October Shadows and Fractions

Ollie Adler, a bright but withdrawn sixth grader in Vermont, spends her October day distracted in class, her mind wandering to imaginary dangers outside the window. She's still grieving her mother's recent death, finding solace in books and solitude. After a tense encounter with classmates and a teacher who wants her to rejoin chess club, Ollie escapes on her bike, seeking comfort in the familiar rhythms of her small town and the natural world. Her prickly independence and sharp intellect set her apart, but also isolate her, especially as she struggles with her father's attempts to reconnect and her own anger at the world's unfairness.

The Woman by the Creek

Ollie's after-school ride leads her to a secluded swimming hole, where she stumbles upon a distraught woman attempting to throw a small, old book into the creek. The woman, frantic and cryptic, insists she must get rid of the book before "tomorrow," warning Ollie to "avoid large places at night—keep to small." Driven by instinct and curiosity, Ollie snatches the book and flees, the woman's warnings echoing in her mind. This encounter marks the beginning of a supernatural mystery, as Ollie unwittingly takes possession of an object that links her to a century-old tragedy and a lurking, otherworldly threat.

The Book of Warnings

At home, Ollie examines the book, titled Small Spaces, and discovers it's a diary from 1895, written by Beth Webster. The diary tells of a love triangle, a tragic bargain with a supernatural "smiling man," and the mysterious disappearances of Beth's husband Jonathan and his brother Caleb. The book's warnings—about mist, the smiling man, and the importance of small spaces—mirror the woman's words by the creek. Ollie, already haunted by her mother's absence, is drawn into the story's eerie parallels to her own life and the local farm, Misty Valley, which her class is set to visit.

Farm Day Dread

The next day, Ollie's class visits Misty Valley Farm, owned by Linda Webster—the same woman from the creek. The farm is picturesque but unsettling, filled with scarecrows and shadowed by local ghost stories. Ollie, along with classmates Brian and Coco, senses something is wrong, especially as the scarecrows seem to watch them and the adults act strangely. The farm's history, the schoolhouse fire, and the Webster family's legacy all seem to converge, deepening the sense of foreboding. Ollie's unease grows as she realizes the events in Beth's diary may be more than just stories.

Scarecrows in Sunlight

Throughout the day, the scarecrows become increasingly sinister, and Ollie's interactions with Linda Webster and the farmhand Seth (who exudes an uncanny charm) heighten her suspicions. The bus driver, a gray, red-lipped stranger, unnerves her with cryptic rhymes and warnings. The boundaries between reality and the supernatural begin to blur, as Ollie notices impossible details—scarecrows that seem to move, gravestones that don't match the dead, and warnings that echo the book's epigraph. The sense of being watched intensifies, setting the stage for the coming ordeal.

The Bus Breaks Down

As the class boards the bus to return home, a thick, unnatural mist descends. The bus breaks down in an unfamiliar, fog-shrouded landscape. Phones and watches stop working, and the bus driver's demeanor turns menacing. He warns Ollie to "get moving" before nightfall, hinting that "they" will come for the children. Ollie's mother's broken watch begins displaying cryptic messages—RUN, HIDE, RIVER—seeming to guide her. As night approaches, the boundaries between worlds dissolve, and the children are forced to make a desperate choice: stay on the bus or flee into the unknown.

Into the Mist

Ollie, joined by Coco and Brian, decides to leave the bus, following the driver's advice and her watch's warnings. The trio enters the misty forest, pursued by scarecrows that come alive at night. The children's survival depends on their ability to find small, enclosed spaces to hide—just as the book and the woman warned. As they navigate the shifting, hostile landscape, they witness their classmates being captured and transformed into scarecrows, realizing the full horror of the smiling man's power.

Small Spaces, Big Fears

Hiding in a cave, the three children confront their fears and each other's vulnerabilities. Ollie's leadership and resourcefulness, Coco's unexpected bravery, and Brian's loyalty are tested as they struggle to survive the night. The next day, they search for water and shelter, piecing together clues from the book, the farm's history, and Ollie's watch. They encounter ghostly apparitions—Beth and Cathy Webster—who reveal the rules of the smiling man's world and the importance of resisting his bargains.

Hiding from the Night

The children discover that the scarecrows are the transformed souls of those who have bargained with or been taken by the smiling man. The only way to resist is to avoid large, open spaces at night and to refuse his deals, no matter how tempting. The trio's friendship deepens as they care for each other's wounds, share food, and plan their next move. Ollie's watch continues to guide them, suggesting that her mother's spirit is helping from beyond.

The Ghosts of the Farm

Seeking answers, the children return to the haunted version of the farm, where they encounter the ghosts of Beth and Cathy Webster. Beth, still lucid because she wrote her story down, explains that the corn maze is the doorway between worlds and that the scarecrows are the smiling man's servants. The only way to save themselves and their classmates is to reach the center of the maze and confront the smiling man directly. The children prepare for a final confrontation, knowing the odds are against them.

The Bargain Revealed

In the heart of the maze, Ollie faces Seth, revealed as the smiling man—a charming, ageless being who delights in making bargains that cost people their souls or freedom. He offers Ollie a choice: save herself, her friends, and even her mother (whose voice he mimics), in exchange for leaving the rest behind and destroying Beth's book. Ollie is tempted but realizes the smiling man's deals are always traps, and that true strength lies in refusing to bargain with evil, even for her heart's deepest wish.

The Maze and the Smiling Man

Ollie refuses the smiling man's offer, recognizing that he cannot take what is not freely given. Using water from Lethe Creek—symbolic of breaking the mist's hold—she frees the scarecrows, restoring her classmates and breaking the smiling man's power. The ghosts of Beth and Jonathan are finally able to move on. The smiling man, bested but not destroyed, acknowledges Ollie's cleverness and warns that he will return. The children, guided by Ollie's watch, find their way out of the maze as dawn breaks.

Choices at the Center

The children emerge from the cornfield, returning to the real world where their disappearance has sparked a frantic search. Linda Webster, exposed as the one who bargained with the smiling man, faces justice but ultimately vanishes, her fate ambiguous. The children's memories of the ordeal fade for most, but Ollie, Brian, and Coco remember everything. Their ordeal has forged an unbreakable bond, and they return to their lives changed—wiser, braver, and more connected to each other and their families.

Water and Waking

Back in the ordinary world, Ollie reconciles with her father, finding comfort in his love and the knowledge that her mother's spirit is always with her. The trio's friendship flourishes, and they support each other as they process their trauma and rebuild their lives. The supernatural events become a shared secret, a source of strength rather than fear. Ollie's watch, once a symbol of loss, now represents hope and the enduring power of love.

Return to the World

A month later, life in Evansburg has returned to normal, but the children's experiences have left a lasting mark. They excel in school, form new friendships, and embrace the joys of living. The threat of the smiling man lingers in the background, but Ollie, Brian, and Coco are no longer afraid. They have learned to face darkness with courage, to trust in each other, and to find light even in the smallest spaces.

Remembering and Moving Forward

The story ends with Ollie, Coco, and Brian enjoying the simple pleasures of childhood—chess matches, hockey games, and family dinners. Their ordeal has taught them the value of loyalty, the importance of resisting easy answers, and the necessity of hope. The smiling man may return, but they are ready. Together, they have learned that even in the darkest times, love and friendship can light the way home.

Characters

Ollie Adler

Ollie is the protagonist, an eleven-year-old girl grappling with the loss of her mother and the resulting anger and isolation. She is highly intelligent, especially in math and chess, but resists adult attempts to "fix" her or push her into activities she no longer enjoys. Ollie's psychological journey is central: she moves from withdrawal and self-reliance to accepting help, forming deep friendships, and rediscovering hope. Her relationship with her father is strained but loving, and her mother's memory is both a source of pain and strength. Ollie's courage, resourcefulness, and refusal to bargain with evil are what ultimately save her and her friends.

Coco Zintner

Coco is the new girl, small, pink-haired, and often dismissed as weak or annoying. She is artistic, emotional, and initially the target of bullying. However, Coco's resilience and hidden strengths emerge as the story progresses—she is a skilled climber, a loyal friend, and, despite her fears, repeatedly steps up in moments of crisis. Her vulnerability is her strength, allowing her to connect with others and inspire courage. Coco's journey is one of self-acceptance and proving her worth to herself and her peers.

Brian Battersby

Brian is the school's hockey star, outwardly confident but inwardly struggling with expectations and the need to fit in. He is initially reluctant to stand up for others, fearing social repercussions, but his experiences in the mist force him to confront his own values. Brian's loyalty to his friends, especially his willingness to risk himself for Ollie and Coco, marks his growth from bystander to active hero. His humor and practicality balance the group, and his willingness to learn from others (even quoting Alice in Wonderland) shows his openness to change.

Linda Webster

Linda is the owner of Misty Valley Farm and the woman Ollie encounters by the creek. Driven by fear of losing her farm and freedom, she bargains with the smiling man, sacrificing the children to save herself. Her actions are morally complex—she is both a victim and a perpetrator, haunted by guilt and ultimately unable to escape the consequences of her choices. Linda embodies the dangers of desperation and the temptation to make deals with darkness.

Seth / The Smiling Man

Seth appears as a friendly farmhand but is revealed as the smiling man, a supernatural being who preys on human weakness by offering bargains with hidden costs. He delights in fear, ambiguity, and the suffering of those who try to outwit him. His power lies in persuasion and the exploitation of desire—he cannot take what is not freely given. Seth's interactions with Ollie are a psychological duel, testing her resolve and understanding of what truly matters.

The Bus Driver / The Hound

The bus driver is a gray, red-lipped figure who serves the smiling man, sometimes warning and sometimes threatening the children. He is later revealed as a monstrous hound, capable of shifting forms. His hunger for food and souls is both literal and symbolic, representing the predatory nature of the supernatural world. Despite his role, he is not entirely malevolent, occasionally helping Ollie in exchange for food and, ultimately, a name.

Beth Webster

Beth is the author of the diary Small Spaces, whose story parallels and guides Ollie's journey. As a ghost, she retains her identity because she wrote her story down, serving as a warning and a source of hope. Her love, loss, and refusal to abandon her husband even in death mirror Ollie's own struggles with grief and loyalty. Beth's presence is a reminder of the power of memory and the importance of resisting despair.

Cathy Webster

Cathy is the mother of Jonathan and Caleb, a ghost trapped in the past and slowly losing herself. Her endless waiting and inability to move on contrast with Beth's clarity, illustrating the dangers of clinging to sorrow and the importance of letting go. Cathy's interactions with the children are both tragic and frightening, as she becomes a cautionary figure of what happens when grief consumes identity.

The Scarecrows

The scarecrows are the transformed souls of those who have bargained with or been taken by the smiling man. They serve as both obstacles and reminders of the consequences of surrendering to fear or temptation. Their presence is a constant threat, but also a call to compassion, as the children realize their classmates and others are trapped within.

Roger Adler (Ollie's Dad)

Ollie's father is a source of stability and warmth, though he struggles to reach his daughter through her grief. His love is expressed through small acts—baking, jokes, and gentle encouragement. His patience and willingness to let Ollie find her own way are crucial to her healing, and their eventual reconciliation is a testament to the enduring power of family.

Plot Devices

The Haunted Book

The book Small Spaces is both a literal object and a narrative device, connecting past and present, warning the protagonist, and providing clues to survival. Its existence in both worlds allows Beth's voice to endure, and its destruction or preservation becomes a point of power in the final confrontation. The book's epigraph and recurring warnings structure the story's suspense and foreshadow key events.

The Mist and the Maze

The mist serves as a portal between the ordinary world and the smiling man's domain, where time, space, and reality are distorted. The corn maze is both a physical and psychological challenge, representing the characters' journey through fear, temptation, and self-discovery. The rules of the mist—avoid large spaces at night, keep to small—create tension and drive the plot, while the maze's center becomes the site of ultimate choice.

Bargains and Temptation

The smiling man's bargains are the central plot device, testing each character's resolve and values. The temptation to trade safety, love, or freedom for a quick solution is ever-present, but the story's moral is that true strength lies in refusing to make deals with evil, no matter the cost. The consequences of bargains—transformation, loss, and regret—are embodied in the scarecrows and the ghosts.

The Watch and Messages

Ollie's mother's broken watch becomes a conduit for cryptic warnings and guidance, suggesting a supernatural connection and the enduring presence of parental love. The watch's messages—RUN, HIDE, RIVER, MAZE—structure the children's actions and symbolize the importance of listening to intuition and the wisdom of those who have gone before.

Foreshadowing and Parallelism

The narrative structure weaves together past and present through Beth's diary, the farm's history, and the children's experiences. Foreshadowing is used extensively—warnings in the book, the woman's advice, the scarecrows' behavior—creating a sense of inevitability and suspense. The parallels between Ollie's grief and Beth's, between bargains made and refused, reinforce the story's themes and emotional resonance.

Analysis

Small Spaces is a masterful blend of supernatural horror, psychological realism, and coming-of-age adventure. At its core, the novel is about grief, temptation, and the choices that define us. Katherine Arden uses the trappings of a ghost story—haunted farms, living scarecrows, and ancient bargains—to explore the very real struggles of loss, loneliness, and the longing for what cannot be restored. The smiling man is both a literal monster and a metaphor for the seductive power of easy answers and the dangers of giving up agency in the face of pain. Ollie's journey is one of refusing to surrender to despair or to make deals that would cost her soul, even for the deepest wish of her heart. The story's insistence on the importance of small spaces—of friendship, family, and the courage to face darkness together—offers a powerful lesson for readers of all ages: that hope, love, and resilience can light the way home, even when the world seems lost in mist.

Last updated: May 23, 2025