A beautiful, atmospheric middle grade story by the author of the Bear and the Nightingale. I really enjoyed this. The prose was sparse but still descriptive and the themes of grieving and loss and moving on were beautifully captured. The characters were endearing and the setting was great. Accessible to adults as well as children.

Katherine Arden can do no wrong.

This is pure short and creepy perfection. Just the right side of scary, more infinitely creepy than terrifying. Hinting at the monster under the bed, not outright showing them too often. It’s brilliantly done. The scarecrows mixed with the myth of the smiling man is definitely enough for me to be glad I read it in daylight (just about!)

Her writing style shines through too - while being noticeably different to the Winternight book, it’s still gloriously descriptive and gorgeously written.

Ollie is a girl trying to come to terms with the loss of her mother. Too smart and wanting to get away from it all. Her love for the book within the book is fab too - I always enjoy that. The way we get the story and the bits of the real world intertwined is perfect.

I also liked how Coco and Brian trusted her and stepped up when needed. They made great allies, and even friends.

4 stars for a scary middle grade book.
3 stars for an adult reading it. Thought it could have gone a little scarier.

Ollie is an outcast at school ever since her mother's death. One day she comes upon a lady at the river trying to throw a book in. Ollie rescues the book Small Spaces and learns about events that happened 100 years ago...but it all just made up, right? When she goes on a field trip to a local farm with her 6th grade class, Ollie is not so sure...

Overall the story wasn’t bad, it just took too long to really get interesting. The overall idea of the story was interesting enough. When Ollie meets Ms. Webster at the lake was the only good part in the beginning and then the good stuff didn’t come until about half way through. Honestly, I expected more since R. L. Stine had praised it so much and I always loved reading his books as a kid. Also, some of the description could have been removed. Parts went on longer than they needed to for describing.

I know this is an uncorrected proof given for free in exchange for a review, however the formatting of this ebook was so bad as to be unintelligible. Throughout the text, the chapter numbers listed in the table of contents are repeated at random, frequently truncating or splitting up words. This problem got persistently worse through the first half of the book, eventually with the addition of "(short.)" randomly sprinkled throughout as well. The worst part, however, was that, beginning at about the 20% mark, all words that began with the letter f had the beginning letter and the adjacent vowel removed from the text; For example, fire is printed as "re" in the text, fingers as "ngers", etc.

I persisted in reading it until the 50% mark, at which point I declared that the interruptions were so disruptive it had become impossible for me to continue on. I would have loved to have been able to give a comprehensive review of Ms. Arden's story as I feel certain I could have loved it, having loved The Winternight Trilogy coupled with my deep and unyielding affection for all things Halloween. Perhaps the publisher would consider releasing a less erroneous mobi file, but until that time I am afraid that a review will not be coming from this quarter until the book is officially released.

I just love creepy ghost stories! This story was fascinating! I was literally on the edge of my seat while reading it! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

What a fun little read!
I wasn't sure how creepy a middle grade novel could be but I was pleasantly surprised. Should I mention that I hate scarecrows? That may have been a contributing factor but regardless, it was great.
I adora Arden's writing. This is just as atmospheric as her adult fantasy and I can not wait to pick up a copy of Dead Voices next month!
Reading Small Spaces was like a blast from the past. It reminded me of reading Goosebumps as a child (over 20 years ago!).
This is more than just a scary story too. Grief and friendship play an important role in Ollie's journey. She is still grieving the loss of her mother and has closed herself off to others. Over the course of this book she begins to trust and open back up to the idea of friendship. Ollie, Brian and Coco were such lovable characters and I like how the events of the story bring them together.

I don't read much middle grade but this is certainly a good place to start! It'd make for a great Halloween read as well. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and this trio's next adventure!

A well written, deliciously chilling, scary novel about a Shadow Man, a very sad and clever 11 year old, and wishes that shouldn’t be granted.
I loved it and it’s perfect for middle schoolers as well as all ages.

It wasn’t for me. I didn’t like the Maze Runner and this was similar but with a spooky Halloween feel and for younger readers. For example some people go missing. I totally think the Smiling Man kills them but we never find out. When he wins the people die but again it’s just my thoughts. I have so many thoughts on the Smiling Man. Anyways, this story follows Ollie who is a self recluse at twelve years old after losing her mom. She somehow find this woman at the edge of a stream crying hysterically, holding a book. And the story begins.

“That’s the bargain. Make the arrangements. Then give the book to the water.”

Why would anyone go near this woman and then take the book. They legit fight over not throwing it in the water because Ollie loves books. Then the rest of the book is spent hiding and running away from Scarecrows. I was just not into it. It’s not because it’s a kids book either. I love kid books. It was just mot for me.

If you like spooky stories with magical watches that help you out (maybe her mom’s ghost) and kids that are turned into Scarecrows this is the book for you. It just happened to not be for me.

Book: Small Spaces
Author: Katherine Arden
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for providing me with an ARC.

I love Katherine Arden’s books. The Bear and the Nightingale is just a beautiful work of fantasy. I will admit that I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out, but it was amazing. It is middle grade so it’s not as scary as other horror books, but this was creepy enough. I was would rank it up with almost a Coraline level of creepy. I just couldn’t look away. I had to know what was going to happen. Plus, I also read this next to a hayfield, so it added in the creepy factor. I kept wondering if scarecrows were going to jump out at me.

The characters were actually well written and very well developed. I know in middle grade the characters don’t seem to be as rememberable as other levels, but these ones were fantastic. I mean, it is Katherine Arden and she does some of the best character development that I have seen in books. Ollie is the main character. She lives with her dad, has lost her mom, and is very bookish. She’s really bright and a bit of a loner. She saves a book from being thrown away, which is where all of the trouble starts. She and her class go on a field trip to a farm. It is here that we met some very interesting characters. We have the normal school kids and the creepy characters.

And they are creepy characters, let me tell you. I never used to be bothered by scarecrows, but after reading this one, I think I may have to rethink my views. You know, now that I think about it, they are kind of creepy.

The setting is really good. We go to a very rural area, like where I live, and the bus breaks down. There’s no cell service and there’s this rather creepy fog moving in. Yeah and it’s fall. The prefect time for some scary things to happen. I got lots of good, fun Halloween vibes running through my veins as the plot got more and more intense. It was just, wow…Yeah, this is the kind of horror that I actually enjoy. Horror doesn’t have to be gory and violent, give me a good ghost story anytime.

Everything happens so quickly and leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. Katherine is very good at pulling the reader in and making you want to find out what is going to happen next. Agh! Once I started reading, I just couldn’t look away.

This book is out now. I highly recommend it.

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Katherine Arden is best known for her adult/young adult fantasy novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. With Small Spaces, Katherine Arden ventures into writing for middle school-aged children. This creepy horror book brought me back to my childhood where I stayed up late reading Lois Duncan, Richard Peck, and Joan Lowery Nixon. Those authors, among others, wrote horror books for children that were able to scare you without being gory.

The description of Small Spaces brought to mind the movie Jeepers Creepers 2 - a school bus full of children breaks down and they are in danger of something in the night/dark. That is where the similarities end. Arden teams up 3 students who are classmates but not friends. They leave the bus for the safety of the forest...

This story is tame compared to many of the horror movies children have seen in recent years. It is the innocence of the story while being scary and suspenseful that makes it such an interesting read.

Small Spaces is the first book in her Small Spaces series. The 2nd, Dead Voices, has a release date of August 27, 2019. I preordered it and will review it as soon as possible.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/24/19.

I realize Small Spaces was intended for kids, but as usual, Arden’s books break boundaries for reading demographics. This was a great story. It was imaginative, vivid, a fast paced adventurous read about three unlikely friends battling it out with their different strengths complimenting their fight against an evil opponent. Ollie, our protagonist, is trying to find herself after the devastating loss of her mother. Her desire for her greatest wish tested against what is the greatest good for the many will lead her down a road for the hardest choice she’s ever made, but makes her a worthy opponent for the Smiling Man. There’s nothing quite like an Arden story, and I can’t wait to read more of what she has to offer.

4-4.5

This is my fourth book by this author and I have to say that I'm a fan. This book was written for a slightly younger audience than her trilogy, although I wouldn't go too young as there were definitely some creepy/scary bits. Without giving away any spoilers, this is a story about Olivia Adler (Ollie) living numbly with her father after the sudden death of her mother and the adventure that follows after she discovers a mysterious book. Along the way she finds two friends as they race for their lives. It's not quite a 5 star as part of the ending was predictable, but I couldn't put it down, so it must have been a good story. I will never look at a scarecrow in the same way though! I am now very much looking forward to the second book!

It was grief that sent a young girl into a world of imagination, suspense and even a little middlegrade horror. SMALL SPACES by Katherine Arden is a little chilling and yet, the adventure is perfect for younger readers as it zooms past without getting bogged down in “adult” details!

Hidden within this well-written tale is a story of love and friendship that will warm an adult’s heart!

Looking for a perfect Halloween read for kids? Something that will make their spines tingle with excitement and a touch of scary fun?

I truly enjoyed this tale, even as an adult, with characters who genuinely feel like kids, act like kids, but just remember, stick to the SMALL SPACES and maybe leave a flashlight close at hand!

I received a complimentary copy from G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers!

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden is a super creepy tale filled with terrifyingly thick mist, scarecrows that come alive, and a haunting family history.

While labeled middle grade, this one REALLY gave me the creeps!!

I wasn’t expecting this to be nearly as creepy as it turned out to be! It was so atmospheric and the writing was so spot on that I could really imagine everything playing out in my head.

The story is about a girl, Ollie, who steals a book from a woman who was about to throw it in a river. Ollie brings the book back home with her and is immediately immersed in it.

In school the next day, one of her classmates gets the teacher talking about the ghost story of the farm that they are about to visit to learn about agriculture. The ghost story is eerily similar to the story in Ollie’s book, but she tried to wave it off as coincidence.

When her class gets to the farm, Ollie quickly realizes that it may not be just a coincidence. Weird things begin happening and when their school bus breaks down in the middle of really thick mist, Ollie doesn’t stick around to see what happens. Two other kids from the bus, Coco and Brian, also follow her into the mist.

I loved the three main characters! I cannot wait to learn more about them if they’re featured in the next book! Ollie was going through a rough time, but I loved how brave she was and how she didn’t put up with bullies. Coco was adorably pathetic, but definitely grew over the course of the book. I’d really like to see her hold her own more in the next tale. Brian was also a great character who grew a lot. I look forward to seeing more of his personal growth as well.

The storyline was perfectly paced and the plot was so interesting! There’s just something about thick creepy fog that spooks me. So add scarecrows that can move in the day if you’re not looking at them but get violent at night on top of that, and it’s a horror read for sure!

There was one scene that had me holding my breath! I was truly terrified by what was happening and could not stop reading.

I got some major Slenderman vibes while reading this!

This is one heck of a good book. I requested it because of RL Stine's review and I wasn't disappointed. It has it all--ghosts, a haunted town, a grieving young heroine. It's Juvenile Fiction but don't let that put you off. I thoroughly recommend!

Struggling with the loss of her mother, eleven-year-old Ollie isolates herself from the people and activities she once loved and finds comfort in her books...an activity she can do alone. While running away from school one afternoon she encounters a crying woman threatening to throw a book into the river. Ollie steals the book, titled Small Spaces, from the woman and in doing so discovers a mysterious and sinister story about "the smiling man" a sinister being who can grant your deepest desire...if you’re willing to pay the price. What Ollie believes to be a fictional tale soon becomes reality when a school trip to a local farm, one with a very dark history, puts her class in danger of becoming the Smiling Man's next victims.

Small Spaces is the first book in a new series by Katherine Arden as well as her middle grade fiction debut. Being a fan of the author’s ability to weave a magical tale such as in her Winternight trilogy (YA), I was very excited to read this tale of horror. The book is perfect for children who love spooky campfire tales without the stories being too scary, such as the R.L. Stein novels. The main protagonist is an interesting girl with several talents which she chooses not to pursue after the death of her mother. She will have to rely on these talents, the skills of two unexpected peers, and even some help from some friendly ghosts in order to rescue her class and escape the Smiling Man. Although it's difficult to relate to characters as an adult I feel that the intended audience will find the characters both relatable and enjoyable. There are some really charming moments between Ollie and her Dad, who loves to tell "Dad jokes" and there are also some positive lessons built into the story. Overall this was a fun, spooky tale and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to young horror readers. Even for a middle grade book, I found myself invested in the story and stayed up late to finish it.
The danger level was quite real without there being any real physical harm in the end, and there were a few surprising twists I wouldn't have envisioned.
The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste and the primary protagonist was defeated much too easily. There were several places where there was some seemingly obvious foreshadowing, but those plot lines were never even mentioned again, much less resolved. I would have loved it if some of the pieces pulled together more. 

If you're looking for a decent middle grade horror/suspense/mystery, I'd advise picking this one up.

This is a great Halloween kind of tale. It reminds me so much of the scary R.L. Stine books from my childhood...as in, the ones that scared me.

I absolutely loved this story. I was genuinely scared. I wasn't scared of scarecrows before. Now, I will never look at them the same way again.

It says this is a #1. If this is going to be a series, you can count me in as a loyal reader from here on out.

I plan on featuring this in an October post on my site as a must read for those who love scary stories.

This wasn't a bad book by any means but I think it is a middle grade book that doesn't translate well to being read by adults because I found the whole thing to be a bit too simplistic and obvious for me to enjoy it personally. There were some good moments and I'm sure a kid would have a great time reading this, but for me it was just okay. Also the ARC copy I got from NetGalley was formatted HORRIBLY, which doesn't affect my review in any way but I just wanted to mention it because it caused me to seek out the audio version from my library. It was a quick listen at 5 hours, and I just wanted to mention that the narrator did a good job.