The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

By Andrew Joseph White

Book Overview

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Stonewall Honor Book in Young Adult Literature

SPRAYED EDGES--Paperback edition features gorgeous violet edges 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 Locus Award Finalist
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

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1682638146
• ISBN13: 9781682638149
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Peachtree Teen
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Scary!

I was sort of avoiding this book because I was afraid I wouldn’t like it but of course now I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner 😩 This would be a 5 star but I listened to this on audiobook so the screechy voice of the rabbit was always grating on my nerves. I applaud the narrator for really giving life to the rabbit though. Anyway this was pretty scary and overall really enjoyable!