I have become a huge fan of Lisa Wingate's historical novels. Lisa extensively researches her subjects before crafting stories that bring her characters to life. Her latest historical novel, Shelterwood introduced me to a time in American history that I was totally unaware of. Taking place in both 1909 and 1990 in the Winding Staircase National Park area of Oklahoma, the story gives insight to the tumultuous beginnings of the new state when land hungry people were finding ways to gain ownership of oil and timber rich land. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley finds herself on the run with Nessa, a young Choctaw girl as they try to escape from Olive's tyrannical stepfather. Taking place in 1990, park ranger, Valerie Boren-Odell finds herself embroiled in a mystery surrounding three skeletal remains of children in a small rock enclosure.

How do these 2 disparate stories, 81 years apart come together? Lisa Wingate wove an engrossing tale that kept leaving me wanting more as she moved from one time period to the other.

I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this enthralling ARC.

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate was an emotional, thought provoking read. Her stories and characters whether truly fiction or based on real people always leave you wanting more. It's nice to read a book and get lost in the story, yet learn while you are enjoying it. Lisa Wingate has become one of my favorite authors.
#netgalley #Shelterwood #LisaWingate

I truly believe that "Shelterwood" is Lisa Wingate's best book yet. Told through dual timelines, the reader follows the plight of young orphans in early 1900s Oklahoma as well as the story of modern day Law Enforcement Ranger Val, who seeks to uncover the truth of children's remains discovered in Horsethief Trail National Park. Both stories are rich with detail, with vivid characters who lead compelling lives. Ms. Wingate's skillful writing deftly weaves the two stories together until they both reach a satisfying conclusion. Like this author's other books about children, "Shelterwood" is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The reader is shown both the worst and the best sides of humanity. Readers who loved Ms. Wingate's previous works, especially "Before We Were Yours" will thoroughly enjoy this one too, and I believe this book will make a perfect book club pick as the plot gives many points to discuss.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this book.

Oklahoma 1909. Olive August Radley knows she needs to get 6-year-old Nessa, a Choctaw girl boarded with her family, away from her stepfather before something bad happens to her. The girls run away, and along the way, meet other children that need help, but also adults who don't always have their best intentions in mind. The band of children head to Olive's father's cabin, a dangerous journey to the Winding Stair Mountains. In the same area in 1990, Ranger Valerie Boren O'Dell arrives with her young son at the same time a long-hidden cave reveals the bones of 3 children. Val wants to solve the mystery of these children, along with the mystery of a missing local teenager, while facing pushback from local rangers and the town.

I've been a fan of Lisa Wingate for quite a while and find her books intriguing and enlightening. This one did not disappoint. The characters are well written and the children in the book actually seem like children. (Sometimes children in books are written just as small adults and it bugs me lol) I enjoyed everything about this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available June 4, 2024.

Lisa Wingate brings a fictionalized story to some real events in American history. Using duel timelines she tells two stories that eventually merge.

In 1909, Olive Radley was eleven when she ran away with her six year old sister from an abusive father. They find shelter in the woods with the elves. The elves are actually forgotten Native American orphans. Their guardians have used them to get access to land and oil money while neglecting them. The system is corrupt and is the same type of happenings as depicted in Killers of the Flower Moon.

In 1990, Valerie Boren-Odell came to Oklahoma as a park ranger for the fictional Horsethief Trail National Park. It is in the Winding Star Mountains. She is a widowed, single mother, and isn’t overly welcomed in a job that is traditionally for men. She uncovers some buried secrets while in the National Park.

Wingate is a solid writer and the book seems well researched. Hardships involving children can be difficult to read and it is handled with sensitivity. The chapters alternate between timelines which can build suspense and also frustrating, as you want to continue forward in the section you’re reading. The book brings attention to wrongs in the not so distant past. I can easily see my book club reading this book as we have others from the author in the past.

Lisa Wingate's latest novel, Shelterwood, is a powerful story that intertwines the past and present. Set against the backdrop of Oklahoma's Winding Stair Mountains, the narrative unfolds through the eyes of two strong female characters.

In 1909, we meet eleven-year-old Ollie Radley, who witnesses a terrible injustice and is forced to flee into the wilderness with a young Choctaw girl under her care. Meanwhile, in 1990, park ranger Valerie Durant arrives at Shelterwood, a newly established park with a dark history. As Val investigates a missing teenager and the discovery of unidentified remains, she uncovers a truth long buried. Wingate weaves these narratives together, building suspense as both Ollie and Val fight for survival and justice. The novel sheds light on a critical chapter in American history, the forced assimilation of Native American tribes and the exploitation of their land.

I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery and a focus on social justice. Fans of Wingate's previous work, like "Before We Were Yours," will likely find much to enjoy here. However, those who prefer fast-paced narratives might want to adjust their expectations.

Lisa Wingate knows how to pull all the emotions out of me. A well-researched novel based on the true happenings of the Oklahoma land grab and the Native Americans who suffered from innumerable injustices is exactly what is needed out in the world, in schools and book clubs.
In 1990, park law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell was appointed to the newly created Horsethief Trail National Park. She was met with a missing person, a mysterious death, an old burial site, and local resistance to the freshly minted park. Nearly a century earlier, in 1909, eleven-year-old Ollie Radley and two Choctaw girls, Hazel and Nessa are orphan wards left to the demise of their pedophile stepfather. What could this burial site and these two very different stories have in common? These two timelines bring together people who, maybe some would say, should never get along. This is definitely a book that I would read again.
Lisa Wingate has the ability to write about such sensitive topics with love and empathy. She beautifully weaves a historical fiction novel with just enough facts to keep the pages turning and wanting to know more. Be sure to read the author’s note at the end. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Ballentine Books and of course Lisa Wingate for giving me the opportunity to read this.

First of all, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this prepub book. It is a gem!
"Shelterwood" by Lisa Wingate is a novel based on true happenings in Oklahoma. The time shifts between 1909 and 1990 with an homage to the brutal life of the indigenous peoples living during the earlier period. This period is narrated by a "gang" of young children trying to grow up in a violent and unwelcoming world. The "mystery" of the story begins in 1990 when an enforcement ranger discovers an unofficial grave and tries to give the remains a life.
The characters are well drawn and realistic and the emotions (both the the characters and my own) brings out sadness, frustration, and hope.
Don't miss the experience of following the enforcement ranger and the other characters in this heartfelt story.

Lisa Wingate has done it again! After her best-selling book “Before We Were Yours," comes another fascinating story of greed, corruption, and the children who were the victims. This time, the setting is Oklahoma, where children are being exploited for their land and mineral rights. This is another sad chapter in American history that is now being revealed.

It's 1909, and eleven-year-old Ollie Radley and two Choctaw girls, Hazel and Nessa, orphan wards of her parents, are at the mercy of their pedophile stepfather. When Hazel disappears, Ollie, fearing for their safety, flees with six-year-old Nessa into the wilds of the Oklahoma mountains and the safety she seeks at an old homestead.

In 1990, park law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell was appointed to the newly created Horsethief Trail National Park. She was met with a missing person, a mysterious death, an old burial site, and local resistance to the freshly minted park. Still grieving over her husband's death and adjusting to being a single parent, Val must prove herself to her fellow rangers and the local community. Her only allies are the twelve-year-old sister of the missing person, who has a history of "telling tall tales," and a fellow law enforcement officer from the Choctaw Tribal Police. Facing adversity at every turn, they unite to try and find answers.

This story is rich in historical information about the early days of the Oklahoma land grab and the injustices done to the native tribes. This topic was also explored in "Killers of the Flower Moon," but Wingate's fictional characters show how the exploitation occurred on a large scale and zeroes in on the plight of the children. Using the two timelines and two strong females, Wingate adeptly weaves a historical fiction and a mystery novel that both informs and entertains. The story is told with empathy and hard facts that tugged at my heart and kept me wanting to know more. I highly recommend this book. 5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 4, 2024.

"Shelterwood" by Lisa Wingate masterfully intertwines two stories set in different eras within the same location, creating a rich and compelling narrative tapestry. Drawn to this book by my admiration for Wingate's previous works, I found that, although the story took some time to engage me fully, the journey was undeniably worthwhile. Wingate's exceptional talent for depicting historical events allows readers to gain a profound understanding and empathy for past circumstances.

One of the central themes of "Shelterwood" involves the heartrending issue of abandoned children, which Wingate handles with particular sensitivity and skill. Her evocative prose paints vivid pictures that resonate deeply, often bringing tears. This one is a must-read for those who have appreciated Wingate's earlier books. "Shelterwood" not only upholds but enhances the emotional and historical depth characteristic of her storytelling.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think I hyped this one up a lot, but it definitely wasn't one of my favorites of hers. The two timelines so far apart were just too much for me. I did enjoy the historical fiction aspect and the author's note.

Shelterwood
By: Lisa Wingate
Publisher: Ballantine Books

This was my first Lisa Wingate novel and it will not be my last! Absolutely adored this comprehensive dual timeline, both taking place in Oklahoma in the Winding Stair Mountains. First, we find ourselves in 1909 following the hard and heartbreaking life of 9 year Olive Radley and 6 year old Choctaw, Nessa. The other timeline set in the same place, but in the year 1990, introduces us to law enforcement rangers, Valerie who deals with trying to find a missing teen. I found both timelines interesting and especially favored the earlier timeline. I love when I learn something new from reading and I definitely did with this one. Fans of historical fiction will surely love Shelterwood.

Many thanks to Lisa Wingate, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. I read and reviewed this voluntarily and opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own. This book is currently available for purchase on June 4th, 2024.

My opinion on this book will probably not be popular, but this story was a miss for me. The two storylines just didn’t flow well. It seemed the stories dragged out unnecessarily. It was an interesting story, but I found it didn’t hold my attention.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of Wingate's previous novels (Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends), so when I saw she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to read it. I was not disappointed. As she has done before, Wingate artfully instructs her readers about historical events and figures unknown to many of us, writing compellingly about marginalized people groups and those who fought to right the wrongs committed against them. Her story is set in her home state of Oklahoma and follows Val, a park ranger and single mom in 1990 as she investigates a series of troubling events, and Ollie, an eleven-year-old girl in 1909 struggling to escape her stepfather’s clutches as she fights to save other children in similar situations.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
Highly recommended!

📖Book Review 📖
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I was so excited to received a gifted copy of both audio and e-book from @prhaudio and Ballantine Books via Netgalley because I love Lisa Wingate!

Shelterwood is a dual POV story of Valerie Boren-O’dell and 11-year old Olivia Augusta Radley. This book is a tribute to the untold story of women pioneers who fought to protect children who were caught in the storm of land barons hungry for power and oil wealth in the early 1900s in the state of Oklahoma.
Lisa Wingate has done it again! A profound novel that is so carefully curated with deep history research, variety of characters that are both lovable and hate-able and a one of a kind women empowering story that is so captivating and moving and the type where readers will dig more long after the last page has been read. Since this was inspired by real events, it was written in a way it was delicately presented despite the grime of this unbelievable truth.
The audiobook was pleasing to listen to. Narrators Christine Lakin, Jenna Lamia and Dan Bittner were phenomenal sounding!
Shelterwood is coming out in June 4th and I highly recommend!
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Shelterwood intertwines two story lines nearly a century apart. The stories, in my opinion, unfold a little slowly. Several times, I put the book down, but I always came back to it later.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and the author for an advanced copy of Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate. The book is written from two points of view - Eleven year old Olive in 1909 and Law Enforcement Ranger Val in 1990. Typically I do ok with these types of back and forth perspective books, but this one took me a long time to connect with any of the characters. It seemed to jump too quickly to the other story. I did love the historical information located within the story. The last 20% of the book was when I finally started to connect to the story and the characters and once I knew what happened to the “three girls in the cave” I saw the book in a different light and am tempted to read it again. I enjoyed it enough, but it didn’t capture me fast enough to love it.

My first time reading this author, as a candidate for one of our library book clubs.

Solid historical fiction, obviously well-researched, and not a topic that I knew much about, so appreciated learning something.

The dual timelines unspooled the mystery slowly.....a bit too slowly in some spots. And sometimes the internal dialogues and conversations of the main characters were a bit of an info-dump.

Still, it was an enjoyable read, and I would read something else by her in future.

I’ve liked everything I’ve read by this author. This book is no different. I learned so much about Oklahoma history, the National Park Service and the wonderful work that the Park Rangers do. Books such as this one are important to remind us of our country’s history. America is a country of great opportunity, but we must not forget that in many cases the prosperity gained by individuals was done via the unjust treatment of others.

Ollie, Nessa and Hazel’s story speaks to the resilience of children. Against all odds, they succeeded in rising above the hand they had been dealt.

This had a great touching story. Big fan of this author.

Thank you to net galley for a copy to read and review