Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate is a compelling and richly layered novel that seamlessly weaves together two narratives—one set in 1990 and the other in 1909—against the haunting backdrop of the Winding Stair Mountains.

In 1990, law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell seeks a peaceful life at Horsethief Trail National Park with her son. However, her quiet world is quickly shattered when a teenage hiker goes missing, and the discovery of a long-buried grave site of three children sparks a deep investigation. With the help of a Choctaw Nation Tribal Police officer, Valerie embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth behind the hidden past, while confronting the land's dark, lethal history.

The historical storyline, set in 1909, follows eleven-year-old Olive Radley, who escapes an abusive stepfather and embarks on a harrowing journey to protect her younger sister, Nessa, and other abandoned children. Their perilous trek through the rugged terrain becomes a fight for survival, as they encounter outlaws and treasure hunters along the way.

Wingate deftly intertwines these two timelines, exploring themes of justice, survival, and the deep connections between land, history, and people. The story of Olive and Valerie, separated by decades, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the relentless pursuit of truth. Shelterwood is a gripping and emotional novel that explores the legacy of trauma, the courage to confront the past, and the unyielding quest for justice.

This book goes between 1909 and 1990 It was a great book that held my interest. The book contains history of the greed, Men trying to take land that belongs to children in 1909 as well as the park ranger trying to solve a murder. The book is well written and goes easily between the two years. THe ending comes together perfectly. Lisa Wingate has a way of writing stories to keep my interest,

Absolutely riveting. Lisa Wingate is a champion turning a sweeping saga into a manageable novel, and this one will not disappoint. From the dual storyline (early 1900s and the late 90s) to the heroic women characters, Shelterwood will appeal to readers of historical fiction and modern crime alike.

This was well-researched and informative, I loved learning more about the period, the guardianship grafters of indigenous children, women’s movement, etc. the dual storylines kept me interested but I was a little disappointed they didn’t intersect much until almost the last chapter, when the rest of Olive’s story was told in Valerie’s timeline. Overall a good read but a little slow in the middle!

Lisa Wingate shines in the world of historical fiction. I always enjoy when a story jumps from the past to the present and how inevitably the two are intertwined! Ollie is quite the character, and her tenacity radiates throughout the book. I really enjoyed this one.

Lisa Wingate's writing feels like home. So relaxing. A true world-building experience that lets you step out of reality of the moment and let the story seep into you.

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

Shelterwood is an engrossing and well thought out and researched work of historical fiction. The story moves back and forth between two different periods of time. The setting is Oklahoma in 1909 and 1990. In 1909, Olive Peele runs away from her abusive stepfather with two Choctaw children living with her family in tow. Ollie becomes their fierce protector working hard to keep them fed and safe amidst so many dangers. Fast forward to 1990 and Valerie Boren-Odell, a brand new park ranger in the Horsethief Trail National Park, begins to investigate the remains of three young children found in a cave in the park. We see the two timelines come together as Valerie pursues answers. She draws scrutiny and danger as she gets closer to the truth and darkness that continues to happen in the area. I enjoyed the characters and the story very much and highly recommend this novel. It was suspenseful and moving. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

2.5 stars. I've been trying to listen to this book for months, but I'm coming to terms with the fact that I may not be able to finish this story. The concept is good in theory, but I am over halfway through and there is still no connection between the past and present day storylines. I'm quite invested in Olive's journey, but flipping to Valerie's really kills it for me. Disappointed for my own enjoyment, but I can see how others might really enjoy it.

I feel like I really wanted to like this one because of the subject matter and I liked when we were yours when that book came out. However ultimately I think I've grown and changed as a reader and this writing style just didn't impress me.

This was a very well written historical fiction story. The book is written in a dual timeline format. One timeline involves orphaned children, on their own trying to survive in the Oklahoma hills. The other timeline involves a state ranger who recently was placed in Oklahoma near Muskogee, and is tasked to find who has damaged the state parks, and to find a missing teen.
This was well written, and thought provoking. I will definitely read more by this author.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Lisa wingate is an extremely talented author but this was not one of my favorites. The book is well researched and interesting in how she presents the children’s stories, but ultimately I had a hard time connecting with the book and struggled to follow the dual timelines, which is usually one of my favorite patterns in books.

Lisa Wingate is one of my favorite authors. She wrote one of my favorite books and this one was not up to par with that but it was still really good and I highly recommend this if you love this author

This was a compelling and emotional novel that explores the themes of family, healing, and second chances. Set in a secluded retreat for women, the story follows the journey of a troubled young woman, Ellie, as she seeks refuge and begins to confront her past. Wingate’s writing is rich and evocative, drawing readers into the quiet but powerful emotional landscape of the characters. The slow build of tension, coupled with moments of deep introspection, makes for a gripping read. With relatable characters and heartfelt storytelling, *Shelterwood* is a poignant tale of resilience and the power of human connection.

I am a huge HUGE fan of Lisa Wingate. This one was a little different then what I was used to but it was stilla great read.
The story takes place between two timeliness and then comes together seamlessly at the end.

As always, Wingate creates characters that jump off the pages and work their way into your heart and your mind. I truly loved both Olive and Nessa and their stories more than I can express.

Wingate puts a lot into her books. This is based on true events and she always ALWAYS does her research and make a believable story around a true event. That is pure talent.

The book itself took me a bit to read because I wanted to take my time with these two characters.

Lisa Wingate weaves another wonderful tale of strength during difficult times. A dual timeline helps to tell about Ollie (past) and Val ( present) and the difficult times of orphaned children. Emotional and imformative.

This was really interesting. I love learning about parts of history that I’m not super familiar with. I liked the dual timeline and how much research went in to writing this novel. Lisa’s books are always fantastic.

Another great book by Lisa Wingate. I loved the story set among the women pioneers who fought for the children against the leers of the evil land barons.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

Shelterwood is another historical hit by Lisa Wingate!

The story is in dual timeline format, connecting the early 1900's with the 1990's. It recounts the sad journey of a group of orphan children who are forced to survive on their own in the mountain wilderness of Oklahoma. The modern-day timeline follows a curious park ranger, determined to learn more about old graves found on the land she oversees.

This author has a knack for writing fictional stories based on true historical events. Many of the subjects she writes about are little known pieces of history that not only pique the readers interest, but drives their desire to learn more. Many times I have found myself googling about these forgotten moments of history as I read. She is a master at weaving together a dual timeline tale, seamlessly connecting two eras.