Shelterwood

Wingate’s (The Book of Lost Friends) latest work of historical fiction traverses two timelines, set against the backdrop of Oklahoma’s Winding Stair Mountains. In 1909, 11-year-old Olive knows she must escape her abusive stepfather. The older of Olive’s foster sisters, Choctaw girls whom Olive’s father took in, has disappeared, and Olive fears for Nessa, her younger foster sister. Olive and Nessa flee, encountering other children like them along the way. In 1990, park ranger Valerie is grieving her husband’s death and seeking a fresh start working at Horsethief Trail National Park. Valerie discovers human remains in a cave and a mysterious abandoned vehicle in the park, both of which connect the novel’s timelines in unexpected ways. Each chapter is told from alternating points of view, jumping between time periods with cliffhanger endings that will keep listeners rapt. Narrators Christine Lakin and Jenna Lamia employ inflections and tone to great effect, adding layers of personality to the characters. Dan Bittner brings the story together with his narration of the prologue and a historical article from the Nashville Banner newspaper.