Briarwood
Callie Garcia is desperate to go to Briarwood. Entry to the ultra secret camp is by invitation only by means of a strange test that questions not only your scientific knowledge, but your character as well.
Callie is sure she’s done well on the test–she has a scientific mind after all, thanks to her Gammie’s side of the family. As for her character? Well, who will ever know.
But when her teacher accuses her of cheating on the test and refuses to send in her booklet, Callie fears she will never get to go. Until an invitation of a different sort arrives and Callie is thrust into a world of marvels…and dangers.
What’s at stake? World energy domination. And there are those who will stop at nothing to control it. Now Callie isn’t wondering if Briarwood is magic….she is wondering if she will get out alive.
Reviews
“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–an inventive, immersive celebration of curiosity, courage, and learning”
Kirkus Reviews
“Natalie Hyde gives young readers a high-stakes game of intrigue set against a backdrop of family history and budding friendship. 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.”
Canadian Children’s Booknews
“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.”
Booklist