Baby Teeth

Maybe if I wasn't a parent thrice over this book wouldn't have disquieted me as much. I wouldn't classify this as horror, but it is a very solid psychological thriller. The idea of a seven-year old with a massive Electra complex to the point where she wants to do nearly anything to rid herself of her mother is one thing, but the execution and eloquence of Zoje Stage's writing is excellent. That combined with the serious self-doubts of the mother, which have to be natural for any first-time parent, and leaving you wondering just who is Hanna make this a solid novel. The cover of the broken lollipop is simple but so good. Also, Alex was an idiot. Beatrix was my favorite minor character. I would read this again, and I recommend it if you show more have the stomach for it. But, parents: beware! show less

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Baby Teeth - making boy moms everywhere breathe a quiet sigh of relief (no, but really, the fact that my tiny human is a boy has never been so comforting). This debut novel is one of the best I’ve read this year, and one of the darkest and most twisty I’ve ever read. And I know from dark and twisty. I kept going back and forth on my rating for this, to the point that I ultimately came back and changed it! This is not a book for everyone, but for the dark and twisty souls, this will be a fun and horrifying read. The thought of a little girl so determined to be the sole focus of her father’s attention that she not only wants but actively attempts to kill her mother is beyond grotesque, but Baby Teeth show more presents it in such a frighteningly beautiful way that you can’t put it down. I’m officially obsessed with Zoje Stage and will definitely be reading anything and everything else she ever gives us. Also, does anyone know where I can get my own Skog? show less

Truly Terrifying, Until …

Literature and life have bestowed upon us some very disturbing children, the likes of fictional Rhoda Penmark (The Bad Seed) and Damien Thorn (Omen), and real-life killers Mary Bell (England, 1960s), Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden (Westside Middle School Massacre, Minnesota, 1998), and Jasmine Richardson (Canada, 2006). Contemplating the idea of children murdering children and adults will alarm anybody, but to believe that your own darling seven-year-old daughter is attempting to murder you, well that’s the stuff of horror stories. And it’s the plot of Zoje Stage’s very good debut psychological thriller, Baby Teeth. It’s the kind of novel that is sure to give you the shakes, especially if you have show more little ones running around your house.

Stage tells the story by alternating between daughter Hanna and mother Suzette, and in her very capable hands the method proves especially effective both in maintaining a very high level of tension and moving the plot along at a quick pace.

Hanna holds a special affection for her father, a young architect busy in his own firm and gone for most of every day. She’s quite the good little girl when daddy appears. For her mother, though, Hanna holds nothing but contempt and eruptive hatred. A cunning child with an above average IQ, she reads, researches, and gives thoughtful consideration to the various attacks she launches against her mother, each one escalating until she goes too far in her zealous quest to push her mother out of the house, or life entirely.

Suzette, for her part, is a conflicted young mother. She has endured a difficult life, suffering for a longtime with undiagnosed Crohn’s disease, and with an inattentive and self-self-absorbed mother. Once diagnosed, life improved for her and became nearly perfect when she met her husband Alex in college. Her fears will probably feel familiar to many readers, among them that she might be alienating her husband and fostering the bad behavior in Hanna. Her moods swing from fawning over her child, to viewing Hanna as a rival for Alex’s attention, to wishing her child dead, making us a bit suspicious of her, especially early on. At heart though, less readers get the impression she might be a really bad mother (a thought she tortures herself with regularly), Suzette hold the best interest and health of her child foremost.

Nerve shattering might be the best way to describe the sensation you’ll feel throughout the novel. So, then, why the “until” reservation? Because the ending will feel like a letdown to some readers, this one included. However, you’ll also recognize that given Suzette’s and Alex’s characters, Stage has written a very logical ending, and maybe sets us up for a yet more terrifying sequel. Imagine a ten or twelve-year-old Hanna, closer to the typical age of children who kill.

All in all, though, you’ll find Baby Teeth a really terrific and terrifying psychological thriller. Stage has authored a novel you really can’t put down, no matter how much you’d like to escape the tension. show less

Believe every reaction you have seen because Baby Teeth is one effed-up story. Hanna’s thoughts about her mother are just plain disturbing and seemingly justify the fear Suzette feels when alone with her daughter. Plus, Hanna’s manipulation of her father is sickening. It would be easy to describe Baby Teeth as the story of a child sociopath. However, to do so leaves out key elements of the story which not only add depth but make you realize that not all is black and white in the Jensen household.

It is as if Ms. Stage took Oprah’s long-ago advice of putting yourself and your relationship with your significant other ahead of that of your children and started conjuring various scenarios of how that might work. What she put to paper show more is inventive if disturbing with no clear right or wrong answer to any situation. Therein lies all of the tension and drama of the story, for it is not just about Hanna’s proclivity for manipulation and violence but also the family dynamics wherein the primary caregiver is extremely sick most of the time. I envision book clubs having a field day with the Jensens’ marriage.

There is so much within Baby Teeth to discuss and no easy answers that would allow all readers to come to the same conclusions. In fact, I suspect Ms. Stage leaves certain parts deliberately vague specifically to prod discussions. There are some very difficult scenes within the story that may be a trigger for some readers, so one should not open the novel unless prepared to be thoroughly shocked at everyone’s behavior at some point in time. For all that though, I was mesmerized by Hanna and Suzette as they battled for Alex’s affection. My sympathies varied depending on the scene, and just when I thought I was committed to one particular character, something would happen that would make me question my choice. It is a fascinating study of relationships, sociopathy, and psychology that is akin to watching the train wreck through your fingertips. You cannot look away from the horror before you no matter how much you think you desire it until you resign yourself to having a macabre curiosity and sit back to enjoy the ride. show less

I can see how this book can be very polarizing. It covers some controversial topics and may not resonate with certain people. However, this was a hit for me. Don't expect a ton of action but if you're into internal dialogue that makes you feel uncomfortable then give it a go,

There are dual POV's, the mother and her 7 year old daughter, which I quite enjoyed. What I loved about this is that Suzette has word vomit, she's a mess and barely holding it together, slapping on a happy face to try and make the most of it to keep her family together, even if it means spiraling into self destructive behaviors to manage. I could relate to this so I instantly felt her anxiety and sympathized being in those states at portions of my life.

The way I show more approached Hanna's narrative is to basically view her like a baby Hannibal Lector. She's smart, manipulative but she's still only 7. I loved that. Both MC's poked at each other and each is guilty of egging each other on, one more diabolical than the other. It's a trip down the psychological tilt-o-whirl and you're just here for the ride.

At the end of this book it seemed to say to me "hey, I guiltily loved my life before my child and this insane situation is working out the best way it possibly can". Normalize wanting to be childless, normalize admitting your life isn't perfect, normalize mental health being vital and normalize getting help is not weakness. It's hard to categorize this book but it's gives slow burn psychological thriller vibes.

I'd read this authors works in a heart beat again! show less

Hanna loves her daddy. And she knows her daddy loves her. But everything would be so much better if mommy would just disappear and die. Dead Mommy. Bye bye Dead Mommy.

Move over, Damien. Hanna is here.

This book is so creatively creepy. The seemingly sweet little girl who hides so much. The mother who wants so badly to love her daughter, even if she's afraid of her. And the father who is trying to make sense of what is happening to his family.

The thought of a truly psychotic and dangerous villain wrapped up in the cute visage of a little girl is truly terrifying. At first I was a bit angry at the father for not noticing what was going on.....but then I thought...wait a second....would I believe that my little girl was capable of that show more sort of vicious behavior when I never saw it myself? I would be just like the father wanting to protect and make the proper decisions for his child, perhaps even blaming the adults in the situation rather than the child. After all, children aren't really capable of malice, deviousness, and murderous intent. Right? *Shiver*

This book gave me the same shivers that I got from The Little Girl That Lives Down the Lane. A child hiding dark secrets, dark thoughts, and dark deeds. Baby Teeth is even more psychologically terrifying because the girl involved is only 7. At first, I was thinking a 7-year old couldn't possibly cause much damage. But once the story sucked me in and I couldn't put it down, it dawned on me that this little girl is capable of even more harm than an adult. Because nobody expects it.

Baby Teeth is Zoje Stage's debut novel. I'm definitely going to be reading more by her in the future. This first novel creeped me the hell out.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less

This book is CREEPY AF! And I gobbled up every deliciously freaky disturbing morsel of it.

Hanna is Looney Tunes - she's like the Poltergeist girl, Firestarter and The Shining twins all wrapped into one with a hearty dash of Chucky. I loved every minute. What is creepier than a cute little kid who wants to kill her mom? I dare you to find something more disturbingly fantastic. Serious anxiety and massive doses of weird are peppered throughout in just the right amounts. I didn't want it to end, but I thought it was flawless from start to finish.

Suzette and Alex seem to be super cool modern parents. I picture them as hipster artists, living in a gorgeous modern home designed by Swedish green architect Alex. Suzette's incredible drawings show more hung on the walls and her beautiful interior design skills evident throughout. They are so in love and seem to have a perfect little beautiful girl named Hanna. She's adorable and so smart and oh, maybe just a smidge of BAT SH*T CRAZY.

Her "quirks" start pretty tame - she doesn't speak. And 6 years old - not a peep. Cue the creepy child music... soon, she's writing weird, angry messages to her mom, and getting kicked out of schools. Her mom has taken her to endless doctor appointments and had her development skills tested to no avail, but is still convinced there is something wrong with her child. And slowly, with every act of rebellion towards her, Hanna is beginning to scare her. Like, a lot.

The fact that Hanna ADORES Alex, and will do anything for him, is Suzette's biggest struggle. How does she get it through to her husband that the child he thinks as a sweet loving little girl, is trying to kill her? Everything Hanna does is when it's just the two of them. She is calculated, and devious. Is she a witch? Possessed by the devil? Psychopathic? Suzette is losing the battle trying to figure out what is wrong with her child. It's only a matter of time before she plunges a knife through her mother's heart!

There's a lot of talk about this book. I think if you don't like creepy murderous kids, it's probably not the book for you. But this books takes risks, and for us thriller/horror fans, they are applauded. Zoje Stage is at the top of my list of new favorite writers. The marketing campaign behind this book is smart and you can even follow one of the 'characters' adventures on Zoje's Instagram - which is hysterical!

I loved every minute of this book. I will be first in line when Zoje Stage writes the next one. show less