UPDATE: The publisher's book club kit is now live and it's gorgeous! Shelterwood behind-the-scenes tour, historical photos, location pics, recipes and book club materials now at this link: https://www.randomhousebooks.com/wp-c... (**If you haven't read Shelterwood yet, stop when you reach the last few pages of the kit with *spoiler warnings* in the header. Save those until after.)
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Release day is 6-4-2024. Shelterwood is up for order at all retailers -- info and list of links here: https://www.randomhousebooks.com/book...

The publisher has an incredible book club kit/reader's guide in the works with historical and location photos plus more of the story behind the story. I'll update and drop a link here when I have it.

Can't wait to see this book out there in the wild!111 s8 comments Angela M 1,350 2,160

Lisa Wingate in telling heartbreaking stories of children touches me and teaches me about parts of our history that l knew nothing about. In dual time lines, 1909 and 1990 in Oklahoma, Wingate skillfully executes this as she has done in other stories of historical significance. In the 1909 part of the story I was drawn to eleven year old Olive Radley who is caring and smart and tries her best to save and protect six year old Nessa, a Choctaw girl from the abuse of her vile stepfather. Their journey reflects on the a time when Native American children were robbed of their land rights and highlights the strong women who worked to protect them. In the 1990 part of the story, Valerie Boren-O’Dell , a young widow and park ranger, is as tenacious and strong as Olive as she attempts to solve the mystery of bones discovered. As usually happens though, I was more drawn to the historical time.

Highly recommend for those who loved Before We Were Yours , and actually anyone who enjoys good historical fiction which transports you to a place and time that will inform you of things we need to remember and move you in ways that will at the same time break your heart and raise your spirit with the resilience and strength of the characters.

I received a copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. netgalley-103 s37 comments Liz2,365 3,230

Shelterwood is Lisa Wingate’s latest book, again about children in trouble. Told in dual timelines, both stories take place in eastern Oklahoma, in the Winding Stair Mountains.
In 1909, an eleven year old girl and her family’s six year old Choctaw ward run away from her stepfather, a man who had evil intentions. Trying to get to her parents' old cabin, they encounter other children living wild and form a community.
In 1990, a new female park ranger arrives looking to start her life over. Her husband is dead and she’s looking for somewhere quiet for her and her young son. But she’s immediately immersed in the search for a missing teenager and a coverup of the long hidden burial site of three children in a cave.
It took me a while to become invested in the book. The older story was initially more of a cliche and took awhile to get to the meat of the story, which was the stealing of land from Indian orphans. Part of the problem is that the story is told from the perspective of a young white girl so there’s no easy way to introduce the “issue”. The book is half over before Wingate uses a political rally to even begin to discuss the problem of the Indian children.
I always wonder when an historical fiction handles a political topic whether the author is also casting a light on the present day. “It is an abomination, Hazel, that our society can muster the wit and will to create such magnificence, yet not resolve to do right by a child, don’t you think?”
The more contemporary storyline is more of a standard “police procedural”, with a kind of Nevada Barr feel. This story moved at a faster pace. I did become more invested in both stories for the second half. And Wingate does a good job of bringing the stories together.
My personal preference is to have historical fiction that teaches me something. That means I wanted more facts than this story provides, but Wingate does provide those details in her Author’s Note. Go into this one for the story and the characters.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an advance copy of this book.netgalley77 s16 comments Kerrin 338 221

*** Now Available ***
"Shelterwood" masterfully intertwines the lives of two resilient women separated by nearly a century but connected by their courage and determination. The novel’s title is a tribute to the old shelterwood trees, which protect and nurture the forest, much the protagonists do for their communities.

In 1909, Olive Augusta Radley, or Ollie, escapes from an abusive stepfather and finds refuge with Native American children in an area she names Shelterwood. This sanctuary becomes a haven for runaway children who have been neglected by their court appointed guardians who have stolen from them. These children survive by hunting, fishing, and performing odd jobs in nearby Talihina, Oklahoma. Despite being dubbed elves or spirits by the locals, they are merely children fighting for survival and freedom.

Fast forward to 1990, and we meet Valerie Boren-Odell, a widow and single mother who has moved to Talihina to work as a Park Ranger at the new Horsethief Trail National Park. Valerie faces her own battles against the entrenched male chauvinism in law enforcement. Her investigation into the discovery of three children's bodies in a cave, the disappearance of a local boy, a suspicious rock slide, and a drowned unknown person brings her story full circle with Ollie's past.

The novel's strength lies in its poignant portrayal of both Ollie and Valerie’s struggles and their quest for justice and a new beginning. Their stories, though set in different times, converge in a powerful and meaningful conclusion.

Despite its compelling narrative, the book’s structure—alternating chapters between 1909 and 1990—can be jarring at times. This abrupt shift occasionally disrupts the flow, but the rich, interwoven tales of survival and resilience make up for this minor flaw.

Overall, "Shelterwood" is a captivating read, deserving of 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for its emotive storytelling and the profound connection it draws between its characters across time.74 s28 comments Karen1,989 509

“Because according to the way Whittles told the story, what he saw in that cave as a kid haunted him the rest of his life.”

This historical fiction story is told from two timelines, 1909 and 1990, based on true historical events.

Valerie is beginning her job as a Park Law Enforcement Ranger in Oklahoma. On her first day at the Ranger Station one of the tribal officers says to her…

“They tell you about the bones yet?”

“Bones?”

“Figures,” he grumbles, and then he’s gone.

We soon learn that bones are buried in the caves and there is a story here. But there is also someone trying to keep the Rangers out. Why? Does it have to do with the past? Or is there something going on now in the forest that needs protecting?

What is the story of the bones? What happened?

This is a complex story. Painful at times because it involved the rights and lives of children. And the corruption. Especially to the Natives, their land and their children. And…what the people of the past did and why.

Readers will want to unravel the mystery along with Valerie. To bring peace to the bones. To those who were left behind.

But there is also a mystery happening now – what is it and why?

So, Valerie working alongside Curtis, head of the Chocktaw Tribal Police, also have a job to protect and bring justice to the land from those who would want to take from it.

This story took me a while to get in to it. Especially with the dual timelines. I am not always a fan of dual timelines. Part of the reason is just as I am getting in to what is happening in one period, the author ends the chapter and takes us to a different timeline with the next chapter, breaking the momentum…for me.

Still, there was much to appreciate with this story.

When reading a heart-wrenching story of this nature, readers are reminded of a time not learned in our history books. But one that must now, not be forgotten.

I want to thank the publisher, Penguin Random House for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I have provided an honest review.

Please note: This is an Advanced Readers Edition. The book will be released on June 4, 2024!compelling complex creates-questions ...more62 s22 comments Sujoya(theoverbookedbibliophile)- (Unwell - will catch up on soon!)658 2,270

RTC49 s1 comment Marialyce 2,086 694

The story takes place in Oklahoma in two time frames 1909 and 1999. The earlier story tells of Olive Augusta Radley, an eleven year old, and her concern for two Choctaw children who are boarding in their home. Olive flees with the younger girl, Nessa, after the older girl disappears. They run to the outlaw ridden Winding Stair Mountains, and while along the way meet up with other exploited children and they form a band.

In 1999, Ranger Valerie Boren O’dell, a new hire meets controversy when a teen goes missing on a hike The park opening is causing some worries and then a cave is discovered with the skeletons of three young girls.

The story is all tied up with the land, the oil, and other minerals, and the ownership of such land is the cause of the children's plight.

Once again, Lisa Wingate explores deeply a topic that I was not aware of. I always that her concern is and has been the children and this story is proof that in times past children were a target of the worst kind.

Thank you to Lisa Wingate, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this amazing story. 2024-books netgalley34 s8 comments Books_the_Magical_Fruit (Kerry)729 44

Lisa Wingate has become an auto-read author for me, ever since I read her book “Before We Were Yours”, which is utterly heartbreaking. So is this story. You can tell that Wingate does meticulous research on each subject she chooses to write about, and she always does these lost stories justice. In “Shelterwood”, she puts a spotlight on the corruption in Oklahoma regarding Native lands, Native peoples and orphans at the turn of the 20th century. We learn about Ollie and Nessa’s flight to escape a lecherous stepfather, but being on their own at 11 and 6 years old, respectively, puts them squarely in the path of other dangerous people. The timelines go back and forth between the girls in 1909 and a female park ranger’s investigation of three small sets of skeletons found recently in a cave in 1990. Who are the three children? And why are the higher-ups so against truly investigating what happened?

Your heart will be in your mouth as you read. These characters are undeniably deserving of compassion. Once again, Lisa Wingate brings buried history to life and ensures that these wrongdoings are never forgotten.25 s4 comments Connie G1,842 613

"Shelterwood" is a historical novel about the plight of children in the southeastern Oklahoma area of the Winding Stair Mountains and a Choctaw Reservation. Timelines set in 1909 and 1990 come together at the end. In 1909, eleven-year-old Olive runs away from home with six-year-old Nessa to escape an abusive stepfather. Olive has "the gift of gab" and can concoct a story to get them out of most situations. They live in the woods with other unfortunate children who are thought to be "elves" because of their malnourished, ragged appearance. When a political rally comes to town featuring Kate Barnard, the truth about abused children comes out. Their guardians had forced these orphans to sign over their family plots of land on the reservation or the surrounding area. The children were exploited for the land's valuable timber, oil, and minerals. Other children were forced to work extremely long days so child labor laws and compulsory education laws were needed.

In 1990, Valerie Boren-Odell arrives in Talihina as a new ranger at the fictional Horsethief Trail National Park in Oklahoma. Valerie is a widow looking for a quiet place to raise her young son. She has to prove that a woman can do her job as a Law Enforcement Ranger. A girl goes to Valerie for help when her teenage brother and her grandmother go missing. A cave in the mountains contains three skeletons of unknown origin. The converging timelines show a long, heartbreaking history of abuse of the Choctaw indigenous tribe.

Lisa Wingate revealed how greedy people abused children in her prior book, "Before We Were Yours." In "Shelterwood," Wingate tells the story of a different group of children trying to survive while their guardians abused them and stole their inheritance. The book also gives credit to Kate Barnard and other kind people who worked tirelessly to help the children. "Shelterwood" is well-researched, and was an interesting window into the history of indigenous children.

Thank you to Vanessa Duque at Ballantine Books at the Random House Group for an advanced reader copy of the book.10-for-subchallenge family historical-fiction ...more24 s Kimberly 645 88

Shelterwood is a story arising from the history of Oklahoma which is told in two timelines. Abandoned and cast off children form the first one and the second involves a newly widowed park ranger. The two stories come together beautifully at the end and it is a very satisfying read.

My thanks to the author, Lisa Wingate, and the publisher, Ballantine Books, for my ARC of this book, which will be published on June 4, 2024. #Goodreads Giveaway24 s Kelly • Kell of a Read657 202

3?? 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 didn’t 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 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 a certain piece of information or for 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 when things switched back to 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!20 s1 comment Rhonda6

Upon reading the description of this book, I was struck by the realization that it is based on Oklahoma history that was not taught in public schools back in my day. I was also struck by the fact that Angie Debo is quoted and mentioned both in the dedication of the book and in some quotes sprinkled throughout the book. Ten years ago, while going through my grandpa's books and office files, I found a letter and a book authored by Angie Debo, hand-signed to my grandpa. Additionally, the house we lived in at the time was located just a few miles off highway 74, also called the "Angie Debo Highway", so I needed to read this book. The biggest perk of all was that "Shelterwood" is authored by one of my favorite authors, Lisa Wingate.

From the back cover:

"Told in dual timelines, this book tells the story of women pioneers who fought to protect children caught in the battle of land barons hungry for power and wealth. In 1909, eleven-year-old Olive, who can tell her stepdad has evil intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarding in their home as wards. When the older one disappears, Olive ("Ollie") flees to the woods, taking six-year-old Nessa. They are heading to the Winding Stair Mountains, and it is on this journey they meet a motley crew of other children them who also need protection."

"In 1990, Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren-O'dell arrived at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance her career and single parenthood. She is immediately thrown into a local controversy involving a missing teenage hiker, the park's opening, and a burial site of three children within a cave. Val's quest to uncover the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but also collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself."

Shelterwood is atmospheric and character-driven, and each chapter alternates between timelines. I was so engrossed in the story and wanted to see how it all unfolded that I couldn't put it down!

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. It was an honor and privilege to give my honest review.

Release Date: June 4, 202420 s Shelley292 35

Thank you Random House Publishing Group from NetGalley for this ARC. I have been a fan of Lisa Wingate ever since reading , Before We Were Yours. Her latest novel is another work of Historical Fiction! Loved it! Couldn’t put it down!16 s Megan ?45 14

Sometimes you just want a book that will transport you to another time and occasionally make you cry. Which brings me to this book and review I’m currently writing with balled up tissues in hand.

Lisa Wingate is a master at weaving together stories based on true events many may not know about. Including myself.

“Before We Were Yours” was the first book I read by her and just that one, children and the past horrors they faced remain at the forefront. Hence my tissues.

I really love and appreciate the concern, love and support Lisa brings to her books and this one is no exception.

Taking place in Oklahoma and set between two timelines. Step into a time and a story Lisa clearly did her research on. I’m already looking forward to the next historical gem she decides to unearth.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.12 s Bam cooks the books ;-)2,034 272

**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. 2024-netgalley 2024-reads historical-fiction10 s2 comments Marcia691 18


Slow and draggy for at least two thirds of the book, it became an effort to finish reading, which I would not have done had I not promised to write a review. I expected more from Lisa Wingate, an author whose previous books I’ve enjoyed and whose future books I will read.
Set in Oklahoma in two timelines, the very dawn of the 20th century and again in 1990, the two separate stories felt extremely disjointed and made for difficult reading. Eventually , far into the book, things came together but I had already tired of working so hard to finish and found myself merely speed reading until the end.
The topic is an important one, revealing the lives of Native American children, and the greedy land grabbers around them. When remains of three young children are unearthed in 1990, an investigation into the past uncovers a horrifying history. Sounds important. Sounds compelling. Yet it was a chore to read. . I so wanted to this better but I promised an honest review. Two measly stars for a book I plodded through with no enthusiasm. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine books for gifting me an advance readers copy. Publication date is April 10, 2024.10 s Jennifer Hazen132 4

Lisa Wingate is the queen of historical fiction. Shelterwood is another of her masterpieces based on real events. It's timely, too, given the popularity of the movie (based on the book by David Grann) Killers of the Flower Moon. Flower Moon told the true story of the adults who were swindled out of their oil and mineral rights by their "guardians." Wingate's book tells of the Native children who were savagely robbed of their rights, too.10 s Alaina6,601 214

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Shelterwood started off on a slow note for me. Eventually, the mystery started to develop a bit more, and the pages started to fly by. In this, you will meet Ollie and Valerie. Ollie is eleven years old and lives in 1909, whereas Valerie lives in 1990 with her son Charlie.

Ollie doesn't the world she's living in and would do anything in her power to protect her sisters and herself. It doesn't help when one of them goes missing and her stepfather is untrustworthy. One day, she hits her limit and runs away with her younger sister, Nessie. The troubles they faced along the way were somewhat bittersweet. Sure, they had times where things were finally going their way, and I could see them potentially getting their happy ending. Then the rug would be swept right from under them and myself, and they were back to square one, trying to figure out life and keeping everyone safe.

Then there's Valerie, and she's just trying to figure things out in her new job. Throw in some mystery bones found in a cave, and she just wants to understand this land, the park, and the people a bit more. It doesn't help that she pissed someone off who is well-known in the community and has it out for her now. And yet, the mystery just keeps building up, and things aren't adding up.

In the end, the mystery was so freaking good, and the last few chapters really tied things up. The only thing I'm wondering about is, did she finally get Charlie that puppy? Please say she did.2024 2024-arcs fiction ...more9 s Shelby Ann Noel 12 1 follower

I have been a longtime fan of Lisa Wingate, and her latest "Shelterwood", truly delivered. Rooted in real events of Oklahoma and children that were orphaned and minor children of tribes of "Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek. Choctaw, and Seminole" and "elf children". This novel fascinated me and left me just taken-back by the events of our history that I never learned about in school, not to mention the women "Ollie" and "Kate" that were monumental in this movement and for US History.

Personally, rooted in the Midwest USA, very close to American Indian Tribal land (Wind River Reservation) this take on historical Oklahoma really gave me a new and alternative perspective into the historical aspect of other tribes outside WR and my own Wyoming roots. Wingate really outdid herself with the alternating viewpoints of Valerie and Ollie/Nellie, and the children of "Shelterwood". There were points between the alternating chapters and "small cliff hangers" that left me predicting and analyzing for signs of what would happen next. Not to mention the way that Wingate tied it all together in the end, left a resounding lesson for me. The children were SO lovable for me. I was rooting for them the whole time.

There were lots of memorable and beautiful quotes, too. I just wanted to take a moment and share one that encompassed Ollie and Nellie and their journey of perseverance, sisterhood, resiliency, resounding impact, and dreams:

"So you see, the small dream that was born among the children of this forest did not die here. it grew as dreamers grew. Its branches stretched through air, to places far and near, to forests and deserts, across rivers and oceans. Evil could not poison it. Men could not cut it down. Floods could not wash it away. It grew into a tree of life, of lives" (Chapter 31).

I would love to read this again. I am excited to share with my teacher friends and my bookclub friends.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group from NetGalley for this ARC. I loved the journey of "Shelterwood" from start to finish.9 s1 comment Monica Hills1,016 30

I love when I can find historical fiction about a subject I know nothing about. This story was told in a dual timeline format from the turn of the 19th century and also at the end. My favorite part of the story was the one that took place in 1909 and featured Ollie. She is eleven and knows she has to get away from her step-father. She runs away with a younger Choctaw girl, Nessie, who has been a ward along with her sister, Hazel. at her home. Hazel has disappeared and they fear that Ollie's step father was the reason. The two of them have to struggle to survive. Their story was based on real Oklahoma history and even featured an important woman who had a huge impact of the development of the state.

The other story was also interesting as it followed a single mom trying to make a new start for herself and her son. She knows something is not right as she tries to find a missing person and a cave with three sets of children's bones. I loved how her story was tied into the other story. Overall, this was an emotional and compelling look at Oklahoman history involving children, Native Americans, and good triumphing over evil.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.netgalley-arc quest-spring-20249 s1 comment Kristine 742 203 Read

Excited I got approved for Shelterwood. This is Lisa Wingate’s latest novel and I was really hoping I would get an ARC, but not sure I would. Thank You Lisa Wingate and Ballentine Books for approving me. Loved The Book of Lost Friends and . Definitely, a Favorite Author. Will Enjoy Reading this one??????


I just finished this. Learned so much history about Oklahoma that I knew nothing about. Sad, how children were left to fend for themselves and often were working and trying to survive. RTC

2024-new-releases arc-or-ng-books books-about-families-siblings-frien ...more9 s Laurie424 38

*** Happy Publication Day ***

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: The Osage Murders," but Wingate's fictional characters can show how the exploitation occurred on a large scale and zeroed 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, 2024.2024-books arc7 s Sandra The Old Woman in a Van1,241 50

Shelterwood is one of the best dual-timeline historical fiction novels I've read in a long time. Wingate's storytelling hooked me from the start, and I became heavily invested in the little girls' plight in the historical timeline. I also loved the modern (1990s) National Park Service Ranger storyline. So, who will enjoy this novel?
-If Killers of the Flower Moon absorbed you, Shelterwood will take you back to that horrific period in Oklahoma history.
-If you love National Parks and the rangers who support them, you'll enjoy the modern storyline. For a short while, I was trying to figure out if I missed the designation of a new park. Nope, it's fictitious—but just as impressive as our real-life parks.
-If you enjoy historical fiction and you're seeking stories from underrepresented eras, you'll enjoy this book.
-If you are looking for good book club discussion fodder, you'll find it in this book.
-If you are already a fan of Lisa Wingate (Before We Were Yours), you will surely this book - I predict even more.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

Trigger warnings: child neglect and abuse - pervasive.bipoc historical-fiction indigenous ...more7 s1 comment Vicki66

Shelterwood is my favorite book so far this year. It’s a compelling and disturbing fictional account of actual, but little-known events in Oklahoma in the early 20th century, a time of widespread corruption targeting Native Americans for their lands. Many natives were murdered or simply “disappeared” during this era.

Lisa Wingate weaves a chilling story of young, mostly native, children, known as “elf children,” who must fend for themselves while facing life and death dangers, starvation, abuse, exploitation and racism. The legacy of this graft and corruption resurfaces in a parallel story within the novel involving a young national park ranger’s commitment in 1990 to learning the truth about recent teen’s disappearance. Ultimately, the two timelines help weave the story together.

Wingate’s extensive research enlightens this narrative, detailing this little-known tragedy and revealing lost stories about women who tried to help. But it’s her storytelling skills that hooked me. It’s a page-turner.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own.7 s Danielle Douthit22 1 follower

Shelterwood by @author_lisa_wingate
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This was a phenomenally written story with double timelines (1909 & 1990). It follows Ollie and Val, respectively, as they seek to make justice happen for the orphan children (mostly Choctaw) living in the woods while folks who were supposed to be their wards simply stole their land and left them to fend for themselves in the wild. I had never heard of this part of history but truly believe it should be more prevalently known - which makes me grateful for this book.

This book doesn’t release until June, but it was too good not to go ahead and put it on your radar. I’ll share this post again closer to the release date!

Thank you @netgalley, @author_lisa_wingate, and @randomhouse for the ARC ebook of Shelterwood. I didn’t want to put it down! All opinions are honest and my own.

#netgalley #shelterwood #bookstagram #goodreads #literarypearlsof247 s Paula Kitsch103 2

A few years ago a friend suggested I read a Lisa Wingate Novel, I didn’t really read Historical Fiction…. But ok! After finishing and google searching an amateur sleuth I decided I needed more.
I wanted to devour this book as fast as I could but also savor all that this book is! It’s hard to be a book lover at times. So I ended up reading slowly so that I could really get a sense of who these people were and are as the time hop of the book plays out.
I want to thank Lisa for always opening my eyes to the injustices that happened in our country that no one talks about, that no one wants to acknowledge. She is truly a remarkable person to read a story about something so sad and spin a tale that enlightens her readers.
I cried for so many reason in this book and at the end. I am grateful for my newest obsession of google searches today.arc7 s Amanda88 15

This book is inspired and thought provoking and it absolutely does not disappoint. I was extremely hesitant to read Shelterwood because I am sensitive to certain topics and the synopsis of this one seemed to be dancing all around my tender places- HOWEVER, I am so glad I read this book.

There are some tough themes this book explores, but Lisa Wingate navigates the terrain an expert. I’m so grateful for how she treated the triggering content- she addressed it so that the reader has a general awareness, but she didn’t hang out there descriptively for any longer than was necessary - making this book a beautiful and poignant story that I don’t regret reading. Shelterwood tells the gripping account of two women set apart by almost a hundred years in the same little town in Oklahoma. Both stories are compelling and hard to put down and it had me guessing till the last. I don’t want to give anything away, but this is a worthy read and will absolutely be a best seller. I learned so much reading this book and it makes me want to go learn more about the history of Oklahoma.

Read with a friend as you will absolutely want to have someone to chat over it with.

I’d to thank Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.6 s2 comments Melodi | booksandchicks 815 64

I had high hopes for this historical fiction book based on the authors previous books that I've enjoyed. But, this story fell short for me.

First up, this story started out really strong and i was all in! I loved the early 1900's setting and the children involved. I always appreciate the historical plot timelines in these alternating time periods the most. I was unaware of the historical aspect that this book shines a light on and reading the authors notes shone more light on it. Recommend that!

For me, there seemed to be so many holes in these girls and children's misadventures. I just couldn't fathom some of the things they supposedly experienced. Honestly, I started to get bored with the storyline and felt that there wasn't enough plot to push the readers interest along.

The 1990 timeline began with following a female park ranger and I was all in. I'm a lover of national parks and there was a beginning mystery that I was totally in for! Once again, things got kinda crazy and while it may have happened in real life, it just wasn't told in a realistic way for me to accept.

Overall, the historical aspects highlighted were interesting and worth knowing about, but I didn't love the journey that felt slow and I had to push myself through to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the gifted e-ARC6 s Sandy Barrera87 4

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!6 s Candice Quinn97 4

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