Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” by Janet Skeslien Charles is a captivating historical novel that weaves together two timelines. Set predominantly in Northern France during World War I, the story is based on the real-life librarian, Jessie “Kit” Carson, who worked for the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD). The meticulous research brings depth and authenticity to the narrative, while the characters—richly drawn and compassionate—leap off the page. This novel celebrates strong women breaking down barriers and leaving their mark on history, all against the backdrop of a wise dog named Max, the comfort of books, and a trip to Paris.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

With a dual timeline that focuses more on the earlier timeline than the later timeline, this approach worked well for me. Afterall, this is the story of Jessie "Kit" Carson and the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD) while Wendy of the later timeline is trying to find out what she can about one of the lessor known (to her, at least) members of CARD, Jessie Carson. The 1918 and on timeline is Jessie's POV of her time in France while Wendy's 1987 timeline deals with her work in the very same library Jessie worked at before being employed by CARD, the New York Public Library.

Most of the women of CARD had wealthy families that allowed them to finance their time with CARD, often including trips back and forth across the ocean or at least for lavish stays in Paris (as lavish as wartime would allow the rich). Despite her lack of financial means Jessie's background and accomplishments as a New York librarian lead to Jessie being offered a paying job with CARD. With her limited means, Jessie could not afford to take the job without getting paid but the work is extremely important to her and although she signs up for a two year contract, she stays much longer than that, despite being denied more pay for all that she does for CARD.

We learn about many of the real women who volunteered for CARD and this historical fiction introduces us to some wonderful, brave and beleaguered characters who've suffered so much death and destruction near the Red Zone of France. More hardship is to come while Jessie works to develop some kind of library resource for the community she services. After German occupation of the area for several years, children missed out on schooling and social interaction that they sorely needed. Jessie can't complain that she doesn't have a functional library building (everything has been bombed and most things are rubble) when so many families of the area are living outside or in the ruins of buildings, caves, or wherever they can in the war torn landscape. Their need and their resourcefulness drives Jessie to do all she can for them, creating mobile libraries and bookmobiles with whatever she can scrape together.

The work of the CARD members is inspiring and as Wendy, an aspiring writer, researches the work of CARD, she is able lean on what she learns about the CARD, and the people they serve, to overcome some of her own trauma and move forward. Her part in the story fills gaps for us when it comes to the earlier timeline. I know I will be looking at more information and books about CARD, thanks to what I've learned in this book.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles followed Jesse Carson, a librarian originating in NY who moves to France to bring books to children via ambulances she calls bookmobiles during the Great War.

I enjoyed learning about Jesse Carson’s story.

4 stars.

This was a fascinating tale of two women and how their fates interconnected through time. Starting in 1918 and sweeping into 1987, it follows women who refuse to back down and take matters (and books) into their own hands. They find ways to combat book bans, sharing books despite personal struggles and dangers, and is a sweeping tale of heroism.

I really enjoyed this book. I mean, what’s not to love about female librarians 40 miles from the front who deliver books and help French families rebuild their lives during World War I? Based on a true story, I had no idea that this happened. It was eye opening and made it a hard story to put down.

Fantastic research and storytelling. I’d definitely recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is fiction based on actual events. It takes place during the Great War and has a dual timeline set in 1987. Jesse Carson takes a leave from the NYPL to help build a library in devastated France. She travels there to join the American Committee for Devastated France, or the CARDS as they were known, founded by Anne Morgan and Dr. A M Dike. She had no idea that what she was to develop into a library had been totally destroyed.

Since a library was the last on the leader’s list of what needed to be, Jesse had to convince the 2 heads that a library for the building community was just as important as the rest of the work that had to be done. Jesse, nicknamed Kit, enlisted the help of those living there to help rebuild. In the meantime, she used ambulances as mobile libraries, traveling to outlying ares to hold story hour and check out books. She also helped the people who had lost so much to rebuild their lives and move on.

In 1987, Wendy Peterson is working at the NYPL documenting historical information. She comes across information on the CARDS, and bits about Jesse Carson. She wants to write a book and decides this is what she would like to tell people about. She has a hard time finding information about Jesse since she has seemed to have disappeared.
She sets out to hunt down what she needs and finds the last living member of the CARDS. From her she is able to piece together much of the puzzle.

The story is riveting and hooked me in right from the beginning. It is well written and flows nicely. I didn’t want to put it down. I also liked that she had a biography of each of the characters at the end of the book. The author has also written The Paris Library.

I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

The war is in full swing in 1918 France. Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to join CARD, American Committee for Devastated France, Her job is to help rebuild communities and to start a library. Rich with characters you will relate to. Meanwhile in 1987 Librarian Wendy Peterson stumbles across a reference to Jessie and begins to investigate. This is based on the true story and history of the women who served in the group. It is testament to the power of literature and the courage of these women.

Books and Historical Fiction are bound to make a great read. I enjoyed the story and especially liked the movement from present day to the time of war. The author did a great job of developing characters that helped you quickly become connected to the story. I would recommend to others. The only glitch for me was it felt like there was so much secrecy around Carson’s life after the book brigade and I didn’t feel like that part of the story ever developed.

I am so glad there is more focus on WWI now in books. I think there’s a lot to be explored during this time period. I liked the CARD parts of the story. I just wish the characters had a bit more depth, and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the 1980s timeline. I think this will be a winner for a lot of historical fiction lovers, however, especially with how it focused on books.

This story was so hard to put down! I love learning about real history through historical fiction books, and the CARD is a group I had never learned about previously. Janet Skestien Charles did such a good job researching this book, and I appreciate her author notes at the end. If you love history and historical fiction, I HIGHLY recommend this book!

A dual timeline--which I love. The chapters alternate--as told by Jessie and Wendy.

1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie "Kit" Carson [a real person] takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France {CARD]. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan [J.P. Morgan's daughter], this group of international women help rebuild devastated French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries [and female librarians]. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. But, the CARDS did so much more than their library work--they brought food, clothing, and other services to the war-torn area--at the risk of their own peril. I loved the CARDs [for example, Breckie, Lewis, Cookie]--as well as the villagers. The CARDs were flushed out personalities which enhanced the story.

1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer/student Wendy Peterson [fictionalized] stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate and finding the missing pieces to Jessie's story. I found Wendy far less interesting than Kit.

Jessie is somewhat of a fish out of water among the privileged volunteers; for one, she is paid. The descriptions of the differences in social backgrounds is interesting.

A relatively easy read.

However, I was derailed by the "mush" [always a disconnect for me].
To wit:
"As his skin grazed mine, I reveled in this touch."
"Tom's lips look soft, and I imagined that they tasted of apricot tart. I longed to kiss him."
"The heat of his skin makes me melt."

A plus--strong women.

Overall, a heartwarming read--especially the last almost third of the book [probably my favorite part]. Although I did like the earlier story better; I liked how it connected at the end [no spoiler]. Both timelines/heroines have romantic interests. In another parallel, is it coincidental that both heroines deal with the loss of a parent?

NOTE: Be sure to read the author's note; I wish there'd been more of this!

3.5 for the historical research and information learned about the cards. Cannot round up.

What an incredible book! I loved her first book, "The Paris Library" and this was was just as good, if not better!

Summary (no spoilers): Near the end of WWI, France is devastated by war and invasion. American librarian Jessie Carson joins a group of women determined to aid French communities. But while most of the women are providing food and medical care, Jessie is tasked with providing libraries and children's story time. 70 years later, an aspiring writer comes across the name Jessie Carson in the NY public library's archives. But who is she, and what happened to her?

I'm a sucker for books about books and librarians, and I loved learning the history behind Jessie Carson. Inspired by true events, this novel takes you into the world of WWI and the brave, yet largely unknown, women who did so much to help. You will fall in love with these characters and laugh and cry alongside them.

Additionally, I appreciated the character biographies at the end of the novel. It's always incredible to read more about the characters and their real lives. I thought Charles did an excellent job at representing these real people in a fictional work.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early ebook edition of “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” by Janet Skeslien Charles. A fascinating historical fiction look at a group of American women, funded by and working with Anne Morgan (daughter of wealthy NY financier J.P. Morgan) who traveled to war-ravaged France during WWI to help villagers in the North of France rebuild their lives amongst the devastation wrought by battle. The primary focus is former New York librarian, Jessie Carson, an actual historical figure, who helped to build a library for the beleaguered French children; it features a dual timeline, alternating between Jessie’s perspective in WWI France and the viewpoint of Wendy, an NY Public Library employee in the 1980’s who stumbles upon glimpses of Jessie’s history and begins to research her … and where these timelines eventually intersect. A great read for historical fiction lovers, lovers of books and libraries, and those with an interest in women’s roles in WWI! #MissMorgansBookBrigade #NetGalley

I really enjoy historical fiction and loved the various perspectives in this story. I wasn’t familiar with the CARD until reading this novel and I enjoyed learning about their work. The plot between Wendy and Roberto didn’t feel relevant to the overall story but I still enjoyed the book.

What an interesting dive into a little known piece of history. As a librarian, I was intrigued by this title, of course, and I loved the fact that this woman who is fictionalized in the story really existed and women organized themselves to help the French during WWI.

This was a real page-turner and I'm sure there will be a long waiting list for it soon after it hits the shelves at my library!

I was so excited to read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles, and it did not disappoint! This story was just as good as The Paris Library. Still set in France, still dealing with libraries.... but just with an earlier focus. Despite being a librarian myself, I am woefully uneducated about the history of libraries (especially internationally) and about the role librarians played in wartime. This book tells the story of Jessie "Kit" Carson and her work as a CARD (American Committee for Devastated France) during WWI. This book was fascinating, and highly readable.

A couple of my hang ups about this book: 1) it is hard to believe that female volunteers would risk their lives and be so close to the front in wartime France. This book took a bit of a nonchalant approach to this idea, and the seriousness/gravity of this. I mean, it was mentioned, but it is crazy to me that this was real. 2) The 1980s plotline was not as strong as its historical counterpart. Don't get me wrong - I liked Wendy Peterson and her research journey to learn more about Jessie Carson and the CARDS, but it wasn't as strong. And I had a hard time connecting to her love story but that may just be me.

Overall, I really loved this book. I could tell the author put so much time and energy into her research and into authentically telling this interesting yet forgotten story of women's work in war. I liked reading at the end of the book about the real women who shaped the characters of this book. Would highly recommend!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

. . . Just what I look for in historical fiction.
Memorable characters.
A history lesson wrapped in a compelling story
And, a satisfying reading experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I loved this book! If you’re a fan of historical fiction and women’s rights, I highly recommend this book. Lovely story based on real life characters and events. I especially enjoyed the epilogue where photographs and biographies of the real women whom the story is based on. This is my second book by Ms. Charles, the first was the Pairs Library, which is also very good.

I have only recently started reading WWI historical fiction and the synopsis for this appealed.

Based on the true story of Jesse Carson (whom I knew nothing of), I was immediately pulled into this compelling story. The pacing and writing are smooth and the dual timelines blend together well.

My biggest issue with the story is that many characters (including main) were far less full and sketched out and the emotions were portrayed with less gravitas than the situations would seem to warrant.

While I found the subject highly interesting - the book quotes were an appreciated addition and I loved how this showcased the life altering importance of libraries, in all times, I ultimately was disappointed - the lack of depth regarding the emotions of characters detracted from my reading enjoyment.



Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Historical fiction account of Jessie"Kit' Carson, a member of CARD (American Committee for Devastated
France), who left New York and brought books to the children of war torn France Along wih her fellow
Card members, she assisted the community to make the best of what was available. Her work shows
the importance of libraries and the comfort the books available bring to readers. It also highlights the
courage and resolve of CARD members to do whatever they could to ease the burden of those suffering.
A great read about an organization I was not familiar with.
#MissMorgansBookBrigade #Atria #NetGalley