3.5 Stars — SECOND SLEEP is a very sweet middle grade book with an original magical premise that I enjoyed. When Max’s mother disappears, his grandmother takes him and younger sister Rosie to the family’s cabin by the lake, a special place where their mom spent her childhood summers. There Max and Rosie find themselves in an alternate dream world filled with kids who share a unique connection. Max soon realizes that his new friends may help him solve the mystery of his missing mother.

I think middle grade readers will have fun with the magical realism in this book. The dream world is never explained, it just is. I loved the friendships that were formed there, between kids that wouldn’t even know each other in the real world (you’ll find out why!).

There were two things that bothered me in this book. One was how formal the dialogue seemed, even with the younger characters. This may be in part because I listened to a synthetic voice galley, and the delivery made it seem stiff. Second was the story behind the mystery and a certain character’s decisions that made me so mad, though a young reader would probably see it differently. I’m glad Max was ultimately able to express his feelings about the situation.

SECOND SLEEP is a lovely story of friendship, dealing with unavoidable change, and holding onto childhood magic for as long as possible. It will leave readers with a lot to think about.

I adored this quiet book about embracing change, the power of family, the wonder of friendship, and the magic of childhood.

When Rosie and Max's mom goes missing, their grandmother gets the kids out of the city and takes them to help her pack up the cabin she's recently sold. With no internet and no electricity, Max is ready to leave before they even walk in the door. The place is old and now he has to look after his little sister too. But when sleep comes, there's a magic to be found and friends to meet. A trace of all the kids who've stayed on the lake in the past... as they once were, they return. Perhaps even a connection to his mother, and maybe just maybe a way to help.

I loved the characters in this story more than anything else. Everyone grows and their journeys are beautiful. I love the quiet steady pace, the touch of magic that is timeless in childhood. This book was a perfect escape. Some of the logic leaps the characters make are a little big to swallow, but overall, I think this book will be adored and cherished by everyone who opens these pages.

While I didn't love the narrator of the audio book, I LOVED the story. It was magical but still felt like it could really happen. The author made me believe the story was real and be captivated into the second sleep dream world. It included so many themes that would interest lower middle grade and upper elementary students. There were complex family dynamics, a close relationship with a grandmother, friendships and a young boy who was working to help his mom. In the midst of this magical story where children at a certain lake all go to a magical dream world that cross time lines, there was also real world issues like the environmental impact of new house developments and what is lost when they are build. There was also a great connection to ethics and there are a lot of opportunities tie in nonfiction texts about whistle blowers, ethics, environment.

I didn’t find the premise of the book that interesting, but was looking for something to listen to so decided to try it. I don’t regret my choice. I thought it was a sweet, original story. The “magical “element didn’t bother me, even though it was never explained. Some things in life are simply not explained. And, the target audience for the book, the upper elementary/lower middle school ages are still young enough to be able to suspend their sense of reality without question. So, I did too!
What did bother me, however, is the email at the end. I really dislike books that use this cop out way of furthering or explaining plot. One of the mantras I use for writing in my classroom is “show me, don’t tell me.” This author broke my rule.
Other than that, and a few loose ends here and there (Why does Rosie act like a 3 year old? Why wasn’t the dad worried when the mom disappeared? Why was a 12-year old the one one to question the random email sent by a stranger on behalf of the mom?) I enjoyed the story and am actually now quite fascinated by this idea of a “second sleep.” I wonder if getting into this habit could increase creativity or brain function? I might just have to try and find out for myself!
Oh! And I’m DEFINITELY going to have wall space for my students to “graffiti” in my next classroom!
The pure innocence of the children, the lack of so much as a swearword, much less sex or any reference to it, and no references to violence or death make this a book that I could unquestionably recommend to elementary school kids, or even have in a classroom library.

I would probably have given it 3.5 stars if it was possible. It’s not quite a 4 for me. Also, I really hate the stupid AI voice and am curious as to what the final voice actor will sound like.