- Chapter Books
- Ages 8–12
- Adventure
Return to the Secret Lake
Book 2 of 3 in The Secret LakeView the full series
The time tunnel reopens when a friend from the past falls dangerously ill and the only hope of a cure lies in the future. A longer, higher-stakes return to the secret lake, still gentle at heart but with real peril.
- Best for8–12
- FormatChapter
- Length274 pp
- Read aloud~3 hr55 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
Tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Warm
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Almost a year has passed since Stella and Tom travelled through the time tunnel to early-1900s London and befriended Lucy, Jack and their sister Emma. The magical moles that opened the way to the secret lake have vanished, and the children long to meet again. Then Emma falls dangerously ill, and everything changes: the moles reappear just when they are needed, and Lucy realises the only chance of saving Emma lies in the future. Coming forward in time in search of a cure, Lucy sets off a thrilling adventure of rekindled friendships, race-against-time rescue and threats no one saw coming. At roughly twice the length of the first book, this long-awaited sequel gives the children the reins, testing their loyalty and nerve as they move between two worlds a century apart. Warm, page-turning and satisfyingly plotted, it rewards readers who fell for The Secret Lake and are ready for a meatier adventure — with an illness at its heart that is handled with hope rather than fear.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A 8-12 read that runs longer and a little deeper than book one. The friend's dangerous illness gives it more emotional weight, so it suits confident readers or a shared read; younger fans of the first book may need it read aloud. Best after The Secret Lake.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: illness or disability.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Time travel adventure
- Friendship stories
- Series fans
Avoid if
- Sensitive to serious illness
- Wants standalone
Particularly good for children who are…
- Illness in family
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The tunnel is back, and this time the stakes are real: Emma is desperately ill and only a journey into the future can save her. It's twice as long, twice as thrilling, and the kids get to be the heroes who solve it.
- Time travel
- Secret world
- Adventure and freedom
- Surviving danger
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
It gives Secret Lake fans a longer, more ambitious adventure while keeping the warmth intact. A friend's serious illness drives the plot, but it's framed around loyalty and hope, giving gentle emotional weight without tipping into distressing territory.
- Nostalgia
- Conversation starter
In the series
The Secret Lake.
3 books · open the series →
About the author
Karen Inglis.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
