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Sam & Friends #2
Lake Monster Mix-Up
In the second book in the Sam & Friends Mystery graphic novel series, canine sleuth Sam is bored at the prospect of spending a cottage weekend at Sagawa Lake - until she hears that the lake has a deep, dark secret.This is exactly what Sam wants to hear and sure enough, with help from Jennie and Beth, Sam finds an old diary hidden in the wall of their cabin and what they read there is chilling. Is it the key to the secret of Sagawa Lake? What about the strange face painted on the rock, near the water's edge - and the creepy cave nearby? Something lurks in the depths of the lake. All they need is proof, which Sam is determined to obtain at all costs. As always, the mystery-solving trio of Sam, Jennie and Beth blow up events to scary proportions and young graphic novel readers will furiously turn pages to reach the climax - and a surprising solution to the mystery.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Mary Labatt
38 books11 followersMary Labatt is an award-winning editor and a writer. A graduate of York University, Mary has published many educational briefs, position papers and articles on reading, the effects of poverty on learning, drug awareness, language arts, violence, the needs of adolescents and special education. Mary was the founding editor of the FWTAO Newsletter, a magazine for women teachers, that she edited for 14 years. She is also the author of a history of women teachers in Ontario, called Always a Journey. Mary has been honored for her contribution to education with the prestigious Greer award and has been made a Fellow of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation.
In addition to freelance editing, Mary teaches a week-long course every summer on how to write for children. Now that her family is older, Mary devotes the rest of her time to writing for children and raising dogs. She breeds and raises champion rough collies and Welsh Springer Spaniels, which were imported from Wales. People who read Mary’s children’s books will readily see that she loves dogs, so it is natural that she and her family live on a farm and raise dogs. In the picture Mary is shown with two of her collie mothers, Annabel and Chloe. Mary has said she is never happier than when little fat puppies are running all over the yard.
Mary’s Sam books were based on a real dog. Sam was Mary’s very eccentric, very nosy Old English Sheepdog. Sam used to stare to get her own way and she was insatiably curious. Mary took the idea and created Sam, the dog detective. If you haven’t read the Sam novels, you can meet Sam, the dog detective, in a new series of graphic novels called the Sam and Friends mysteries.
Mary lives on farm in Clear Creek, Ontario, with her husband, Larry, three dogs and two of their three children. Their other daughter just got married, so there will be room now for another dog!
In addition to freelance editing, Mary teaches a week-long course every summer on how to write for children. Now that her family is older, Mary devotes the rest of her time to writing for children and raising dogs. She breeds and raises champion rough collies and Welsh Springer Spaniels, which were imported from Wales. People who read Mary’s children’s books will readily see that she loves dogs, so it is natural that she and her family live on a farm and raise dogs. In the picture Mary is shown with two of her collie mothers, Annabel and Chloe. Mary has said she is never happier than when little fat puppies are running all over the yard.
Mary’s Sam books were based on a real dog. Sam was Mary’s very eccentric, very nosy Old English Sheepdog. Sam used to stare to get her own way and she was insatiably curious. Mary took the idea and created Sam, the dog detective. If you haven’t read the Sam novels, you can meet Sam, the dog detective, in a new series of graphic novels called the Sam and Friends mysteries.
Mary lives on farm in Clear Creek, Ontario, with her husband, Larry, three dogs and two of their three children. Their other daughter just got married, so there will be room now for another dog!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews
September 25, 2019
3.5 stars- Another cute Scooby Doo-esque Sam & Friends mystery!
August 26, 2017
Sam is no ordinary dog, he’s a detective dog who goes looking for adventure if nothing is happening. By looking at Sam, you would think he was a regular dog but Sam can also talk to ten-year-old Jennie. Sam is full of funny remarks and sarcasm, and is one dog, you will come to love. Using their creative and imitative minds, Sam and Jennie can make a mundane thing something extravagate.
I thought this child’s graphic novel was cute and fun. I liked the relationship that Sam has with Jennie, they seem to feed off each other. Jennie’s friends know that Sam can talk to her so Jennie relays Sam’s comments to her friends which allow Sam to be part of the conversation. The storyline is not complex. I enjoyed the story and I think young children will too. In this novel, Jennie is going on a weekend trip to Sagawa Lake with her family. Jennie takes along her friend Beth and of course, Sam. The man that lends them a boat, makes a comment about Sagawa having a secret and tells them to be vigilant. This is all Sam needs to believe there is a mystery surrounding Sagawa and if there is not one, Sam’s mind will invent one. When the girls stumble upon an old diary commenting about evil being in the lake, the girls know that they will have to do some investigating to see what they can find, with Sam leading the way. Sam is one smart, fearless dog as they go looking for clues. The mystery is solved at the end of the novel and Sam is ready for another adventure. I liked the black-and-white illustrations and the text was easy enough for a young elementary student. These are great graphic novels for young children and would make a great bedtime story for some children. This novel is part of a series yet I read this one out of order in the series and I had no problem following the storyline.
I thought this child’s graphic novel was cute and fun. I liked the relationship that Sam has with Jennie, they seem to feed off each other. Jennie’s friends know that Sam can talk to her so Jennie relays Sam’s comments to her friends which allow Sam to be part of the conversation. The storyline is not complex. I enjoyed the story and I think young children will too. In this novel, Jennie is going on a weekend trip to Sagawa Lake with her family. Jennie takes along her friend Beth and of course, Sam. The man that lends them a boat, makes a comment about Sagawa having a secret and tells them to be vigilant. This is all Sam needs to believe there is a mystery surrounding Sagawa and if there is not one, Sam’s mind will invent one. When the girls stumble upon an old diary commenting about evil being in the lake, the girls know that they will have to do some investigating to see what they can find, with Sam leading the way. Sam is one smart, fearless dog as they go looking for clues. The mystery is solved at the end of the novel and Sam is ready for another adventure. I liked the black-and-white illustrations and the text was easy enough for a young elementary student. These are great graphic novels for young children and would make a great bedtime story for some children. This novel is part of a series yet I read this one out of order in the series and I had no problem following the storyline.
June 5, 2025
The art style reminds me of a web comic, though as far as I can tell, it's not. It really does make me think I might have read it before online and just forgot I did.
The story is cute, and easy enough to pick up despite being a book 2: Sam is a sheepdog, and (only) Jennie can understand what Sam is thinking. The rest of the story is the family is going camping, and Sam is eager to find a mystery or treasure she can become famous for solving/finding.
The mystery—clues to which Sam found practically on command—is that there's a lake monster, described in an old diary Sam finds hidden in their cabin. Of course, as is appropriate for the target audience for this type of book, the "monster" is reasonably explained and dispelled, so a fun "horror" adventure that isn't too scary. A very nice read!
The story is cute, and easy enough to pick up despite being a book 2: Sam is a sheepdog, and (only) Jennie can understand what Sam is thinking. The rest of the story is the family is going camping, and Sam is eager to find a mystery or treasure she can become famous for solving/finding.
The mystery—clues to which Sam found practically on command—is that there's a lake monster, described in an old diary Sam finds hidden in their cabin. Of course, as is appropriate for the target audience for this type of book, the "monster" is reasonably explained and dispelled, so a fun "horror" adventure that isn't too scary. A very nice read!
February 4, 2026
The kids and Sam are out at the lake on what looks like a normal, boring camping trip. But of course they have to go hunting for a rumored lake monster.
This is the second book in this series and it's every bit as fun as the first. I can't wait to read the next!
This is the second book in this series and it's every bit as fun as the first. I can't wait to read the next!
September 17, 2018
Cute art, cool concept, the most disappointing ending I’ve ever read.
October 22, 2023
The library didn't have book 1, but the stories seem to be episodic.
I like the dog Sam's design, very cute.
I like the dog Sam's design, very cute.
February 28, 2014
The main characters in this book are Sam, a big shaggy sheep dog and his friend (owner) Jennie and her friend Beth. They go on a family vacation to an island and before they leave the mainland an old native warns them of the monster in Lake Sagawa. Sam and Jennie are able to talk to each other and Sam thinks of himself as a great detective and is bored because he doesn’t think there will be any adventure on the island until he hears the old man’s warning. So of course when they get to the island they are nervous about the monster. When they get to their cabin they find a diary written by a girl that was the daughter of the original owner, in her diary she speaks of the monster in the lake and her fear. So they go exploring to see if they can figure out the mystery. While exploring they see something glowing under the water, and strange faces painted on the rocks. This sends them running-scared back to the cabin. This goes on for a few nights with more mystery and scary sights. They finally solve the mystery, which was scuba divers using high powered lights to study marine life in the lake and a huge seven foot sturgeon (fish) that lives in the lake.
Review- I love dogs, anything that reminds me of my youth and a good mystery so I am giving this book a great review. I think it can spark a lot of imagination in its young readers. I give this series a 4.
Self-This book reminds me of when I was a teenager my friends and I used to go stay on Birch Island on South Branch Lake just as the family did in this book. Those were some of the favorite memories I have of my earlier days. In the book the children are spooked by a loud sound coming from the lake that they discover are the Loons (water fowl) calling to each other, they make a beautiful sound that I look forward to hearing each time I go back home to Maine.
Media-This could be connected to the Loch Ness monster. Is she real or is it just the wild imagination of people as was the case with the children in this book when they saw the light under the water.
World-I am sure there are hundreds of stories around the world that are passed down from generation to generation by the elders to the children just like the old man did in this story. I bet they get wilder each time they are told.
Review- I love dogs, anything that reminds me of my youth and a good mystery so I am giving this book a great review. I think it can spark a lot of imagination in its young readers. I give this series a 4.
Self-This book reminds me of when I was a teenager my friends and I used to go stay on Birch Island on South Branch Lake just as the family did in this book. Those were some of the favorite memories I have of my earlier days. In the book the children are spooked by a loud sound coming from the lake that they discover are the Loons (water fowl) calling to each other, they make a beautiful sound that I look forward to hearing each time I go back home to Maine.
Media-This could be connected to the Loch Ness monster. Is she real or is it just the wild imagination of people as was the case with the children in this book when they saw the light under the water.
World-I am sure there are hundreds of stories around the world that are passed down from generation to generation by the elders to the children just like the old man did in this story. I bet they get wilder each time they are told.
November 26, 2012
I thought Lake Monster Mix-Up was a pretty good mystery story. It sort of reminded me of Scooby-Doo, both in terms of its innocuousness, and in terms of its premise (a couple of kids attempt to solve mysteries with their doggie detective companion). The mystery was suspenseful and slightly hair-raising, but I really don't think it would be terrifying to too many kids. It sort of rests between stories in which a doll has gone missing, and stories in the vein of the Goosebumps series. The graphic novel format was a great way to tell the mystery because good visualization skills are often needed in order to unravel a mystery story. If a reader needs visual aids in order to support that process, then a graphic novel is the way to go.
My niece likes the idea of mystery stories, and she likes the idea of graphic novels, so I checked this out for her. I think she would have enjoyed the story, I think she would have found the vocabulary to be right at a comfortable reading level for her, and I think she'd have wanted more stories from this series. Unfortunately, she barely even looked at this book, and I'm not really sure why. The illustrations are all black and white, no color, so maybe she just likes her graphic novels to have some color (can't say I blame her). It's also possible that she is just approaching the age where she needs and wants to choose her own books. If so, yea (but WAH!!! My girl is growing up!)! :-)
My niece likes the idea of mystery stories, and she likes the idea of graphic novels, so I checked this out for her. I think she would have enjoyed the story, I think she would have found the vocabulary to be right at a comfortable reading level for her, and I think she'd have wanted more stories from this series. Unfortunately, she barely even looked at this book, and I'm not really sure why. The illustrations are all black and white, no color, so maybe she just likes her graphic novels to have some color (can't say I blame her). It's also possible that she is just approaching the age where she needs and wants to choose her own books. If so, yea (but WAH!!! My girl is growing up!)! :-)
July 9, 2012
This is book 2 in the "A Sam & Friends Mystery" graphic novel series. Sam is a dog who enjoys solving mysteries with her friends. In this adventure Sam and her friends, ten-year-olds Jennie and Beth, go to Sagawa Lake. At first everything seems boring, but soon a local man asks if the girls are afraid of the lake and the mystery begins.
This graphic novel uses black-and-white pictures to lead the reader through the story. Each frame shows great character detail of emotion and the action of the story. This is a story that would work well for beginning readers or non-readers because they can figure out a lot of the story context from the pictures.
This graphic novel uses black-and-white pictures to lead the reader through the story. Each frame shows great character detail of emotion and the action of the story. This is a story that would work well for beginning readers or non-readers because they can figure out a lot of the story context from the pictures.
March 23, 2013
I'll use this one to represent the four I've read. This is a fun little mystery series for the kids who like graphic novels. Sam is a dog and her friends are human girls, one of whom can understand her. Sam has a pretty vivid imagination and a knack for making the humans buy into her misunderstandings of the world around her. These misunderstandings are the basis for the "mysteries" they end up solving.
November 24, 2013
a very tame mystery graphic novel for kids.
July 22, 2014
Cute story. Though the lake monster is explained, it feels done too quickly.
March 12, 2016
3 1/2 stars. This is a cute series. Not too demanding--a bit of a low-rent Scooby Doo. Plenty of kid appeal here.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews