Shelterwood

A Novel

By: Lisa Wingate

Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Dan Bittner, Jenna Lamia

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

USA TODAY AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER • “Wingate’s stellar latest explores a centuries-long legacy of missing child cases. . . . Her portrayal of the region’s history, culture, and landscape enthralls. Wingate is at the top of her game.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes “a sweeping tale about little known history” (People): the women pioneers who fought to protect children caught in the storm of land barons hungry for power and oil wealth.

Oklahoma, 1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley knows that her stepfather doesn’t have good intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home as wards. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees to the woods, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the notorious territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men. Along the way, Ollie and Nessa form an unlikely band with others like themselves, struggling to stay one step ahead of those who seek to exploit them . . . or worse.

Oklahoma, 1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at newly minted Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance a career and single parenthood. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than she’s faced with local controversy over the park’s opening, a teenage hiker gone missing from one of the trails, and the long-hidden burial site of three children unearthed in a cave. Val’s quest for the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but soon collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.

In this emotional and enveloping novel, Lisa Wingate traces the story of children abandoned by the law and the battle to see justice done. Amid times of deep conflict over who owns the land and its riches, Ollie and Val traverse the rugged and beautiful terrain, each leaving behind one life in search of another.

*Includes a downloadable PDF with a listing of primary resources and recommendations from the book, for further reading

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Lisa Wingate (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A seamlessly crafted tale of tragedy, resilience, and triumph, this powerful novel needs to go to the top of your list. Lisa Wingate once again gives poignant voice to the ‘lost’ children of American history.”—Lisa Scottoline, author of Eternal and Loyalty

“Shelterwood is an instant American classic and a diamond in the crown of Lisa Wingate’s canon of atmospheric and emotional novels. The story of Ollie and Nessa is a page-turner.”—Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone

“A complex and fascinating tapestry woven with threads of history, mystery, and menace that proves yet again that there is no finer storyteller at work today than Lisa Wingate.”—William Kent Krueger, author of The River We Remember

The story was well written

The way she wrote the separate storylines felt choppy to me but I love how she brought them both together in the end.

Well told story.

As someone born and raised and Oklahoma, I amazed and disappointed we never learned this information in OK history.

Did Not Measure Up To Before We Were Yours

I was really looking forward to listening to yet another Lisa Wingate book, but for me, this story and some of the narration fell flat. Dan Binner and Jenna Lamia both performed their parts just wonderfully, allowing us o really understand each of their characters through such perfect representations of who they were. However, I wasn’t that impressed with Christine Lakin’s narration, but perhaps it had more to do with not liking the author’s character development of Valerie. Finishing this book was hard to do and ended up taking me well over 1 week to complete. I don’t think the story held my attention, but at least I was able to eventually get through it.

Bring light to the sad truth

The two different stories that were woven into one. The light that exposed greedy politicians and business owners.

Outstanding!

Well, done again, Lisa Wingate! A beautifully written saga of history! I love how you dive head first into these books and learn every little detail before and during writing them! Looking so forward to your next book!

Another excellent book

Lisa Wingate's books never leave you disappointed.I absolutely Loved the writing and reading In this story

Oklahoma Native Elf Children

A fascinating story based on facts from a not-so long-ago time when Oklahoma was once Indian Territory.

Vibrant storytelling listening was seeing a movie in my head

Many of the ideas reflect problems in modern day life unfortunately problems still continue with children not having proper services when they meet troubles in their family children. These days seem to be lost in many cases.

Amazing Story

I really like the historical part being told from the children's point of view. We all take the ease and joy most of us are blessed with in our childhood experiences for granted. Even children in not so rich circumstances have more than children of Native American and poor families in history.

It’s about the Indians for Oklahoma

I am from the creek tribe one of the five civilized tribes that did the trail it tears from Mississippi up to Oklahoma. I did not buy my ancestors dead.