I really wanted to love this story but as I got deeper into it the plot unraveled and I was left with a lot of confusion. I liked the mysterious adventure but the events were too disconnected - who is the smiling man? Where did he come from.... what was his real intent? Was I reading too late at night and missing the main ideas? I really liked the characters but the story just never came together for me.

I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

A fun fall read. Arden does an excellent job with this and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

This was such a fun read! I'm a huge fan of Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy and was eager to pick up her first foray into middle grade books. Small Spaces did not disappoint, even for this adult-aged "kid." The story is creepy and compelling without being too scary for younger folks. I also really love the main character, the spunky yet isolated eleven-year-old Ollie. Her reluctant friendships, forged in the solving of a ghostly mystery, bring her from numbing grief to a renewed sense of courage and wholeness. I plan to pass this series along to my niece and nephew.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.


Wow I wish I had saved this for spooky season!! Also, can we look at this cover? Gorgeous. I'll definitely be picking up a physical edition for that alone 😍 also, of course, the stellar story inside.

I'm glad it's become universally known that scarecrows are creepy now. That being said, our main character Ollie knows better. Unlike a lot of middle grade books I've read, Ollie is sensible. She has a good head on her shoulders, is likeable, and is more fleshed out than a lot of other books geared toward younger crowds. She felt real. Her friends did too.

Also it really gave me the creeps! MORE than most adult horror/thriller books I've read! I would pick this up sometimes at night and promptly put it back down. The visualization that your brain paints from this are just too sharp lol. Seriously good writing.

So do I think a middle grade would like this? Yes. Absolutely. But also, this book is universal. I think any age could appreciate a good scary story.

Recommend!

I wanted a solid middle grade fantasy adventure story and I got a solid middle grade horror realism story! Ollie and her companions are well-written and compelling, I think even though this was middle grade it was quite spooky! This is also an honest depiction of depression and grief through the character of Ollie.

Students are always looking for books that will freak them out! This book will fit the bill perfectly. It is a scary story about Ollie who has had a great loss in her life and escapes her world through books. She is intrigued by a frightening tale just before going on a school field trip to a local farm where she comes upon the graves of the characters she was reading about. When their bus breaks down on the way back to school, extra creepiness ensues and the story will leave you never seeing scarecrows the same way again.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Small Spaces was a thrilling ride that would capture the interest of any student who loves a good scare. This book reminded me of a classic "Goosebumps" story, but with more tension and better writing. From the moment the students arrive at the farm and things start to go crazy. 11-year-old Ollie and two of her classmates are soon all alone trying to figure out what went wrong and whether they can fix it in time to save their classmates, and themselves. With plenty of creepy moments (but not too scary), Small Spaces was a wonderful supernatural thriller for any people who love a good fright.

WOW I really enjoyed this book. I was not expecting it to be actually scary because I am not the target demographic but parts of the book freaked me out. Ollie was a great character. The atmosphere was very eerie and strange. Brian and Coco were great too. I am going to be starting the next book soon.

Special thanks to Penguin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

This is a great & spooky Middle-grade book. Honestly. I think I enjoyed it more than my daughter. I thought the storytelling was interesting and just spooky enough for 9 yrs & up. I'm excited to read more from this author.

This book was ok. I just couldn't get into it. Not that it was bad. It just didn't hook me. It has all the things kids are looking for in a good horror book. Ghosts, tragedy. Nice and spooky. I'm sure kids will love it. Just wasn't for me.

I thought this was a fun read. Brought me back to my middle school days reading Goosebumps and Christopher Pike. I recommend this one.

I honestly enjoyed reading Small Spaces by Katherine Arden. It was fun and tense, and intriguing. I wanted to know more about the characters, and so kept reading. This is a book I definitely recommend if you are looking for a fairly quick read, with characters that you can't help but love and want to know more about!

5/5 stars

This had me on the edge of my seat and I had a hard time remembering that this was a kid's book! It is scary...and not a jump scare kind of scary but a slow build and make you start questioning you sanity kind of scary. I really enjoyed this and ended up buying a copy for my kids and a few friends now. We have all loved this and can't wait to read more!

DNF - I'm not a fan of middle grade, it just does not engage me at all. I could not get into this one.

I started reading this book, and it just didn't really draw me in. I found it a little bit slow to start & wasn't interested in continuing.

Small Spaces is admittedly not my normal type of read. It did take me forever to finish but overall I enjoyed it. I would read this author again. Thanks for the early copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I don't usually read Middle Grade fiction, I love Katherine Arden's adult fantasy novels and felt I should pick this up, too. I really enjoyed it! It's a great read for kids who love horror and creepy fantasy, with plenty of great moments that send a shiver down your spine. Arden knows where to draw the line, so young readers can enjoy the chills and thrills without nightmares.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A middle grade horror novel that is the perfect way to introduce kids into the horror genre. It's Goosebumps but without Stine's nonsensical jump scares or as we call on the podcast "buses". There's a lot taken from classic horror tropes, but done with an original spin. It's definitely creepy, but it has a lot of heart. It's a well written cohesive story from start to finish.

Ollie is still reeling from her mother's death from earlier in the year. She's pulled away from her hobbies and classmates. One day she encounters a woman trying to drown a book and manages to run away with it. She reads about a family's tragedy but also about the Smiling Man and the mist and the lost brothers. Things take a turn when things from the book start appearing in real life. The clue small spaces may be what saves her and her friends in the end.

While I do think some parts of the book were predictable, I think the general creepiness of it will keep the targeted age group entertained. It's certainly better crafted than the majority of Stine's books.

3.5/5 rounds to 4/5.