Books Like Sam Lights the Dark
Families who loved Sam Lights the Dark by Shari Simpson often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Sam Lights the Dark by Shari Simpson often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their child is experiencing a peak in nighttime anxiety, specifically fears surrounding sleepwalking, the dark, or a lack of control over their own body during the night. The story follows Sam, a chronic sleepwalker who discovers he is actually a SleepWaker, someone who can leave their body at night to protect the world from shadows and evil. By reframing a common childhood stressor as a secret superpower, the book helps children transition from feeling like victims of their fears to feeling like the heroes of their own stories. With a mix of fantasy and superhero action, the book addresses themes of self-confidence and identity. It is written at a middle-grade level, making it perfect for independent readers aged 8 to 12. Parents will appreciate how it validates the very real physical and emotional sensations of anxiety while providing a sense of agency and resilience through its imaginative world-building.
