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Wilderness Hacks
Hatchet meets Survivor in this high-action, humor-filled middle grade adventure about two kids stranded in the wilderness, whose annoyance with each other rivals the roaring rapids and ferocious predators they must face.
12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn’t plan to win first prize—a guest appearance on a Youtube show hosted by America’s favorite 13-year-old survivalist Radley Shaw. But she’ll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who’s too young to qualify.
Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it’s hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn’t know the first thing about survival.
Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food and try not to become food for a hungry predator. But can they stop bickering long enough to hack it in the wilderness? And will that be enough to keep them alive?
12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn’t plan to win first prize—a guest appearance on a Youtube show hosted by America’s favorite 13-year-old survivalist Radley Shaw. But she’ll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who’s too young to qualify.
Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it’s hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn’t know the first thing about survival.
Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food and try not to become food for a hungry predator. But can they stop bickering long enough to hack it in the wilderness? And will that be enough to keep them alive?
336 pages, Library Binding
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Joslin Brorsen
1 book10 followersJOSLIN BRORSEN lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five kids, and loves writing the kind of high-stakes stories that kept her younger self up all night reading with a flashlight. She wants her own children and the next generation of readers to have the same great stories, but with a few added elements she realizes now she was always searching for. Going through childhood with both an invisible disease (Celiac) and an invisible difference (neurodivergence) makes her strive to write books that make kids want to read “just one more chapter,” while normalizing neurodivergence and other unseen struggles within its pages. Her ultimate aim is for her readers to realize that each of us is unique, and all of us are equally worthy of being main characters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 18, 2026
My rating: 4
My 12 year old son's: 5
My 12 year old son's: 5
April 30, 2026
A super adorable enemies-to-friends story set in the wilderness of Colorado. This book has everything from natural disasters to wilderness survival. It's an easy recommendation for anyone who liked Hatchet or is even remotely interested in the outdoors. Get ready for some fun survival tips and perhaps a dash of YouTube celeb vibes.
May 10, 2026
4.5 🌟What a great action-packed survival story! I liked the alternating POVs of the two main characters and the chapters were short which helped the pacing feel even more exciting. Good balance of action with character development, and humor in just the right moments so that the earnestness wasn’t too heavy handed. The only thing I would change is a little less set-up before the main action got started. I understand why she did it that way, but it could be hard to get an impatient middle school reader into the book. Can’t wait to see what this author does next!
July 21, 2026
A lot darker than I expected. This kids book has a body count resulting from realistic threats— they aren’t, like, eaten by monsters
It’s exciting, and there’s a good balance of survival action with character development
It’s exciting, and there’s a good balance of survival action with character development
November 21, 2025
4.5
This was great! Your adventure lovers & survivalists will eat this up!
Sadie enters a competition on her brother's behalf. This lands her with a social media star who is famous for his survival tips and videos. What she finds, though, is a lot of selective editing.
The two go rafting for a video, and an earthquake that causes a dam to break turns it into a real survival adventure and forces them to work together.
So good! This one will go in my classroom for sure!
E-Arc provided by Netgalley.
This was great! Your adventure lovers & survivalists will eat this up!
Sadie enters a competition on her brother's behalf. This lands her with a social media star who is famous for his survival tips and videos. What she finds, though, is a lot of selective editing.
The two go rafting for a video, and an earthquake that causes a dam to break turns it into a real survival adventure and forces them to work together.
So good! This one will go in my classroom for sure!
E-Arc provided by Netgalley.
Read
August 18, 2026LOVED this one! A fantastic addition to the middle grade survival cannon.
April 10, 2026
This first book in a new new middle grade series is a debut survivalist story that's perfect for a new generation of The Hatchet lovers. Older sister, Sadie agrees to audition for a reality tv show when her younger autistic brother is too young. She ends up winning a spot on the show and brings her brother along to observe. Sadie immediately clashes with the young host, Rad and when they find themselves stranded all alone in the wild, they will have to rely on one another to survive. I found this full of suspense, had great disability and neurodiversity rep (Sadie's brother has Celiac's and Rad has ADHD). It was full of heart and good on audio too. I am excited to see where the series goes next!
April 4, 2026
Enemies to friends survival story that I found engaging and honest. 12 yr old FMC and 13 yr old MMC end up stranded after a natural disaster. Both his nature YouTube channel’s success and her outdoorsy family—they make it, but not without some graphic and intense scenes. Neither main character is perfect—but both end up learning lot about what it takes to learn to trust someone who doesn’t always make the right choice. (5th grade and up)
December 2, 2025
E ARC available through Netgalley
After the death of her father, Sadie tries to take especially good care of her younger brother Silas, who is on the autism spectrum and is also struggling with recently diagnosed celiac disease. He is a big fan of social media influencer Radley Shaw, a boy her age who posts wilderness and survival content. There's a contest to be featured on Radley's show, but Silas is too young. Sadie steps in, and has Silas film a video of her finding, cooking, and eating a grub. When Radley sees the video, he thinks that Sadie is smiling at an off camera boyfriend, since she has such a fond look on her face, and doesn't pick it. Radley's team (which includes tutor Juliana and her father, manager Marcus) thinks Sadie's forthright demeanor would mean a lot of likes, and include her in the voting. She wins, and she and Silas are soon traveling to meet Radley, so that they can introduce him to some of the joys of the Colorado wilderness. While Radley has reservations about Sadie, Sadie also isn't a fan of Radley, whom she thinks doesn't really know how to survive, but is in the business just to promote products. Sadie is struggling with being outside, since that was her father's favorite place to be. When Silas starts a fire with some off-camera help, Sadie's suspicions are confirmed. Still, Rad and Sadie take off with guide Chuck to get some footage on the rapids, but things go terribly wrong when there is an earthquake. This causes a local dam to overflow, and the flooding also leads to landslides. Chuck manages to keep everyone safe for a while, but eventually sacrifices himself in order to get Rad and Sadie to safety. They manage to get off the raft onto dry land, and climb as fast and as far as they can to get away from the water. They have to set up camp, dry off, and see if they can find any food. Sadie does have a backpack that Silas packed for her that includes a personal locator beacon (PLB), which gives them hope, and a Life Straw so that they can drink water. There are some issues with food; even though Sadie doesn't have celiac disease, she has the genetic markers, and because her father's death was tied to the same issue, she doesn't want to eat anything with gluten. Rad, on the other hand, is leery of most meats, and they manage to find a common ground to help them communicate in order to survive. There are plenty of challenges in the wilderness, and Rad is concerned that the PLB might not be helping; he had promoted it, and his father hadn't let him raise awareness when the device was proven to be problematic. Rad tries to protect Sadie from seeing a dead body, and the kids also come across an abandoned bike left because a mountain lion killed the rider. Luckily, by the time they are in a critical situation, Rad and Sadie are near help. Rad sets up a donation page to help the victims of the earthquake and posts a retraction about the PLB, and Sadie makes some peace about her father's death.
Strengths: Sure, we all think we could survive in the wilderness with a friend, but what about someone we just don't like? The friction between Sadie and Rad is completely believable, and I loved how long into their trek they still didn't get along! The survival details about good as well, and there is some good celiac disease and autism spectrum representation. Younger readers will be enthralled with Radley's social media empire, even though he doesn't really enjoy the fact that something he enjoyed has now become a job. This moved quickly, and the action scenes were interspersed with Radley and Sadie coming to terms with each other in an effective way. The ending was hopeful and upbeat, despite the devastation that the earthquake caused.
Weaknesses: This was my favorite read of December 2025, but there were a lot of survival fiction tropes that made it seem less than fresh. However, I've read hundreds of survival tales, and my students have not, so they will not notice. At least the children were attacked by a mountain lion and not a bear. The ending was a bit abrupt. For sensitive readers, there is an on page death that is not at all graphic, and also a dead body.
What I really think: Good survival tales are always popular with my students, and the fact that this blends some drama and the tiniest sprinkling of romance will assure that this is rarely left on the shelf. The Suzanne Lee cover is fantastic and bright! Hand this to readers who loved Teagan's Survivor Girl, Hashimoto's Off the Map, or Behrens' Alone in the Woods.
Excuse me while I go hunt down a PLB and LifeStraw to keep with my survival pack that I feel like I should take even on my two mile suburban trek to work!
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
After the death of her father, Sadie tries to take especially good care of her younger brother Silas, who is on the autism spectrum and is also struggling with recently diagnosed celiac disease. He is a big fan of social media influencer Radley Shaw, a boy her age who posts wilderness and survival content. There's a contest to be featured on Radley's show, but Silas is too young. Sadie steps in, and has Silas film a video of her finding, cooking, and eating a grub. When Radley sees the video, he thinks that Sadie is smiling at an off camera boyfriend, since she has such a fond look on her face, and doesn't pick it. Radley's team (which includes tutor Juliana and her father, manager Marcus) thinks Sadie's forthright demeanor would mean a lot of likes, and include her in the voting. She wins, and she and Silas are soon traveling to meet Radley, so that they can introduce him to some of the joys of the Colorado wilderness. While Radley has reservations about Sadie, Sadie also isn't a fan of Radley, whom she thinks doesn't really know how to survive, but is in the business just to promote products. Sadie is struggling with being outside, since that was her father's favorite place to be. When Silas starts a fire with some off-camera help, Sadie's suspicions are confirmed. Still, Rad and Sadie take off with guide Chuck to get some footage on the rapids, but things go terribly wrong when there is an earthquake. This causes a local dam to overflow, and the flooding also leads to landslides. Chuck manages to keep everyone safe for a while, but eventually sacrifices himself in order to get Rad and Sadie to safety. They manage to get off the raft onto dry land, and climb as fast and as far as they can to get away from the water. They have to set up camp, dry off, and see if they can find any food. Sadie does have a backpack that Silas packed for her that includes a personal locator beacon (PLB), which gives them hope, and a Life Straw so that they can drink water. There are some issues with food; even though Sadie doesn't have celiac disease, she has the genetic markers, and because her father's death was tied to the same issue, she doesn't want to eat anything with gluten. Rad, on the other hand, is leery of most meats, and they manage to find a common ground to help them communicate in order to survive. There are plenty of challenges in the wilderness, and Rad is concerned that the PLB might not be helping; he had promoted it, and his father hadn't let him raise awareness when the device was proven to be problematic. Rad tries to protect Sadie from seeing a dead body, and the kids also come across an abandoned bike left because a mountain lion killed the rider. Luckily, by the time they are in a critical situation, Rad and Sadie are near help. Rad sets up a donation page to help the victims of the earthquake and posts a retraction about the PLB, and Sadie makes some peace about her father's death.
Strengths: Sure, we all think we could survive in the wilderness with a friend, but what about someone we just don't like? The friction between Sadie and Rad is completely believable, and I loved how long into their trek they still didn't get along! The survival details about good as well, and there is some good celiac disease and autism spectrum representation. Younger readers will be enthralled with Radley's social media empire, even though he doesn't really enjoy the fact that something he enjoyed has now become a job. This moved quickly, and the action scenes were interspersed with Radley and Sadie coming to terms with each other in an effective way. The ending was hopeful and upbeat, despite the devastation that the earthquake caused.
Weaknesses: This was my favorite read of December 2025, but there were a lot of survival fiction tropes that made it seem less than fresh. However, I've read hundreds of survival tales, and my students have not, so they will not notice. At least the children were attacked by a mountain lion and not a bear. The ending was a bit abrupt. For sensitive readers, there is an on page death that is not at all graphic, and also a dead body.
What I really think: Good survival tales are always popular with my students, and the fact that this blends some drama and the tiniest sprinkling of romance will assure that this is rarely left on the shelf. The Suzanne Lee cover is fantastic and bright! Hand this to readers who loved Teagan's Survivor Girl, Hashimoto's Off the Map, or Behrens' Alone in the Woods.
Excuse me while I go hunt down a PLB and LifeStraw to keep with my survival pack that I feel like I should take even on my two mile suburban trek to work!
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
August 15, 2026
Wow! What a thrilling debut novel from Joslin Brorsen. From the first page, I was engaged and ended up finishing the book in one day!
Sadie is 12 and will do anything for her 9-year-old brother Silas—even eating a grub on camera to enter into a contest so he can meet the viral YouTube kid survivalist, Rad Shaw. Little does she expect for their entry to actually win, let alone for her meeting with Rad Shaw to be hate at first sight. As the adventure continues, the day takes an unexpected turn when tragedy strikes while rafting, and Rad & Sadie end up fighting for survival deep in the wilderness alone.
I LOVED the dual perspectives in this story! Getting to experience the adventure through both Sadie and Rad’s perspectives added so much depth to the characters and made me even more invested in their journey. And the short chapters made this such a fast-paced, easy-to-devour read—I seriously could not put it down!
This book has LAYERS. Not only is it a thrilling, action-packed survival story, but it also has depth about the meaning and importance of friendship (haters-to-friends), family, and understanding that everyone’s got baggage that makes them who they are. I also really appreciated the ADHD and autism representation woven into the story. It felt like a meaningful part of the characters rather than something that defined them.
This is definitely a book that I plan to add to my classroom library & that I will be recommending to my students. If you have a middle grader who loves adventure, survival stories, or books that keep you turning the pages, Wilderness Hacks is one to pick up!
HOT TAKE:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤬: none
🌶️: hand-holding (platonic)
💀: mention of Sadie’s dad dying; man tossed overboard while rafting; Rad & Sadie stumble across a dead body later eaten by wolves (not written in detail)
⚔️: nothing overly descriptive (head injury that bleeds), mountain lion attack that causes bloody injuries
🎯: Recommended for ages 11 & up
Sadie is 12 and will do anything for her 9-year-old brother Silas—even eating a grub on camera to enter into a contest so he can meet the viral YouTube kid survivalist, Rad Shaw. Little does she expect for their entry to actually win, let alone for her meeting with Rad Shaw to be hate at first sight. As the adventure continues, the day takes an unexpected turn when tragedy strikes while rafting, and Rad & Sadie end up fighting for survival deep in the wilderness alone.
I LOVED the dual perspectives in this story! Getting to experience the adventure through both Sadie and Rad’s perspectives added so much depth to the characters and made me even more invested in their journey. And the short chapters made this such a fast-paced, easy-to-devour read—I seriously could not put it down!
This book has LAYERS. Not only is it a thrilling, action-packed survival story, but it also has depth about the meaning and importance of friendship (haters-to-friends), family, and understanding that everyone’s got baggage that makes them who they are. I also really appreciated the ADHD and autism representation woven into the story. It felt like a meaningful part of the characters rather than something that defined them.
This is definitely a book that I plan to add to my classroom library & that I will be recommending to my students. If you have a middle grader who loves adventure, survival stories, or books that keep you turning the pages, Wilderness Hacks is one to pick up!
HOT TAKE:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤬: none
🌶️: hand-holding (platonic)
💀: mention of Sadie’s dad dying; man tossed overboard while rafting; Rad & Sadie stumble across a dead body later eaten by wolves (not written in detail)
⚔️: nothing overly descriptive (head injury that bleeds), mountain lion attack that causes bloody injuries
🎯: Recommended for ages 11 & up
October 14, 2026
YO!! This was SO GOOD. I don't think I can recommend this book enough. The characters motivations, personalities, and struggles are made very clear and play a real role in the way they act and speak. The conflict between the characters is so real and natural because of how developed the characters are as individuals. The author does a great job of depicting the invisible disabilities she highlights through Radley and Sadie. On top of the characters the story line is so interesting! There is real tension and stakes in the survival scenarios (YES plural) the two are put in. Like WOW to one part in particular I can't believe they included but am kind of glad they did. I listened to the audiobook and loved it. But the physical book also deserves some merit. It is a little thicker but that is because of how digestible each page is. The words have a good font size and the spacing is easy to see and follow. Having sizable margins makes reading the pages go a bit faster so it feels more rewarding to turn the page. Great recommendation a kid who is a little older, maybe struggles to read some. It will keep them entertained.
June 15, 2026
“A strong balance of pulse-pounding perils and emotional depth . . . The dual narration helps readers empathize with both leads and ramps up the tension during three days of life-or-death wilderness survival." [Kirkus]
July 5, 2026
This was awesome! Gripping adventure, original characters, teamwork and friendship and family, and also a surprising amount of death for a middle grade novel. That worked though, because a wilderness survival story absolutely has to have real stakes.
July 1, 2026
This is heart-pounding survival fiction at its best! Such a great adventure - with funny characters as an added bonus! Readers who like true survival stories that don’t shy away from the hard parts will LOVE this book!
April 24, 2026
Such a great adventure book for young teens and even adults! Lots of character development and the thrilling adventure keeps you on your toes!
August 2, 2026
Sadie has agreed to eat grubs for her brother because that’s what sisters do, right? Her younger brother, Silas, is obsessed with internet survival star Radley, who is running a contest to find kids who know their stuff when it comes to outdoor survival. Silas is too young to enter, but Sadie knows just as much about surviving in the wilderness thanks to everything their late father taught them. She films herself eating the grubs and, bam, she’s selected!
When Sadie and Radley meet, it’s enemies at first sight. She thinks he’s faking his outdoor expertise, while he thinks she’s just another superfan. But when the two are suddenly thrust into a very real survival situation, they’re forced to rely on each other and discover what each of them brings to the table.
I was not expecting this novel to be so good! Between the social media angle, wilderness expertise, and genuine survival-thriller elements, kids are going to eat this book up. It’s fast-paced and easily readable, but while readers are caught up in the action, the story quietly sneaks in a surprisingly strong emotional core. It explores absent parents, autism beyond stereotypes, grief after losing a parent, and some thoughtful questions about social media and the difference between an online persona and reality.
And to top it all off, there’s a very fun enemies-to-friends storyline at the center of it.
Highly recommended for middle grade readers. This is exactly the kind of book I can see kids passing around to one another, and yes, they’re going to eat this one up. Grubs and all.
When Sadie and Radley meet, it’s enemies at first sight. She thinks he’s faking his outdoor expertise, while he thinks she’s just another superfan. But when the two are suddenly thrust into a very real survival situation, they’re forced to rely on each other and discover what each of them brings to the table.
I was not expecting this novel to be so good! Between the social media angle, wilderness expertise, and genuine survival-thriller elements, kids are going to eat this book up. It’s fast-paced and easily readable, but while readers are caught up in the action, the story quietly sneaks in a surprisingly strong emotional core. It explores absent parents, autism beyond stereotypes, grief after losing a parent, and some thoughtful questions about social media and the difference between an online persona and reality.
And to top it all off, there’s a very fun enemies-to-friends storyline at the center of it.
Highly recommended for middle grade readers. This is exactly the kind of book I can see kids passing around to one another, and yes, they’re going to eat this one up. Grubs and all.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.75)
This was such a solid middle grade read—cute on the surface, but way deeper than I expected. It balances survival adventure with some genuinely thoughtful, real-life topics in a way that feels respectful to kids instead of talking down to them.
What I liked
This book is doing a lot, and honestly, it works. You’ve got strong neurodivergent rep (including stimming and sensory awareness), a really beautiful sibling dynamic between Silas and Sadie, and a realistic look at how kids interact with social media—both the fun parts and the not-so-great (negative comments, online personas vs. real life). I also loved the behind-the-scenes angle of the YouTube survival channel and how it subtly shows what’s staged versus what’s real.
The emotional layers stood out too. It handles grief in a very grounded way—triggers, coping strategies, even things like guidance counselors and breathing techniques are included, which I loved seeing normalized for this age group. On top of that, it touches on chronic illness (celiac disease), absentee parenting, loneliness, and friendship without feeling overwhelming.
And the survival aspect? This doesn’t sugarcoat things. It actually leans into the reality of survival situations in a way that feels honest but still age-appropriate—definitely more Hatchet-adjacent than “fun camping trip.”
What didn’t quite work for me
The kids do operate with a level of independence that leans a little into “TV logic” (very Disney/Nickelodeon style), where adults are more on the sidelines. It works for the story, but from an adult perspective, it’s not always the most realistic—though I don’t think younger readers will question it at all.
Things to keep in mind (especially for parents)
Includes grief and loss of a parent (ongoing, emotionally present)
Mentions of triggers and emotional regulation (positive framing)
Autism representation, including stimming
Chronic illness (celiac disease)
Online negativity / “keyboard warrior” comments
Some realistic survival elements that may be a bit intense for squeamish readers
This is one of those middle grade books that respects its audience—it trusts that kids can handle complex emotions and real-world topics while still giving them an engaging, fast-moving story. I didn’t fully love it, but I really, really appreciated what it’s doing—and I know the right reader (especially survival-loving kids) is going to eat this up.
Highly recommend, especially for fans of survival stories with more emotional depth.
This was such a solid middle grade read—cute on the surface, but way deeper than I expected. It balances survival adventure with some genuinely thoughtful, real-life topics in a way that feels respectful to kids instead of talking down to them.
What I liked
This book is doing a lot, and honestly, it works. You’ve got strong neurodivergent rep (including stimming and sensory awareness), a really beautiful sibling dynamic between Silas and Sadie, and a realistic look at how kids interact with social media—both the fun parts and the not-so-great (negative comments, online personas vs. real life). I also loved the behind-the-scenes angle of the YouTube survival channel and how it subtly shows what’s staged versus what’s real.
The emotional layers stood out too. It handles grief in a very grounded way—triggers, coping strategies, even things like guidance counselors and breathing techniques are included, which I loved seeing normalized for this age group. On top of that, it touches on chronic illness (celiac disease), absentee parenting, loneliness, and friendship without feeling overwhelming.
And the survival aspect? This doesn’t sugarcoat things. It actually leans into the reality of survival situations in a way that feels honest but still age-appropriate—definitely more Hatchet-adjacent than “fun camping trip.”
What didn’t quite work for me
The kids do operate with a level of independence that leans a little into “TV logic” (very Disney/Nickelodeon style), where adults are more on the sidelines. It works for the story, but from an adult perspective, it’s not always the most realistic—though I don’t think younger readers will question it at all.
Things to keep in mind (especially for parents)
Includes grief and loss of a parent (ongoing, emotionally present)
Mentions of triggers and emotional regulation (positive framing)
Autism representation, including stimming
Chronic illness (celiac disease)
Online negativity / “keyboard warrior” comments
Some realistic survival elements that may be a bit intense for squeamish readers
This is one of those middle grade books that respects its audience—it trusts that kids can handle complex emotions and real-world topics while still giving them an engaging, fast-moving story. I didn’t fully love it, but I really, really appreciated what it’s doing—and I know the right reader (especially survival-loving kids) is going to eat this up.
Highly recommend, especially for fans of survival stories with more emotional depth.
July 24, 2026
I really can't say I don't like survival stories any more. Recently, I have read and enjoyed quite a few including "Wilderness Hacks." I do have several critiques though. One is this is too "modern." It won't survive the test of time like "Hatchet" does and "Alone" will. For one thing, Rad has a Youtube channel and the story is predicated on much of that. There's a reference to "Finding Nemo" along with several other cultural references that I don't think will make sense in ten years. The way it is written is again, too modern and was a little bit irritating at times. I did however, enjoy the characters of Sadie and Silas a lot. Their bond was sweet. I cared for them both and I appreciated how Brorsen approached Silas' autism and Sadie's panic attacks. This is probably a good title for older middles and teens!
Warnings:
Language: the Lord's name is taken in vain once
Lgbtq content: none
Magic: none
Sexual content: none (Rad holds Sadie's hand through the night as she deals with a panic attack and the next day she asks if he has a girlfriend because she didn't want him to feel badly about holding her hand. They both see it as a friend helping another friend).
Violence: when the river rises, Rad and Sadie's adult guide is swept overboard and apparently dies although it is never clear what happened to him. Later on, a dead body is trapped in the river near them by debris. Rad has to search the pockets of the body for a wallet and phone, which he does but it disturbs him. The body is described as pale and bloated. Near the end of the book, they assume a biker was killed by the mountain lion but a body is not found or described. They find a bloody shoe. Rad is attacked by the mountain lion and the wounds on his back are described as bloody and seeping. The mountain lion also gets Rad's head in his mouth but Rad is protected by his helmet.
Warnings:
Language: the Lord's name is taken in vain once
Lgbtq content: none
Magic: none
Sexual content: none (Rad holds Sadie's hand through the night as she deals with a panic attack and the next day she asks if he has a girlfriend because she didn't want him to feel badly about holding her hand. They both see it as a friend helping another friend).
Violence: when the river rises, Rad and Sadie's adult guide is swept overboard and apparently dies although it is never clear what happened to him. Later on, a dead body is trapped in the river near them by debris. Rad has to search the pockets of the body for a wallet and phone, which he does but it disturbs him. The body is described as pale and bloated. Near the end of the book, they assume a biker was killed by the mountain lion but a body is not found or described. They find a bloody shoe. Rad is attacked by the mountain lion and the wounds on his back are described as bloody and seeping. The mountain lion also gets Rad's head in his mouth but Rad is protected by his helmet.
June 4, 2026
Ever since their father died, 12-year-old Sadie Hahn has taken responsibility for her 9-year-old brother Silas while their mother works two jobs to make ends meet. Silas is autistic and was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, so Sadie has taken it upon herself to cook meals for him and find entertaining ways to fill their summer days. She would do anything for him, even eat grubs to help him win a contest put on by survivalist YouTuber Radley Shaw. Rad is 13, and his wildly popular videos have inspired Silas to immerse himself in nature knowledge and wilderness skills. Silas is too young to enter the contest himself, so Sadie submits the grub-eating video in her own name despite her doubts about Rad’s authenticity.
They win the contest, and the prize is to spend the day with Rad in some of the best spots in their Colorado Rockies hometown for outdoor adventure. After a few mild challenges and staged photo opportunities, Sadie ends up on a whitewater outing with just Rad and an adult guide named Chuck while Silas stays back with Rad’s producers following them with a drone camera. The river is fairly tame, and Sadie has some rafting experience, but an earthquake drastically and quickly changes things, causing a dam to burst and the river to rise to a destructive level. The two kids are soon separated from Chuck and the raft, racing up a mountainside trying to outrun the river’s surge. They arrive on dry ground and find a small overhang to shelter beneath, but their struggles have just begun. They still have their helmets and a small supply pack that Silas had packed for Sadie, but with no phone and no food or potable water, they are in a hurry to find their way back to civilization. Both Sadie and Rad have enough background knowledge and experience to survive an extended campout, but nothing has truly prepared them for what they endure on this trip. Finding safe sustenance, avoiding dangerous wildlife, and learning to get along with and rely on each other all test their mettle in different and equally difficult ways as they worry about the well-being of the folks they left behind, and wonder if they will ever see them again.
Wilderness Hacks is heartrending, at times terrifying, and definitely not for the squeamish. The story is told in alternating first person perspectives, giving readers insight into the characters of Sadie and Rad, although their backstories are revealed as much in conversations with each other as in their narrations. Both are dealing with things that have forced them to grow up a little faster than they should. Sadie’s grief is palpable as readers slowly come to understand that she is reluctant to participate in wilderness activities because it was a love she shared with her father. She bears an enormous sense of responsibility for Silas; she helps him navigate awkward social situations and monitors his diet (as well as her own, as she is also concerned about her own potential for having celiac). Rad comes across as pretty self-centered and brash, but his international celebrity status and tenuous relationship with his father mean that he is mostly being raised and home-schooled on the road by his father-daughter producers, Marcos and Juliana. These layers of adversity would be problematic enough without the natural disaster, a brush with a hungry wolf pack, a climactic encounter with a mountain lion, and the prospect of eating roasted chipmunks. Debut author Joslin Brorsen deftly weaves heart-pounding adventure into a sweet and humorous story about a new friendship (and potential romance) that will appeal to fans of both genres. Survival tips and a “Would You Rather?” game are appended. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
They win the contest, and the prize is to spend the day with Rad in some of the best spots in their Colorado Rockies hometown for outdoor adventure. After a few mild challenges and staged photo opportunities, Sadie ends up on a whitewater outing with just Rad and an adult guide named Chuck while Silas stays back with Rad’s producers following them with a drone camera. The river is fairly tame, and Sadie has some rafting experience, but an earthquake drastically and quickly changes things, causing a dam to burst and the river to rise to a destructive level. The two kids are soon separated from Chuck and the raft, racing up a mountainside trying to outrun the river’s surge. They arrive on dry ground and find a small overhang to shelter beneath, but their struggles have just begun. They still have their helmets and a small supply pack that Silas had packed for Sadie, but with no phone and no food or potable water, they are in a hurry to find their way back to civilization. Both Sadie and Rad have enough background knowledge and experience to survive an extended campout, but nothing has truly prepared them for what they endure on this trip. Finding safe sustenance, avoiding dangerous wildlife, and learning to get along with and rely on each other all test their mettle in different and equally difficult ways as they worry about the well-being of the folks they left behind, and wonder if they will ever see them again.
Wilderness Hacks is heartrending, at times terrifying, and definitely not for the squeamish. The story is told in alternating first person perspectives, giving readers insight into the characters of Sadie and Rad, although their backstories are revealed as much in conversations with each other as in their narrations. Both are dealing with things that have forced them to grow up a little faster than they should. Sadie’s grief is palpable as readers slowly come to understand that she is reluctant to participate in wilderness activities because it was a love she shared with her father. She bears an enormous sense of responsibility for Silas; she helps him navigate awkward social situations and monitors his diet (as well as her own, as she is also concerned about her own potential for having celiac). Rad comes across as pretty self-centered and brash, but his international celebrity status and tenuous relationship with his father mean that he is mostly being raised and home-schooled on the road by his father-daughter producers, Marcos and Juliana. These layers of adversity would be problematic enough without the natural disaster, a brush with a hungry wolf pack, a climactic encounter with a mountain lion, and the prospect of eating roasted chipmunks. Debut author Joslin Brorsen deftly weaves heart-pounding adventure into a sweet and humorous story about a new friendship (and potential romance) that will appeal to fans of both genres. Survival tips and a “Would You Rather?” game are appended. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
September 17, 2025
What a fantastic debut by Joslin Brorsen! This book is not just a book about survival in the harshest of environments but also about surviving our own inner battles whether it be celiac disease or even learning how to interact appropriately and respectfully with someone who is on the spectrum. Seeing those characters, especially Sadie, advocate for those with celiac and Autism was so refreshing and LONG overdue in middle-grade books.
This story can help teach children and adults how to advocate for those who either cannot advocate for themselves or who feel like society won't allow them to. Watching Rad learn this and while also holding Sadie accountable was a very powerful moment and one I think will stay with a lot of middle grade readers.
Rad's ADHD diagnosis and inner thoughts will also resonate with many of my middle grade readers, and I am thrilled that they will see this on the page as well.
Rad and Sadie had excellent chemistry; their back and forth banter and competitive nature made for a great story. I loved that the chapters were short as well, aiding in the fast, suspenseful pace and nail-biting question of "will they" / "won't they" be rescued? The found family aspect of this story, especially in Rad's case was beautifully composed, showing that sometimes the strongest bonds we make are those outside of our family, but in the end, we still crave that familial compassion as well.
It is clear that Brorsen not only writes from experience but also research. As a mom of a gluten intolerant family and as someone who has multiple loved ones on the spectrum, I greatly appreciated the care and factual details provided in this story. I cannot wait to add this book to our library in the Spring, and I look forward to more titles from Brorsen in the future! Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy!
This story can help teach children and adults how to advocate for those who either cannot advocate for themselves or who feel like society won't allow them to. Watching Rad learn this and while also holding Sadie accountable was a very powerful moment and one I think will stay with a lot of middle grade readers.
Rad's ADHD diagnosis and inner thoughts will also resonate with many of my middle grade readers, and I am thrilled that they will see this on the page as well.
Rad and Sadie had excellent chemistry; their back and forth banter and competitive nature made for a great story. I loved that the chapters were short as well, aiding in the fast, suspenseful pace and nail-biting question of "will they" / "won't they" be rescued? The found family aspect of this story, especially in Rad's case was beautifully composed, showing that sometimes the strongest bonds we make are those outside of our family, but in the end, we still crave that familial compassion as well.
It is clear that Brorsen not only writes from experience but also research. As a mom of a gluten intolerant family and as someone who has multiple loved ones on the spectrum, I greatly appreciated the care and factual details provided in this story. I cannot wait to add this book to our library in the Spring, and I look forward to more titles from Brorsen in the future! Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Initially I thought this book might be a nonfiction work about actual wilderness hacks for children. Yes! However, I was surprised to learn it is a work of fiction that conveys wilderness hacks in a unique and applicable way while at the same time telling a suspenseful story.
Radley “Rad” Shaw, host of a popular online empire called Rad Wilderness, has money, fame, knowledge of survival skills and many other things tweenagers dream about. When Rad Wilderness decides to visit Colorado for the series, the YouTube channel hosts a competition for local outdoor-savvy youths to apply to act as guide for the day. While 9-year-old Silas is too young to apply, he convinces his sister Sadie to bite the bullet, or the grub as it were, to enter the contest.
Sadie will do anything for Silas, especially since their dad died, but when she meets Rad, she becomes defensive and skeptical of Rad’s methods. Meanwhile, Rad is trying to rediscover his love for wilderness survival because his job is not making as fun as it once was, and Sadie is not making it easy. But a natural disaster leaves Sadie and Rad stranded on a mountain in the woods, and their survival skills are put to the test over several days.
Brorsen writes a great story highlighting the realities of internet fame, family dynamics, and the challenges of surviving in the wilderness. While sometimes it seemed that characters were written older than their 12-13 years, it was an enjoyable read and not over the top with survival scenarios. I feel confident recommending this one for all the nature lovers and the nature curious.
#WildernessHacks #JoslinBrorsen #PenguinRandomHouse #RandomHouseChildrensBooks #BorzoiBooks #NetGalley #books #childrensbooks #bookreview #nerdventureswithbooks
Radley “Rad” Shaw, host of a popular online empire called Rad Wilderness, has money, fame, knowledge of survival skills and many other things tweenagers dream about. When Rad Wilderness decides to visit Colorado for the series, the YouTube channel hosts a competition for local outdoor-savvy youths to apply to act as guide for the day. While 9-year-old Silas is too young to apply, he convinces his sister Sadie to bite the bullet, or the grub as it were, to enter the contest.
Sadie will do anything for Silas, especially since their dad died, but when she meets Rad, she becomes defensive and skeptical of Rad’s methods. Meanwhile, Rad is trying to rediscover his love for wilderness survival because his job is not making as fun as it once was, and Sadie is not making it easy. But a natural disaster leaves Sadie and Rad stranded on a mountain in the woods, and their survival skills are put to the test over several days.
Brorsen writes a great story highlighting the realities of internet fame, family dynamics, and the challenges of surviving in the wilderness. While sometimes it seemed that characters were written older than their 12-13 years, it was an enjoyable read and not over the top with survival scenarios. I feel confident recommending this one for all the nature lovers and the nature curious.
#WildernessHacks #JoslinBrorsen #PenguinRandomHouse #RandomHouseChildrensBooks #BorzoiBooks #NetGalley #books #childrensbooks #bookreview #nerdventureswithbooks
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so much fun!
I love the concept: a survivalist YouTuber and a girl who won his contest get stranded after an earthquake. Oh, and they hate each other.
I'm a LITERAL ADULT, and this kept me entertained all the way through. I loved the writing style, the characters, and the plot. Sometimes survival stories can start to get a little boring for me, as it feels like they all just involve a lot of waiting, but this one had enough twists and turns throughout that I experienced none of that. It was also really cool to see how the two kids became friends by the end.
I only have super minor criticisms to share. There was a lot of neurodivergence/mental health that the characters were dealing with (autism, anxiety, ADHD, depression), which I appreciated a lot, but I feel like there was more "telling" and less "showing" about how this affected them. I prefer when there's less diagnoses, and more showing through the character's interactions and challenges how these things effect them. Particularly the ADHD diagnoses felt like simply throwing something else in. There were barely any times during the story that really showed symptoms of the disorder.
All complaints aside, (and they were really very minor and did not effect my enjoyment of the story in the least), I highly recommend this book. I would advise some caution for children who are very sensitive to blood/pain/injuries. There are also several character deaths and one of them is somewhat intense/scary. Older children would handle it fine.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to the digital ARC!
I love the concept: a survivalist YouTuber and a girl who won his contest get stranded after an earthquake. Oh, and they hate each other.
I'm a LITERAL ADULT, and this kept me entertained all the way through. I loved the writing style, the characters, and the plot. Sometimes survival stories can start to get a little boring for me, as it feels like they all just involve a lot of waiting, but this one had enough twists and turns throughout that I experienced none of that. It was also really cool to see how the two kids became friends by the end.
I only have super minor criticisms to share. There was a lot of neurodivergence/mental health that the characters were dealing with (autism, anxiety, ADHD, depression), which I appreciated a lot, but I feel like there was more "telling" and less "showing" about how this affected them. I prefer when there's less diagnoses, and more showing through the character's interactions and challenges how these things effect them. Particularly the ADHD diagnoses felt like simply throwing something else in. There were barely any times during the story that really showed symptoms of the disorder.
All complaints aside, (and they were really very minor and did not effect my enjoyment of the story in the least), I highly recommend this book. I would advise some caution for children who are very sensitive to blood/pain/injuries. There are also several character deaths and one of them is somewhat intense/scary. Older children would handle it fine.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to the digital ARC!
April 22, 2026
As one of the people who grew up on stories like Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain, I’m always intrigued by new wilderness survival stories for today’s kids. Wilderness Hacks takes those high-stakes, intriguing wilderness stories and puts it into a thrilling modern context with loveable characters and humor.
Sadie immediately endeared herself to me. How many sisters would be willing to eat grubs out of love for their little brothers? She’s strong and smart, but she also takes on so much in a realistic and heart-wrenching way. Rad is also loveable in the struggles he has and how he handles situations.
The conflict between them is realistic, too. There’s some miscommunication and false assumptions about each other, but the way they sort those things out and learn to have each other’s back is well done. The integration of streaming and sponsors keeps things fresh while they’re also dealing with things like being attacked by wildlife.
This survival story has real stakes and tension, and parents and teachers of sensitive readers should know that there is death and tragedy involved. There were some predictable elements, and the ending comes a little too suddenly for it to feel completely wrapped up nicely. I appreciated the disability and neurodiversity portrayed in the book in a way that feels natural, like they’re just like any other modern kids with celiac, ADHD, and Autism.
Overall, I think this is a great addition to survival books for kids with a good dose of suspense and humor and characters that keep you invested.
Sadie immediately endeared herself to me. How many sisters would be willing to eat grubs out of love for their little brothers? She’s strong and smart, but she also takes on so much in a realistic and heart-wrenching way. Rad is also loveable in the struggles he has and how he handles situations.
The conflict between them is realistic, too. There’s some miscommunication and false assumptions about each other, but the way they sort those things out and learn to have each other’s back is well done. The integration of streaming and sponsors keeps things fresh while they’re also dealing with things like being attacked by wildlife.
This survival story has real stakes and tension, and parents and teachers of sensitive readers should know that there is death and tragedy involved. There were some predictable elements, and the ending comes a little too suddenly for it to feel completely wrapped up nicely. I appreciated the disability and neurodiversity portrayed in the book in a way that feels natural, like they’re just like any other modern kids with celiac, ADHD, and Autism.
Overall, I think this is a great addition to survival books for kids with a good dose of suspense and humor and characters that keep you invested.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
E-ARC provided by Random House Children's Books
This is *almost* my favorite genre of book: two people walking through the forest while exploring a central conflict. And the first half of this book--before the disaster happens--was five-star stuff. For a debut, Brorsen's writing was surprisingly solid and funny. Radley and Sadie played off each other well and their annoyance-to-friends arc was the highlight of the book. This first half also had the book's best humor, especially when it came to the supporting and side characters, all of whom were interesting and lovable in their own ways.
However, when the book becomes a survival narrative, the pacing slows way down. Now, that's not to say the book gets bad. Far from it. I'm still giving it 4 stars. However, it does lose a lot of the humor that made the first half stand out, although there are still moments where Brorsen's humor comes through. Furthermore, a lot of the survival scenes--especially the initial scene where Sadie and Rad get lost--were incredibly tense and well-written. Additionally, the book incorporated a lot of interesting wilderness and survival hacks. My main issue is this: the book takes a while to address key character conflicts, and as a result, they're not as central to the narrative or explored as deeply as I would've preferred, hence this *almost* being my favorite genre of book.
Also, as an aside, as not to spoil anything, that climax was WACK, and unfortunately, not in a good way.
This is *almost* my favorite genre of book: two people walking through the forest while exploring a central conflict. And the first half of this book--before the disaster happens--was five-star stuff. For a debut, Brorsen's writing was surprisingly solid and funny. Radley and Sadie played off each other well and their annoyance-to-friends arc was the highlight of the book. This first half also had the book's best humor, especially when it came to the supporting and side characters, all of whom were interesting and lovable in their own ways.
However, when the book becomes a survival narrative, the pacing slows way down. Now, that's not to say the book gets bad. Far from it. I'm still giving it 4 stars. However, it does lose a lot of the humor that made the first half stand out, although there are still moments where Brorsen's humor comes through. Furthermore, a lot of the survival scenes--especially the initial scene where Sadie and Rad get lost--were incredibly tense and well-written. Additionally, the book incorporated a lot of interesting wilderness and survival hacks. My main issue is this: the book takes a while to address key character conflicts, and as a result, they're not as central to the narrative or explored as deeply as I would've preferred, hence this *almost* being my favorite genre of book.
Also, as an aside, as not to spoil anything, that climax was WACK, and unfortunately, not in a good way.
June 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen is a fast, funny, high-action survival adventure that feels like Hatchet meets reality TV chaos.
Sadie Hahn enters a contest just to help cheer up her younger brother, which leads to a guest appearance on a YouTube survival show hosted by teen survivalist Radley Shaw. Rad has millions of followers but very little real-life experience with actual kids his age, and things immediately go wrong when Sadie and Rad (and her brother Silas) can’t stand each other. What was supposed to be a scripted rafting trip quickly turns into a real survival situation when they get stranded in the wilderness.
I really liked the mix of humor and tension in this one. The characters bicker a lot at first, but once they’re forced into survival mode—building shelter, finding food, and dealing with real danger—it becomes a lot more engaging. It’s fast-paced and definitely keeps things moving, with a good balance of funny moments and high-stakes survival scenes.
Overall, it’s an entertaining middle-grade adventure with lots of action, humor, and wilderness challenges. Great pick for kids who like survival stories or fast-paced reads that feel a little like a reality show gone wrong.
Sadie Hahn enters a contest just to help cheer up her younger brother, which leads to a guest appearance on a YouTube survival show hosted by teen survivalist Radley Shaw. Rad has millions of followers but very little real-life experience with actual kids his age, and things immediately go wrong when Sadie and Rad (and her brother Silas) can’t stand each other. What was supposed to be a scripted rafting trip quickly turns into a real survival situation when they get stranded in the wilderness.
I really liked the mix of humor and tension in this one. The characters bicker a lot at first, but once they’re forced into survival mode—building shelter, finding food, and dealing with real danger—it becomes a lot more engaging. It’s fast-paced and definitely keeps things moving, with a good balance of funny moments and high-stakes survival scenes.
Overall, it’s an entertaining middle-grade adventure with lots of action, humor, and wilderness challenges. Great pick for kids who like survival stories or fast-paced reads that feel a little like a reality show gone wrong.
September 5, 2026
Survival. Earthquake. Dams. Mountain lions attacks. Celiac disease. Autism. Social media influencers. Dead bodies. 13 year olds. Colorado Rockies. Rafting. Conflict. Dead Dad. No mom. Survival. Mountain biking.
In general, it feels forced. Tries to do too much and ends up feeling rushed. It was a total page turner. Kids will not be able to put it down. But, it feels like the author had 18 boxes to check and tried to check them all in this one book. Although it looks like it will be a series, so perhaps she is setting things up. I would probably read another.
It feels more middle school than elementary. Mature fourth graders will enjoy it, but they need to be okay with dead bodies and life-threatening situations. Based on the fact that it takes place in Colorado involves many Colorado-esque tropes, and it is not-put-downable, it could be a contender for a Battle of the Books book. But I still feel like it tries to do too much at a surface level. It seemed relatively well researched, but there were small errors in the survival stuff and in the rafting.
The book could be used for research on dams and earthquake activity in Colorado. You could ask students to identify which area Rad and his team could have been scoping out with Sadie. You could have them do some searching into the coincidence between flooding and mountain lion attacks. You could also encorage them to research how the emergency response system really works.
In general, it feels forced. Tries to do too much and ends up feeling rushed. It was a total page turner. Kids will not be able to put it down. But, it feels like the author had 18 boxes to check and tried to check them all in this one book. Although it looks like it will be a series, so perhaps she is setting things up. I would probably read another.
It feels more middle school than elementary. Mature fourth graders will enjoy it, but they need to be okay with dead bodies and life-threatening situations. Based on the fact that it takes place in Colorado involves many Colorado-esque tropes, and it is not-put-downable, it could be a contender for a Battle of the Books book. But I still feel like it tries to do too much at a surface level. It seemed relatively well researched, but there were small errors in the survival stuff and in the rafting.
The book could be used for research on dams and earthquake activity in Colorado. You could ask students to identify which area Rad and his team could have been scoping out with Sadie. You could have them do some searching into the coincidence between flooding and mountain lion attacks. You could also encorage them to research how the emergency response system really works.
May 17, 2026
I am always looking for action books for my middle school library and this one will be purchased! Told from two points of view with two characters, Sadie (12 years old) and Rad (13 years old). Sadie is grieving the loss of her dad and feels like she has to take care of her 9-year-old brother Silas at all times, to protect him. Rad (unfortunate name) is an online wilderness guru with millions of fans. When the two of them spend the day together they are not fans of one another. However, a lazy trip down a Colorado river turns into a survival nightmare as an earthquake breaks a dam and they must fight to live. Surviving in the mountains, trying to find food, fighting off predators, and getting to know each other and the burdens they both shoulder make for a quick paced and emotionally laced adventure. It was likened to Hatchet, and I think kids who like Hatchet will like this story too. I liked that Rad talks about his ADHD and how it creates challenges for him but is also like a superpower in the wilderness. I liked the sub-plot of another character who has Celiac disease. I learned a lot about the challenges that people who have Celiac may deal with. No swears, no romance, elements of danger including death, attacks by wild animals, and intense injuries. 6th grade and up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a solid debut novel [3.5 for me!] with most of it set in the Colorado wilderness. The fact that one of the characters has celiac disease, which limits what he can eat, and another one has ADHD while yet another one is still mourning the loss of her father adds depth and representation to the story. It's just as easy for readers to dislike Radley Shaw, a survivalist who seems to be more style than substance, as it is for Sadie Hahn to find him annoying. When the two end up having to depend on each other after their rafting trip ends in disaster guarantees that sparks will fly, and the author does a great job of tracing the trajectory of their relationship. The opening pages provide a great hook to reel readers into the story in an unusual way. The fast-paced action, outdoors lore, and humor add to the pleasure of reading this one. While some parts concerning the mountain lion seemed unlikely, I still felt invested in the characters' journeys, both physical and emotional, throughout the narrative, and I positively adored the cover and book title. I'll eagerly anticipate more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, and Knopf Books for Young Readers
for the ARC of Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen.
The story is about Silas, who is trying to win a spot-on Radley Shaw’s wilderness influencer YouTube show. Silas’ older sister, Sadie, has been doing everything she can to keep her brother happy since their father died, so when she finds out he is not old enough to enter the contest, she decides to enter in his place. Her idea is that if they win, he will accompany her and get an experience of a lifetime, meeting his idol. Well, that was the plan, and about where everything goes off the rails.
Silas struggles with celiac disease and is on the autism spectrum, and the author does an excellent job of representation while also showing that you can still live a full and exciting life. In short, she shows that a disability or illness doesn’t have to limit you, just look at Silas!
The book covers topics of grief for loss of a parent, self-confidence, and so much more. But in between the disability representation, life lessons, and humor is an action-packed wilderness adventure that will make this book a favorite among young readers!
for the ARC of Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen.
The story is about Silas, who is trying to win a spot-on Radley Shaw’s wilderness influencer YouTube show. Silas’ older sister, Sadie, has been doing everything she can to keep her brother happy since their father died, so when she finds out he is not old enough to enter the contest, she decides to enter in his place. Her idea is that if they win, he will accompany her and get an experience of a lifetime, meeting his idol. Well, that was the plan, and about where everything goes off the rails.
Silas struggles with celiac disease and is on the autism spectrum, and the author does an excellent job of representation while also showing that you can still live a full and exciting life. In short, she shows that a disability or illness doesn’t have to limit you, just look at Silas!
The book covers topics of grief for loss of a parent, self-confidence, and so much more. But in between the disability representation, life lessons, and humor is an action-packed wilderness adventure that will make this book a favorite among young readers!
March 6, 2026
I enjoyed reading this middle grade novel. The flow of the plot kept me reading. I really appreciated that the author included an autistic child, highlighting his strengths and how very smart he was. I also loved that it included mention of Celiac Disease and navigating a gluten free household.
There were quite a lot of triggers in this book that I want to call attention to that a 8-12 year old might find upsetting. There was death, natural disaster, grief, physical trauma and absent parents. I would recommend that a parent read this along with a child and talk through some of those harder themes.
The only issue I had with the book was I felt like the main characters of the book (at ages 12-13) had quite a mature way of handling all that was thrown at them (it was a lot). The conversations felt like they should have been much older teenagers, or early twenties. It just didn’t fit with their ages.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s Books for the ebook copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
There were quite a lot of triggers in this book that I want to call attention to that a 8-12 year old might find upsetting. There was death, natural disaster, grief, physical trauma and absent parents. I would recommend that a parent read this along with a child and talk through some of those harder themes.
The only issue I had with the book was I felt like the main characters of the book (at ages 12-13) had quite a mature way of handling all that was thrown at them (it was a lot). The conversations felt like they should have been much older teenagers, or early twenties. It just didn’t fit with their ages.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s Books for the ebook copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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