Book Club Resource Guide
Hosting Comics & Manga Book Clubs
The traditional book club has been an essential fixture of library programming in communities of all sizes, while opportunities for social interaction around shared interests are becoming more fragmented — especially online.
A good book club can introduce readers to new topics, ideas, and points of view they may have never considered before, while providing a welcoming space to connect with other readers and share insights and recommendations.
Starting a comic or manga book club at your library or school might seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re not personally familiar with the medium, so this resource is designed to ensure you and your readers have the best experience possible.
- Prepare: What you’ll need to do before scheduling your first book club event.
- Promote: How to get the word out about your book club event.
- Participate: How to ensure your book club members have a great experience.
NOTE: You can download this complete resource (with additional insights) to easily share with others. If you’re already comfortable with hosting book clubs, you’ll find our Reader’s Guides helpful for selecting titles that might be of interest to you and your community.
PREPARE
Comics and manga cover every genre you can think of — for readers of all ages and interests. From genre fiction to poignant memoirs and everything in between, the medium has something for readers of all levels, languages, and cultural backgrounds. Some are better-suited for book clubs than others, so before you start selecting titles and dates, you first need to figure out what you want your book club to accomplish.
Why host a Book Club?
Whether it’s introducing readers to new books and/or creators, or revisiting classics; nurturing conversations related to timely topics; running a community read; or simply providing a safe space to enjoy comics of all kinds — it’s important to establish clear goals for your book club so potential members know what to expect. Be sure to choose a name that fits the tone you’re aiming for, too.
Who is your Book Club for?
Comics and manga are for everyone, but a single book club can’t serve every potential reader. A book club for younger readers is unlikely to satisfy Teens or Adults’ interests, while genre-specific book clubs can potentially appeal to readers of overlapping ages. Alternatively, community reads are typically intended to engage readers of all ages.
Knowing who you’re trying to serve will not only affect which titles you select and how you approach the discussions, it will also ensure you’re meeting your readers’ expectations.
What will your Book Club read and discuss?
Picking your first few titles is just the starting point, though. You’ll want to build deeper engagement at each book club meeting by asking for recommendations for future selections, and offer a few options members can vote on in advance. Making the selection process as collaborative as the discussions themselves is an excellent way to discover creators and titles that your members are already interested in, and can drive readers' advisory, too.
How will your Book Club provide access to selected titles?
Selecting titles is the easy part, but ensuring all of your readers can access each title simultaneously might be tougher. If you don’t have enough physical copies in your collection to support a book club, and don’t have a local comics shop who can help with discounted purchases, a digital solution might work better.
Your Comics Plus collections allows you to provide unlimited, simultaneous digital access to all of your members; no holds, no wait lists, no borrowing limits!
Where will your Book Club meet?
There are pros and cons to hosting physical and virtual book clubs, and one approach may serve some readers better than others. If you have the resources, a hybrid approach can maximize engagement by making it accessible to more of your community.
Important factors for hosting in-person book clubs include creating a safe and welcoming space for book club discussions. This isn’t just limited to making sure chairs are comfortable, space is ample, and everyone can be seen and heard without disrupting other library operations. It also means reviewing and practicing your moderating skills to ensure effective guidance of discussions and interactions. Lay basic ground rules out at the beginning, such as potential time limits on responses and consequences for abuse, per your library policies. Make sure you are comfortable enforcing these rules, and you will quickly build trust with your club members and each other.
A bonus consideration for in-person book clubs is refreshments: Depending on your library’s food policy, it can be fun and comforting to allow book club members to bring snacks to share or for the library to provide light refreshments if your budget allows it.
When hosting a virtual book club, your ability to successfully moderate discussions is perhaps even more important than in-person book clubs. Ground rules should be communicated and followed through, and you will also need to be current on your virtual platform’s features in case the need to mute or remove members arises.
PROMOTE
Online Channels
Encourage your members to share information about the book club and selected titles in their online communities, expanding your reach and impact.
Physical Channels
Take advantage of in-person opportunities to promote your book club from inside the library, including displays, shelftalkers, posters, flyers, and digital signage. Share your excitement about the club with attendees of other events at your library, as well as local schools, universities, and relevant organizations.
If you have a local comics shop or independent bookseller, connect with them to help promote your book club to their customers, too.
Maximizing your reach within your local community is critical to building awareness and engagement for any library programming. Even if every reader isn’t a potential book club member, knowing their library has an interest in comics may lead to them being more active patrons.
PARTICIPATE
Once you’ve determined your book club’s goals, identified your readers, selected a few good titles, and attracted your first group of members, the next step is ensuring they have a great experience.
Good moderation is an absolute must for a successful book club experience! A good moderator has read the book, established a clear agenda for the meeting in advance, and is prepared to guide the discussion rather than lead it.
Clear expectations should be established from the beginning, including a simple code of conduct to ensure your club is welcoming and accessible to everyone interested in participating. Periodically remind everyone to be respectful of each other as needed, while being prepared to enforce your agreed-upon code of conduct if it’s been violated.
Everyone should be given a chance to share their insights on the book or a specific question before moving to open discussions. Even if your book club is meant to inspire spirited debate, mutual respect for reasonable opinions should still be expected and enforced.
When using an online forum for hosting discussions, be sure to have your club’s rules and code of conduct clearly defined and posted.
General Discussion Questions
When selecting a title for your book club, you’ll want to prepare 3-5 discussion questions that are specifically about that title. The list below is just a cheat sheet that can be used as a starting point to craft your own questions, based on your own reading of the titles you’ve selected.
- What did you enjoy about this book?
- What have you read that is similar to this book?
- What are some of the major themes of this book?
- What do you think the author was trying to accomplish with this novel?
- Who was your favorite character? What did you appreciate about him/her?
- At the end of the book, do you feel hope for the characters?
- Have you ever experienced anything similar to the action of this novel?
- What are your concerns about this book?
- How did you feel about the main character?
- What are the most important relationships in the book?
- What makes a minor character memorable?
- Are any of the events in the book relevant to your own life?
- Did you find any flaws in the book?
- How do the images and text work together to communicate the story?
- Could this story be as meaningful if it was not written in graphic novel format?
- Could this ever be filmed as a movie? If so, how do you envision that?
- Do the characters change over the course of the story? If so, in what way?
- How would this story change if you covered the pictures and only read the text?
- How do you think the pictures helped you visualize the characters?
- Describe how the text and pictures work together to create a meaningful part of the story?
NOTE: Depending on the title, its publisher may have already created a guide specifically for book clubs, which you can usually find on their website. We've also created custom Reader’s Guides for a variety of comics and manga available on Comics Plus that can be used by anyone with access to the titles themselves — digital or physical.
Comics & Manga Recommendations for your Book Club
Click on the links below to access our reader's guides and curated lists for comics and manga to use in your book club!
COMICS PLUS READER'S GUIDES
We've created several reader's guides for some of our favorite comics and manga, including discussion questions and a notable review for each one. Browse the folder for individual titles, or download all of them in a single file, or just the guides for Young Adult titles.
Always Never (Dark Horse; Young Adult)
Always Never is a romantic read from Spanish cartoonist Jordi Lafebre that is both heartwarming and different from traditional lovey-dovey offerings, with a narrative style that warrants further conversation.
Amazona (Lerner; Young Adult)
While tales of indigenous peoples forced out of their ancient lands by greedy corporations aren’t new, readers will be hooked by Amazona, the story of a mother journeying home to bury her infant — while disrupting colonizers in the process.
A Boy Named Rose (FairSquare Graphics; Adult)
A translation of an acclaimed French graphic novel (Le Jardin), A Boy Named Rose is a stunning take on the queer coming of age story, with a distinct European vibe that will inspire hot takes and strong opinions.
Blacksad — 1. Somewhere Within the Shadows (Europe Comics; Adult)
Blacksad is a gritty crime drama featuring anthropomorphic animals who are anything but soft and fuzzy. Readers will be delighted by their depth, and the excellent crafting of the central mystery can spark interesting discussions.
Clementine: Book One (Image Comics; Young Adult)
Come for a zombie tale with connections to The Walking Dead’s TV shows and videogames, then be engaged by Clementine’s surprising emotional depth and a diverse cast of characters that will spark unexpected conversations.
The Day the Klan Came to Town (PM Press; Adult)
Learning history and its parallels to current events is crucial, and The Day the Klan Came to Town is a short but poignant conversation starter about several timely topics.
Giant Days Vol. 1 (BOOM! Studios; Young Adult)
Based on the popular webcomic, Giant Days is an evergreen story of friendship and a window into the college experience that can spark a variety of discussions for new readers and longtime fans revisiting the series in a different format.
Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism (Fantagraphics; Adult)
A nonfiction anthology of stories from veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Invisible Wounds will inspire deep discussions about the mental and physical impact that America wages on its own soldiers.
Ripple Effects: The Deluxe Edition (Fanbase Press; Young Adult)
Most people have read or watched at least one superhero’s origin story, but Ripple Effects asks a unique question: What if the superhero derives their powers from an otherwise debilitating and unseen disability?
Saga Volume 1 (Image Comics; Adult)
The Saga series features something for every mature reader: action, mystery, romance, and deeply flawed characters that you won’t be able to help but root for — and want to talk about!
Sleeping While Standing (Avery Hill; Adult)
An autobiography by debut author and illustrator Taki Soma, her unique voice and unflinching examination of life’s ups and downs make Sleeping While Standing a relatable choice for memoir enthusiasts and contemporary fiction fans alike.
The Summer Hikaru Died by (Yen Press; Young Adult)
Filled with creeping dread and fleshed out characters, The Summer Hikaru Died is a great pick for avid manga enthusiasts and novices alike, as well as fans of spooky season.
COMICS PLUS CURATED LISTS
Must-Reads for Adults
Recommended titles for adults — because grown-ups love comics, too!
Must-Reads for Young Adults
Recommended titles for older teens. (Most adults will enjoy these, too!)
Your Next Favorite Series
From popular favorites to lesser-known gems, readers of all ages and interests will find something to keep them happily engaged across multiple titles.
Indie Spotlight
Recommended titles from independent publishers and creators; discover indie gems that just might become your next favorite comic!
Literary Classics - Graphic Adaptations
From extremely faithful to inspired reimaginings, readers of all ages and levels will find a new take on a classic tale to suit their reading taste!
Additional Resources
Related Articles
S.T.E.A.M. Reading Guide
Comics Plus’ Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Reading Guide features great recommendations for readers of all ages and levels that will spark imaginations and foster insightful conversations. This free resource ...Mend - A Story of Divorce: Teaching Guide | Ages 11 - 14
OVERVIEW Dear Educator, The ideas and activities provided are designed as independent resources and are not a comprehensive program with prioritized activities. Teachers can select and use what activity best suits their classroom, grade level, ...Book Report Template
Book Report Template Click on the template below to access a downloadable template to host a Book Report, that allows readers to dive even deeper into their love for Comics! Click here to access additional Resources!After the Spring: Reading and Teaching Guide | Ages 16 - 18
OVERVIEW A Graphic Novel of Politics… and People What happens when a revolution fails? That’s the question at the center of Hélène Aldeguer’s sophisticated and award-winning After the Spring. And while it’s a text rich in history, politics, ...Kid Beowulf - The Song of Roland: Reading and Teaching Guide | Ages 8 - 11
OVERVIEW STORY SYNOPSIS Beowulf and Grendel are banished from their homeland and seek refuge with their Uncle Ogier in fair Francia. But by the time they arrive, the kingdom is in shambles! King Charlemagne is ailing, his knights are exile, and ...