Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein

The Blurb On The Back:

”We don’t pick and choose what to be afraid of. Our fears pick us.”

Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood, when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing. As disturbing memories resurface, Tash starts to see Sparrow again. And she realises Mallory is the key to unlocking the truth about a dark secret connecting them. Does Sparrow exist after all? Or is Tash more dangerous to others than she thinks?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sarah Epstein’s debut YA thriller has a strong first half that teases a supernatural explanation for Tash’s memories of Sparrow and what happened to Mallory but Tash’s claustrophobia read as a gimmick to me and I thought the plot got a little silly once Tash starts getting the answers she wanted. That said, Tash’s relationship with her mum is well drawn and Epstein gives her a strong narrative voice so I’d definitely read Epstein’s next book.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.