The Secret Life of Sam

Summary

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.