The Secret Life of Sam
About this ebook
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.
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About the author
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.
