Fault Lines tells the intertwined story of two rural teens―one with a secret energetic connection to the earth, suffering immensely from damage caused by fracking―and the other depending on fracking completely, his mother's pipelining job being the only thing keeping them off the street.
Praise for Fault Lines
"I read Fault Lines in one sitting; it’s just that good. Riveting and real, including the magic. I only wish I’d written it myself."―Han Nolan, National Book Award winning author of Dancing on the Edge
"Some stories are like foxfire—unexpected magic, rooted in place, that lights the way. Fault Lines is one of those stories."―Cinda Williams Chima, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Heir Chronicles
"Fault Lines is a lyrically rendered and stirring story of coming of age with the natural world and falling in love. Carpenter writes the people and region of Appalachia with unfailing grace and dignity. Her love for both makes every sentence gleam."
―Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of In the Wild Light and The Serpent King
"A powerful and timely story that deftly navigates the complex interplay between poverty and environmentalism. I fell in love with the land as much as I did the characters."
―Abigail Hing Wen, New York Times bestselling author of the Loveboat, Taipei series
"Make no mistake this is no ordinary love story but one told with rare and
remarkable restraint and subtlety. I was happily reminded throughout of the masterful
storytelling found in an earlier generation of Appalachian authors like George Ella Lyon,
and Cynthia Rylant. Add that the story is a page-turner with carefully drawn,
compellingly believable characters makes me more than eager to see what this gifted
young novelist will bring us next. Highly recommended."
―Marc Harshman, Poet Laureate of West Virginia
"Fault Lines explores the interlocking economic, social, and environmental issues confronting, not just teens, but all of us trying to navigate the modern world. Bold, brave, and surprisingly emotional, you’ll root for not only Viv and Dex, but for the trees and the forest itself. “
―Maia Toll, award-winning and bestselling author of Letting Magic In, The Night School, and the Wild Wisdom series
“A love letter to the natural world, this story shows how dismantling beliefs calls for fight and fury, but also empathy and heart. Tough yet intuitive Viv shines as a complicated protagonist, and her connection with earnest Dex brims with hope—until they discover the devastating ways they are at odds. Honest in its exploration of the deep-rooted challenges of one rural community, Fault Lines is a masterpiece as breathtaking as our West Virginian forests. Empowering and sublime.”
―Anuradha D. Rajurkar, author of American Betiya, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection
“Viv's moral compass cracks her heart wide open. This immersive story of love, land, and identity will shake the ground and make you experience the world in a whole new way. In a time of social and political polarity, Fault Lines urges us to look deeply at what we're willing to put on the line for one another. Absolutely riveting. A social- and environmentally minded book for our present and future.”―Gloria Muñoz, award-winning author of Danzirly
"With an authentic lens and compelling prose, Fault Lines takes readers deep into rural America, where Carpenter navigates divisive topics with grace. Readers will appreciate the precise pacing, relatable characters, and abundance of empathy that Fault Lines has to offer. I absolutely loved this heartfelt novel."―Kyrie McCauley, award-winning author of If These Wings Could Fly and We Can Be Heroes