The Secret Life of Sam by Kim Ventrella
Published by HarperCollins on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0062941186
Pages: 272
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Sam’s dad recently died in a car accident, and he has been shuttled to Oklahoma to live with his long-lost aunt. Quite by accident, he encounters a mangy looking cat who leads him to a hole in a tree that turns out to be a passageway to the past. When he enters the portal, which is only open for short times, he can see his dad and his mother (who is also deceased). The visits to his past in the bayou become more and more strange, and things he once knew to be true seem cloudy. Sam is desperate for a way to stay with his father in the past, so he hatches a plan to stay within the portal after it closes. That, however, proves to be more difficult than planned. This book tackles grief, addiction, family feuds, and more, and it does so with grace and, at times, humor. The characters in this book are well developed and you want to learn more about them and their family history. This is a great book for kids who like realistic fiction with a little dose of magic. Really, the time travel aspect is the only departure from reality. Recommended for readers 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME’