At the heart of every great story is the community that shares it, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Colorado State Library’s Book Club Resource. Our collection, which now boasts over 1,400 sets, is a vibrant, ever-evolving library that truly lives and grows through the generosity of our partner libraries. We are incredibly grateful for the donations of book club sets that allow us to expand our reach and offer even more diverse titles to readers across the state. By donating your unwanted sets, you are doing more than just clearing shelf space; you are giving these books a meaningful second life and ensuring that ‘new forever homes’ are found in the hands of eager discussion groups from every corner of Colorado.
Beyond the logistics of lending, the true magic of the Colorado Book Club Resource lies in the human connections it fosters. Book clubs are more than just a reason to finish a chapter; they are vital community anchors that bridge generational gaps, challenge our perspectives, and provide a rare space for deep, thoughtful dialogue in a fast-paced world. By gathering around a shared text, readers find common ground—sometimes in the most unexpected places—turning solitary reading into a collective journey of discovery. Whether it’s a small group in a rural library or a bustling circle in a city center, these clubs transform neighbors into confidants and stories into shared experiences, reminding us that while a book begins with the author, it truly comes to life in the conversation.
Some Recent Donations to Our Collection:
We have had over 65 book sets donated to the collection over the past six months, including classic literature, YA classics, self help, Spanish language, historical fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, biographies, and local author titles. Here are some recently donated sets to whet your whistle.
Amor en un pequeño pueblo, by Anyi Wang | Discussion Questions
Una historia real basada en las experiencias de Wang en el campo durante la Revolución Cultural, Amor en un pequeño pueblo es también la exploración personal del autor sobre la naturaleza humana y la sexualidad. Escrito en una época en la que el sexo aún era un tema tabú en China, la verdadera innovación del libro no reside en su explicitud sexual, sino en su reconocimiento del amor sexual como una fuerza poderosa en la vida humana.
Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson | Discussion Questions
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Jacqueline Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 70s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, providing a glimpse into a child’s soul as she finds her voice through writing and searches for her place in the world.
Teeming with feeling and deeply personal, Brown Girl Dreaming is the groundbreaking chronicle of Woodson’s journey to storytelling, and a beautiful portrayal of physical, emotional, and spiritual growth.
Down Came the Rayne, by Sharon Brown | Discussion Questions | **Colorado Author**
Victoria Rayne had no desire to move to the sleepy little town of Conifer, Colorado, but her overbearing mother gave her no choice. Now, all she wants is a little peace to celebrate Christmas with her best friend. But peace is hard to come by when your new job comes with a stalker.
When a near-deadly attack shatters her sense of safety, Victoria is rescued by Brock, her brooding coworker with scars he won’t explain and secrets he won’t share. As bodies begin to surface and the town’s shadows close in, Victoria must decide how far she’ll go to survive.
Down Came the Rayne is the beginning of a paranormal romance suspense series where danger comes wrapped in flannel and secrets howl in the dark.
Earthlog, My Not So Normal Sixth Grade Year, by Dan H. Lawrence | Discussion Questions| **Colorado Author**
Jayden returns to sixth grade feeling like everything has changed—his body, his friendships, and his place in the world. Just as he’s trying to figure it all out, Earth makes first contact with extraterrestrial life, and Jayden finds himself forming an unlikely bond with Zin, a curious alien navigating human middle school for the first time.
As the two build a friendship across galaxies, they face the everyday challenges of growing up—awkward lunches, bullies, dodgeball disasters, and spring dances—while learning that being different isn’t something to hide, but something to celebrate.
Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan | Discussion Questions
Esperanza thought she’d always live a privileged life on her family’s ranch in Mexico. She’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita to care for her. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. Esperanza isn’t ready for the hard work, financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When Mama gets sick and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances–because Mama’s life, and her own, depend on it.
The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson | Discussion Questions
William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker centers on the volatile struggle between the deaf-blind Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Trapped in a world of silent isolation, Helen has become a feral, undisciplined child whose parents’ pity only serves to hinder her growth. Annie, a resilient woman haunted by her own past, recognizes that Helen must learn discipline before she can master language.
Through a fierce battle of wills, Annie eventually isolates Helen from her family to break her dependence on their indulgence. The story reaches its emotional peak at a water pump, where the physical sensation of flowing water finally connects with the letters Annie has been spelling into Helen’s palm. This breakthrough shatters Helen’s isolation, marking the “miracle” of her intellectual awakening and the beginning of her education.
The Kamogawa Food Detectives, by Hisashi Kashiwai | Discussion Questions
Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner serves up deliciously extravagant meals. But that’s not the main reason customers stop by . . .
The father-daughter duo are ‘food detectives’. Through ingenious investigations, they are able to recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories – dishes that may well hold the keys to their forgotten past and future happiness. The restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to vanished moments, creating a present full of possibility.
The Not so Quiet Life of Calamity Jane, by K Lyn Wurth | Discussion Questions
Martha Jane Cannary ran through names like whiskey, but one moniker stuck-Calamity Jane. Stranded in a Virginia City mining camp, this orphan blasted through the 1860s West, determined to be noticed and tell her own story. The Not So Quiet Life of Calamity Jane shatters the veneer of legends to reveal her tenacious heart. Rowdy and seemingly hell-bent on her own destruction, this devoted friend, jilted lover, sometime wife, and heartbroken mother wandered the West she loved. She shot up saloons, performed in bordellos and Wild West shows, worked when she had to, cared for the sick, and lied about what she couldn’t change. This well-researched historical novel vividly revives an original woman of the American West.
The Secret History of Wonder Woman, by Jill Lepore | Discussion Questions
The Secret History of Wonder Woman is a tour de force of intellectual and cultural history. Wonder Woman, Jill Lepore argues, is the missing link in the history of the struggle for women’s rights—a chain of events that begins with the women’s suffrage campaigns of the early 1900s and ends with the troubled place of feminism a century later.
Lepore, a Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer, has uncovered an astonishing trove of documents, including the never-before-seen private papers of Wonder Woman’s creator, William Moulton Marston.
The Sentences that Create Us: Crafting a Writer’s Life in Prison, by PEN America | Discussion Questions
The Sentences That Create Us draws from the unique insights of over fifty justice-involved contributors and their allies to offer inspiration and resources for creating a literary life in prison. Centering in the philosophy that writers in prison can be as vibrant and capable as writers on the outside, and have much to offer readers everywhere, The Sentences That Create Us aims to propel writers in prison to launch their work into the world beyond the walls, while also embracing and supporting the creative community within the walls.
The Sentences That Create Us is a comprehensive resource writers can grow with, beginning with the foundations of creative writing. A roster of impressive contributors including Reginald Dwayne Betts (Felon: Poems), Mitchell S. Jackson (Survival Math), Wilbert Rideau (In the Place of Justice) and Piper Kerman (Orange is the New Black), among many others, address working within and around the severe institutional, emotional, psychological and physical limitations of writing prison through compelling first-person narratives. The book’s authors offer pragmatic advice on editing techniques, pathways to publication, writing routines, launching incarcerated-run prison publications and writing groups, lesson plans from prison educators and next-step resources.
Threaded throughout the book is the running theme of addressing lived trauma in writing, and writing’s capacity to support an authentic healing journey centered in accountability and restoration. While written towards people in the justice system, this book can serve anyone seeking hard won lessons and inspiration for their own creative―and human―journey.
The Vegan Artist: Plant-based is easy, by Catherine March | Discussion Questions| **Colorado Author**
Even if you are not yet ready to completely dive into the plant-based lifestyle, but you still want to add healthy, nutrient-dense foods to your menu, this book is for you. Vegan cooking is like learning a new cuisine. There are new ingredients, skills and cooking methods that may seem daunting at first. This book guides you through the process and teaches you to be a competent vegan chef.
How to Donate Your Book Club Sets
Ready to give your library’s weeded or extra sets a second life? Follow these simple steps to ensure they find their way into our shared collection:
- Step 1: Search the Catalog: Before reaching out, please check the Colorado State Library Catalog to see if we already have the title. We are primarily looking for sets that fill gaps or expand our current diversity of titles.
- Step 2: Check the Set Requirements: We accept sets that contain at least 5-8 copies, though larger sets are great! Books should be in good, readable condition—no heavy damage, water marks, or significant wear.
- Step 3: Send an Email Inquiry: Don’t send the books just yet! Send a quick email to [email protected] with the following details: Book title and author, # of copies available, general condition of the books.
- Step 4: Coordination & Shipping: Once we confirm we can use the set, we will coordinate with you on the best way to get them to us. Since we use the statewide courier service (C912), the transition is usually seamless and cost-free for your library!
Thanks to You:
As we look toward the future of the Colorado Book Club Resource, we are reminded that our success is built one donation at a time. We invite you to join us in this sustainable cycle of storytelling; by sharing your sets, you ensure that our collective library remains a diverse and thriving resource for all. Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us keep the conversation going across Colorado, one set at a time.
Book summaries adapted from descriptions provided by Amazon, Thrift Books, publisher sites, and sites like LitLovers.com and Goodreads.com.
Interested in Borrowing a Set?
Book club sets are circulated to participating libraries via the CLiC courier. Read all about the program on the Book Club Resource landing page. If you are interested in receiving book club sets but are not already a member library, use the online form to get signed up.
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