What a powerful, eye opening read. I knew about "The Trail of Tears", but not of the land, Oklahoma!

This is a dual time read, and I loved how the author seamlessly wove this story together.

Be sure to read the author's notes at the end!

This read opens your eyes to the greed that goes through the ages, and those that have never have enough, and don't care about whom they hurt getting it. Unfortunately, in the early 1900's it was children, and we though the eyes of the author meet this children and get to know some of them.

There are surprises, and then wow surprises, and most you won't see coming!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballentine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

this story is told in dual timelines about eighty years apart. It comes together in the end. very good book.

Sometimes you just want a book that will transport you to another time and occasionally make you cry. Which brings me to this book and review I’m currently writing with balled up tissues in hand.

Lisa Wingate is a master at weaving together stories based on true events many may not know about. Including myself.

“Before We Were Yours” was the first book I read by her and just like that one, children and the past horrors they faced remain at the forefront. Hence my tissues.

I really love and appreciate the concern, love and support Lisa brings to her books and this one is no exception.

Taking place in Oklahoma and set between two timelines. Step into a time and a story Lisa clearly did her research on. I’m already looking forward to the next historical gem she decides to unearth.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I really tried to focus but it just never held my attention. I think I was more invested in the 1900 story line than the modern day one. I wasn’t interested in any characters. I made it about 41% in and decided this book, no matter the ending, is just not for me. I appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC of it as I really enjoyed Before We Were Yours.

Two stories, two narrators, and two timelines, with origins in United States government policies surrounding the treatment of indigenous people and their lands. While I'm generally a fan of this bestselling author, I was disappointed by this book. Awarded three stars on Goodreads, making me a real outlier since the book currently has an average rating of more than 4 stars.

Up front let me acknowledge that I am not a big fan of novels that move back and forth in time, where a connection is not revealed until the very end of the book. With few exceptions, I too often feel the author is simply employing an over-used literary device that keeps both stories intentionally obscure and harder to follow, because just as I get involved in one storyline, it’s dropped to pick up the second. And then back again.

SHELTERWOOD’s two storylines take place in Oklahoma about 80 years apart:
1909 - the story of two young runaways who meet up with other children living on their own — in a time before there were social service agencies or child labor laws to keep unscrupulous adults from taking advantage of children. This story is narrated by 12-year-old Olive Augusta Radley, the older of the two runaways. 
1990 - Newly widowed Valerie Boren O'dell (narrator) and her very inquisitive seven-year-old son Charlie have just relocated to Oklahoma to make a fresh start. Valerie is one of the first women rangers assigned to a national park and eager to prove herself to her sexist male colleagues. Almost immediately she gets involved in missing persons.

In telling both stories, author Lisa Wingate weaves in a variety of historical and contemporary elements. Skeletal remains, accidental death, and murder. Lucrative oil leases. Wealthy locals wielding power through their connections. Fledgling groups trying to organize women to effect political action. Kate Barnard, the first woman elected to statewide office in Oklahoma (who served before women even had the right to vote), and took an interest in helping the many abandoned children living on their own. And, of course, endlessly fascinating, the inner workings of dysfunctional families.

So, with all this drama, why did I award only three stars? Overall, I simply did not enjoy reading this novel. The pace seemed slow, not picking up until nearly three-quarters in. It felt long (368 pages) and picking it up felt too much like a task. And I admit I did not find this subject matter all that compelling. I think I would have liked it more if it was more focused on indigenous people rather than White ones. There were a lot of characters to track, made more difficult by continuing moving back and forth between stories. And I found that back and forth kept me at a distance, limiting my ability to become emotionally involved.

In my mind, a three star rating is a gift, awarded chiefly because I truly believe readers less annoyed by dual timeline stories and more interested in this subject matter and time period will enjoy the book much more than I did.

I loved Before We Were Yours, so I was thrilled when I received this.
Lisa Wingate is such a talented author and she brings out so much emotion, this story was heartbreaking.
I also love dual timelines, and this one bounces between 1909 and 1999.
History is so important and I feel sometimes we dont always really understand the lasting effect.

Once again, Lisa Wingate tells us of history that I was not aware of. Powerful story told in 2 timelines. A bit slow to get into the story in the beginning possibility due to the two different storylines.. I also found it hard to read about difficulties with children in history. I have no doubt this book will be a success!

Review Shelterwood
Lisa Wingate is a master storyteller. Her latest story is much like “Before We were Yours,” in that it uncovers a forgotten tragic story of the abuse of innocent children and those courageous few who worked to right the wrongs that villainous people tried to inflict on children.
It is a duel story-line that covers 1909 and 1990. And like Lisa’s previous story that uncovered the historical, yet almost forgotten tragedy of Georgia Tann selling innocent children, this story uncovers the complex Oklahoma history of graft and greed. It reveals a sad tale of the struggle to possess oil and lumber-rich land at a price that inflicted evil on Choctaw Indians and what became known as the “elf” children. There were little children who escaped and survived by living in the forest for a time. It also uncovers the true story of a little-known heroine who rescued some of those children.
Be sure to read the Author’s notes at the end of the story that uncovers the basis for telling this emotional tale.
The 1990 aspect of the story deals with a single Mom LEO working for a state Park who struggles to give voice to the story behind the bones of 3 children found in a cave. There is mystery and drama connected with the more recent time period that eventually reveals abuse inflicted on children ignored by the law.
For me this was a sadder story than Before We Were Yours. It is hard to read about the historical abuse of children. But it is a story that needed to be told, and I appreciated the uncovering of the woman who fought to be the advocate and protector for those children.
Thanks to #NetGalley for an advance ARC copy of #Shelterwood. And thanks to #Lisa Wingate for uncovering history and bringing it to light. Thanks to #Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this story before it will be available in June, 2024.

Be prepared to be captivated, enlightened, and moved by @author_lisa_wingate poignant story of 𝕊𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕨𝕠𝕠𝕕. Wingate sheds light on a forgotten chapter of American history revealing the dark underbelly of Oklahoma where Native American lands were stolen, lives lost, and injustices served on the Choctaw Nation and underprivileged. Greed and corruption are unveiled in this gripping novel.

𝑫𝑬𝑺𝑪𝑹𝑰𝑷𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵
The story unfolds with dual timelines until the stories converge. Eleven-year-old Ollie of 1909 flees her stepfather with Nessa, his 6-year-old Choctaw ward, who has untoward ideas for Nessa and her missing sister. They embark on a dangerous journey through the mountains along with an unexpected alliance of fellow orphaned (“elf”) children.

Fast forward to 1990, where law enforcement ranger Valerie faces local unrest, a missing teenage hiker, and the chilling discovery of long-buried bones in the park’s depths. With the support of the Choctaw Tribal Police, Val’s pursuit of truth unearths a labyrinth of hidden truths and the haunting legacy of the land’s dark past.

𝑺𝑼𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑹𝒀
Wingate skillfully weaves a tapestry of mystery and intrigue that bind past and present in this compelling and meticulously researched novel and brings justice to the forgotten Kate Barnard; a strong advocate for the children.

𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑻
💋 Sex & Nudity - Hint of sexual abuse but nothing described.
🤬 Profanity - None
🥊 Violence & Gore - Physical abuse of children; discussion of children being killed. Some fighting and shooting. Nothing graphically detailed.

𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great book from Lisa Wingate. Told in two different time frames, but once again, she brings it all together in the end. So sad what our child went thru before laws were enacted to protect them.

My first Lisa Wingate book and I’m very glad to have been allowed to read an ARC of it. Fantastic storyteller.. I typically don’t love dual timeline books, but this one was so well written that I was never bored with either timelines’ stories. This extremely well researched novel tells the story of Oklahoma’s elf children, land grabs by powerful white men, the painful lives of children who were destined to inherit valuable land, including Natives, and of Kate Barnard, a spunky woman who did so much to try to rectify the situation. “A society is only as good as its women.”

As a huge fan of "Before We Were Yours" I was very excited to receive the ARC from NetGalley of Shelterwood for an honest review. This book had me hooked from the beginning. The dual timelines between Ollie in 1909 and Valerie in 1990 provided a smooth parallel to a mystery to be solved, all while uncovering a deep dark secret held by a town's ancestors for decades. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and suspenseful journey taken by Ollie and her crew. The ending wrapped up beautifully, which I've come to appreciate in a story that is soaked in so much truth. Well done!

A very well written and researched book! The history is really interesting. I highly recommend this book, even though it is a split time novel, which I think there are far too many of these days. :) The story and characters are captivating. Parts of it are sad, but the main characters are strong, and it ends with victory, which is awesome!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Lisa Wingate writes great books and this one does not disappoint. Though I had trouble following along at times due to it being set in two different time lines, early 1900's and late 1990's, but I enjoyed the historical fiction part of it and the story. This is a great story to learn about the Native Americans and land rites.

Love Lisa Wingate’s writing, and this was a really well written book. I think the dual timelines were well done but it was kind of a slow read for the first few chapters. I found that once you get invested in the story and characters, it really picks up momentum. I would totally recommend this book to a friend.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a copy of Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate.
I loved Ms Wingate's previous novel. Before We Were Yours, and was just as satisfied with Shelterwood.
The stories take place in Oklahoma, with dual timelines in 1909 and 1990.
In 1909, Oliva and her Choctaw foster sister run away from the abuse and negligence of home. They join up with other children struggling to survive, and stay away from those who would exploit them. In 1990, National Park Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie can't ignore evidence of past and current nefarious activity in Horsethief Trail National Park. The way the two timelines intersected was well written - Highly recommend!

When I stumbled upon Shelterwood on NetGalley, I was so excited to see Lisa Wingate wrote it and immediately requested to read it. Her book Before We Were Yours was a 5⭐️ read for me, and it got me into loving historical fiction.

Normally, I can read a book in a few days (sometimes even in a day), but it took me over three weeks to finish Shelterwood. I never really wanted to pick it up, or to continue reading when I did pick it up. The pace was really slow up until the end, when so much happens at once.

This story is told in dual timelines, and has a mystery in each one. At times, I was interested in both timelines, at other times, I was only interested in one; sometimes I was interested in neither. I felt like the story went back and forth between intriguing/ interesting and tedious filler that really made the story drag.

All that said, I did appreciate learning about an important topic I didn’t know much about. I liked how Wingate included a real person and intertwined her story with the characters‘ story. And I liked how the two storylines connected in the end.

3.5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

As Lisa Wingate was quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, Shelterwood sealed the deal and put her in the top.  I love Wingate’s storytelling capability and writing style, and Shelterwood is no exception.  She brought to life a piece of history I was not familiar with and did so in a fascinating way.  This historical fiction novel is interesting, captivating, well-researched and nearly impossible to put down!

Shelterwood is set in Oklahoma across two storylines 90 years apart – 1909 and 1999.  In 1909, we learn of 11-year-old Olive “Ollie” August Radley, and her life with her mother and new stepfather.  There are two Choctaw children living in her home, and she is forced to flee with the youngest, 6-year-old Nessa, after the oldest, Hazel, disappears.  In 1999, we learn of newly hired, widowed Park Ranger Valerie Boren O’Dell and mother to a young boy named Charlie.  The newest ranger and a woman on the predominantly male force, Valerie is met with resistance and skepticism, but she meets these head on with courage and determination.  As I began this book, I wondered what these two very different and decades apart lives had in common.  But Lisa Wingate did what Lisa Wingate does best and wove these two different yet related stories together seamlessly, interestingly, and beautifully.  Her ability to tell two stories in this fashion is one my favorite things about her as an author.   It is an absolute gift to be enraptured in her books.

Wingate explores a difficult topic but one that is not well-known, at least where I am from – the corruption of well-to-do people and politicians in Oklahoma deceiving and stealing land rights from the native Five Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek. Choctaw, and Seminole).  It is a difficult topic especially because advantages were often taken of orphans.  Injustice is heartbreaking but it is especially so when children are involved.  But Wingate tells their stories through the lives of Ollie, Nessa, and other children like them that they meet on their journey. 

Through the pages of this book, the reader will learn about and fall in love with the “elf children”.  I felt great compassion toward these dear little ones, and great anger toward the adults who wronged them.  The reader will also learn of Kate Barnard, a little-known name in Oklahoma history.  Kate was small in stature but won political office and had a larger-than-life impact on the lives of the orphaned native children.  A headstrong woman well ahead of her time, Barnard was a force to be reckoned with and one I am very interested in learning more about.

The book culminates in a satisfying ending.  It was a well-researched page turning historical fiction novel which I will highly recommend to anyone who asks.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every Lisa Wingate book I have read, and I am so very pleased to say that Shelterwood is no exception.

Thank you NetGalley, Ballentine Books and Lisa Wingate for the privilege to read an advanced copy of this wonderful novel!

#Shelterwood #NetGalley

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Shelterwood started off on a slow note for me. Eventually, the mystery started to develop a bit more, and the pages started to fly by. In this, you will meet Ollie and Valerie. Ollie is eleven years old and lives in 1909, whereas Valerie lives in 1990 with her son Charlie.

Ollie doesn't like the world she's living in and would do anything in her power to protect her sisters and herself. It doesn't help when one of them goes missing and her stepfather is untrustworthy. One day, she hits her limit and runs away with her younger sister, Nessie. The troubles they faced along the way were somewhat bittersweet. Sure, they had times where things were finally going their way, and I could see them potentially getting their happy ending. Then the rug would be swept right from under them and myself, and they were back to square one, trying to figure out life and keeping everyone safe.

Then there's Valerie, and she's just trying to figure things out in her new job. Throw in some mystery bones found in a cave, and she just wants to understand this land, the park, and the people a bit more. It doesn't help that she pissed someone off who is well-known in the community and has it out for her now. And yet, the mystery just keeps building up, and things aren't adding up.

In the end, the mystery was so freaking good, and the last few chapters really tied things up. The only thing I'm wondering about is, did she finally get Charlie that puppy? Please say she did.

I've read a few of Lisa Wingate's books and some of them are amazing--Before We Were Yours comes to mind. I had high expectations for this book: two kids in rural Oklahoma at the turn of the century run away from a stepfather while a 1990 storyline is about a woman Law Enforcement Ranger in a new national park who discovers bodies in a cave. The two storylines eventually meld, but neither one is very interesting on its own. I was incredibly disappointed and almost completely disinterested in both storylines, which was such a bummer because both individually had such promise. The characters lacked depth. Details were given that just didn't seem to have much point.


Thanks to NetGalley for my honest opinion of this book.