Janet Skeslien Charles

I really enjoyed this novel of World War I. Told with dual timelines set sixty years apart, during World War I and the late 1980’s, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade made these women seem as alive as they were more than 40 and 100 years ago.. Although I swore I had read enough war novels, this one seemed to grab me right from the beginning. How could I resist the idea that rebuilding a devastated society required not only food, supplies, and medical care, but also free access to books for everyone, especially children!

Although I thought the World War I story was much more compelling than the one set in the 1980’s, the two did work together to make an enjoyable novel. One of my favorites of the year so far!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.… (plus d'informations)

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.… (plus d'informations)

This book was really well done. It had a dual timeline, spanning from 1939 Paris to 1983 Montana, and I felt it was pretty easy to keep track of the plot. Both stories held up well on their own. I’ve never visited Paris and I had never heard of the American Library there, but I’m proud of the efforts everyone put in to promote reading and sending books to all the troops. Not a lot of focus was put on how the rest of the city or the Jews were faring during the occupation, but it was interesting to learn how the librarians struggled and adapted.

“After the darkness of war, the light of books.” (ALP’s motto)… (plus d'informations)