The Winterkeeper takes place in Montana in 1933, where fourteen-year-old Millie Chase has just been orphaned. She resists the idea of living with her stepfather, who already has a replacement wife waiting in the wings. She feels he is "just a man Momma had married." She decides to track down her mother's good friend Ginny Baker, who lives in Yellowstone Park with Nate, a winterkeeper for the north end of the park, which is closed for the season; but instead finds that Ginny's husband Nate is holding down the fort while his pregnant wife is in Chicago, struggling to find and maintain control of a fortune her parents left to her and her sister. Midlife crisis collides with a coming-of-age experience as Millie and Ginny face impossible, different circumstances. Each struggles to find her path, strength, and purpose in the face of threatening changes. Jo Horne adds a host of obstacles into the story. This will require maturity from teen readers, or new adults and adult audiences who will appreciate the different characters, details of how they interact, and what their shared goals ultimately require of them in the way of courage, determination, and moral and ethical behaviors. As stepfather Roger's real character comes to light and poses a further predicament affecting Millie's safety and future, readers gain insights into the processes of building family connections, dealing with child advocacy issues, and trust. Called upon to reach out and be a part of Millie's life in order to protect and advocate for her, Ginny and Nate find themselves embroiled in something far beyond their quiet life in Yellowstone in winter. Readers will learn much about how people become family and earn places in each others' hearts by their choices, actions, and reactions to adversity. Those who like a touch of intrigue added into the mix will appreciate the mystery surrounding Roger Fitzgerald's purposes and actions—especially how it reveals a dark psychological undercurrent that eventually comes to light only due to Millie's determination and Nate and Ginny's pursuit of the truth. All characters are charged with doing the right thing, which further strengthens the coming of age story that moves from Millie's fate and future to the impact of choices Ginny and Nate make on her behalf and for the sake of their own futures. The Winterkeeper's multifaceted blend of history, mystery, psychological journeys and coming of age story makes for a fast-paced, evocative read. It should reach beyond young adults to attract adult readers interested in stories of justice, truth, and power struggles as characters challenges their assumptions and trajectory in life. The Winterkeeper is a vivid story that proves hard to put down. [D. Donovan Sr. Review Editor Midwest Book Review]