This book tells the story of the women who fought to protect children from exploitation by land owners in the early 1900s - and they made a lot of progress in their day, especially given that women didn’t even have the right to vote. I’m astounded that I never learned about these atrocities in school, so I am grateful that Lisa Wingate chose this as the topic for her new novel. This was a moving work of historical fiction that was both emotional and suspenseful, and it kept me engaged from start to finish.

This book was moving and children always pulls at my heartstrings. These children who had to navigate for themselves is so incredible. Before We Were Yours' by Lisa Wingate is one of my top books, so I knew I had to read this one. This book is based on real events, of Oklahoma and children that were orphaned and minor children of tribes of "Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek. Choctaw, and Seminole" and "elf children". This novel has two time periods - 1909 with Ollie, Nessie, and Hazel; and 1990 with Val and Curtis. I loved the connection to a more modern time., and loved the back and forth of the different time frame. There were points between the alternating chapters and "small cliff hangers" that left me predicting what would happen next.
The amount of research Lisa put into this book, must have been staggering.it was a part of history that I knew nothing about. Thank you Lisa Wingate for bring this us this story!

Thanks to Netgalley for a advance copy of this book

A really interesting look at a period of time that no one really knows a lot about. Lisa Wingate does excellent research, and turns it all into a fascinating read. She's a wonderful author, and this is a wonderful book! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Lisa Wingate has become an auto-read author for me, ever since I read her book “Before We We’re Yours”, which is utterly heartbreaking. So is this story. You can tell that Wingate does meticulous research on each subject she chooses to write about, and she always does these lost stories justice. In “Shelterwood”, she puts a spotlight on the corruption in Oklahoma regarding Native lands, Native peoples and orphans at the turn of the 20th century. We learn about Ollie and Nessa’s flight to escape a lecherous stepfather, but being on their own at 11 and 6 years old, respectively, puts them squarely in the path of other dangerous people. The timelines go back and forth between the girls in 1909 and a female park ranger’s investigation of three small sets of skeletons found recently in a cave in 1990. Who are the three children? And why are the higher-ups so against truly investigating what happened?

Your heart will be in your mouth as you read. These characters are undeniably deserving of compassion. Once again, Lisa Wingate brings buried history to life and ensures that these wrongdoings are never forgotten.

An interesting story for sure. It was not what I was expecting but it did, for the most part, hold my interest. I enjoy reading books by this author.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this book. It was a DNF for me. Normally I’m a huge fan of Lisa Wingate but this one didn’t do it for me.

From the first page I knew I was going to love this book. The description of the setting put me right there. The story of these young children is so heart wrenching. And I loved the connection to a more modern time. I loved the back and forth of the different time frame. I couldn’t wait to finish a chapter to go back and see what was happening with the characters in the other time frame. Highly recommend this book.

Lisa Wingate's latest novel, Shelterwood, is a riveting historical fiction that will take you on an emotional journey. The novel tells the story of a group of orphans in 1909 who are left to fend for themselves and their struggles to survive, as well as a determined Park Ranger in 1990 who sets out to find a missing hiker but ends up discovering a dark secret that has been buried for decades.

Lisa Wingate's ability to weave together two different timelines is truly impressive. The back-and-forth between the two eras keeps you on the edge of your seat, as you try to piece together the clues to figure out what really happened. Wingate's attention to detail and meticulous research shine through in this novel, and you can't help but learn something new with every turn of the page.

Shelterwood is an exceptional novel that will leave you with a sense of awe and wonder. It's a powerful and poignant story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. If you're looking for a book that will transport you to another time and place, then Shelterwood is the perfect choice. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction or simply wants to read a gripping and thought-provoking novel.

4.5 stars
HIGHLY recommend

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Lisa Wingate, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

First off, this is a very intense historical novel about a time, place, and situation that I knew nothing about before reading this novel. Of course, this is because of the whitewashing of history. I am grateful to Lisa Wingate for bringing this history to life once again!

This novel has two time periods - 1909 with Ollie, Nessie, and Hazel; and 1990 with Val and Curtis. The 1909 time covers the horrific period in Oklahoma when graft and corruption were running rampant to steal valuable land from elderly Native people and Native children to line the pockets of probate judges. lawyers, and white guardians. The 1990 time period is about a fictional national park opening in Oklahoma where mysterious and curious things are occurring with Val as a National Park Service ranger and Curtis as a tribal police officer investigating.

This book is fantastic and the amount of research must have been staggering. But all of Lisa Wingate's books are tirelessly researched, written with care, and the retelling of somewhat unknown stories in the United States.

This novel was a little slow to start and was incredibly dense, but beautifully written!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group from NetGalley for this ARC. I have been a fan of Lisa Wingate ever since reading , Before We Were Yours. Her latest novel is another work of Historical Fiction! Loved it! Couldn’t put it down!

really well written historical fiction about the horrid things which happened to Native Americans. thanks so much for the arc.

I have been a longtime fan of Lisa Wingate, and her latest "Shelterwood", truly delivered. Rooted in real events of Oklahoma and children that were orphaned and minor children of tribes of "Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek. Choctaw, and Seminole" and "elf children". This novel fascinated me and left me just taken-back by the events of our history that I never learned about in school, not to mention the women "Ollie" and "Kate" that were monumental in this movement and for US History.

Personally, rooted in the Midwest USA, very close to American Indian Tribal land (Wind River Reservation) this take on historical Oklahoma really gave me a new and alternative perspective into the historical aspect of other tribes outside WR and my own Wyoming roots. Wingate really outdid herself with the alternating viewpoints of Valerie and Ollie/Nellie, and the children of "Shelterwood". There were points between the alternating chapters and "small cliff hangers" that left me predicting and analyzing for signs of what would happen next. Not to mention the way that Wingate tied it all together in the end, left a resounding lesson for me. The children were SO lovable for me. I was rooting for them the whole time.

There were lots of memorable and beautiful quotes, too. I just wanted to take a moment and share one that encompassed Ollie and Nellie and their journey of perseverance, sisterhood, resiliency, resounding impact, and dreams:

"So you see, the small dream that was born among the children of this forest did not die here. it grew as dreamers grew. Its branches stretched through air, to places far and near, to forests and deserts, across rivers and oceans. Evil could not poison it. Men could not cut it down. Floods could not wash it away. It grew into a tree of life, of lives" (Chapter 31).

I would love to read this again. I am excited to share with my teacher friends and my bookclub friends.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group from NetGalley for this ARC. I loved the journey of "Shelterwood" from start to finish.

I wanted to love this story because I have enjoyed others from Wingate. This book just didn't do it for me like those others. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I started this book but have not enjoyed it. I am not planning on finishing it which is very unusual. I don't like to read about small children in peril.
Thank you for the opportunity to preview this ARC.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I was very excited to get the chance at an early read for Lisa Wingate's new book, 'Shelterwood' as 'Before We Were Yours' by Wingate is one of my top books. Wingate is a masterful Historical Fiction novelist and this book's genre was no different. The story rotates timeline's each chapter going from Ollie in 1909 to Valerie in 1990. I did enjoy this book and liked how the story ended up intertwining in the end, but there was just no wow factor for me and it drug on at times I did really enjoy the characters and was still rooting for all of the main characters right to the very end.

Lisa Wingate is the queen of historical fiction. Shelterwood is another of her masterpieces based on real events. It's timely, too, given the popularity of the movie (based on the book by David Grann) Killers of the Flower Moon. Flower Moon told the true story of the adults who were swindled out of their oil and mineral rights by their "guardians." Wingate's book tells of the Native children who were savagely robbed of their rights, too.

The past....evil and good...realistic stories back "then" and back even farther...family and friends...children and adults...families who have secrets...the protagonist in this novel is trying to help others...she comes across stumbling blocks at every turn...the historical aspect of this book is intriguing...the characters are sad...some of them...this talented author, a favorite, has woven two stories in this novel that are page turners. The title is intriguing...Curl up in a comfy chair and be transported back in time. Thanks Netgalley.

I do not think that this book was for me. The story was good, and I think it was well written, but it was a little dense for me.