Plainsboro Library Book Discussion Kits

Everything you need to start a book club—without the planning headache.

Starting a book club should be about the conversation—not chasing down copies, writing discussion questions, or managing logistics.

Plainsboro Public Library’s Book Discussion Kits make it easy to start or sustain a book club with minimal planning and maximum impact. Each kit is thoughtfully prepared to support meaningful discussion and smooth coordination, so your group can focus on reading, sharing, and connecting.

What’s Included

Each Book Discussion Kit contains:

  • Multiple copies of the same title

  • An author biography and book summary

  • Curated discussion questions

  • Read-alike recommendations to keep the conversation going

One kit. One checkout. Multiple copies ready to share with your group.

How It Works

  • Kits are available to Plainsboro Library cardholders (library barcode beginning with 29303)

  • One person checks out the kit on behalf of the group

  • Kits are loaned for 6 weeks, with one renewal available

  • Each book is numbered to help group leaders track copies

  • One kit checkout at a time per library card

When finished, return the entire kit, with all materials included, directly to the circulation desk. Please do not return kits in the book drop.

Care, Loss & Replacement

Book Discussion Kits are shared community resources and should be handled with care.

  • Fees for damaged items vary depending on the extent of damage

  • Items not returned after the initial loan period and any approved renewal may be considered lost and billed for replacement.

Replacement costs may include:

  • Carry bag: $25

  • Entire Book Discussion Kit: $250

Kit includes:
6 paperbacks, 4 hardcovers, 1 large-print edition, 1 audio CD, and an information packet

Available Book Discussion Kits

Our Book Discussion Kits include a thoughtfully selected collection of titles designed for engaging group discussion, with more added over time.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

by Shelby Van Pelt

A warm, quietly witty novel about unlikely connections, grief, and second chances, set in a small coastal town and anchored by an unforgettable octopus observer. Thoughtful, accessible, and rich with discussion potential.

👉 Check availability

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

by James McBride

A richly layered story of race, community, and justice set in a small American town, where a decades-old mystery reveals the power of collective care and moral courage. Deeply human and historically grounded, this novel invites thoughtful discussion about identity, belonging, and social responsibility.

👉 Check availability

The Midnight Library

by Matt Haig

A reflective and imaginative novel about regret, choice, and the many lives we might have lived. As one woman explores alternate versions of her life, the story raises big questions about happiness, purpose, and what it really means to live well.

👉 Check availability

Lessons in Chemistry

by Bonnie Garmus

Set in the 1960s, this sharp and entertaining novel follows a brilliant chemist who becomes an unlikely TV cooking star while challenging the limits placed on women in science and society. Smart, funny, and deeply relevant, it sparks conversation about gender, ambition, and self-determination.

👉 Check availability

All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr

A beautifully written World War II novel following a blind French girl and a German boy whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. Exploring fate, morality, and human resilience, this story offers rich ground for discussion about war, compassion, and survival.

👉 Check availability

The Devil in the White City

by Erik Larson

A gripping blend of history and true crime that contrasts the wonder of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with the dark story of a serial killer who used it as cover. Fascinating and unsettling, it raises questions about ambition, deception, and the cost of progress.

👉 Check availability

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

by David Grann

A riveting true story of shipwreck, survival, and mutiny in the 18th century, where competing narratives challenge the idea of truth itself. Fast-paced and deeply researched, it invites discussion about leadership, loyalty, and whose stories get believed.

👉 Check availability

Educated

by Tara Westover

A powerful memoir about growing up in a survivalist family and the life-changing pursuit of education. Honest, intense, and thought-provoking, it sparks conversation about identity, family loyalty, and what it means to define your own future.

👉 Check availability

Demon Copperhead

by Barbara Kingsolver

 A gripping, first-person coming-of-age story that follows a boy named Damon “Demon” Fields as he navigates the foster care system, crushing poverty, and the opioid epidemic in rural Virginia.

👉 Check availability

The Correspondent

by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent is a captivating novel told through letters, drawing readers into an intimate world of reflection, revelation, and human connection. As personal exchanges unfold, hidden truths emerge and relationships deepen, reminding us of the enduring power of words to bridge distance and shape lives. A thoughtful and engaging read, perfect for meaningful discussion.

👉 Check availability

Additional titles will be added as new kits are released.

Want to Learn More?

  • Questions about Book Discussion Kits? Visit the library or call 609-275-2898

  • Have a suggestion for a future book club title? Submit a book request

  • Interested in joining the Library’s Book Club? Sign up here