Despite meticulous research and beautiful written prose, I did not fall in love with this historical fiction epic. The pacing was just too slow for me and, at times, it was difficult to follow the jumps between the dual POVs. It was a push to get through the book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

A triumph of a book. The story is of children who are left to fend for themselves. They form a family of sorts and plot to find food and forage for someway to make a way in their world of poverty. They are wily as adults but also try to live their little lives as children.

A beautifully written historical fiction novel weaving together two timelines, 1909 and 1900. Featuring well researched historical details and emotional depth with well developed characters.

This book was very informative and emotional but I felt as the two timelines were told at very different speeds with uneven pacing.

The storyline in 1909 was grubbing and emotional but the 1990 timeline took longer to develop and build momentum. Some parts felt repetitive and left me wishing for more suspense given the mystery elements of the story.

Overall this was a good read, perfect for fans of dual timeline historical fiction. Themes of survival and justice made it a worthwhile read.

Wonderfully written. Showcasing the resilience of even the youngest of humankind, as children bond and assist each other survive without the help of adults.

The story takes place in Oklahoma in two time frames 1909 and 1999. The earlier story tells of Olive Augusta Radley, an eleven year old, and her concern for two Choctaw children who are boarding in their home. Olive flees with the younger girl, Nessa, after the older girl disappears. They run to the outlaw ridden Winding Stair Mountains, and while along the way meet up with other exploited children and they form a band.

In 1999, Ranger Valerie Boren O’dell, a new hire meets controversy when a teen goes missing on a hike The park opening is causing some worries and then a cave is discovered with the skeletons of three young girls.

The story is all tied up with the land, the oil, and other minerals, and the ownership of such land is the cause of the children's plight.

Once again, Lisa Wingate explores deeply a topic that I was not aware of. I always like that her concern is and has been the children and this story is proof that in times past children were a target of the worst kind.

Thank you to Lisa Wingate, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this amazing story.

Ever since I read Before We Were Yours, this author has been on my radar. While I certainly liked the premise of this one, and being from Oklahoma, it was very interesting reading about this era of our history, I just did not fully connect. I found myself putting it down and not really caring to pick it back up. I will give it a 3.5 rounded down because I did appreciate the writing and research that was so well done.

This powerful and touching story unfolds in the Winding Stair Mountains of Oklahoma where men will stop at nothing to possess land. Another well-researched history by one of the greatest writers of our time. You will root and cry for Ollie, Nessa and all the elf children

--Dianna Rostad USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of You Belong Here Now

I enjoyed this book by Lisa Wingate. I especially liked the dual timelines. There were parts that I caught my mind wandering, but that was usually in the 1909 parts. Even though they were interesting, I liked the more current timeline the best. I guess because I could picture that in my mind more easily. Another win from me for Lisa Wingate.

I really thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Shelterwood was my first Lisa Wingate novel, but it will not be the last.

This novel is a dual timeline going between the narrative in 1909 and 1990, all set in Oklahoma. We meet 11-year old Ollie in 1909. She has fled her home along with 6 year old Nessa to the Winding Stair mountains in order to escape Ollie's stepfather. They meet up with a band of other children and must keep away from those that would seek to find them or hurt them. The storyline in 1990 features Val, a park ranger. She is tasked with finding a missing teenage hiker and in her search, she comes across the burial site for three children. She must combine forces with the Choctaw Tribal Police (enter: Curtis Enhoe) in order to investigate this.

What I liked:
I loved the dual timeline - especially the story set in 1990.
The grit of both of the female main characters in the face of adversity.
Historical fiction - it was fascinating to learn about Oklahoma Kate and the elf children of 1909.
Charlie and the puppies.

What I didn't like:
I feel like a book is written well if I feel as powerless as the characters. That is how I felt in the 1909 timeline. I didn't like feeling that way - but that is not a bad thing about the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a hard review to write since Before We Were Yours has a special place in my heart. It took me a long time to pick this up and get into this. I wanted to love It so badly, but i found myself almost DNFing It so many times. Ultimately, I am glad i finished It to the end, because the second half picked up and was better. But not my favorite historical fiction book or book by this author.

I really thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I cannot review this book because I cannot understand why I did not like it. I know it was not the type of book one was not suppose to "like" but I was suppose to feel something, and I could not. I am a Lina Wingate fan and it disturbs me that I gave up on the book about 80% through.

This story was immediately intriguing to me because it is set in my home state of Oklahoma. I read 48% of Shelterwood and I'm afraid I won't be getting back to finish it. The two storylines are sure to intersect, but each seems to be more than enough on its own. At this point, I don't feel propelled to see how it all comes together or discover the solution of the mystery.

5 stars (rounded up)! I really enjoyed Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate. This story is another book that discusses the land rights of the Native American people in Oklahoma, similarly to Killers of the Flower Moon. This book is fiction and it focuses on a “tribe” of children in 1909 living in a community in the woods, who have all been taken advantage of by “guardians.” Men appointed by the courts to look after their interests.

The other storyline involves a park ranger in 1990 in the same park that the children once called home. After finding 3 100-year old corpses, she stumbles on a plot with details hauntingly similar to those of the children almost a century ago.

It took awhile for the two storylines to reveal how they related to the other. As with most dual timeline stories, I enjoyed one more than the other.

But Ms. Wingate eventually merges the two revealing all the intricacies she’s cast in weaving the plot lines. I absolutely loved the ending. And as with any historical fiction novel, I really enjoyed learning about a piece of history I had no idea about. There is a woman introduced in this book who was a real life hero of Oklahoma history whose story had been buried until now.

Than you to #netgalley and #ballentinebooks for the e-copy of #shelterwood .

A dual time line jumping between 1909 and 1990. 1909 follows two girls trying to escape an abusive home life. It follows their adventure while also touching on women’s movement in OK. 1990s follows a female park ranger dealing with misogyny in her field and trying to solve a missing persons case.

Wingate obviously did a lot of research for this book. I learned a lot about the Native American history you don’t normally hear about in school.

It was a good book but the pacing was a bit off. I was very invested in the beginning and then the middle was a bit boring and then the end picked up again.

I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion of the book.

I loved the dual timeline stories. The setting and the characters. The National park as part of the story is unique and very interesting. I am a fan of historical fiction so this story was just what I am interested in.

I've read Lisa Wingate before and really enjoy her books this one was no different. Enjoyed this one really love the time jumper aspect of it. The characters were well developed and the story flowed nicely. All the little "mysteries" were wrapped up nicely at the end so we knew what happened with everyone. Gave this one 4 stars- Ill try to wait patiently for her next one to come out. Will be recommending.

I enjoy how Lisa Wingate shines a light on stories of history that have been hidden, forgotten, unknown—yet need to be known. My grandparents lived in Oklahoma, so I spent time and have dear memories in the state. This town, Poteau, is actually mentioned in the book, which is such a tiny town that I was shocked to see its name pop-up in the book. Kate Bernard is mentioned in the book, and her advocacy work for elf children, orphans is highlighted. What an amazing trailblazer and advocate for children in an era where that was difficult. Thank you for this book!

1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to raise her son. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than a teenage hiker goes missing and the long-hidden burial site of three children is discovered in a cave. Val’s quest to uncover the truth wins an ally among the Choctaw Nation’s Tribal Police but soon collides with the deadly legacy of the land itself.

1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Radley knows that her stepfather is a threat to the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men. Along the way, they form an unlikely band with other children struggling to get by on their own. - Description from Amazon.

I enjoyed the dual timeline and could not wait for it to come together. Liked all the characters and their stories, as I would be in one story I could not wait to see how the other would progress. I was told to read her other books now as they were better? I am not sure about that, I liked this one a lot! I will be reading other books by Lisa Wingate. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars. I enjoyed this one. I love historical fiction that teaches me about lesser known historical events. We certainly never learned about these homeless, unsupervised children who lived in the woods and fended for themselves when we were in school. This story was a slow build, but I enjoyed the journey. Lovers of historical fiction and mysteries would enjoy this one. Thanks to Negalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

DNF around 50%

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. It started off with an interesting premise, but it just moved so so slowly. It seemed like a lot would happen, but at this point of stopping, very little actually did. I loved previous books by this author, but this was not for me.