Dark Waters (Small Spaces #3)

by Katherine Arden (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade
Series: Small Spaces

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden returns with another creepy, spine-tingling adventure in this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Small Spaces and Dead Voices.

Until next time. That was chilling promise made to Ollie, Coco and Brian after they outsmarted the smiling man at Mount Hemlock Resort. And as the trio knows, the smiling man always keeps his promises. So when the lights flicker on and off at Brian's family's inn and a boom sounds at the door, there's just one visitor it could be. Only, there's no one there, just a cryptic note left outside signed simply as --S. The smiling man loves his games and it seems a new one is under way.

But first, the three friends will have to survive a group trip to Lake Champlain where it's said Vermont's very own Loch Ness monster lives. Brian is thrilled. He hasn't sailed since visiting his family in Jamaica and even the looming threat of the smiling man can't put a damper on what is guaranteed to finally be a day of fun--even if it is awkward being stuck on a boat with both his old best friend, Phil and his new best friends, Coco and Ollie. But when a misstep from Phil causes a tragedy onboard and leaves them shipwrecked on an island haunted by a monster on both land and sea, Brian's survival instincts kick in and it's up to him to help everyone work together and find a way to escape. One thing is for sure, the smiling man is back and he wants a rematch. And this time Brian is ready to play.

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School Library Journal

Arden's series features compelling folklore from the state of Vermont. Friends Ollie, Brian, and Coco have experienced a multitude of ghostly horrors-from haunted farms to eerie snowbound inns-but now in the third volume of the "Small Spaces" series, the kids take a sailing trip with another school friend that turns nightmarish. The trio are wary of trusting new people and fearful of sharing secrets that might endanger others, especially their parents. When the day trip turns sour as an unidentified enormous creature, reminiscent of local lore's Lake Champlain monster, leaves the party shipwrecked on a nearby island, the kids use all their survival and problem-solving skills to unlock riddles from the infamous smiling man to escape the island. Those who are attracted to mystery, adventure, and spooky stories will be drawn to this sequel like a moth to a flame. Yet, Arden also uses her platform to talk about mental health, forthright communication, and the importance of a strong group of friends. VERDICT A gentle ghost story that highlights the friendship of underestimated kids using their wits to solve riddles and protect their families.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden is the New York Times bestselling author of the Winternight trilogy and the Small Spaces quartet. In addition to writing novels, she enjoys aimless travel, growing vegetables, and running wild through the woods with her dog. She lives in Vermont.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593109151
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date
August 10, 2021
Series
Small Spaces
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV058000 - Juvenile Fiction | Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural
JUV067000 - Juvenile Fiction | Thrillers & Suspense
Library of Congress categories
-

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