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2025 Staff Picks for Teens

Attend summer camp, join the track team, harness magic, and return to the dystopian world of Panem with this year’s Staff Picks list for teens. No matter what your preferred genre is, we think there’s a little something for everyone in this year’s selection of books. Read on to see what made the cut! 

Plus, be sure to also check out our Staff Picks lists for kids and adults.

2025 Staff Picks for Kids

Soccer, robots, mad scientists, and more, this year we read about all kinds of characters, worlds, and real-life wonders. Read on to see what we enjoyed most in 2025! Plus, be sure to check out our Staff Picks lists for teens and adults too.

2025 Staff Picks for Adults

It’s finally here—and just in time to set your New Year’s goals and for our upcoming Cozy Reading Challenge (details coming soon!) We’re excited to announce our annual Staff Picks list full of our favorite things we’ve read this year. To say we enjoy putting it together would be an understatement. Of course, we are always happy to provide book recommendations (check out My Next Reads if you haven't already), but something about compiling them in one place makes our library hearts extra happy. We hope you find something new to add to your night stand, and if you’re looking for books for the younger readers in your life, be sure to check out our kids and teen lists too.

Create and Celebrate: Seasonal Crafts and Cozy Programs

As we enter the holiday season and near closer to the start of winter, we find ourselves eager to cozy up indoors, get a little crafty, and enjoy culinary comforts with friends and family. If you find yourselves feeling the same, then we hope you will join us to create and celebrate over the coming weeks. Read on to learn more about upcoming events and highlights from our collection.

Oceans of Possibilities: Exploring the Eastern Shore

Discover the Eastern Shore! In the spirit of Summer Reading, we’re exploring all things ocean. What better place to start than Virginia’s coast? Read on to learn more about upcoming programs and titles that explore the region’s unique landscape and history.

Around the World Through Historical Fiction

Take a trip through time and space at Henrico County Public Library. Historical fiction is not confined to corsets and hoopskirts. Read on for windows into different places and eras throughout the world.

Native American Heritage Month 2025

Commemorate Native American Heritage Month with the library! Catch a film, join a book discussion, and learn about regional Indigenous culture and history. Read on for program details and to browse recent titles that highlight Native American stories. 

Fostering Learning and Literacy in Childhood and Beyond

November is Family Literacy Month. HCPL recognizes the power of learning together and offers resources that support literacy and learning for everyone in your family. Preparing your little ones for kindergarten is just the first important step in a lifelong journey of education and discovery. Read on for more about kindergarten readiness tips and resources to support literacy in your family’s early years and beyond.

Spooky Reads for Teens

Spooky season is upon us! It’s a time when shadows dip and dance about, when macabre beings bump and twist in the night, and when one can never be too certain that something isn’t lurking—silent and watchful—in some darkened corner.

To draw you fully into spooky season, we’ve gathered a selection of some of our favorite young adult horror, suspense, and thriller novels of the past few years. These stories are not for the faint of heart. Consider yourself warned!