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What's Social Change and Why Should We Care?

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What's Social Change and Why Should We Care?

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This article explains what social change is, why it's important and what you can do to help make a positive change in the world.

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What is Social Change and Why Should We Care?

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At Southern New Hampshire University, we believe there are no limits to what you can do, what you can be, or what you can achieve. This is a university that goes the extra mile - so you can too.

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This website will help you learn who Angie Thomas is and what drives her to write the genre that she does. She is a very popular author and writes books for young adults to learn about social issues, such as systemic racism.

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This text is one of Angie Thomas's best novels. It takes you through a very compelling story about a young girl named Starr after her friend was killed in a shooting due to the color of his skin. It is a chilling story, but one that needs to be told.

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This interview with Angie Thomas is about racism, and the intentional meaning she tried to convey with her story "The Hate U Give".

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Angie Thomas, author, on racism, US police brutality and black representation - BBC HARDtalk (2019)

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What can you do? Sanjana Buddi sends a powerful message to youth about the ways they can change the world. What's stopping you from changing the world?

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The Power of Youth - Changing the World | Sanjana Buddi | TEDxCapeMay

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This link takes you to the other incredible books written by Angie Thomas. If you found that you loved "The Hate U Give", her passion and messages are just as strong in her other listed novels.

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Kacen Callender is the author of the book "Felix Ever After" which you will read. Kacen is an award winning author with the goal of social change emanating from their novels.

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Kacen Callender is an award-winning author.

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"Felix Ever After" teaches social change by following the life of a young transgender teen. You will follow the main character, Felix, through the adversity he most overcome to find love.

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Not at all. The book really is about Felix figuring himself out, and the love triangle is a small part of a much bigger process. Without spoiling too Not at all. The book really is about Felix figuring himself out, and the love triangle is a small part of a much bigger process. Without spoiling too much, he talks to one boy for a while then learns a second boy has feelings for him. He's thrown for a few chapters, but the situation is quickly resolved. ...more (less)

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Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ Campbell

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Not at all. The book really is about Felix figuring himself out, and the love triangle is a small part of a much bigger process. Without spoiling too Not at all. The book really is about Felix figuring himself out, and the love triangle is a small part of a much bigger process.

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This podcast allows a front row seat into the true voice behind "Felix Ever After". Kacen Callender talks in depth about their story in this podcast.

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Interview with Kacen Callender (Stars in Your Eyes, Felix Ever After) - Libro.fm Podcast – Ep 23

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If you were drawn to Kacen's novel "Felix Ever After", you can find more of their other books here. Once you find literature that speaks to you, it's important to dig and find more!

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Kacen Callender is an award-winning author.

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Ibi Zoboi is a well known author who writes moving novels, picture books, anthologies, and middle grade books. She is from Haiti and immigrated to New York.

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Ibi Zoboi is the New York Times Bestselling author of MY LIFE AS AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH (Penguin, 2019), a middle-grade debut; the Young Adult novels, AMERICAN STREET (HarperCollins, 2017), a National Book Award Finalist and New York Times Notable Book, and PRIDE (HaperCollins, 2018), a contemporary remix of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She is also the co-author of PUNCHING THE AIR (HarperCollins, 2020) with prison reform activist, Dr. Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five, and editor of BLACK ENOUGH: STORIES OF BEING YOUNG & BLACK IN AMERICA (HarperCollins, 2019).

Ibi holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing has been published in The New York Times Book Review, the Horn Book Magazine, and The Rumpus, among others. As an educator, she is the recipient of several grants from the Brooklyn Arts Council for her community-based programs for teen girls in both Brooklyn and Haiti. She's worked for arts organizations such as Teachers & Writers Collaborative and Community Word Project as a writer-in-residence and teaching artist in New York City public schools.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and raised in New York City, Ibi now lives in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband and their three children.

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Ibi Zoboi is the New York Times Bestselling author of MY LIFE AS AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH (Penguin, 2019), a middle-grade debut; the Young Adult novels, AMERICAN STREET (HarperCollins, 2017), a National Book Award Finalist and New York Times Notable Book, and PRIDE (HaperCollins, 2018), a contemporary remix of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

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This incredible book, written by Ibi Zoboi is about a young, sixteen year old boy named Amal, who is wrongfully convicted of a crime. The reader will be able to uncover the truth about the systems in place keeping young boys like Amal in this situation.

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didn't start on the day Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he's seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. "Boys just being boys" turns out to be true only when those boys are white. The story that I think will be my life starts today Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal's bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?

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didn't start on the day Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he's seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy.

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Listen to Ibi Zoboi discuss what college was like for her. Reflect on how her experience could be similar or different to yours in the future. Use that to make meaning of her novels, why are her stories so important?

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Ibi Zoboi Talks About Her College Education

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Find more of Ibi Zoboi's compelling young adult novels here! There is always room to find more reasons to make a change in the world, knowledge is power.

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My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich, Pride, American Street, and more...

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It's important that we become a community of learners, seekers and wonderers. Through productive and respectful conversations we will talk about varying topics in this book club. Read these rules before we get started!

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AuthorZoe EpsteinShareCopy linkShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailShare on Linkedin

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Top 9 rules of book club etiquette | Bookclubs

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Want to be a good book club member? Check out these 9 simple guidelines before your next book club meeting

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Just like our book club rules, we also have some specific "dos" and "don'ts" that will make our club run smoothly and effectively. Is it okay if an uncomfortable conversation comes up? Of course! We are discussing "Social Change", so it is going to happen. Just remember to be respectful, we all have our own beliefs and our job is to open our minds to our peers.

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Do: Read the book (or at least attempt to)
We get it. Sometimes you don't have time to read, or you dislike the book so much that you can't bring yourself to finish. Either way, do try to read each meeting's book so you can contribute to the discussion.

Don't: Forget that everyone reads at their own pace
There will always be someone who reads the book in a day and someone who doesn't finish it until the day of the meeting. If you're a speed reader, don't spoil the book for others. If you're slow but steady, make sure you give yourself enough time to finish. Keep in mind that everyone is busy, and cut your fellow readers some slack when needed.

Do: Speak up
Don't be afraid to share your thoughts, even if you disagree with the rest of your group. If everyone says the same thing, then there won't be much in the way of interesting discussion. Let your unique voice be heard.

Don't: Steamroll
No one likes a conversation hog, and every book club has one. Everyone's opinion matters, so it's important to make sure everyone gets a chance to express themselves.

Do: Bring questions
Writing down your thoughts ahead of time can be a great way of spurring conversation when it lulls. Take a look at our book club kits for inspiration, or at these general discussion questions.

Don't: Feel like you have to weigh in every time
If you don't feel like you have something unique to say on a particular topic of conversation, it's okay to just listen. No need to repeat what others have already said!

Do: Take your turn and be polite
Sometimes multiple people will want to contribute at the same time. If you end up in the awkward situation of talking at the same time, graciously let the other person go first and then add on to what they say.

Don't: Force anyone to contribute
Putting a fellow book club member on the spot can make them feel uncomfortable. Keep the environment welcoming so everyone is encouraged to share their thoughts when they're ready.

Do: Make a meeting agenda
When your group only has an hour or two to discuss a book, it's helpful to create a list of what to discuss during that meeting. If you need to pick out your next read or talk about related books, sketch out in advance the time you'll need for those topics as well as your book chat.

Don't: Veer away from the book
It can be easy to get sidetracked and begin talking about other books, the latest episode of You, or real life. Staying on subject will keep your meeting focused and fun.

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Do: Read the book (or at least attempt to) We get it. Sometimes you don't have time to read, or you dislike the book so much that you can't bring yourself to finish. Either way, do try to read each meeting's book so you can contribute to the discussion.

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Sahmira Ahmed is an amazing author with her featured book being "Love, Hate & Other Filters". If you loved the books in this club, particularly due to the characters trying to grapple with the way their identity impacts them in society, this would be a great addition to your personal library.

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A powerful, gripping YA novel about the insidious nature of racism, the terrible costs of unearthing hidden truths, and the undeniable power of hope, by New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed. Perfect for fans of Sadie and Dear Martin.

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Kim Johnson is another highly regarded author in the young adult genre. She is a powerful advocate pushing for equity. If you enjoyed reading "The Hate U Give", her story "This Is My America" has a similar message.

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Home | Keep up with me on my newsletter!

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Books can be such a powerful source of information, especially when we want to be a catalyst for social change. Reading books about common topics that are problems in our society can provide us with the perspectives we need to make a difference. This website provides you with twenty great books that can inspire the reader to help make a change.

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Teen Tech Week is when libraries make the time to showcase all of the great digital resources and services that are available to help teens succeed in school and prepare for college and 21st century careers.

Celebrate the next Teen Tech Week with the theme " Be the Source of Change," March 5-11, 2017.

Below you'll find 20 books to inspire your teens, your programming, or your book displays.

The year is 2054 and decades of gender selection in India have led to a gender imbalance where boys outnumber girls 5 to 1. This makes girls a valuable commodity. A community of women tired of the unfairness of marriage decides to wall off a city and form their own country, Koyanagar. Here, young men compete for a woman's hand in marriage through a series of tests. The story follows Sudasa, who must take her turn picking a husband, but she is unsure she wants to be a part of it. In this reversal of gender roles and circumstances told through the alternating viewpoints of Sudasa and Contestant Five, readers explore important issues facing various cultures today.

When sixteen-year-old Rashad is mistakenly accused of stealing, classmate Quinn witnesses his brutal beating at the hands of a police officer who happens to be the older brother of his best friend. Told through Rashad and Quinn's alternating viewpoints, All American Boys examines current social justice issues through the lens of several teens.

In a letter to his adolescent son, Ta-Nahisi Coates shares the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world and what it's like to inhabit a black body in the United States. Coates offers a framework for understanding our nation's history and current crisis through his personal experiences.

Fifteen-year-old Amadou and his younger brother, Seydou, were tricked into forced labor on a cocao plantation in the Ivory Coast. All they can do is try to survive, until the day Khadija comes into their lives. She is the first girl who's ever been brought to camp. Every day she attempts to escape until finally, the bosses break her. Amadou decides that he must get free, for Khadija and Seydou. The three stick together and attempt to escape one last time.
Black Lives Matter by Sue Bradford Edwards and Duchess Harris
Black Lives Matter explores a brief history of Black lives in America and ends with recent events and the legal and social aftermaths touching on well known cases such as Michael Brown and Oscar Grant. The book highlights African American's receiving harsher treatment at the hands of law enforcement and supports this with statistics. Black Lives Matter is a good way to introduce and discuss race relations and current events.

Through images, poetry, and prose, Citizen explores growing racial aggressions in the media and everyday life. From unintentional micro aggressions to blatant and intentional offense, racism is manifest everywhere, all the time. Rankine examines the individual and collective effects of racism in our current social climate.

This memoir begins with Reyna's father leaving his family in a Mexican village in order to make a dangerous trip across the border into the United States. The father promises to return with enough money to buy the family a dream home but it seems he will never return. Reyna's mother eventually goes to meet with her husband leaving Reyna and her siblings with their grandmother and ultimately the children have to fend for themselves. At last Reyna's mother returns to send Reyna on her own journey to live with the man who left her so many years ago.

When sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson is shot to death, his community is thrown into an uproar because Tariq was black and the shooter, Jack Franklin, is white. In the aftermath everyone has something to say, but no two characters can agree on a version of events.
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick
I am Malala is a story about Malala Yousafzai's life during the Taliban control of her region. The Taliban's cruel and oppressive rule chafe against what she was taught in the peaceful Pakistan that she was raised in. The book tells the account of her childhood and continues into how she became an international symbol of peace for which she received the Nobel Prize.

In this portrait of two Muslim sisters, Amelie Sarn weaves a tale of love, loss, and devotion. Sohane and Dejlila are high school students living in France. Sohane is devout and dedicated to her religion, while Dejlila dresses liberally and chooses not to practice religious custom. When Dejlila is murdered by a local Muslim boy for her liberal ways, Sohane is confronted by the conflicts between her religion and the society in which she lives.

Laurie Olsen who spent two years at Madison High School where she interviewed the faculty, students, administrators, and parents to get an inside look at how immigrants need to become "Americanized" in this society but then are denied full acceptance because of how American society is. The book discusses the line immigrants must walk between losing their heritage to so-called multiculturalism assimilation and keeping true to their roots.

March is book one in the graphic novel trilogy detailing the life and struggle of John Lewis for civil and human rights. Though it is mostly centered on John's story, it also touches on other broader civil rights moments. Book one focuses mainly on his childhood in Alabama and how meeting Martin Luther King Jr. put him on the path to becoming a key figure to the Civil Rights Movement.

Through poetry and various points of view, Lesléa Newman relates the events from the night of October 6, 1998. Twenty-one-year-old Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was lured out of a Wyoming bar, viciously beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die.

Revolution takes place in the 60's where the main character, Sunny, finds out that there are people coming down south to help with voter registration. She is very uncomfortable with this invasion of strangers and her family is not helping as they become more and more overbearing. Late night shenanigans get her caught up in an adventure where she must figure out where she fits in the world and what she wants to stand for in life.

This Side of Home follows the senior year of identical twins, Nikki and Maya, and is told from Maya's perspective. Nikki and Maya have always been inseparable. However, gentrification and their reaction to the development of their neighborhood threaten to tear the two teens apart. Nikki is excited about the new developments in the area, while Maya is leery of all the changes. She thought her neighborhood was just fine the way it was, and she closes herself off (at first) to their new neighbors.

Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi, though poor, enjoys her life until the Himalayan monsoons wash away her family's crops and she is sold to a brothel in India by her stepfather. She remembers her mother's wisdom about triumph through endurance and she hopes for the day when she can reclaim her life.

Spirit of a Mountain Wolf is the story of teenage Razaq Khan who lives in a Pakistani tribe that is hit by an earthquake. His family is killed and Razaq is left to fend for himself. While trying to find his uncle, Razaq is tricked into slavery. When he is about to lose all hope he meets Tahira who gives him newfound strength to try to overcome his agonizing situation.

Riley Cavanaugh is a gender-fluid teenager who struggles with her identity. Riley creates a blog on the topic that goes viral and leads to an assault by a fellow classmate. Riley finds support in a new group of friends and finds courage to talk about her identity issues.

One night while her family is sleeping, fourteen year old Eden is raped by her older brother's best friend. Told in four parts, through Eden's freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years, The Way I Used to Be takes a close look at the devastating effects of that night on Eden's life and her relationships with friends and family.

Jan, Erika, and Melanie are three sisters trying to get used to life after their parents' divorce. The gap between the girls widens, until a disastrous night at a party when Melanie is date raped. In an afterward, Claire Needell addresses the prevalence of rape and discusses rape prevention.

Megan Whit, currently reading Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

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Teen Tech Week is when libraries make the time to showcase all of the great digital resources and services that are available to help teens succeed in school and prepare for college and 21st centur...

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Renée Watson is a well known author who uses her experiences growing up as a Black female to drive her young adult novels and her children's picture books. She is known for helping others through her literature and powerful presentations.

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This moving novel is about two young girls who rise up against the unfair treatment of women everywhere and racial microaggressions. This novel will inspire you to become an activist like the main characters and speak up when you see a social injustice.

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Watch Us Rise "This stunning book is the story I've been waiting for my whole life; where girls rise up to claim their space with joy and power." --Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Speak "An extraordinary story of two indomitable spirits."

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This incredible video is one worth watching. Renée Watson passionately takes the audience through her own lived experiences. She shares the power of voice, and how "Even when it's silent, it can still be heard".

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Renée Watson | A Time to Speak | Portland Mainstage 2015

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If you enjoyed reading Renée Watson's book, "Watch Us Rise", and the powerful message she sent in her speech, you can find more great reads here! Each story can provide a new perspective, a new idea and a new message to help make a change.

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SKIN & BONES

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At 40, Lena Baker is at a steady and stable moment in life-between wine nights with her two best friends and her wedding just weeks away, she's happy in love and in friendship until a confession on her wedding day shifts her world.he masses, sidestepping her well-meaning co-workers that don't understand that their good intentions are often offensive and hurtful.

Through Watson's poetic voice, skin & bones is a stirring exploration of who society makes space for and is ultimately a story of heartbreak and healing.
Unmoored and grieving a major loss, Lena finds herself trying to teach her daughter self-love while struggling to do so herself. Lena questions everything she's learned about dating, friendship, and motherhood, and through it all, she works tirelessly to bring the oft-forgotten Black history of Oregon to t

Available Now

SUMMER IS HERE

Summer is finally here, and she's bringing the most perfect day! From sunup to sundown, there's so much to do on this lovely summer day. With summer comes fresh fruit, sweet and tangy, jump ropes for leaping and dancing, and friends at the pool swimming and floating. Summer brings family cookouts under shady trees, gardens overflowing, and the familiar song of the ice-cream truck. This beautiful ode to all the season's sensations follows one girl' s perfect day in an exploration of joy, family, friendship, sunshine, and wonder.

Her stars shimmer like spilled glitter across the sky.
I whisper a wish and say goodbye to the day.
I wish summer would stay.

Renée Watson celebrates iconic childhood joys in this love letter to summer featuring bright, sun-drenched art from Bea Jackson.

Available Now

CICELY TYSON

Cicely Tyson was born in New York City to parents originally from the Islands. No matter where she was, Cicely always carried light within her, a light that she let shine. After many years of discovering herself, Cicely finally found where her light could shine the brightest and touch others: in film.

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Spinning gorgeous verse, and weaving in the history of Black America, Watson beautifully introduces children to Cicely's world-the world that shaped a woman who went on to bring unparalleled grace to the stage and screen. Young readers will be inspired by Cicely Tyson's life and adult fans will marvel at this stunning keepsake.

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Perfect for Women's History Month and Black History Month like favorites such as Nina, Ablaze with Color, and A Voice Named Aretha.
Available for preorder

ALL THE BLUES IN THE SKY

Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend, and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life -- and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.

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In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is an important story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.

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Available for preorder

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At 40, Lena Baker is at a steady and stable moment in life-between wine nights with her two best friends and her wedding just weeks away, she's happy in love and in friendship until a confession on her wedding day shifts her world.he masses, sidestepping her well-meaning co-workers that don't understand that their good intentions are often offensive and hurtful.

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Did you love collaborating with your peers, challenging your perspectives, and learning among a community of other text lovers? If so, maybe you should start your own book club! If one of these particular topics stood out to you, maybe you can make a club to elaborate on that discussion, or it could be on a completely new topic! Here are some helpful tips to get you started!

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I am a stereotypical book girlie, and I fully embrace this fact. I own multiple bookish t-shirts, my bookshelves are organized by color, I have an outrageously large TBR pile, and I am a member of multiple book clubs. When I lived in Boston, I was a co-host of the local chapter of The Gloss Book Club (an international book club with more than 150,000 members), and I also participated in a casual book club with some neighbors. Now that I live in Virginia, I'm a member of my local indie bookstore book club, and I'm in the process of starting a small book club with my friends.

Suffice it to say, I'm a big fan of book clubs. I love being a member almost as much as I love hosting a book club, so if you're curious about getting one started, you've come to the right place. I chatted with some of my fellow book lovers and pulled together this step-by-step guide to starting a book club to help you create your own and make it a success.

1. Set an intention

First things first, set your book club intention. Allow yourself a moment to think of the "why" behind your new book club venture. Are you looking to make new friends? Do you want to find a new activity for you and your friends to do together? Do you just want an unfiltered setting to discuss your favorite books? Whatever your reason is, lean into it-defining your book club's purpose will help you find members who want the same thing.

For example, Emily Canavan of @sipsandshelves started her virtual book club so she could delve deeper into her favorite genre. "I wanted to create a community where people could come together to explore all different subgenres of romance in a no-pressure, fun environment," she said. For Chey of @alibrawithlebros, starting a book club created an outlet to discuss her love of reading. "I needed someone or some people to talk to about all my book obsessions," she said.

2. Choose your book club vibe

The beauty of starting a book club from scratch is you create the rules. You can decide when and where you meet, whether it's virtual or IRL, and what types of books you'll be reading. Before you begin recruiting members for your new book club, be sure to give these choices some thought so that when people start asking these questions, you have all the answers.

It's also important to think about whether your book club will be free or if there is a fee for members to join. A membership fee is likely unnecessary if it's a casual get-together for book lovers, but depending on how formal your book club is, there might be an opportunity to charge a small fee to join. For example, The Gloss has a membership fee, which allows them to partner with publishers, host monthly author Q&A sessions, and much more.

3. Find your book club girlies

If you're starting a book club with your friends, then you've already found your members. But if you're starting a book club to meet new people or opening it up to the community, you need to find ways to get members in the door. When I first moved to Boston, I found my book club on Meetup.com. You can also advertise in Facebook groups, share on Instagram, put flyers on local cork boards, or find members through good old-fashioned word of mouth.

"My best tip for starting a book club is to invite people from a variety of places in your life," said Erin Woodward, founder of The Gloss Book Club. "Books bring up some very real and interesting topics, and it's incredible when you get to share diverse opinions with people from varied ages, cultures, religions, backgrounds, etc. You can really learn so much."

4. Choose your first book

Now comes the fun part: choosing your first book! There are a couple of ways that I've found work best for choosing a book club book. For larger groups, compiling a list of books and voting on the top pick is often the way to go. You could even take it a step further and have a bracket-style poll to see which book comes out on top. To come up with the list of possible books, have each member suggest a title or designate one person to compile the options. Switching up the book genre from month to month is also a common theme for book club hosts. "We always try to switch up our picks with varying subgenres," said Canavan. "We aim to stick to new releases, both indie and traditional."

If your book club is smaller, especially if it's a group of friends, one of the best ways to choose is to simply chat through which books you'd each like to read and come to a consensus. Keeping it casual is sometimes the best way to make those decisions. Chey and her book club, for example, are total mood readers and change up their picks depending on how they feel.

5. Choose when your book club meets

Once you've got your members assembled and your book picked out, it's time to set your first meeting. You want to give everyone enough time to get and read the book to ensure the discussion will have as much participation as possible. You and your book club can decide on the day that works best for you and whether you're meeting in person or online. As for how often to meet, I recommend meeting every 4-6 weeks so that you have enough time to read each book but not so much time that people forget about book club.

6. Find a place for your book club to meet

You can host a book club nearly anywhere. If your book club consists of a small group of friends, hosting at home is likely your best bet. Food and drinks are obviously a must: You can prepare a small spread or host a potluck where everyone brings a small dish to share with the group. If you're like me and you love a good theme, you can even plan your menu and table decor around the book you're discussing.

If your book club is larger or open to the public, you can choose to meet at a local restaurant, brewery, coffee shop, or even a park. For public book club meetings, I recommend calling the location ahead of time to ensure they have space to accommodate your group. You can also create small table signs so that new members can easily locate you in the space, and it's great advertising to recruit new members. Don't forget to choose a space that's conducive to conversations. Bars can be fun, but nobody wants to shout about that spicy scene over loud music.

7. Find discussion questions

Shout out to the authors and publishers who include discussion questions at the back of the book! Those questions are a book club host's secret weapon because they make it so easy to lead discussions. If your book doesn't include any discussion prompts, you can search for questions online, make up your own list, or request that each member bring a question or two about the book. I've found that the best book club discussions can happen when members lead with their own questions.

8. Set some casual guidelines

While guidelines aren't the most exciting part of starting a club, they are important. Set some ground rules from the beginning around participation, attendance, book votes, potluck rules, or whatever else applies to your specific book club. For example, should you still show up to the discussion if you didn't finish the book? Are there guidelines to follow when bringing food and drink? You're all there to have fun and discuss books, but you do need a little bit of structure along the way. Once everyone knows the expectations, you can all relax and enjoy book club.

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How to Start Your Own Book Club This Fall

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Reading is even more fun with friends. This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to start a book club and make it last:

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Here is the "Ultimate Guide" to starting your book club. Be creative, have fun and remember to open your mind.

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Do you want to read more books in 2024? You're not alone. Reading is the simplest and most effective way to deepen your knowledge of the world and improve your quality of life. But reading alone can be challenging: scraping together the time, fighting the inevitable distractions, struggling to retain what you just read. That's why you should start a book club!

Book clubs exists to merge reading seamlessly with the rest of what you do. A book club can bring your friend group, your followers, your customers, or your team at work closer together; and can even connect you to a global community of readers.

Here are the five simple steps to starting a book club.

Step 1: How to Invite Fellow Readers to Your Club

The first step to start a book club is to invite fellow readers to join your club. But before you do that, you need to have the right tools to keep your club organized and on track. That's where Bookclubs comes in. Bookclubs is the best online platform for organizing and managing youur book club. With Bookclubs, you can create your club, invite members, schedule meetings, choose books, and facilitate discussions, all in one place. This way, you can focus on reading your next favorite read and having fun with your club.

Creating your club on Bookclubs is fast and easy. Just click here -- we'll supply a private invitation link to share with your group by email or text. You can also invite members through your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Don't forget to come up with a fun name for your book club.

Start small, with a few people who love to read. Send them the link with a message describing your plans. Use your club's (private) Bookclubs home page to schedule your first meeting.

As host, you can suggest the book and date-or let members vote using our online polling feature. Bookclubs also automatically sends meeting reminders and tracks responses.

Step 2: How to Set Your Book Club Ground Rules

The second step to start a book club is to set your book club ground rules. Ground rules are the basic guidelines that help your club run smoothly and effectively. They cover aspects such as how often, where, and how long your club will meet, how many members your club will have, how you will pick your books, and how you will conduct your discussions. When your club gathers for the first time, you'll want to consider these questions and agree on the answers with your members:

How often should our book club get together?

Most clubs meet every month or two. Some clubs wing it, scheduling from one meeting to the next. Others confirm meet-dates months in advance, say, on the last Tuesday of every month. After a few meetings, you'll know what jives with your crowd.

Where should our book club meet?

Book clubs usually meet in members' homes, rotating the hosting duties. But don't feel hemmed-in by this format. There are many different places for book clubs to meet. Some clubs meet over brunch in a different café every month. Consider a wine bar. Or book a private room at your local library. Far-flung club members can even gathervirtually, using online meeting platforms like Google Meet or Zoom

How many members should our book club have?

Most clubs have tenactive members, but we've seen foursomes and groups of fifty thrive. You'll rarely see every member at every meeting, so adding a few extras is a good idea. Some clubs favor an open-door policy, allowing members to invite interested friends when the spirit moves them. Others vet prospects carefully. If your club prefers a more-the-merrier approach, you can list your club on Bookclub's Join a Book Club page to find new members. Just be sure to talk about your growth strategy at your first meeting, so everyone's on the same page.

How should we pick our book for book club?

Your group might choose to focus on literary fiction, nonfiction, mystery, historical fiction, women writers, or global authors. Or maybe you'll mix it up. We like clubs that pick a theme while leaving a little room for variety, but the choice is yours. Try our polling feature to let members vote on books.
Related Resource: We share how book clubs pick their books!
Are We a Social group? Literary Club? Or Both?

Decide how you'll divide your time between books and socializing. You might focus on the book for the first hour-then kick back and visit. If a member hasn't finished that month's title, consider how you'll handle plot-spoilers during the discussion. You'll avoid frustration down the road when members clarify their goals and expectations at the outset.
Get familiar with: Our top 9 rules of book club etiquette (aka, how to be a good book club member)
Step 3: How to Run Your Book Club Discussion and Keep People Chatting

The third step to start a book club is to use a book club discussion guide or make a plan to keep people chatting. A good discussion is the heart and soul of a book club, and it requires some preparation and guidance. A quick and easy way to get people talking is to nominate a member to start the meeting with an open-ended question, a report on your book's reviews, or a few newsy tidbits from an author interview. You can find book club questions specific to the book you're reading at Bookclubs' Discussion Guide Center, where we provide ready-made questions for hundreds of the most popular book club books. Or try out our general book club questions that can be used for any book. After you kick things off with a few thought-provoking questions, you can let the conversation flow.

We relate to books on a deeply personal level, so meetings can open surprisingly intimate discussions. Don't be surprised when opinions differ; remember, always, to be respectful when you disagree.

We bring our own life experience, and often, whether intentionally or no, our own prejudices, to a novel. Keep this in mind as you add new members. You want to create a group where open, enlightening talk can flourish.
Related Resources:
Step 4. How to Keep Your Momentum Rolling and Make Your Book Club a Success

The fourth step to start a book club is to stay organized to keep your momentum rolling. We know that people are busy and have competing priorities. That's why Bookclubs is here to help! Even the most enthusiastic group can lose steam when members can't agree on book choices and meeting dates, or when they forget to RSVP or show up.

Bookclubs lets you manage the small-but-crucial details easily. Use the shared "Books we want to read" bookshelf to recommend books for your next read. Use our polling tool to pinpoint meeting-dates and choose books, then set a deadline for voting. You'll thank us when the responses arrive like clockwork.

Remember, starting a book club is a labor of love. Once you've launched yours, enlist members to share the organizing and hosting duties.

Step 5. How to Find Your Groove & Have Fun!

The fifth and final step to start a book club is to find your groove. And don't forget to have fun! Book clubs are more than just reading groups, they are also social and learning communities. They foster discussions that enrich our perspectives and challenge our assumptions. They also create opportunities for friendship, laughter, and joy. At the end of every meeting, try asking each member to rate the book on a scale of 1-10 on your club's page on Bookclubs, as well as out loud. This lets everyone share their opinions and feedback, and also see how the club's discussion influenced their rating.

But don't forget, it's important that you're having fun, too. For instance, if someone from your club is hosting dinner or a potluck for the other members, choose a festive menu theme based on the book. Try a club outing to a local bookstore's author talk-or catch the movie when a favorite book hits the big screen.

As your club bonds and gets settled, its own traits and charms will emerge as well. Find what works for your group and lean into the quirks that make your group special. Once your book club has found its groove and you're ready to mix it up, here's some of our favorite ways to spice up your book club:
Related Resources:
Ready to start your book club? Sign up for Bookclubs today and start a book club that is built to last

Bookclubs is the top app for book clubs and the readers looking to join them. Offering the tools to bring readers together, schedule meetings, facilitate discussions, and discover what to read next, Bookclubs is the place to build your book club so it stays organized and stays together. Start your book club today at bookclubs.com.

On the Bookclubs website or app, you'll find all the club organizing tools you'll need to keep your book club running smoothly, including:

Automated Meeting Scheduling & Reminders: The meeting syncs with your calendar and all members receive meeting reminders so whether you're meeting virtually or in-person, you're keeping book club on the calendar!

Interactive Polls: Avoid those lengthy email chains with our interactive polls for book selection, choosing your next meeting time, and more.

Message Boards & 1:1 Direct Messages: Share your latest book banter with direct messaging features and club message boards.

Digital Shelving: Keep track of what your club (or you) has read and wants to read next. See in an instant what your club is reading this month, view your past reads in one place, and recommend books to each other - so you always have options for what to read next!

Grow Your Club: Looking to connect with readers outside your personal circle? Open your club to the public and find new members in your hometown or across the globe.

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How to Start a Book Club: The Ultimate Guide | Bookclubs

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Want to start a book club with your friends, family, or coworkers? Learn how in 5 easy steps with Bookclubs, the best online book club organizing platform

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1. Did you enjoy this book club? If so, what text did you enjoy the most? You can choose from the videos, articles or books!

2. Are you thinking about starting your own book club? If so, what would it be about?