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47 pages 1 hour read

Small Spaces

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

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Book Brief

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Katherine Arden

Small Spaces

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

216

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Vermont • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

Lexile Level

HL570L

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Super Short Summary

In Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces, 11-year-old Ollie Adler, grieving her mother's death, discovers a mysterious book foretelling the dangers of a figure called the smiling man. During a school trip to a haunted farm, she encounters animate scarecrows and uncovers the truth behind the eerie warnings, ultimately learning valuable lessons about loss and forging new friendships.

Mysterious

Suspenseful

Dark

Unnerving

Adventurous

Reviews & Readership

4.3

29,008 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Katherine Arden's Small Spaces garners praise for its atmospheric narrative and well-crafted suspense, captivating readers with a chilling yet heartfelt story. Reviewers highlight the strong character development and engaging plot. However, some critique the pacing as uneven. Overall, it's lauded as an engrossing read for middle-grade audiences interested in supernatural themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Small Spaces?

A reader who would enjoy Katherine Arden's Small Spaces is typically fond of middle-grade fiction with a knack for spine-tingling adventure and supernatural elements. Fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline or R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series will revel in its chilling atmosphere and brave young protagonist.

4.3

29,008 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Olivia “Ollie” Adler

An intelligent sixth grader with an eidetic memory and a love for chess and softball, she navigates personal loss while encountering a supernatural mystery in her rural Vermont town.

A star hockey player and Ollie's classmate, known for his athleticism and kindness, who undertakes a journey with Ollie to unravel the threats posed by an unknown danger.

A diminutive and seemingly fragile transfer student whose climbing skills become essential, she develops key friendships despite her initial outsider status.

A charming yet mysterious worker on the Webster farm, whose true nature and intentions are intricately linked to the supernatural events affecting the sixth-grade class.

A substitute bus driver with peculiar appearances and behavior, later revealed to have a complex connection to the sinister occurrences surrounding the students.

Ollie's supportive teacher, who provides historical context about local folklore and mysterious happenings without knowing the extent of their reality.

The troubled owner of a local farm, inadvertently tied to supernatural elements through decisions made under duress, impacting the sixth-grade class.

A historical figure and former owner of the farm whose decisions in the past resonate with current events and mysteries encountered by Ollie.

Ollie's nurturing father embodies both parental roles following the family's loss, providing emotional and practical support to his daughter.

Ollie's adventurous mother, whose legacy and spirit influence Ollie's courage and choices posthumously through subtle messages and guidance.

A prankster in Ollie's class whose antics provide comic relief, he undergoes a transformative experience that deepens his connection to his friends.

Book Details
Pages

216

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Vermont • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

Lexile Level

HL570L

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