About the Book
-
Author:
- Nora Shalaway Carpenter
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Cis Girl
- Straight
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Timber!
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia x 2
Talky Talk: Down to Earth
Bonus Factors: Tami Taylor Award For Awesome Motherhood, Balanced Storytelling, Loyal Pets
Factor: Fracking
Anti-Bonus Factor: Toxic Masculinity
Relationship Status: Gym Trainer
Cover Story: Timber!
I couldn’t tell what was happening at first, but the lopsided angle of the tree shows that it’s falling into a sinkhole, which is the inciting incident of the story. Viv is actually alone when that happens, but since Dex is co-narrator, it makes sense to have him there as well.
The Deal:
Vivian “Viv” Spry has felt angry and lonely ever since the deaths of her mother and aunt. The only thing that helps is the forest, where she can sense a supportive energy that reminds her of her loved ones. When a sinkhole caused by fracking destroys a tree stand, cutting off Viv’s connection to the energy, she decides to take the gas company down. Dexter “Dex” Matthews, the son of one of its employees, is her only source of information. The more she talks to him, though, the more he challenges her preconceptions. Dex cares as deeply about the livelihood of poor families like his as Viv cares about her land. Can they stop fighting each other long enough to realize they’re fighting for the same thing?
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia x 2
Dex and Viv are passionate about their causes, but unwilling to compromise, which makes them hurt themselves and each other until they learn to see the bigger picture. That’s not to say I didn’t like them, because I did. They’re teenagers dealing with painful, complex issues, and their mistakes only make them more human.
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
The first time they meet at a kickboxing gym, Viv thinks Dex is awkward, and he’s slightly scared of the way she’s beating up her punching bag. It doesn’t help that Dex’s new group of friends includes Viv’s nasty ex-boyfriend, or that Viv sees Dex as a source of information about the pipeline. The more time they spend together, though, the more these two smart, tough, big-hearted teenagers find to admire. Viv doesn’t judge Dex for not being as athletic as she is, and he respects her need to take physical intimacy slowly. The time it takes for them to finally trust each other makes the payoff all the sweeter.
Talky Talk: Down To Earth
Dex and Viv’s first-person narration feels so grounded in time and place that, when they talk about the energy they sense in the forest, it’s easy to suspend your disbelief. The hallmark of magical realism is that it makes magic feel real, and this story nails it.
Bonus Factor: Tami Taylor Award For Awesome Motherhood
Dex’s mother served in the military, got herself and her son out of an abusive relationship, and worked three jobs to keep them off the streets. Now that she’s found a better paying job, she’s focused on helping Dex get into law school, even when his father is telling him “real men” don’t accept help from their mothers. Working for a pipeline company may not be the best option, but it’s the only option she’s found, and I agree with Dex that it would be wrong to condemn her.
Bonus Factor: Balanced Storytelling
Having Dex and Viv as dual narrators, looking at topics like class and environment from different points of view, helps to balance out the story and prevent either side from being vilified.
Bonus Factor: Loyal Pets
Viv has a little terrier named Snickers, Snick for short, who lets her cuddle him when she’s upset. He’s also a good judge of character, shown by him running up to Dex every time they meet.
Factor: Fracking
The damage to the land, the risk of poisonous oil leaks, and the unscrupulous tactics of corporate executives are all included, as is the job creation and the good intentions of individual workers. The author grew up in rural West Virginia, like Viv, and notes in her afterword that she knows from personal experience how a pipeline can affect a small town.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Toxic Masculinity
Dex’s father, a veteran, turned to alcohol rather than get treatment for PTSD. He tells Dex every chance he gets to be more “manly”, which drives Dex to consider joining the army even though he’s never been a fighter. Viv’s ex-boyfriend Tolly is a younger edition of the same thing, shaming Viv for not sleeping with him and making a mutual friend afraid to come out as bi. Dex and Viv help each other resist these influences, which is one of the reasons they respect each other.
Relationship Status: Gym Trainer
Book, you know a lot more than I do about fighting for one’s convictions. I could learn a lot from you … if I weren’t such a couch potato. *sigh*
FTC Full Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. Fault Lines is available now.
Literary Matchmaking
This book has similar themes, with a more lighthearted take for middle-grade readers.
In this series, even after the disasters Dex and Viv wanted to prevent, humanity still has a chance.
When Dex admiringly calls Viv a “badass” and a “dystopian novel character” for hunting with a bow, we can guess which novel he means.
