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.

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.

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

- Small Spaces is Katherine Arden's first work targeted specifically at a middle-grade audience, marking a shift from her previous adult fantasy series, The Winternight Trilogy.
- Katherine Arden was inspired to write Small Spaces after moving to Vermont, where the eerie, misty landscapes and changing seasons influenced the book's atmospheric setting.
- Small Spaces was recognized with accolades, including being named a Best Book of the Year by various outlets such as Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly, highlighting its broad appeal and critical acclaim.

**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.

**Brian Battersby**  
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.

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

**Seth/The Smiling Man**  
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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Small Spaces

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Small Spaces

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