Small Spaces

Katherine Arden

Sep 2018 · Small Spaces Quartet Book 1 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

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.

After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie doesn't think—she just acts, stealing the book and running away. As she begins to read the slender volume, Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who both 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.

Ollie is captivated by the tale until her school trip the next day to Smoke Hollow, a local farm with a haunting history all its own. There she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about. Could it be the story about the smiling man is true? Ollie doesn't have too long to think about the answer to that. On the way home, the school bus breaks down, sending their teacher back to the farm for help. But the strange bus driver has some advice for the kids left behind in his care: "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, a keepsake reminder of better times, begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.

Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed the bus driver's warning. 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.

Ratings and reviews

“Avoid large places at night. Keep to small.” ⚯͛ Fast-paced, creepy, and fun. A must-read! “You might get to know characters in books, Ollie thought, but getting to know a human was an entirely different thing.” ⚯͛ I love the characters. The friendship. The eerie atmosphere. I didn't expect the twist about the smiling man. Though I like the whole story, there are still plot holes. I have questions that hopefully will be answered by the next book. ⚯͛ Yay! Highly recommended to everyone who loves creepy middle-grade stories.

When I read the blurb for Small Spaces, I thought it would be fun to read along with my two mid-grade kiddos. One's a girly-girl, and the other is all rough and tough boy, so they have vastly different interests. They do, however, both love creepy stories and very little scares either of them. Needless to say, I was surprised when both of them scooted a little closer to me during some parts of this book. I was also a little relieved. Those scarecrows are downright creepy. With that in mind, I wouldn't recommend this one for younger kids or even older ones who are easily scared, but if your kids enjoy RL Stine, Stranger Things, and Goosebumps, they should like this one, and they'll even learn a few lessons along the way. The story is well-written and Arden certainly has a gift for setting a scene, the characters are developed, and the storyline covers a variety of genres and does a great job of tackling some tough topics, especially for that age group.

It's gettin'spooky in here! 🤣🤣🤣 When my kids were young I used to watch movies and TV shows before I let them. Now, with grandkids reading, I get to read books before they do and make a future TBR for them. Ya let's go with that 🤣🤣 Anywho...this was absolutely fun to read and makes the perfect book for Fall. If you read cozy mysteries (which I LOVE) this has that feel. There are some super spooky parts too...like pumpkin-headed scarecrows staring gap-toothed and hollow-eyed through windows...😳😳 That's the stuff of nightmares right there 🤣🤣 You don't have to be in Middle School to enjoy this. It's quick. It's fun. It's spooky enough and a perfect way to spend a dark morning (or night) reading. Find me on Instagram - @bookn.all.night

About the author

Katherine Arden is the New York Times bestselling author of the Winternight trilogy and the Small Spaces quartet. In addition to writing novels, she enjoys aimless travel, growing vegetables, and running wild through the woods with her dog. She lives in Vermont.