Shelterwood is another gripping historical novel from the author Lisa Wingate. Told in alternating points of view. In two different time periods. We learn about the tragic history and continued destruction near the rugged Winding Stair Mountains in Southeastern Oklahoma. Both time frames feature little girls that are frightened and but yet resilient. who fight their own way to survival.

This was such a fantastic story. Lisa Wingate has such a wonderful way of weaving history in her stories. Her writing is beautiful and her characters had a complete hold on me. I will 100% recommend Ollie and Nessa’s story!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This book is historical book told from two time frames 1909 & 1990 and is based on true historical events. Every chapter or two was told from a different time which made it hard to follow. 1 chapter its current time and we are with Valerie a new park ranger and the next chapter we are in 1909 with Olive & Nessa who are fleeing children in 1909. As the stories go on especially in 1909 I found myself having to go back and reread entries because I felt like I might be missing something. I couldn't imagine for the life of me how these 2 stories had anything to do with one another. Clearly there was an immense amount of research done in order to put this book together the way that Lisa Wingate did.
I really enjoyed how it all came together the last few chapters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

This story is told in alternating dual timelines of 1909 and 1990 Oklahoma. The former timeline follows an eleven-year-old girl named Olive Augusta, or Ollie, as she flees an abusive situation with her “sister” Nessa, a Choctaw girl, to the woods where they try to avoid capture and find provisions in the hopes of starting their own community they name Shelterwood. The latter timeline follows park ranger Valerie Boren-Odell new to the territory, but not the job, as she investigates an unofficial report of a missing teenager and the bones of three children that were found in a local cavern against her superior’s instruction with the assistance of a tribal police officer, Curtis. The chapters are preceded by excerpts of various news articles giving the reader information about the land barons given guardianship over the orphaned native children and their properties as well as other pertinent stories.

I really enjoyed following Valerie’s storyline. I’m a pushover for a story about a park ranger anywhere. Valerie is raising a young son on her own after losing his father who was also a park ranger. Charlie’s in school now and Valerie is ready to get back to work, but her new boss is clearly not happy that his new ranger is a female relegating her to desk duties and checking permits while sending less experienced personnel off to do the big stuff. I enjoyed her collaboration with Curtis and some of her interactions with the other rangers. I eagerly followed her investigations.

In the beginning I also enjoyed the parts that followed Ollie as she navigated survival in the woods and taking care of Nessa. Ollie was precocious with a knack for survival and weaving a story, though sometimes she didn’t know when to stop. I found this part of the book summary misleading. The story is from the point of view of the child, not the pioneer women who fought for them. I eventually tired of the children squabbling about who was in charge and one boy for making trouble causing me to resent the interruption in the timeline.

Just when the former timeline was ramping up, the stories merged, and I felt like I lost direction. The ending felt a little rushed and confusing in the telling as one of the characters explains what happened at Shelterwood and how the latter story fit into the whole.

Overall, I really enjoyed parts of this novel. The characters were well written, and the plot was an important part of history that should be explored.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

Excellent book! The plot with different places in time was spot on. It took place in the same area but switched between different decades. The generational ties made sense and it was a hard but beautiful story. Recommend.

I have enjoyed many of the books I’ve read by this author. However, this one did not appeal to me. Though she did thorough research about the topic and time period and presented a story that should have been interesting, it just did not resonate with me. The journey through the pages was slow. I typically enjoy dual timeline historical fiction books. But this one was a trudge to get from beginning to end. I literally had to force myself to finish reading it. However, there are plenty of very positive reviews. So I would encourage you to read the book and decide for yourself if it appeals to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Lisa Wingate for allowing me to review this wonderful book. Lisa Wingate is a phenomenal author who always writes the most interesting and well researched books. I love how she weaves real historical quotes and events into her historical fiction. She often writes about little known events such as the storyline for this novel. If you love historical fiction then you will love this novel as well. This book is told in two timelines by two different perspectives and each timeline and character is equally fascinating as the other. I highly recommend this book. Thank you again for allowing me to review this book. It will stay with me for quite some time.

I have thoroughly enjoyed past books by Lisa Wingate, so I was extremely excited when I got my hands on Shelterwood. Shelterwood is told in 2 different time periods-1909 and 1990 in Oklahoma. The story in 1909 follows a child, Olive Augusta Radley. Olive is an 11 year old girl trying to escape from an abusive step-father and drug-addict mother, while also trying to save a Choctaw girl that is living in their house. They run to the Winding Stair Mountains, where they meet characters that help them, those who hurt them, and those that help change history.

In 1999, Female Ranger Valerie Boren O'Dell begins a new job in a federal park. As soon as she begins, she's immediately seen as an outsider since she is a woman. During her time there, she uncovers a missing teenager, a dead body, and nefarious activities.

The two stories tie together beautifully at the end.

I really enjoyed this story. There's just something about Lisa's writing that sucks you in. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for the ARC of Shelter wood by Lisa Wingate in exchange for an honest review.

This is a two timeline book telling about Oklahoma in 1909 and 1990. In 1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley 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. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the notorious territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men. Along the way, Ollie and Nessa form an unlikely band with others like themselves, struggling to stay one step ahead of those who seek to exploit them. In 1990, law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at newly minted Horse Thief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance a career and single parenthood.. No sooner has Valerie reported for duty than she’s faced with controversy over the park’s opening, a teenage hiker gone missing from one of the trails, and the long-hidden burial site of three children unearthed in a cave. Val’s quest for the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but soon collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.

Lisa Wingate tell another emotional tale as she traces the story of children abandoned by the law and the battle to see justice done. Amid times of deep conflict over who owns the land and its riches, Ollie and Val travel the rugged and beautiful terrain, each leaving behind one life in search of another. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for the newest book by one of my favorite authors.

Two women in two timelines in the Winding Stair region of Southeast Oklahoma. In 1909 Ollie is a young girl who escapes a horrible stepfather and lives with other children in the wild. In 1990 Valerie is a park ranger and they find bones in cave and evidence of wrongdoing that stretches back to the first timeline. Based on actual events that happened with the Five Nations land allotments.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy of this publication.

Lisa Wingate does her research and writes each of her books with precise accurate information. She weaves a a wonder fiction story within the historical information. Her characters and her storylines keep the reader's interest.

Wingate skillfully takes us on a journey in two timeframes, weaving everything together flawlessly. With her impeccable research, she once again shows us a piece of history that many were not aware of. Wingate leaves us hanging at the end of each chapter as she alternates between 1909 and 1990, as we breathlessly move between timeframes. With characters that we love to hate and those that we love and root for, Wingate proves that she is a true storyteller and her books are complete treasures. Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

You can tell that Ms. Wingate always does meticulous research for her books and Shelterwood is no different. The characters push this story along and make the history come alive. I did feel that the story was a bit longer in some places.

Dual storylines of a young girl running from a bad home environment in 1909 Oklahoma.and a female park ranger investigating some odd happenings in the same area in 1990. Ollie's storyline had a good build-up of stress/suspense as you are hoping for her to succeed and not fall into any of the potential pitfalls a runaway child could experience. I was a little less into the storyline of Valerie, the park ranger, but was still curious about the unidentified bones and the missing teens she's trying to find. I felt like I didn't know Valerie as well as Ollie since her background was a bit more glossed over. The descriptions of what life in Oklahoma was like for women and Indian children in 1909 were interesting (and sad) to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This dual-timeline story is amazing; it will capture your heart and keep you up at night wondering how it will all turn out. Don’t miss this historical novel. It's an engaging read you'll want to read for book club.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN: Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog: https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

As per usual, Ms. Wingate has taken a lesser known time period from America's history and made it into a story the reader can relate to. I had never heard of Kate Barnard or the elf children of Oklahoma but following the conclusion of this book I definitely want to know more. Feisty little Ollie has seen way more than an 11-year-old should and knows enough to be leery of her stepfather.. She makes a run for it with her 6-year-old stepsister, but sometimes the devil you know if easier to bear..

-Told in dual timelines
-11-year-old girl trying to save herself and her stepsister from the evils of the world and is trying to get back to the place she felt safest.
-Newly arrived forest ranger with her 6-year-old son in tow and problems of their own; get swept into some not so innocuous dealings and missing persons cases with a lot of resistance from her own department.
-Hard to find someone to trust in both timelines
-Good vs evil and sometimes the blurry lines between the two

The story definitely intrigued me and kept me guessing throughout. There were a lot of characters to keep straight and how one relates to the other, but I did find that all of the loose ends were tied up at the end...in a great big knot, but they were all dealt with. :)

Lisa Wingate has written a beautiful book. It's full of history, mystery and unfortunately, sadness. There were twists and turns in the story that made it hard to follow at times. but I'm glad I read it and look forward to her next release.

Meticulously researched and immersive Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate is a heart-wrenching and immensely thought-provoking read.

Set in and around the Winding Stairs Mountains region, the story is rooted in the history of Oklahoma and the division of natural resource-rich Native American lands into allotment parcels assigned to individual members in the late 1800s. Orphaned Indigenous children were exploited and cheated of their rights, abandoned and forced to fend for themselves by “guardians” who were responsible for their welfare. The story also sheds light on the efforts of women pioneers who fought for the rights of these children - namely the Oklahoma Federation of Women’s Clubs and Kate Barnard, the first woman to be elected as a state official in Oklahoma.

The narrative is presented in dual timelines in alternating chapters. In 1990 Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, we meet eleven-year-old Olive “Ollie” Augusta Peele, who flees from her abusive stepfather. With her is Nessa, a Choctaw child whom her deceased father had sheltered in their home along with Nessa's older sister Hazel. Olive is sure that her stepfather was responsible for Hazel’s disappearance and running is the only way she believes she can protect them both from meeting the same fate. Along her way to her family’s old home in the mountains, she meets other runaways and orphans who inhabit the woods and form their own community – a community she names “Shelterwood”. The narrative follows Ollie, Nessa and their friends as they fight for survival amid much adversity.

The current timeline (Talihina, Oklahoma, 1990) is presented from the perspective of Valerie Boren-Odell, the new park law enforcement Ranger at Horsethief Trail National Park who has only recently moved to the area with her young son. On her first day on the job, she is informed of the recent discovery of the remains of three children in a cave. However, before Valerie can pursue her investigation, her superiors see to it that the bones are removed and the crime scene is closed off. Valerie is also approached by twelve-year-old Sydney for help locating her missing older brother Braden and her ailing grandmother, former state representative Budgie Blackwell. Sydney often frustrates Valerie, withholding information and manipulating the truth, but Valerie can’t deny that there is more to the disappearances than meets the eye.

As the narrative progresses we follow Valerie’s investigation which takes into the dark history of the area a story of exploitation, greed and corruption that is far from over.

Both timelines are well-developed and the narrative flows well. The pacing is slightly uneven but I liked how the author brings all the threads of the story together. Ollie is a memorable character and I admire her courage and resourcefulness. The rich historical context, vivid settings and well-thought-out characters render this novel a compelling read.

Please read the informative Author’s Note where she discusses the history, people and events that inspired this novel.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed Lisa Wingate's previous book so I was excited to read this. One point of view is Olive Augusta Peele in 1909. Ollie's father has died leaving her alone with a mother who is mostly drunk and remarried to a cruel man. It gets to the point where she decides she has to leave with her young foster sister, Nessa. The second point of view is Valerie Boren-Odell. She is a young widow and with her son, Charlie, moves to Oklahoma to take a position as a ranger in a new park. What should have been a quiet job turns out to be something else with a missing teenage boy and a dead body that has to be identified. The book is well written and I found both stories equally interesting which doesn't happen often. But as I got really invested in the one POV the chapter would end on a cliffhanger of sorts and then go back to the other story. Now I have to remember how that chapter ended and get caught up in the story only to be sent back to another time and other characters. I felt like the back and forth breaks the flow of the narrative. It took a long time for the stories to come together and then wrapped up neatly.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with a digital copy.

5 stars for this compelling story. "Shelterwood" shines a light on the human impact of the fallout from the US government's Dawes Act, a misguided attempt to assimilate indigenous Americans by parceling up their land. I have read two other Lisa Wingate books ("Before We Were Yours" and "The Book of Lost Friends"), and Shelterwood's story is similar- strong women and children navigating harsh living and social circumstances, told through a dual timeline that intersects at a gripping end. "Shelterwood" hops between 1909 to 1990, telling the story of two sisters trying to survive the Oklahoma frontier after escaping from their awful home life, and a modern day park ranger who's trying to find her way socially, emotionally, and in her career after moving to the same area. Sometimes in a dual timeline story, I'll find that one story seems to drag for me and I resent being pulled from one character to another, but that wasn't the case in this book. Both stories were intense, and the pacing felt just right.

A final note- the setting in "Shelterwood" really stood out, and even before reading the author's note, I could tell the author was deeply familiar with the ecology of this area in Oklahoma. I really didn't know much (or anything) about the geography or politics of early statehood in Oklahoma, and this book is a fantastic example of how historical fiction provides a captivating window into different times and places.