Second Sleep

The time by the lake is everything perfect about a childhood summer…and maybe it also holds the answers Max needs. Give this tender middle grade novel to readers who love the mystery, friendships, and touches of magic in novels by Rebecca Stead and Laurel Snyder!

To get Max and Rosie’s minds off their mother’s mysterious disappearance, their grandmother, Mozelle, suggests that they visit the old log cabin where their mom spent her summers as a child. This is a place where, when it gets dark, you go to bed. But according to Mozelle, their mother had her happiest dreams during her nights at the lake. 

That first night, Max and Rosie travel in their dreams to an almost impossibly beautiful place where they meet a wonderful new group of friends. But was it really just a dream? Or is there something extraordinary and magical about this compound by the lake?

As Max slowly grasps what is really going on, he wonders if he might have found the key to the mystery of his mother’s disappearance—and how to bring her safely home.

• A Heartfelt Sibling Story: Twelve-year-old Max and his little sister Rosie must stick together as they grapple with their family crisis at a mysterious old lake house.
• Magical Realism for Kids: Each night, their dreams transport them to the same magical place, an idyllic version of the lake where they meet new friends from different eras.
• A Touching Mystery: The key to their mother’s whereabouts seems to be hidden within the dream world. Can Max unravel the clues before it’s too late?
• Perfect for Fans of Modern Classics: A must-read for fans of Rebecca Stead and Laurel Snyder who love stories that blend real-world problems with a hint of the extraordinary.