I was particularly looking forward to reading Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. And I was not disappointed. Set in 1918, it is the story of Jessie M. Carson, a children's librarian in the NYPL, who temporarily leaves to go to France in the midst of WWI and work for the all female Comité Américain pour les Régions Dévastées de France, a/k/a CARD. Idealistic Jessie wants to bring books, story hours and even bookmobiles to the children, whom she believes are hungry for the pleasure of stories. And she is not wrong. Along the way, Jessie much deal with her own feelings of inadequacy fueled the inner voice of her boss at the NYPL who delights in criticizing her. But she also becomes friends with some of the French woman in the area who have stories of their own, and with some of the soldiers stationed nearby.

In another, parallel story, set in 1987, aspiring writer Wendy Peterson is working at the NYPL scanning documents onto michofishe. When she is given a box of documents about CARD, she becomes immersed in the story of the women of CARD, especially Jessie's story. Like Jessie, Wendy has doubts about her ability to be a good writer and must contend with the criticism of her writing professor and the difficulty of just who Jessie Carson was.

I was pulled into both stories as soon as I began reading. I loved how Jessie often thinks about the books in the library in her head (consisting of all the books she has ever read) and there are ample quotes from many favorites providing comfort and inspiration. Best of all, the story is based on true events and people (Jessie Carson really did exist) making this an every more interesting book. There is back matter detailing who everyone was, including a daughter of J.P. Morgan. Skeslien Charles' research is so thorough, right down to the smallest details, that it makes this a really nuanced and compelling story.

How wonderful to read about WW1 from a woman’s perspective. Yet again Janet Skeslien Charles has shed light on little known heroines, this time the CARD’s. CARD’s were mostly American women who lived on the edge of the front line in Northern France, helping the villagers to rebuild both mentally and physically and to survive the horrors they had witnessed and were still experiencing.
Charles did a great job of putting us readers in the thick of the desolation that the bombs and fighting had created, and the Germans made worse when they retreated. It is always those who live in the path of war who suffer the most. What Charles writes about is the small moments of joy, kindness and humor that the locals and the Americans experience. She writes about the restorative value of the written word, to help people escape the ugliness and pure drudgery of their day to day existence. To help families heal together and to bring some companionship to those who have lost everything.
Heartwarming and educational. I love visiting the Morgan Library in NYC and look forward to heading there again soon to look for more information of Anne Morgan and her CARDs.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to see what this author brings us next. Fingers crossed for the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky that she mentions briefly in this novel.

In 1918 during the Great War, Librarian, Jessie Carson left her job at the NYPL to volunteer with the American Committee for Devastated France. CARDS as the women were called was founded by millionaire, Anne Morgan (Financier J.P. Morgan's daughter). She signed up for a two year contract to set up children's libraries and restore the devastated library building destroyed by German soldiers in Blerancourt, France. Only 40 miles from the Red Zone, Jessie and her CARD friends provided transportation, food, healthcare, and other missing needs the community was left without. They also aided the community in evacuating when the enemy was moving passed allied forces and closer to the community.
Switching timelines to 1987, Wendy Peterson, a NYPL employee comes across a box of archives on the CARDs. She is intriqued with the little known about group of American women who crossed the ocean to help the devastated in France. Seeing that both her and Jessie Carson worked at the NYPL, she wants to find out more about these unsung heroes and write a book bringing their accomplishments to light. I liked the dual timelines and the individual stories.
I haven't read or known much about World War I and I was very interested in hearing the story an out the CARDs and how especially Jessie Carson brought literature to the families in these devastated areas. Creating bookmobiles out of unused ambulance and going town to town to do story hours and allow families access to books since much of their belongings were destroyed and what little money they had, paid for food. It brings to light the importance books have in times of despair. How literature can provide an escape and a light in the darkness.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy in return for my honest review. Well done ,Janet Skeslein Charles, for your decade long research and work to bring this story and these women to the forefront.

This is a dual timeline novel.

1918: Jesse “Kit” Carson leaves the New York Public Library to work for CARD ( American Committee for Devastated France) which Anne Morgan helped found. Kit is in charge of helping to rebuild their library that was devastated by the Great War. They are located close to the enemy line. Kit wants to help build a bookmobile library for the children.

1987: Wendy Peterson works at the NYPL. She is an aspiring writer. While she is doing research, she finds information about Jesse Carson and the CARDS. She decided to write a story about the women of CARD.

Janet Skeslien Charles spent ten years researching to bring this wonderful story about the CARD women to life. The story evolved the two timelines together but I wanted more with the ending.I loved that the characters were based on true women. Of course bibliophiles will love the sprinkling of the books mentioned throughout the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc copy for my honest opinion.

A really wonderful read! One of those books I could not put down. The story is about Jessie "Kit" Carson, who works in the New York Public Library. She leaves the library to volunteer for American Committee for Devastated France (in French the initials spell out CARD), an organization funded by Ann Morgan (daughter of JP Morgan) to help communities devastated by the war (WW !). The women are from around the world and they are amazing in what they are able to accomplish for the people they serve. Jessie creates children's libraries, which did not exist in France at the time. Those libraries were a way to give everyone a respite from war. CARD also rebuilt homes and evacuated families from the ever present German army.

There is a second story line set in NYPL in 1987. Wendy Peterson is a librarian who stumbles across Jessie in the stacks. She jumps into researching Jessie to learn more about her. Jessie's story is told in alternating points of view: Jessie's and Wendy's, through what she learns.

Jessie had to fight rampant sexism, misogyny, German invasion, lack of food and shelter. Her work and the libraries literally saved lives. She is a truly amazing woman, and her story gave me goosebumps. Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is beautifully written, at times inspirational, at other times heartwrenching, but all the time a wonderful read.

Jessie “Kit” Carson lives under the critical shadow of her former boss at the New York Public Library until she joins the CARDS, American women volunteers in France, working forty miles from the War Zone. Wendy Peterson, employed at the same library seventy years later, lives under the shadow of her negative English professor’s critiques. When she discovers the CARDS while working, she is driven to find information about these women. She dreams of the book she could write about them. When she tracks down Marcelle, the last survivor, the link to Kit herself, her many questions are answered. Janet Skeslien Charles has provided so much information about this period by giving us unforgettable characters, while depicting civilian suffering and devastation.. I feel enriched after reading this work.

This novel takes place in France during WW I, 1918 A youngman woman named, Jessie Carson leaves her job at the New York Public Library to work for, American Committee for Devastated France. The woman help the french who have been devastated by war in their country. They have lost their homes, community and many have lost husbands and fathers. Miss Carson's goal is to start children's libraries in these communities. She did start what we now call Mobile Libraries, using old ambulances. The character Marcell was her driver, a french citizen. There were many woman who came from the United States to help in many ways for the families in this part of France. She also started the training of woman to be librarians in this country.

In the meantime it is 1987, and a young woman named Weny Peterson works for the New Your Public Library system. She discovers in her researcha lady name Jessie Carson. She continues to look for information on her. As her interest becomes more intriguing, she wants to learn more about this lady who worked in the NYPL, as she does too. All so interesting, she wants to write a book on what they called them, the CARDS back then. She makes great discoveries about the many women who worked for the CARDS in France.

I applaud Janet Skeslien Charles for the writing of this amazing novel of history. It was so well thought out and her 10 years of research for the book. I love learning history of other countries. If it was not for her interest we here in the USA would of never learned of the CARDS. So many woman of different talents and caring for these mothers and children who needed help. She has also written the book "The Paris Library" and I intend on reading it as well.

I thank you Janet Skeslien Charles for all your hard work bringing history alive to us. Thank NetGalley for the opportunity in reading this amazing book.

I love it when I learn something when reading! I’d never heard of the group of women called CARDS, who traveled to France during and after WWI to aid communities and families in rebuilding their lives. One of the leaders was JP Morgan’s daughter, Anne. Jesse Carson brings children’s libraries to France, creates bookmobiles to provide books to families in outlying war damaged areas and trains female librarians. Based on these heroic women and their efforts to make a difference.

Thank you to Atria books and NetGally for the honor of reading this book inits ARC form.
As a lifelong lover of Historical Fiction, I devoured this one in a single day. And I LOVED IT.
We follow Jessie “Kit”Carson from her dedicated work as a librarian in the New York Public Library to the ravaged countryside of France during “The Great War” WWI.
Recruited by Anne Morgan, Jessie moved to France where she joined The Committee of CARD, bringing hope, promise and refuge, even if only temporarily to the children and adults of the war torn villages by creating libraries, both structured and mobile. It was believed that the reading of books was just as important as any of the other necessities. Some of my best memories as a child was visiting the bookmobile that often graced our school system. I found it fascinating that Jessie actually took an old worn out ambulance and turned it into a mobile library or early bookmobile.
This book was well researched and very hard for me to put down. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Historic Fiction and who is looking for the chance to learn more about WWI and some of its heroes.

As the Great War rages on in France, a group of dedicated women will work to help the civilians whose lives have been devastated by the fighting. Only forty miles from the front lines they will put their safety on the line to serve the region. Jessie Carson is recruited by Anne Morgan to establish a library in the area to bring some life and learning back to the children of the region. The tenacity of the civilians and the women volunteers will see them all through the final years of the war and forge bonds that will withstand generations. In 1987 NYPL employee and aspiring writer, stumbles upon Jessie’s story and is determined to bring her and her colleagues contributions to the war to light.
A book about a niche of the war I had never heard of that involves brave unsung women and books, I knew I was going to love this one. @jskesliencharles has written another touching novel, while giving life to a group of people history forgot. The depictions of the French civilians who refused to give in after being pushed to their limits by the German occupation was awe inspiring. The camaraderie exhibited by the women who walked into a war zone willingly because they wanted to help was incredible. And the two groups of adults working together to improve the lives of their the children of the area and to bring life back to the devastated landscape was truly heartwarming.
Releasing April 30, 2024
Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for allowing me to read #missmorgansbookbrigade early in exchange for a review.
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readforjoy #booknerd #booklover #historicalfiction #ww1 #forgottenstories #mayweknowthem #reader #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersofinsta #bookbloggerspost #bookrecommendations #bookreview #readmorebooks #reading

I am not nearly as familiar with WWI as I am WWII, so a lot of things mentioned in this book were new to me. The book follows Jessie Carson as she travels from New York to France to become a member of the American Committee for Devastated France (Comité Américain pour les Régions Dévastées de France), or CARD. I had never heard of CARD before, so I enjoyed reading about the committee and its members. Many of the characters in the book were real people, including Jessie Carson and the Annes, though others were created by the author.

The novel follows dual timelines, with the first being about Jessie during the war, and the second following Wendy, an NYPL librarian in 1987. Jessie is a librarian with the NYPL who joins CARD in order to help the people of France during the war. She believed that books were just as important to people as other necessities, and worked to create a library that villagers could enjoy. She ended up creating a bookmobile, as well as story hour for young children. We witness her struggles with trying to get these things created, along with the struggles of living so close to a war zone and being a Card (as they were called)

Wendy works at the NYPL, scanning and photographing old articles and photos for preservation. She comes across a box which contains information on the Cards and becomes fascinated with their many stories. She learns of Jessie and feels a kinship with her, as they both worked for the NYPL. She begins to research CARD and its members in hopes of tracking down Jessie and finding out what became of her.

The dual timeline worked well for this. Each woman had a distinct voice and their own story and struggles. My biggest issue was the ending. It felt rather abrupt, as it never actually goes over what happened to Jessie. We get some information on her after she left CARD and moved to Paris, but not a fully satisfying conclusion, which is an odd thing seeing as how Wendy was so obsessed with finding her and learning her story. In the author's note at the end, we do get more information on her, but even then, we are left without the whole story. I ended up researching her myself after I finished the book to find out happened to her after France. The author's note does include information on several other people in the book and includes some pictures, which I enjoyed. Even though I wasn't satisfied with the ending, I still enjoyed this and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and war novels, and definitely recommend learning more about the Cards and their role in WWI.

A must read for book and library lovers! Based on the true story of mobile librarians serving war-torn French communities in WWI, this interwoven book tells the past drama of the dedicated women and the current view of a writer seeking to illuminate their great deeds to her peers. Lovingly researched and shared with readers, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is a touching historical fiction account.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This novel tells the story of Jessie Carson who took a leave of absence from her work at the NY Public Library at the beginning of the 20th century to join the CARDS and travel to France during WWI. She knew the value of books to help the people to get through these desperate times. Establishing story hour was a big priority of hers as she read stories that allowed escapism to all who listened. Establishing libraries, training for future librarians, refurbishing ambulances into bookmobiles were some of her selfless priorities. Aiding during the War and through the Spanish Flu are all a part of this story. Research in 1987 by a young librarian in NY led to what happened to this remarkable woman as she investigates and writes a book about this unsung hero. Meticulously researched over 10 years is showcased throughout this novel. The author’s notes at the end of the book highlights the lives of many of the CARDS! #MissMorgan’sBookBrigade #JanetSkeslienCharles #NetGalley

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for a complimentary ARC e-copy of this novel!
This is a historical fiction novel based off true events from the life of Jessie “Kit” Carson. She worked as a children’s librarian in a few cities including the New York Public Library, until she was recruited in 1917 by Anne Morgan (daughter of J.P. Morgan and his second wife Fanny) to become a member of CARD. CARD is a French organization that supplied books and other necessities to war-torn families during and after WW1. Kit Carson helped to establish libraries and a traveling library to provide books for children and adults to offer hope and respite to the families who endured hardship in France during WW1.

Each of these main fictional characters in Janet S. Charles’ novel are based off real life people who either worked for CARD directly, were helped by CARD or later joined the crusade to get more books to people and rebuild France after the Great War.

I truly enjoyed reading this novel about Jessie “Kit” Carson and the other CARD members and what they did for the war effort in France. I feel that Janet S. Charles did an amazing job researching this novel and there is even a short history section in the back of the book about the real-life heroes from which the book was based (along with pictures)!!! Thank you for reminding us of this important historical moment that most likely many did not even know about. This novel is a book about books!!! And to me…. those are the best books!!! I look forward for more books from this author!!! Look for this novel AVAILABLE April 30, 2024!

***I received an ARC from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.***

From the author of The Paris Library comes a war story to tug at your heart strings. With the perfect amount of history and fiction, Skeslien Charles, has, yet again, mastered the art of the historical fiction novel. This book left me wanting more and with a thirst for research that I haven’t experienced in some time - “who needs cocaine when you have research.”

What I loved about this book:
❤️ Characters based on real people!
❤️ The way the author eloquently sets the scene for each setting - taking care to ensure that the reader can’t help but find themselves transported there when in the “library of their minds”.
❤️ A book lovers dream! With quotations and descriptions of binding, foil lettering, etc. A true gift to experience a book in this way.
❤️ The sprinklings of love stories throughout the heartache and loss.

What I could have gone without:
⭐️ Although useful to the plot, the Influenza A outbreak/ heartache made me feel raw in the aftermath of the COVID shut-down.
⭐️ Marcelle as an elderly woman seemed to have lost her spark. I would have excepted her to forever be youthful and witty.
⭐️ Both a pro and a con - the ending left me wondering.

I highly recommend getting your hands on this book when it comes out on 5/7/24. I had such a great time falling in love with Kit and Wendy.

4.25. I really enjoyed this novel. It focused on a librarian who worked at the New York Public Library, Jessie Carson, who during World War I, joined the American Committee for Devastated France, a Women’s volunteer group founded by Anne Morgan, JP Morgan’s daughter, to bring relief and assistance to help rebuild the towns and cities of France destroyed by the war. Although more of late, few recent novels focus on the devastation and horrors of World War I, on the land and on people and families, particularly in countries where the fighting occurred. Whole towns were destroyed and families were displaced with little to rely on or resources to build back with. The small group of women volunteers did an amazing variety of services to revitalize the areas so decimated by the ravages of war, including bringing books and libraries to the small towns, provided medical services, food, clothing, education, and other provisions to assist. Ms Morgan was on the front lines as well as being an ardent fundraiser for the cause. I had never heard of this group, but the novel highlights how they persevered and assisted those, even under high risk situations as some were close to the war fronts or faced with the land mines left by tghe soldiers. An incredible and inspiring historical novel of the strength and resilience of these female volunteers. Great character development. I would highly recommend this novel. A very interesting read. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased and candid review .

based-in-truth, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, librarian, library, WW1, France, selflessness*****

This is based on the life story of Jessie Carson and her mentor, Anne Morgan, during the War To End All Wars. It is the story of children's books, children's librarians, a terrible time in France. Here we learn about self discovery, the rescue of children's minds from the world of those days, and the way that adaptation for now and the future can be effected. The story is moving and the author relentless.
I requested and received a temporary EARC from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you, I have preordered a copy for my local public library.

This book tells the true story of Jessie Carson and her work of bringing books and libraries to northern France after World War One. I love historical fiction but always welcome the change from a WW2 novel. The book was uplifting while still showing the hardships that Europe faced after The Great War.

I rate this historical fiction book a solid 4 stars. It is the inspiring story of the women of CARD(Le Comite americain pour les regions devastees). These women volunteered to go into the northern part of France evacuated by retreating Germans in 1917. They were only fifty miles from the front and often faced great danger, sometimes being bombarded with artillery. They provided food, medicine, nursing services and books.
The librarian, Jessie "Kit" Carson, with the help of locals, rebuilt a local library and went on to create over fifty libraries. She started bookmobiles, using converted ambulances. The book should be named Miss Carson's Book Brigade. My wife read this book before me and this was her only complaint, as Miss Morgan , wealthy daughter of J. P. Morgan, a wealthy American banker, was the chief fundraiser and contributor of funds. However, she was also there with the other women volunteers. She was also the chief recruiter of new women to volunteer and paid Jessie's salary.
One Quote:
Breckie, fellow CARD, to Jessie: "A wise woman once told me that some folks who say they want the best for us are the worst for us."
I read this book over the course of ten days, immersing myself in this time and place.
Thanks to Dayna Johnson at Atria Books | Simon & Schuster for sending me both print and eARC copies of this book through NetGalley. #MissMorgansBookBrigade #NetGalley

"Miss Morgan's Book Brigade" follows Jessie “Kit” Carson, a New York Public Library librarian, as she joins Anne Morgan and Anne Murray Dike's effort to support French communities during World War I. Known as the CARDs, this organization, comprising American socialites, aimed to rebuild war-torn France, with Kit focusing on restoring libraries.

This novel is both engaging and meticulously researched, making it a treat for bibliophiles with its rich tapestry of literary references, including numerous nods to "Anne of Green Gables." Featuring a dual timeline that also introduces an aspiring writer in 1987, the story draws intriguing parallels between the challenges faced by characters in both eras, particularly the impact of criticism on their lives. A must-read for any book enthusiast, the novel beautifully blends historical fiction with a deep love for literature.