diff --git a/src/arena.hpp b/src/arena.hpp
index 3b5e673..555d6fc 100644
--- a/src/arena.hpp
+++ b/src/arena.hpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class GcRoot : public GcRootBase {
   GcRoot() : GcRootBase(0, 0) {}
   GcRoot(T* ptr, GcRootList* node) : GcRootBase(ptr, node) {}
   GcRoot(GcRoot&& rhs);
+  GcRoot& operator=(GcRoot&& rhs);
 
   static Result<GcRoot<T>> create(T* ptr, Arena& arena);
   Result<GcRoot<T>> copy(Arena& arena) {
@@ -165,5 +166,20 @@ GcRoot<T>::GcRoot(GcRoot<T>&& rhs) {
   rhs._node->update(this);
   _ptr = rhs._ptr;
   _node = rhs._node;
+  rhs._ptr = 0;
   rhs._node = 0;
 }
+
+template <class T>
+  requires std::derived_from<T, PodObject>
+GcRoot<T>& GcRoot<T>::operator=(GcRoot<T>&& rhs) {
+  if (_node != 0) _node->remove();
+
+  rhs._node->update(this);
+  _ptr = rhs._ptr;
+  _node = rhs._node;
+  rhs._ptr = 0;
+  rhs._node = 0;
+
+  return *this;
+}
diff --git a/src/common.cpp b/src/common.cpp
index cfdd21b..8a6fcf5 100644
--- a/src/common.cpp
+++ b/src/common.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,17 @@ Result<Value> Value::create(Arena& arena, PodObject* obj) {
   return Value();
 }
 
+Result<Symbol> Symbol::create(Arena& arena, String& rhs) {
+  uint64_t rhs_size = rhs.size();
+  uint64_t res_size = rhs_size;
+
+  auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodSymbol>(res_size * sizeof(char32_t)));
+  pod->size = res_size;
+  memcpy(pod->data, rhs._value->data, sizeof(char32_t) * rhs_size);
+
+  return Symbol(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+}
+
 Result<Value> syntax_unwrap(Arena& arena, Value& val) {
   Syntax* syntax = val.to<Syntax>();
   if (syntax == 0) return val.copy(arena);
diff --git a/src/common.hpp b/src/common.hpp
index fe73c33..3438751 100644
--- a/src/common.hpp
+++ b/src/common.hpp
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ class String : public Object {
   String() {}
   String(String&& rhs) : _value(std::move(rhs._value)) {}
   String(GcRoot<PodString>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
+
+  String& operator=(String&& rhs) {
+    _value = std::move(rhs._value);
+    return *this;
+  }
+
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::String; }
   virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
@@ -78,13 +84,62 @@ class String : public Object {
   }
 
   uint64_t size() { return _value->size; }
+  virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
 
   Result<char32_t> operator[](uint64_t idx) {
     if (idx >= _value->size) return ErrorCode::IndexOutOfRange;
     return _value->data[idx];
   }
 
-  virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
+  Result<String> concat(Arena& arena, const char* rhs) {
+    uint64_t rhs_size = strlen(rhs);
+    uint64_t lhs_size = size();
+    uint64_t res_size = lhs_size + rhs_size;
+
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodString>(res_size * sizeof(char32_t)));
+    pod->size = res_size;
+    memcpy(pod->data, _value->data, sizeof(char32_t) * lhs_size);
+    for (uint64_t i = 0; i < rhs_size; i++) pod->data[lhs_size + i] = rhs[i];
+
+    return String(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
+  Result<String> concat(Arena& arena, const char32_t* rhs, uint64_t rhs_size) {
+    uint64_t lhs_size = size();
+    uint64_t res_size = lhs_size + rhs_size;
+
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodString>(res_size * sizeof(char32_t)));
+    pod->size = res_size;
+    memcpy(pod->data, _value->data, sizeof(char32_t) * lhs_size);
+    for (uint64_t i = 0; i < rhs_size; i++) pod->data[lhs_size + i] = rhs[i];
+
+    return String(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
+  Result<String> concat(Arena& arena, String& rhs) {
+    uint64_t rhs_size = rhs.size();
+    uint64_t lhs_size = size();
+    uint64_t res_size = lhs_size + rhs_size;
+
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodString>(res_size * sizeof(char32_t)));
+    pod->size = res_size;
+    memcpy(pod->data, _value->data, sizeof(char32_t) * lhs_size);
+    memcpy(pod->data + lhs_size, rhs._value->data, sizeof(char32_t) * rhs_size);
+
+    return String(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
+  Result<String> sub(Arena& arena, uint64_t start, uint64_t end) {
+    if (start > end) return ErrorCode::IndexOutOfRange;
+    uint64_t res_size = end - start;
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodString>(res_size * sizeof(char32_t)));
+    pod->size = res_size;
+    memcpy(pod->data, _value->data + start, sizeof(char32_t) * res_size);
+
+    return String(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
+  friend class Symbol;
 
  private:
   GcRoot<PodString> _value;
@@ -110,6 +165,7 @@ class Symbol : public Object {
     return Symbol(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod_symbol, arena)));
   }
 
+  static Result<Symbol> create(Arena& arena, String& rhs);
   virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
 
  private:
diff --git a/src/error.hpp b/src/error.hpp
index c09caa2..4818cb2 100644
--- a/src/error.hpp
+++ b/src/error.hpp
@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@ enum class ErrorCode {
   OutOfMemory,
   IndexOutOfRange,
   TypeMismatch,
-  ReadError
+  ReadError,
+  UnterminatedStringLiteral,
+  InvalidNumericLiteral
 };
diff --git a/src/reader.cpp b/src/reader.cpp
index a0bb4e5..79b6251 100644
--- a/src/reader.cpp
+++ b/src/reader.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "reader.hpp"
 
 #include "common.hpp"
+#include "error.hpp"
 
 static bool is_digit(char32_t c) { return c >= '0' && c <= '9'; }
 static bool is_alpha(char32_t c) {
@@ -55,9 +56,13 @@ Result<Value> Reader::read_one() {
   } else if (match('(')) {
     return read_list();
   } else if (match('[')) {
-    return read_array();
+    // TODO: implement array
+    // return read_array();
+    return ErrorCode::ReadError;
   } else if (match('{')) {
-    return read_dict();
+    // TODO: implement dicts
+    // return read_dict();
+    return ErrorCode::ReadError;
   }
 
   position_ = saved_position;
@@ -125,3 +130,255 @@ Result<Value> Reader::read_bool() {
 
   return ErrorCode::ReadError;
 }
+
+Result<Value> Reader::read_string() {
+  if (!match('"')) return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+  size_t start = position_.offset + 1;
+
+  forward();
+
+  while (!match('"') && !match('\r') && !match('\n') && !is_eof()) {
+    if (match('\\')) {
+      forward();
+    }
+
+    forward();
+  }
+
+  if (!match('"')) return ErrorCode::UnterminatedStringLiteral;
+
+  forward();
+
+  String result = TRY(String::create(_arena, ""));
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < position_.offset - start - 1; i++) {
+    char32_t cur = TRY(_str[start + i]);
+    if (cur != '\\') {
+      // TODO: optimize this
+      result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, &cur, 1));
+      continue;
+    }
+    ++i;
+    if (i >= position_.offset - start) continue;
+    char32_t next = TRY(_str[start + i]);
+
+    if (next == '\0') {
+      result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\0"));
+      continue;
+    }
+    switch (next) {
+      case 'b':
+        result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\b"));
+        continue;
+      case 'f':
+        result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\f"));
+        continue;
+      case 'n':
+        result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\n"));
+        continue;
+      case 'r':
+        result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\r"));
+        continue;
+      case 't':
+        result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\t"));
+        continue;
+      case 'v':
+        result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\v"));
+        continue;
+    }
+
+    result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, "\\"));
+    result = TRY(result.concat(_arena, &next, 1));
+  }
+
+  if (!is_separator(get()) && !is_eof()) return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+
+  return Value(std::move(result));
+}
+
+Result<Value> Reader::read_number() {
+  if (!is_numeric_start()) return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+  size_t start = position_.offset;
+
+  bool is_float = false;
+
+  if (match('+') || match('-')) forward();
+
+  if (match('0')) {
+    forward();
+    if (match('.')) {
+      is_float = true;
+      forward();
+      while (is_digit(get())) forward();
+
+      if (match('e') || match('E')) {
+        if (!forward_exponent()) return ErrorCode::InvalidNumericLiteral;
+      }
+    } else if (match('e') || match('E')) {
+      is_float = true;
+      if (!forward_exponent()) return ErrorCode::InvalidNumericLiteral;
+    } else if (match('x') || match('X')) {
+      if (!forward_hex_number()) return ErrorCode::InvalidNumericLiteral;
+    } else if (is_digit(get())) {
+      do {
+        forward();
+      } while (is_digit(get()));
+    }
+  } else {
+    while (is_digit(get())) forward();
+    if (match('.')) {
+      is_float = true;
+      forward();
+      while (is_digit(get())) forward();
+    }
+    if (match('e') || match('E')) {
+      is_float = true;
+      if (!forward_exponent()) return ErrorCode::InvalidNumericLiteral;
+    }
+  }
+
+  Value res;
+
+  if (position_.offset - start >= 32) return ErrorCode::InvalidNumericLiteral;
+
+  char buf[32];
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < position_.offset - start; ++i) {
+    buf[i] = char(TRY(_str[start + i]));
+  }
+  buf[position_.offset - start] = '\0';
+
+  if (is_float) {
+    res = Value(TRY(Float::create(_arena, strtod(buf, 0))));
+    if (match("f64")) {
+      forward(3);
+    }
+  } else {
+    res = Value(TRY(Int64::create(_arena, strtoll(buf, 0, 10))));
+  }
+
+  if (!is_separator(get()) && !is_eof()) return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+
+  return res;
+}
+
+Result<Value> Reader::read_symbol() {
+  if (!is_symbol_char(get())) return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+
+  size_t start = position_.offset;
+
+  while (is_symbol_char(get())) forward();
+
+  size_t end = position_.offset;
+
+  String str = TRY(_str.sub(_arena, start, end));
+
+  if (!is_separator(get()) && !is_eof()) return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+
+  return Value(TRY(Symbol::create(_arena, str)));
+}
+
+char32_t Reader::get(size_t offset) {
+  size_t pos = position_.offset + offset;
+  auto res = _str[pos];
+  if (res.has_value()) return *res;
+  return 0;
+}
+
+bool Reader::is_eol() { return match('\n') || match('\r'); }
+
+bool Reader::is_eof() { return position_.offset == _str.size(); }
+
+bool Reader::is_whitespace() {
+  return match(' ') || match('\t') || match('\v') || match('\f');
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool Reader::is_comment_start() { return match(';'); }
+
+bool Reader::is_string_start() { return match('"'); }
+
+bool Reader::is_symbol_start() { return is_symbol_char(get()); }
+
+bool Reader::is_numeric_start() {
+  char32_t c = get();
+  if (is_digit(c)) return true;
+  if (c == '.' && is_digit(get(1))) return true;
+  if ((c == '+' || c == '-') && is_digit(get(1))) return true;
+  if ((c == '+' || c == '-') && get(1) == '.' && is_digit(get(2))) return true;
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool Reader::match(const char* str) {
+  size_t slen = strlen(str);
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < slen; i++) {
+    if (get(i) != char32_t(str[i])) return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool Reader::match(char c) { return get() == char32_t(c); }
+
+void Reader::forward(size_t n) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    forward();
+  }
+}
+
+void Reader::forward() {
+  if (is_eof()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (is_eol()) {
+    if (match("\r\n")) {
+      position_.offset++;
+    }
+    position_.line++;
+    position_.column = 1;
+  } else {
+    position_.column++;
+  }
+
+  position_.offset++;
+}
+
+void Reader::forward_whitespace() {
+  while (true) {
+    if (is_eol()) {
+      forward();
+    } else if (is_whitespace()) {
+      forward();
+    } else if (is_comment_start()) {
+      forward();
+      do {
+        forward();
+      } while (!is_eof() && !is_eol());
+    } else {
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+bool Reader::forward_decimal_number() {
+  if (!is_digit(get())) return false;
+
+  while (is_digit(get())) forward();
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool Reader::forward_hex_number() {
+  if (!is_hex_digit(get())) return false;
+
+  while (is_hex_digit(get())) forward();
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool Reader::forward_exponent() {
+  if (!match('e') && !match('E')) return false;
+  forward();
+
+  if (match('-') || match('+')) forward();
+
+  return forward_decimal_number();
+}