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Strength Hidden
Winner of an Ippy Gold Medal and 2026 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Outstanding Book of the Year.
Abandoned as a child and burdened by self-doubt, Andromeda “Andy” Smith escapes her abusive foster home to seek refuge in Maine’s wilderness. But when she loses her backpack containing her survival gear, Andy faces a critical leave the woods or stay and fight to survive. Alone in the wild, she discovers unexpected courage and learns the truth about her worth.
Abandoned as a child and burdened by self-doubt, Andromeda “Andy” Smith escapes her abusive foster home to seek refuge in Maine’s wilderness. But when she loses her backpack containing her survival gear, Andy faces a critical leave the woods or stay and fight to survive. Alone in the wild, she discovers unexpected courage and learns the truth about her worth.
258 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2025
About the author
Sara McQuarrie
2 books4 followersSara McQuarrie lives in Hodgdon, Maine, with her husband and two children. With 20 years of experience as a middle school science and ELA teacher, she is also a Registered Maine Guide and runs a nature center on her property. Passionate about the outdoors, she enjoys sharing her love of nature with others through her work and teaching
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 14, 2026
Sara McQuarrie is a fresh voice. Strength Hidden is a fast paced, easy to read, story for a pre-teen/teen audience.
Andromeda (Andy), a young teenage girl, makes the intentional decision to live in the Maine woods, alone. Granted, Andy does have a survival book and has watched many videos on survival, but she has limited hands-on knowledge. Simply surviving a northern Maine winter in a house, sitting next to a wood stove, can prove challenging to the faint of heart.
Strength Hidden reminds me of Gary Paulsen's book, Hatchet-Brian's Winter. The main difference is fate put Brian in a survival situation. Andy placed herself in the wilderness to escape an abusive foster home.
Warning-A few scenes might be a bit graphic and intense for readers who are animal lovers and/or vegans.
Overall, Andy's adventure kept me engaged and I wanted to know what came next for her. I look forward to reading McQuarrie's next book.
Andromeda (Andy), a young teenage girl, makes the intentional decision to live in the Maine woods, alone. Granted, Andy does have a survival book and has watched many videos on survival, but she has limited hands-on knowledge. Simply surviving a northern Maine winter in a house, sitting next to a wood stove, can prove challenging to the faint of heart.
Strength Hidden reminds me of Gary Paulsen's book, Hatchet-Brian's Winter. The main difference is fate put Brian in a survival situation. Andy placed herself in the wilderness to escape an abusive foster home.
Warning-A few scenes might be a bit graphic and intense for readers who are animal lovers and/or vegans.
Overall, Andy's adventure kept me engaged and I wanted to know what came next for her. I look forward to reading McQuarrie's next book.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review