The Secret Life of Sam: A Bittersweet Portal Fantasy About Grief and Family for Kids (Ages 8-12)

The timelessness of Bridge to Terabithia meets the wonder of Big Fish in this bittersweet, magical story, perfect for fans of Barbara O’Connor, Lisa Graff, and Dan Gemeinhart.

When Sam’s dad dies in a car accident, Sam is shuttled off to the dusty town of Holler, Oklahoma, to live with a long-lost aunt. There he encounters a mysterious mangy cat who leads him to an unassuming tree that turns out to be a portal—a passage through which Sam can revisit his old life for a few minutes at a time.

Sam’s visits to the bayou become stranger and stranger. Pa’s old stories unfold around him in beautiful but sinister detail, and Pa is not quite himself. Still, Sam is desperate to find a way for them to stay together—no matter what it takes.

• Magical Realism: A mysterious cat, a magical tree, and a portal back to the Louisiana bayou where his father’s tall tales are alarmingly real.
• A Powerful Father Son Story: Sam gets a second chance to be with his Pa, but the man he finds through the portal isn’t quite the father he remembers.
• Dealing with Grief: A heart-wrenching and hopeful look at navigating sorrow, as one boy must choose between a magical past and a new, uncertain future in Holler, Oklahoma.
• Finding Friendship: Amid the loss, an unlikely friendship with a girl named Edie offers a glimmer of hope and a reason to stay in the real world.

Kim Ventrella is the author of the middle grade novels The Secret Life of Sam; Hello, Future Me; Bone Hollow; and Skeleton Tree, and she is a contributor to the anthology Don’t Turn Out the Lights: A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Her works explore difficult topics with big doses of humor, whimsy, and hope. Kim has held a variety of interesting jobs, including children’s librarian, scare actor, Peace Corps volunteer, and French instructor, but her favorite job title is author. She lives in Oklahoma City with her dog and cowriter, Hera. Find out more at www.kimventrella.com.