Many writers have their “passion products” but Lisa Wingate writes “compassion projects.” She writes about societies outcasts and usually it is a tale of children who have been abandoned. Such is the case in her latest novel SHELTERWOOD.
This book is written in two time frames. The most modern is a story set in 1990. A widowed Park Ranger takes a new position forcing her and her young son to leave her family behind. She does everything in her power to see that her son is able to make the transition as smoothly as possible.But only a few weeks after their move she learns of the discovery of three skeletal remains. They are the bones it is thought of three young children.
This ties us back to 1909 when a twelve year old girl runs away from home after another child in the household disappears. Ollie, the twelve year old, thinks her stepfather had something to do with the girl’s disappearance. So she and a younger girl, Nessa, take off and race for shelter in a forest.
The narrative flips between the two stories and this is fine as both stories are attention grabbing.Plus you know Wingate will tie the two together at some point in time. It is her trademark and a credit to her storytelling skills.
As stated. SHELTERWOOD is a compassion story. Lisa Wingate’s previous books, plus this one, show she is the Queen of Compassion.
