Happening at the Library

Weird Girl Fiction is a loose genre that has become more popular in the last few years. Calling it a genre at all is a kind of misnomer, instead, weird girl fiction is more of a catch-all phrase for a book that refuses to be neatly categorized. These books blend multiple genres but typically feature a female-identified main character who acts…unexpectedly. While these books often lean into messy, strange narratives, what unifies this kind of fiction is the way the main character meets their world. The “Weird Girls” of weird girl fiction are unabashedly, wholly, and sometimes unhinged(ly) themselves. So why not add a little “weird girl fiction” to your TBR (to-be-read) pile this Women’s History Month? Read on for some atypical leading ladies from our collection.

This Women’s History Month, in conjunction with our nation’s 250th celebration, we are proud to shine the spotlight on the lives and contributions of colonial/Revolutionary-era women. From Pocahontas and Sybil Ludington, to Phillis Wheatley and Nancy Ward, learn more about known and lesser-known female trailblazers highlighted in our collection.  

It’s almost time for our All Henrico Reads event! This year, we are thrilled to host bestselling author Walter Mosley and hear about his recent release Gray Dawn. We hope you will join us on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Henrico Sports & Events Center. Whether this is your first All Henrico Reads or you are a regular attendee, it never hurts to plan ahead. Read on for our top five tips for attending this year’s event.

In this year’s All Henrico Reads title, Gray Dawn, author Walter Mosley transports readers back to 1970s Los Angeles. Historically, we enter a world on the heels of the Civil Rights movement, an era defined by newfound freedoms, cultural pride, and the fight against enduring racism. We also see the rise of Second Wave feminism, more women entering the work force, and a nation still at war. Culturally, Los Angeles had become the music and film capital of the world, attracting big-name actors, musicians, and dreamers alike. With a setting so rich in history and culture, while reading Gray Dawn we found ourselves wishing for an accompanying soundtrack. What would protagonist Detective Easy Rawlins listen to while driving through Los Angeles, trying to crack the case?

Celebrate HERstory at HCPL. This Women's History Month, visit the library to join a book discussion, learn about women both past and present, and put your women's history knowledge to the test. Read on for a list of upcoming programs as well as titles from our collection that highlight trailblazing women and their stories. 

This February, HCPL is highlighting Black Voices. And with next month’s All Henrico Reads event on the horizon—an evening with author Walter Mosley and his latest novel, Gray Dawn—we thought what better time is there to feature Black mystery writers from our collection. So, if you’re searching for your next detective Easy Rawlins, here’s a selection of mystery, crime, and noir titles to add to your TBR (to-be-read) list.