Wilderness Hacks

by Joslin Brorsen

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?

Genres: Middle Grade, Survival, Humor, Adventure, Grief, Kids, Realistic Fiction

336 pages, Library Binding

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

JOSLIN 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.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

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/...

[Julia Harkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

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)

[Beck Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Andrea Scaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great adventure book for young teens and even adults! Lots of character development and the thrilling adventure keeps you on your toes!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (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.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Shannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Margaret Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Sails and Scales · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Read_with_Beans · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen, 313 pages. Knopf (Random), 2026. $18
Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (drowning victim mentioned, blood)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
12yo Sadie’s little brother, 9yo Silas, convinced her to enter the contest for the adventure with 13yo survivalist and influencer Radley, but she did not expect to actually win. Meeting Radley in person, Callie is not impressed; he seems to be in it for the money, not because he loves the outdoors. On their river rafting trip, a sudden earthquake breaks the dam above their position, sending their guide overboard and now the pair must negotiate their situation alone, with only what they are carrying.
Brorsen did such a great job of engaging my attention and keeping me invested. I read in one sitting! Well done in showing the highlights and lowlights of being an influencer right now. The action can be intense as the teens are in very real danger several times!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

[Tiara Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best MG books I’ve ever read, and I don’t say that lightly. I was fortunate enough to read an early copy, and I am not being hyperbolic when I say this is a modern-day American classic. It’s that good! I have a TikTok/Instagram addled brain and I tend to get fidgety while reading (even though I love it!) With Wilderness Hacks, I read as if it was air, the pages breathlessly passing beneath my fingertips. The stakes, the adventure, the emotion. As a baby writer, it inspires me. I want to write something this compulsively readable one day! So if you’re a teacher or parent or librarian or just a reader who appreciates the magic of MG, I promise you, this is the one you’ve been looking for, the book that only comes around once in a while and reminds you why you LOVE reading. Highly recommend, particularly for reluctant readers and readers who enjoy adventure/high thrills/excitement.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic adventure/survival book told through dual points-of-view. Rad posts survivalist videos and when he sponsors a contest, Sadie wins because her nine year old brother, Silas who has autism, is too young to enter. When she meets up with Rad, Silas comes to meet Rad. Sadie finds they will canoe and fish, and then go rafting with Chuck as their guide and then be back in the evening for parent pickup. So much happens along the way. While rafting, the water starts rising quickly, there’s an earthquake, and Chuck disappears off the raft. Sadie and Rad get off the raft and have to learn how to survive the night. Rad doesn’t want to tell Sadie that the personal locator beacon that Silas put in her backpack won’t work. The next day they still haven’t been rescued, and then a mountain lion appears and attacks Rad. What happens now? Will they be rescued? Kids will love their book!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sadie, age 12, and her brother Silas, age 9, enjoy the outdoor life living in the Rocky Mountains. Silas has celiac’s and ASD and Sadie has the markers for celiac’s which means they can’t have anything with gluten. Rad (short for Radley), also age 12, has his own Youtube channel featuring survival techniques. Rad and his team hold a video contest for a fan to be on his show – the catch: kids have to live in the Rockies and be between 12-16 years old. That leaves superfan Silas out but he convinces his sister to make the video eating grubs. Sadie, out of love for Silas, makes the video and she winds up winning. Rad and his team come to Sadie’s hometown to shoot the experience. After some background shots, Rad and Sadie go rafting with their guide Chuck when disaster strikes. Sadie and Rad must use their survival skills to survive the aftermath and await rescue. Can they get along long enough to survive?

Think Bear Grylls meets Hatchet in this debut novel. The chapters are relatively short and action-packed, making for a quick read. I truly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend for adventure lovers in grades 4 and up.
#WildernessHacks #NetGalley

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilderness Hacks is a fast paced book with dual points of view as Sadie, a twelve year old "smother hen," goes on an adventure with Rad, a thirteen year old YouTube survivalist influencer. Sadie's younger, autistic brother, Silas, finds a contest to spend a day with his YouTube hero, but there is an age requirement. He convinces his big sister to apply in his place and she wins by eating fried grubs. What starts out as a simple day rafting trip becomes a perilous fight for survival after an earthquake destroys a dam upriver. Sadie's initial bad opinion of Rad and his equally dismal view of her get in the way of their cooperation but over the course of their journey back to safety, trust and friendship form. I would recommend this book to middle grades on up. There are scenes of nongraphic death and peril.

I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tonya Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I finished reading "Wilderness Hacks" I turned to my kids and said, I think you should read this. The description mentioned the book Hatchet- one of my family's favorite series- and had a hinted of "what you see on the internet isn't always real." This was a very quick read with alternating narratives. Joslin Brorsen did a wonderful job of telling the story from both Sadie and Radley's perspectives. While there may be a few parts that could upset a sensitive reader, it's suitable for a large age range. The author also did a nice job touching on social media (what's real vs staged), grief, autism, and celiac disease.

While I do think the story wrapped a little quickly, it was not enough to change my positive experience and rating for the book!

Thank you to NetGally for the ARC.

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 5 out of 5]

#WildernessHacks #NetGalley

A thrilling and chilling foray into the Rockies, not just by Rad and Sadie but by the reader as well. Alongside the two tween adventurers, the readers will experience terror, fear, and frustration when a planned excursion finds them stranded.

What made this an engaging read was the encounters and experiences these two face from the forging to food to the dangers of wildlife and tragedy are realistic. The author's presentation in dual POV allows the reader to empathize with the self-doubts each experiences. The insight Rad has in the relationship Sadie has with her younger brother shows how readers shouldn't easily dismiss the intuition our youth possess.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random House Children's Books | Knopf Books for Young Readers, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had Hatchet vibes for me, although obviously it's much more modern. Sadie is supportive and protective of her brother Silas, and they're close with their hardworking mother after losing their dad. Sadie agrees to help with a contest and they win, but end up on a trip that turns into a disaster.
There were a lot of deep issues and I really loved Sadie and Silas. Some of it was really tense and I'd recommend parents be there with their kids. There was also humor, and I was trying to explain at the library about Sadie eating grubs and how it reminded me of How to eat fried worms, a book where the protagonist found different ways to prepare the worms he had to eat as part of a bet.
I'd highly recommend this for middle school kids, who are becoming more independent and thinking about so many issues.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars for me, which I'm rounding up to four because the story is gripping and well-written. It's pretty violent in places, and I found the final battle unbelievable--not the courage and teamwork the kids show, but that they actually won.

Also, chipmunks are fast and have extremely sharp teeth. Oh, well.

What worked, however, is the bonding between the kids when we learn what's really driving Sadie's behavior. And Ms. Brorsen is extremely good at getting her characters up a tree and then throwing rocks at them. No lack of conflict here!

In short, I was not the ideal audience for this book, but kids who love survival stories will enjoy it. Most libraries serving middle-schoolers should have it on their shelves.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book!
Sadie and her brother, Silas enter a contest that Sadie is hoping they will lose. Unfortunately for Sadie, they wind up accidentally winning, and Sadie and her brother are headed to meet Rad, a YouTube survivalist kid.
Sadie and Rad have a bumpy beginning to their friendship, but as they are forced into real-life survival situations, it develops into something real.
I loved the humor in this book. The characters were well developed, with understandable fears and problems. I think this book will be very popular with the middle-grade group. I’ll recommend it for sure!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a much more intense middle grade survival story than what I have usually read. I would recommend this for an upper middle grade reader. I always have a hard time believing some of the details. But young readers can suspend their imagination much easier and jump right into survival mode. Sadie and Radley are wonderful characters, although I didn't understand all the reasons Sadie was so angry at Radley all the time. I think this book will appeal to readers looking for an intense survival story, especially if they are not squeamish (it started with eating grubs and gets really descriptive from there)

[Erica Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

WILDERNESS HACKS will fit right in for fans of Hatchet or similar survival stories - a well-done wilderness survival tale is hard to beat. Brorsen adds a fresh and relatably modern angle to the genre with Radley's character - I've always loved stories about what fame does to a person, and adding in a young YouTuber is such a fun take on the wilderness survival story. I also appreciated the depth in which Silas's autism and celiac are explored & Sadie's unflinching commitment to making the world as safe for him as she can. Overall, I'd recommend this for anyone who enjoys a survival story.

[Robin Dickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

'I’m an active person, but there’s a difference between running track and running for your life.'

High in stakes, adventure, and heart!
Two kids (who've only just met but aren't impressed) are stuck in the Rockies after a rafting trip takes a terrifying turn. This is exciting, has really great characters, and the last sentence left me wearing a huge grin. Loved it!

'“Would you rather get stranded alone or with someone you hate?”'

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Children's Books, and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts!

[T.C. Kemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts fun, heartfelt, and harrowing!

Rad is a survivalist social media star and Sadie is the winner of his fan-vote competition who joins him in the Rockies for what’s supposed to be a normal filming day. But when things go sideways, our main characters have to actually survive.

There were scenes that made me gasp, and plenty of moments that felt like genuine peeks inside the hearts of these young characters. What an adventurous debut that will have readers on the edge of their seats!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very engrossing, edge-of-your-seat action sets Wilderness Hacks apart. It's an entertaining read. However, I ultimately felt that the story required too much suspended disbelief, especially in the sections that included wild animal interactions. I felt that those interactions were atypical animal behaviors and just not credible. This becomes problematic when the book itself has emphasized interacting with wilderness authentically instead of in staged camera-ready shots. If authenticity is important, then shouldn't authenticity be demanded of the author as well?