Friday, October 17
The VCBF bookstore is located in Dorrill Lee Grand and is open all day.
Don’t forget to drop into the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts to paint this year’s LIVEmural with Monty Montgomery.
Click on an arrow to see the session description
(locations subject to change)
Session 1, 9:45-10:30
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Recommended Ages: 12-15 (middle school)
Join bestselling author and illustrator Sharee Miller for a colorful, confidence-boosting session inspired by Curlfriends, her empowering graphic novel series about friendship, hair, and being yourself. Students will create original characters, draw their stories, and celebrate what makest hem unique. Come as you are—and bring your personality with you!
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Recommended Ages: 13–17 (Middle & High School)
Location: Upchurch Wilson Chamber
Is it Shakespeare or Tupac? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. In this session, Malik-16 challenges students to decode poetic power across time—examining the truth, rhythm, and rebellion found in both Shakespeare’s plays and Tupac’s lyrics.
Through side-by-side comparisons, open dialogue, and original writing, students will find their own voice in the struggle, and learn to write verses that speak back to the world.
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Recommended Ages: 11–14 ( Middle School)
Location: Dorrill Nance Room
Join Newbery Medalist and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina for a dive to the bottom of the sea as inspired by her powerful new novel Graciela in the Abyss. We’ll learn how true facts about the deepest and most unknown part of the sea were the building blocks for her tale about sea ghosts – and see why we have a lot more in common with sea ghosts than we might think.
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Recommended Ages: 12–17 (Middle & High School)
Location: Maugans Virginia Room
Who gets to tell the story—and how do we change it? Join bestselling author Kalynn Bayron for a bold, imaginative session that invites students to challenge old narratives and write themselves into the center of new ones. Using fairy tales, horror tropes, and poetic storytelling as launchpads, students will remix archetypes, reclaim power, and write scenes that reflect the truth of who they are. Perfect for dreamers, rebels, and anyone ready to take the pen back.
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Recommended Ages: 10–18 (Upper Elementary to Young Adult)
Location: Maugans Prince Edward Room
”What would you do if the Empire discovered your secret hideout? Join bestselling author Lamar Giles for an action-packed, interactive session inspired by his upcoming Star Wars adventure, Sanctuary. Fans of The Bad Batch will dive into tough choices, dangerous missions, and galaxy-saving storytelling. Build your own rebel character, defend your sanctuary, and explore how heroes are made when everything is on the line.
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Recommended Ages: 11–14 Early Middle School)
Maugans Martinelli Board Room
In this exciting, dragon-themed workshop with author Alex London, students become dragon riders—creating beasts with amazing powers, heroes with thrilling and interesting lives, and starting their own stories filled with suspense, heart, and as many twists and turns as an out of control dragon. Inspired by Battle Dragons: City of Thieves, the session blends creativity, humor, and empowerment to remind students that the bravest heroes are the ones who can harness the power within themselves.
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Recommended Ages: 11–14 (Middle School)
Location: Lankford Ballroom
Step into the shadows of World War I with award-winning author Anne Blankman, whose new novel The Enemy’s Daughter explores love, family, and betrayal in a time of war.
Through historical “what would you do?” challenges and hands-on creative writing, students will build their own characters caught between truth and loyalty. A perfect session for young historians and storytellers alike.
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Recommended Ages: 10–14 (Upper Elementary to Middle School)
Location: Maugans Prince Edward Room
Hop in the car and join award-winning author Pablo Cartaya for a heartfelt, hilarious, and creative session inspired by his newest novel, A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation. Through readings, storytelling, and interactive mapping, students will reflect on their own personal journeys, design a hero’s adventure of their own, and learn how even the toughest roads can lead to transformation. Bring your imagination—and your sense of direction.
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Recommended Ages: teacher-informed
Location: SHLS, 315 W 3rd St.
Guided by trained educators, sensory-sensitive students will enjoy VCBF programming at SHLS and join Monty Montgomery to paint this year’s LIVEmural. Special registration required. More information coming soon.
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All ages
Location: West Madison Street
VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Session 2, 10:45-11:30
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Recommended ages: 12-18 (middle-young adult)
Location: Upchurch Soza Ballroom
Join author and illustrator Sharee Miller for a hands-on workshop exploring how words and pictures work together to tell powerful stories. Students will learn the basics of graphic novel creation—from designing expressive characters to pacing panels—while creating their own mini-comics. Perfect for budding artists and storytellers, this workshop shows how anyone can bring their imagination to life on the page.
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Recommended Ages: 12-15 (Grades 6-10)
Location: Maugans Martinelli Board Room
What does it take to be a hero? A crown? A sword? A magical destiny? Think again. In this imagination-fueled workshop, bestselling author Alex London invites students to toss out the old rules of fairy tales and invent their own unforgettable adventures— complete with unexpected heroes, twisted tropes, and wildly original endings. Together, we’ll explore what makes a story “once upon a time” and how every young writer can create their own version of “happily ever after”—even if it looks nothing like the stories we’ve been told..
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Recommended Ages: 11–18 (Middle-Young Adult)
Location: Lankford Ballroom
Join award-winning author Anne Blankman for an interactive deep dive into the world of historical fiction. Using her latest novel The Enemy’s Daughter as inspiration, students will explore how to bring the past to life through compelling characters, rich settings, and high-stakes choices. Participants will imagine themselves in pivotal historical moments, respond to “what would you do?” prompts, and begin crafting their own historical fiction scenes rooted in truth and imagination.
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Recommended Ages: 11–14 (Upper Elementary to Middle School)
Location: Dorrill Nance Room
Join Newbery Medalist and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina for a dive to the bottom of the sea as inspired by her powerful new novel Graciela in the Abyss. We’ll look at the strange lifeforms and land features that really exist in the abyssal zone and discuss superstitions and mysteries of the world’s oceans. We’ll learn how the true facts turned into world-building in the novel – and see why we have a lot more in common with sea ghosts than we might think.
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Recommended Ages: 12–17 (Middle & High School)
Location: Maugans Virginia Room
What happens when the world labels you as something you're not—something frightening? In this bold, creative session, bestselling author Kalynn Bayron leads middle and high school students in an exploration of identity, labels, and personal power.
Inspired by her poetic book Make Me a Monster, students will reclaim words used against them and transform them into something fierce, beautiful, and true—through poetry, art, and story.
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Recommended Ages: 13–17 (Middle & High School)
Location: Upchurch Wilson Chamber
Is it Shakespeare or Tupac? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. Malik-16 challenges students to decode poetic power across time—examining the truth, rhythm, and rebellion found in both Shakespeare’s plays and Tupac’s lyrics. Through side-by-side comparisons, open dialogue, and original writing, students will find their own voice in the struggle, and learn to write verses that speak back to the world.
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Recommended Ages: 12–17 (Middle & High School)
Location: Maugans Prince Edward Room
What makes a hero when the world is falling apart? In this pulse-pounding writing workshop, bestselling author Lamar Giles challenges students to create characters who are on the run—from corrupt systems, dangerous secrets, or a past that won’t stay hidden. Inspired by thrillers like The Getaway and Sanctuary, this session blends fast-paced world-building, hard choices, and bold imagination to explore how heroes emerge—not by being perfect, but by refusing to give up.
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Recommended Ages: 12–16 (middle-high school)
Location: Greenwood Atrium
Hop in the car and join award-winning author Pablo Cartaya for a heartfelt, hilarious, and creative session inspired by his newest novel, A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation. Through readings, storytelling, and interactive mapping, students will reflect on their own personal journeys, design a hero’s adventure of their own, and learn how even the toughest roads can lead to transformation. Bring your imagination—and your sense of direction.
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All Ages
Location: West Madison Street
VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Lunch & More, 11:30-12:45
Visit the VCBF bookstore, stop by the VMFA artmobile, try your hand at being the Hulk, join a watermelon-eating contest, and more!
Session 3, 1:00-1:45
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Recommended Ages: 12-18 (middle-high school)
Location: Dorrill Nance Room
Join fantasy author Alex London for an interactive writing workshop designed for middle and high school students. Together, you’ll explore the essentials of fantasy storytelling—worldbuilding, character creation, and conflict—while rolling prompts and inventing your own imaginative settings. Students will leave with the beginnings of a fantasy tale and the tools to keep creating long after the session ends.
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Recommended Ages: 13–17 (Middle & High School)
Location: Maugans Virginia Room
What do hip hop and literature have in common? Everything.
In this electrifying session, poet, lyricist, and educator Malik-16 breaks down the power of the verse and helps students discover their voice through rhythm, rhyme, and raw truth. From Kendrick Lamar to your own notebook, you'll see how bars build identity, tell stories, and demand to be heard.
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Recommended Ages: 11–18 (Middle School-Young Adult)
Location: Maugans Martinelli Board Room
What’s scarier than a ghost story? A ghost story that fits in your backpack. Join bestselling authors Meg Medina, Dan Poblocki, Lamre Giles, and Kalynn Bayron for a thrilling flash fiction workshop where students write haunting tales in exactly 100 words. Through lightning-fast writing prompts, spooky brainstorming, and live author coaching, kids will craft tightly wound, eerie stories that chill—and thrill—using just the right words.
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Recommended Ages: 14-18 (Middle School-Young Adult)
Location: Lankford Ballroom
Join award-winning author Anne Blankman for an interactive deep dive into the world of historical fiction. Using her latest novel The Enemy’s Daughter as inspiration, students will explore how to bring the past to life through compelling characters, rich settings, and high-stakes choices. Participants will imagine themselves in pivotal historical moments, respond to “what would you do?” prompts, and begin crafting their own historical fiction scenes rooted in truth and imagination.
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Recommended ages: 12-18 (middle-young adult)
Location: Willett Hall
Sometimes the best ideas and the best talk come when we are playing a game. Sports are more than just a way to break the ice. They are a way to interact, to spur being social, to solve problems, to connect. Pablo wants to connect with kids through sports, to talk about books, and life, and friends, and dreams. So come play basketball!
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All Ages
Location: LCVA, 129 N Main St.
Join Cozbi and Monty to paint on the 2026 VCBF mural at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts!
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All Ages
Location: West Madison Street
VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.