The Secret Life of Sam

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 Portal to the Past: A mysterious tree offers Sam the one thing he wants most: a few more minutes with his Pa. But each visit to the world on the other side grows more unsettling. A Coming of Age Story: Sam must navigate the loss of his beloved Pa, a move from the Louisiana bayou to a new town, and the family secrets that come with it. The Power of Stories: Discover the magic of Pa’s larger-than-life tales of wrestling gators and befriending warthogs—stories that might be more real than Sam ever imagined. Unlikely Friendships: From a mysterious one-eyed cat to a purple-haired girl named Edie, Sam finds that friendship can be found in the most unexpected places.