big nate blasts off by: Lincoln Peirce

in the last installment of the big nate novel series, the main character Nate Wright has many problems to deal with. Nate likes a girl named ruby and tries to impress her but his bully Randy likes her too. Nate also needs to cope with the possibility that he and his family might move to california. Nate also learned something and decides to try and makes amends with Randy. There is also an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament he needs to get ready for. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good compelling story and a laugh.

-Siddharth Senthilkumaran

Loudoun County Gum Spring Library

Among the hidden by: Margaret Peterson Haddix

This novel is takes place in a dystopian world where no family is allowed to have more than 2 kids. The main character Luke Garder is a third child and is hidden from society. He lives in hiding and met his neighbor Jen Talbot, who is also a third child. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good story and I recommend to ages 11 to higher

-Siddharth Senthilkumaran

Loudoun County Gum Spring Library

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“The Great Gatsby” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a fictional book that takes place during the roaring 1920’s. The roaring 20’s was a time where the country was prosperous, there was economic growth and many Americans lived in the city. The Great Gatsby is a very symbolic book, as you read you’ll find that there is a deeper meaning about the book. The narrator, Nick Carraway is a graduate from Yale and also fought in the Great War who moved to New York into a small house in West Egg neighboring with Jay Gatsby. Gatsby, a very mysterious man follows his heart and tries to win Daisy Buchanan who he believes is going to complete him. 

In my opinion, I love this book. I became absorbed into the storyline and had me on edge because I knew many things that some of the characters didn’t know. It was like I was apart of the book; knowing a secret that someone didn’t. Also, the meaning behind the book interested me even more. It was just at the end of the book that I realized what the book was about it was throughout the fictional novel. I highly recommend this book to everyone just because it is a book everyone should read. The only part about the book I disliked was that Nick Caraways background was very straight forward and that I didn’t know his full story. 

-Maiwand Saafi

Cascades Library

The Time Machine by H.G Wells

A scientist tests his new time machine and travels from London 1895 to the future the year 802701. Here finds a peaceful world, this future seems like paradise but the Time Traveler wants to go back home but his Time Machine is missing. How will he go home?\

This is a very good book. I really liked the way the future is described. It is very interesting. It also has some action. I would recommend this book to all readers.

by Jorik Shehu (Ashburn Library)

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

When the daughters of an English general are led into danger by their scout Magua they turn to the Mohicans to help them get back to camp. This book is filled with adventure betrayals and filled with action.

This book is pretty good though in my opinion gets a little boring but its still very cool. This book has a great story and is overall worth reading.

by Jorik Shehu (Ashburn Library)

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Bailey Rydell, known by the film geek community as “Mink,” has grown quite attached to her funny, online friend who goes by the name Alex. They live hundreds of miles apart, at least until Bailey flies to California to stay at her dad’s, which is coincidentally in the same city as Alex. She decides not to tell him for fear she’d meet him and he’d turn out to be a weirdo in real life. As Bailey settles down, she agrees to start working at a tourist museum, gaining new friends including the infuriatingly cute security guard that is Porter Roth. While the summer flies by, she realizes that she’s got to make a choice: either continue her pursuit of online Alex, or handing her heart over in a flawed relationship with Porter.

One of the best summer reads I’ve had so far, a big highlight in the story is the amount of clever jokes that are swapped between characters. A well-thought out plot, you should take a look at this book if you like amusing rom-coms.

-Melody Guo

Cascades Library

Four Doors Down by Emma Doherty

A senior named Rebecca McKenzie has more than enough to keep her happy and survive through the last of high school: decent friends and even a boyfriend. So when Ryan Jackson, neighbor and ex-friend, starts to appear in her life years after he ditched her for popularity, she is beyond annoyed. They haven’t talked to each other ever since their “breakup,” so why does he suddenly want to be friends again? It’s not like Becca can avoid him either, because their moms are close; plus they constantly update each other even though their teenage children haven’t been on speaking terms. What can Becca do? Read the book to find out.

Some may say Becca’s snarky personality is part of what makes her a strong and independent woman. For me, her attitude borders on a bit too vicious, and it’s the reason why I didn’t like this book as much as Doherty’s other books. Though I recommend that those who like stories with drama, sass, and rekindling relationships read this book.

-Melody Guo

Cascades Library

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

“To Kill a Mocking Bird” written by Harper Lee is a fictional novel that takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. This engaging book starts with the narrator, Scout who is around nine years old who lives with her father Atticus Finch, her brother Jem Finch and their African-American cook Calpurnia. It is 1930 and African-American Tom Robinson has been convicted of a crime which he didn’t do. This wrongful conviction has Atticus Finch fight Tom’s case; all while Mr.Robinson awaits his execution. Scout Finch, the youngest of the family narrates the story from her perspective as she matures and understands the moral good and knows how to disregard the immoral. 

In my opinion, I enjoyed this book for the most part because of how realistic the story line felt. What I didn’t like about this book was that it was very predictable and boring at times and never excited me as a reader. Although the moral throughout the book was virtuous, the book doesn’t appeal to me. 

-Maiwand Saafi

Cascades Library

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

This book is like a sequel to the Three Musketeers. Aramis knows a secret very few people know. He knows that Phillip a man held in the Bastille is the identical twin of King Louis XIV. Aramis plans to replace the french king. Will he succeed?

I really liked this book it was filled with action and adventure.This book also has a very good story if you like adventure then this is a book for you.

by Jorik Shehu (Ashburn Library)

Big Nate payback time by: Lincoln Peirce

In this book you will read many stories put into one along with a scenario where the main character Nate Wright was challenged to a fight by a bully named Randy. Read this book yourself if you want to know what happens in the fight. I recommend this book to anyone who wants more than one story in a book and laughs.

-Siddharth Senthilkumaran\

Loudoun County Gum Spring Library