The Martha’s Vineyard Family Center begins a book group this month where parents can share concerns, seek advice and compare notes on the challenges of raising a child on the Island.

Cherish Harris, the center’s coordinator, said the book group will provide a safe place for parents to share their experiences and make time for themselves.

“I think it’s nice for children to see their parents reading and at home they can be modeling that behavior,” she said, sitting on the blue couches of the family center this week. “It gives parents an opportunity to discuss parenting issues in a forum where they’re comfortable and it’s a round circle so people can have questions. No one’s an expert on this, we’re all just gleaning information from the book and getting information on it.”

The first book is Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men.

The group will meet once a week, discussing two chapters at a time.

Family Network/Family Center coordinator Marney Toole said the book group is one way the center can provide valuable resources to parents and children.

“It’s going to strengthen that community, so people know when they’re in trouble there are places they can go for help and who to ask,” she said. “We can’t necessarily change the circumstances of their life but we can alleviate the consequences of it, and especially for children. That’s why we do all of our programs.”

The Family Center Book Group meets from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30: p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning this week on Oct. 5. To register call 508-693-7900 extension 288.