This is such an enduring book building on a true story of an American librarian rebuilding French communities after WWI with something novel to France at the time, children's libraries. It is a book about resourcefulness, friendship, resilience and the power of books to overcome any odds. It is set in a dual timeline, which I love, and was well researched. It came together beautifully! The author paints an amazingly vivid picture in the readers mind of the characters and the landscape. I really enjoyed this work of historical fiction!

I love reading historical fiction to learn about people or events I know nothing about. This book examines an organization founded by Anne Morgan, daughter of the wealthy J.P. Morgan, to help devastated areas of France during and after WWI. One of the members who went to France to help was a New York Public Library children’s librarian and much of the story revolves around her experiences and ultimate success bringing books back to the people who had lost so much.

“Miss Morgan's Book Brigade” is a very well researched book about WWI in France focusing on a group of women trying to help rebuild the towns. The main character, Jessie Carson, is a librarian at the New York Public Library. She had been selected to be part of the American Committee for Devastated France with her passage and salary paid by Anne Morgan (daughter of J.P. Morgan). The story evolves with her time over in France in her quest to provide libraries and books to children. The novel also alternates to a point of view from a librarian working at the New York Public Library in 1987 who discovers files and notes about this group. This is the first time in a book I thought a point of view wasn’t needed. It actually read like it was the author’s point of view and was her research process. I marked my rating down to three stars because while the premise was very good, I wish there was more focus and detail on the WWI perspective and would have left out the 1987 perspective. Overall, the author shined a light on something new to me.

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

WWII fiction is one of my favorite genres, if not my absolute favorite genre. I also really enjoy stories that are based on real life people, as this one was, and one of my favorite writing styles is alternating timelines, so this book hit a lot of marks for me. It was also a really well written story. If you like WWII fiction, definitely give Miss Morgan's Book Brigade a try.

Jessie Kit Carson. She is a librarian at the New York Public Library in 1918. when she joins Ann Morgan in France to establish a library. The book follows this timeline as well as that of Wendy Peterson, who also works at the New York City Library in the 1980s. When Peterson finds information in the archives about Carson and her trip to France, so hopes to write a story featuring the young woman. I was intrigued with the story of Carson and her life in France as she struggled to build a library and assist those around her in war-torn France. Peterson's timeline was well done, but not as compelling to me as that of the former. This is an excellent historical fiction novel of women and their roles in WWII.

This was such a new and fresh take on a novel of WWI. With 2 timelines, and a little known story of librarian, Jessie Carson, you will be enthralled. I loved both storylines of 1918 and 1987.

I love discovering historical fiction books about people I knew little to nothing about, and WWI & WWII historical fiction are my favorites. The women’s stories were interesting and while parts of the story were slow overall I enjoyed this one.

A fascinating retelling of the real-life work of Anne Morgan, Jessie Carson, and the brave women known as the Cards. This was a part of WWI history that I had no real knowledge of until reading this book and Jessie's story made for such an interesting read. Jessie and the other Card's story leaves Wendy decades later, and readers are inspired by their willingness to put others first and do the best they can for those who need it most.

I am a big fan of historical fiction. You will usually find me reading war fiction with some romance mixed in. But sadly, I could not get into this one like I wanted to. I finished it, but it left me wanting. I didn't connect with the characters.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Parts of this story I loved and parts were just a bit slow. And this is going to be weird…but I was bored during the war part. I just expected a bit more during this section. I much preferred the time in NYC. The characters are unique and I loved that it was loosely based on real people.

If you are like me and enjoy discovering obscure, yet true stories from the past, you will enjoy Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. The setting is WW1, the characters are real people and the storyline is compelling. Become acquainted with Anne Morgan, Anne Murray Dike, Jessie Carson and Mary Breckinridge. Learn about the brave women who stepped up to join the Cards and assist war torn France. A big focus of our heroine was the establishment of libraries accessible to children. Jessie Carson is credited with renovating the existing library climate in France.

Told in a dual timeline fashion, we also follow a young librarian in the NYPL in 1987. . The most interesting part of that storyline was the thrill of research. The librarian, Wendy, traces the Cards and puts the pieces together so meticulously it made me want to get inside that library and start looking things up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC of Miss Morgan's Book Brigade.

Janet Skeslien Charles again shines a spotlight on librarians and the important place libraries hold in our lives, even in times of conflict and chaos in her new book Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. The Miss Morgan is Anne Morgan, wealthy daughter of J.P. Morgan and the book brigade is actually her effort to bring aid to the country side of France during WWI. Known as CARDS, most of the group were volunteer women from other wealthy families. They worked as first aid workers, drove supply trucks, and did just about any work needed. With plans to rebuild an area library, Anne gained a two year contract (paid) with the assistant children's librarian from the NYPL. Jessie (Kit) Carson came loaded with books and determination, only to find that the building could not be quickly repaired. Not one to be sidetracked, she began holding outdoor story hours, personally handing out books to locals who had suffered great physical and emotional loss. As the Germans again push into their territory, the CARDS help villagers seek safety. Flash forward to 1987 -- library worker Wendy Peterson is making copies via microfiche when the CARD papers catch her eye. Determined to learn more about the group she begins reading. Of utmost interest is Jessie Carson. So begins her quest to learn all she can and more so, to write their story.

The author provides important information following the novel about the real lives of Anne Morgan, Dr. Anne Murray Dike, several CARD workers, and most importantly Jessie Carson who went on to help France change its public libraries to places that welcomed all classes and interests, especially those of children. Having been a school librarian, any book that features libraries catches my eye. Reading one that was so well researched and taught me about an effort that I had never heard about was totally a win!

I especially enjoy reading historical fiction books that feature strong and intelligent women amd ones that teach me something that I hadn’t already known.

This was a compelling story with tenderly crafted characters and a brimming sense of hope even through the tragedy, horror, and despair of WWI. As with The Paris Librarian, the research is obviously meticulous. and Janet Skeslien Charles has done an admirable job bringing to life real-life hero women who would otherwise be consigned to fading or lost memory. And what's not to love when there are books and libraries involved :) I want to delve deeper into the resources listed at the back of the ARC because I'm not done with Jessie Carson and co. And I will definitely read the author's next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is a heartwarming and enchanting read that celebrates the joy of literature and community. The story is delightfully charming, with well-drawn characters whose love for books brings them together in unexpected ways. The novel’s vibrant prose and engaging plot make it a true page-turner. Its celebration of the transformative power of reading and friendship is both uplifting and inspiring. A delightful and satisfying read for book lovers everywhere!

This was a dud for me and sadly, I did not finish. The writing was just OK and I didn't form a connection to the characters. The real history is fascinating and I'd rather read a non-fiction book on the subject. Oh well.

I received this advance read e-ARC from Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I must admit that I had never heard of the CARD organization started by Anne Morgan, daughter of J.P. Morgan. Once I started the novel, I didn't get fully drawn into and invested in the plot until about one third of the way in.

Alternating between 1918 and 1987 and told through the eyes of Jessie 'Kit' Carson, a librarian sent to Northern France during World War I and Wendy Peterson, a struggling writer working at the New York Public Library, this is an engrossing story of courage and stoicism in the face of the horrors of war.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. I did notice that the characters that Kit interacted with seemed a little hollow and their interactions with each other seemed a little flat. But overall I enjoyed the novel and recommend.

Told in a split time line between 1918 and 1987, Miss Morgan's Book Brigade offers a glimpse into the brave women known as CARDs who were just miles from the battlefields in France and working tirelessly to help the French citizens to restore their devastated country, and the researcher in 1987 who discovers their stories and is working to shed light on these amazing women.

Based on the true story of Jessie Carson, an American librarian who played a critical role in the development of libraries in France, this novel was well researched and inspiring. I really enjoy the historical fiction stories that help me to learn about significant people and events I wasn't familiar with before. It kind of offers me a jumping off place to go learn more about these remarkable individuals and their lives. The information at the end of the novel was the perfect treat for me to learn more.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was both engaging and educational It, too, was a bit slow to get started, but then it took off. I loved this book. Anyone with an interest in history and/or libraries should read it, and would love it.

As soon as I saw that it was written by Janet Skeslien Charles, I immediately hit Request. Glad I got a copy! It was her book, The Paris Library, that got me into reading historical fiction, particularly about the WW2.

This new book of hers did not disappoint! It's as good, if not better, than the first. I like that I also got to read about a familiar character - Anne Morgan! The book is based on the true story of Jessie Carson, a former librarian at the New York Public Library, who was by Miss Morgan to set up a library in France during the Great War. In France, she joined the American Committee for Devastated France, also known as CARD.

Of course, this book tells about the power books have, especially in consoling and comforting people during their lowest moments, which in this case was the devastation of the war. Above all, this story tells us about the brave women of CARD. This group is not so widely known and I'm glad I got to read about them through the book for they deserve to be remembered.

This book is written in two time lines. While I like the historical part better, the second timeline, which was set in 1987, was also fun to read. The love story between the two library staff was cute, and the mention of the word "kilig," a Filipino word for that giddy-butterflies-in-the-stomach-romantic feeling, is an added bonus. It was a pleasant surprise!