In 'The Spirit Bares Its Teeth' by Andrew Joseph White, the story revolves around Silas, a trans boy in Victorian England who is being forced into a marriage despite his true interests in surgery and medicine. He is sent to a horrific school for wayward girls, where he must investigate the mysterious occurrences involving violet-eyed girls for his survival. The book is a blend of historical fiction, body horror, queer love story, and feminist manifesto, portraying Silas's journey from fear to bravery amidst the rejection of his trans and autistic identities by society.
The plot of the book includes graphic descriptions of medical procedures, misogynistic and ableist themes, and a commentary on societal norms and attitudes towards neurodiversity. The writing style is described as sensory, immersive, and gripping, with relatable characters and a storyline that leaves readers with a mix of emotions, making it a thought-provoking and important read.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic descriptions of medical procedures, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, mental health concerns, and body horror.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present, focusing on a relationship between the main character and a love interest.
From The Publisher:
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
A Stonewall Honor Book in Young Adult Literature!
A blood-soaked and nauseating triumph that cuts like a scalpel and reads like your darkest nightmare.
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Joseph White returns with the transgressive gothic horror of our time!
Mors vincit omnia. Death conquers all.
London, 1883. The Veil between the living and dead has thinned. Violet-eyed mediums commune with spirits under the watchful eye of the Royal Speaker Society, and sixteen-year-old trans, autistic Silas Bell would rather rip out his violet eyes than become an obedient Speaker wife.
After a failed attempt to escape an arranged marriage, Silas is diagnosed with Veil sickness-a mysterious disease sending violet-eyed women into madness-and shipped away to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanitorium. When the ghosts of missing students start begging Silas for help, he decides to reach into Braxton's innards and expose its guts to the world-so long as the school doesn't break him first.
Featuring an autistic trans protagonist in a historical setting, Andrew Joseph White's much-anticipated sophomore novel does not back down from exposing the violence of the patriarchy and the harm inflicted on trans youth who are forced into conformity.
A Stonewall Honor Book in Young Adult Literature
A Chicago Public Library 'Best of the Best' Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book!
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year!
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Ratings (12)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (7) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (38):
Read It (11) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (22) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (3) |
1 comment(s)
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
This was a fantastic ghost story, the writing and the visuals were striking and unique, and the main character was someone you were rooting for the whole story. The characters had a lot of depth, and the relationship between Silas and Daphne was fantastic.
What can you read after
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth?
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