Skeleton Tree

Slog's Dad

The Magician's Elephant

Savvy

The Land of Neverendings

Five Children on the Western Front

A Secret Shared

In Darkling Wood

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.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Skeleton Tree

Kim Ventrella, 2017

Slog's Dad

David Almond, Dave McKean, 2010

The Magician's Elephant

Kate Dicamillo, Yoko Tanaka, 2009

Savvy

Ingrid Law, 2008

The Land of Neverendings

Kate Saunders, 2017

Five Children on the Western Front

Kate Saunders, 2014

A Secret Shared

Patricia Maclachlan, 2021

In Darkling Wood

Emma Carroll, 2015