{"product_id":"the-secret-life-of-sam-9780062941190","title":"The Secret Life of Sam","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe timelessness of \u003cem\u003eBridge to Terabithia\u003c\/em\u003e meets the wonder of \u003cem\u003eBig Fish\u003c\/em\u003e in this bittersweet, magical story, perfect for fans of Barbara O'Connor, Lisa Graff, and Dan Gemeinhart.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen 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.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSam'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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVentrella, Kim:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKim Ventrella \u003c\/strong\u003eis the author of the middle grade novels \u003cem\u003eThe Secret Life of Sam\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eHello, Future Me\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eBone Hollow\u003c\/em\u003e; and \u003cem\u003eSkeleton Tree, \u003c\/em\u003eand she is a contributor to the anthology \u003cem\u003eDon't Turn Out the Lights: A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark\u003c\/em\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50533797953810,"sku":"9780062941190","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_740b0176-69eb-4362-98d5-f87c1aa6c7f5.jpg?v=1749034763","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-secret-life-of-sam-9780062941190","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}