Miss Morgan’s Book BrigadeJanet by Skeslien Charles

This reading group guide for Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Janet Skeslien Charles. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

Introduction

In the midst of World War I, an American librarian named Jessie Carson takes leave from her job at the New York Public Library to join a group of women heading the American Committee for Devastated France. Her contributions have a profound and lasting effect on the literary landscape of France.

Topics & Questions for Discussion

1. Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade was inspired by the real-life work of Anne Morgan, Jessie Carson, and the women known as Cards (an acronym from Le Comité américain pour les regions dévastées). Were you at all familiar with this piece of history prior to reading the novel?

2. Anne Morgan, as the daughter of millionaire J. P. Morgan, and Jessie “Kit” Carson, who actually draws a salary as part of her contract with the American Committee for Devastated France, come from very different backgrounds. How do the class differences factor in, if at all, to the stories of these two women?

3. Why do you think Janet Skeslien Charles decided to interweave dual narratives in this story? What does the narrative of Wendy in 1987 reveal about Kit and the women in 1918, and vice versa?

4. Wendy Patterson works in the Remembrance Department of the New York Public Library, where she is used to handling priceless documents and artifacts. What, if anything, is revealed about Wendy’s character when she takes the Card documents off-site? Was her coworker Roberto justified in his frustrations over that choice?

5. Many classic children’s books are referenced throughout the novel, from Anne of Green Gables and The Wizard of Oz to The Little Prince. Many of these are still widely read today. What is it about these stories that enables them to seamlessly cross generations?

6. When we first meet Kit, she frequently recounts the opinions of others in her head, such as those of her mother and her former boss at the NYPL. As Kit grows into her place in France, those voices matter less. Do you think Kit’s confidence in her ability to make a difference grows throughout the book? Can you pinpoint it to one experience?

7. We see Kit reach out to Sidonie, the village recluse, by reassembling her late husband’s book with a new binding. She lends local villager Jeanne a copy of Alice in Wonderland to help cope with the loss of her sister. These are two small acts of kindness involving books that have lasting effects on those characters. What does this say about the role of books in our lives? Have you ever used a book to reach out to someone?

8. We learn a lot about Kit’s relationships with Tom, her sister Mabel, and her mother through excerpts of her letters. From a distance, they experience Kit’s life in France, and she has a specific tone in communicating with each person. How do those relationships change, if at all, over the course of the book?

9. France could be considered its own character in the book, from the use of language to the descriptions of food and the characters’ travels through northern France to Paris. What stands out the most about France in this time period? Did anything surprise you?

10. Wendy’s professor suggests that readers won’t be able to identify with the Cards if she presents them as perfect figures in her writing. Do you agree with that? What would you have done in Wendy’s shoes?

11. We learn that Kit chooses to leave her position with CARD and move on to another opportunity after she is denied a salary bonus. Was Kit correct in her decision to move on? Do you think it was just a matter of the money, or was there something larger there?

12. Why do you think the important work of these women, such as helping with evacuations, rebuilding communities, and bringing hope and care to so many people, has been lost to time when compared to some of the other stories you hear from World War I? Would it be different if the work were done in, say, 1987, when Wendy’s story takes place? What about in 2024?

Enhance Your Book Club

1. A Library Card, a Recipe Card, a Calling Card, a Wild Card—if you were one of these volunteers, what kind of “Card” would you be?

2. Enjoy a French beverage service—a selection of coffee or black tea with sugar and milk options on the side. Consider various scones with butter and jam or madeleines as a food option.

3. Jessie Carson believes in the power of stories as something we carry throughout our lives. In the spirit of the novel, share a memorable book or story from your own childhood.

4. Seek out a map and chart Kit’s journey, including stops in New York City, Blérancourt and Compiègne in northern France, and then on to Paris.

5. Learn what else Janet is up to online at jskesliencharles.com

A Conversation with Janet Skeslien Charles

Q: You speak in the Author’s Note about your discovery of the Cards, which is a piece of history that is unfamiliar to many people. What surprised you the most in researching these women?

It was surprising to see how women’s experiences and contributions have been edited out of World War I.

First, Frenchwomen deserve credit for their tireless work and courage. Without formal education, they were suddenly expected to be nurses and teachers and agriculture specialists. In the north of France, most able-bodied men were soldiers, prisoners of war, or dead. Women held together families and farms. We often hear about the Nazi occupation during World War II, but the German occupation of the north of France during World War I was also brutal. Women and children were starved and forced to work essentially as enslaved labor in the fields. Frenchwomen resisted as much as they could to protect themselves and their children.

Second, it was heartening to see how CARD came together during and after the war. It truly was an international endeavor. Every cent donated went to the cause of helping French civilians. Lifelong friendships were formed. I loved reading about how women from different backgrounds and countries learned from each other and inspired one other.

Q: Both of your novels, The Paris Library and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, are considered historical fiction. What do you enjoy most about writing within that genre?

When I started researching my library trilogy, I didn’t think about where the novels would sit on the shelf. I just tried to write the best stories I could. Because the world can be grim, as a reader I enjoy learning and appreciate lighthearted moments in books. Thus, when I write, I use humor to shine a light on dark topics. Wendy’s universe of Remembrance allowed me moments of respite while researching the brutality of the war.

Now that my books are out in the world, I feel very lucky to be a part of the historical fiction community, with readers who appreciate strong characters as well as the amazing authors in this community who support and lift each other up.

Q: Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is set in dual time periods—northern France during World War I and New York City in 1987. Did you know from the start that those would be the settings for this book?

At first I thought the 1987 section would be set in Paris, but my editor suggested a new location to differentiate Miss Morgan from The Paris Library. This was a really interesting idea. I decided on New York because many of the CARD archives can be found there and because that is where Jessie “Kit” Carson worked before moving to France.

Q: This novel is a love letter to both books and librarians and how we carry stories with us throughout life. Are there memories from visiting libraries as a child that you carry with you as an adult?

Absolutely! The Toole County Library in Shelby, Montana, is still my favorite library in the whole world. I’m grateful to my mother and grandmother for introducing me to it and for our weekly visits. I still remember discovering Marie Curie and Eleanor Roosevelt through illustrated books. Reading about them made me realize that women could do amazing things.

Q: Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade features an extraordinary list of classic children’s books. Do you have a personal favorite from the many titles included?

I came to Anne of Green Gables as an adult, and I absolutely love it. In reading those classics, I recalled how much heartache and loss children bore. It’s a reminder that we never know what someone has been through, and that it’s important to be kind because we don’t know what others are facing.

Q: You currently live in Paris. Is there anything in your day-to-day life in France that you enjoy pulling from for inspiration in your books?

My favorite place to write is still my hometown, Shelby, Montana. I love spending time with family as well as the calm there.

In Paris, I just moved to a new apartment and am still figuring out the neighborhood. One place I love to walk is the Montparnasse Cemetery. Each day, I walk past different graves, names, and stories.

Q: In your Author’s Note you speak to the many challenges librarians and libraries are facing in 2024. What would you say to anyone questioning whether nor not we need libraries now?

Librarians are on the front lines of the cultural war, protecting our right to read freely. These days, many people would rather block a friend or family member than have the difficult conversation. Likewise, it’s easier to ban a book rather than examine the truths inside or discuss the topic with loved ones.

Q: Do you have a next project in mind? And, if so, what is it?

I’m excited to share that I have another library book coming out! It is set in Paris and features characters from The Paris Library and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade.