Lisa Wingate brings us this gripping historical fiction story of 11-year-old Ollie Augie and the perils of children, especially Native youth falling prey to greed by land grabbers in the early 1900's Oklahoma. Forming a band of wayward and orphaned children the idea of Shelterwood is born. Interposed in this dual timeline is Valerie Borden-O'Dell a law enforcement ranger for the National Park Service and her duty to protect the special land under her care in Oklahoma as she faces local disfavor for her job and all that she threatens to uncover. Providing historically accurate and yet heart-wrenching, relatable characters is an incredible gift by this author and fans of Lisa Wingate's earlier works will also find their thoughts returning to this story.

This engaging and well researched book sheds light on the treatment of native people in Oklahoma of the early 1900's. It shifts in time between 1909 and a girl named Olive who is trying to protect two native girls from what she perceives as the bad intentions of her step father, and 1990, where Valerie, a law enforcement park ranger new to the area is trying to discover the mysteries that surround her new location, including the discovery and public cover-up of an old burial site where three Native American children were laid to rest. There is a lot of mystery attached to both time periods, and eventually the questions are answered and the connections between the past and present are revealed. The characters are real and compelling, their stories really draw you in, and when Wingate wraps up all the puzzles at the end of the story, there are some surprises which now make perfect sense and the ending is very satisfying.

I was captured by these two stories that were beautifully intertwined. The story of the elf children should be taught to our children in school. I had never heard of this fact of history. What a wonderful gift Lisa has to take these bits of history and weave them into a completely enjoyable and informative novel. I feel blessed to have been able to read this before publication and will spread the word of this book.

Shelterwood was the educational experience I never knew I needed. I learned more in this book than I ever did in a classroom. This book will take your emotions on a rollercoaster as you learn about the history of child exploitation, theft of land from Indians and the powerful men that did both in Oklahoma.

Shelterwood, told in alternating timelines from 1909 and 1990 in Oklahoma, is the story of the unacknowledged women that fought to save children being taken advantage of by the lumber and oil tycoons. In 1909, we find Ollie, a runaway from an abusive stepfather and Nessa, a young Choctaw girl her father took in years before. Working together to make their way to Winding Stair Mountains, where Ollie’s father made a home for them years before, the duo will encounter rugged terrain, grifters, outlaws and men who wish to exploit them. In 1990, Valerie is looking for a new start as a widowed single mom. As the first and only Law Enforcement Park Ranger at Horsethief Trail National Park, Valerie isn’t a stranger to controversy. A missing teen and a grave of three little girls are just some of things Valerie encounters in her first week. Find out how Ollie and Valerie’s stories collide and how 1909 really isn’t so different than 1990.

Thank you to netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dual timeline between a girl named Olive and a woman named Val.
1909 Olive has run away from home with her adopted Choctaw sister named Nessa. Their stepfather is an evil man and their mom has taken to opium and drinking. On their journey they've picked up several orphaned Choctaw children. They become a family and live in the forrest. All of the children have been stripped of their land and families.
1990 Valerie is a widowed park ranger with a young son named Charlie. Lots of interesting stuff is happening at the park. They've found the bodies of three dead children from a hundred years ago, had rock falls and a missing teenager. Lots of suspicious stuff is happening.
I loved this book!! What an epic novel about fighting corruption and learning to be the master of your own life. I especially loved Valerie. Her mom life being widowed was written so superbly. I felt the grief and the loneliness. I felt the single mom life.

Lisa Wingate deftly infuses the narrative with moments of profound sadness, as the characters grapple with the scars of their pasts and the challenges they must overcome to better themselves. Through their struggles, Wingate offers a poignant reminder of the power of hope and the capacity for healing within us all. Shelterwood delves into the complexities of human emotion and showcases the strength and courage individuals can summon in challenging circumstances.

Alternating between 1909 and 1990 Oklahoma we follow the paths of Ollie and Nessa as they run away from an abusive home and park ranger Valerie who is now investigating a missing persons case 80 years later in the state park that was formed on the same land Ollie and Nessa once called home.

As I read this book I was sent down a rabbit hole of research about the history of the 1887 Dawes Act that broke up tribal lands and provided individual Native Americans a parcel of land known as an allotment . When the parents of native children died, some naturally and some mysteriously, the children would be appointed to caregivers. Many men took advantage of this and tried to be appointed as caregivers to as many children as possible to claim rights to their land allotments. Many non-native men became weathly off the tribal land allotment and used that wealth to run for public office or influence those that did. Wingate has told the emotional and heartbreaking true story of indiginous children on the Oklahoma plains in the early 1900's through Ollie and Nessa and the reprussions many children suffered from the actions of those put in charge of their care. I felt myself really anxious as I was reading hoping nothing bad would happen to the children and knowing that although fiction, events like this happened to real children and are still happeing today.

If you liked Killers of the Flower Moon this book will tell you a similar story, although through the eyes of children and the brave women who fought to help them.

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I will not forget this book--it's in my heart forever. Shelterwood has two storylines--one in 1908, and the other in 1990, and the story goes back and forth between them. Both parts of the story take place in Oklahoma. The first is after the Dawes Act, which broke up tribal lands and granted land allotments to individual Native Americans. Unscrupulous white men took the land from vulnerable native children, leaving them alone to fend for themselves. They are called "Elf children," and this is the story of a group of them who tried to form their own community, with heartbreaking results. And then, nearly a hundred years later, an enterprising ranger in a newly formed national park digs up the first story and solves a current-time mystery. It's a lot to keep track of, but Lisa Wingate beautifully handles all the complications. Both thumbs up, as well as all ten fingers and toes.

I was excited when Netgalley provided me an early (digital) copy of a Lisa Wingate book. I loved Before We Were Yours. Once again, I learned about a form of child abuse I didn't learn in school. I had no idea there were "oil-rich" children with absent guardians in the early 1900s. I did find the book a bit confusing at times with the dual timeline and many characters...particularly the "bad guys" in the 1990 chapters. I didn't detect any plot holes, and it's very well written. It held my interest throughout. Overall, I give it 4.5 stars.

This one is well researched and does a good job at making the past come alive for the reader, however, it's dense and convoluted at times. I found myself rooting for the children but often the focus was lost in the winding narrative. The dual timelines were a bit jarring as well with the transitions too abrupt. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was moving and the plight of children always pulls at my heartstrings. The resilience of these children who had to navigate for themselves is so incredible. We can look back at history and see the mistakes made, I often wonder what mistakes we make today.



Ollie, Nessa, and Hazel were great characters!



The other amazing part of the story was the women who fought to find out the rest of the story. These women give us examples to look to in the problems we face.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Oh wow! This story was incredible! I loved how the story went back and forth with past and present. The characters were so relatable And realistic. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves historical fiction.

This story is two in one. It starts in 1909 and switches to 1990 between chapters. It traces the history of yet another abuse of the American Indian and the tribal lands they were promised by our government. As always, might makes right and many people are constantly trying to steal their land for its timber and mineral rights. When bones of three children are found in a cave an investigation begins attempting to find out who the children were and the circumstances of their deaths. The descriptions of the scenery and the everyday travels of these runaway children are interesting as is how they find help along the way. It is also the story of a park ranger who gets involved in solving the mystery of where the children came from and the circumstances of their lives.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for this ARC.

Lisa Wingate has once again written a beautiful novel with women and children whose strength and wit led them to do amazing things.

This is a dual time period historical novel set in Oklahoma in 1909, just when OK achieved statehood and 1990 when the National Parks Services purchased and protected Horsethief Trail National Park.

We follow Ollie, an 11 year old girl as she strikes out on her in in 1909 to protect Nessa, her family’s ward..The forests and mountains where they hid and survived had many orphans.

In 1990 we see Valerie, a NPS ranger as she uncovers some of the ghosts of the same land. She does this as an outsider and female ranger, neither of which are welcome in the town.

This was a solid 4.5 stars and a reminder of why Lisa Wingate is an automatic read for me.

Shelterwood" by Lisa Wingate is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of family, forgiveness, and the power of redemption. Set in the small town of Moses Lake, Texas, the story follows the lives of two women from different backgrounds whose paths intersect in unexpected ways. As they navigate their own personal struggles and confront the secrets of their past, they discover the healing power of love and community. With its richly drawn characters and evocative prose, "Shelterwood" is a poignant tale that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

This dual-narrative historical fiction book held both my interest and my heart! It flips back and forth between the years 1909 and 1990, telling the tales of 2 women in the state of Oklahoma. In 1909, 12-year-old Ollie is forced to escape from a bad home life and bands together with others in similar situations. It was eye-opening and sad to read about the conditions these orphaned children survived in! Their resilience and resourcefulness was truly inspiring! In 1990, the story centers on Val, a single mother who is a national park ranger. She uncovers a mystery that eventually weaves the two stories together. I was confused at times about the details and found myself longing for more resolution at the end, but generally enjoyed reading this. Lisa Wingate brings buried history to light and celebrates some real life heroes who fought for the protection of these children.
Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Wingate and Ballentine books for an advance copy of this book!

Highly recommended. Lisa Wingate has created yet another story of children who survived a world that didn’t have any concern for their welfare, just what they could give it, or what could be taken from them. Wingate’s research is exemplary.

Another stellar read from Lisa Wingate! I have learned not to start one of her books unless I have time to binge read. As with Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours, I was hooked from the first chapter and had to keep reading. Her historical fiction books always teach me something new and leave me wanting to research more. As in her other books, we learn of child exploitation and abuse that if it were not based in truth, would be unbelievable. Instead, it is horrific and haunting. Thankfully, she does not dwell on those details, but instead she shares the strength and resilience of her characters, in both timelines.

I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an unbiased review. (Okay, maybe a bit biased, but only because it is Lisa Wingate.)

I loved this book! Set in Oklahoma with dual times of 1909 and 1990. The earlier timeline follows the plight of several children who are living in the woods and hiding from land barons. The later timeline follows a park services ranger.

The story drew me in from the first page. The chapters alternated timelines. I was fully invested in what would happen in both.

Before reading this book, I didn't know anything about what happened in OK with land barons. I'm interested in learning more.

I was thrilled to dive into "Shelterwood" and once again, she did not disappoint. Wingate has a remarkable ability to capture the full spectrum of human emotion and weave it into a story that grips you from the very first page.

"Shelterwood" is a mesmerizing tale that seamlessly intertwines the lives of two women separated by decades but connected by the land they inhabit. From the rugged beauty of Oklahoma's landscape to the depths of human resilience and compassion, Wingate's storytelling transports you to another time and place, making you feel as though you're right there alongside the characters.

The mystery and suspense woven throughout the narrative kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth behind the secrets buried in the past. And when the final twist came, I was left gasping, utterly stunned by the unexpected outcome.

Wingate has once again proven herself as a master storyteller with "Shelterwood," a book that not only entertains but also resonates deeply with its readers. This is a story that will stay with me long after I've turned the last page, and I can't wait to see what Wingate has in store for her next literary masterpiece.

"Shelterwood" isn't just a story of mystery and suspense; it's also a deeply emotional journey that explores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of trauma and adversity. Lisa Wingate deftly infuses the narrative with moments of profound sadness, as the characters grapple with the scars of their pasts and the challenges they must overcome to better themselves.

From the heartbreaking experiences of Ollie and Nessa, two young girls forced to flee from danger and carve out a new life in the wilderness, to the haunting discoveries unearthed by Valerie Boren-Odell as she delves into the secrets of the land, Wingate captures the raw emotion of their struggles with sensitivity and empathy.

As the characters confront their demons and strive to find healing and redemption, "Shelterwood" becomes more than just a captivating tale—it becomes a testament to the power of resilience, hope, and the human capacity for growth and transformation.

With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and poignant exploration of trauma and survival, "Shelterwood" is a book that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you profoundly moved. It's a testament to Lisa Wingate's skill as a storyteller that she can evoke such deep emotions in her readers, and it's a testament to the power of storytelling itself to illuminate the human experience in all its complexity.