Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC of Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade. All opinions are my own.
I had previously read the author’s The Paris Library, which I really enjoyed. Similar to that book, this is a dual timeline historical fiction. One timeline is France in 1917 where American librarian Jessie “Kit” Carson has arrived, recruited by millionaire Anne Morgan to join CARD (the American Committee for Devastated France), and the other timeline is 1987 in the US, where Wendy conducts research to learn about Kit.
I had not previously known about CARD and its introduction of children’s libraries to France. I always love learning something new when reading historical fiction - and from the author’s notes, it’s clear that this is a well researched book. I didn’t feel the same spark that I did with The Paris Library, but I did enjoy what I learned and will continue to read more from this author. I listened to the audiobook which was well produced with four narrators including one of my favorites, Marin Ireland.

I was really looking forward to this one based on the synopsis, but unfortunately it was just a little too slow paced for me and too long. I was expecting a bit more of a connection between the dual timelines and was letdown in the end. I did love the overall message of how important books are no matter the circumstance.

Historical fiction at its finest is when it's teaching me about an aspect of history I previously knew nothing about. I adored The Paris Library and Miss Morgan's Book Brigade didn't disappoint!

This was a great book based on actual events during WW1. It was interesting to find out all the things the things that the CARDs did for France, both to help the war effort, and to rebuild libraries. I found it fascinating to find out that Jessie “Kit” Carson did so many great things for the French libraries. She made them available for the everyday person, and she championed women working in the libraries by sending students to the United States to study library science.
The CARDS are definitely women the world should know more about, and I am eager to learn all I can about them!
This book was excellently written and well researched. Highly recommend for any bibliophile with an interest in the world war.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade was a tribute to all the hard work women did during the war. I was inspired by Kit and her ability to bring life back into people by connecting with them on a personal level and through books. By the end of the book, you believed this fine group of CARDS were your friends as well. This story was a wonderful look into history with the opportunity to learn more about an organization I had never heard of prior.

As a librarian, I am a sucker for books about libraries. This one did not disappoint. There are two stories in this book, both having their beginning in the New York Public Library. Wendy, aspiring writer, has a day job working in the Remembrance Room of the Library where they are scanning boxes of archives. When she is given a box containing documents about a little known WWI organization CARD she digs deep and tells there story, while dealing with her present day life. CARD was an organization founded by - mostly - wealthy women to help devastated France during and after WWI. Jessie "Kit" Card was a librarian, working at NYPL recruited by CARD leaders to set up libraries and provide Children's services (then a new concept). The reader follows Kit's life in wartime France, with its emotional ups and downs, and all the danger and loss associated with war. She is an extraordinary woman and a very likable character. This story is fast paced, engaging and very well written. There is an extensive author's note section where we see pictures of all the CARDS and learn more about who they were and how they quietly, but dramatically, changed the world.

Great book about American women helping the French during WWI based on a true story!

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is about American women helping French women and children close to the front. The French people had been annihilated by the Germans. The Germans destroyed almost everything - homes, crops, farm animals, etc. So the women left behind had to find food and shelter for their families. These American women worked hard to help meet the needs for these families that had lost so much, including husbands and fathers.

Some of the American women were wealthy and just wanted to help. They were not allowed to work in America, So going to France allowed them to work and be productive. And they worked hard! Some of the women were not wealthy and were paid for their work in France. These women were already skilled in the work that they would do in France - like cooks and librarians. This group of women teamed up to do amazing things for the French people.

These families were broken and needed love, understanding, community and healing. Books and story time helped to bring love and healing to these families. The books also helped build trust and relationship between the American women and the families. These books eventually became a library for adults and children. French libraries at the time did not provide books for children. I learned so much reading this book. The author did a great job making this story come to life for me.

I knew nothing about the CARDS in France but the author did such great research and presented the story in a well written way I felt I was there with Jessie “Kit” Carson. Be sure and read the author’s notes to learn more about the characters. I also enjoyed the dual timelines, how Wendy conducted her research, and the NYPL library setting. This is a book I will read again. A good book club selection. 4.5 stars

This is a compelling, unique historical fiction that focuses on the stories of strong women! It’s a duel timeline story thay follows Kit Carson, a children’s librarian at New York Public Library, who joins The American Committee for Devastated France (CARD), which is run my JP Morgan’s daughter Ann during World War 1. 70 years later Wendy Peterson, an aspiring writer, who also works at NYPL comes across documents that refer to Kit and CARD. She is determined to find out more about their story.

I really enjoyed the duel time lines in this story and seeing how they weaved together! The characters were all compelling and the story was extremely well written!

I really liked that this made me aware of a part of history that I hadn’t heard of before.

I’ve heard great things about the authors other books and am looking forward to picking them up after reading this!

4.25 Stars

From the same author as the Paris Library, Janet Skeslien Charles writes another historical fiction novel. This one is about a woman who, in 1918, who travels from America to France and turns ambulances into bookmobile and even trains French female librarians.

I love books about books, and this one was it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to have an ARC of this novel.

Based on a true story

If you like to read you will love the frequent references to book titles, characters, and quotes throughout.

Dual timeline:
1918 Jessie “Kit” Carson leaves her job at the NYC Public Library to establish children’s libraries in France following WWI.
1987 Wendy Peterson comes across information about Jessie Carson while working in the Archives at the NYC Public Library and does research to learn more about her.

I thought the topic was interesting but found the book a little boring and long. I think it would be better without Wendy’s story. I expected a big connection between the two timelines and kept reading to find out what but was disappointed. My favorite part is the Author’s Note at the end.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC to use for my review.

Content warning: sex scene in the 1987 story.

There are a lot of books released now that feature books and wartime. It can be a tired topic but Miss Morgan's Book Brigade definitely explores new topics and largely unknown history. This was a charming and lovely read! Janet Skeslien Charles writes beautiful prose and fun characters. This will certainly engage the reader!

Beautifully researched and very enlightening as to a period in history that i was unaware of. I enjoyed it tremendously. Well written and the characters come alive. Highly recommend.

In the midst of the war in 1918, Jessie "Kit" Carson joins the war efforts as a CARD member becoming the librarian in a town torn apart by the war. As Kit she shares her love of reading with the residents using the power of reading to bring what happiness she can to both kids and adults alike.

In 1987 a NYPL librarian, Wendy Peterson, stumbles upon information about Jessie Carson who used to be a librarian at the very same library decades earlier and sets out to find out how Jessie's story ended.

Told in the dual timelines of 1918 and 1987, Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is a wonderfully written, heartwarming and engaging story full of rich historical background. Jessie and Wendy are both strong, compelling female characters and the amount of research that the author put into this work is shown throughout the book and especially in the Author's Notes at the end. The writing itself is well developed and Janet seamlessly blends the two storylines into such a beautiful story that I really loved.

I was unfortunately a little underwhelmed by Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade. I found it a bit boring. It felt more character driven than plot driven, and I typically prefer the other way around. It moved a little too slow for me. I think overall it would be a great read, especially for book lovers who want to read about other book lovers.

I ended up really enjoying this one, however the timeline following Wendy at the NYPL seemed like it was written by a completely different author. The writing felt more juvenile than the other timeline and I found that her romance added nothing to the plot. I wanted more time with the Cards in France.

I can tell a lot of research went into this one, but the focus should've been more on the Cards and the actual teaching of the new librarians and recovery in France rather than Wendy and her budding romance.

Also, what happened to Kit? Did she live? Did she stay in France? Seems like a big loose end.

Rating 3.5 stars and rounding up.

Fascinating read based on real events from WWI. It focuses on the American Committee for Devastated France, which provided food and books to French survivors, amid shelling, mine fields and death. Our main character, Jessie Carson, was a real person who took part in the committee's activities, known for her efforts to children’s libraries in war-torn France and training young French women librarians.

Along with that story from 1917, we are treated to a storyline from 1987 which features Wendy Peterson, an aspiring writer and a New York library employee. She discovers references to Jessie and is baffled when she can find no mention of her at all in existing records. Wendy decides to dig deeper and learn all she can about Jessie Carson.

The author provides us with very well written characters, and has done a marvelous job with researching the Committee and the era. Highly recommend this book to everyone.

Loved the daul story lines in this book. I think it gives you a great point of view for both of the characters. Fun read. Will definitely recommend this book

A well developed cast of characters and distinct dual timelines makes this based on a real life historical fiction a pleasure to read. I appreciated the glimpse into life in the French countryside during WWI and am impressed with the daring of these women who braved hardships to care for body and soul of the people they served. I am glad that their story gets to be told in this enlightening novel. Author's notes are not to be missed.

Cute girl power! Loved the library and how it connects the two women. The dual story lines gave the book so much more context and loved how the author seamlessly wove the two stories together.