Historical Fiction · Free kit
The Calamity Club
Oxford, Mississippi, 1933. Eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur scrapes by at the county orphan asylum under a cruel chairlady’s thumb. Unmarried bookkeeper Birdie Calhoun arrives seeking help from her socialite sister — and finds a town of secrets, hypocrisy, and women with almost no good options. When their fates converge with Charlie, Meg’s fierce mother, an audacious plan is born: reclaim what’s theirs, even if calamity is the only way forward.
“If you give a girl a taste of fresh air and then take it away, she will grow fierce and wild to get that fresh air back again.”
Complete free book club kit
BookClubee may earn a commission from Bookshop.org purchases, which supports independent bookshops.
Plan your meeting
BookClubee take
Vibe check
Our editorial snapshot of how this book tends to land at club night — not a crowd average.
Craft
- Overall4
- Plot4
- Characters5
- World building5
- Ending4
How it feels
- Spice2
- Tears3
- Surprises3
- Humor3
- Comfort2
What’s in this kit
Everything below is free — open a section, use it at your meeting, or print what you need. No account required.
- Discussion Questions20 book-specific questions labeled warm-up, debate, and deep dive.
- Icebreakers15 fast warm-ups about the reader — not the plot.
- CharactersProfiles, dynamics map, and superlative awards.
- Trivia20 interactive questions from easy to hard.
- Would You Rather25 impossible choices inspired by the book.
- BingoPrintable book-club bingo for reading and live discussion.
- This or That40 rapid-fire choices plus a 60-second speed round.
- Speed DebatesPick a side and defend it against the clock.
- Hosting GuideShopping list, timeline, surprise touch, and wrap-up.
- PrintablesStickers, quote cards, invites, and review sheets.
How to run your meeting
1. Warm up
Start with icebreakers or a quick trivia round.
2. Discuss
Use the labeled discussion questions — warm-up to deep dive.
3. Play & wrap
Would You Rather, bingo, or a speed debate — then rate the book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this The Calamity Club book club kit free?+
Yes. Everything on this page is free — discussion questions, games, trivia, and hosting tips. No account required.
Does this kit spoil The Calamity Club?+
Discussion questions, trivia, and character material include spoilers (the orphanage, Charlie’s return, the club, eugenics themes, family secrets). Finish the novel first. Icebreakers and most This or That prompts work as warm-ups. The book includes institutional abuse, forced sterilization, poverty, and sex work — use a content note with your group.
What's in the Premium Kit?+
The Premium Kit on Etsy is the full printable pack: discussion guide, character cards, trivia, bingo, games, hosting checklist, and review sheets — ready to print for your meeting.
How long should our meeting run?+
Plan 90–120 minutes. This book is long and thematically dense — give yourselves time. Try 10–15 minutes of icebreakers, 40–50 minutes of discussion, 15–20 minutes of a game, then wrap-up. Use the Hosting Guide for a full outline.
More kits like this
Other free kits sharing an author or genre with The Calamity Club.
Free kit · 10 sections
