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.

Katherine Arden

Middle grade

Novel

Small Spaces

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Small Spaces and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Small Spaces Summary and Study Guide

Background

Small Spaces Background

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section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Small Spaces Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-11

Small Spaces Chapters 6-11 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 12-17

Small Spaces Chapters 12-17 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 18-25

Small Spaces Chapters 18-25 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Small Spaces Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Small Spaces Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Small Spaces Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Small Spaces Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Small Spaces Essay Topics

Small Spaces

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Small Spaces?

Reading Age

Book Details