I enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel about a real American woman, Jessie "Kit" Carson, who helped to establish children's libraries in Paris. During the first world war, in 1918, Jessie, affectionately called Kit, left NYPL to work for CARDs, which is the Comité Américain pour les Régions Dévastées.  It was founded by JP Morgan's daughter, millionaire Anne Morgan, who recruited women to help rebuild the French communities that were destroyed. Jessie helped to build children's libraries, a new concept in France, and also train women to be librarians.
Later, a writer and NYPL librarian, Wendy, reads about Jessie in the library's archives. She decides that she wants to write about Jessie, and tries to understand what happened to her after the war.
These women were awarded the Croix de Guerre medal for courage under fire.
A wonderful book about librarians, their incredible work, and the will to live and to fight for others. I loved it!

It is somewhat peculiar that there are tons of books about World War Two, but not so many about World War One--supposedly the War to End All Wars. Could it be because WWI is that much more in the past than WWII? But, also could it be that war was a little slower...and more personal? This book is, yes, about, libraries, books, and reading, but more about relationships and growth. Jessie (Kit) Carson is deployed to France when she leaves NYPL to join the CARDS (Anne Morgan's organization) to help to the citizens and help to rebuild war torn France. As the book progresses we see Ms. Carson grow from a young lady, not knowing which way to turn where to a leader, developing a cadre of French women willing to be librarians and leaders among their own countrypersons. Because of the book I did some online research on Carson, Anne Morgan, and the CARDS; I found that Ms. Charles had obviously been there (and I know many other resources), so that the book is well researched and gives the reader much insight into conditions in France during the war. But of course the book is about much more than just history--it also shines a light on the role of librarians--and that has not changed in over 100 years.

There is much World War I & World War II historical fiction published in recent years, but Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is one of the best.

In alternating chapters, the book moves between past and more contemporary story lines in 1918 France and 1987 New York City. Young librarian Jesse Carson works to bring books to children in wartime France. Wendy Peterson is another librarian at New York Public Library who accidentally discovers the story of Jessie and the other CARDs who helped French citizens rebuild their lives and communities even while the war raged on.
I also enjoyed the connections to the New York Public Library and the underlying mystery which connects Jessie and Wendy.

This book will keep you guessing until the end when all of the loose ends are tied up.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books. 4 stars for Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. I will post this review on Goodreads, Bookbub. Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

One day Wendy, an aspiring writer who works in archiving materials at the New York Public Library, is given a box about the Cards.

The Cards are a group of well to do young women who volunteered to work in France towards the end of WWI. This group was set up by Anne Morgan, J.P. Morgan's daughter, and her partner and they focus their efforts on providing food and medical care to the civilians living near what is now the Red Zone in France. (This region was decimated and had large numbers of mine buried in their fields by the Germans.) One of the initiatives that Anne decides they will take on is to help rebuild their library and she hires Jessie Carson, a children's librarian at the New York Public Library, to come to France for two years and restore the library.

When Wendy finds a note about Carson in the box it leads her down this path to find out more about Jesse, the Cards, and what happened to them all. This is a story about finding yourself through stories. Wendy finds her path through her research into Carson and the locals find their way forward (and purpose) through the books that Carson gives them and the friendship she provides. The story is very heavily weighted towards the 1917 story line with a spattering of the 1987 time, but the "modern" time gives you a way into the past that feels natural and makes sense once you get to the end.

I found this book very enjoyable and it peaked my interest into the people and that region of France. I highly recommend to anyone who like historical fiction and dual time lines (not everyone does).

This was beautiful. I loved reading about the research behind this story and the real women it inspired. It felt fresh in a pretty thoroughly saturated genre and I’d recommend it to anyone.

2.75 ⭐️

Amazing subject matter, but the execution didn’t work for me at all. ☹️

After loving The Paris Library, I was so excited for this. I did the first 60% on audio but it wasn’t working for me that well so I switched to physical. Based on real people and a true story, the subject matter is the only reason I didn’t DNF. It’s an easy enough read, but I felt like the author tried to do and cover WAY too much and thus it all felt surface and trite. When I read historical fiction, I want to be transported in time and place and feel like I’m there. That didn’t happen here and instead I was annoyed by the writing more than anything.

If you love historical fiction with a bookstore vibe, twin timelines, and a feel-good storyline rooted in real wartime courage, add this one to your shelf.
Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is a heartfelt historical yarn that alternates between 1918 and 1987, weaving together the lives of two librarians tied by a shared passion—and a love of books.

I absolutely adored The Paris Library, which is based on the true story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris who risked their lives to deliver books to Jewish readers during World War II. That novel captured my heart, and now, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade has done it again.

This time, Janet Skeslien Charles shines a light on CARDS (Comité Américain pour les Régions Dévastées de France), a lesser-known yet vital group of women who used books as tools of hope and healing in war-torn France during WWI. You can feel the depth of research woven into every page. These stories are more than fiction…they are love letters to libraries and the quiet heroes who fill their shelves.

Libraries do not just store books; they preserve history, nurture community, offer safe havens, ignite imagination, and empower individuals through access to knowledge. This novel is a powerful reminder of just how essential they are.

Told in dual timelines, WWI France and 1987 New York, this story follows a librarian at the NYPL and aspiring writer who discovers the archived CARDS publications and decides to research their forgotten legacy. I loved how the present-day storyline echoed the author’s own journey, uncovering history and honoring those who came before.

Another favorite aspect was the beautiful nods to literary classics like Anne of Green Gables and The Count of Monte Cristo, which added a rich, nostalgic layer and reminded me just how timeless the power of books truly are.

I could go on forever about how much I loved this book…but I will not, because you deserve to experience it for yourself and discover how deeply it will stay with you. Do not skip the author’s note at the end…it brings the real-life inspirations behind the characters to light and adds so much meaning.

If you love historical fiction, Janet Skeslien Charles is a must-read. I read and listened…the narrators were phenomenal!

4.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me!

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This book takes you on a roller coaster of a ride! Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is a moving and well researched novel inspired by the true story of work done by the American Committee for Devastated France in WWI. The story follows Jessie Carson, a librarian in New York, as she makes the decision to become a CARD and provide services to those affected by war in Blerancourt. A second timeline follows Wendy Peterson working as an NYPL archivist who finds a reference to Jessie in the papers one day at work. Determined to learn more about her while also trying to write her first book, Wendy soon finds herself immersed in the story of the CARDs.

The author weaves a masterful tale, rich with historical details and incredibly well-written characters. I felt all of the emotions throughout this book and ended with tears but a smile on my face. The women are absolutely brought to life in this book and their heroism is inspiring. What really stands out about this book is the resilience of the human spirit as well as the healing power of books and the comfort of community, especially in times of tragedy. I really believed every single character's story and the timelines are seamlessly tied together. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the original ARC for review. I ultimately ended up listening to this as an audiobook from the library. #netgalley #atriabooks

This was such a great read and I didn't know anything about this organization or what they accomplished in France after the devastation of WWI. I love that this was based on a real librarian who introduced mobile children libraries in France and the dual timelines really worked with this story.

Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Another fascinating untold story of the brave women who took action during WWI to bring books and comfort to French citizens who suffered greatly at the hands of the Germans. Jessie Carson is a real woman who worked with the American Committee for Devastated France. under the direction of Anne Morgan, philanthropist, advocate and daughter of millionaire JP Morgan and redefined the place of libraries and role of librarians in France. I hope these stories continue to be uncovered and told to all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Janet Skeslien Charles truly levels up with Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, a novel that surpasses her debut The Paris Library in both heart and storytelling power. Inspired by the real Jessie Carson—an American librarian who helped restore wartime France through the written word—this book highlights a forgotten chapter of literary history.

Charles’s fictionalized Jessie is brave, grieving, and driven. Her journey through WWI-ravaged towns, delivering books to soldiers and rebuilding libraries, is both emotionally resonant and vividly detailed. The novel explores how stories create connection, community, and healing—especially when everything else has been shattered.

The dual timeline follows a modern-day librarian, Wendy Peterson, in 1987 New York, who stumbles across Jessie’s name in the NYPL archives and becomes obsessed with uncovering her fate. While Wendy’s storyline adds a layer of literary mystery, I personally found it less compelling. These split narratives are everywhere lately, and in this case, the historical plot was strong enough to stand on its own.

Still, Miss Morgan and her brigade remind us that books don’t just entertain—they heal. This is a heartfelt, inspiring story for anyone who’s ever believed in the power of a library card.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.

A compelling story told in dual timelines focusing on starting a library in war-torn France during WWI. In 1918, Jessie Carson, a librarian at the New York Public Library, is recruited by the American Committee for Devastated France to establish a children's library. As the war continues not far away, the children are struggling with the loss of families, homes, and schools. In 1987, an aspiring writer working in the archives at the NYPL stumbles upon articles and begins trying to piece together the whole story. Based on the timeline, this is a prequel to The Paris Library, but reading that one first is appropriate. The author's latest, The Parisian Chapter, continues the story in 1995. I wasn't lost reading that before this one, but I would recommend reading them in order of release. If there's an author's note, it unfortunately was not included in the audiobook.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I really enjoyed reading and learning about this small piece of history during and after WWI. It was interesting to read about the women's roles in that war, as well as hearing about life in the NYPL and for librarians at that time as well as during the 1980's. I enjoyed the dual timeline stories and how they interacted. It was a bit predictable but also had a few funny/sad moments as well.

Would recommend for any historical fiction fans.

I enjoyed this book about Jessie "Kit" Carson and the women working for the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD in French) in World War I. The author correctly assumed in writing this that I, at least, had never heard of this group and didn't know anything about their contributions to France, so I was glad to learn something new. Kit and the other members of CARD featured were formidable women, protecting the people of rural France, helping them rebuild during and after the war, and standing up against the traditional views of their time that women shouldn't drive, smoke, or be librarians. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and true stories of strong, pioneering women.

Thank you to Atria for the advanced electronic copy!

This was absolutely wonderful – a fascinating and heartwarming story told in 1918 France and 1987 New York (specifically at the New York Public Library). I learned so much as I read and felt so proud of my librarian self and of all those who came before me. Book lovers and library lovers should snap this up.

I normally love books about books, especially those in a historical setting. I thought the premise was excellent but I did not care for the writing style.

A historical fiction about two women in two different eras who work at the New York Public Library. Clearly well researched and definitely well written. A great story about unsung heroes and the power of women in the aftermath of war.

A tremendous book on hope, courage and compassion. The love of literature can try a help you through and devastating situation.

Typically I love books about books, but this one just didn't hold my attention. I loved Janet Skeslien Charles' previous novel, The Paris Library, so much that maybe I felt like I needed something different.