Thank you to NetGalley for the early ebook edition of “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” by Janet Skeslien Charles. A fascinating historical fiction look at a group of American women, funded by and working with Anne Morgan (daughter of wealthy NY financier J.P. Morgan) who traveled to war-ravaged France during WWI to help villagers in the North of France rebuild their lives amongst the devastation wrought by battle. The primary focus is former New York librarian, Jessie Carson, an actual historical figure, who helped to build a library for the beleaguered French children; it features a dual timeline, alternating between Jessie’s perspective in WWI France and the viewpoint of Wendy, an NY Public Library employee in the 1980’s who stumbles upon glimpses of Jessie’s history and begins to research her … and where these timelines eventually intersect. A great read for historical fiction lovers, lovers of books and libraries, and those with an interest in women’s roles in WWI! #MissMorgansBookBrigade #NetGalley

I really enjoy historical fiction and loved the various perspectives in this story. I wasn’t familiar with the CARD until reading this novel and I enjoyed learning about their work. The plot between Wendy and Roberto didn’t feel relevant to the overall story but I still enjoyed the book.

What an interesting dive into a little known piece of history. As a librarian, I was intrigued by this title, of course, and I loved the fact that this woman who is fictionalized in the story really existed and women organized themselves to help the French during WWI.

This was a real page-turner and I'm sure there will be a long waiting list for it soon after it hits the shelves at my library!

I was so excited to read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles, and it did not disappoint! This story was just as good as The Paris Library. Still set in France, still dealing with libraries.... but just with an earlier focus. Despite being a librarian myself, I am woefully uneducated about the history of libraries (especially internationally) and about the role librarians played in wartime. This book tells the story of Jessie "Kit" Carson and her work as a CARD (American Committee for Devastated France) during WWI. This book was fascinating, and highly readable.

A couple of my hang ups about this book: 1) it is hard to believe that female volunteers would risk their lives and be so close to the front in wartime France. This book took a bit of a nonchalant approach to this idea, and the seriousness/gravity of this. I mean, it was mentioned, but it is crazy to me that this was real. 2) The 1980s plotline was not as strong as its historical counterpart. Don't get me wrong - I liked Wendy Peterson and her research journey to learn more about Jessie Carson and the CARDS, but it wasn't as strong. And I had a hard time connecting to her love story but that may just be me.

Overall, I really loved this book. I could tell the author put so much time and energy into her research and into authentically telling this interesting yet forgotten story of women's work in war. I liked reading at the end of the book about the real women who shaped the characters of this book. Would highly recommend!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

. . . Just what I look for in historical fiction.
Memorable characters.
A history lesson wrapped in a compelling story
And, a satisfying reading experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I loved this book! If you’re a fan of historical fiction and women’s rights, I highly recommend this book. Lovely story based on real life characters and events. I especially enjoyed the epilogue where photographs and biographies of the real women whom the story is based on. This is my second book by Ms. Charles, the first was the Pairs Library, which is also very good.

I have only recently started reading WWI historical fiction and the synopsis for this appealed.

Based on the true story of Jesse Carson (whom I knew nothing of), I was immediately pulled into this compelling story. The pacing and writing are smooth and the dual timelines blend together well.

My biggest issue with the story is that many characters (including main) were far less full and sketched out and the emotions were portrayed with less gravitas than the situations would seem to warrant.

While I found the subject highly interesting - the book quotes were an appreciated addition and I loved how this showcased the life altering importance of libraries, in all times, I ultimately was disappointed - the lack of depth regarding the emotions of characters detracted from my reading enjoyment.



Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Historical fiction account of Jessie"Kit' Carson, a member of CARD (American Committee for Devastated
France), who left New York and brought books to the children of war torn France Along wih her fellow
Card members, she assisted the community to make the best of what was available. Her work shows
the importance of libraries and the comfort the books available bring to readers. It also highlights the
courage and resolve of CARD members to do whatever they could to ease the burden of those suffering.
A great read about an organization I was not familiar with.
#MissMorgansBookBrigade #Atria #NetGalley

This book is about the work of CARDS during WW1. I found the bouncing from 1918 to the 1980’s took me out of the story. I don’t feel like the 1980’s part of the book was necessary and would have just preferred staying in the early 1900’s for the full book. I have no idea about the CARDS before reading this. I just wish the other time period didn’t take me out of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

1918 France is at war and Jesse Carson, assistant librarian at the New York Public Library, decides to join the CARDS in order to try to help in the war effort. When she arrives to France she advocates for her library and story time for the children. With her stories and books Carson brings some of the women out of their grief, giving them a new purpose. Eventually she becomes responsible for the bookmobiles that helped give hope to the children of France, and revolutionized the library system in France, including starting a training program for women to become librarians. Decades later Wendy is an inspiring writer who discovers Jesse’s story and decides to write a book to give exposure to all the amazing things the CARDS did.

I hadn’t had much knowledge about these amazing women and I really enjoyed learning about their lives and the legacy they left behind. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

This book is a salute to the women CARDS of WWI and a love letter to readers everywhere.

The author's extensive research (10 years worth) made this book very realistic though it is historical fiction. I hadn't heard of Jessie Carson or the other CARDS until I started reading this book, and I found their work, drive, and courage to be fascinating!

Along with all the details about the CARDS lives and Jessie Carson's determination to build a children's library there are many quotes from and references to well known classics. My reader's heart was bursting with happiness at all of the Anne of Green Gables quotes

This book has a second storyline set in present day 1987. Wendy Peterson, who works at NYPL, discovers Jessie and the CARDS and her chapters tie in with Jessie's chapters. Though the story didn't need Wendy's chapters to be good, it did elevate the story.

I love this author's writing style and the way she is able to tell a story. She whisks the reader away to another time and place and introduces them to characters they will learn to adore.

I also enjoyed the extras at the end of the book. It was nice to read more about these women and be provided with even more available resources about them and the CARD program.

I will definitely remember this book for a long time. This author is now on my must read list.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

Great historical fiction. This is the story of the CARDs who helped rebuild France during World War I. Jessie Carson is a librarian who volunteers during the war to go to France to set up libraries. She finds herself doing so much more. She helps the town and neighbors by setting up a children's library and bookmobile. The story times gives the children a temporary break from the war. This was a compelling story of which I knew nothing. Historical fiction brings to light many stories that I never knew. School only scratches the surface of history. This type of story helps all understand women's part in the conflict. Women also lost their lives not just men. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you to #netgalley, @JSkeslienCharles, and @SimonandSchuster for a copy of this book.
#MissMorgansBookBrigade

I really enjoy reading books about World War Ii,I,but I enjoyed getting a glimpse of World War I through the eyes of Janet Charles in Miss Morgans's Book Brigade. Ms Charles introduces us to the young women of CARD , but also introduces us to the unknown librarian Jessie "Kit" Carson. With easy transitions between the present and the villages of France in World War I the reader learns about CARD and their mission in France helping the villagers live their day to day lives admidst the battles of World War I. However, when Jessie arrives in France her goal is to bring books to children and adults in these village and eventually France.

I highly recommend this book to librarians, library students and lovers of history.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade totally swept me off my feet! Janet Skeslien Charles whisks us away to 1918, right in the heart of World War I, where Jessie Carson becomes this total book hero. She ditches her job at the New York Public Library to help rebuild France and ends up creating these awesome children's libraries. How rad is that?

Then there's Wendy Peterson in 1987, just your average bookworm, stumbling upon Jessie's story and diving headfirst into this epic mystery. It's like a blast from the past meeting the present!

What I loved most about this book is how it celebrates strong women doing their thing, breaking barriers, and leaving their mark on history. Jessie and Wendy are totally relatable and kickass in their own ways.

Janet Skeslien Charles has a remarkable talent for bringing history to life. The vivid descriptions and meticulous attention to detail made me feel as though I was right there alongside the characters, experiencing their triumphs and hardships firsthand. And the fact that this story is based on real people only adds to its allure.

But perhaps what I loved most about this book is its celebration of the power of love and the enduring impact of books and libraries. In times of darkness, they serve as beacons of hope, bringing people together and offering solace in the midst of chaos.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is a captivating read that I couldn't put it down, and now that I've finished, I find myself eagerly anticipating Janet Skeslien Charles's next masterpiece. If you're a fan of historical fiction with strong, inspirational women at its core, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Highly recommended!

This took me a little bit to get into, but once I did, I was hooked. The characters were well developed, I loved all the personalities. I didn't know much about Americans in France in World War I, so I was glad to learn that history. There were some difficult war tragedies, but enough successes and encouraging friendships that I didn't feel overwhelmed by the sad parts. On the whole, very inspiring.

WOW! The bravery of these women in hard to imagine. And that most of them life a life of luxury to be in harms way - it is humbling! Thoroughly enjoyed learning about the CARDS and “discovering” them - the dual timelines worked well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
When reading books pre publication, I usually form in my mind exactly to whom I would recommend the books. This is a great read for a historical fiction book club, because it delves into a piece of unknown, or forgotten history attached to a bigger period in time. There are so many books about WWII and the common person who resisted, or fought, or was left behind. This book is about World War One volunteer librarians who went to France to set up a library in the red zone, but did so much more for the residents who had lost everything. Reverberations of WWI and the red zone are still felt, and some of the libraries the CARDS set up still remain, but their stories are revitalized in this book. There is so much history here!
Pros- learning about the CARDS was extremely interesting.
Cons- I thought the book itself was slow and I spend a lot of time not liking the recent timeline of the book until the end
Could it have been a straight ahead story of the cards without the second timeline? I think so. But regardless, patrons who love historical fiction and these tidbits of war will enjoy the book.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is an extraordinary novel set in postwar WWI France. It showcases the remarkable courage of women who transform the world through the power of books. This moving story delves into themes of sacrifice, heroism, and the transformative nature of storytelling, illustrating how books can profoundly impact our lives.

Janet Skeslien Charles’s novel, The Paris Library, was historical fiction at its best, and here, with Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, she offers readers another emotional and compelling story. Charles takes a part of WWI history about which I knew nothing and brings it to textured and detailed life.

The Miss Morgan of the title was of the daughter of J. Pierpont Morgan . She went to France to help those who experienced the devastation that comes from losing everything held dear. For this community, survival was a daily challenge. The American Committee for Devastated France wanted to offer assistance and hope. This group of international women helped rebuild destroyed French communities building relationships in the process..

Children’s librarian, Jessie (Kit Carson) works as the New York Public Librarary as the story opens. Her boss is very critical and is a constant voice in Jessie’s head. Jessie wants to do more and volunteers to go to France. She brings her talents, insecurities, many books and her love of them (especially perhaps Anne of Green Gables) with her.

In addition to Jessie and Miss Morgan readers meet doctors, nurses, cooks and other brave women. And, of course there are the people of the community. Readers are sure to want the very best for them. Just two of these characters are a young teen who loves to read and drive, and a woman devastated by the loss of her husband and baby. The remnant that she has left is a book that was written by her husband and that Jessie restored.

What the American women accomplished and created was nothing short of amazing. Readers will be engaged by their stories and works. Note too that Jessie was honored by France for her accomplishments in the field of children’s libraries.

As is often true in historical fiction, there is, in addition, a story set in a time close to the present. This features a young woman who is microfilming at the NYPL and learns of Jessie’s story. Readers trust that the storylines will intersect and indeed they do.

This is a novel for anyone/everyone who adores books, historical fiction, and good storytelling with emotional resonance. Very highly r4ecommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This is a poignant and powerful story of women improving the lives of French citizen whose homes, families and livelihoods were destroyed in WWI.

Jessie “Kit” Carson is a children’s librarian in New York who is recruited to the Comite Americain pour les Regions Devastees (CARD). Initially hired to build a library, the timing isn’t right. Undeterred, Kit finds ways to bring a little bit of happiness to the children who have lost so much. She does this by creating a story hour and letting the children borrow books. In this process, she learns so much about herself and her strength of character and determination.

I had never heard of Kit Carson, Anne Morgan, Anne Murray Dike or the organization. I found myself researching them as I was reading. It turns out Canadians were involved also.

Stories based on true events and real people can sometimes be difficult to get right especially if not much is known about them. But the author manages to capture the human condition so well.

Also, I can’t help but note the number of mentions of and quotes from Anne of Green Gables. This delights me.

This is the second book I have read by this author and she has firmly established herself as an auto buy author for me.

The author’s note at the end is very informative and worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.