Dead Voices (Small Spaces #2)

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Me too! I'll be reading this with my son so I'll likely be slower than I would just by myself. We'll be starting today!

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Kid and I got through chapter 2 last night! This one seems to start being creepy much earlier than Small Spaces, and the scary stuff seems scarier than the first as well. That could just be because it's been a while since I read the first one. Or maybe (view spoiler)[dead little girls just freak me out because movies like The Ring and The Grudge were big in my formative years (haha) (hide spoiler)].

(view spoiler)[I think it's funny how the girls are all freaked out about the taxidermy in the hotel. Where I live, there are dead animals in almost every local hotel and most restaurants. "Turn left at the moose head" are common directions to the bathroom. That being said, I wonder how that will play into the story. There's already an extra coyote apparently.

I think the girls are the only ones dreaming about the orphanage because "Mother" is going to try to put them to sleep too. As creepy as they are, the dead little girls will probably end up being helpful and try to take down Mother together. Not sure which "dead voices" she warns Ollie not to listen to are though.

What I liked about the first book seems to still be great in this one. It's not just going to be a scary story. The problem of Ollie's dad becoming cozy with Coco's mom is already being set up. Arden does an awesome job of putting real-life issues that may face Ollie right along with the spooky stuff. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

We sat down for a while today and made it through chapter 8 at least! We don't get much time to read during the week so we'll probably have to finish next weekend.

Through chapter 8: (view spoiler)[ Son and I were just discussing Mr. Voland! It seems a little too coincidental that he showed up and also the ghosts and everything. It is weird that he's hanging out with the kids, but it also makes sense because they are the ones who actually believe there are ghosts there. Also, the other adults have been busy with other things to notice exactly how much time he's spending with them. But you are right. I certainly wouldn't let my kid wander around a hotel with a stranger, no matter the situation.

The taxidermy is interesting that it keeps moving! There are so many little weird things that need explained! And yes, the owners are weirding me out too. I mean, where are they in all of this? Ollie's dad pretty much takes charge and is trying to fix everything. The Wilsons are just... absent. It's not like they have hotel stuff to do. They should be taking care of the guests! Definitely something strange going on with them.

The guy in the ski jacket is weird too. At first I thought he was trying to warn them away from the hotel, but the fact that he's in there being creepy has me thinking otherwise. I don't know! (hide spoiler)]

Going to try to read as much as we can this week! We are really enjoying it. My son is very attentive to this book. Other books he kind of zones out but he's very involved and jumps in with his guesses about stuff. It's pretty fun.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Hey Kristin!

Still haven't finished the book. I've been sick so it was hard to read aloud for long periods of time this weekend.

We made it through chapter 13! (view spoiler)[Got our answer about Mr. Voland. I did not see him being Seth the smiling man from the first one! I knew there was something weird about him but I figured he'd just be a completely separate problem from the first book. I like that Arden is actually continuing that story.

I like how the taxidermy stuff is used in the story. The dead animals are ghosts on the Ollie/ghost side of the mirror. Creepy. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Finished! Kid wouldn't let me stop reading last night until we were done with the book, which was fine with me. He loves these books and he already can't wait for the next one.

(view spoiler)[I agree I liked that Arden incorporated the theme of trust in this. Especially with Gabe. I thought that was a very "adult" thing to understand. He wanted to help them but he was working for Seth in order to gain his freedom. Kids are usually very black and white, so it was cool that there was a gray character to show kids things aren't always that simple.

Mirrors are creepy! I think the way Arden used that tool in this book was really cool. The ouja board so the girls could talk, and then fire being the way to connect the two sides. I thought Ollie and her mom-watch being the thing on both sides was sweet. Have you seen the movie Mirrors? My husband had to take a mirror out of his room because it freaked him out because of that movie.

I do wish the ghost story had been explored a little more. I was unsure of how much power Seth had over the situation, and what was real and what was him. I thought it was fine for the age group that this is for, but as an adult I would have liked a little more background. (hide spoiler)]