An attic is the space directly under the roof of a house, usually reached by stairs or a ladder. Most attics have slanted ceilings that follow the slope of the roof, creating cozy nooks in the corners but leaving you unable to stand up straight near the edges.

Families often use attics for storage, filling them with old furniture, holiday decorations, photo albums, and forgotten toys. Some attics get converted into bedrooms or playrooms, with windows cut into the roof to let in light. Because hot air rises, attics can get sweltering in summer and freezing in winter unless they're properly insulated.

In stories, attics often serve as mysterious places where characters discover old trunks filled with treasures or family secrets. Anne Frank and her family hid in a secret annex in Amsterdam for two years during World War II, including rooms on an upper floor and in the attic. In A Little Princess, Sara Crewe lives in a drafty attic room. Whether storing old baseball cards or serving as a secret hideaway, attics occupy that special space between the familiar rooms below and the sky above.