I love stories that include books and libraires when the backdrop is historical fiction, I almost feel a winner in my hands. Janet Skeslien Charles’s novel Miss Morgan's Book Brigade did not disappoint. Set in 1918 and 1987 the dual timelines and storylines meshed well. The focus on the women of The American Committee for devastated France known as Card and their work in France WWI. The women of the Card were stationed 40 miles from the front they endured the daily devastation of the war. The 1987 timeline follows ambitious writer and NYPL employee who finds several old CARD bulletins published in 1918 that describe the work of CARD volunteers in Northern France.

This book beautifully demonstrates the power of reading. It was a fabulous book about a topic I knew very little, happy to say I learnt so much.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.I love stories that include books and libraires when the backdrop is historical fiction, I almost feel a winner in my hands. Janet Skeslien Charles’s novel Miss Morgan's Book Brigade did not disappoint. Set in 1918 and 1987 the dual timelines and storylines meshed well. The focus on the women of The American Committee for devastated France known as Card and their work in France WWI. The women of the Card were stationed 40 miles from the front they endured the daily devastation of the war. The 1987 timeline follows ambitious writer and NYPL employee who finds several old CARD bulletins published in 1918 that describe the work of CARD volunteers in Northern France.

This book beautifully demonstrates the power of reading. It was a fabulous book about a topic I knew very little, happy to say I learnt so much.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this authors first book, The Paris Library, and this second book was not a disappointment! It caught my attention from the first pages, the characters were well developed and its clear that much research was put into it to make it a great read! I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this story about the CARDs - the American Committee for Devastated France. The main character is Jessie (Kit) Carson, in charge of establishing children's libraries in the war-torn countryside. The cast of Cards is delightful, with varied personalities and jobs, and the addition of well-drawn community members add to the charm and emotion of the story, set in 1917-18. A second storyline features Wendy, who works at the New York Public Library, discovering the forgotten story of these brave and resourceful women, and how learning about them sparks her own growth and confidence. This is a well-researched, poignant, and feel-good story that I couldn't put down until the very end.

This was a well written historical fiction based on a lot of truth. It was enjoyable, but a bit slow for my taste. I could see how this book would be very popular with those who love stories set in libraries. I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book had allllll the right boxes for me. Dual timeline. Historical fictions. Dual storylines. All good things. I loved how this book was able to touch on a subject that you don't see too much or in historical fiction. I really loved the library concept and opportunity for people to find hope in a dark time.

I was a huge fan of The Paris Library so I was really looking forward to reading the next book from Janet Skeslien Charles.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is a duel timeline novel based of off true events and real people. Half the book takes place in France during WWI where we follow Jessie “Kit” Carson as she tries to help villagers after their homes have been destroyed. While the other half takes place in New York in the 1980s as a woman working at the New York Public Library reads about Kit in passing and does everything she can to learn more.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is full of interesting characters and I learned so much about the American Committee for Devastated France, a foundation I previously had no knowledge of. This is a great example of a fiction book that can teach you so much. I especially liked how at the end of the book there was information on all of the real life people the characters were based off of.

I definitely recommend this book if you’re in to historical fiction or uplifting stories about the power of libraries and books.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy to read and review!

I loved Miss Morgan's Book Brigade! Janet Skeslien Charles’s pleasurable writing propels you through the story, making for very addictive reading. The text is sprinkled with characters sharing their favourite books and quotations with each other. It will have you adding to your TBR and craving a plate of scones!

In 1918, Jessie “Kit” Carson, a librarian with the New York Public Library travels overseas to work for the American Committee for Devastated France or Le Comité américain pour les régions dévastées, known as CARD. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, the committee helps rebuilt communities mere kilometres from the front. Kit brings her love of books to people that have been living in survival mode for much too long. She starts a story hour, travelling across the devastated landscape in an ambulance-turned-bookmobile, and eventually rebuilds the bomb-damaged library.

In 1987 aspiring author, Wendy Peterson, finds a reference to Jessie Carson while at her job documenting archives at the NYPL. Soon she is caught up in the lives of the Cards and Jessie Carson in particular. Tracing Jessie Carson through time proves to be a challenging task. One that results in Wendy finding her way back to herself in the process.

One of the loveliest things about this book, besides hearing about a group of women I knew nothing about, was getting to see how reading and writing, two things often thought of as solitary endeavours, bring people together and build communities out of individuals.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. I had an incredible time with Kit, Wendy, and the Cards!

Lovingly researched and an ode to librarians and books, Miss Morgan's Book Brigade takes us to the years of the Great War and a lesser known American committee to provide bookish support to devastated France. Painting that country with deep love and true warmth as only she can, @jskesliencharles blends fact and fiction in a winning and unputdownable way. More still, she juxtaposes the work of the women who received the Croix de Guerre medals with a fascinating librarian decades later --- converging history, time, people, places and books in an intricate and intertwined way. Perfect for lovers of Madeline Martin and Patti Callahan Henry.

This was a very sweet book, and was very fun to read! It's very similar to her previous book, but had more joy in the characters, making it a much more enjoyable read for me.

This book centres on two timelines, one in 1918 France, and the other in 1987 New York City. Jessie Carson is a librarian from the New York City Library, who's volunteered with the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD) and is helping to establish the first children's library in France, while helping the war-torn communities recover. While the country is still at war, Jessie works at bringing literature to the devastated Blerancourt, while finding friendship with the people she helps. Wendy Peterson is an aspiring writer in New York, and discovers references to Jessie Carson during her work in the microfiche centre, photographing documents from the archive. While struggling with her writing class, she becomes enamoured with the stories of CARD in the documents she's photographing. With newfound determination, Wendy sets out to find where Jessie ended up, and write the story of CARD.

As much as historical fiction is not my favourite genre, this was a lovely story! Janet Skeslien Charles has an incredible way of describing the world she's writing about, and brings the characters to life in a very detailed way. Reading of the women in CARD, and their struggles of working in a war zone, brought that time to life in a very real way. There were times where the story got a bit too sweet for my preferences, but overall this was a very lovely book!

Thank you very much to Simon & Schuster for the eARC of this book!

This novel is based on the true story of Jessie "Kit" Carson, an American librarian who, in 1918, attempted to establish children’s libraries in France as the Great War raged just miles away. She becomes an important member of the American Committee for Devastated France or CARD (Le Comite americain pour les regions devastees) founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, daughter of J.P. Morgan. In 1987 librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across reference to Jessie Carson in the archives and becomes consumed with learning her fate.

The story is told by Wendy and Jessie in alternating chapters and I was engrossed in the stories from both eras. The characters were admirable, very realistic and likeable. Once again, my heart was breaking and tears threatened while reading about the hardships the people of France suffered. This is another of those stories from wartime (in this case WWI) where we learn of important contributions made by little-known characters and of how those contributions resonate in the future. The amount of research the author did is absolutely staggering. The Author's Note at the end contains a wealth of information, some pictures and many related websites for further information.

I previously read "The Paris Library" by this author and highly recommend both books.

My thanks to Atria Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this historical fiction. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 30, 2024

My favorite thing about a good historical fiction novel is learning something about the past that I didn’t know before. This book was so extensively researched and told an incredible, likely little known story.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade was based on the true story of a group of women, led by wealthy heiress Anne Morgan, and American librarian Jessie Carson who worked tirelessly for the American Committee for Devastated France.

Through an incredible personal journey, Jessie creates children’s libraries in France, sets up bookmobiles, trains librarians, and brings a bit of hope back to a war devastated country through the power of books and the connection they bring.

This book has dual timelines, one of Jessie and the other of librarian Wendy Peterson in 1987 who stumbles on Jessie’s story. I liked the contrast of these two timelines and how we were able to learn more about the work these women did during the war through Wendy’s eyes. It was a fun reading experience to make those discoveries with her.

The author’s note at the end is so interesting and shows again just how well researched this book really was.

I read this author’s other book a few years ago, The Paris Library, and that one is my favorite of the two, just because I found it easier to connect with the characters.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterca for my advanced copy of this book. Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade publishes today, April 30!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Near the end of WWI, Jesse “Kit” Carson a children’s Librarian with New York Public Library, is recruited by Anne Morgan (daughter of JP Morgan) to help build children’s libraries in France. Known as the CARDS

In 1987, Wendy Peterson working in the NYPL archives discovered the CARDS and Jesse “Kit” Carson.

This book is a great introduction to other aspects of wartime in France. For fans of women’s historical fiction.

We all know how transportive stories can be, how healing magically strung together words are! Here we learn of Jessie Carson, a librarian at the NYPL who joins a group of women working in France, assisting in the rebuild of communities ravished by WWI… working merely miles from war zones, Jesse looks forward to restoring a library with focus on a children’s reading room. What she discovers when she arrives is dire, there is devastation and fear… can she do this? Can her group of friends make a difference?

I enjoyed reading about the very real Jessie “Kit” Carson and her contributions along with others. The author’s note was excellent in highlighting each of the women and their contributions, it’s obvious the research was thorough! The book references and multiple quotes throughout were a nice touch!

Although a great story, it took a while for me to get into it, a little slow in the first half. The second half picked up some steam, but very surface level. Anything of emotional value was just glazed over so I didn’t feel the full impact.

This would be a great read for those looking to learn a little about the CARDS (American Committee For Devastated France) impact during WWI and after.

I loved the author's first book, The Paris Library, a story about forgotten women in history. I anticipated the same thing with Miss Morgan's Book Brigade (yea its a mouthful) and that is what I got.

It’s near the end of the World War 1 when Jessie Carson, a 40-year-old library employee, is accepted by the daughter of JP Morgan into the CARD program. CARD - American Committee for Devastated France. I have never heard of this program before and was treated to a glimpse of women helping restore France after the war.

There are things I enjoyed about this book, mostly the lesson in the effort of American, Canadian and Australian women doing their part to restore France. The library program was used to connect with those left with nothing, the war took more then just the men. It was great to see the importance of reading and how it affected the women in France, who were left alone as a result of the war.

There were also things I struggled with, mostly this was a tell story with a number of info dumps. I had to remind myself many times that this was a 40-year-old woman while her character did not always feel like it. It was slow paced and the timeline for 1987 was sparse though finally at the end everything fit together.

All in all an informative read that I liked.

My thanks to Atria Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Wow! This is a must read! The historical importance of CARD is huge. For any aspiring librarians ( the importance of ) the message is even greater.
Too often we take things like being able to borrow a book from the library for granted. Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade offers, everyone who reads it, a chance to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of what a gift that very opportunity is. What a great story! I loved how it was written. I flew through it, anxiously wanting to know how things played out.
Thank You to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Janet Skeslien Charles for the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy reading this ARC.

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade
By Janet Skeslien Charles

Digital ARC from @netgalley
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Publisher: @simonschusterca

I really enjoyed reading about the CARDs (American Committee for Devastated France or Comité Américan pour les Régions Dévastées de France). This was a volunteer group of women working to assist the recovery of France during and after World War I.

Jessie “Kit” Carson was a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library @nypl and takes a leave of absence when recruited by Anne Morgan (the daughter of JP Morgan and cofounder of the CARDs) to come to France and help build libraries, and more specifically children’s libraries, which France didn’t have. Libraries in France were meant for the “elite” only and the materials were kept locked and only brought out to patrons when specifically requested. No browsing the stacks!

Over time story hours and “roving story hours” are brought to the communities. The CARDs headquarters creates a small borrowing library. Eventually Kit and the CARDs purchase and repurpose ambulances as bookmobiles!

In 1987 Wendy Peterson is working at the NYPL and stumbles across the CARDs and Kit in the archives and works to bring their work into the public sphere.

This book had one of the most straightforward and succinct explanation of how WWI started I’ve ever read, and exposed me to yet another aspect of the war in France and those who helped in the war zone.

Kit built a library in a small town and then was invited to help design and build one in Paris that would be for everyone, as it should be.

This book shows the necessity of books and reading in all places and times, and libraries continue to adapt and change, remaining relevant even in the “digital age.” They ensure the access to information remains open and free to anyone

Please support your public libraries!

#bookreview #missmorgansbookbrigade #janetskesliencharles #advancedreaderscopy

I really enjoyed Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. The story was very well written and I was surprised at the end to read how much of the story and characters were true. I like that Kit was a good strong character. She had a small romance but it wasn't a huge theme of the book and it never took away from her work. I liked that Kit had moments of challenges and grief but she kept fighting. I compared this book to The Women by Kristin Hannah. The books are about different wars but have a similar theme. I was very excited to read The Women but didn't finish the book because I was disappointed at the detailed injuries. This is the book that I wanted from Kristin Hannah. A strong female character lead about the impacts the women had on war.

There’s something so resonant for me in a book about books and those who love them. Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade tells the story of Jessie ‘Kit’ Carson a real librarian who travelled from New York to war torn France to offer healing through books to a devastated people. While primarily a children’s librarian Kit revives the spirits of those she meets young and old in this really heartwarming historical fiction. Much like in her previous historical bibliophile’s novel The Paris Library, Janet Skeslein Charles manages to take a very heavy subject of war and suffering and create a really positive, uplifting story.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel to review.

I was looking forward to reading this novel as I had thoroughly enjoyed The Paris Library. I was not disappointed.

The ladies of CARD were some of the best characters I have read in a long time. Knowing that they were real people just increased my enjoyment of the story.

The novel is an account of a terrible time in history but told in a way that highlights the resilience of humans and our ability to help when needed. It is a shame that our memories are so short and we keep repeating the same actions that devastated so many lives.

The novel is written in two timelines which fit together well and were easy to distinguish and be engrossed in.

I will absolutely look for more from this author.

This is a book I really wanted to like as I do enjoy historical fiction. A book centered around libraries? Count me in. Unfortunately, I could not connect to this one and stay interested. This was a DNF for me.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this eARC!