Middle Grade Marvels - Books Full O' Wonder discussion

Title: Small Spaces
Author: Katherine Arden
Pages: Paperback - 216 pages / Hardback - 218 pages

Series? Yes: Small Spaces (#1)



After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie who only finds solace in books discovers a chilling ghost story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who 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.

Captivated by the tale, Ollie begins to wonder if the smiling man might be real when she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about on a school trip to a nearby farm. Then, later, when her school bus breaks down on the ride home, the strange bus driver tells Ollie and her classmates: "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 begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN.
Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed these warnings. 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.



Hello everyone!

In August, we are going to be reading Small Spaces (#1) by Katherine Arden as our monthly BOTM pick. We are so happy to have you join us! Welcome!

NOTES:

Every month, the leaders will be Noly, Holly, and Ellie and together with all the people taking part in the discussion, we will decide if we want to have a structured way of reading the BOTM (a few chapters a day, a week, etc), or if we want to read at our own pace and check back in later. Feel free to do what works for you, but if you finish the book and want to gush about it but others are still reading, use the Spoiler Hider. You can find how to use that in the little (some HTML is ok) link in the right-hand top corner of the comment box.

We hope you all have a wonderful reading month and discuss it with us!

BOTM Leaders:

Holly
Noly
Ellie