Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A winter vacation takes a terrifying turn. Two months after their encounter with "the smiling man" in Small Spaces (2018), sixth graders Coco, Ollie, and Brian go on a ski trip. Though money has been tight, Ollie's dad won a week at Vermont's newest ski resort, Mount Hemlock, as an incentive for his job selling solar panels. Unfortunately, the lucky trip doesn't turn out so lucky. On the way there, Coco dreams of a gray-faced, frozen girl who's looking for her lost bones. When Ollie starts having similar dreams, it becomes clear that there's a reason Mount Hemlock has never before been open to the public. The surprising arrival of a paranormal investigator named Mr. Voland offers the kids a chance to get to the bottom of things. But do they really want to know the truth about what lurks at Hemlock Lodge? With warnings like "Don't listen to the voices," the plot initially reads similarly to its predecessor. However, Arden creates far more than just a carbon copy in a different setting. Those who had secondary roles in the first book get deeper characterization, especially white Coco and black, bookish jock Brian. (Ollie is also white) Arden's high scare factor, richly drawn mountain setting, relevant themes of loss and belonging, and vividly eerie descriptions evoke the very best of horror for this age set. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This chilling sequel to Small Spaces finds Ollie, Coco, and Brian trapped in a ski lodge. The three friends and their parents are alone until the arrival of mysterious Mr. Voland, who tells them Hemlock Lodge is haunted. The hotel's creepy history gives this tale the necessary trappings of a classic ghost story (e.g., a dead skier appears at unexpected moments to deliver silent warnings). The novel's second half takes the danger one step further by re-introducing old villains and raising the stakes, making for a harrowing adventure. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.