Baby Teeth

The long-awaited Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage was released on 7/17 by St. Martin's press. As I'd posted on my facebook and twitter accounts, I'd heard the book buzz and was anxious to read it months before it's release. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get an ARC but, I was able to read the first ten chapters on Amazon Kindle (for free, I might add) thank you, Amazon! That week between reading the first ten chapters and getting the call the day of its release, to pick up a copy from the library was just straight up nerve-wracking. Prior to reading the first ten chapters, I was not wanting to wait for this book you guys. I had searched and requested all over for an ARC, most people wanted upwards of over $30 for these rare copies. Me being the frugal lady I am, I waited on pins and needles. I was first on the list to receive Baby Teeth and I picked it up that day and I hated having to put it down to do mom-things. Grrr.

Ok, on to the review...

Baby Teeth is Zoje Stage's first novel, and I pray it won't be her last.
Zoje Stage has an awesome writing skill, gripping you from page one. I have read books by many authors who pump out the same drivel, each book providing similar twists and turns so there's no real excitement. With this book, you get it all. Excitement, drama, suspense, horror. It's a story told between two narratives, a mother named Suzette, and her child Hanna.

Hanna doesn't like Mommy. Hanna tests Mommy's love for her and Hanna has a plight, to make Mommy go away forever.

You question motives both of mother and daughter, you question yourself (especially if you're a parent, I myself am), and the innocence of its characters. Do these behaviors warrant the reactions they get? What would I do in this situation? Is this behavior reason enough to firmly discipline a child? Not to sound conceited, but I did think a lot of this book personally. As a parent, Baby Teeth has that ability. To make you feel for Hanna, and to question Suzette's capability as a nurturer. Hanna is a child so it would make sense that we would feel for her in her moments of innocence. Then Stage turns the tables on you, makes you think the opposite is true. Baby Teeth also caters to the mother's intuitive side, because no parent wants to think their child could be evil. Furthermore, no one wants to believe their child could detest them so much that the child would do anything to rid themselves of you.

It is a deeply twisted and heartbreaking story. As a mom, I felt it sat with me a lot more than if I were a twenty-something, single, childless woman. So I felt Baby Teeth was directed at a certain audience. It plays on your emotions, you don't know if its right to feel the way you towards a particular character. It instills guilt in you for the reactions you get to the story, either good or bad. I felt the writing was done very well, there weren't many typos, which I cannot stand. And the story itself is immensely thought-provoking and gut-wrenchingly intense. I'm hoping for a continuation of Hanna and Suzette's story. I enjoyed Baby Teeth so much, it lived up to all the hype, and with books, it's either hit or miss. Definitely worth reading if you like your stories on the more disturbing side. Think The Omen meets We Need to Talk About Kevin. It stayed with me long after I'd closed the book for the final time.