The Secret Life of Sam Hardback -

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.

• Magical Realism: A mysterious cat, a magical tree, and a portal back to the Louisiana bayou where his father's tall tales are alarmingly real.
• A Powerful Father Son Story: Sam gets a second chance to be with his Pa, but the man he finds through the portal isn't quite the father he remembers.
• Dealing with Grief: A heart-wrenching and hopeful look at navigating sorrow, as one boy must choose between a magical past and a new, uncertain future in Holler, Oklahoma.
• Finding Friendship: Amid the loss, an unlikely friendship with a girl named Edie offers a glimmer of hope and a reason to stay in the real world.