Small Spaces (Small Spaces Quartet)
New York Times bestselling adult author of The Bear and the Nightingale makes her middle grade debut with a creepy, spellbinding ghost story destined to become a classic. Now in paperback. After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie who only finds solace in books discovers a chilling ghost story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who loved her, and a peculiar deal made with "the smiling man"--a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price.
Captivated by the tale, Ollie begins to wonder if the smiling man might be real when she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about on a school trip to a nearby farm. Then, later, when her school bus breaks down on the ride home, the strange bus driver tells Ollie and her classmates: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.
Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed these warnings. As the trio head out into the woods--bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them--the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small."
And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.
Captivated by the tale, Ollie begins to wonder if the smiling man might be real when she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about on a school trip to a nearby farm. Then, later, when her school bus breaks down on the ride home, the strange bus driver tells Ollie and her classmates: "Best get moving. At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie's previously broken digital wristwatch begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.
Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed these warnings. As the trio head out into the woods--bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them--the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: "Avoid large places. Keep to small."
And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.
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Community Reviews
This was EVERYTHING I want in a middle grade ghost story. It was Perfection.
Cannot wait to read the sequel.
Cannot wait to read the sequel.
My gosh I love Katherine Arden. This YA story is scary and fun, and a bit disturbing. And lucky us, there's a sequel too.
This book was so. freaking. good.
The characters were realistic, the plot was interesting, and the writing style was fantastic.
Small Spaces is a fast-paced middle grade horror novel jam-packed with suspension, fright, and fun. The character's are relatable, making the story that much more enjoyable.
Ollie Adler was a great main character. She showed bravery, selflessness, cleverness, and compassion, while also being a little sarcastic and rude. She had her flaws, but she's definitely a better main character than Harry Potter could ever be.
The side character, Coco and Brian, were contrasting characters, which I absolutely loved. There's really not much to say about them other than the fact that I loved them.
And the plot twists? Top tier. I'm the type of person who can predict any plot twist, sniff out a twist villain, see foreshadowing in even the smallest things. But for this book, everything is so cleverly placed that it makes for a few shocking reveals that are hard to see coming.
All in all, I'm giving this book a 9/10 stars. My only critique is that the writing did get a bit confusing at times, but it wasn't confusing enough to completely lower my rating. I'm very excited to read the 2nd book in this series, Dead Voices. I'm very glad I chose this as my first horror novel. It did not disappoint.
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