The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White is a compelling and gothic tale set against the eerie backdrop of London in 1883. The Veil separating the living and the dead has grown perilously thin. In this world, violet-eyed mediums, under the strict surveillance of the Royal Speaker Society, communicate with spirits. Sixteen-year-old Silas Bell, a trans and autistic youth, rebels against the societal norms that demand he become an obedient Speaker wife. The thought of such conformity is so repugnant to him that he'd rather gouge out his own violet eyes.

Silas's life takes a drastic turn after he unsuccessfully attempts to flee from an arranged marriage. Diagnosed with the mysterious Veil sickness—a terrifying affliction that drives violet-eyed women to madness—he is banished to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanatorium. The institution cloaks its sinister practices behind its pristine walls, but Silas soon discovers that the school harbours dark secrets. When the distressed spirits of missing students begin to implore Silas for aid, he realises he must unearth and expose the malevolent workings of Braxton's. Confronting these horrors becomes an urgent mission of survival, lest the school breaks him completely.

With an autistic trans protagonist leading the narrative, White’s sophomore novel is unapologetic in its critique of patriarchal violence and the detrimental impact of enforced conformity on transgender youth. The blend of historical fiction with intense, gothic horror creates a uniquely visceral reading experience, making the book both a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of identity and resistance.

Honours and Awards:

• 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

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is not just a story; it is a bold, blood-soaked and nightmarish triumph that resonates with readers long after the last page is turned. Andrew Joseph White, a New York Times bestselling author, has deftly crafted a transgressive gothic horror novel that pries open the darkest corners of societal norms, laying bare the cruelties inflicted upon those who dare to defy them. This unsettling yet riveting tale demands to be read and remembered.