Everything is more fun with a friend, including reading a book. That’s the whole idea behind book clubs. A group of friends read the same book, talk about it, and snack. What could be better than that?

What makes book clubs so cool? For Julia, 9, it’s all about being in control. “I love that we get to pick what to read – not our teachers or parents,” she said. “Plus it’s a lot easier to enjoy a book when you know there’s not going to be a test on it afterward.”

Want to get in on the fun? Follow these steps to start your own book group.

1. Get the word out.
Round up some friends who like to read. To build up your group, each of your friends can invite another friend, sister, brother, or cousin. Ideally, a book club should have around 4 to 12 members. Any less, and there won’t be enough people for a good discussion; any more and you might be talking over each other.

If you don’t have enough people from among your circle of friends, consider posting flyers around school or talk to your local librarian. Be open-minded if your group attracts people you don’t know so well: The best book clubs are often the ones that have people with lots of different points of view!

2. Schedule meeting dates.
It’s important to space your meetings far enough apart so that members have enough time to read the books. Many clubs find that a monthly meeting work well, and that keeping it on the same day (such as the first Wednesday of every month) helps. That way, even if the books haven’t been picked yet, members – and the moms and dads who have to drive them – can still write the dates on their calendars.

3. Pick a place.
Most clubs take turns meeting at someone’s house, but they can really happen anywhere: after school in an empty classroom, at the public library, or even the local bookstore. Just be sure to text or call your friends before the meeting to tell them where and when you’re meeting.

4. Plan for snacks.
What fun would a club be without snacks? For variety, ask 2 or 3 people to bring some munchies to each meeting. No need for a seven-course meal; picky things like cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, fruit salad, and pita chips are perfect. If you read a book about food or cooking, you might snack on something in the book. In the Pink Locker Society, fudgy no-bake cookies (LINK to recipe) get a mention.

5. Choose the books.
The most important thing! Decide how your group will pick the books. Some groups take turns letting each member choose. Others open it up to the group to decide.

Of course, with so many great books out there, it can be hard to agree. Keep in mind that even though it’s OK to stick with what you know – a favorite topic or series, for instance - it’s fun to branch out, too.

That’s what Eric, 10, found out when he joined a book club at his local library. “At first, we were just reading lots of sports books,” he said. “Then the librarian got us into the Spiderwick Chronicles and Artemis Fowl. Now we’re always looking for new stuff.”

At the Meeting
A book club discussion usually lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. Depending on your style, you might want to think about what you’d like to say before you go to the book club meeting. It’s not school, so no pressure. Other kids might be more comfortable listening to what other say before chiming in. To kickstart your thinking process, you can find book club guides (a list of questions or discussion points) at book and author websites. (In fact, there’s one for The Pink Locker Society!)

It’s great if everyone joins in the conversation, but it helps to have one person lead the discussion. You can take turns doing this or choose one or more people who do it regularly. To get the hang of running a meeting, it may help to first sit in on someone else’s book club to see how it’s done. If you’re nervous about getting started, a grownup such as a parent or librarian, can give you some tips or even help you begin the meeting.

After you’ve discussed the book, it’s fun to rate them. In Amanda’s group, they rate the books on a scale of 1 to 5. Each member has 5 bookmarks labeled 1-5 to use during the voting.

“We hold up bookmarks,” says Amanda. “The really good ones get 5!” Then it’s time to pick a new book and start again.

Fixing the 5 Most Common Book Club Problems All book clubs face problems from time to time. Here are the most common ones and what to do about them.

1. What if people don’t show?
Especially in the beginning, it can be hard for a club to get going. It helps to recruit members who are as into it as you are. Reminders by mail, phone, or text can help improve attendance. Some groups also reward themselves for all that reading by doing other fun stuff together.

Julia’s book club treated themselves to a movie night after reading Harry Potter. “It was cool to compare the book to the movie,” she said.

2. What if no one talks?
Just as some people love to give their opinion, others are a little shy about speaking up. To make everyone comfortable, set ground rules at your first meeting. Here are 2 good ones for a book group: Everyone’s opinion counts and there are no right or wrong answers.

You might also want to try break the ice with a question guaranteed to get the conversation going. For example, ask each person which character they would most like to be friends with and why. Or have everyone write their favorite line of dialogue on a piece of paper and put it into a hat, then take turns guessing who said it.

3. What if someone doesn't finish the book?
Every book club has a few members who don’t read the whole book (or any of it) and come just to hang out. As a group, you’ll have to decide if that’s OK or not. When too many members don’t read the book, there’s not much to talk about.

4. What if the discussion gets off track?
Many a book club has gone from discussing a funny thing that happened in the book to the funny thing that happened in homeroom. If this sounds like your club, try to steer the subject back to the book. A good discussion leader will allow a little off-track conversation, and then gently guide people back to the main topic. One way to refocus your group is to ask questions that require turning to specific pages. Or bring up a point you know is likely spark a lively debate!

5. What if no one likes the book?
Even an unpopular book can be worth talking about. The trick is to get beyond "I just didn't like it." Ask people for specific reasons. What exactly didn’t they like? What would they have preferred to see happen? Does the book’s story make you sad or mad? You may be surprised by how even a boring book can spark a not-so-boring discussion.

6. Name your group.
OK, this one is optional, but why not? Maybe you’ll decide to be the Purple Page Turners or the Book Cats.