I absolutely loved Before We Were Yours, so I was incredibly excited to read Shelterwood. It did not disappoint!

The story begins uncertainly for both main characters and follows them through hardships and the sadness of loss. Valerie is looking to solve a mystery (plus heal her heart & start living) and Ollie is looking to survive and make something of herself.

The story follows these two as we watch their stories unfold and it’s a delight as they do.

Provided by NetGalley + Ballantine Books, but all opinions are my own.

Four plus stars on another amazing historic novel from Lisa Wingate.

Alternating timelines (not my favorite) between 1909 and 1990 Oklahoma outline greed, graft, the plight of natives at the end of the Trail of Tears, and the abuses experienced by those impoverished by the rich and greedy. Another story that certainly wasn’t taught when I was in school, a dark time in American and Oklahoman history that’s been hidden.

I am so grateful for authors like Wingate who uncover stories like this, make them readable and real, and remind us that we really must be vigilant to keep history from repeating itself.

This book took me on a heartbreaking journey through a time in our nation's history that should have never been ignored. The monstrosities that Native American children and their families endured were truly appalling and despicable. The story takes place in Oklahoma, alternating POVs between Ollie in 1909 and Valerie in 1990. Ollie is eleven years old, and she took me on a fairy tale adventure into the forest with her band of wayward kids. Her story was so vivid and rich in the history of that time period that I felt like I had travelled back there myself. Back to a time before women's rights when books were only distributed by library wagons and children were abandoned to fend for themselves. I learned so many things that I had never known. Despite this tale being hard to stomach, it was educational, interesting and extremely well written. I would have liked to know more about the history of Joel and Val, but it wasn't necessary. Just a personal preference. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend!  

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for granting me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

Lisa Wingate’s Shelterwood is a Historical novel which alternates in time between 1909 and 1990. The 1990 sections feature Valerie, a newly appointed Park Ranger who becomes involved in the discovery of three sets of bones in a cave in Oklahoma. The 1909 sections follows the fates of Ollie and a small group of orphans, some of whom are Choctaw Indians in the same Oklahoma mountains. In the end, the two timelines meet and mesh, which should feel more satisfying than it does - possibly because the pieces are revealed in a retelling by an old Choctaw woman instead of coming from one of the characters, which feels clinical and emotionless. Wingate’s ability to capture the landscape is skilled - in both timelines the reader is immersed in the lush beauty of the mountains, the woods and the surrounding areas become like secondary characters. This is a captivating novel about history and politics, what it means to leave behind a life you have loved for something new, and how it feels to push through uncertainty to trust and happiness.

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate wasn't all I thought it would be. It was so much more.
The novel toggles between 1909 and 1990 in Oklahoma in a fictional National Park. 1909 focuses mostly on eleven-year old Ollie along with two orphaned children from the Choctaw tribe, all living in the same house as Ollie's abusive step-father. 1990 focuses on the same park that is dealing with its own problems, including a dead body, mysterious injuries and a large corporation that will do whatever it takes to get what it wants.
Integral to this story is the shameful treatment of Native American tribes by the U.S. government. Guardians were appointed to oversee the "safety" of their wards and their land holdings (land rich with oil and othe resources). Many indigenous people disappeared or were forced to go into hiding. What better place to disappear to than in a forest park with trees and caves. But along with that comes the constant threat of hunger and fear of being discovered.
Though there were a few chapters that seemed somewhat slow, in the end, the author did a masterful job of weaving the storylines together. If you want a book rich in history, not about WWII and good character development, this one is for you.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. I would give it a very solid 4 stars.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

I have been a fan of Lisa Wingate for many years and I feel that her writing just keeps getting better. This book takes place in Oklahoma during two time periods of 1909 and 1990. The novel goes back and forth between the two timelines uncovering the story of Indian children who were often exploited and whose land rights were taken away, forcing them to try to survive on their own. The characters from both time periods were so well developed that I feel that they will stay with me long afterward. I loved how the two timelines came together and how everything resolved for all of the characters in the end. Much research was put into this book and the author's note at the end was very informative. If you are an historical fiction reader and enjoy learning about parts of our history that are not well known and are often covered up, you will love this book.

Greed and persistence. This story made me think about how greed impacts so many people, showing their true colors by putting material goods ahead of everything. I also thought about persistence, wondering how some people become so persistent that nothing gets in their way.
Two timelines eighty years apart follow two stories in the same area of Oklahoma, telling the tales of orphaned children, dysfunctional families, and the people that take advantage of them. Shelterwood is also the story of people who never give up, who look for the truth, and who will do whatever they need to survive.
It’s difficult to imagine the lives of orphaned children living in the forests of Oklahoma a hundred years ago. These kids were on their own, fending for themselves, working day jobs if they could or foraging for food to stay fed. Then, fast forward to the 1990s as a mystery unfolds. A curious newcomer asks the right questions and ultimately links these two stories.

I came into my DRC knowing that I love Lisa Wingate's historical fiction but this blew me away. Every word of this is masterfully crafted and weaves the two timelines seamlessly. The amount of detail that went into this novel is astounding. Pick up a copy for yourself because it is worth it.

I loved Lisa Wingate's novel, "Before We Were Yours", and could not wait to read her newest novel, "Shelterwood". This book is mainly about the Indian children who were robbed of their ancestral land close to the time Oklahoma became a state. It is a story of the strong women who fought to save them and have their land rights returned to them. I loved this book so much! It is a fascinating story that I know I will want to do more research about. Thanks to @Net Galley for the ARC of this book!

This book shows a part of history that isn’t talked about. I love how the author weaves the story from 1909 with a more modern story from 1990. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. I didn’t want to put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A different writing style from Lisa Wingate but just as enjoyable. Set in a dual time line I was kept guessing as how the story would come together. Set in the early 1900's and then flash to 1990. At the end there is a surprise twist. I feel that there could be another book from these characters.

Oklahoma, 1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie arrives at newly formed National Park seeking a quiet place to balance a career and single parenthood. She is faced with a good old boy network. She tries to prove herself chasing a missing Choctaw teen and the remains of children found in a cave.

Oklahoma, 1909. Eleven-year-old Ollie knows that her stepfather doesn’t have good intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home as wards. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees to the woods, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. She picks up numerous other orphans along the way as they try to survive.

The dual timelines come together at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “Shelterwood” is scheduled for publication in June 2024.
This review will also appear on my Raised on Reading blog site (www.raisedonreading) on or about February 26.
My introduction to author Lisa Wingate came from reading “Before We Were Yours,” a phenomenal novel that has sold more than one million copies. And therein lies the problem. Everything I read by Wingate I compare to “Before We Were Yours,” which, of course, is not fair. But I’m human.
As such, while I liked aspects of “Shelterwood,” there was much I was disappointed with. The story focuses on the plight of the Choctaw Indians – specifically, the young children who were often orphaned – in Oklahoma 1909, and alternates with a 1990 timeline and the work of Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren-O’Dell, a newly appointed member of the National Park Service and single parent.
At the outset, the skeletal remains of three young girls are found in a cave within the confines of the soon-to-be-opened Horsethief Trail National Park (fictitious). That sets up an interesting premise, especially as the 1909 timeline introduces readers to sisters Olive, age 11, and Nessa, age 7, as they flee into the woods from their malicious stepfather. Do some of the remains found in the cave belong to Olive and Nessa?
The problem, however, is that shortly thereafter the narrative bogs down within both timelines: the search for missing people in 1990; and the growing troop of orphaned children Olive and Nessa encounter while on the run in 1909. Together with some long-winded political speeches over the plight of orphaned children, it’s easy to find oneself wondering, where is this story going? When is it finally going to get there? And, what do these two timelines have to do with one another?
Wingate’s writing is excellent as she depicts the forests and rugged terrain the band of orphans must traverse, but it becomes information overload at some points. While Wingate’s research is thorough as always, there are parts that may be over-researched. It then becomes easy to forget about those skeletal remains found in the cave.
Of course, the two timelines mesh near the end as the crux of the story becomes clearer. But it’s revealed in a retelling by an old Choctaw woman rather than the natural flow of the story, the latter of which (I think) would have made for more interesting reading. It certainly would have given me more of an emotional attachment to the children whose plight is truly tragic.

This is a hard review to write. Lisa Wingate is a phenomenal author and Before We Were Yours has a special place in my heart. I was cautiously optimistic about Shelterwood because I know Wingate’s stories can rip your heart into a million pieces.

Sadly, this one did work for me. The writing is strong and the research was clearly thorough. I just struggled with the pacing. A lot of the book felt like a slog and then an important detail was kind of glossed over or retold in a way that didn’t make sense to me. I’d be waiting for some event or someone to realize something and all of a sudden the character would tell you that conversation happened and now a day had gone by.

I usually love dual POV but the back and forth between timelines here was jarring for me. I would be really invested in the past storyline and then have to get totally reacquainted with what was going on in the chapters set in the 90s.

Overall this was a really interesting, and eye opening, plot but it was too slow for me. I was invested enough in the characters and the mystery to finish but it was a bit of a struggle to get to the end.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballentine Books for this ARC OF “Shelterwood” by Lisa Wingate.
Historical fiction has always been a favorite genre of mine and Lisa Wingate is an exceptional author. Her book, “Before We Were Yours” is a great title that I would highly recommend.
This book was focused around the Choctaw Indians in the early 1900’s and the injustices they face especially the young children who became orphaned for various reasons.
I was quickly intrigued by the premise and enjoyed the past to present jump the author used for each chapter. This book started strong and wrapped up well- however I did feel the middle was a little too drawn out especially the “present” time frame.
This is not my favorite book that Wingate has written but I still believe it’s worth the read if historical fiction intrigues you. The author does a lot of research when writing and that’s evident in her author’s notes as well as the included resources and materials mentioned for further reading.

Lisa Wingate has always been a go to reader for me. She comes out with a book I automatically grab it. She always does meticulous research for her novels and it shows. This one is no exception. It was utterly heartbreaking and fascinating to read about the “elf children”. It’s a part of history that is not talked about enough. This book follows a duel timeline of past and present. It follows Ollie Auggie and her life as an elf child and Val a Ranger in the Winding Stair. It’s well worth a read.

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate takes place in Horsethief Trail National Park in Oklahoma. The story goes back and forth between 1909 and 1990. There was a lot of wealth in those mountains in the early 1900’s that belonged to the 5 Indian tribes. Many parents perished, leaving behind orphan children who were suppose to inherit the land. After the supposed death of her father, Olive Radley's mother remarried and she became his ward. He also took in 2 Choctaw sisters and does not have good intentions toward them. One disappears, leaving Nessa and Olive under his care. Since he has been far from fatherly to Olive, she flees to the woods with Nessa. Their story tells of their plight in the woods and how they form a community of orphaned children who have also fled their wards.

In 1990, Horsethief Trail National Park has hired a female ranger. The park is set to open soon however, she is faced with several challenges. Not only being up against men who are not happy to have a women ranger, but also several happenings in the Park. Bones of 3 small children are found in a cave, a teenage hiker is missing, a shell casing is found near a mountain slide, and her newly hired assistant gets seriously hurt in the park, toppling down off a trail on his horse. Valerie feels as though several things that happened were not accidents. She sets out to find out what is happening, why, and what the buried bones have to do with all of this.

The weaving back and forth of the story kept you on edge. You had to feel for these orphan children and you were engrossed in finding out what happened in the past as well as how that was related to 1990. In 1909 the story showed how the women were becoming pioneers for women’s rights, and it continues through to 1990 with the hiring of a women ranger. I loved the suspense as well as the writing. It was fast pasted and I did not want to put it down. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this pre-release.

SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Any book that involves mistreatment of kids always kills me, and this one was no exception. It will tug on your heartstrings from the very first chapter, while at the same time you’ll also be so impressed with what these kids are able to make it through and accomplish. The children were so likable to me and I rooted for them the entire time. I also loved the mystery aspect in this story and waiting to see how the two timelines would come together. Overall I really enjoyed this book, but taking off one star because it did feel a little bit slow moving for me.

Pub. Date: June 4, 2024

Perfect if you like:
•Dual timeline.
•Mystery.
•Resilient characters.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: no 🌶️
Mood: 🍫

Another informative book by this author. At times it was a little dull, but overall it was informative, sad and suspenseful. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I liked this book and it is Wingates usual trope with the just the characters changed . I feel like her writing has gotten in a rut where she writes the same story over and over . The history was more interesting than the actual book .