“A wise and catchy YA novel about the power of determination + using your brain. … Meet Callie Garcia, the protagonist of the fun, snappily written young-adult novel Briarwood. Putting one’s mind to positive, productive solutions is author Natalie Hyde’s theme.”

The camp setting is vividly imagined and bursts with energy. The prose is clear and brisk, making even complex concepts accessible, while the plot balances the thrill of discovery with reflections on belonging and confidence. … Readers will find themselves wanting to revisit Briarwood.

“Readers will revel in the fun and fantastical camp where campers live in the treetops, and everything from message delivery to the aerial walkway system is mechanized through a special kind of steam power. Hyde’s characters are delightful and often humorous. … While many readers will enjoy the fun and mystery, some might find their curiosity piqued as well. Who was Nicola Tesla? And what kinds of renewable power sources are scientists working on today?”

“Hyde sets her magical story in an engineering marvel of connecting treehouses, with contraptions and inventions that invoke Dhonielle Clayton’s Arcanum Training Institute. The cast of characters’ elusive intentions propel the reader through a seemingly unsolvable mystery at a breakneck pace, and the blend of science and intrigue makes this an inviting STEM pick.”

“Natalie Hyde has created a weird and wonderful place of creativity and engineering, a camp where ingenuity is encouraged, and young people are challenged to see marvels in the mechanisms within. … Camp Briarwood is a marvel that would captivate any young person with imagination and a sense of discovery.”

“An inventive, immersive celebration of curiosity, courage, and learning.”