2023 Summer Reading Wrap Up

That’s a wrap on our Summer Reading Challenge! Thank you to everyone who participated and joined us as we celebrated kindness, friendship, and unity. It is incredible to see what we can achieve together. Read on to learn more about your collective accomplishments!

Summer Reading is a great way to set reading and learning goals for ourselves, no matter what our age, and can help students, especially, to maintain important literacy skills gained throughout the school year. Judging by the numbers and feedback, it was a summer full of reading and learning.

All together you:

• Logged 60,176 books.
• Checked-out 344,996 books.
• Submitted 2,475 reviews.
• Earned 4,239 activity badges.

BOOK REVIEWS

Every year we look forward to reading your reviews and adding new titles to our “to-be-read” lists! Here are just a few of your thoughts about the books you read this summer:

• Sharkblock by Christopher Franceschelli – “I love sharks! I think I would be a great white shark or a hammerhead shark, if I could choose to be a shark. – Jude G., Age 5, Tuckahoe

• Black Music Greats: 40 Inspiring Icons by Olivier Cachin - “I liked the book because it has a lot of singers. It tells history about them and stuff about their lives. My favorites were Beyonce, Tina Turner, and Rihanna.” – Gabriella P., Age 9, Sandston

• Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston – “This book is amazing. It’s fast-paced and has many plot twists that you’ll never see coming. Excited to read the next one! – Cadence M., Age 13, Libbie Mill

• The Power by Naomi Alderman – “I really liked this book… Some parts are uncomfortable, some parts are funny, sometimes I wanted to reach in and give a character a hug, or a talking to. What I liked most is the statement the book makes.” – Hosea M., Age 15, Varina

• Drama Free by Nedra Glover Tawwab - "A great book that gives solid advice on how to manage unhealthy family relationships. I would also recommend this for young adults. The topics covered in this book are for everyone. - Tanetta C., Fairfield

• Long Shadows by David Baldacci - "Amos Decker is sent to Florida to investigate the murder of a local judge. It soon becomes evident that there is more to this case than meets the eye. The Memory Man series of books are always a treat to read!" - Chris C., North Park

• Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See – “A very interesting story about a woman doctor in China and how her position as a wife and mother intertwines with her work treating women. See's descriptions of China in the 1400s are vivid and detailed, and the women in this novel are strong and vibrant and fully formed characters. The story is based on a real woman and on her book of treatments for women that still exists today. Truly a fascinating read.” – Tracie M., Tuckahoe

• I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai - “This was a great and riveting reflection on how we remember the past collectively, particularly trauma. Makkai is a wonderful storyteller and it's hard to put down her books.” – Paul B., Varina

ACTIVITY CHALLENGE SUBMISSIONS

Several of you participated in our activity challenges and shared some great thoughts about what you’ve learned and done this summer. Below are just a few highlights:

Be kind to yourself and read something that makes you feel good (it could be a comic book, a recipe, a poem, or a favorite book). Let us know what you read.

• “My mom and I made Grover's tomato soup from Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck” – Olive G., Kindergarten, Gayton
• “Biscuit's Snow Day Race by Alyssa Capucilli. Biscuit looks happy when he's sledding, and that makes me happy.” –Benjamin M., Grade 1, Tuckahoe
• “I'm reading I'll Show Myself Out. I love the compassion it shows for motherhood.” – Emily B., Twin Hickory

Browse our Notable Henricoans Database

Here are just a few of the notable Henricoans you learned about this summer:

• Aggy
• Chief Powhatan
• Eddie Mary Cargill
• Grace Evelyn Arents
• Henry Frederick
• Julia Elizabeth Van Lew Phillips
• Pocahontas

Plan an Outdoor Adventure with Friends

This summer you planned adventures to:

• Dorey Park
• The Grand Canyon
• High Bridge Trail State Park
• Lake Anna
• Maymont
• Pocahontas State Park

Here are a few of your book recommendations!

• The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
• The Digger & the Butterfly by Joseph Kuefler
• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb series)
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
• House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City series)
• Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
• Minerva Keen’s Detective Club by James Patterson
• Mr. McGinty’s Monarchs by Linda Vander Heyden
• Night Road by Kristin Hannah
• Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan

Tell a joke to a librarian.

• What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear! – Clive G., Grade 5, Glen Allen
• Why did the ghost come back to the library every day? Because she went through her books too quickly! –Vera G., Grade 7, Twin Hickory
• Why did the cardiologist recommend that his patients go to the library? He heard they’re good for circulation! –Vim S., Libbie Mill

Tell us why you think our Henrico community is special.

• “Its commitment to recycling.” –Synia M., Grade 5, Sandston
• “Because of the programs offered for all ages and abilities. The library staff is always helpful!” – Mystina B., Fairfield
• “We love that the Henrico Library allows a safe place for us to come visit and gain a love of learning and books.” – Waylon V., Varina
• “It’s a great place to live and so nice to live very close to a library. It becomes part of our family life!” – Alexandra T., North Park

WHAT NEXT?

Continue to set reading goals for yourself and start this school year off with a new challenge. Check out our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and 100 Books Before Graduation programs, and use the momentum from summer to kick-off a year full of reading!

For adults in need of book recommendations, find suggested titles on our blog, subscribe to genre-specific newsletters, or try out our My Next Read service for personalized book lists from our librarians!