I so wanted to love this book, as I read Before We Were Yours by Wingate and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to read this, so when I was approved and finally got around to reading it, I dove in, ready to get comfortable because I fully expected to devote the next several hours devouring it. Unfortunately, this did not live up to my expectations.

Lisa Wingate has given us another historical fiction story, this time focusing on the dark past of American history and its relationship with Native Americans; specifically, the Choctaw tribe of Oklahoma in the early 1900s. Shelterwood takes us back and forth in time, between 1990 and 1909, telling the story of single mom and forest ranger Valerie Boren-Odell as she begins her new job in a national park. She very quickly becomes caught up with a young orphan girl and a missing hiker, in addition to a long-abandoned burial site of three unidentified children. Valerie ignores her superiors' strong recommendations to leave these incidents alone, suggesting she is looking for something that isn't there, which they fear will negatively impact the opening of the national park. Meanwhile, the book also takes the reader back to 1909, when 11-year-old Ollie Radley has fled her unhappy home, taking Choctaw ward Nessie with her, believing that her stepfather is behind the disappearance of another Choctaw ward they had and means to harm Nessie as well. As Ollie and Nessie make their journey to Nessie's previous home, where her father was still alive and her parents were happy and comfortable, they meet other children they cannot abandon. But their journey is a dangerous one, and to make it safely to her early home will require more bravery, wit, and inner-strength than Ollie can imagine.

The book just dragged for me, and though the content itself was interesting, the plot of Ollie and Nessie a good one, I really could have done without the story of Valerie and the characters in her storyline. Though the two storylines do connect, I feel that the modern day story was completely unnecessary and too much of a distraction, as I did not feel it connected strongly enough to the 1909 story and the 1990 story was ultimately the chapters I really started losing interest with and struggling through. I feel I absolutely could have read just the 1909 chapters and still have read a full, satisfying book.

Lisa Wingate became an instant favorite author for me when I read Before We Were Yours. It’s one of the three books that started my love for historical fiction. She then blew me away again with The Book of Lost Friends. I knew when offered a copy to read of this, her latest, it was an instant yes without even reading the summary. Lisa has such a talent of putting so much thorough research into her work to give a very real story that could be so close to a true one. She puts you in the heartbreaking world where young ones are tragically impacted by others in our history. She brings stories to life to bring awareness to tragic parts of our history that last forever. In this one, she again created characters that completely touched my soul throughout. Wingate has scored again with another emotional novel that stayed with me long after the final page.

Thank you, Lisa Wingate, Random House, Vanessa of Ballantine & Netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own!

Lisa Wingate's latest historical fiction novel is more personal than others she has produced, as she lived in Oklahoma and is more familiar with the setting. This presents yet another aspect of how indigenous populations were robbed of their rights, in this case, lands of the Chocktaw preserve that were legimately owned by children who, upon being orphaned,n had to take to the woods in order to survive. Based on actuality, Wingate's books, this one included, are well researched and immersive, and like the other of her books I've read, told in two time lines sharpening the crimes of the past and how they relate to the world today.

If books like this one were how we learned history I’m sure there would be a lot more students interested in history. I loved the way the two timelines were interwoven and that it stayed true to history. I learned so much about Oklahoma’s history and geography because I had no idea that Oklahoma had mountains. I thought it was all pretty flat. It really makes me want to go visit The Winding Stairs, particularly in the fall. The characters were great and I love how the book shined a light on a female politician from 1909 that very few people know about. I can’t imagine the amount of research that goes into a book like this, but thank you Lisa Wingate for doing the research and sharing it with us in such an enjoyable way.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Thank you to MetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Lisa Wingate for allowing me to read this ARC of Shelterwood, in exchange for an honest review.

In Oklahoma, 1909, eleven-year-old Olive, embarks on a trip to save two Choctaw girls from her evil father, but when the older girl disappears, Olive sets out with little Nessa to search for a safer life. They find other homeless children and form a pact to protect each other. What happens to these children? In 1990, Valerie, a law enforcement ranger, who has just moved to Horsethief Trail Park with her young son, goes in search of a missing teenage hiker and the secret of the missing three children. Despite an ongoing battle of who owns the land and what secrets should be told, Valerie researches with diligence. Will she be able to find out what happened to the children? This is a sometimes sad story, but heart-warming and worth your time to read. What a wonderful book.

Lisa Wingate has once again crafted a poignant tale about children in crisis with "Shelterwood," narrated through dual timelines set in 1909 and 1990. In 1909, Ollie must escape her mother and stepfather's home to protect her adopted Choctaw sister. During this era, many Native American children were exploited for their land, leading to a heartbreaking number of adoptions that left these children abandoned. Although this period of American history is distressing, the resilience of Ollie, Nessie, and their makeshift family of children forms a heartwarming narrative.

In the 1990 timeline, Valerie Boren-Odell, a newly hired park ranger in Talihinia, Oklahoma, faces discrimination while handling several challenging cases. Both Ollie and Valerie demonstrate remarkable resilience, making their stories compelling and inspiring.

Lisa Wingate doesn't disappoint with her newest book, Shelterwood. Once again, she draws the reader into a story you didn't know happened and couldn't wait to learn more about when you finish the book. This story is told through dual storylines. We first meet Olive Augusta Radley who lives with her mother and abusive stepfather. There are also two Choctaw sisters living with them. When one girl disappears, Olive fears what her stepfather has done to her when she takes the younger sister and her pony and runs to the mountains. The time is right after Oklahoma became a state and oil has been discovered. Many Native children have been displaced by speculators who use illegal means to gain guardianship of them to steal their land rights or oil money. These children are living in the woods. The second part of the story occurs in 1990 and is about a National Park Ranger who transferred to a newly organized National Park in Oklahoma when the bodies of three children are found in a cave. Val is pulled into the story when a teenage boy goes missing. As she investigates she learns things aren't always what they seem in Oklahoma and that old alliances are still going strong. As I read, I kept reading "one more chapter" as the story would switch back and forth and I wanted to see what would happen next. I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Lisa Wingate weaves a dual timeline story including 1909 and 1990 bringing to light the unjust and tragic events of the "little people also known as the elf people" in Oklahoma. She has put a lot of research into this and has created a beautiful storyline around actual events and added a fictional side too. Lisa never disappoints! Her stories will keep the reader engaged until the very end.

"Shelterwood" stands as a testament to Lisa Wingate's exceptional ability to weave narratives that are not only instructive but also emotionally engaging. The novel's significance is rooted in its capacity to illuminate obscure segments of history through a narrative that is both captivating and deeply human. It is with great conviction that I recommend "Shelterwood" to those who have an appreciation for historical fiction characterized by robust characters and a message that reverberates long after the conclusion of the narrative.

In summation, Lisa Wingate's "Shelterwood" represents a masterful convergence of heartfelt storytelling and imaginative flair. It is a work that transcends mere entertainment, offering enlightenment and motivation, thereby rendering it an indispensable acquisition for any literary collection.

This is a dual timeline story, with one timeline being in Oklahoma in 1909, and the other in 1990. The 1909 timeline revolves around eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley, and the two Choctaw girls boarded at her home. When she discovers that her stepfather has bad intentions towards the two girls, she knows she needs to get them away from there. When the older Choctaw girl disappears without a trace, Olive knows it is now or never, and she takes the younger girl and runs away. As they begin their perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the notorious territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men, they meet a band of others like themselves, also struggling to stay one step ahead of the danger. In the 1990 timeline, Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at the newly minted Horsethief Trail National Park, where she just landed the position of law enforcement ranger. Right after the park opens, a teenage hiker goes missing from one of the trails, and the long-hidden burial site of three children is unearthed in a cave.

This book was rich with history of the Choctaw tribes and she gives an even more in-depth article about them in an author's note in the back, for all of the history lovers out there. The book was well researched and well written, but for some unexplained reason I had a hard time getting invested in the book. It is a slow burn for the entire book, so that may have been it. I know a lot of people loved this book, so I feel like it was a matter of "it's not you, it's me". There was nothing structurally wrong with the book. I really wish I had enjoyed it more than I did.

Story of how children, mostly Native American were left to fend for themselves in 1909. The children were taken in to gain control of their land. No one cared what happened to them. In 1990. a grave that contains the skeletons of three young children is discovered . Who are they and how long ago did they die? As a park ranger investigates, she learns of the disappearance of a young teenager. What happened in 1909 is happening again.
Story details a heart wrenching tragedy that is little known by the general public.
#Shelterwood #Ballantine #NetGalley

The book is told in two timelines - early 1900’s Oklahoma and 1990’s Oklahoma. Written by Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours, this historical fiction novel sheds light on something no K-12 education even mentions: the ransacking of Native American property and the careless disregard for their lives by the US government. Ollie and Nessa are two young Choctaw girls who have managed to escape the home of their predator stepfather. Their pony runs off, they have no food or money, and while Ollie is one sharp little girl, Oklahoma is teeming with Choctaw orphans creating havoc for the invading “white men” and the “white men” who have come to find their oil fortune. Catching orphans and selling them to locals in need of cheap labor is a thriving business of its own. If I needed a partner to navigate the unknown with, I would choose Ollie.

In 1990 Val Boren O’dell arrives to start her job as a Law Enforcement Ranger at Horsethief National Park. Who would have thought that in 1990 she would be subject to the sexual harassment she encountered from those within her own department. But there it is. And then someone asks her if she knows about the bones. Three children’s skeletal remains have been found in a cave on park property. And then there’s the missing grandma and the granddaughter Sydney. Sydney has a lot to say to say. What’s true?

The book is a solid 4.5. It is so well researched and the dual timelines are complementary.

Lisa Wingate has once again demonstrated her exceptional talent for crafting heart-wrenching historical fiction with her latest work. This captivating novel unfolds across two distinct time periods - the 1990s and the early 1900s - as it delves into the rich history of the Choctaw tribal lands. Through the eyes of the resilient characters Ollie and Nessa, readers are taken on a poignant journey through the harsh realities and deep-seated animosity that plagued Oklahoma during that era. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR (To Be Read) list, as it is truly an emotional and thought-provoking read.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Random House Publishing Group and Net Galley for affording me the opportunity to provide an honest opinion on this remarkable novel.

**Happy Publication Day!**

"Shelterwood is an obscure forestry term for older, larger trees that protect the smaller, younger growth beneath."

This work of historical fiction is set in Talihina, Oklahoma and is told in two alternating timelines. One is set in 1990 where Valerie Boren-Odell comes with her seven-year-old son Charlie to begin her new post as park ranger at the newly minted Horsethief Trail National Park in the Winding Stair Mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma. As the newbie, she feels frustrated that she is being given the easy assignments as 'the token female' and is befuddled when the finding of three old skeletons of little girls in a cave isn't bigger news.

The second timeline is set in the same area back in 1909 where land rights are being stolen from orphaned Choctaw children by people who step in as their 'guardians.' Many of those same children end up living rough in the woods, fending for themselves as best they can. Olive Augusta Peele is a young white girl who fears what is going to happen to Nessa Rusk, the little Choctaw girl, who has come to live with Olive and her mother and step-father. Nessa's older sister Hazel has already disappeared and Olive thinks her step-father is responsible. Seeing he is turning his attention to Nessa, Olive takes the little girl and they run off with her pony. Out in the forest, they meet several other children who are homeless and Olive dreams of creating a home for them all.

One bright shining light is a woman named Miss Kate Barnard who has been elected president of the Oklahoma State Federation of Women's Clubs and has come to Talihina to a give a speech hoping to raise awareness of the plight of these homeless children who have been robbed of their legal rights by unscrupulous people.

As these timelines develop, the reader begins to see their connection across time. Can Valerie solve the mystery before evil doers win again?

I always enjoy learning more about such little-known history, especially those highlighting the roles played by women and children. I'm hoping Lisa Wingate will bring Valerie Boren-Odell back for more stories set in National Parks.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

A heartbreaking but equally heartwarming story that was so well researched and informative. A novel following young children who are referred to as elves from the Choctaw tribe living in the Shelterwood forest of the winding stairs. Unfortunately these children have had “guardians” steal their land and now are orphaned and trying to survive in the woods. In 1909 2 young girls flee their abusive stepfather and have to survive with other Elf children. A dual storyline of a young widowed mother in 1990 trying to pave her career as a wilderness ranger in the midst of a town with many secrets. This story had a slower beginning but I’m so glad I stuck through to see the perseverance of these characters in both timelines. A story that I believe many others should read about and learn that comes full circle beautifully. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random house for an advanced reader copy. I will have a video review on my tiktok channel starting on June 5th as well as this written review on my Goodreads.

A striking story recounting the unjust and criminal actions of powerful people who took advantage of innocent tribal children in Oklahoma in 1909. Using extensive research and shedding light on the efforts of Kate Barnard, a woman on the forefront of politics even before women won the vote, this was a compelling read.
But the heart wrenching story is the resilience of the orphans who did everything to survive in the untenable conditions of the times. It can be raw in places as the awful truth is conveyed.
The 1990 part of this dual time dealt with widowed Val, a Park Ranger with a seven year old son and how she tries to fit in with her new position and its prejudice against women rangers. It was interesting how the two timelines converged during a complex case.
I am a fan of dual timelines but this one was a bit jarring when it went back and forth between the two. I would still recommend it for the exceptional historical value.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

This sweeping saga of the life of orphans and neglected children in Oklahoma after the Trail of Tears leads us down two different timelines of the story, the past and the present. This take is told from the perspectives of eleven year-old Olive from 1909 and park ranger Valerie in 1990 with the establishment of the Horsethief Trail National Park. Olive helps a young Choctaw girl escape the evil clutches of her stepfather and encounter other children either orphaned or neglected. Their journey is one of survival from the wilderness and the evil men of the time. Valerie, widowed and raising her own son, is battling the powerful locals who try to hide their crimes in plain sight. Her investigation crosses over Olive's story where we discover a beautiful ending.

This is a carefully crafted work of fiction based on true events. I love that Lisa Wingate does so much research, even when she is sparked by a photo and its description, how it lead her to find out more about the "elf" children in Oklahoma. She gives us a vivid picture of the plight of the native Americans, young children, and even women during that time period. I enjoyed how she tied it into the future story of Valerie to show how both the women get justice.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I've never read a book quite like SHELTERWOOD by Lisa Wingate. In Wingate's deft hands the story of overlooked, vulnerable children doing their best to survive a world that views them as expendable is powerful, great storytelling. While I typically shy away from stories of lost children in terrible situations, this story was compelling with one young girl taking charge of her own fate and saving another young child as she did. Their adventures, mishaps and encounters with other lost people felt real and all-involving to me. The weaving of an outlaw and dangerous past with the present day is riveting -- like the best history, shedding light on forgotten people in lost places and bringing to light how we view one another in the current time. I have always enjoyed Wingate's books and this one is among her very best and strongest work. I received a copy of this book and these are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Lisa Wingate has a talent for taking historical events, time periods, and cultures and bringing them into a book that tells a story while opening the readers' eyes to what took place during that time period. This book told a story through two timelines of a part of Oklahoma history that affected the Indian tribes of that area and the land that was their home. By reading the author notes of the book, we see that the author has a personal connection to that area and her historical research and resulting facts led her to this story. The timeline of 1909 tells the story of three children, others "picked up along the way", who try to navigate their way from an abusive situation to their dream of freedom in a forest of good memories. The story of 1990 finds forest ranger Natalie Boren-Odell trying to unwind a mystery of bones found in a forest cave, young people missing, and suspicious activities surrounding some of the people of the area she has been assigned to. How the two intersect brings ansers to both stories that connect the circle of time. While I did enjoy the book. I did have times it felt too drawn out and slow in bringing it all together. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine, for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #Shelterwood

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate is a standalone historical fiction that takes place in 1909 & 1990 Oklahoma at what became Horsethief Trail National Park when Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren O’dell arrived in 1990. A rich tale about wayward children, land shares and a national park mystery and missing person’s case. Come see what I enjoyed about Shelterwood.

I love how Lisa Wingate wove these two timelines and separate stories together. In 1990, single mother and law enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren O’dell is newly arrived at the National Park and trying to prove her worth, when a teenage boy goes missing and the old burial site of three children is discovered in a cave. Valerie will work with closely with the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police chief to solve these puzzles and what she discovers ties in to the second story.

In 1909, Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley slips away with a young Choctaw girl who is boarding with them, when her sister goes missing. Olive knows her father has ill intentions towards the girl. Traveling with her pony, she and six-year-old Nessa travel towards the rugged Winding Stair Mountain. Danger lurks, but along the way, they form friendships and fight to survive.

Wingate did a wonderful job sharing Oklahoma history, political figures and the children impacted over land claims. I love Olive and how courageous she was. I also feared she may be one of the young girls found in 1990. You’ll have to discover that for yourself.

I enjoyed both timelines from the missing teenage boy and his precocious little sister, to what they find in the mountains in 1990, to the woman speaker that women from miles around came to hear in 1909.

Shelterwood is the perfect beach read for those that enjoy mystery, history and adventure. I loved when the title clicked. A memorable read.