Starred review from April 29, 2024
Wingate’s stellar latest (after Before We Were Yours) explores a centuries-long legacy of missing child cases in Oklahoma’s Winding Stair mountains. In 1990, the long-buried remains of three young girls are discovered in the newly created Horsethief Trail National Park. When park ranger Valerie Boren-Odell, whose husband’s death has left her to care for their seven-year-old son alone, learns her boss won’t investigate how the girls died, she feels compelled to uncover their names and what happened to them. As the disappearance of a teenage boy and the discovery of an unidentified man’s corpse complicate Valerie’s investigation, Choctaw tribal police officer Curtis Enhoe offers insight and access to tribal records that help link the cases. In a parallel narrative set in 1909, 11-year-old Olive “Ollie” Radley’s Choctaw foster sister Hazel disappears after being molested by Olive’s stepfather. When he turns his attention to Hazel’s younger sister, Nessa, Ollie decides they must flee. The pair evade pursuit by moving deeper into the forest, discovering to their surprise that other victimized children, most of them Choctaw, are also hiding there. Wingate’s insightful depiction of her young characters’ vulnerability and resourcefulness enriches the intricate plotting, and her portrayal of the region’s history, culture, and landscape enthralls. Wingate is at the top of her game. Agent: Elisabeth Weed, Book Group.
December 6, 2024
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. VERDICT Loosely based on actual events, this story sheds light on unsavory and intriguing aspects of American history. An excellent addition to any historical fiction collection.--Amber Wessies
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