MMGM: Digging Into The Secret Lake : Time Travel for Kids

 

I first heard about this book after reading an interview with the author on Joanna Penn’s blog. Karen Inglis is a self-published author who built her audience through school visits, and The Secret Lake has sold 500,000 copies(and counting). Impressive!

Her sales aren't just because of creative marketing. The Secret Lake has all the elements that I love in a good vintage book but with a modern feel. Think gardens, time travel, endearing characters, and the most importantly, a loyal dog!

If you like time travel, The Secret Garden (or similar books), and short reads, you will love this book! 

SYNOPSIS

When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour’s small dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?

Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound, and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.

Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods?

Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and its gardens almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections between the past and present.
A modern children's classic

The Secret Lake has been described by readers as a modern Tom's Midnight Garden and compared in atmosphere with The Secret Garden and the Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew mystery adventure stories. Its page-turning plot, with its many twists and turns, makes it a firm favourite with both boys and girls.

Karen Inglis describes it as, a time travel mystery adventure with modern twists - the kind of story that I loved to read as a child but brought right up to date. (from Amazon)

My take:

This story grabbed me right away with a scene of Tom digging in the garden, trying to find evidence of a dog that keeps disappearing from the communal garden near their flat. Stella was very relatable in how she missed her best friend from Hong Kong and longing to find a friend in their new home. Once Tom and Stella dig out a boat and find a mysterious tunnel, I was completely hooked. I loved that Inglis didn’t weigh down her story with too much description, and the characters were memorable and well-drawn. It reminded me of stories I loved as a child, where brothers and sisters look after each other and kids make friends quickly. I can see why this book is so popular with children because of its fast pace, interesting concept, and numerous twists and turns. Best of all, it has an ending I won’t soon forget.

 *This book is written in British English, so occasionally I came across words I wasn’t familiar with like polo (a type of candy) and plimsolls (a type of shoe). If you are reading it with or to kids outside of the UK, you might need to explain a few words.

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

Not only did it keep me turning the pages, but Harry was my favorite character! Although I don't like water like he does, he is so dedicated to his owner. Just like me. 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Your Turn: 

Do you like time travel novels? The Secret Garden? Have you read any good self-published books?

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!