I was so excited and surprised when I was approved for this ARC on NetGalley. That being said, this was provided by Ballantine Books, and all opinions are my own.

I will start by saying that this book was PHENOMENAL! Wingate did a fantastic job of telling two stories from two different perspectives/timelines (1909 & 1990) and weaving those together in the most intricate way. The 1909 timeline follows Olive Augusta Radley as she decides she must leave home to save herself and another young girl, Nessa, who is a Choctaw girl living in their home. Her bravery and intelligence are highlighted throughout her journey, and the author’s descriptive language helped to really bring this to life.

The second storyline, taking place in 1990, follows Valerie Boren-Odell, a National Parks Service Law Enforcement Officer. She is new to Horsetheif Trail National Park, and quickly learns that locals do not accept outsiders very easily. She and her son, Charlie, are determined to build a life in Talihina, no matter who may think that idea is a bad one.

Lisa Wingate’s writing and attention to detail really made this book shine. I was fascinated by the description of the Winding Stair Mountains. I quickly became attached to characters as well. Shelterwood read like a mystery at times, which definitely added to my inability to put it down.

If you love historical fiction, this is definitely a book to check out!

I just reviewed Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate. It was written in dual timelines which do not overlap until the last chapter of the book. With the alternating stories, I had a hard time getting into either of them. It was a good story but very slow and hard to really get into. I do appreciate historical fiction and learning about something I am not familiar with and am still glad I read the book.
#Shelterwood #NetGalley

An atmospheric dual POV historical fiction novel set in 1909 and 1990 | The two FMCs are strong, independent characters that have to proof themselves in a world that doesn’t welcome | As in her past novels, Lisa Wingate skillfully addresses an important chapter in American history | The modern-day story felt like a police procedural and didn’t touch me emotionally as much as I had hoped

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

This review has been posted on Instagram and Goodreads.

I absolutely loved Wingate's BEFORE WE WERE YOURS and could not wait to read Shelterwood.

While Shelterwood is a well researched and well written novel told in dual time lines, it has a slow pace and I found myself struggling with the first three quarters of the book.

Sheltwood is a poignant story of Native American girls in early 1900s Oklahoma. Wingate is a talented storyteller and deftly writes stories about children in our country's past that aren't necessarily easy to tell, but she writes them with compassion.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I loved Lisa Wingate’s other book, “Before We Yours” and like that book, this was also very well written and well researched. Unfortunately, I had a very hard time getting through this one. I felt the first 75% was very slow. It finally became engrossing when the two timelines converged.

Lisa Wingate can always be counted on to write meticulously researched, spellbinding, heartbreaking novels that are both engrossing and educational. SHELTERWOOD is the latest of such novels.

Told through dual POVs in differing timelines (1909 and 1990), SHELTERWOOD is set in Oklahoma and shines a light on the abhorrent treatment of the Choctaw people by greedy land grabbers and politicians. I found the subject matter to be troubling and difficult to read which makes Ms. Wingate’s work more meaningful.

As with her previous novels. I find the author’s notes to be insightful. It’s fascinating to see how she identifies the stories she wants to write and then transforms real life events into immensely readable books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine uh for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Set in Oklahoma 1909, eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley knows that her stepfather has bad intentions toward the two Choctaw girls who are their wards. When the older girl disappears, Ollie leaves taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains. Along the way, Ollie and Nessa form unlikely friendships with others like themselves.

In Oklahoma in 1990, law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to have a career and be a single parent. Valerie is soon faced with local controversy over the park’s opening, a teenage hiker gone missing from one of the trails, and the long-hidden burial site of three children unearthed in a cave. Val’s quest for the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but there are secrets around every turn. The book was confusing in places, switching back and forth. The story and characters were good but it seemed alittle hard to follow.

This was a powerful and important story that takes place in Oklahoma and told in dual timelines, one in early 1900's told by eleven year old Olive Augusta Radley, and the other in 1990 told by Ranger Valerie Boren-Odell. Once again, Lisa Wingate writes about actual events that have taken place here in this country and that involve the unforgivable and horrible treatment of children. The book was beautifully written and well-researched. As always with most historical fiction books, I recommend not passing on the author's notes at the end as they provide much valuable and important information about the writing of the book. Fans of Lisa Wingate will love this one.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate is a historical duel timeline novel that starts with Ranger Vanessa Barron-Odell It’s 1990 and she is the only woman and the newest employee at the Oklahoma National park and they’ve just opened up the horse thief trail. Two weeks into her job three sets of bones are found in a cave in the stair mountains. When Vanessa tries to inquire her coworkers and boss basically tell her to let the men deal with it. When she meets eleven-year-old Shelby everyone warns Vanessa that she tells tall tales but when she finds an abandon car at a trailhead it will be the true things Shelby tells her that will lead to the biggest investigation Vanessa has ever had. 1909 Olive Eugene Radley cannot stand her stepdad and already has one adopted sister hazel go missing so when he starts to look at the youngest girl Nessa Olive knows they must run away. Olive wants to get her and six year old Nessa back to where they were happy. Before her dad died and her mom was addicted to opium and drink. Along the way they pick up three orphaned native American children before it’s over the numbers will change but what does this story have to do with Vanessa‘s timeline? That is what makes for a great book. The story is weaved with historical fact and with wonderful characters in a very very interesting plot Lisa Wingate has once again written an awesome book. If you love her book Before WeWe’re Yours, then you will definitely enjoy shelterwood. I want to thank random house Valentine for my free Ark copy. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Dear Fellow Reader,

Here we are in June. The summer seems full of endless possibilities, right? I keep putting schedules of outdoor concerts and events up on the bulletin board. In theory, I would love to attend lots of outdoor concerts and events. In reality, if it is hot and humid or it looks like massive crowds will be there, I lose interest fast. Quiet nights on the deck with my music gently playing sound good. I can, unfortunately, get lazy fast and then wonder what happened to the summer.

Oh…

I read Lisa Wingate’s Before We Were Yours several years ago and enjoyed it. The story captured my interest and I enjoyed it. So, when I was offered an advance copy of Shelterwood, Lisa Wingate’s new book, I was happy to read it.


Shelterwood has two main characters who occupy different times. Olive Augusta Radley lived in Oklahoma in 1909. Valerie Boren-Odell lived in Oklahoma in 1990.

As the story starts, Ollie is running away from home with Nessa. Nessa and her older sister Hazel were living with Ollie, her mother, and her father. Ollie’s father has died and her mother and the girls are living with Tesco Peele. Ollie’s mother is strung out on booze and drugs most of the time and Ollie does not trust Tesco Peele. After Hazel disappears, Ollie decides that she needs to get Nessa and herself away from their new home. Her thought is that she and Nessa will go up in the hills to a cabin that her father had. Through the story, we follow their attempt to get away.

The other half of the story is about Valerie who is a single mother and has just arrived as a Ranger in the new Hoursethief Train National Park in Oklahoma’s Winding Stair Mountains. New to the area and job, she is not being given much respect as a woman Ranger. As the story opens she is out on the trail and meets Sydney, a young girl who has a lot to say and a Tribal Officer who knows Sydney and sends her back to her church group. The Tribal Officer then mentions something about bones being found – three little girl’s bones. When Valerie admits that she hasn’t heard, he shrugs and leaves. Sydney tells Valerie that her brother is missing and that Valerie should look for him. He is 17 and has red hair. Valerie can tell from the way the girl talks that there are some family issues going on but she wants to find out more about the bones that were found. Her boss does not assign her to find out and points her to some menial work. Before she knows it she is looking for Sydney’s brother and not finding anything that makes sense. It doesn’t help that when she talks to Sydney she needs to try and decide between the lies and the truth that come out of Sydney’s mouth.

The stories twist and turn separately and you wonder how it will come together. Both stories tell of the mistreatment of children and disregard of the law by prominent citizens. The story does come together at the end.

I did like this book but I will say it took me a while to read it. I did not find it to be a “real page turner”. I read several books while I was reading this book. But in its favor, I easily knew what was going on whenever I picked it up. The story stayed with me even when I read other books. I think that is a positive thing. I think you should put this on your TBR pile. I think you will enjoy it.

Thanks for reading!

This dual time-line story takes place in Oklahoma. In 1909, eleven-year-old, Olive (Ollie) and six-year-old Choctaw, Nessa escaped from Ollie’s evil stepfather. The girls set out on a treacherous journey to find Ollie’s family’s former home in the Mountains.

In 1990, Valerie Boren O’Dell arrives at the Horse Thief Trail National Park as a Law Enforcement Park Ranger. Soon Valerie is investigating a missing hiker, a dead body and befriending a teenage orphan.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. Lisa Wingate has masterfully woven together these two-story lines and brought to life the corruption of Oklahoma in the early 1900’s. It is a beautifully written story and a real page-turner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early read in exchange for a fair review.

Told in alternating points of view in two different time periods, we learn about tragic history and continued destruction near the rugged Winding Stair Mountains in Southeastern Oklahoma.

1909: Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley witnesses something no child should see and is determined to save herself and the Choctaw girl Nessa who is living with her. When her father passes, her mother remarries a spineless and mean man, and then falls deep into poppy powder and whiskey. High up in the Winding Stair Mountains is where all her good memories remain. Olivia is determined to get her and Nessa there to safety to start a new life, but things never go as expected and they are waylaid. They do find other young children along the way who are also fleeing, some have been exploited, some abandoned, but they all want a better future. Ollie’s voice is much like that of Scout Finch, a pure soul disgusted by the prejudices and behaviors of adults.

1990: Valerie Boren-O’Dell arrives at Horsethief Trail National Park looking for a fresh start. After a tragedy changes the trajectory of her life, she is determined to give her exuberant son a better future. Valerie quickly realizes she’s got an uphill battle as a female park ranger in a town full of “good ole boys” who have little expectations of her other than to do secretarial work. She finds a hidden burial Native American site that has obviously been robbed, learns about a missing local teenager, discovers an unexplained rockslide, and finds a dead John Doe, all under suspicious circumstances. With the help of Curtis from the tribal police, Valerie is committed to defeating chauvinistic behavior and seeking justice.

Both Ollie and Valerie have large odds stacked against them, but with any decent story, good eventually prevails. It’s not obvious how the two timelines connect, but slowly they do—though flipping back and forth over eighty years was a bit jarring at times while reading. The author’s note at the end is not to be missed as it helps explain a lot of the historical timeline.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballatine Books, and of course the author Lisa Wingate for the advanced copy of the book. Shelterwood is out tomorrow! All opinions are my own.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Shelterwood is told in dual time lines with an even pace for both stories. It’s very well written, as all Lisa Wingate books are. The timelines, are about a century apart, but both are poignant and moving. I didn’t find this story to be as compulsively readable as Before We Were Yours. It had a slower pace, which at times felt stagnant. However, Wingate’s talent as a writer and storyteller still shines through and as historical fiction goes, it’s very well researched. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another one of her books.

Lisa Wingate clearly has a heart for bringing to light the horrible ways children have been treated throughout history. Having previously read Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, I immediately picked up on the connection between the land rich with oil and the Native Americans who were swindled out of their land.

The story is told in two timelines. In 1909, Olive and her desire to keep her Native American friends safe (as well as herself) is the focus. Also during this timeframe, women such as Kate Barnard come to the forefront to promote change for these children.

In 1990, Val, a national park law enforcement ranger, stumbles upon the skeletons of three children in a cave. Her question surrounding the skeletons arouse her suspicions of foul play. After meeting a young local girl who is trying to find her missing brother, Val becomes even more suspicious and decides to learn more about the story of the area.

With the help of a Native American Tribal law enforcement officer, Val uncovers a series of crimes that have been committed due to the greed of some powerful men.

This is a slow burn, but well worth reading. I love that Lisa Wingate brings buried history and powerful women of the past to light.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give an honest review and recommend to readers who love historical fiction.

Upon reading the description of this book, I was struck by the realization that it is based on Oklahoma history that was not taught in public schools back in my day. I was also struck by the fact that Angie Debo is quoted and mentioned both in the dedication of the book and in some quotes sprinkled throughout the book. Ten years ago, while going through my grandpa's books and office files, I found a letter and a book authored by Angie Debo, hand-signed to my grandpa. Additionally, the house we lived in at the time was located just a few miles off highway 74, also called the "Angie Debo Highway", so I needed to read this book. The biggest perk of all was that "Shelterwood" is authored by one of my favorite authors, Lisa Wingate.

From the back cover:

"Told in dual timelines, this book tells the story of women pioneers who fought to protect children caught in the battle of land barons hungry for power and wealth. In 1909, eleven-year-old Olive, who can tell her stepdad has evil intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarding in their home as wards. When the older one disappears, Olive ("Ollie") flees to the woods, taking six-year-old Nessa. They are heading to the Winding Stair Mountains, and it is on this journey they meet a motley crew of other children like them who also need protection."

"In 1990, Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren-O'dell arrived at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance her career and single parenthood. She is immediately thrown into a local controversy involving a missing teenage hiker, the park's opening, and a burial site of three children within a cave. Val's quest to uncover the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but also collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself."

Shelterwood is atmospheric and character-driven, and each chapter alternates between timelines. I was so engrossed in the story and wanted to see how it all unfolded that I couldn't put it down!

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. It was an honor and privilege to give my honest review.

Release Date: June 4, 2024

SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate is an emotional and compelling work of historical fiction inspired the little-known history of women pioneers that tried to help children that were being exploited by men determined to add to their land and oil wealth. This heart-wrenching story is set in eastern Oklahoma near the Winding Stair Mountains and told in dual timelines, 1909 and 1990. In 1909, eleven-year-old Olive (Ollie) Augusta Radley flees her abusive stepfather, taking with her six-year-old Nessa, one of two young Choctaw girls being boarded in her home, after the older Choctaw girl disappeared under suspicious conditions. Can they make it to Ollie’s old family cabin the Winding Stair Mountains before being harmed? In 1990, Valerie Boren O’dell has taken a job as a Law Enforcement Ranger at Horsethief Trail National Park. One of few women rangers, Val just wants to balance doing her job with caring for her young son, Charlie. Right away she gets involved in the search for a missing teenager and solving the mystery of the bones of three children found deep in a nearby cave. Val gains the trust of the Choctaw Tribal Police, but her discoveries soon unearth long-buried secrets that the locals do not want revealed. As always, Lisa Wingate has written a meticulously-researched story with two timelines that are expertly interwoven. She has brought to light the disturbing events of this time period with care and compassion. I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shalterwood
By: Lisa Wingate
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine
Pub Date: 6/4/24
This was so good I couldn’t put it down! This novel spans two time periods. Olive’s in 1909 and Valorie’s in 1990. The story takes place in Oklahoma, Olive is just 11 years old and she’s already lost her father, her mother remarries and moves them into town. She loses a child and her mind at the same time. Hooked on powders and whiskey she’s left the parenting of her daughter and Nessa, a Choctaw orphan they had taken in to their stepfather. Only he’s a bad guy who works for an even worse man.Those men are running a scheme to take Native American lands from the children they belong to. Fast forward to 1990 Valorie is a NPS officer who knows there is something going on in the park in the same area where the girls hid. Can she buck the system and work out what’s going on? I enjoyed both storylines immensely but was definitely more
drawn to the story of the past. Those little girls endured so much. This is my favorite historical novel of this year so far!

This type of historical fiction is important because it brings little known history to light. I had a hard time getting into it at first and it took a while to pick up, but it did.I liked how the timelines were connected. It was done well.

An interesting story with two timelines-one of runaway children in 1909 Oklahoma and one of a female park ranger in the same area in 1990. The hardships are different but point to the hard won rights to be seen as value to society and work. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shelterwood is a story of heartbreak and yet inspiring too. Two groups of people, those who abuse and take advance of children, in this case indigenous children and those who try to help change that situation such as Kate Barnard. Told in dual timelines, 1090 and 1990, the truth comes out even though there are still those trying to cover it up. Lisa Wingate has created characters of depth, Olivia the eleven-year-old on the run with a six-year-old Choctaw girl and the present-day Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren O’Dell who has moved to work in the Horsethief Trail National Park.

The dual timelines mostly works but it took a while for me understand the diabolic actions against the Choctaw children and why it had persisted for so long in Oklahoma. Still a story worth reading, being one that will leave you thinking of those children for a long time along with those cave bones.