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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has not influenced the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Review:
I have read several of Katherine Arden's books. They are full of beautiful imagery, strong characters, and creative stories. Small Spaces, her newest middle-grade novel, continues with these high standards. This was a fun, creepy story that younger readers will love.
What I Liked:
Setting:
An eerie little town in Autumn, a school trip to a farm (with a haunted past), a strange encounter with a woman muttering about a book. All of these work to create a sense of foreboding that is compelling and scary. Not to mention, the scarecrows...
via GIPHY
Characters:
Ollie, the main character, will be a kid others will identify with. Ollie is a girl who's mother has died. She tries to remain under the radar, as she can't stand the sympathetic tone of teachers, and her fellow students. She even lashes out against her father when he tries to tell her to move on. No one seems to truly acknowledge her right to her own feelings.
I also liked Brian and Coco, who's characters went beyond stereotypes and showed Ollie not to judge others. I liked that the novel took the time to really develop these characters and make them an important part of the story.
The Book:
Although it is not a person, the book that Ollie steals is practically a living character. We get to read portions of it as the story progresses, which gives the backstory of the farm and the "smiling man". As Ollie and her friends try to find their way, they meet various people who might be connected to the book's story. It all make for a chilling tale.
Story:
This is a creepy story, but one that is not too scary for middle-grade readers (ten and up). I will never look at scarecrows or school trips the same way again! The sense of dread permeates the story, which makes for a page-turning, exciting story. I hope you don't mind if I am being vague, but I really don't want to give away spoilers.
I will say that this is a perfect book to read as Halloween approaches. It is fun, exciting, and scary.
Rating:
Release Date: July 9th, 2019 (in paperback). Original release was September 25th, 2018
Author: Katherine Arden
Publisher: Puffin Books
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy
Page Length: 216 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation:
This is a perfect book to read as Halloween approaches. It is fun, exciting, and scary. Middle-grade readers, and adults will love it.
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