DNF at 22%

Not for me, unfortunately. I wasn't drawn to any of the characters and although the premise sounded good it felt quite flat when the story was being told. I found the writing a bit dull and a little overly sentimental for my taste. However, all of these things are very personal to me and I think many people would enjoy the book. If you like books about books and especially about the healing or transformative power of books, then this is for you.

I'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a historical novel that draws partly on the very real story of Jessie Carson, a woman who took a leave of absence from the New York Public Library in 1918 to reach books to the children of a France devastated by the First World War. After setting up mobile libraries and training female librarians for the first time in that war torn country, Carson mysteriously disappears.

Decades later, her story unexpectedly rises to the surface in the life of Wendy Peterson, a fellow librarian and a writer in progress. As Peterson becomes determined to find out what actually happened to Carson, fascinating story emerges...

This is a lovely story, and will be enjoyed by readers who love libraries history, and intrepid bookworms.

I thoroughly enjoyed, and would recommend this book to anyone, and everyone. It is an account - very much based on fact - about the female Americans who volunteered to assist the French in Northern France at the end of World War One. They gave medical attention, ran shops, helped rebuild communities, and, most importantly for this novel, created libraries, and roles for women within them. The book is interspersed with the account of an aspiring writer in the 1980s who is working on a book about the 'Cards' as they were known.

A well-written book about a little known organisation - at least to me - which deserves more publicity.

With thanks to NetGalley and Review for an ARC.

I love reading books about bookish things. This was a very heartwarming and moving dual timeline story about a woman trying to give people, especially children access to books during the Great War in France. And the woman who discovers her story in the archvies of a NY library.

All the female characters were well written and I liked getting glimpses at their individual stories. I actually preferred the cast of characters to the main character - she was just not my cup of tea. It's a pet peeve of mine when a female character takes too long to find her backbone 🤷🏻‍♀️

That being said I always enjoy reading books set in war time and especially books like this one, about a war effort I'd previously not heard much about.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I had not heard of this author before but like to try new authors and new subject matter even in the historical fiction genre.
I realise that this book was based on real events and real people but found that often I didnt know if I was reading fiction or non-fiction. Though obviously the dual time line element did move towards fiction.

The book was well researched but I found the writing style hard to read and almost gave up many times.

While I loved this book a lot - a book about librarians, feminism and the First World War is always going to appeal to me - I did find the format a little confusing at first and didn't know if I was reading fiction or non-fiction, and I wasn't sure at all how the two timelines interacted.
I'm glad I kept reading as by the end this was a fascinating read - Skeslien Charles has a real knack for finding lesser known war stories linked to books and making them live again.
I was less convinced by some of the 1980s/90s plot but it made a good device to prolong the story, and fill in the blanks from the original source.

"The Librarians of the Rue de Picardie" is a fictionalised account of the adventures of Jessie Carson and her CARD colleagues in the northern French town of Blérancourt. Jessie was a librarian who was recruited by Anne Morgan to set up libraries in devastated areas, destroyed by the Germans whilst retreating in 1918. It is surprising to find that rebuilding activities started before the end of the war, but there are a lot of surprising facts in this book.

CARD were involved in many activities, including healthcare and agriculture, as well as libraries and teaching. To achieve their goals they had to get the locals (mostly women and children) on their side. This is a book about friendships, belief in others and mutual support. It is interesting, emotional and uplifting.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Thanks to this book, I am now aware of CARDS and the strong and incredible pioneering women librarians who made the lives of the people in France near the war front bearable and gave respite, especially children, by giving them access to books.

This book is based on real-life people that impacted the lives of so many and events that changed history. I'm happy that the characters of the book are written in a very likeable and relatable manner and breathed life to the characters. The book's description about war-torn France is detailed and well-researched. I enjoyed reading this book a lot and it made me stop and think about how important libraries and access to books are, not just in times of peace but even more so during times of distress and uncertainty.

I highly recommend this book to historical fiction lovers!

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I recently read the Author’s previous novel, The Paris Library, and found it a quite enchanting story obviously written by someone with a deep love of books and a belief in their power to change lives. The Librarians of Rue de Picardie is another Historical Fiction but set in WW1. Based on the true story of a group of American Society Women led by the daughter of the wealthy banker, JP Morgan who come over to France to help the ordinary citizens whose lives have been devastated by the ongoing conflict. Their organization is called The American Committee for Devastated France and their members referred to as CARDs. Operating next to the frontline these women show remarkable heroism trying to bring some normality to the women and children caught up in the war.
Our heroine, Jessie Carson works at the New York Public Library and towards the end of the war she volunteers to become a CARD with responsibility for setting up a Library catering to adults and children and hosting events such a children’s story time. Her story unfolds in a diary form which then is interwoven with a more contemporary narrative where another heroine is introduced. Wendy Peterson also works at the NYPL but the year is 1987. She is an aspiring writer and comes across references to the CARDS so she pursues deeper research with the intention of telling their story in her first literary offering. So the book becomes two storylines. One as it happened in 1918 and the other as the story is being rediscovered seventy years later. Sometime this device can be irritating and confusing but I think the Author pulled it off. Both stories are quite riveting.
Janet Skeslien Charles is a very talented author who knows how to spin a wonderful story but her true gift is crafting interesting characters with whom readers will easily connect. I would recommend this book to people who love books and understand the importance of libraries in society. This and the authors first book really are celebrations of these ideals.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing access to this book

A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy!