The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald takes place during the early 1920s. The novel is written in the first person, with the narrator (Nick Carraway) becoming friends with Jay Gatsby, a millionaire who throws lavish parties weekly. Gatsby has been in love with Daisy (Nick's cousin) for a long time, but now Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan. Jay Gatsby's ambition is not only to become opulent but also to be with Daisy. Gatsby and Daisy begin having an affair, leading to overwhelming conflicts between Gatsby and Buchanan's marriage.

As I read this novel, I enjoyed the turn of events that occurred later on in the story. I liked the climax of the novel when the confrontation between Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby occurs because it leads to misunderstandings between significant characters. This enticed me to continue reading until the novel's end, which resulted in an astonishing ending! Overall, after reading The Great Gatsby—and reading what happened to Gatsby, I learned that you could not repeat the past; you must continue moving forward.

Review by: David V.

David is a virtual volunteer at Sylmar Branch Library. He is a 12th grader at John F. Kennedy High School.

—Dana Eklund, Sylmar Branch Library