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Briarwood
246 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 2, 2026
3.5
A book for young readers that draws you in with its mystery and (seeming) magic! Natalie Hyde writes in a way that is snappy! Making it easy for any reader to get sucked into the story. Our protagonist Callie is a prickly and socially reserved girl, but Hyde makes it very easy to root for her. Callie gets invited to the prestigious Briar Wood (through some trials and tribulations first). Once they arrive at the camp you really feel the magic and wonder of Briar Wood. The camp is very creative, unique, and thrilling! A camp built into the trees (alas the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi). Getting around on creative zips and hover bikes! Seeing Callie explore the camp is exciting as she is discovering the treasures and secrets that the camp bestows.
Aside from Callie the book has a cast of other kids who are also attending this camp. Aside from Smedley (a character we are introduced to early) there is very little character development or expansion about them. They have more page time near the end of the book, but by that point it’s hard to feel much about these characters. Smedley as a character was misunderstood. Callie, due to her personality and nature, is untrusting of him. I feel their dynamic was unresolved (Callie acknowledges how mean she can be to Smedley (multiple times). She never properly apologized for her actions even after realizing he had a hard family dynamic. I like that Callie is a flawed character, like how Smedley was, but I felt there friendship struggles didn’t have a clear resolution to her harsh comments.
Where the book lost me a bit was in the main mystery of the novel. I loved the concept and parts of the execution. Where it was lacking for me was in the details. We are told about Dr. Archer, his inventions, and enemy spies. But it never feels like any of it is super fleshed out. Dr. Archer isn’t as developed or as prominent in the book as I expected. What pairs along with this is I felt the final conclusion to the book felt rushed with little pay off to defending the camp.
I still overall really enjoyed this story. It has snappy writing, a good leading character, whimsy in the camp—but that doesn’t come without some cons!
A book for young readers that draws you in with its mystery and (seeming) magic! Natalie Hyde writes in a way that is snappy! Making it easy for any reader to get sucked into the story. Our protagonist Callie is a prickly and socially reserved girl, but Hyde makes it very easy to root for her. Callie gets invited to the prestigious Briar Wood (through some trials and tribulations first). Once they arrive at the camp you really feel the magic and wonder of Briar Wood. The camp is very creative, unique, and thrilling! A camp built into the trees (alas the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi). Getting around on creative zips and hover bikes! Seeing Callie explore the camp is exciting as she is discovering the treasures and secrets that the camp bestows.
Aside from Callie the book has a cast of other kids who are also attending this camp. Aside from Smedley (a character we are introduced to early) there is very little character development or expansion about them. They have more page time near the end of the book, but by that point it’s hard to feel much about these characters. Smedley as a character was misunderstood. Callie, due to her personality and nature, is untrusting of him. I feel their dynamic was unresolved (Callie acknowledges how mean she can be to Smedley (multiple times). She never properly apologized for her actions even after realizing he had a hard family dynamic. I like that Callie is a flawed character, like how Smedley was, but I felt there friendship struggles didn’t have a clear resolution to her harsh comments.
Where the book lost me a bit was in the main mystery of the novel. I loved the concept and parts of the execution. Where it was lacking for me was in the details. We are told about Dr. Archer, his inventions, and enemy spies. But it never feels like any of it is super fleshed out. Dr. Archer isn’t as developed or as prominent in the book as I expected. What pairs along with this is I felt the final conclusion to the book felt rushed with little pay off to defending the camp.
I still overall really enjoyed this story. It has snappy writing, a good leading character, whimsy in the camp—but that doesn’t come without some cons!
May 20, 2026
Loved this delicious setting and mystery. Set at a super-cool summer camp, this story will keep middle grade readers turning pages. Super funny, too.
June 24, 2026
Such a charming, well written, and fun book. My ten year old and my eight year old both loved it. Really fun world building and the main character is really terrific.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews