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.
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.
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.
Genre: Historical
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.
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.
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.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"Wingate's best book yet! Shelterwood explores crucial societal issues against the nail-biting backdrop of early-twentieth-century Oklahoma, where the struggle for land and oil threatens lives. . . . A spellbinding and important tale." - Marie Benedict
"Wingate's signature talent for deeply realized characters, awe-inspiring prose, and page-turning mystery has never been more manifest. This captivating story will absorb your mind and heart and won't let go." - Patti Callahan Henry
"Lisa Wingate works her signature magic in creating strong, smart, and willful children who survive at any cost. Shelterwood is as heartwarming as it is mysterious and utterly absorbing." - Sadeqa Johnson
"I barely put Shelterwood down as my new favorite heroine, Ranger Valerie, uncovered the chilling story of children displaced by land barons. This book has it all--two fabulous heroines, a little-known true story, and a setting to die for." - Martha Hall Kelly
"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
"Riveting and powerful! Wingate brings to life the shocking tale of greed and little girls forced to save themselves. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I doubt I will ever forget this story." - Vanessa Miller
"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
"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
"Wingate's signature talent for deeply realized characters, awe-inspiring prose, and page-turning mystery has never been more manifest. This captivating story will absorb your mind and heart and won't let go." - Patti Callahan Henry
"Lisa Wingate works her signature magic in creating strong, smart, and willful children who survive at any cost. Shelterwood is as heartwarming as it is mysterious and utterly absorbing." - Sadeqa Johnson
"I barely put Shelterwood down as my new favorite heroine, Ranger Valerie, uncovered the chilling story of children displaced by land barons. This book has it all--two fabulous heroines, a little-known true story, and a setting to die for." - Martha Hall Kelly
"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
"Riveting and powerful! Wingate brings to life the shocking tale of greed and little girls forced to save themselves. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I doubt I will ever forget this story." - Vanessa Miller
"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
"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
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