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.

• A Bittersweet Father and Son Story: Sam gets a magical second chance to see his Pa, but the loving father he remembers isn’t quite the same on the other side of the portal.
• A Heartfelt Portal Fantasy: A mysterious, one-eyed cat leads Sam to a magical tree in dusty Oklahoma—a doorway back to his father and the Louisiana bayou life he lost.
• An Unlikely Friendship: In a new town where he feels totally alone, Sam finds an unexpected friend in Edie, a purple-haired girl with her own family secrets.
• A Classic Coming-of-Age Tale: As Pa’s tall tales blur with a sinister reality, Sam must find the courage to confront his grief and discover the truth about his own story.

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.