Review: Baby Teeth

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thrillers are my guilty pleasure, and I love an unusual, creepy book. Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage alternates chapters from the views of Hanna and Suzette Jensen. At 7, Hanna is not yet verbal, but she is able to communicate her needs in other ways. One of these needs happens to be getting rid of mommy, who is stealing daddy from her. Suzette, Hanna's mother, struggles in dealing with Hanna on a day-to-day basis. As Hanna's plans become larger, the Jensen household is thrown into turmoil.

Hanna was a slightly lovable, but disturbed villain from page 1. I couldn't help but feel bad for her as Stage does a great job showing how Hanna's feelings and emotions are twisted yet unintentional. She needs help in a serious way. Suzette's POV resonated with me the most, though, because I can see myself as a maybe-one-day mother in her. If my child was behaving as Hanna does I would be both frustrated and heartbroken at the same time. Baby Teeth ends in the best way possible when dealing with such a young villain, but I was secretly hoping for a little more action.

This was a solid 4.5 stars. I was a little disappointed that Hanna's obvious issues were not being addressed at all until this book, although it did make for a good read. Anyone who enjoys a twisted thriller will love Baby Teeth.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for an ARC!

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