I wanted to love this one, I really did, but about halfway through it lost steam and I lost interest. I never connected with the characters enough to feel like I wanted to continue. I did enjoy all of the literary references, though. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

A while back I read a title about the personal librarian of JP Morgan. It delved into the idea of “passing” and was an interesting historical fiction read.
Included in the story was a character from real life, JP Morgan’s daughter, Anne. Anne was portrayed as someone who may have been interested in same sex relationships. Ironically enough; her main relationship was with another woman by the name of Anne.

Honestly, I didn’t make any connection to that previous read when picking up Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade. I saw literary WW1 title by the author of Paris Library, which had hype around its publication. So, I began reading… and discovered the connection.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade’s main character is not Anne, it is Jessie. Or rather; Kit Carson. Her nickname after the infamous adventurer. Set in France during the time of WW1, I was led into a literary story telling a piece of history I previously was not aware of. Learning of the CARDS and the history of libraries in France kept me reading. The main characters love for literature did create a connection. I was alright with the multiple timeframes.

But overall, this story just didn’t work for me. The worldview in many ways did not align with my own. Which is okay. But I felt pushed to agree with the worldview and ideas of the author. And that bothered me. I also felt that the story lost its momentum at times. Overall a three star read that dropped to two stars because of content.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to preview this title.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade tells the story of Jessie (Kit) Carson, a librarian from the New York Public Library, who took a leave of absence from her position in 1918 to help the American Committee for Devastated France, which was founded by Anne Morgan, daughter of JP Morgan. Miss Morgan and her team of women, known as the "CARDs," are in war-torn France during World War I trying to help the citizens of the French countryside rebuild their lives after German occupation.

The book is told in a dual time-line, from Jessie Carson's view point in 1918, and Wendy Peterson, a NYPL researcher and aspiring writer, who comes across the information about Jessie Carson, and becomes fascinated by the story of the CARDs and wants to write about them.

This was a fascinating book, made even more so by the fact that the story of Jessie Carson and Miss Morgan's Brigade is true, written by the same author of The Paris Library! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Reader Copy of this book! Go out and purchase this title now! #MissMorgansBookBrigade #NetGalley

Sometimes a book will capture your mind and your heart; that is exactly what Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles did to me. It is an absolutely wonderful book, filled with wonderful characters and tells the story of the hope, resolve, and courage of the American, Canadian and Great Britain women who joined the Committee for Devastated France, known as CARD to help rebuild northern France after it was devastated by the Germans in World War One. These brave women, led by Anne Morgan, the daughter of American tycoon and financier J. P. Morgan and Dr. Anne Murray Dike, referred to as Dr. M.D., came from all walks of life to help the French rebuild their communities and homes and to clear their land in the hopes of regenerating it and making it productive again.
Miss Morgans's Book Brigade is based on the true story of Jessie " Kit" Carson, an NYC librarian "on loan" to CARD for two years, assigned to the rural community of Blerancourt.. I am tempted to go on and on about this heartwarming and inspiring book, however will simply highly recommend it. It is a welcome relief during these challenging times and tells the story of many unsung " Sheroes." Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Publishing, Atria Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review this terrific book, this review reflects my honest opinion. 5 stars.

I wanted to love this book, but I just could not find myself engaging with it at all. I gave it three chapters before I had to throw in the towel, and it took days to get through those chapters.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is a book in two timelines recounting the time spent in WWI France by young American women at the behest of Anne Morgan, daughter of industrialist JP Morgan. It focuses on CARD, the acronym coming from their French title. It’s main thrust was the time of Jessie “Kit” Carson, one of the few paid staff, the bulk being rich society women paying their own ways. Kit was a librarian for the New York Public Library and came to France to be a librarian. She ended up doing myriad other things as well but established the first accessible public library in France as well as the first children’s library. She is a character pulled from history as are many of the women described in the book. The second character/timeline is Wendy Peterson who works in the basement putting the collections of the NYPL onto microfilm. She comes across the newsletters of CARD and is immediately enthralled. She is a graduate student in writing and promises herself that she will turn their story into a book, so with the research she had and that which she works to obtain, she does just that.

Kit was an amazing character who went to France not knowing what to expect and came out of it with a wealth of knowledge, both practical and emotional. She not only read to the children, but she refurbished, with help, what had previously been the village’s library. She migrated with them when the Germans came too close. She performed as a nurse when that was what was needed. She helped turn old ambulances into bookmobiles that served 160 villages in France. She was a determined and intelligent woman. Charles caught her character and made it into a refreshing novel, which touches on one of many small miracles that happen during war. She also caught the characters of many little people who were harmed by the war. She and her comrades, along with so many others, were unsung heroes and I appreciate that Janet Skeslien Charles has brought this story forward. I was well-researched and well-written and everyone should read it.

I was invited to read Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Atria Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AtriaBooks #JanetSkeslienCharles #MissMorgansBookBrigade

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles was a historical fiction novel that focused on Jessie Carson, an NYPL librarian who went to France during WWI to help with the American Committee for Devastated France which was started by millionaire Anne Morgan. The novel has a dual timeline set up which also has a storyline in 1987 where an NYPL librarian and aspiring writer discovers references to Jessie Carson and goes on a deep dive to learn more about her.

I loved the premise of this book as a librarian myself and historical fiction fan, but the execution wasn't right for me. There were parts I felt moved too slow and wanted more details and closure from others. Definitely an interesting read, but did not live up to the potential for me.

April might now be over, but the final release day of the month delivered some bangers — one being MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE. Bouncing between France during the Great War and New York in the late 1980s, this novel tells the story of Jessie ‘Kit’ Carson, a real-life NYPL librarian who volunteered to join a group of women (headed by Anne Morgan, daughter of J. P. Morgan) working to rebuild a devastated France and introduced the idea of children’s libraries to the region.

Much like with 2021’s THE PARIS LIBRARY (also featuring real historical figures), I couldn’t look away. In the 80s Wendy became fascinated by this group of women, especially Jessie, and went on an obsessive search through the NYPL archives hoping to find any mention, any reference to what became of them after the war. I was right there with Wendy! These women were stationed just miles from the front — bombs, landmines, chance encounters with enemy soldiers — this was part of their everyday lives…and yet I had never heard of them (or their group, CARD) before.

What I’ve come to love so much about Janet’s work is that one timeline doesn’t suffer for the other. She fully fleshes out both sides and characters; at no point did I find myself skimming one section to get back to another time period. I lived and breathed every page.

One thing I want to stress: DO NOT skip the author’s note!! It’s every bit as excellent as the book itself with mini bios of the women and photos! It made my history-loving heart sing! I’m thrilled I had the chance to read MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE and highly recommend it — there’s action, swoony romances, badass woman from history, and so many references to books and authors and quotes. Truly a joy to read!

A wonderful dual timeline historical fiction novel about Jessie "Kit" Carson, an assistant librarian at the New York Public Library (NYPL) in 1918, who travels to WWI war torn France to help rebuild war-torn communities through children's libraries. Funded through an organization called CARD, backed by Anne Morgan (daughter of JP Morgan), Jessie Carson created a network of bookmobiles and ultimately a model for libraries (with dedicated children's sections) throughout France. Her story is uncovered by Wendy Peterson 70 years later, an aspiring writer and part time researcher at the very same NYPL, Jessie Carson's story becomes the inspiration for Wendy to find herself and carve out an independent career that involves writing, historical research about the CARDs, French culture, and love.

Similar to the author's prior novel, The Paris Library (about the WWII heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris), this story is also a love letter to treasured books. There are numerous passages where the French families trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, homes, farms and communities demolished by the Germans, found little moments of peace and escape through literature. Lastly, do not miss the Author's Note at the end which provides detailed profiles of the brave women who inspired this story. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Based on a real person and her time in France during World War I. I never knew about this organization to bring books to War torn France. I don’t think many people would have thought about the importance of been able to read a book to escape the reality of horror and loss considering the shortage of food and other basic needs.
We see children way more mature than their age recovering bit of their lost childhood and been able to forget about what is going on by losing themselves in the wonderful world of books.
We really have two story lines. The original one in 1918 and the second one in 1987 following a young woman working in the New York public library who after finding a snippet about CARD is determined to get more information of the group in 1918 in France and what happened to them afterwards.
Be ready to get a bit sentimental while reading and the need for a handkerchief.
Make sure after finishing the book you read the author’s note providing lots of information about the history of the librarians in France. I highly recommend this book.

This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of an American librarian, Jessie “Kit” Carson, who joined the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD) and traveled to France during WW1 and revolutionized French libraries. This incredibly well researched novel tells the story of women who made a historical impact and the importance of books for everyone regardless of age or status. The novel is told using dual timelines when Kit was in France 1917-1924 during and after the Great War and in 1987 when Wendy, an NYPL employee and aspiring writer, begins research on the Cards. Wendy states “History books don’t tell the half of it. Especially where women are concerned.” I preferred Kit’s war time storyline to Wendy’s more modern storyline line which includes a somewhat rushed romance. I will be recommending this to my historical fiction loving friends.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

An homage to librarians, this novel based on the true story of Jessie Carson, recruited to serve with the American Committee for Devastated France in 1917, highlights how sharing the love of reading changes the lives of children and families. The abbreviation for the group in French is CARD, so the women called themselves Cards. Jessie’s courage to leave the New York Public Library and serve in France is captivating.

Readers sink into the 1918 war zone through descriptions of the devastation and mindboggling courage of the Cards. Charles captures the haunting aura of the demolished castle in Blérancourt, now CARD headquarters, along with breathtaking accounts of Cards navigating minefields, searching for orphaned children hiding in caves, and rebuilding bombed villages. The bonds of respect forged between the millionaire Anne Morgan, Anne Murray Dike, “Kit” Carson and “Brecki” create the undying support needed for families and businesses to return to Blérancourt at the end of the war. The adoption of separated pets, socials for soldiers, and creative puns; calling Cards or my favorite, report Cards, lighten the novel’s somber mood as villagers are extended a lifeline through mobile libraries and books.

The dual timeline Charles maps into the plot routes readers back to the New York Public Library in 1987. She creates tension down in the Remembrance Department between aspiring writer Wendy Peterson and fellow librarian Roberto as they comb through microfiche; older readers will know this antiquated technology. Charles laces their long hours of research with flirty banter and catchy Jeopardy questions as readers root for Wendy’s writing career. Wendy endures condescending Professor Hill, a well-drawn, extremely maddening, unlikeable character, and determines to find the elusive Jessie Carson.

I highly recommend this impressive novel and my favorite section, the Author’s note, filled with the history of librarians in France during World War I. Janet Skeslien Charles reminds us “books are a lifeline.” 

Use your library Card and check it out!

I really enjoyed Janet Skeslien Charles' last book The Paris Library and was excited to read her next historical fiction novel. It did not disappoint! Through dual timelines, it offers a unique look at the little-known American Committee for Devastated France (CARD) founded by JP Morgan's daughter Anne.

In 1918, Jessie "Kit" Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the CARDs in northern France. In 1987, NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. When Jessie arrives in France, she is tasked with establishing a children’s library for the devastated rural community. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians.

There is plenty of book discussion - both adult and children's books - that make this story a fun journey for any book lover. Books offer a pathway to healing and as a balm for loss. But the CARDs are tasked with so much more and Jessie learns to shed her insecurities as she witnesses the devastation of war and the aftereffects of the German retreat on the small community and its people.

I loved the female friendships portrayed in the 1918 timeline between Jessie and fellow CARDs Breckie, Lewis and Marcella as well as the indomitable Anne Morgan. This storyline was more interesting to me than Wendy's role in uncovering Jessie's story. The NYPL setting in the archives and Wendy's efforts to write a story on the CARD's contributions in wartime were inspiring but the romance angle was a bit flat for me.

Overall, another great piece of historical fiction, however. And the author's notes are not to be missed as Charles provides additional detail on many of these very real women.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is based on the true story of Jessie Carson, a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library.  Jessie’s story unfolds in this dual timeline, dual voice novel as current day library employee, Wendy Peterson, works on preserving documents about the (primarily socialite) women who enlisted in the CARD program to aid French villages in rebuilding after WWI. The story is obviously well researched.  Charles brought to life the French villagers and the little-known women who volunteered for the CARD program.  I love that I learned something new from this book and that it inspired me to do more reading on the topic. Equally enjoyable were the many references to and quotes from literature. 

Jessie Carson was a librarian who shared books with the children of war-torn France at the end of WWI as part of the CARD (American Committee for Devastated France) project. Her story is told primarily from her point of view (via documents Wendy is preserving).  Wendy adds to Jessie’s story through her dedicated research and desire to reveal the CARD story.  I found Wendy to be slightly less developed and saw the character’s role as mainly presenting the CARD and Jessie Carson’s story. While both worked at a library and were quiet introverts, the similarities stop there. 

In Charles’ captivating and enlightening book, she shines a light on the power of reading and shared books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Miss Morgan’s book Brigade
By: Janet Skeslien Charles
Publisher: Atria
Pub Date 4/30/24
Jessie Kit Carson is a librarian at the NYC public library in 1918. She has just been recruited to join Ann Morgan and the CARDS in France during WWI. Ann being the daughter of JP Morgan is very wealthy and is paying Jessie to be there. It’s Jessie’s job to establish a library there when she arrives. Once she’s up and running she creates bookmobiles and adds story time for kids.
Wendy Peterson a writer who also works at the NYC public library but 70 years later. While scanning old records she finds an article about Jessie and the CARDS. She keeps digging for more information and ends up writing a book about them.
This book is a true story. After finishing the book I started reading about Jessie Carson. She and other librarians from New York Public Library took a leave of absence to help set up libraries again after the war.
Thanks to Janet Skelton Charles, Atria and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is another phenomenal historical fiction piece.
Woah! I was so excited for another historical fiction from Janet Skeslien Charles.
This is such a fantastic book that got me hooked from the very beginning.
This is a fascinating and illuminating glimpse of World War I history.
Very well written that you get sucked into the story and just forget all your plans for the day because you just can't stop reading.
This story captured me, entertained me, and inspired me.
A story of resilience of the human spirit, the power of literature, and ultimately the courage it takes to make a change.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Ugh, this book! All the feels! I'm on an emotional roller-coaster!

I loved Janet Skeslien Charles's The Paris Library, so I was so excited to hear about this book, and couldn't wait to get my hands on it!

Right from the beginning, it drew me in. I love dual timelines, especially when one of them is in the 1980s. Totally rad!

There's an American librarian, Jessie Carson (based on a real person!), who goes to the North of France during the Great War (WWI) to help with everything from books to chickens, and an archivist for the New York Public Library in the 1980s who discovers her and is dying to know what happened.

Even though this book is set during wartime, and terrible things are happening, it is so full of hope. I love how books are used as a healing balm for loss. There are, of course, heart-rending moments in this book, but also a lot of heartwarming moments.

Bonus points for mentioning my childhood favorite: Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery.

Thank you to Atria Books for proving me a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I love learning new historical facts in my fiction reads and I learned a lot from Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. Told in 2 time lines, Jessie Carson in 1918 and Wendy Peterson in 1987. Jessie is recruited to the CARD program to help French people during WWI, she had been a New York Public Librarian and she went to France to help rebuild libraries and bring books to people who lives had been devastated by the German occupation.

Most of the women who were part of the Card program came from wealthy families (the title character is the daughter of J.P Morgan) but there were a couple like Jessie whose expenses and salary were paid by Card. Along with the library, the women took care of medical needs, agricultural help and even helped evacuate the area when the Germans were coming back.

Wendy worked at the NYPL and was a budding writer. When she came across information about Card in the archives she was intrigued and thought it would make a great story. She began researching the people and organization along with Roberto, a fellow NYPL employee.

Don't miss the Author's notes at the end, its full of information about these women in real life. I really enjoyed this book and learning about these extraordinary women, I know the trend right now with Historical Fiction is to tell it in two timelines but I honestly would have preferred just the WWI timeline and it's focus on the Card women.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is about a group of women in World War 1. Specifically about Jessie "Kit" Carson, who left her job at the New York Library to move to France and start a library near the end of World War 1.
It also has a dual timeline following Wendy in the 80's, also a New York Public Library employee, who comes across some articles on Jessie, and uses her research to write a novel.
The writing was good. The story was good. Personal preference- this just wan't for me. It didn't have enough that grabbed me in and made me excited to keep reading. But I think this novel will be greatly appreciated by many.
I also think the dual timeline was unnecessary and the Wendy timeline didn't add much to the story.
What I did love: How much books were treasured, and the value placed on them. Books are a huge part of my life and really have the ability to be life changing so I appreciated and related to that.
I also loved the talk of some classic books (Especially Anne of Green Gables from this PEI gal).
I think overall this was an okay book, with no major critcisim. But it just wasn't necessarily for me. Although some of my top books are historical fiction, it's not my go-to. Would recommend to any historical fiction fans out there, that want strong female leads, WWI, and a love of books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc. This title is released on April 30.
2.5 stars from me

Fans of The Paris Library will be thrilled by another installment of historical fiction from Janet Skeslien Charles. Set during the World War I, Miss Morgan's Book Brigade follows the work of the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD after the French title for the group). Jessie Carson was one of those who travelled to France. She was working at the New York Public Library under a very unpleasant boss and so the leave of absence brought a welcome respite from tensions at work. She arrived in France with grand ideas of restoring the library and bringing books to those who were hit the hardest. As she slowly got to know the families in the area, she won them over by offering children's story hour. Families were starved for books as most of theirs had been destroyed by invading forces and there was no money for such luxuries any longer. Jessie was instrumental in making over old ambulances to create bookmobile and she traveled the surrounding areas bring books and even more importantly hope and a sense of normalcy that so many were missing.

In a parallel storyline, Wendy Peterson works at the New York Public Librarian in 1987 scanning archived documents. She stumbles across stories about the CARDs and becomes intrigued to learn more. As an aspiring writer, she smells the making of a great story and sneakily reads while working. As she learns more about the CARDs and their courage and bravery, she finds models to follow in her own life.

The book is a well-researched project that brings to light a little-known effort in WWI. It was very inspiring to hear of how the heiress Anne Morgan used her wealth for such a noble cause. CARDs helped with more than one evacuation, provided support and through Jessie Carson, also provided access to books that offered a lifeline during one of the darkest times in French history.

Jessie went on to promote children's libraries within other French cities and trained other women to be librarians. It was an excellent look at the resourcefulness of women in WWI and the sacrifices they made as well. I appreciated that the author had extensive end notes with more information about the historical figures and information on people she had based other characters on.

Note: There were scenes in both story lines that I would consider R-rated. I feel the book would have been even better without those details. Because of this, I would recommend this title for adults.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Miss Morgan's Book Brigade through NetGalley and a print copy through the publisher, Atria Books, for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.