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.

I loved this story from start to finish! I was captivated by the main characters and their journeys. The two stories that were being told of women doing what they love and rising above their own self doubt and fears of “not measuring up” were well told. The loss they experienced and yet they persevered despite the set backs was inspiring. It was well written and captivating. I felt like I learned a lot about the characters as they journeyed through a devastating time with war and female oppression working against them. Yet they succeeded despite those odds.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of this book.

The historical elements of this novel, by the author of the best-selling The Paris Library, concentrate on the efforts of two formidable middle-aged women, both named Anne. When the war began, American heiress Anne Morgan opened her Versailles residence to convalescing soldiers. By 1916 she had founded the American Committee for Devastated France, or CARD, its French acronym. Her co-chair and life’s partner was physician Dr Anne Murray Dick. In 1917, with nine other women, they settled in Blerancourt in hard-hit northern France, to help the remaining civilians, mostly women and children, to recover and plan for peace. This part of the story is based on real characters and events. The two Annes, as they came to be known, were probably lovers. It was rumoured in their social circle that the doctor’s divorce was caused by that involvement.

The story is told by Jessie Carson, a New York City librarian who joins the CARD team in January 1918. As the Allies advanced, the fleeing German forces unleashed furious destruction. CARD’s objective was to rebuild houses and clear land. In doing so, they necessarily provided comfort, food, and rudimentary medical and welfare services, including a school for children whose schooling had ceased in 1914.
Jesse, one of the leading children’s librarians in the U.S, is determined to bring the healing power of books to the children of war. Despite many daunting setbacks and the sort of challenges that might be expected in setting up a library under such conditions, when all were supportive in principle but so many more immediate needs were far more pressing, Jessie Carson prevails.

The author captures the awe and anxiety, as well as the initial naïveté, that affect Jessie from the moment of her arrival. The Cards, as the girls call themselves, immediately nickname her Kit, after the pioneering female journalist of the times. On her own, and through the relationships she forges with the two Annes and her colleagues, we see how she is transformed by her experiences. There is love of many kinds. There is fear and sorrow that can’t be made to disappear, but her resolute belief in the therapeutic value of reading—since backed up by science—and her compassion for the children, carry her through.

The second point of view belongs to Wendy Peterson, who, in 1987, comes across the AFF newsletters in the NYPL. An aspiring writer completing an MFA, she is searching for a topic and is immediately entranced by the Cards. Some poking around in other archival collections brings her to Kit Carson, who will become a personal obsession as well as her dissertation focus. She will restore Jessie ´Kit’ Carson and her team to their rightful place in American war history.

This is a heartening story of a little-known aspect of women’s war work, and the author has done meticulous research to support her fictional characters through a believable narrative. I am more intrigued by the Card aspects and Kit’s efforts at work, friendship and romance than what happens with Wendy in 1987. This could be my own fatigue with the dual timeline approach, or it could be simply because Kit’s story is more interesting. Rebuilding war-devastated Europe is far more fascinating than NYC forty years ago. Taken together, though, this is a most enjoyable piece of historical fiction.