Fault Lines

by Nora Shalaway Carpenter

Riveting, powerful, and a little bit magical, Fault Lines offers readers a slow-burn romance alongside an unflinching examination of socio-economics, gender expectations, and environmental ethics.

Ever since her aunt died four months ago, seventeen-year-old Vivian (Viv) Spry is aching to figure out where she belongs. Her father has become emotionally distant and even her best friend has found a new sense of identity in her theater group. Unfortunately, nobody in her rural West Virginia town has time for an assertive, angry girl, especially a girl dubbed “Ice Queen” for refusing to sleep with her popular boyfriend. On top of everything, she discovers a strange ability to sense energy that really freaks her out. The only place Viv feels like it’s safe to be her true self is the tree stand where her aunt taught her to hunt. It's the one place she still feels connected to the person who knew her best. So when fracking destroys the stand and almost kills her, Viv vows to find a way to take the gas company down.

When Dex Mathews comes to town—a new kid whose mom lands a job laying pipeline—his and Viv's worlds collide and a friendship (and maybe more?) slowly blossoms. But Viv’s plan to sabotage the pipeline company could result in Dex’s mom losing her job, putting them on the streets. Now Viv and Dex have to decide what’s worth fighting for—their families, their principles, or each other.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism, Fiction, Fantasy

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2023

About the author

Nora Shalaway Carpenter's novels and anthologies have been named "Best of the Year" by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, Bank Street Books, and A Mighty Girl, and have won accolades including the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, the Whippoorwill Award for authentic rural fiction, and the Nautilus Award championing "better books for a better world." She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and serves as faculty for the Highlights Foundation's Whole Novel Workshop and Intro to Short Fiction class. Learn more at noracarpenterwrites.com.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

From authors note:

I will say this: life is messy and beautiful, sometimes triumphant and at other moments so full of pain and inequity that it can feel difficult to breathe. But there is magic here, too, slipped in among the ordinary, and often not in any of the ways we might expect.

We are allowed to care about many things simultaneously, and to fight fiercely for them, even if they, at first glance, seem utterly at odds with one another and maybe even the people we love.

Another wonderful story from the author :)
She's another one I always recommend because her writing just has a wonderful quality to it (up there with Susanna Kearsley, Kate Morton, Jenni l Walsh, and Patti Callahan Henry) and she writes people so well too.

I thought all issues/plot points were balanced perfectly and nothing was shoved down the readers throat. You can see both how Viv feels about tracking and why and also how Dex doesn't like it but he's glad it gave his mom and others who need it jobs.

Loved the angle of Viv's abilities. I thought many she was one thing than maybe another. It's not specific that way.. you can draw your own conclusions.
It felt natural and not hokey.

That feeling of being outside near the water and trees...it's just a peaceful and freeing feeling. You feel connected to it all, and maybe get a feeling how some of your ancestors may have felt too.

I hope you enjoy this beautiful novel too :)

[Cinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories are like foxfire—unexpected magic, rooted in place, that lights the way. Fault Lines is one of those stories.

Seventeen-year-old Viv Spry has been gutted by a series of losses—her mother, her aunt, and her reputation at school where a former boyfriend is spreading rumors about her. Liv and her aunt shared the ability to access the spirit and energy of the trees on their property, and the tree stand in their forest is Viv’s only refuge. Then she learns that her father is planning to sign a lease with a fracking company to run a pipe through their property. She’s determined to find a way to stop it.

Then she meets Dex Mathews, a new boy in school whose mother has taken a good-paying job with the pipeline company. For the first time in a long time, they won’t be living hand to mouth. Viv is drawn to Dex, but they find themselves on opposite sides of the fracking issue.

West Virginia-born Carpenter has deep roots in the southern mountains, and it shows. Her love for the people and places of her childhood shines from every page. For this author, Appalachia is not a place you escape from. It is home.

[Padma Venkatraman]

This is my pick for this year’s Green Earth Book Award. Fault lines is the story of two young people who fall in love, although they have differing views on fracking, which is literally tearing their community apart. Carpenter does a fantastic job of showing us both sides of the debate over fracking, and never loses sight of the human element in this discussion, even as her heroine fights for the environment. She weaves in a magical element and heightens mystery as the story progresses, and like her two protagonists, who quietly defy stereotypes, Carpenters ending holds a pleasant surprise.

[Betty Culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day, compelled by the alternating narratives of the two strong and sympathetic main characters. I couldn’t help rooting for both Viv and Dex in their struggles. The rural West Virginia setting is almost a character in itself and portrayed with obvious care and knowledge. The themes of environmental realities and the effects of climate change on rural communities were very well done, and I loved the elements of magical realism. This book is as beautiful and thought provoking as its cover!

[Gary Anderson]

Nora Shalaway Carpenter’s excellent new alternating perspective novel Fault Lines (Running Press Teens, 2023) delivers two strong central characters from rural backgrounds who are unlike most of the stock leading figures in young adult literature. Viv is a kickboxing instructor with a reputation unfairly circulated by a former boyfriend. Dex is the son of military veterans living with his mother as they struggle to stay out of poverty.

The main conflict in Fault Lines involves fracking, the industrial practice of fracturing underground formations to extract natural gas that can cause extreme disruptions in the ecosystems where it is used. The fault lines evoked by the title apply not only to the geological impact of fracking but also the societal divisiveness caused by fracking, and the fragile, back-and-forth relationship between Viv and Dex. Dex’s mother works for Briar, a fracking company, and her job is what keeps the family above the poverty line. Viv is an environmental protector whose father plans to sell fracking rights on their property to Briar. Still, there is something about each of them that attracts the other.

There is another “something” at work in Fault Lines too, something that is itself a fault line. Viv has the ability to sense things in nature, an energy that especially emanates from trees. Some people think Viv’s claims are ridiculous. Others give her benefit of the doubt, while some liken it to similar unexplained phenomenon they have experienced themselves.

The beautiful cover design sits well with an autumn release. Cornelia Li’s cover art features an interplay of blue and brown dominated by burnt orange that matches the book’s cloth cover. The book jacket is adorned with blurbs from heavy hitters. Fault Lines presents nicely on a bookshelf alongside Carpenter’s previous novel The Edge of Anything.

Fans of realistic fiction like that of Jeff Zentner and Jennifer Niven are likely to also be drawn to Fault Lines and Noral Shalaway Carpenter’s other work, including The Edge of Anything, as well as Rural Voices and Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes, two anthologies edited or co-edited by Carpenter.

This review is also posted on my What's Not Wrong? blog in slightly different form.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters, the tone and the setting. It did an interesting job of exploring a Complex situation with much didacticism by having people with interests on both sides. But I found the introduction of magic made the story weaker. It had surprisingly little to do with the plot and seemed to just make the mostly realistic story less relevant.

[Steph Spone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. I wanted a bit more, but it was a good book.

[Sbwisni · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Took me a minute to get into it. Realistic high school relationships between main characters and their friends. That was more enjoyable to me than the fracking storyline.

[Jessica Haney · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. I skimmed the last 50 pages.

[Erin Riha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully woven story about two teens who confront the effects of generational poverty in a small Appalachian community where the true costs of fracking are slowly becoming more apparent. Nora Shalaway Carpenter writes with a deft authenticity, that is in equal measure spine tingling and heartbreaking.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful book about the passion of one teenager for the environment and how fracking and oil pipelines have changed the landscape of rural Appalachia.

Viv lives with her father in rural West Virginia. Her mother passed away 10 years ago. Her aunt Elle, who moved in with them after her death, just died as well, and Viv is gutted. To feel close to her, she sits in the tree stand her parents built years ago, where she and Elle would hunt.

Suddenly, her dog starts whining, and she runs away from the tree, just before the tree collapses into a sinkhole. Viv is convinced that the nearby fracking caused the sinkhole, but her dad doesn't want to hear it. He is planning to sell property to one of the trucking companies that works with the mining company for an access road. He wants to use the money to pay for Viv's college.

Dex just moved to town with his mom, who got a good job with the pipeline. Before this job, they were practically homeless. His dad is addicted to opioids and isn't a big part of his life anymore, other than his words, telling Dex to be strong, be a man, don't show weakness.

Viv and Dex meet, and despite their differences, they realize that they like each other. If it weren't for the fact that Viv initially befriended him to learn more about the fracking company. And Dex was honest about his poverty. And Viv told him the truth about how she could feel energy from the trees...

This is both a book about young adult activism and young love, about the environment and about family dynamics, about friendship and sexuality. It occasionally is too preachy, but the message is a good one - no issue is completely black and white, and we need to learn to listen to one another about the complexities of hot button issues.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book with a slightly younger cast of characters than I usually read, but it is done in a way that makes it easy to empathize with their situation, even if their age and situation have very little to do with me as a reader.
Both characters come from two different sides of the same conversation around fracking. Both have emotional weights that they carry, but when their paths cross, things improve for them. The conversation that the book has is about loss and adjustment, with Dex being an empathetic boy with money issues and Viv's father having learned that the companies want his land. Viv encounters a sinkhole in her aunt's favourite spot, and from that point, she goes on a digging mission to figure out why such a thing happened. The only tool the author uses to connect the two is magical realism, with Viv having the power to connect to something beyond her. This ability grows and morphs into something more concrete by the time the book comes to a close.
There is romance here, but it is subtle and left as part of the narrative without taking over. There are good friends in the background as well as terrible ones - the difference is quite obvious and is part of moving the plot along.
I may have liked the author's other book more than this one, but the author is one who I would recommend to younger readers looking for serious reads without a focus on some literal battle but metaphorical ones. I will definitely be picking up the next one that comes out.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Yelling at people with no way to change their minds if anything it only made them digging their heels harder.”

I adored Fault Lines. It was a very easy read (listen) and I discovered the audiobook without almost taking any break. Both narrators did a very good job and kept the story engaging and fluid.
Overall, I loved the balance in this story, how the author insists on trying to understand other people’s opinions/beliefs/values/needs/etc. Remaining in all shades of grey –aligned to what Life is– it was a great lesson about communication and comprehension and it is a great theme for a YA novel. I’m no American but I loved the difficulties that faced the characters, and how they had to adapt.
Vivian and Dex seem completely opposed to each other. Yet, as they open to the other –and to themselves– as they expose their wounds, they comprehend the stakes and why the other act as they do. Far away from the “dialogue of the deaf” we are getting accustomed to, they make an effort to understand, to truly listen to each other.
The little spark of magic warms the heart and kindles hope, adding a little light in the darkness to the story. But it is also –IMO– a great metaphor for childhood, and the connection with the reel and Nature that we too often lose while growing up.
The romance is cute, and allows to untie the situation with even more sweetness. Manipulations and secrets add some depth and are an echo about how the company is acting.
This story was strong and soft, gave me all the feels and thoughts. It became a new favorite.

Thank you to the author and hachette audio for the ALC. My opinions are my own.

[Mitra Mustafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivian Spry, grappling with a series of losses and a town that doesn't understand her, discovers a unique energy-sensing ability. Her sanctuary is a tree stand where she feels closest to her late aunt. When fracking threatens her place, Viv is determined to take down the gas company.

Dex Mathews, is a newcomer whose mom works for the gas company. As their worlds collide, a friendship, and maybe more, blossoms. But Viv's plan could jeopardize Dex's family. Now they must choose: family, principles, or each other?

Fault Lines is an elegantly written contemporary novel with some elements of supernatural, magical realism and suspense, with an engaging plot line. It focuses on the struggles of experiencing loss and grief, the challanges of family conflicts, young adult life, friendships and romantic relationships. The story meticulously explores the impact of climate change and economic development on a rural community.
The main characters Viv and Dex are flawed yet authentic and relatable, and their perspectives resonate deeply. Viv and Dex go through several stages of reflection, healing, and self growth together, before finally coming to mutual understanding and acceptance, their story is a page-turner you couldn't put down.
The character development is strong, the characters are real and refreshing, and their personalities are well sketched by the author. The utilization of the setting is also impressive.
This novel is highly engaging, thought-provoking, and exquisitely penned. It is suitable for both teen and adult readers.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An environmental YA book that will fill your heart.
📈
Viv has been sad since her mother passed away and now her aunt has died as well. She and her father are on opposite sides of the fracking issue and now a company has come in wanting to drill on their land. When Dex moves to town it’s because his mom finally got a job so they can afford to eat and pay utilities on a place. His mom working for a drilling company is the only difference between them having a place to live and being homeless. Viv’s crusade against the oil companies could put his livelihood in danger. When the two start spending time together they both realize they need the other’s perspective in their life…along with a little bit of magic.
🏔️
This novel by @noracarpenterwrites is almost all realistic fiction except for the energy that Viv possesses, which made me love it so much. I really enjoyed the two points of view on the topic of the environment, the military and fracking. It’s a topic more young people need to know about. I also enjoyed Dex and Viv as individuals, but also together.

CW: PTSD, depression, alcoholism, poverty, classism, death of a parent (off page), death, grief, misogyny, coming out (theme), environmental issues, environmental racism (discussed), climate change

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Nora Shalaway Carpenter’s YA novel FAULT LINES, two teenagers, Viv Spry and Dex Mathews, both have trouble communicating with others. Viv has one best friend, and after both her mother and her aunt, environmental protectors, have died, she has no one to share her concern about the effect of fracking and the new pipeline. Her father feels he needs the money from selling some of their forested land to the gas company for the pipeline while Viv knows of the dangers the pipeline and the trucks digging the line can bring and will do anything to prove the gas company dangerous.

Dex has just moved to the community where his mother has gotten a job with the gas company laying pipe, the only things keeping them from homelessness. He has never had a friend and is surprised by the friendship offered by the popular Oscar; one problem is Oscar’s childhood friend who is a bully and has spread gossip about Viv.

On different sides of the pipeline issue, Viv and Dex connect through the energy from the trees and their personal connections to nature, and as they become closer and more trusting, they learn that there are multiple sides to an issue. An examination of environmental and socio-economic equity, friendships, loyalty, as well as an exploration of the idea of “fault.”

[Libby Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivian Spry loves the land around her home in West Virginia. It is the one place she can feel close to her lost mother and aunt and she will do anything to save it from the fracking company. Dex Mathews and his mother have lived in a state of near poverty, but his mom just got a new job laying pipe. Her work for the fracking company means Dex finally has a stable place to live and enough money for food. As Viv and Dex get to know each other, they find an instant connection–belonging that they have never felt before. But will their different viewpoints destroy the relationship that grounds them both?

Fault Lines is an excellently written, multi-level story. On one level, it follows two teens that have trouble fitting in, finally finding someone that sees them. On another level, it delves into the complex question of earth conservation versus economic stability. Carpenter does a good job of providing both sides of a complex issue without getting too preachy. I enjoyed the characters, but she also really made me think.

[Dr. Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy, oh, boy! This book made me want to stay at home and read! I feel safe in saying that any avid reader can share the experience of having the “just right” book come along at just the right time. This happened to me this past week when I was fortunate enough to be gifted an advanced copy of Fault Lines. I spend the majority of my time with young people teaching at the university and working in the K-12 schools, and this book is so relevant to our youth and this time in history. I have found my students worrying about a laundry list of issues in society, and I truly appreciate how Nora Shalaway Carpenter addresses many of these issues and teaches the important lesson of LISTENING to one another.

I taught high school for several years before becoming a professor, and my students would have eaten this book up! I am anxious for its release so I can buy it for my pre-service teachers. Well done, Nora. Well done!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Nora Shalaway Carpenter and the NetGallery team for providing me an advance copy of FAULT LINES through the Educator ARC Tour!

As a classroom teacher who is always looking for unique texts to put in the hands of students, this book checks a lot of boxes. Within these pages, there's something to entice any reader--fantasy, romance, nature, and identity, to name a few!

This is an excellent book to introduce students to environmental fiction. Carpenter so intelligently utilizes the dual-narrative structure to allow the reader to experience the passion of advocacy alongside the harsh realities of its impact, especially on those we love most.

Viv's character is guarded, yet compassionate, and Dex is ambitious, yet gentle. Their relationship that progresses throughout FAULT LINES is a testament to being open-minded, while staying true to yourself and your core values.

FAULT LINES is engaging, reflective, and a great addition to any classroom library.

[sya ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book honestly caught my attention because of its focus on environmental issues. That part really stood out to me in a good way. I also liked how it tackled heavier themes like grief and family struggles without feeling too overwhelming. The romance is there too, but it doesn’t take over the story, which I really appreciated. I especially liked how the main characters were clearly on opposing sides. It added depth and tension to their dynamics. The characters also felt very believable. I liked the way the rural setting added a lot to the atmosphere, and the writing style really carried the story well. If there’s one part I wish had been stronger, it’s the magical realism element. It was a bit underwhelming. It had potential, and I genuinely liked the idea, but I just wish it had been developed more fully. Still, if you’re looking for a Young Adult read that actually talks about environmental issues in a thoughtful way, this one’s worth picking up.

[Shannon Takaoka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to get to read this one early because I really enjoyed Nora Shalaway Carpenter’s debut - THE EDGE OF ANYTHING, as well as her work on the recent YA anthology, AB(SOLUTELY) NORMAL. FAULT LINES weaves together a lot of compelling story threads - it’s a slow burn romance, a family story about processing loss and grief, and a look at how climate change, culture, and economic realities intersect in a rural community. The main characters, Viv and Dex, were so well-drawn and I really felt for both of their perspectives. I especially loved the speculative/otherworldly elements of this book and the beauty of its prose, especially in relation to landscape and the natural world. If you are a fan of lyrical writing and contemporary YA with a hint of magic, I think you’ll love it too - add it to your TBR!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this text from Netgalley and Running Press; all opinions are exclusively my own.

This was a solid YA read, hitting the romance and drama notes in satisfying ways. I'd say the messages on climate change and classism/racism are occasionally a little heavy handed in terms of how they're presented in the dialogue between characters, but on the whole it's a great nuanced take recognizing a lot of different facets to the problem and its solution. The magic element is interesting, but feels a little lost in the shuffle; it makes sense to some degree given how subtle the powers seem to be, but they could definitely make a bigger impact in the story.

All in all, this was a good read (ha) and I'd definitely recommend it to the YA set!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, one thing I absolutely love about this book is that the two main characters have opposing perspectives, BUT you can see from each perspective the strengths of their argument—-even if you disagree with one. I feel like it’s usually written to favor one. I mean, perhaps, it was, but both characters were willing to think about the other side.

I try not to get into too much of the story to avoid all spoilers, but the love for the environment was refreshing as well. There were several passages about the land that were so beautiful. It made me want to just sit outside in a field looking at trees.

Most of the characters were likable. The magic element was interesting. At first, I was unsure but then the last page explained it in a profound way.

[Mary Northrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's tough to be the new kid at school, but Dex has more than his share of problems in addition to that. When he finds himself attracted to Viv, who is also struggling with economic and other setbacks, the story takes off. In this YA novel, two teens come together and work through their very real differences concerning an energy company that is heavily involved in fracking. A contemporary story with touches of magical realism, this story combines romance, activism, familial conflicts, friendship, and suspense in a way that will appeal to teen and adult readers. Great character development and impressive use of setting.

[Katherine Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from my 14 year-old, and avid reader:

"I loved Fault Lines!" she says. "It had a really good, structured storyline. I loved that the characters stayed true to their ideas throughout the novel. It had romance, but it didn't take the really important goal and toss it aside just so two characters could kiss. It had a great setting for people who like romance set in the modern world. It incorporates a lot of modern troubles. West Virginia really came to life: it felt like I was actually in the book."

I read Fault Lines, and loved it, too--but as a teen, my daughter's assessment matters most when it comes to Young Adult or teen fiction.

[Mara Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. I almost DNF’ed this but it intrigued me enough to keep going. I appreciated the conflict between Viv and Dex and their opposing perspectives. I loved Maeve and Oscar who were voices of reason and good friends to them. The romance was lacking to me, with there being a slight undercurrent of romantic curiosity between Viv and Dex for 75% of the book but then escalated very quickly and somewhat unbelievably. Unrelated, i loved the font of the book in print. I don’t believe i will think about these characters again after reading this but maybe the themes? Not a hate but not a love.

[Amanda Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I needed when I was younger (and still need now). It holds a light up to the complexities of life in Appalachia, illuminating the struggles between loving the land and affording to live on it. Protecting ourselves from predatory extraction industries, not to mention realizing that we NEED to protect ourselves, starts with the conversations these characters are brave enough to have.

[Trisha L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review. To be frank, I trudged through this book. I really wanted to enjoy it but I had a hard time being interested in the characters or their struggles. I did appreciate the Dex character and how well he explained climate change and fracking from a socio economic view point. I found that enlightening.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! This book will break your heart, but also has enough magic and heart to mend it back together. I loved the dial pov, the little traces of nature magic, as well as tough topics such as climate/ environment and poverty.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this novel from a Goodreads giveaway. It's a great YA read, and I appreciated the author shedding light on what fracking is, I was unfamiliar with the term prior to this read. It was an easy book to read, and concepts flowed together nicely.