Who doesn't love a ghost story? This book will grab middle grade students from the first few pages, much like Mother Hemlock grabbed Gretel's arm. For those who have read Small Spaces, the Smiling Man returns to play games with Ollie, Coco, and Brian, that have dire consequences. Checkmate!!

Dead Voices is the second book in this pre-teen series by Katherine Arden. The first, Small Spaces, was a spooky story about the smiling man turning children into scarecrows. New friends Ollie Adler, Coco, and Brian worked together to escape with the help of a very special watch of Ollie's. Dead Voices picks up at Christmas when the friends, Ollie's widowed father and Coco's single mother are driving through a snow storm to Mount Hemlock, Vermont's newest ski lodge. Mr. Adler won 5 tickets for a weekend stay, so off they go. The kids are beset by odd dreams on the long ride and Coco is sure she sees a man in a ski parka on the side of the road, pointing back the way they came, but they arrive safely. Mount Hemlock is an odd place, decorated with an assortment of dead animals mounted in goofy positions. The kids are understandably creeped out especially when strange noises and images appear once they head upstairs. The power goes out, the generators fail, and a new person stumbles into the lodge. Coincidentally, as Mr. Voland arrives, the storm increases making it impossible for anyone to leave. Mr. Volandis not a guest, but a reporter, investigating ghost sightings - apparently Mt. Hemlock is full of them. The three children soon become embroiled in a ghost investigation that is not at all what it first appeared to be. Ollie is communicating with her mother by using the watch that saved them in Small Spaces, the watch Ollie's mom was wearing when her plane crashed. As Mr. Voland teaches the three to use the Ouija board he just happen to bring with them, trouble hits and the kids are fleeing from and searching for some pretty scary ghosts. Coco, the most timid of the three, is forced to overcome her fears and use her excellent mind and her superior chess skills to help the other two.

This was an intricate, scary tale. Middle school kids are going to love this! I already recommend Katherine Arden to my students and have bought several copies of Small Spaces. I can't wait until they can read Dead Voices. The next installment is on my wish list!!

Coco, Ollie and Brian are on their way to a nice winter break at a resort skiing and relaxing with Ollie's dad, and Coco's mom. But a snow storm hits on their way up and doesn't let up. They find they are the only ones to make it up to the resort and decide to make the best of it because, you know, it can't snow forever can it? Than a strange man shows up with a story he is from the press to cover the ghost stories from the old building and Ollie's watch starts going off, never good. Than the weirdness really begins with a big smile on its face.

This is a great middle grade/any grade/age creepy story. I actually said something at work about this book and found several adults that read it and were upset I already read it, as they had borrowed ahem, ahem Small Spaces from their kids (now I am jealous as I missed that one). The action is non stop, the suspense keeps you holding your breath, and there are twists and turns all throughout the book that will keep you guessing right up until the end. It had me reading non stop and up late. This is a book that reaches out and grabs you and will not let you go until the end. I really hope there are more and that I don't miss out ever again.

After escaping the clutches of evil scarecrows in Small Spaces, Coco, Ollie and Brian just want to go back to being normal kids. When Ollie’s dad wins a prize getaway at a new ski resort, the three are looking forward to hitting the slopes. Well, Ollie and Brian are—Coco isn’t so sure about skiing, so when a winter storm shuts down the lift she’s secretly glad for some time to sit in front of the fire playing board games with her closest friends. But when strange things start happening that aren’t easily explained by the storm, it soon becomes apparent that Ollie, Coco and Brian will once again be battling supernatural forces. Arden’s spine tingling addition to the haunted house genre will prompt more than one reader to want to sleep with the lights on. Ghosts with uncertain agendas create distrust and build suspicion—neither the characters nor the readers can be sure which might be helpful and which are truly malevolent, and in fact, some are clearly both. There is a fair amount of kid empowerment here as well. Though they get some aid from Ollie’s dead mother, for the most part, the children must use their own wits to prevail against the evil within the house and their nemesis, the Smiling Man. Enough back story is given for readers to enjoy and understand this without having read its predecessor, but after reading this most will be eager for more adventures with the trio of plucky preteens. This is a perfect selection for fans of Hahn, Stine, or Bellairs.

Ollie, Coco, and Brian are ready for a vacation at a small ski lodge. After escaping the smiling man and the scarecrows, their nerves are on edge. A blizzard leaves them stranded and no one is able to get up or down the mountain. But, they have their parents with them, so they will be safe. But, why then does Ollie’s watch say “Beware”? The atmosphere of the book is unique and vivid. The characters are well developed and their thought processes are elucidated. The plot is layered and complex. Fans of horror, ghosts, and mystery will enjoy reading this book.

I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this middle grade novel. The descriptions were vivid and it sucked me right in. Unfortunately, I don't know that many of my students would enjoy it. It's a great scary story, but I think the author does too good of a job and it's a little too scary for fourth and fifth grade. I would definitely read more in the series though!

I was absolutely charmed by the previous book in this four-part series (Small Spaces). I was thrilled to return to Vermont and reunite with Ollie, Coco, and Brian (Mr. Adler is always an added bonus, coming through with the dad jokes!)

I appreciated that in this sequel, we got to know Coco a bit better, with parts of the story being told from her perspective. I hope we get the chance to see things through Brian's eyes in a future book because at one point he (literally) disappears from the story.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for Middle Grade and adults alike, we all like to be spooked a bit from time to time! I appreciate this this is written for a young person to understand, but I never felt like it was "dumbing" anything down, it respects readers of any age.

Somehow I missed that this book was coming up until a week before its release date. I loved Small Spaces. I took it home to see if I might want to book talk it last spring and tore through it in one night, it was riveting. Dead Voices brings the same suspense, atmosphere, and young characters who are a realistic combination of grit and vulnerability. It was good to see Coco being developed more in this one. I feel like I finally understand the term "spine-tingling". I would say that this one was far more graphic than Small Spaces. The ghosts' injuries are pretty frightening. I'm sure this isn't the last we'll see of Coco, Ollie, and Brian, perhaps next book will be Brian's chance to shine? Although by the third one it's going to be hard to imagine how the parents can still be in the dark.

Love this series and actually bought both books! Keep up the awesome. Love the characters and the spine-tingling adventures. More please!!!

Dead Voices is a thrilling, exciting and spooky story that is perfect for kids looking for a "scare". Does not cross the line of "too creepy", but will definitely give any kids reading this book a great thrill. Can't wait to have a copy of this for my students to read and enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I read a book for children I try to read it through the lens of my students. Sometimes I love children's literature and sometimes I don't. Usually when I love it I can present it to them in a way they love it, too. Sometimes they love something and I just don't quite feel the same. It's OK for me, but great for them. This book fell in the latter. Would I put it on my bookshelf in class? Yes, I would. Would some of my kids love it? Of course! What's not to love? Ghost stories and children are a timeless combination, regardless of what5 parents think. Kids love the other and kids love to be scared. With that in mind, I would buy a copy or two and put them in the book boxes. And kids would love it.

For me, it was just OK. I didn't read the first book in the series but you get a brief synopsis of it. Sounds interesting. Magical worlds and pumpkin men! Great! This one had those same children, Ollie, Coco, and Brian, who have never told their parents what happened to them before, go on a ski trip with Ollie's dad and Coco's mom. Driving through the snowstorm Coco sees someone in the middle of the road. No one else does...and so begins the ghost tale. Once again these kids get to battle the forces of the other. And that's what kids will like about it. Kids getting to fight for themselves. Kids not needing adults for everything. Kids getting to go on their own adventure. Maybe I'll bring in the first book of the series, too.

Ollie, Coco, and Brian are back in an even creepier (is that possible?!) tale. The three are excited to spend a weekend skiing at a new local resort, but end up instead snowed in as a bad storm wreaks havoc on the power and temperatures. And even worse? Ghosts.

I loved the first book of this series so I was extremely pleased to discover the second was just as good, if not better, than the original. I expected the main twist in the book, but still found it thoroughly entertaining and extremely creepy! Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The descriptive elements make everything feel so realistic. Katherine Arden is truly a master at world-building and storytelling.

My only complaint with this series remains that I am always left wanting more... in a good way! Looking forward to the remaining two books of this series!

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me with an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

When I saw that R. L. Stine talked favorably about this book, of course i had to check it out! I haven't read the author's other book, but thankfully I didn't feel like I missed much by not doing so. Sure there's a bit of missing backstory, but I got a good enough feel for the characters, their relationship, and what came before. At times it almost felt like I was getting that information a bit too often-- the narrative repeated itself a few times-- but that could either be because it was an ARC or because of the younger audience.

Either way, the actual horror elements were done so well. It was genuinely creepy and I felt uneasy a lot. When it got to the climax, my heart was actually pounding and I was speeding through pages to see if the kids made it out okay. I think this would be just scary enough for the younger readers. The only nitpick I have is that the author uses the name brand Ouija board instead of the more generic term of a spirit board. And it wasn't even used properly! I'm actually surprised that wasn't used in the plot somewhere.

Overall, this was a great scary story for younger readers! I'll definitely be reading the author's other book, as well as be on the look-out for more of her work.

I have never been much for spooky books or ghost stories. I mostly just passed them up without even giving them a chance. But then I had the opportunity to read Dead Voices. What a great entry into spooky children's fiction! This sequel to Small Spaces grabbed me from the very first page. There are great characters to root for in this story, and they have compelling backstories which make you quickly come to care about them. This story gets creepy as a good ghost story should, and it had me turning the pages as fast as I could go. I highly recommend this book to the lover of a good ghost story and also to newcomers to spooky fiction as a great introduction to the genre!
#netgalley #deadvoices

In this sequel to Small Spaces, Ollie, Coco and Brian are taking what’s supposed to be a relaxing ski vacation at Hemlock Lodge when a sudden blizzard cuts the power and their connection to the outside world. The Lodge has other guests, ones that are no longer alive. Out of nowhere, ghost hunter Voland Shores appears to investigate the hauntings. The ghosts warn the kids to watch out for Voland even as he warns them to be wary of the ghosts. Who can they trust? This excellent follow up to Small Spaces is perfect for middle grade readers looking for a spooky story without blood and guts

This sequel to Small Spaces is a HUGE step down. I ranked Small Spaces as one of the best books of 2018 and this one doesn't come close.

It starts off great. Ollie, Coco, Brian, Ollie's dad, and Coco's mom are riding in the car when a snowstorm hits. Will they make it to the ski lodge or will they end up in a ditch taking on zombie snowmen? Unfortunately, it's option 1. Zombie snowmen would have been so much more original. Instead, we have the crew arriving safely at a creepy lodge where they are the only customers. Immediately, the ghost dreams start, generators fail, and a mysterious "reporter" arrives. At this point the plot is dragging, and my hope for an exciting sequel is squashed. The reporter isn't who he seems and is actually a carry-over from book 1, a failure in my opinion. Ollie walks through a mirror into ghost land to save the orphans who used to occupy the lodge. It's all a muddled, uninspiring mess with a less than stellar ending. Over-the-top disappointment.

If you're looking for an excellent book about a hotel receiving guests during winter break I recommend Greenglass House.

I really loved this one! In this second installment (I believe there will be 4), Olivia, Coco and Brian have to escape from the clutches of (no spoilers) some evil people, but this time, they are stranded in a haunted ski lodge in the middle of a snow storm with very little power (weak generators). In some ways, it wasn't quite as creepy as the first one, but I think that's partly because I knew what to expect. Although the thought of all the dead animals was pretty creepy for me. WHY do people insist on having taxidermy animals around the house?! What I liked more about this book was that the perspective switched between Coco and Olivia, and you were able to find out more about what they were thinking. I also liked that we got a little bit of Olivia's dad and Coco's mom. I'm hoping the next book will feature more of Brian.

Special thanks to Katherine Arden, NetGalley, and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dead Voices rejoins Ollie, Coco, and Brian as they travel to a newly restored ski lodge for a fun weekend with Ollie's dad and Coco's mom. Even before they arrive, strange things begin to happen. Middle grade students who love to be scared by ghost stories will love this book. Strong girls are well represented.

Wow, I thought that Small Spaces was creepy and scary, but this new story is perhaps even scarier. The ghosts are creepier and the setting is quite spooky. I can’t wait to tell my students about it and get it into their hands.

Ollie, Coco and Brian are all back, having survived their ordeal in the corn maze and with the Smiling Man. But now they are stuck in a haunted lodge with some seriously creepy ghosts. This book is told from both Ollie’s and Coco’s point of view. It was great learning more about Coco. I really liked her in the first book, but she really starts to shine in this story. She is super brave and smart and really comes through to save everyone. Ollie also does an awesome job of figuring things out and making sacrifices to save her friends and father. Brian did not have that big of a role this time around, but he is still able to be there and help when things get tough.

The setting of the ski lodge that used to be an orphanage was so perfect for this story. I also liked the addition of the stuffed animals, they added to the creep factor, especially when they started to move. The ghosts were scary and very well done. I also loved their use of the Ouija board to communicate not just with ghosts, but each other. Mr Voland, a ghost hunter who shows up during the storm, was a great addition to the story. He gave the story a needed touch of the supernatural at the beginning. But of course he proves to be not at all what he seems by the end of the story.

I don’t want to say much more about the book for fear of spoiling it. I haven’t yet started this author’s Winternight trilogy, it has been on my TBR for awhile now. But if it is anything like these two middle grade books then I am all in. This is an author to check out if you like books with atmosphere, believable characters and a spine tingling story.

After reading Small Spaces, I was eagerly waiting for Dead Voices. I have to say that the first book seemed just as creepy as this one. Maybe the fall theme with the scarecrows just set the mood better. This book was set in the winter after winning a trip to a ski resort. There was plenty of action, mystery and suspense and it starred our three little friends, Ollie, Coco and Brian. I think the ending was a little rushed. Not all the loose ends were tied up. I know, that can lead to another installment but there were things that could have been explained that weren’t and the parents didn’t seem very “parenty.” Overall, I enjoyed the book and I thank Net Galley and Penguin Group for the ability to read this ARC and give an unbiased review.