We’d like to thank Jamie Ford and the community for joining us for an evening of conversation and fun! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did. What a wonderful way to kick-off our return to an in-person All Henrico Reads event!

 This year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by award-winning author Jamie Ford, provides a powerful examination of Chinese-American history. Though fiction, the book ties in real-life events and figures as it details the lives of one family from 1834 until the present. From the first Chinese woman to enter the United States, to the Flying Tigers of World War II, to the early 20^th century plague in San Francisco, Ford weaves Chinese-American history into several of the characters’ narratives. If you’ve enjoyed learning about the history and culture in this year’s featured title, read on to explore other Chinese-American stories available in our collection.

Plus, don’t forget to join us for An Evening with Author Jamie Ford on Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at J.R. Tucker High School for an in-person author talk, Q&A period, and book signing!

In this year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford, main character Dorothy Moy is a poet laureate who channels her pain and trauma into her art. Poetry remains a running theme throughout the novel, as Dorothy pays homage to other poets and their verses.

Feeling inspired, I gave myself a mission to read more poetry and to figure out why I liked it. Along the way I have discovered many amazing poets, poetry collections, and writers. The library is a great place to find new poets! April is National Poetry Month, and this month, we challenge you to do the same. Here’s how I did it.

As we gear up for All Henrico Reads, we’re reflecting on some of the themes in this year’s title The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford. Family, undoubtedly, plays a central role in the story as protagonist Dorothy Moy seeks to connect with generations past, cope with her inherited trauma, and alter the path of her daughter’s future. Her journey makes evident that family - whether given or chosen, past or present - shapes us in powerful ways. Gut-wrenching, beautiful, dysfunctional, and hilarious, the titles below examine “family” in its many shapes and forms. 

March is Women’s History Month! In addition to our All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford, to celebrate, we’re browsing hundreds of inspiring narratives about women, including Virginia’s own female trailblazers, in our extensive collection of biographies, nonfiction, and databases. Read on to learn more!

All Henrico Reads, our signature author event, returns in 2023 with bestselling and award-winning author Jamie Ford, who will discuss his newest novel The Many Daughters of Afong Moy at J.R. Tucker High School on March 30 at 7 p.m.  The community is invited to gather together to learn more about this thought-provoking work as the event returns to an in-person author discussion with an opportunity for Q&A with the author, book sales from Fountain Books, and a book signing.  Book discussion groups about Mr. Ford’s novel begin at library locations across the county next month.  Read on to learn more about the book and how you can get involved with this all-community read.

Our staff read across all genres and have a wide selection of teen titles to recommend this year. So whether you enjoy fantasy, romance, graphic novels, history, sci-fi, or realistic fiction, we hope there’s something for everyone in the titles listed below! And while you’re reading, why not earn prizes too? Check out our 100 Books Before Graduation Challenge page to learn more.

Explore our staff's favorite Children's titles read this year for an array of books to share with your little one! The Kids page on our website is another great resource and includes reading lists by age and grade, a link to our My Next Read service, information about our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge, and more. Of course, should ever need assistance or recommendations, you can always call or visit!

Be sure to check out our Staff Picks lists for Adults and Teens as well to find new reads for the whole family!

Our Staff Picks lists are here! Whether you’re looking for new books to add to your TBR list or great titles to gift this holiday season, below you’ll find our favorite books we've read this year. Be sure to also check out our favorite Teen and Children’s reads too. We hope you enjoy these lists as much as we enjoy compiling them!