This dual timeline novel opened my eyes to a time which seems forgotten by the history books.
The 1909 story about orphans from Oklahoma tribes who were taken from their families to live with court appointed guardians. The "Guardians" then stole the children's mineral rights which brought them wealth from the rich coal, oil and timber reserves on the land. They abandoned the children who then wandered the forests and mountains and eventually banded together foraging for food. Many of the townspeople thought that the children were actually "elves" living in a hollow tree, and stealing or begging for food. The main characters in this timeline were Olive Radley and her Choctaw "sister" who escaped an abusive stepfather, who Olive thought had something to do with her sister Hazel's disappearance. Fortunately, her real father had taught her some survival skills which she applied in the forest with the other children.
The second story was set in 1990 as Valerie Boren-Odell, a new Law Enforcement Ranger at Horsethief National Park, discovers a3 skeletons in a cave, and a dead male body in a river. The author describes the difficulties she had as she attempts to raise her 7 year old son, and learn about the new job. And, being an outsider, and a woman in a typically male profession, things were not easy for her.
The historical significance of the abandoned children and the wrongs committed against indigenous people throughout our country was appalling.
Unfortunately, I do not think that these descriptions were fictional.
I learned a lot from this book but I felt that the descriptions of the children's activities were a little excessive. Although they were important to the story, the book became 3 stories as the ranger also looked for a missing teenager.
I received a free ARC of Shelterwood from NetGalley and the publisher, and the opinions expressed here are completely my own.

I love Lisa Wingate. No matter if her stories are historical fictions or novels about small town living, they always make me feel like I am part of the story and want to devour the book. Well, that was until I read Shelterwood. This book was a slog.
I'm not big on dual point of views and this book was everything I dislike about them. These two POV's seemed to have nothing in common until the last 10 percent, I really only liked the 1990 story and even it wasn't amazing and chapters didn't seem to flow together well going from one to the other.
I am giving this book two stars because it is an important topic (though I didn't really know what it was until WAY too late in the book) and Wingate did seem to do a lot of research to make sure she taught the reader about life in the early 1900's.

From Lisa Wingate:
"Shelterwood began with an unexpected spark on an ordinary day, when the research for another novel led to a vintage newspaper mention of “Oklahoma Kate” Barnard, a female elected official (a rarity in a time when women couldn’t even vote) who was compelled to investigate reports of three “elf children” living in a hollow tree and begging for food at nearby farmhouses in 1909. In rescuing the children, Kate would discover that they were not elves at all, but orphans of Oklahoma’s Five Tribes (the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole). Along with fifty-one other children, they were under the protection of a court-appointed guardian, who had “lost all track of ” most of his wards. He was living lavishly on their oil monies, while the children survived in the woods and became so malnourished, skittish, and small that people thought they were elves."
What Worked For Me:
I always enjoy when a book directly ties to a piece of history, especially one that I'm not as familiar with. I love learning about what inspired books, particularly when that inspiration is based on a piece of unknown history. Here Wingate has done a terrific job of taking this small piece of history and crafting a world around these children.
Those children. I really grew attached to all of them...even the bad boys. They were all done wrong by the adults in their lives. Their tenacity, resourcefulness, and relationships were believable to inspiring, even if that part was fiction. Equally as believable was the way they couldn't help but be the children they were, destroying what they had built.
Valerie, a widowed single mother who is torn between wanting to protect her son and wanting to get to the truth. Wingate doesn't make her invincible, all knowing, or fearless - she makes her relatable and realistic.
I liked this look at a woman breaking into a traditionally male career. I always like books that do that.
We've got a setting in this book that I was entirely unfamiliar with and I enjoyed learning more about the mountains of Oklahoma (I'll be honest, until a couple of years ago, I was pretty sure that Oklahoma was entirely flat).
What Didn't Work As Well For Me:
This is one of those books where we move back and forth in time, reading two storylines and moving to the place where they will intersect. As so often happens, the historical storyline captured my attention more than the present day storyline. Even so, in this book, I will say that I was really enjoying the present day storyline. Until the ending, where the past and the present come together. Even given that the "present day" in this book is almost 35 years ago, readers are required to suspend disbelief to a certain extent. It would have worked better for me if the "present day" of this book were in 1980 even.
The "bad guys" were a little too stereotyped for me and very early on I was sure about the truth of one character.
I think Wingate's fan will find this one gives them exactly what they are looking for in one of her books and new-to-her readers will find plenty to enjoy in this book. I certainly did and will be picking up more of Wingate's books, especially working on the assumption that her other books will also have an element of historical fact that she's crafted the book around.

An interesting historical fiction about children who were mistreated and abandoned and the people who tried hard to save them. A little long and repetitive, but also something I did not know much about before reading.

From the shelves

Through spring and summer, we now fall into reading


By Tom Mayer
tmayer@cullmantimes.com

So many books, so little time, so … let’s get to it. Here we offer two dozen titles that I’ve picked and plucked from the … more than a few dozen … I receive from publishers each year. From the best nonfiction (and a journey through history with Pope Francis), children’s fiction (just try to resist a story with the title, “Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week”) and fiction from acknowledged masters to masters-in-the-making, this list isn’t exhaustive — somewhere north of 1 million books are published each year — but I’m betting you’ll find more than few titles listed here to ignite your fall reading.

“Ferris” (Candlewick) by Kate DiCamillo: Introduce a ghost and a family of warring raccoons into Ferris Wilkey’s summer before fifth grade and it becomes a season of sheer pandemonium. As always, DiCamillo's writing shines with warmth and empathy.

“After Annie” (Random House) by Anna Quindlen: A poignant story of loss and the long road to healing following the death of Annie Bowen as her husband, children and closest friend are left to understand and repair the chasms left in their own lives and addictions. The novel is a beautiful exploration of love, grief and resilience.

“The Number One Lawyer” (Little, Brown and Company) by James Patterson and Nancy Allen: The authors team for a fast-paced legal thriller about a top lawyer who becomes a top murder suspect following the death of his wife. The novel is a gripping page-turner filled with unexpected twists and turns.

“Life: My Story Through History” (HarperOne) by Pope Francis, translated by Aubrey Botsford: Pope Francis shares his personal journey intertwined with pivotal moments in modern history, offering insights into his faith and leadership. This memoir is a deeply reflective and inspirational account of a life dedicated to service.

“Friends in Napa” (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Stella Yasmin Marikar with an introduction by Mindy Kaling: Marikar’s novel is a delightful exploration of friendship and wine in California's Napa Valley, where six old friends reunite to navigate life’s complexities … and the illusion of friendship. The story is filled with warmth, humor and a touch of nostalgia.

“Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week” (Peachtree) by Sarah L. Thomson, illustrated by Vin Vogel: Thomson presents a heartwarming tale of friendship, adventure and Otto the dog that turns two soon-to-be friends' world upside down. Those who loved “The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking” will relish this new tale.

“For Worse” (Blackstone Publishing, paperback) by L.K. Bowen: This dark thriller puts readers into intricate plots of marital revenge as Ellie tries to, again, leave her seemingly picture-perfect married life. A tale about a psychologically abusive, manipulative and cruel marriage keeps readers on the edge.

“The Forgetters” (Heyday) by Greg Sarris: Sarris delivers a compelling tale of memory and identity, as two crow sisters, Question Woman and Answer Woman, must work in tandem to recount the journeys of the Forgetters. The novel, told in the style of Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok creation stories, is a profound meditation on the power of storytelling.

“Lost to Dune Road” (Thomas & Mercer, paperback) by Kara Thomas: Pulled back into an unsolved murder after a mistake ruined her reporting career, Lee Ellerin finds a chance for redemption in finding the killer. Thomas weaves a tale of secrets buried along a road to vindication. The story is a haunting exploration of the past's grip on the present.

“Pictures of Time” (Silver Street Media, large format) by David Alexander with graphic design by Tommy Steele: A tale of time is told through photographs as the book explores how art and science converge and cross. The book is rich with vivid descriptions and thought-provoking themes.

“Murder on Demand” (Blackstone Publishing) by Al Roker and Matt Costello: Book 4 in Roker’s The Morning Show Murders series takes place a decade after Billy Blessing’s adventure in Chicago. Much has changed for Blessing in the past 10 years, but when a woman walks into his life talking about murder, things start to seem very familiar. The novel is a clever, fast-paced thriller with a bookish twist.

“Matterhorn” (Mac Dekker Book 1) by Christopher Reich: Mac Dekker is living in an Alpine village, trying to put his past in the past — until he learns that his son, following in his footsteps, was killed in the Alps. Reich crafts a tense military thriller set against the backdrop of a high-stakes mission. The novel is packed with action, suspense and geopolitical intrigue.

“The Hunter’s Daughter” (Berkley, paperback) by Nicola Solvinic: Suppressed childhood memories return after Lt. Anna Koray kills a man in the line of duty. The novel is a haunting exploration of family as a serial killer emerges — and one who is both copying her father and seems to know way too much about her.

“The House That Horror Built” (Berkley, paperback) by Christina Henry: House cleaner Harry Adams tries to do her job, keep her head low and safeguard the employment she need to support her son. She maintains all of that until she hears noises from behind a locked door that sound like a human cry for help. The story is a spine-chilling mix of gothic horror and psychological suspense.

“In Our Stars” (The Doomed Earth Duology) (Ace) by Jack Campbell: Campbell’s space opera is an epic tale of love, loss, and interstellar conflict. The novel is a sweeping adventure that explores the human spirit's resilience in the vastness of space as the genetically engineered — and ostracized because of it — Lt. Selene Genji is thrust four decades into the past with a chance to save Earth from the annihilation she witnessed in her present time.

“Freeset” (The Four Cities Series Book 3) (Blackstone) by Sarina Dahlan: This sequel to “Reset” (“Preset” was the first in the series) continues the thrilling saga of a group of Dreamers fighting to find each other after Tabula Rosa — the process that wipes citizens’ memories every four years. The story is built on a foundation of family and hope … and fragile trusts.

“Camino Ghosts” (Doubleday) by John Grisham: The best of the Camino Island series to date (“Camino Island” and “Camino Winds” preceded), Grisham’s latest legal drama follows a seasoned lawyer on a quest for justice in a small coastal town. The justice here is social as the sole descendent of a community of runaway Black slaves must save a haunted island, and her heritage, from the hands and wallets of developers. The novel is a gripping exploration of corruption and redemption.

“Lake County” (Thomas & Mercer, paperback) by Lori Roy: Reimagining the life of Marilyn Monroe, aka Aunt Jean, involves a niece and her boyfriend, who also happens to be part of the illegal bolita he’s running on mob lands. When he’s forced to make a deal that could save both of their lives, worlds are altered in an atmospheric 1950s setting from the Edgar Award-winning Roy.

“Serendipity” (Dutton, paperback) by Becky Chalsen: Chalsen weaves a heartwarming tale of unexpected love and second chances set in the charming backdrop of a seaside town. The novel is a delightful mix of romance, humor and serendipitous moments as Maggie reconnects with her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. In a summer share house named Serendipity, Maggie, with the help of her friends, will try to get her life back on track — if she can avoid the drama running on the rails.

“Shelterwood” (Ballantine Books) by Lisa Wingate: Exploring a centuries-old legacy of missing child cases, Wingate’s novel tells the story of a long-hidden burial site in the newly minted Horsethief Trail National Park. When a ranger’s quest for justice unearths more than the burials from a century ago, the book becomes a poignant exploration of memory, loss and the story of children abandoned by the law.

“The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra Needle” (Holiday House) by Dan Gutman: Gutman’s novel is a playful retelling of Cleopatra’s life, with a humorous twist that reimagines history: Could Central Park’s Cleopatra’s Needle have been built by thousands of people in 1461 BCE? The story is a fun and educational romp through the ancient world.

“Jackpot Summer” (Penguin) by Elysa Friedland: Born into a frugal family, the four Jacobson siblings have nonetheless made a mess of their adult financial lives. Whiles one declines to partake, the other three buy a (winning) Powerball ticket and soon find their lives really spiraling out of control. The story is a suspenseful exploration of greed, family, fate and drama.

“The Helper” (Blackstone) by M.M. Dewil: Written by a former monk from North India who is today an award-winning Hollywood director and director, Dewil’s novel is laced with lies, deceit, revenge and how one woman struggles to earn her own piece of the American Dream. The debut is a testament to the author’s biting wit and satirical commentary.

“Winter Lost” (Mercy Thompson, book 14) (Ace) by Patricia Briggs: Ancient and arcane magics are at work, as is Mercy Thompson Hauptman’s mate, a werewolf protector of the Tri-Cities of Washington State, and her brother, Adam, who needs a helping hand in Montana. “Winter Lost” is the 14th segment of this best-selling, highly rated urban fantasy series.

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This was our book club choice. We enjoyed the book but felt there should have been a shorter time frame between the two periods. When certain things are revealed near the end, the timing feels off.

I learned a lot from this book about what happened to the five tribes in Oklahoma and how they were treated. I could tell a lot of research went into it.

Enjoyable read

Dual-timeline historical fiction, both timelines compelling, combined with American history I never learned made for an absorbing read (or listen, in this case.) The two narrators were very talented and this audiobook made my commute much more pleasant for a few weeks.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Libro for providing advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is told in two timelines. The first timeline is Oklahoma, 1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley rescues herself and six-year-old Nessa, a Choctaw orphan, from her abusive stepfather. The girls find support from several adults, add several similar children to their tribe, and face danger as they travel to safety in Shelterwood. The second timeline is Oklahoma, 1990. Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren O’dell finds a hidden burial sight with three young girls, and she searches for a missing teen who's hiding a secret. She's not sure who to trust as she searches for the truth.
I like the dual timeline because the author clarifies who's speaking at the beginning of each chapter. And the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter prompt me to keep reading. But these strategies also disrupt the story's continuity. Several times, I would start reading a chapter and need a page or two to remember the storyline.
The book's premise is heartbreaking. Children were abandoned by parents, society and the law. And white men were generally the culprits. Not much has changed today.
I like the theme of strong women. They speak up and disrupt the norm, often at great personal expense. As the author notes, this book is "For Kate Barnard and Gertrude Bonnin. For all the women who came early to the battle. And (for) the “little ones” they fought to save. For Angie Debo, who told the story Before it could fade from history. For all the scandalous women who blazed the trails before us and refused to take no for an answer." I want to be one of those women in my generation!
I debated between three and four stars. I like the story premise and the execution is okay. But I didn't find myself eager to keep reading. The book was just okay. However, I'm giving four stars because the author tells an important story.

Tragic - so sad - Native American children in Oklahoma, mistreated by men seeking to get rich off their small backs. It is a riveting story - two timelines that verge across the years. It’s thoughtful and informative. I’m so grateful for find historical fiction that brings knowledge alive to me.

Riveting story by a gifted storyteller!! I had no idea about this time in our history and author Lisa Wingate opened my eyes to the time when pioneer women fought to protect children from the dishonest people trying to grab their lands, and before there were any child labor laws. Set in Oklahoma in 1909 and 1990 and based on real people and situations, Author Lisa Wingate describes the hard life of orphans living on their own, the people who took advantage of them, hurt them, and the people who tried to help them. It's a sad time in history, yet this story is beautifully woven between past and present, bleakness, and hope, relying on yourself, and having the support of family, and friends. I couldn't put it down!

I highly recommend Shelterwood for lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read a digital copy. All opinions are my own.



The author has shared a Book Club Kit link listed on Goodreads for anyone interested!

I really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to read what’s next by this author. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the chance to read.

I loved the dual timelines and the abundance of strong female characters in this book. I wasn’t quite sure how the 2 stories would intersect and my initial guess was wrong. I will say each story was at times both very engrossing and slightly boring (due to not as much action happening). But overall it was a great story that pulled 2 past time periods together and taught me a little more about early 1900s Oklahoma as well as Kate Barnard.

This book, Shelterwood was a great historical fiction read. I enjoyed the connection between what was happening in the present day and what had happened in the past. I love how they were connected at the end. This book had a lot of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.

While the story was very interesting I had to force myself to finish. It just wasn’t the book for me.

3.75/5
Alternating timelines both set in Oklahoma, 1909 follows Ollie and her “adopted” Choctaw sister Nessa who flee from their abusive stepfather and journey in the woods towards their prior home of Winding Stair Mountains, crossing barren terrain with their packhorse and some meager supplies. Along the way, they meet orphaned indigenous children and band together to survive, creating their own safe haven “Shelterwood.” 1990 follows widowed Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren O’Dell and her young son in her new assignment at Horsethief Trail National Park. On her first day, she discovers old remains of 3 young girls thought to be descendants from the nearby Choctaw tribe. While she is interested in learning their origin story, her superiors remove the bones and close the case. She is approached by spunky Choctaw girl Sydney about locating her missing brother Braden and sick grandmother Budgie Blackwell, who is a former State Representative. She finds an unlikely alliance with a tribal police officer in her quest to uncover the truth.

I absolutely loved Wingate’s book Before We Were Yours—which intertwined phenomenal storytelling with well researched historical fiction. While I really enjoyed this book, and was invested in the story to learn the connection between the two timelines, it didn’t grab me the same way her prior book did. I thought the alternating timelines was well executed but feel it could have been somewhat challenging if read as an audiobook and not in print. I learned a lot about the exploitation of land from indigenous Choctaw tribal people, with the creation of “guardianship” for those underage with tribal land allotments

Thank you NetGalley, author Lisa Wingate, and publisher Ballantine Books for this ARC.
Pub Date: June 4, 2024

Lisa Wingate has become a favorite author of mine over the years. I always get excited when I find out that she has written a new book. That was how I felt when I saw that she had written Shelterwood. I always enjoy that she depicts strong and resilient women in her books. Shelterwood was no exception. It portrayed two very strong and determined female protagonists, one that grew up in Oklahoma in the early 1900’s and one who recently moved to Oklahoma for a new job in the 1990’s. Neither of these protagonists could be easily dissuaded from doing what they believed was necessary and right. Lisa Wingate delved into what was known as The Guardian System in her book, Shelterwood. She allowed her readers to learn about those who took advantage of orphaned Indigenous children for the sole purpose of profiting off of their ignorance and innocence. I had little to no knowledge of Oklahoma’s turbulent history of wealthy white men who preyed on these trusting and vulnerable children. I switched between reading Shelterwood on my kindle and listening to the audiobook. The cast of narrators for the audiobook did an excellent job portraying the many characters. Shelterwood was written in a dual timeline and told from the perspective of the two protagonists.

In 1909, eleven year old Olive (Ollie) Augusta Radley Peele was living with her mama and stepfather. Her biological father had left them but Ollie had fond memories of him. Before he disappeared from her and her mama’s lives, he had brought home two Choctaw orphans who became wards of Ollie’s family. Hazel was eleven years old and Nessa was six years old. After Ollie’s father left her and her mama, Ollie’s mother became more dependent on drugs. Ollie soon learned that her stepfather was a dangerous and evil man. Ollie suspected that her stepfather was somehow responsible for Hazel’s disappearance. When Ollie witnessed her stepfather luring over Nessa’s bed one night,Ollie knew that she and Nessa had to escape before it was too late for them. Ollie was wise and observant beyond her years. Her’s and Nessa’s journey, although not without danger, obstacles and challenges, led them to the Winding Stair Mountains.

Life doesn’t always go as planned and that was true for widowed and single mother Valerie Boren O’dell. In 1990, Valerie Boren O’dell found herself with a new role. Valerie recently accepted the position as a Law Enforcement Ranger at Horsethief Trail National Park. She and her young son, Charlie, were going to call Talihina, Oklahoma home for the inevitable future. On Valerie’s first day on the job, she was befriended by a young girl who asked Valerie to keep an eye out for her brother. Her brother was supposed to come and get her and together they were supposed to go to their grandmother’s home. According to this young girl, her brother never showed up and she was worried about him. His distinguishing feature was that he had red hair. Valerie later learned that this young girl had a reputation for stretching the truth. Her “tall tales” had made people doubt her concerns and pleas for help. On that very first day of Valerie’s new role as Ranger, she was confronted with not only the possibility of the girl’s missing brother but with a drowning and the discovery of skeletal remains of young children in a secluded cave. Valerie also had to figure out who she could trust in her new job. It was an uphill battle for Valerie to try and earn the respect from the people she was now working with. Those were not going to be easy tasks but Valerie was not going to give in. How would Valerie be able to put the pieces of the puzzle clues together in order to solve all these occurrences?

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate was a very captivating book. I enjoyed the dual timeline and admired both protagonists. They both had so much to prove and were unrelenting in their efforts. Until reading Shelterwood, I had no prior knowledge about how innocent young Indigenous children were taken advantage of by scheming and evil white men back in the early 1900’s in Oklahoma. I really enjoyed how the ending of Shelterwood wove the two timelines and important characters together to create a very strong and satisfying conclusion. Although, Shelterwood was not my favorite book by Lisa Wingate, I did enjoy it, appreciate the new information that I learned and feel good about recommending it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction that featured two very strong female protagonists.

Thank you to Ballantine Books Random House Audio for allowing me to read and listen to Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really wanted to love this book. I enjoyed the past time but did not care to much about the present. I think if it was strictly in the past with just the girls as the main focus, I would have enjoyed it more. It was kind of a snooze fest and I did not enjoy it as much as her other books.

I wanted to like this book. The topic was fascinating and the dual timeline intrigued me. However, it was a very slow start for me and quite a chore to finish. Once I got to the halfway point, I was invested enough to continue, but it was still slow going. I liked the ending and the full circle nature of the story, but there were too many characters for me to keep up with and truly invest in.

Lisa Wingate’s latest novel, Shelterwood, weaves an interesting dual narrative set in the Winding Stair Mountains of Oklahoma, exploring the dark legacy of missing children across a century.

In 1990, the remains of three young girls are uncovered in the newly created Horsethief Trail National Park, thrusting park ranger Valerie Boren-Odell, a grieving widow, into a mystery. Despite her boss’s reluctance to investigate, Valerie is determined to uncover the truth, aided by Choctaw tribal police officer Curtis Enhoe. Their investigation soon deepens with the discovery of a teenage boy’s disappearance and an unidentified man’s corpse, linking past and present tragedies.

Parallel to this, the story flashes back to 1909, when eleven-year-old Olive “Ollie” Radley and her Choctaw foster sister flee into the forest to escape abuse. As they seek safety, they encounter other children hiding from similar fates, exposing the broader exploitation of Choctaw children during a tumultuous period in Oklahoma’s history.

Wingate’s skillful storytelling shines through her vivid descriptions and strong sense of place (she grew up in Oklahoma), capturing the vulnerability and resilience of her young characters. The novel provides an insightful look into a dark chapter of history, though some readers may find the Ollie’s narrative overly verbose compared to the more engaging contemporary timeline. In my view, Shelterwood isn’t Wingate’s strongest work, but its emotional depth and historical intrigue make it a worthy read. For those interested in the untold stories of America’s past, this novel is a thought-provoking journey. 4 stars.

** Thanks to the publisher for a comp of this novel. The opinions are my own.

I struggled my way through the pace of this one, but I enjoyed the story. I love a story that has a lesson to share, and Lisa Wingate’s book always have something to teach me.