Ames Free Library

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Book Clubs

The Ames Free Library has book clubs for readers of all ages!

Click on a book club name below to learn more about the club's reading list, meeting schedule, and more.

Book Clubs for Adults

AFL Book Club

Meets every month, on the 2nd Monday at 6:30 p.m. & the 2nd Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. (except where noted*). See specific event dates for location information.

We welcome all new members! Subscribe to the "AFL Book Club" e-newsletter to receive book club reminders, updates, and meeting invitations. Copies of each month’s selection will be made available for check-out at the Circulation Desk. Click on the titles below for information on availability of digital editions.

January 9 and 11	February 8 and 13	March 8 and 13

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict	Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez	The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth
April 10 and 12	May 8 and 10	June 12 and 14

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson	Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad	This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
July 12 (Wednesday ONLY in July)	August 9 (Wednesday ONLY in August)	September 11 and 13

Bring Your Own Book	Bring Your Own Book	Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
October 11 and 16*	November 8 and 13	December 11 and 13

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan	Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck	Small World by Laura Zigman

Frothingham Hall Book Club

(formerly the Council on Aging Book Club)

Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 2:00 p.m.

Monthly meetings will take place at Frothingham Hall, located at 15 Barrows Street.

January 12	February 9	March 9

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict	Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez	The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth
April 13	May 11	June 8

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson	Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad	This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
July 13	August 10	September 14

Bring Your Own Book	Bring Your Own Book	Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
October 12	November 9	December 14

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan	Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck	Small World by Laura Zigman

Mystery Book Club

Meets the last Thursday of every month at 3:00 p.m. in the Queset House

We welcome all new members! Subscribe to the "Mystery Book Club" e-newsletter to receive book club reminders, updates, and meeting invitations. Click on the titles below for information on availability of digital editions.

January 26	February 23	March 30

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood	A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis	The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra
April 27	May 25	June 29

Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen	The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni	Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
July 27	August 31	September 28

The Appeal by Janice Hallett	Thin Ice by Paige Shelton	This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
October 26	November 30	December 28

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff	The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger	Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves

Nonfiction Book Club

Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m.

We welcome all new members! Click on the titles below for information on availability of digital editions.

January 12	February 9	March 9

Boy Erased by Garrard Conley	Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand	Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo
April 13	May 11	June 8

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe	A City So Grand by Stephen Puleo	Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
July 13	August 10	September 14

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson	Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick	Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
October 12	November 9	December 14

The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina	Title TBD Check back for information!	Title TBD Check back for information!

Young at Heart Book Club

Meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:30 pm. (except where noted*)

Recapture the comfort, hope, and joy of your happiest childhood days spent reading. Join our brand-new book club for adults! We'll revisit old classics, find new favorites, and discover the unexpected, intellectual thrill of Children's Literature.

January 25	February 22	March 22

Informational First Meeting	The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo	Ghost by Jason Reynolds
April 26	May 24	June 28

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume	Pax by Sarah Pennypacker	Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Mongomery
July 26	August 23	September 27

Keeper by Kathi Appelt	Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt	Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
October 25	November 29*	December 27

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston	I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day	Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Book Clubs for Kids & Teens

MangaTea Party

For teens ages 12-18. Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 4:00 P.M. in the Teen Den.

Is there an amazing manga series you can't stop thinking about? Have you run out of comic books and you don't know what to read next? Don't have a (sea) cow, man! Get together, try a new flavor of (hot or iced) tead, and discuss your favorite manga, anime, comics, and graphic novels.

January 10	February 14	March 14

April 11	May 9	June 13

Wham! Bam! Book Club

Meets the 4th Tuesday of every month at 4:00 p.m.

For kids in grades 3-6 who love comics, anime, manga, and/or graphic novels. Make new friends, learn about cool stories, and participate in fun discussions!

January 24	February 28	March 28

Kodi by Jared Cullum	Monster Friends by Kaeti Vandorn	Lightfall: The Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert