Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate

 

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.