The Secret Life of Sam is a middle-grade novel written by Kim Ventrella. It tells the story of a young boy named Sam Abernathy who discovers that he has the ability to bring dead things back to life. The book explores themes of grief, loss, and the power of friendship.

The story begins with Sam attending his own funeral. His parents, who are both funeral directors, accidentally bury him alive after mistaking him for a dead body. However, Sam miraculously comes back to life and realizes that he has acquired a strange and unique ability. He can now bring dead things back to life simply by touching them.

Sam’s newfound power becomes both a blessing and a curse. He starts using it to revive dead animals and insects, but soon realizes that not everything should be brought back to life. As he grapples with this moral dilemma, he also struggles with the recent loss of his mother and the strained relationship with his father.

Throughout the book, Sam befriends a girl named Caroline, who is dealing with her own grief after losing her sister. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind Sam’s ability and find a way to bring closure to their own losses.

As Sam continues to bring things back to life, he discovers that there are consequences to his actions. The revived creatures start exhibiting strange behaviors and become increasingly aggressive. Sam realizes that he must find a way to control his power before it spirals out of control.

In his quest for answers, Sam encounters various eccentric characters, including a mysterious woman named Mrs. Wigham who seems to know more about his ability than she lets on. With her guidance, Sam learns about the existence of an ancient book called “The Book of Dead Things” that holds the key to understanding his power.

As Sam delves deeper into the secrets surrounding his ability, he uncovers a dark family secret that connects him to an ancient curse. He must confront his own fears and make difficult choices to break the curse and find peace for himself and those he loves

• The Secret Life of Sam

• By: Kim Ventrella
• Narrated by: Todd Menesses

Bridge to Terabithia’s timelessness combines with the magic of Big Fish in this bittersweet magical tale, perfect for fans of Barbara O’Connor, Lisa Graff and Dan Gemeinhart.

When Sam’s father dies in a car crash, Sam is sent to the dusty town of Holler, Oklahoma to live with a long-lost aunt. There, he meets a mysterious mangy cat that leads him to a humble 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 bay were becoming increasingly alien. Pa’s old stories play out around him in beautiful yet sinister detail, and Pa isn’t quite himself. Still, Sam is still desperately trying to find a way to keep them together – no matter what.

This remarkable book captures the feeling of being truly sad and wanting to connect with a loved one who has passed away (a terrible reality for so many kids in 2020). I loved Sam from the start, and the kids will be hooked on the magical depictions. A great fantasy story for all children, while also addressing the difficult topics of recovery and coping with loss.

A beautiful, sensitive story about loss, family and friendship, while exploring what it means to be at home. The characters are so real, you want to hug each and every one of them. This is a book you won’t forget.

Love this book! Its treatment of love, loss, addiction, grief, forgiveness, and friendship with a bit of magical realism mixed in makes it a truly amazing piece of work.

This is a lovely book about a boy dealing with the pain of loss in our lives. I love how the story approaches to teach a lesson to middle-aged children about such a powerful thing in life. This is a story children can relate to and it is definitely the book I would buy for the Louisiana library. You don’t have many books about the Louisiana tributary.

Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review. I love this spooky and gritty book about pain and starting over. It is very descriptive and very powerful. Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review. I love this spooky and gritty book about pain and starting over. It is very descriptive and very powerful.

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