BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSEleven-year-old Olivia "Ollie" Adler is still grieving her mother's death when a strange woman at a swimming hole tries to throw an old book into the creek, muttering about bargains and a smiling man. Ollie grabs the book, called Small Spaces, and discovers it's a real account written in 1895 by a woman named Beth Webster about a supernatural creature who made deals with people on a Vermont farm. The next day, Ollie's class takes a field trip to Misty Valley Farm, which turns out to be that same farm, now run by a Linda Webster. When the school bus breaks down on the foggy ride home, the creepy substitute driver whispers a warning: at nightfall, his master's servants will come for the students. With darkness closing in and her dead mother's broken watch flashing the word RUN, Ollie has to decide whether to trust what the old book told her and act before it's too late.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Small Spaces
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Small Spaces. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book is a sobbing woman trying to throw an old black book into a creek?
✓ Answer
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
At the swimming hole, Ollie finds Linda Webster crying and about to drop a small black book into the water because of a bargain she made. Ollie snatches the book instead, which kicks off the whole adventure.
- First half
In what book does a raspy voice chant "Four graves, three stones, but only two sets of bones"?
✓ Answer
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
The mushroom-skinned driver appears behind Ollie in the graveyard and chants this riddle about the missing bodies. It tells her the two cursed brothers were never truly buried.
- First half
In what book does a broken watch show a countdown and the flickering word "RUN"?
✓ Answer
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Ollie glances at her mother's dead watch and finds a countdown and the flickering word RUN instead of the time. It feels like her mom is somehow guiding and protecting her from beyond.
- Second half
In what book does warm gingerbread turn to moldy, rotten dust in the children's mouths?
✓ Answer
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
The ghost named Cathy serves what looks like fresh gingerbread, but the moment scarecrow faces appear at the windows, the food becomes foul dust and the kids spit it out. The cozy cottage was an illusion all along.
- Second half
In what book is a farm scarecrow wearing the clothes and stitched face of a missing classmate?
✓ Answer
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
On the farm Brian recognizes a straw figure as his best friend Phil, complete with his backward cap and sewn-on face. This horrifying discovery means the villain turns the missing students into scarecrows themselves.
- Near the end
In what book do two kids haul a dangling boy into a loft after his ladder crashes down?
✓ Answer
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
The straw figures shake the ladder until it falls, leaving Brian hanging over their reaching hands by his fingertips. Ollie and Coco grab his hands and pull with everything they have, dragging him to safety just in time.
