Lisa Wingate deftly infuses the narrative with moments of profound sadness, as the characters grapple with the scars of their pasts and the challenges they must overcome to better themselves. Through their struggles, Wingate offers a poignant reminder of the power of hope and the capacity for healing within us all. Shelterwood delves into the complexities of human emotion and showcases the strength and courage individuals can summon in challenging circumstances.

Alternating between 1909 and 1990 Oklahoma we follow the paths of Ollie and Nessa as they run away from an abusive home and park ranger Valerie who is now investigating a missing persons case 80 years later in the state park that was formed on the same land Ollie and Nessa once called home.

As I read this book I was sent down a rabbit hole of research about the history of the 1887 Dawes Act that broke up tribal lands and provided individual Native Americans a parcel of land known as an allotment . When the parents of native children died, some naturally and some mysteriously, the children would be appointed to caregivers. Many men took advantage of this and tried to be appointed as caregivers to as many children as possible to claim rights to their land allotments. Many non-native men became weathly off the tribal land allotment and used that wealth to run for public office or influence those that did. Wingate has told the emotional and heartbreaking true story of indiginous children on the Oklahoma plains in the early 1900's through Ollie and Nessa and the reprussions many children suffered from the actions of those put in charge of their care. I felt myself really anxious as I was reading hoping nothing bad would happen to the children and knowing that although fiction, events like this happened to real children and are still happeing today.

If you liked Killers of the Flower Moon this book will tell you a similar story, although through the eyes of children and the brave women who fought to help them.

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I will not forget this book--it's in my heart forever. Shelterwood has two storylines--one in 1908, and the other in 1990, and the story goes back and forth between them. Both parts of the story take place in Oklahoma. The first is after the Dawes Act, which broke up tribal lands and granted land allotments to individual Native Americans. Unscrupulous white men took the land from vulnerable native children, leaving them alone to fend for themselves. They are called "Elf children," and this is the story of a group of them who tried to form their own community, with heartbreaking results. And then, nearly a hundred years later, an enterprising ranger in a newly formed national park digs up the first story and solves a current-time mystery. It's a lot to keep track of, but Lisa Wingate beautifully handles all the complications. Both thumbs up, as well as all ten fingers and toes.

I was excited when Netgalley provided me an early (digital) copy of a Lisa Wingate book. I loved Before We Were Yours. Once again, I learned about a form of child abuse I didn't learn in school. I had no idea there were "oil-rich" children with absent guardians in the early 1900s. I did find the book a bit confusing at times with the dual timeline and many characters...particularly the "bad guys" in the 1990 chapters. I didn't detect any plot holes, and it's very well written. It held my interest throughout. Overall, I give it 4.5 stars.

This one is well researched and does a good job at making the past come alive for the reader, however, it's dense and convoluted at times. I found myself rooting for the children but often the focus was lost in the winding narrative. The dual timelines were a bit jarring as well with the transitions too abrupt. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was moving and the plight of children always pulls at my heartstrings. The resilience of these children who had to navigate for themselves is so incredible. We can look back at history and see the mistakes made, I often wonder what mistakes we make today.



Ollie, Nessa, and Hazel were great characters!



The other amazing part of the story was the women who fought to find out the rest of the story. These women give us examples to look to in the problems we face.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Oh wow! This story was incredible! I loved how the story went back and forth with past and present. The characters were so relatable And realistic. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves historical fiction.

This story is two in one. It starts in 1909 and switches to 1990 between chapters. It traces the history of yet another abuse of the American Indian and the tribal lands they were promised by our government. As always, might makes right and many people are constantly trying to steal their land for its timber and mineral rights. When bones of three children are found in a cave an investigation begins attempting to find out who the children were and the circumstances of their deaths. The descriptions of the scenery and the everyday travels of these runaway children are interesting as is how they find help along the way. It is also the story of a park ranger who gets involved in solving the mystery of where the children came from and the circumstances of their lives.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for this ARC.

Lisa Wingate has once again written a beautiful novel with women and children whose strength and wit led them to do amazing things.

This is a dual time period historical novel set in Oklahoma in 1909, just when OK achieved statehood and 1990 when the National Parks Services purchased and protected Horsethief Trail National Park.

We follow Ollie, an 11 year old girl as she strikes out on her in in 1909 to protect Nessa, her family’s ward..The forests and mountains where they hid and survived had many orphans.

In 1990 we see Valerie, a NPS ranger as she uncovers some of the ghosts of the same land. She does this as an outsider and female ranger, neither of which are welcome in the town.

This was a solid 4.5 stars and a reminder of why Lisa Wingate is an automatic read for me.

Shelterwood" by Lisa Wingate is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of family, forgiveness, and the power of redemption. Set in the small town of Moses Lake, Texas, the story follows the lives of two women from different backgrounds whose paths intersect in unexpected ways. As they navigate their own personal struggles and confront the secrets of their past, they discover the healing power of love and community. With its richly drawn characters and evocative prose, "Shelterwood" is a poignant tale that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

This dual-narrative historical fiction book held both my interest and my heart! It flips back and forth between the years 1909 and 1990, telling the tales of 2 women in the state of Oklahoma. In 1909, 12-year-old Ollie is forced to escape from a bad home life and bands together with others in similar situations. It was eye-opening and sad to read about the conditions these orphaned children survived in! Their resilience and resourcefulness was truly inspiring! In 1990, the story centers on Val, a single mother who is a national park ranger. She uncovers a mystery that eventually weaves the two stories together. I was confused at times about the details and found myself longing for more resolution at the end, but generally enjoyed reading this. Lisa Wingate brings buried history to light and celebrates some real life heroes who fought for the protection of these children.
Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Wingate and Ballentine books for an advance copy of this book!

Highly recommended. Lisa Wingate has created yet another story of children who survived a world that didn’t have any concern for their welfare, just what they could give it, or what could be taken from them. Wingate’s research is exemplary.

Another stellar read from Lisa Wingate! I have learned not to start one of her books unless I have time to binge read. As with Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours, I was hooked from the first chapter and had to keep reading. Her historical fiction books always teach me something new and leave me wanting to research more. As in her other books, we learn of child exploitation and abuse that if it were not based in truth, would be unbelievable. Instead, it is horrific and haunting. Thankfully, she does not dwell on those details, but instead she shares the strength and resilience of her characters, in both timelines.

I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an unbiased review. (Okay, maybe a bit biased, but only because it is Lisa Wingate.)

I loved this book! Set in Oklahoma with dual times of 1909 and 1990. The earlier timeline follows the plight of several children who are living in the woods and hiding from land barons. The later timeline follows a park services ranger.

The story drew me in from the first page. The chapters alternated timelines. I was fully invested in what would happen in both.

Before reading this book, I didn't know anything about what happened in OK with land barons. I'm interested in learning more.

I was thrilled to dive into "Shelterwood" and once again, she did not disappoint. Wingate has a remarkable ability to capture the full spectrum of human emotion and weave it into a story that grips you from the very first page.

"Shelterwood" is a mesmerizing tale that seamlessly intertwines the lives of two women separated by decades but connected by the land they inhabit. From the rugged beauty of Oklahoma's landscape to the depths of human resilience and compassion, Wingate's storytelling transports you to another time and place, making you feel as though you're right there alongside the characters.

The mystery and suspense woven throughout the narrative kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth behind the secrets buried in the past. And when the final twist came, I was left gasping, utterly stunned by the unexpected outcome.

Wingate has once again proven herself as a master storyteller with "Shelterwood," a book that not only entertains but also resonates deeply with its readers. This is a story that will stay with me long after I've turned the last page, and I can't wait to see what Wingate has in store for her next literary masterpiece.

"Shelterwood" isn't just a story of mystery and suspense; it's also a deeply emotional journey that explores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of trauma and adversity. Lisa Wingate deftly infuses the narrative with moments of profound sadness, as the characters grapple with the scars of their pasts and the challenges they must overcome to better themselves.

From the heartbreaking experiences of Ollie and Nessa, two young girls forced to flee from danger and carve out a new life in the wilderness, to the haunting discoveries unearthed by Valerie Boren-Odell as she delves into the secrets of the land, Wingate captures the raw emotion of their struggles with sensitivity and empathy.

As the characters confront their demons and strive to find healing and redemption, "Shelterwood" becomes more than just a captivating tale—it becomes a testament to the power of resilience, hope, and the human capacity for growth and transformation.

With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and poignant exploration of trauma and survival, "Shelterwood" is a book that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you profoundly moved. It's a testament to Lisa Wingate's skill as a storyteller that she can evoke such deep emotions in her readers, and it's a testament to the power of storytelling itself to illuminate the human experience in all its complexity.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
In the beginning of the book, there is a lot of references to child sexual abuse so that made me not want to read it, but thankfully that went away so it wasn't as terrifying to read after that. This is a dual timeline book going back and forth between the early 1900s with the children and 1987 with a park ranger who is trying to start over while also trying to help several children (both living and dead). There are some twists and adventure, but it really does shine a light on an unfortunate time in history when children's land wealth was weaseled away from them.

This is the fourth book I have read by Lisa Wingate. I always enjoy her stories and the history within them. As with some of her other books, there are multiple stories told and I typically prefer one over the other. In this instance, I prefer the story of the past (early 1900's) that of Ollie, Nessa, and the other children who are orphaned or runaways over the more recent story (1990) of Val, the park ranger, I was sucked into the sad story of these children who were taken advantage of by adults whose greed made them care more about wealth than humanity. It did take a while to used to the speech of some of the people, being the dialect they had in the past as well as in Oklahoma. However, once I did, I wanted to know if these children would make it to a better place...to find people who would care. It was well written and brought to light the tragedy that many Choctaw children and families faced when their land was taken from them by people who pretended to care but were really only acting for their own interest. We are introduced to Kate Barnard, a politician (the incredible story of a strong female politician elected at a time when women weren't even allowed to vote!) who worked hard to help bring awareness to these issues and help the children (dubbed "elves" by the locals who saw them wandering through the backwoods) who were affected by these things.
The story flipped between this and one in 1990 where a park ranger, new to the area after suffering the loss of her husband, comes across a mystery that will connect to Ollie, Nessa, and Nessa's lost sister, Hazel. This wasn't as interesting to me, and I kept wanting to get back to the story of the past. It did come together well at the end and tied things up. I appreciated the author's explanation of how she came to write this story and the fact that she had grown up in the area where her story takes place. It is always important to learn about things that have happened in our country's past, the good as well as the bad. Things have been done in the U.S. that were wrong and hopefully these stories will help us from repeating those actions.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Lisa Wingate has once again crafted another historical fiction gem with her latest entry, "Shelterwood." As an avid fan of "Before We Were Yours" and "The Book of Lost Friends," I was eager to deep dive into her new book. The story takes place between two alternating time periods: 1909 and 1990 Oklahoma. Wingate's novel is an exploration of Oklahoma during the statehood era and specifically focuses on Native American children whose land and rights were confiscated by men who had obtained guardianships over them and "...thereby control over a king's ransom in land, oil and timber."

In 1909, Ollie shared an attic room with two Choctaw sisters, Hazel and Nessa. They all lived in a house with Ollie's mother and her stepfather, a man of dubious character. When Hazel goes missing and Ollie's stepfather's insidious intentions become more apparent, Ollie and Nessa embark on a perilous journey away from there to a dugout hideaway in the Winding Stairs Mountains. Along the way, they encounter unscrupulous people, physical hardships and other bedraggled orphans they envelop into their fold where unlikely friendships are forged.. Eleven year old Ollie, wise beyond her years, becomes the leader of this band of wayward children.

In 1990, Valerie Boren-Odell transfers to Oklahoma to work as a Law Enforcing Park Ranger in Horsethief Trail National Park in Oklahoma's Winding Stairs Mountains. Valerie is a single mom to her son, Charlie, after the untimely death of her husband. Within a few weeks on the job, Val is confronted with a missing teenager and a cave filled with the skeletal remains of three children. She must also deal with her condescending boss who excludes her from receiving pertinent information and prefers to sweep things under the rug.

Lisa Wingate weaves a compelling tale and manages to merge the two timelines together. As usual, she brings to the forefront a time in Oklahoma history that is unknown to most people. As you read about these orphan children, one can only question whether there was any restitution for the harm done to these Native American children who were stripped of everything they had. With Wingate's books, you get a dose of meticulously researched history served with a side of humanity. This is an excellent read and is highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

“Shelterwood” is a historical fiction book by Lisa Wingate. This is a dual-timeline book - one part following Olive back in 1909; the other part follows Valerie in 1990. Both stories take place in Oklahoma - one where Olive is trying to survive an abusive situation and the other were Valerie is starting and trying to hold onto a new National Parks Service job. For possibly the first time in a dual-timeline book, I actually preferred the modern timeline, not the past one. Olive was living during a difficult time - no doubt, but her timeline seemed bogged down with politics, deals, and lots of abuse. I’m so glad that Ms. Wingate included Kate Barnard - someone I wish more people knew about because she was incredible not only for that time - but also in what she did. Do read the author’s note as you will learn not only how Ms. Wingate stumbled across the idea for this story but also learn more about Ms. Barnard’s story. I think, overall, I’d be more inclined to give this book 3 stars, but because Ms. Barnard is someone I really admire, I’ll bump it up to 4 stars. This was a pretty quick book to read with an interesting dual-timeline, so that was an additional plus.

Lisa Wingate never fails to impress with her incredible research into often little known parts of history in the United States.

This book was a little slow to get into as it tells the story in dual timelines. As sometimes happens, I preferred one timeline to the other.

PAST TIMELINE:
It is 1909 in Oklahoma and we are introduced to 11 y/o Olive Radley. She knows that her stepfather has bad intentions toward the two Choctaw children living with them, Nessie and Hazel. These three children have been living with their mother and stepfather and have suffered both verbal and physical abuse. Nessie and Hazel are Chocktaw Indians who have been taken from their homes. The stepfather has gained custody of them and the tribal lands that belong to their families.

The past timeline delineates all of the ways that grifters and others “stole” the land which was found to be rich in oil and timber. There is so much to unpack here and understand – it was impossible for me to read this quickly. It was heartbreaking but incredibly eye opening.

PRESENT TIMELINE:
It is 1990 and a new Law Enforcement Ranger, Valerie Boren-O’Dell has come to the Horsethief Trail looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son Charlie. She is only on the job for a few days when she is faced with controversy over the park trail’s opening; a missing teenager and the discovery of a long hidden burial site with the bones of three children.

We are introduced to Curtis who is the head of the Chocktaw Tribal Police in the area. Together these two will discover an incredible history of land theft, child kidnapping and abuse. There are powerful men in town who want to keep these secrets. What exactly are they hiding in the present time?

The conclusion is a good one and left me googling Oklahoma history and the incredible Kate Barnard - the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections during the early 1900’s.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

This was a great buddy read with Debra, be sure to read her wonderful review.