I loved this book! Courageous women during wartime, community of trust and friendship, libraries, books, bravery, and a little romance on the side. This book had everything that I need for a great read.

I had never heard of CARD, or the incredible real life women that sustained it, before reading this book and now I want to know everything about them.

This talented author grabbed my attention from the Prologue and made me feel like I was experiencing the Front during WW1 for the first time just like the main character, Jessie Carson. I felt like I was on the journey with her, the highs and lows, much like the modern day main character, Wendy Peterson.

The importance of books for bringing life back to a devastated people was a strong and successful theme. It never lost its impact as the story unfolded. (Every beloved “Anne of Green Gables” reference was also a special happy squeeze to my heart.)

As with all great stories, the end of this book came too soon. However, it has sparked my interest to find out more about these women and their footsteps in history.

Thank you to Janet Skeslien Charles for another engrossing read and to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is an absolutely brilliant book that enthralled me so, that I was loathe to put it down. The author expertly weaves a captivating story around actual events in France during World War I, full of compelling and courageous characters and vivid descriptions of the settings and circumstances in which they find themselves, providing a heart-wrenching history lesson that you don't realize you've had until you peruse the historical information included at the end of the book.
The tale time travels between 1918, when children's librarian Jessie 'Kit' Carson works to bring the escape of reading to war-torn rural France, and 1987, when aspiring writer and New York Public Library librarian Wendy Peterson comes across documents about the CARDs, the group of women with whom Kit worked. Wendy's determination to find out what happened to Kit and her fellow CARDs, and to write a book about them and bring their stories to light, results in the unfolding of the story and the tracking down of the last living member of the group from 1918.
The book is superbly written and clearly painstakingly researched, resulting in a page-turner of a historical novel. The suffering of the French people, and the dedication and courage of this group of women who lived near the front and helped them in immeasurable ways, leaps of the page.
I have stated this in reviews of a few other historical novels, but I will say it again. Novels such as this should be required reading in history classes; this one would bring alive the pain and suffering, the devastation, and the resilience and courage of the French people during the Great War. The bare facts are just that - bare; this book makes those facts real and compelling, not to mention inspiring.
I am so thankful to have received an ARC of #MissMorgansBookBrigade from #NetGalley. I'd give it more stars if I could.

Although I enjoyed this book and the history based on a real person, I felt the structure was a bit all over the place. We start with an unnamed CARD, and it appears to be Jessie Carson, as she is the main character through the start of the book.

The narrative felt very distant to start with, very much like a recounting of history, I wasn't very connected to Jessie through the beginning of the story.

Then the story switches to a modern-day protagonist who is then maybe the main character. I also felt she had more depth of character than Jessie. Her story is more immediate with stakes that felt important (such as the possibility of losing her job when she steals the papers she is reading from the library).

I'm used to historical fiction starting with a main character that is somehow connected to the historical figure and the narrative weaves between the two. Both stories then feel important as they tie together. Because we start with the historical figure, I couldn't ever quite figure out why we had the modern-day protagonist. Although she is researching Jessie, she isn't connected to her in any way. It made the modern-day protagonist seem like it was just the author under a pseudonym.

That said, I did enjoy reading about someone who had historical significance to libraries in France, and the rebuilding of such a war-torn area.

This book was such a gem! I’m so glad it came recommended to me and that I clicked yes! I absolutely loved the story of Kit and the CARDs. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: there does not appear to be an end to the unknown stories of women, both civilians and servicewomen, in the two world wars. And beyond for that matter.

This beautiful touching story of bravery and love of books and the power of literature really resonated with me and I think that many readers will find the same. I would have loved a bit more insight into the contemporary storyline but in the end the balance between the two was almost perfect!

Following Kit’s arrival and transition into her role in war torn France and her integration into the community of townspeople and the other CARDs was so well done and really moving for me as a reader and student of history. Bravo!

Absolutely loved this novel. Gut wrenching, grit and character with humour thrown it. It shows little known history of CARDS who were primarily American and Canadian women who went to France during the end of WW1 to help rebuild France both the buildings and the spirit of the French. Would love to see in school English\History curriculum.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is a dual timeline historical fiction story. The past timeline is set in France during WWI focused on an American aid organization nicknamed ‘Card’ mostly made up of wealthy socialites. Regular gal Jessie Carson is requested, by name, from her position at the New York Public Library to start a library in rural war-torn France. The more modern timeline takes place in 1987 following a NYPL employee and aspiring writer, Wendy.

The past timeline is focused on the devastated people left behind after German retreat near an uninhabitable area, the ‘Red Zone’. The front lines of the war are still very close and prone to change at any time. The ‘Cards’ are tasked with bringing aid, medical care, and a dose of humanity to the civilians left behind in formerly occupied towns. Most buildings are partially destroyed and unuseable. The land is not suitable for farming or gardens any more. People are desperate and without hope. The ‘Cards’ bring hope and Jessie brings stories. I really loved this portion of the book. It was a wonderful story of hope in the midst of devastation.

My enjoyment of the story was brought down by the 1987 timeline. Wendy works at NYPL scanning documents and is given a box of documents dealing with the ‘Card’ organization. She is an aspiring writer and the ‘Cards’ spark her interest. She starts writing about them and her writing suddenly comes alive. This aspect was fine. However, the side story with her friend Roberto and the rude writing workshop teacher were so out of sync with the tone of the past timeline they were jarring. Wendy, Roberto, and the writing tutor’s attitudes and manner of speaking felt more modern than 1987.

I still recommend this book, however, if you typically don’t like the modern timelines in dual timeline historical fiction, this one is going to be no exception. Things do come around to a nice conclusion in the end and I loved the WWI timeline, so I am able to give the book 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing this ebook for review.

There is nothing I love more in a historical novel than learning about the amazing roles that women have played in important moments in history. This is especially true when the stories take place in a time period where women were not allowed to perform certain roles and were not considered capable. This is definitely the case with Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. I really enjoyed learning about the CARDs, women who helped to rebuild destroyed French communities near the front and one in particular who trained the first French female librarians. I had no prior knowledge of these incredibly brave women.

I grew to love many of the characters in this book, but there is something I can't quite put my finger on that kept me from giving it a 5 star review. The story and characters were great, but the writing lacked that spark of magic that I have found in other books. Overall though, I would still highly recommend Miss Morgan's Book Brigade.

This book by Janet Skeslien Charles was very interesting, the research of history mixed with a story was very compelling. I struggled to put the book down and enjoyed it right to the end.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of The Paris Library. I was drawn in by the characters and story, learned a lot, and was glad I had read it. My only quibble would be that I didn't feel the modern-day part of the story was really necessary, and I would have been quite happy if this was a single-timeline story set in the past.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

I absolutely ADORED this book. I have not read this author before, but have heard great things about The Paris Library. This novel was perfect. It pointed out every reason why reading is so amazing (socially, for mental health, educationally), and I can’t recommend this book enough. Five stars and then some!!

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is a historical fiction set during the First World War and follows Jessie Carson, a New York librarian who signs a two-year contract to serve in France as part of the American Commitee for Devastated France (also known as CARD).

The book is told from two timelines - Jessie’s during the War and Wendy Peterson’s as she discovers archives about the CARDs in the 1980s.

I enjoyed the story overall, and was not aware of the existence of this organization prior to reading this book. I appreciated the author wanting to pay homage to a part of the First World War that most people are not familiar with.

However, I did find the story to be a bit rushed, and Jessie’s part of the story ends rather abruptly and I found myself wondering what became of her. The author’s notes after the epilogue provide a fuller picture of what happened to the various women mentioned in the story.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is a well-researched novel inspired by the lives of real women who played a pivotal role in assisting civilians in devastated France during WWI and helping rebuild their destroyed communities. This dual perspective, dual timeline novel focuses on Jessie ‘Kit’ Carson in 1918 and Wendy Peterson in 1987. Jessie Carson who took a leave from her position as a children’s librarian at NYPL to volunteer for the American Committee for Designated France (CARD), headed by Annie Morgan, Jessie sets out to build a library in Blerancourt, France. Wendy Peterson, is an aspiring author working as a research librarian at the NYPL, who comes across archive documents about the CARDs and becomes particularly intrigued by Jessie and sets out to research and tell her story. In addition to Jessie and Wendy there are a whole host of secondary characters who fit flawlessly into the storyline and provide us glimpses of the impacts the CARDs made as well as the resilience of the French as they set out to rebuild their communities. The book also highlights the power of books to preserve history as well as to help readers heal, escape and grow.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is the second novel written by the author about the important role that librarians played during World War I and World War II. This one is a dual timeline World War I historical novel that highlights the accomplishments of the American Committee for Devastated France (known as CARD from the French translation) founded by American philanthropist and heiress Anne Morgan. Jessie 'Kit' Carson is a librarian at the NYPL who travels to France early in 1918 to work with Morgan and CARD in establishing libraries in the northern regions of the country devastated by the ongoing war.

Jessie arrives at CARD headquarters which are set up in the Picardie region only miles from the front and joins a group of women working to help French civilians whose lives have been devastated by the war. Jessie is determined to contribute to their efforts and uses books to connect with the villagers and help them recover and rebuild. As the war rages on, the CARDS bravely risk their lives and at one point even lead evacuation efforts. During the immediate post-war period, Jessie sets up children's libraries, turns ambulances into mobile libraries and trains the first female French librarians and then she disappears. In the second 1987 timeline, Wendy is an aspiring young writer working in the Archives of the NYPL who comes across documents relating to the work of CARD and is determined to learn more about Carson and the other women who served with the organization.

Like the author's previous novel, The Paris Library, this is a well-researched historical novel (she spent 10 years researching according to her Author's Note) inspired by the lives of real people that highlights the important but little known role that librarians played in the war. Jessie Carson played a key role in revolutionizing French libraries by establishing libraries for children and the working class both in war-torn areas of the country and in Paris. I had no idea that this organization existed or about the work that they did in France during and after World War I so found it a fascinating read in that regard. There is an excellent detailed Author's Note that provides additional information and is a must for readers who want to know more about the women the novel is based on.

I found the writing and the plot a bit simplistic and sentimental at times but the novel was so well-researched and I learned such a great deal that I found it an enjoyable read regardless. This is a fascinating story about a little known aspect of World War I, the resilience of the human spirit and the power of literature (it's packed with literary references that book lovers will enjoy) that will appeal to readers who love books and libraries as well as historical fiction fans. And the book cover is beautiful!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Strong women are an inspiration to us all. This fictionalization of real-life heroines - librarians no less - gives a beautiful glimpse into the horrors of occupation and the ongoing battles on their doorstep.

There is a little something for everyone here. It is a coming-of-age story, a story of love in the modern age, with same-sex couples and broken-hearted war-crossed lovers. At no time does our author dig too deeply into the sexual encounters. They are demurely handled and left to the reader's imagination.

This story takes us through WWI through the eyes of the CARD organization’s founders, the volunteers, and the local French, which eventually provided a successful backdrop of relief during the war to end all wars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the prepublication read. I hope these characters were given a little more depth. They certainly deserve it.

I ADORED this book! I read it in something like 4 "sittings". I read it almost everywhere but the shower. I could NOT put it down.

The characters all felt real enough to walk out of the book at any time. The story was well-researched, and knowing that these were real people (most of them) added another level. All in all, I thought it was a fabulous book. I read it between loads of dishes, while cooking and when I got to the end, I wanted more!

I hope this book finds success. I would read it again and again! Five stars for sure!

I had high hopes for this book because I loved The Paris Library by the same author. This historical fiction book is based on the true story of the woman of CARD (American Committee for Devastated France) with a focus on Jessie Carson, the so called Library CARD who left the New York Public Library to go to France to spread her love of books in Wartime France. There was a second storyline of modern day librarian (Wendy) who works at the New York Public Library and learned about and researched the CARD women.

What I loved:
1`. It's a book about books, what's not to love about that?
2. Learning about CARD was interesting, even more so that it's all based on true stories/characters

What I didn't like:
1. Super slow to read, nothing to draw me in as a reader
2. Switching points of view/dual storylines just didn't really come together for me and took away from any momentum the book had

I wanted to love this book but it just fell very flat for me. It was very slow moving, no real plot to draw me in and just overall a disappointing read for me. I'm giving this a 3/5.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 30, 2024
“Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” is the second novel written by the Janet Skeslien Charles about the important roles of librarians during the Second World War, especially overseas in France (the first novel, “The Paris Library” was one of my favourites). Neither novel feature the same characters and are not similar in any way, so they should not be taken as a series but both of Charles’ library novels are exciting, informative and downright exhilarating!
In 1918, Jessie Carson leaves her library position in America to volunteer for the American Committee for Devastated France, headed by heiress Anne Morgan. Jessie is soon at the front, trying to scrabble together a library out of the rubble of burnt and destroyed buildings. But Jessie, and her team of brave and resilient women, are determined to bring whatever joy they can to those remaining behind in the communities torn apart by war.
In 1987, aspiring author Wendy Peterson comes across references to Jessie in the library archives, and begins to take an interest. Using all of her resources as one of the research librarians at the New York Public Library, she wants to learn about the women of CARD and share their knowledge and impact with the world.
Charles, as usual, presents a well-researched and carefully written novel about a relatively unknown group of women whose contribution to the front lines went relatively unacknowledged. Carson was a real person who changed the structure of France libraries permanently after the First World War as an advocate who fought for bringing literature to children and the lesser fortunate. Anyone who has a strong love of reading, books and libraries will automatically connect with Jessie, as I did.
Although Wendy’s role was simply bringing Jessie’s voice to the world, her character shouldn’t be overlooked either. Wendy was likable and more relatable than Jessie (due to her more modern timeframe), trying to live in a world that wanted her to be different than she was. Both Jessie and Wendy were charming, knowledgeable and quiet little introverts and I loved them both!
Each chapter is narrated by either Wendy or Jessie, and is clearly marked, which makes the story flow and helps make the transition between eras an easy one.
I can’t rave and rant enough about books and the importance of libraries, and Charles always brings a new literary hero to my attention through the novels she writes. Are there other books about librarians who made a difference during the war? Sure (Charles herself wrote two). Will I continue to read each and every one? Absolutely. Women who preach literary love are my people, and I will support them in whatever way I can. If it means reading the engaging and captivating stories like Charles “Book Brigade”, well, that’s an added bonus!

I loved reading about the women volunteers that helped in Blerancourt, France during WWI. Not only were we given a glimpse into life near the front for both the villagers but also the volunteers but the author brought it to life. I now have an idea of some of the things my great grandfather may have seen. Reading how Kit set up libraries that brought joy but also life back to the villagers and then later transformed how libraries were run and viewed throughout France was inspiring, Thank you or the opportunity to review this book.

“What the hell is a librarian going to do in the middle of a war zone?”

When New York Public Library librarian, Jessie Carson, 40, receives an invitation from millionairess, Anne Morgan, to join the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD) and establish a library near the front lines in northern France, she doesn’t hesitate for a moment.

Jessie has always had a love of literature and believes that books are bridges to connecting people. She agrees to a two-year contract at the CARD headquarters in the war-torn village of Blerancourt, 80 miles north of Paris. This village was in an agricultural region that the Allies had recently liberated after a three-year occupation. If anyone needed the power of literature it was those who had lost everything. Jessie is willing to help this committee rebuild.

Like other CARD members, I too wondered what book could possibly make a difference in their suffering. It was obvious that they needed more than library books and possibly more than these women could give. I was so naive going into this story. I’d read lots of wartime historical fiction but somehow missed the fact that there would still to this day be areas that were uninhabitable. My heart hurt for these villagers as I read about the condition of their homes/land and then softened as I read about the CARDs reaching out and creating a sense of community and bringing change by sharing the load and sharing stories. The committee founded a network of libraries in this region and it went on to serve as a model for the entire nation.

The 1987 timeline featuring a NYPL librarian and aspiring author, Wendy Peterson, was the perfect balance to the wartime timeline and gave Janet Skeslien Charles a unique platform to continue sharing about the CARD volunteers.

I’ve appreciated and learned so much from both of Charles’ novels featuring real-life librarians who fight to get books into the hands of readers. I won’t forget Jessie and her courageous efforts which earned her the Croix de Guerre medal. This book honours the resilience of the human spirit, the power of literature, and the courage to help. It’s inspiring.

Even if you aren’t a historical fiction fan, Google this committee and search the images of children with nothing who have a smile on their faces and a book in their hands.

I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I throughly enjoyed this book.The story line was fascinating and kept me wanting more information which I did look into. The people in the story line were courageous and people to be admired. If you are interest in World War 1 and what women contributed then this is the book for you.