There are so many stories set during this time period. This one did not add much that was new. I didn't love the characters.

This is a dual timeline novel set in WWI France and 1987 New York City. While I enjoyed the story, there were a few aspects that left me wanting more. The main narrative, set during WWI, was incredibly detailed and clearly well-researched. The focus on the friendships between a group of young women was central, though it did introduce quite a few characters, and I struggled to keep them all straight at times.

I think I would have enjoyed the 1987 timeline more if it had felt more grounded in its time period. While there were a few details, it didn’t fully capture the essence of the era for me. On a positive note, both main characters in each timeline were librarians, and I loved the vivid descriptions of their work and activities. The author seamlessly weaves in quotes from beloved books, doing so in a way that feels completely natural and is a delightful touch.

Overall, this story is a beautiful ode to books, libraries, and history. It’s an enjoyable read for anyone who shares a love for these things.

I love books, I love libraries, and I love historical fiction. This book was all of that and more. Such bravery. A very different look into another less known aspect of war.

At first I had a hard time getting into this book so I set it aside. I think I just wasn't ready for it yet because then when I picked dit up again a month later, I could not put it down. I love historical fiction and this packs a punch. I had no idea about the CARDS in France founded by the daughter of JP Morgan and her friend. But through the eyes of Miss Carson, we come to learn about these courageous women who went to France to help the people there displaced by the war and Miss Carson's role in creating a library for the children and townspeople. A library that served as a community builder, a ray of hope in a time of despair. Told in a dual timeline, we travel back and forth as her life and contributions are researched by one who works in the NYC public library. Rich in detail and character development, we see the story unfold of strong women who were determined, courageous, and compassionate in their humanity. Well done. Many thanks to #netgalley, #missmorgansbookbrigade # janetskesliencharles for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you for this ARC! i loved it so much i ended up buying the hardback copy for my library. I’ve read other books by this author and loved and this did not disappoint.

A book about books! How could I pass up on this one?!

The first POV is of Librarian Jessie Carson. She joins Anne Morgan’s foundation to help France during WWI. She travels to France and creates the first children’s libraries there. She creates bookmobiles that allow for traveling books. I loved how dedicated Jessie is to sharing books with other people. France was ravaged from the war, but she wanted to bring even a little joy to its people.

The second POV is of Librarian Wendy Peterson. She finds mention of Jessie in the New York Public Library archives and wants to learn more about her.

I was fascinated by the converging timelines of this story. I liked learning about Jessie along with Wendy.

Thank you Atria Books for my ARC of this book.

This historical fiction novel of a group of brave women (the CARDS) made of a group of American and French women was so inspiring. Before reading this book, I knew of Anne Morgan by name (she was the daughter of JP Morgan), but knew nothing of what she helped to do in France during World War I. I was amazed by this group of women and what they were able to accomplish and am grateful for this book for introducing me to them- especially the librarian, Jessie Carson.

A MUST read!!

This book started off a little slower for me, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it.
I always appreciate a good book about women serving in WWI, and this covered a group I had never learned about before, the CARDs who served in France. They were led by Ann Morgan, who I first read about in Marie Benedict's book The Personal Librarian.
I liked the pacing, the characters and the plot of this book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful novel based on the true story of the work of Jessie “Kit” Carson, an American librarian, who worked for the American Committee for Devastated France during World War I.

I enjoyed learning aabout the CARDS and their huge contribution to the people of France. Kit’s love for books and the French people she cared for was inspiring. Thank you Janet Skeslien Charles for bringing their story to life.

Thank you to Atria Books, Janet Skeslien Charles, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade pays homage to the “strong, brave people who have come before us, who have tried to lighten our load.” The author goes on, “We can’t know what impact we will have on others, but by sharing stories, reaching out, and creating community, we can make life easier for others and for ourselves.” I do agree, but I’m not really into “the flag-waving.”

As is the case in many current historical fiction novels, the modern story is weaker and not as interesting as the one set in WWI. I found both the writing professor and Wendy Peterson, the modern New York Public Librarian (and wannabe writer) annoying. The romances in both story lines were predictable and did not add to the stories.

I had not heard of “the CARDS”, the American Committee for Devastated France, founded by millionaire Anne Morgan. Towards the end of WWI, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the CARDS. The story was interesting and heartwarming. This group of international women helped rebuild shattered French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Jessie is a strong woman, but her self-doubts and ‘fears’ of her former boss seemed contrived, given her dedication and capabilities.

Make sure to read the excellent author’s notes at the end of the book. JANET Skeslien Charles includes some pictures and how she took ten years to research the novel. She also includes a brief bibliography.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In 1918 Jessie Kit Carson is a librarian at the New York Public Library and she is recruited to join the American Committee for devasted France, or CARD and she travels to France to create a library. Wonderful historical fiction Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the copy.

The novel is told in the seemingly ubiquitous dual timeline format. Most interesting of the two was the story of Jessie Carson, member of the American Committee for Devastated France, founded by Anne Morgan. These young woman, from largely privileged and sheltered backgrounds, immersed themselves in their war work, near the front lines in Northern France. Carson, a librarian, understands the power of books in providing an element of normalcy for people who have endured tragedy and hardship.

The modern day story comes alive at the end, when the fictionalized author interviews a surviver of the committee.
For fans of The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club and the Underground Library.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Miss Morgan's Book Brigade!

Awesome book! I love history and had never heard of the cards! Love learning new historical facts, Fascinating read!

I finally got a chance to read this book. It was really interesting to me because it was not a typical World War book. This dealt with women who went to France to help clean up after the devastation. They went while the war was ongoing. This particular story is about a children's librarian who goes to France to set up the library. The books are for loan to the villagers--a nice book in the time of distress would be uplifting to so many. Unfortunately, the library and the books had also been bombed. The characters were great. Some cranky, some upbeat, hardworking. A crew to admire. The book is peppered with references to other books and while I did not recognize any of the references (memory bank is too full) they were spot on in regards to the events in the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. This review is my own.

I think the author's previous book was much more interesting and engaging. this was fine enough, but wish the plot has been a bit faster.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC!

I really enjoyed the authors book, The Paris Library, so I was excited to read this one and learn more about Anne Morgan’s work during WWI. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed. I ended up listening on audio, and maybe that was a mistake, because the book seems to have good reviews overall. The writing felt very juvenile and and the phrase “library of my mind” was said (in all seriousness) so many times I wonder if this was even edited. Jessie’s obsession with her old boss didn’t quite make sense to me either.

I’m very grateful for the eARC, but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me.

I love history and when I find a book that teaches me about something new, I'm all in. This story was told in dual timelines -- 1987 and 1918, and I thought they were woven together really well. In 1918, Jessie "Kit" Carson goes to war-torn France to help establish children's libraries. I loved that this was based on a true story, and I thought the author did a great job portraying Kit and her peers and the horrors they saw during the war. This story had so much - hope, trauma, love. I liked learning about the CARDs and the work they did in war-torn France. I would definitely recommend this book!

A fantastic book about a group of women I had no previous knowledge. The Cards were sent into WWII to maintain library services and their sacrafice was very brave.

This was a very interesting Historical Fiction novel about Miss Anne Morgan’s millionaire financier, J.P. Morgan’s daughter, who took volunteer librarians from the New York Public Library in 1918 with her to France to run a traveling book mobile on the western front of France for the displaced women and children and then the war Veterans, both American, as they awaited transport home, and the French. This group of women were known as the CARDs which is a French acronym for Le Comite american pour les regions devastees.
The main character from the young women who made up the CARDs was based on the real life librarian Jessie “Kit” Carson. She signed up to go abroad with Anne Morgan and other NYPLs for 2 years. After the war, she stayed in France for 4 more years and was the impetus for establishing 5 libraries in Northern France and 50 circulating libraries in the north. The difference was these were the first libraries in France that were catalogued with the Dewey Decimal System; were for the working class to establish a free library card and borrow any book; and her most important initiative included the first children’s section of the library in all of France. The libraries were also large, welcoming, full of activities, and well lit. These were huge improvements to the poorly lit, unorganized, small libraries with overcrowded book shelves which only had a worn, torn incomplete catalogue to peruse to locate a book.
Kit begins a romance with Tom, a serviceman, but it doesn’t go anywhere until they meet again months later and they have a passionate love story which felt really forced.
The story is also told in dual timelines and I personally normally love this concept, but in this story, I think it broke up the pacing and the character Wendy Peterson in 1987 New York wasn’t developed enough for me to care about her and her research to bring this story to light. She could have been skipped entirely and the story of the CARDs is brought to light through the author, Janet Skeslien Charles.
I enjoyed this being a new group of women to me to learn about and it being a part of WWI. Most historical fiction I read seems to be about WWII. I also felt Kit’s heart as she has telegrams from home and learns from her sister of her mother’s passing. Kit shoulders a lot and is an amazing character full of resilience and extremely brave. I would have enjoyed this a bit more if the story just stayed with her timeline.
There are many quotes shared throughout the book from Anne of Green Gables to the Count of Monte Cristo to Charlotte’s Web. These are delightful and deepen some of Kit and Tom’s romance initially. I wished the story focused on Tom when he was away from Kit and made their romance much stronger and more sensible and relatable and mostly continual. These sections would have kept the pacing and the flow instead of jumping ahead to Wendy Peterson discovering the story of the CARDs and writing a novel about them for her English class in 1987.
Interesting story which I recommend and believe it’s worth a read, especially for bibliophiles, but maybe not for you if you’re looking for a fast paced historical fiction romance which I honestly thought it was becoming a few times.
Thank you to NetGalley, Janet Skeslien Charles, and Atria Books for this Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and review.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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