Janet Skeslien Charles

There are two story lines one set in occupied Paris centering on a young Odile and her life at the American Library in Paris. A life filled with books and danger as the librarians 'resist' by smuggling books to Jews and other forbidden subscribers. The story also focuses on the young Odile' relationships of all types, her romance, friendships and family ties with their ups and downs.
The second story line is set in a small Montana town where the mature widow Odile has settled after marrying an American soldier. It is the story of the young neighbour Lily who is mentored by Odile teaching her French and helping her to mature and navigate the loss of her mother and the emotions of adolescence.
Although I found the first pre-occupation part of the book slow, it picked up later and I finished it. I found it a bit naive and some parts of plot development heavy handed and obvious. However, all told it was a heart warming book with insight into human emotions and relaitonships.… (mere)

Having previously read The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, I was happy to see she had a new book out. Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is set during the Great War and is based on the true story of women who went into France to help the people in the smaller villages that had been decimated by the war.

One of the ways the women helped the people was by re-establishing the local library that had sustained damage to most of the building. Kit Carson was one of the women from America that came to help. Her vision improved the library and became a model for other libraries in France.

Kit and the other women also began a book brigade by driving out to the more rural areas with books for people to check out. The citizens looked forward to the days the book mobile was to arrive.

All of the characters had a unique story and were very different but they made a great team by staying focused on their goal of being there to help with food, medical care and support wherever it was needed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend this book to other readers who enjoy historical fiction.… (mere)

A story that touches upon themes of the horrors of war, trauma, resilience and survival, friendship, compassion and the healing power of books and reading Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is a remarkable work of historical fiction. Based on the true story of Jessie Carson, an American librarian known for her efforts to establish children’s libraries in war-torn France and training young French women librarians, the novel also sheds light on CARD, the American Committee for Devastated France, (Le Comité américain pour les régions dévastées), an initiative headed by wealthy American philanthropist Ann Morgan and the women who volunteered to travel to France to help rebuild devastated French communities near the war front in the aftermath of The Great War.

The narrative is shared through dual timelines set in 1918 France and 1987 New York City. The 1918 timeline is shared from the perspective of Jessie, as she travels to CARD Headquarters in the village of Blérancourt, France, where she joins fellow volunteers. Miss Morgan and CARD president Dr. Anne Murray Dike. Hoping to begin her work as a librarian immediately upon arrival and share her love for favorite books and reading with the children in the village providing them with moments of much needed respite, she is unprepared for the sounds of shelling coming from the front, the hazards of the Red Zone and the destruction in the wake of the retreating German forces. The narrative follows Jessie and her friends as they go above and beyond in their efforts to offer support to the communities who are struggling to rebuild their lives after experiencing unimaginable losses.

The 1987 timeline follows aspiring writer and NYPL employee Wendy Peterson, who finds several old CARD bulletins published in 1918 that describe the work of CARD volunteers in Northern France. When she comes across a brief reference about Jessie, she is inspired to find out as much as she can about the NYPL librarian and her work – not an easy task because of limited source material and the fact that there is not much mention of Jessie in existing records. Wendy’s quest inspires her to reevaluate her own life and priorities.

Compelling characters, a strong historical backdrop and vivid prose make for a rewarding reading experience. The author deftly weaves past and present timelines into an engaging narrative that flows well. I enjoyed the 1918 timeline more and though I enjoyed following Wendy’s research in 1987, I wish the narrative had followed Jessie a little longer in her timeline. However, I did like how the author brings everything together in the end.

I loved the author’s The Paris Library and was eagerly looking forward to reading her latest offering, and I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed. Well-researched and informative, this is an exceptional work of historical fiction that I would not hesitate to recommend. I always enjoy historical fiction from which I can learn something new. I appreciate the author’s effort to highlight the contribution of this group of women in WWI. I loved Jessie’s story and was inspired to read more about her and the other real characters featured in this story. Do read the Author’s Note wherein she shares details of the people, places and events that inspired this work of historical fiction.

Many thanks to Atria Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.… (mere)

This is the story of Jessie Carson, a New York librarian who was chosen by Miss Anne Morgan to join CARD (American Committee For Devasted France) and create a library in the war zone of France. CARD's priorities were to help rebuild houses and clean farmlands so that families could return to their places.

Very compelling story about brave women from around the world, brough together by CARD founders, Anne Morgan and Dr. Anne Murray Dike. They left their families and homes to provide help and relief to people in the war zone. They faced danger, but books united them. CARD women achieved more than they expected.

This is the book that highlights the importance of books and libraries. A beautifully written story that kept me engaged the entire time. Very well researched. As I read, I had to use Google to find out more about the CARD program. Sufficient information about Jessie Carson, Anne Morgan and CARDs has been provided by the author at the end of the book.

There are many things I loved about this book:
* dedicated and brave characters
* interesting plot
* all about books and library
* dual timelines and POVs
* interesting historical events

Another great book that every fan of historical fiction should read.… (mere)