Second Sleep

by Diane Stanley

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.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile

288 pages, Hardcover

Published November 2, 2021

About the author

Diane Stanley is an American children's author and illustrator, a former medical illustrator, and a former art director for the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons. Born in 1943 in Abilene, Texas, she was educated at Trinity University (in San Antonio, TX) and at Johns Hopkins University. She is perhaps best known for her many picture-book biographies, some of which were co-authored by her husband, Peter Vennema. (source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars — "The time by the lake is everything perfect about a childhood summer. And maybe, these nights also hold the answers Max is looking for..."

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.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intriguing idea for a story. I really enjoyed this, & had a great time with it. To get Max & 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 & 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 & 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—& how to bring her safely home. I was so hooked & fascinated by so many things. The mystery of Max & Rosie’s mothers disappearance, the second sleep & the “dreams”, & more. I loved the detail of Max turning his experience with the cabin & the second sleep into an illustrated book. The author described his process brilliantly, & I could see the book clearly in my head. I loved the character growth of Max over his time at the cabin. He becomes aware of some of his qualities that need work, & he makes it a focus to work on them, & be better. This includes being a better big brother to Rosie. I LOVED their brother/sister relationship, & how much it grew into something so much better than when this started. The whole mystery with his mom, the cabin, the dreams..how everything came together in the end….superb. The characters we meet in the second sleep were all so great too, & I just loved how different this was. It has great messages throughout, & offers an opportunity for great conversations with kids on what it means to be a good friend or sibling, what to do in tough situations..work through how to make the right choice, & so much more. Loved this! BEAUTIFUL cover by the amazing Jennifer Bricking too.💜

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Popsugar #25 - A book you can read in one sitting

[Emma Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing premise and a restful plot, but VERY on the nose, even for middle grade.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and Rosie are missing their mother. She was there one day and then she wasn't. Their father isn't overly concerned. Apparently she went to help an old friend and doesn't want any of them to worry but the children do anyway.

Their grandmother Mozelle has the perfect idea. She takes Max and Rosie to an old cabin where their mother used to go. Mozelle tells the children that when it is dark, you go to bed, no matter the time. Also, this is the time for the best dreams, dreams their mother had.

So, the children listen to Mozelle and on their very first night they do travel in their dreams. They experience joint moments of magic that they feel are quite real. Going to sleep never felt so good. This second sleep is just as mysterious as their mother's disappearance, but does slowly begin to make things appear clearer to both Max and Rosie.

Max finds the dreams and the people they meet in them as a means to figuring out why their mother left and how they can possibly bring her back to the family.

I don't read much middle grade, and I also don't read many fantasy stories with magical elements, but I found Second Sleep to be an enjoyable read, and loved looking through the eyes of Max and Rosie as they sought answers.

I had this ARC for review as a computerized audiobook and I will say that it was done quite well. Not sure if NetGalley will continue producing review copies in this format, but if they do, I will continue to download them and listen to them.

Many thanks to HaperCollins and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy, amazing dreams, missing mother and a wonderful mystery.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Audio and Harper Kids for the gifted book!

I'm sure there was a good reason I put this on my TBR and requested it from Netgalley. But as it sat on my TBR I forgot what it was about and was kind of not looking forward to reading it. BUT AM I SO GLAD I DID. This book is delightful. It has so many elements of middle grade fiction that I love. The protagonist has to grow up a bit to deal with a hard life situation. There is a sibling relationship that has a lovely push and pull. The middle grade protagonist and the adults have to trust one another. And there is one of my favorite plot devices that I can't give away because it's a bit of a spoiler, but it is used so beautifully that I just can't help but love this book. This would be an interesting one to read with your child because there is much to discuss about friendships, responsibilities, and how to act in hard situations.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title was confusing, but the author explains it well. This book is a fun mystery. I recommended it to my oldest, but she probably won’t read it since her Mom suggested it. Still, a nice book.

[Christi Flaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max and Rosie's mom has disappeared. No on, least of all their dad, knows where she has gone. This isn't typical for her and everyone is worried about what may have been so important that she had to disappear with very few details.

To help the kids get their mind off the mystery the kids grandmother, Mozelle, takes them up to their old family cabin which she needs to clear out before developers come and knock it down. As a city kid, Max is unprepared for life without his phone and wi-fi, let alone electricity. When he has to fall asleep early he finds there is something magical about the cabin and finds himself transported to a fun lake-side location with new kids to make friends with. As Max discovers the secrets of the lake he also starts finding new ideas for how he may be able to help solve his mother's disappearance.

While reading this book you definitely need to keep in mind that it is a middle grade read. If you go in expecting an adult or even a YA book you will be disappointed. At times I felt myself critical of the mystery and the resolution process but when you remember the intended audience and take this book at its level it has a good message and is a good overall story.

[Río · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. The story was fairly light, with just a little bit of magic. A boy (Max) is upset that his mom went missing, leaving behind her cell phone and a cryptic message to not worry. As they wait to hear more news, Max and his little sister Rosey go with their grandma to help her pack up the family's old cabin. While there, Max learns more about his mom's childhood, and, through that, gains some clues to hopefully help him find his mom.

While I mostly enjoyed the book, my main critique was that the characters did not seem written in a developmentally-appropriate way. The eight-year-old little sister acted and was treated more like a five- or six-year-old (perhaps she is special needs, and this was just not clearly stated?), and -according to the narrator- the (I believe) twelve-year-old main character, Max, thought through things in a clear and logical manner closer to that of someone years older. Aside from the language (both in topics they would note and in the way they would articulate it) not quite matching their age, the book was a quiet little read. I

[EJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Diane Stanley's books, and this one was no exception. I loved the premise of the dreamsharing 'second sleep' concept and the way the mundane mixes with the surreal and fantastical in a way that makes you feel like magic really could be just around the corner or in the back of a wardrobe. Gentle and a little melancholy is how I would describe this book. Definitely not in a bad way! A good read for day-dreamers.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept, but quietly done. I thought the storyline could have made a more exciting book but it's actually a bit quiet. All the discussion of how the main character was making his graphic novel will lose some readers. I didn't quite buy the main characters suddenly becoming more empathic and overall I wonder if this would miss the mark with the target audience.

Also, publishers - this cover does not give you any clues that this book will contain magic, mystery, space/time travel!

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to the lake will never be the same...

Max and Rosie's Mom sends a cryptic message to their Dad via a stranger: first, she will not be coming home that evening; and that she is helping an old friend on an "important project" and doesn't know when she will be home. To divert the kids' attention from their missing mother, their maternal grandmother, Mozelle, whisks them off to her rustic cabin on the lake. It has few amenities and no electricity, however she is on a tight deadline to clear everything out - it has been sold to a land developer. Each night in the cabin, Max and Rose both wake up in the middle of the night, only to fall back asleep later into a "second sleep" that transports them into a community dream - that is, they are active in the same dream. As Max learns more about this second sleep dream world (populated with kids who all spent their summers at this cabin's compound, albeit at different points in time), he realizes that one of these dream kids might be the key to finding his mother.

A tightly woven time-travel/fantasy/mystery of sorts, this one is sweet and charming with no real danger posed to the children. Told from the point of view of Max, he and dream girl Lila solve the mystery of his mother's disappearance and put together all the pieces of this story puzzle. It's hard to nail down how old Max is, other than he is just beginning to show an interest in girls (5th-6th grade?). The dream kids are shown only during the seven dreams, so show no signs of growth or evolution; they are frozen in time. Rosie shows great maturity, going from being reliant on her Fluffy Rabbity for security at the beginning of the story to a child who feels loved and more self-confident by the end.

Older readers will need to suspend their belief of reality when reading this one. (Will Dad really believe all the incredulous things Max learns from the second dreams?) Upper elementary readers will find it satisfying and safe.

Recommended for grades 4-7.

[Munchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second sleep is based around the concept of time and dreaming while trying to answer the question, where in the world has mother gone?

It's a weird read that had no real problems to solve. Everything was too convenient, too happy for the characters in the dream realm that Max the main character visits, and not at all challenging when it comes to plot points to solve. It's supposed to be a middle school level read but it made me feel like the book was holding my hand the entire time. The way the book is narrated also throws me off. I found a single typo in this book which made me think maybe it wasn't polished and maybe there weren't any test readers first before the book was fully published.

The concept is similar to the movie from Studio Ghibli the boy and the heron. But this book isn't very well fleshed out. Just rushed, a bit boring in spots and a very quick read where honestly I just wanted the book to be over finally.

I don't recommend it, even tho I did enjoy some parts about this book like where it takes place. It just didn't feel very satisfying knowing that something you had put a lot of time and energy into, will be gone. Or that his mom or dad won't be able to visit the cabin in the woods. Also Max in some chapters seemed like a brat and some of the dialogue choices for the characters didn't match up or it just felt like I didn't get to really know these characters because they weren't deeply developed.

It felt like a bandaid, slap it on and see if it holds together.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before electric light, people went to sleep when the sun went down, woke at some point in the middle of the night, and, after perhaps some chores or a bite to eat, went back to bed for their second sleep before waking with the sun. This story expands upon that premise when 12-year-old Max and his little sister Rosie spend time with their grandmother at their cabin by a lake. At the cabin, that second sleep for Max and Rosie is a vivid shared dream with other children -- all of whom have visited the lake and cabins in different time periods -- gathering together to play at the lake. But, Max and Rosie are only there at the cabin, for the first time, because their mother has gone missing and their grandmother finally caved to a developer and must clear out the cabin before the selling it. This special place and the dreams of the second sleep prove to be not only a healing time together but an opportunity to solve the mystery of their mother's disappearance. This is a feel-good story with a lot of wonderful descriptions about creating art (Max, his mother, and another boy are all artists). The time travel aspect feels like it has some logic holes in it about the children all being about the same age but visiting in different time periods and dreaming together if I think about it too hard. But, despite Max agonizing about the time paradox, ultimately it's really a magical shared dream existing some place outside of time so I just went with it.

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max and his sister Rosie are devastated when their mother disappears. Max's father and grandmother are trying to solve the problem when they receive a message from their mom: she's fine but is working on something very important. So Mozelle (their grandma) takes them to the family cabin near a lake that needs to be cleared out. Max is disappointed that it has no electricity...but Mozelle tells them a story about "second sleep": in the past, people would fall asleep when the sun went down, wake up in the middle of the night, then go back for a second sleep. Max naturally does this the first night; and during his second sleep dream, he meets a group of amazing children. He quickly learns that these are all other children (throughout the past 30 years) who are dreaming in this same compound. With the help of his dream friends, he figures out what his mother is doing and gives perfect advice to his father.

Part-mystery, part-light-fantasy...this was a quick, fun read for middle grade children (grades 4-6). The time-travel / alternate reality was handled well, new concepts were introduced appropriately, and the character development was believable.

[Susan Metallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a boy's mother goes missing, his grandmother takes him to a lakeside cabin where every night, he enters a dream world with other children from the past.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in order to write this review.

I'm kind of madly in love with this book. In some ways, it's a quiet read, focused on heart-warming relationships. But the suspense of the missing mother and the mystery of the magical dreams add enough urgency to make it difficult to stop turning pages. And although the fantasy/sci-fi element runs into the usual unresolvable issues that crop up whenever someone travels back in time and befriends a parent, the mechanics of the time travel wasn't really a concern for me--it's not what the book is really about. I'd recommend this one to any middle grade reader who enjoys magical realism. It could also be a peaceful family read aloud at bedtime for upper elementary age kids.

[Nanette Fandino-Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max and Rosie's mother disappears. She is helping a friend. However, she left her phone behind and her behavior is completely out of character.

Their grandmother, Mozelle, takes Max and Rosie to pack up the family cabin which is being sold. The cabin is rustic with no electricity. The children go to bed early, wake up in the middle of the night, and then have their Second Sleep. Second Sleep takes the children to a dreamland where children from different years interact with each other and have wonderful adventures. How is this phenomenon possible? Is there a link between the Second Sleep and what is happening with Max and Rosie's mother?

This is a great story about friendship, seeing parents as complete people, communication between children and the adults in their lives, and doing the right thing. Middle School children will enjoy this story. It is also a good book for parents to read with upper elementary children. It lends itself to honest conversation.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just recently become aware of author Diane Stanley's work, and I truly enjoy her way of writing fantasy. Second Sleep has more of a science fiction feel to it (there are elements of time paradoxes), but it doesn't get bogged down in techie terms or even require the reader to deal with aliens; the story takes place in our world. Just the same, the dialogue is believable, the characters relatable, and the story intriguing. The main character is a smart, witty child, just on the brink of becoming an adolescent. His family is in crisis, and he is slowly learning that his feelings about things are not the only ones that matter. The arc of the plot is imaginative and has enough suspense to keep any reader going until the last page. The themes of family and making sacrifices to help others are good discussion topics.

[Chelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book I thought it would turn out different. The second sleep was so interesting. What if second sleeps happened in real life what would it be like. I love how Max got to interact with everyone in their younger age. And got to look them up on the internet and tell them about their future. I hated to see him and Rosie so upset about having to leave the compound but getting to see them happy and getting to experience new stuff while they were there was so exciting. I loved how it turned out and glad that their mom was okay. I loved how max looked into everything and figured out where his mom was and what was going on with her. He was so worried. But overall I would read this book again and I will definitely let my son read this. I think he would enjoy it just as much as I did.

[DayDreamer8912 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8/5
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery

This story is about Max and Rosie trying to find their mom who had mysteriously disappeared, so to take their minds off of it, their grandmother Mozelle brought them to the log cabin that their mother used to spend the time during the summer. The log cabin is a mystery because as both children fell asleep they went into dream land where they met a few children playing together and the mysterious thing is that they are from a different time line which kind of made Max interested in finding out where his mom is with the help of his new found friends. The land of dreams also help him with his imagination for his graphic novel. He could draw very well. They all enjoyed having fun in the log cabin that their mother used to come too. Also with the help of his father and his friend to continue to find clues to find his missing mother. It was a fun read.

[Nell Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was refreshing. I really enjoyed it although I admit the characters seemed a little mature for their age. I was always a little mature for my age so I still like it. The title is what caught my attention. Second sleep cause I have been doing some research on second sleep when I was trying to imagine what life might've been like in the dormitory in the 1800s before electricity I love her take on it and the characters are well developed. Their thought. Processes and interactions are beautiful. The plot felt secondary to the rest of it. It's exactly the kind of young adult novel that I enjoy.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was definitely the setting. I could visualize myself hanging out by the lake with the kids in the dream, and I loved the concept of being able to spend time together across differing timelines. I appreciated that the characters were so distinct and different from each other, and the ending made me more emotional than I would have expected. This is a great middle grade novel that deals with some fairly mature themes in a way that makes it easy for kids to digest.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max's mom disappears one day. She leaves a note, but it doesn't say much, and Max and his little sister are distraught. To distract them, their grandmother brings them with her to an isolated cabin that used to be their summer retreat when the kids' mother was a girl. Unhappily stuck in the middle of nowhere and missing and worried about his mom, Max discovers an alternate world when he falls asleep at night. Can the summer kids he befriends in his dreams help him to find his mother?

[Gail Gauthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I sought out Second Sleep by Diane Stanley, because I had actually heard of "second sleep." It's a real thing that I first read about a couple of years ago. Second Sleep doesn't have a lot to say about the historical aspect of second sleep/two sleeps, but it uses the idea for a quite well done fantasy/mystery."






Excerpt from Original Content

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great summer read that will take you on the perfect escape!

I was very drawn to the beautiful book cover and theme of family in the synopsis. However, I didn't find the story super compelling, though it's definitely unique. There's magical realism combined with mystery, as well as some revelations that I didn't see coming.

An interesting book that I think would be more suited to its intended audience of middle graders.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had such a cool concept; I love the idea of a second sleep where you get to meet with people from the past and/or the future. I thought Max had a great story arc, he grew a lot as a person and it was fun to watch.

The audio was computer generated so I cannot comment on the final narration but I will be recommending this book to the 9-12 readers in the store, it was a great story.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mix of fantasy and real world. An alternate world reached while you are sleeping. Max and Rosie are looking for their mom who has disappeared. They go with their grandma to a cabin in upstate New York that has been in the family for years but now is being sold. It is there that the story takes place and that Max and Rosie encounter an alternate world during their "second sleep."

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Enjoyable read. Some of the timeline stuff was a little convoluted. And the first chapter (about the un-winnable game) seemed like maybe it was added on after the fact as an introductory element; it was ultimately irrelevant and unnecessary, & was never resolved. Some sweet family relationships & good stuff about self-awareness and finding one's passions.

[Sally Bosco]

Second Sleep held my interest all the way through. The way the story moves through different dimensions is magical. It perfectly captures the senses in the description of a child's summer at a lake away from home. The characters were very relatable. The ending comes full circle and ties the whole thing together. I'd highly recommend this book.