become who you might not think they were in the beginning. Even though I am only on page 213, (there 488 pages), I can tell this book is going to be AMAZING!!!


                                                                                             Until next time,
                                                                                                    Emily

Also, write who your FAVORITE character is in the comments 4 this post! Go Team Leo Valdez,  from the Heroes of Olympus series!!