Small Spaces by Katherine Arden Summary
Overview of Small Spaces
When scarecrows come alive, 11-year-old Ollie must face supernatural terror. Endorsed by horror legend R.L. Stine as "terrifying and fun," this award-winning middle-grade phenomenon tackles childhood trauma with chilling authenticity. What dark secrets lurk in small spaces? Twenty states' young readers can't stop talking about it.
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Key takeaways
The Fog That Hides Monsters
Imagine being on a simple school field trip when the world around you transforms into something sinister. This is what happens to Olivia Adler-Ollie to her friends-when her sixth-grade class visits Misty Valley Farm in rural Vermont. What should have been an ordinary autumn excursion becomes a nightmare when their bus breaks down in thick fog, and their driver smiles unnaturally before warning: "At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you." As darkness falls, scarecrows with garden tools for hands emerge from the cornfields, hunting children who must learn to "avoid large places at night" and "keep to small spaces" to survive. This eerie warning echoes one Ollie received days earlier from a distraught woman at her secret swimming hole-the same woman who now owns the farm they're visiting. The connection? A mysterious book called "Small Spaces" that Ollie stole from the woman-a book that tells a century-old tale of disappearances, bargains with a smiling man, and souls trapped between worlds.
The Girl Behind the Pages
When Scarecrows Walk
Three Against the Dark
Facing the Smiling Man
When the Mist Clears
Finding Courage in Small Spaces
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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