My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This is definitely an all time new favorite middle grade book for me. Dead Voices is the second book in the Small Spaces series by Katherine Arden that follows a group of kids dealing with spooky happenings that only they seem to be aware of. In this book, we follow the trio as they get snowed in at a hotel in the mountains during a winter storm, leaving them trapped with their parents, hotel owners, and a journalist who claims the hotel is haunted.
I absolutely love the way Katherine Arden builds up the atmosphere in each scene of the story. From the very first page, you can tell that something dark’s following the off tempo yet relatively up beat plot line of a family vacation gone wrong. Especially as an adult, I was able to pick up on certain vibes and hints a lot faster which made the book a lot more of a creepy, immersive experience. I read this book when it was about a 100 degrees out and with each page I read, the further I got away from “autumn” in Florida and further into a white, mountainous, winter landscape. If you can hold off your excitement to pick up this book, I’d wait till winter. It would be such a cozy read during the holiday season but if you’re impatient like me, it’s also perfect for autumn or whenever you need something a little cozy.
From what I remember, the first book Small Spaces was told from the perspective of Ollie. Dead Voices however featured both Ollie and Coco’s POV which I loved. I was personally a huge fan of Coco. I loved how the author gave voice to a character who’s often overlooked because of her preference to the quieter things in life and being a smaller kid. I definitely can relate to Coco so I was glad that the author gave her her moment to shine. Honestly, I love any story with a friend group because they almost always are wholesome and this one was no different. The trio in this book is a cozy combo of personalities and I think that everyone can find themselves in one of these kids for sure.
The main reason this book is now one of my new favorite middle grade books is because of the writing. I loved the pacing and flow of the story and how every single chapter of this story served a purpose. Everything was structured perfectly to a point and weaved into the next scene. I think one of the biggest downfalls of middle grade books for older readers is that sometimes, things are way too on the nose. Of course that’s understandable considering the middle grade genre caters to a younger audience with way less life experience to pick up on concepts such as foreshadowing and symbolism. But I love how Katherine Arden’s writing had just enough depth and mystery to keep readers of all ages hooked.
This is the second book in a series and while I do recommend reading the first book for the sake of the major recurring themes and events, I do think you can read this one on it’s own. I say this only because I have the memory of a goldfish and genuinely do not remember what happened in the first book when I started this one lol.
If you’re looking for a middle grade book that’s the perfect mixture between wholesome, spooky, and at times, deep enough to pull at your heartstrings a bit, definitely pick this one up!