***I received an ARC from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.***

From the author of The Paris Library comes a war story to tug at your heart strings. With the perfect amount of history and fiction, Skeslien Charles, has, yet again, mastered the art of the historical fiction novel. This book left me wanting more and with a thirst for research that I haven’t experienced in some time - “who needs cocaine when you have research.”

What I loved about this book:
❤️ Characters based on real people!
❤️ The way the author eloquently sets the scene for each setting - taking care to ensure that the reader can’t help but find themselves transported there when in the “library of their minds”.
❤️ A book lovers dream! With quotations and descriptions of binding, foil lettering, etc. A true gift to experience a book in this way.
❤️ The sprinklings of love stories throughout the heartache and loss.

What I could have gone without:
⭐️ Although useful to the plot, the Influenza A outbreak/ heartache made me feel raw in the aftermath of the COVID shut-down.
⭐️ Marcelle as an elderly woman seemed to have lost her spark. I would have excepted her to forever be youthful and witty.
⭐️ Both a pro and a con - the ending left me wondering.

I highly recommend getting your hands on this book when it comes out on 5/7/24. I had such a great time falling in love with Kit and Wendy.

4.25. I really enjoyed this novel. It focused on a librarian who worked at the New York Public Library, Jessie Carson, who during World War I, joined the American Committee for Devastated France, a Women’s volunteer group founded by Anne Morgan, JP Morgan’s daughter, to bring relief and assistance to help rebuild the towns and cities of France destroyed by the war. Although more of late, few recent novels focus on the devastation and horrors of World War I, on the land and on people and families, particularly in countries where the fighting occurred. Whole towns were destroyed and families were displaced with little to rely on or resources to build back with. The small group of women volunteers did an amazing variety of services to revitalize the areas so decimated by the ravages of war, including bringing books and libraries to the small towns, provided medical services, food, clothing, education, and other provisions to assist. Ms Morgan was on the front lines as well as being an ardent fundraiser for the cause. I had never heard of this group, but the novel highlights how they persevered and assisted those, even under high risk situations as some were close to the war fronts or faced with the land mines left by tghe soldiers. An incredible and inspiring historical novel of the strength and resilience of these female volunteers. Great character development. I would highly recommend this novel. A very interesting read. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased and candid review .

based-in-truth, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, librarian, library, WW1, France, selflessness*****

This is based on the life story of Jessie Carson and her mentor, Anne Morgan, during the War To End All Wars. It is the story of children's books, children's librarians, a terrible time in France. Here we learn about self discovery, the rescue of children's minds from the world of those days, and the way that adaptation for now and the future can be effected. The story is moving and the author relentless.
I requested and received a temporary EARC from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you, I have preordered a copy for my local public library.

This book tells the true story of Jessie Carson and her work of bringing books and libraries to northern France after World War One. I love historical fiction but always welcome the change from a WW2 novel. The book was uplifting while still showing the hardships that Europe faced after The Great War.

I rate this historical fiction book a solid 4 stars. It is the inspiring story of the women of CARD(Le Comite americain pour les regions devastees). These women volunteered to go into the northern part of France evacuated by retreating Germans in 1917. They were only fifty miles from the front and often faced great danger, sometimes being bombarded with artillery. They provided food, medicine, nursing services and books.
The librarian, Jessie "Kit" Carson, with the help of locals, rebuilt a local library and went on to create over fifty libraries. She started bookmobiles, using converted ambulances. The book should be named Miss Carson's Book Brigade. My wife read this book before me and this was her only complaint, as Miss Morgan , wealthy daughter of J. P. Morgan, a wealthy American banker, was the chief fundraiser and contributor of funds. However, she was also there with the other women volunteers. She was also the chief recruiter of new women to volunteer and paid Jessie's salary.
One Quote:
Breckie, fellow CARD, to Jessie: "A wise woman once told me that some folks who say they want the best for us are the worst for us."
I read this book over the course of ten days, immersing myself in this time and place.
Thanks to Dayna Johnson at Atria Books | Simon & Schuster for sending me both print and eARC copies of this book through NetGalley. #MissMorgansBookBrigade #NetGalley

"Miss Morgan's Book Brigade" follows Jessie “Kit” Carson, a New York Public Library librarian, as she joins Anne Morgan and Anne Murray Dike's effort to support French communities during World War I. Known as the CARDs, this organization, comprising American socialites, aimed to rebuild war-torn France, with Kit focusing on restoring libraries.

This novel is both engaging and meticulously researched, making it a treat for bibliophiles with its rich tapestry of literary references, including numerous nods to "Anne of Green Gables." Featuring a dual timeline that also introduces an aspiring writer in 1987, the story draws intriguing parallels between the challenges faced by characters in both eras, particularly the impact of criticism on their lives. A must-read for any book enthusiast, the novel beautifully blends historical fiction with a deep love for literature.

Book Review: Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade’
Stars: 4 x 5
Author: Janet Skeslien Charles
Publisher: Atria Books

What an interesting book. There are two dual story lines. The first is about Jessie “Kit” Carson and takes place in 1918 . Kit is a librarian at the New York City Public Library. She takes a leave to go to France to help rebuild a devastated French community. While there she ends up converting an old ambulance into a “bookmobile” for the children. She also ends up working with libraries and creating children’s sections.

In 1987 Wendy is a librarian at the New York City Public Library and she comes across some papers in the the Archives that mention Jessie Carson and what she had done back in 1918. Wendy decides to research this further. The reader finds out about Jessie Carson and what she did in France and beyond. This book is based on a true story and it was fascinating to read.

Wonderful heartfelt book. Characters were interesting and entertaining. I usually don't enjoy war books, but this book sucked me in and kept me there. Will be handselling this like mad - first one up is my daughter in law and granddaughter!

MISS MORGAN'S BOOK BRIGADE is a must-read dual-timeframe novel about strong women inspiring and fostering women and book lovers for generations to come and the long-lasting impact of libraries and librarians.

The story is chock-full of enlightening details about WWI and the CARDS, and it is well-balanced with what life was like for the villagers and those who served in any capacity.

Fans of THE PARIS LIBRARY will be excited to learn that the author learned of the CARDS while researching the library director, Dorothy Reeder. The author knew somebody must share their stories, and she was right.

Thank you for being you, Janet Skeslien Charles! And thank you, ATRIA Books, for the complimentary galley.

5.0 stars
HIGHEST recommendation

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Janet Skeslien Charles, Atria Books. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

WOW!! This book is the reason that I love, love, love historical fiction! I learned so much about WWI which I knew very little about at all. I have been very tired of WWII books so reading something different was fun and exciting!

This book covers two timelines with two main characters. Jessie "Kit" Carson in 1918 at the end of WWI in war-ravaged northern France working with CARD (a refugee/civilian aid organization) and Wendy Peterson in 1987 in NYC while working at the NYPL discovering CARD and wanting to write about it. The storylines are woven together beautifully and create an amazing storyline.

Of course, both characters are librarians who have worked at the same library in vastly different timeframes. A story about books, libraries,, and librarians - you had me at BOOKS!!

I know very little about WWI and this book helped educate me about this brutal war. Now I want to research it more thoroughly!!

My thanks to Atria Books for the ARC. It was a great historical retelling of Kit Carson, a librarian who risked life and limb to bring the joy of books and reading to people who demoralized and injured by World War I. The stories of those people who lived through the horrors of the War and how Kit interacted are researched by a NYPL employee who happens onto her story and brings it to life as a separate story line. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. This story was amazing!! I devoured this book. It is impeccably researched and the absolutely awesome charecters come to life on the pages. The bravery and strength and heart of these women is so inspiring. This is a story you do not want to miss.

Many thanks to Janet Skeslien Charles, Atria Books, and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade. I had never heard the story of the WWI CARD volunteers, so this bit of history was fascinating, and I learned a lot. In that regard, I very much appreciated the author’s note at the end of the novel, that provided photos and more detail on the real-life characters. I always love a story centered around books and libraries, but here I did not connect with the characters in the same way as I did in The Paris Library.

There is two POVs in this book but it works well as the characters are well developed and relatable. I enjoyed the settings and learning about how both worlds worked - the research and protection, the recovery and care.

It was a new topic from WWI I didn’t know about with the CARDs and the work they did. Interesting stuff! And enjoyed learning about them in a very personal way.

The ending felt a little off in the way things were wrapped up, but at the same time it was satisfying. The authors notes at the end about the real people she researched and based her characters on was fascinating.

My two favorite things are books about WWI/WWII and books about books, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this. Having read so much about this time period, it's rare for me to discover a vantage point that hasn't already been explored to death already in historical fiction, so I was very intrigued by this focus on the women of CARD and their work in France in the aftermath of WWI.

Dual storylines and timelines often mean that one is more fully fleshed out than the other, but that's not the case here - our two protagonists are nuanced, fully realized human beings. The historical research is sound and the two time periods are distinct and accurately represented. Overall, well worth a read.

In 1918, NYP librarian, Jessie Carson, is invited by heiress Anne Morgan to join her philanthropic group, THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR DEVASTATED FRANCE aka (CARD) which helps war torn areas of France. Jessie’s job in France, is to set up libraries for the children. When Jessie arrives n France, she is unprepared for the realities of German occupation Villages, homes and even crops have been destroyed. The villagers are homeless and starving. The CARDS befriend them, and give them food, blankets and other necessities. They babysit, give them medical attention, help them plant crops and comfort them if needed. When Jessie reads books to the children, they can escape into a world not at war. They can inhabit THE SECRET GARDEN, and share adventures with Peter Pan. The library books give them hope for the future. The CARDS helped the villagers survive, both physically and emotionally.
This story is historical fiction at its best. I am proud the CARDS are finally being recognized, and are no longer just a footnote in WWI history.

As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, this group of international women help rebuild destroyed 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. Then she disappears.

{n 198, NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, and she becomes consumed with learning Jessie "Kit" Carson's fate. In her obsessive research, she discovers that she and the elusive librarian have more in common than their work at New York’s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time.

Based on the extraordinary little-known history of the women who received the Croix de Guerre medal for courage under fire, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, the power of literature, and ultimately the courage it takes to make a change. I had read the author's previous book, The Paris Library, so requested this book from NetGalley and thank them and the publisher for granting my request to read about this little known group of women. I was amazed at what they achieved and what they sacrificed to help the French people. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about strong women and the parts they played in WWII.

This was an interesting, and fun story to read.
I had never hear of this group of American women who between 1917 and 1924 all volunteers – who left comfortable lives in the United States to help the war-ravaged civilian population of northeastern France. The leader of this effort was Anne Morgan, daughter of financier J. P. Morgan, who collected private funds and founded the American Committee for Devastated France. (CARD)
The story takes place between,1918 and 1987 following for the most part two women who worked the New York Public Library.
In 1918 we follow Jessie Carson, who took a leave of absence and joined the American Committee for Devastated France, to open up a children's libraries, something new to the French at that time. She wanted to have a place where children could feel safe for awhile and develop a love for stories.
In 1987 we follow Wendy Peterson who works at the New York Public Library and who came across the Name Jessie Carson in the archives, and became obsessed to find out what happened to her and the other CARD'S during and after their time in France.
I would highly recommend this book and I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of this book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was such a fun, enjoyable read. I loved the different perspective of war focusing on those that made such sacrifices to help others. I really enjoyed the characters and found myself wondering if any were based on true history. I loved the dual narrative from the NY librarian in the past who works in France as part of the CARD group aiding war town areas and the NY librarian in current day who was researching them.

I have only read one other book by Janet Skeslien Charles but it was a great read and Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is no different. The characters and setting and just the entire book was spectacular. I will be recommending this book to every one who loves Historical Fiction books.