This has taken me considerably longer than usual to read, because it is so disturbing and the characters so awful. It is however a thought provoking, potentially controversial and well written book, and I’m glad I persisted to the end.

Seven year old Hanna is a monster who wants to kill her Mommy. Her parents, wealthy, trendy, artistic, seem to have it all - Swedish Alex is a successful architect and poor tortured Suzette has survived severe Crohn’s disease, the early loss of her father and terrible parenting from her emotionally withdrawn mother, to become the perfect modern organic thoughtful parent. So why does Hanna, who is voluntarily mute, hate her so much? This is told in alternating POV chapters between mother and daughter, and we learn how Hanna, super intelligent, has sabotaged all attempts to send her to school, and manipulated her father into believing she’s a little angel, while causing her mother to doubt her sanity. As the battle between them escalates, there is a real sense of dread as Hanna sees eliminating her mother as the only way to secure the undivided love of her father.

I can see why many people would hate this book. Superficially like “Kevin”, it tackles the ultimate taboo - admitting you don’t like your child. I have cats instead of children so this doesn’t bother me, but I still found Hanna’s machinations horrific (this is a horror story, no mistake). Alex and Suzette are terrible parents - selfish and self obsessed, only really interested in Hanna as a reflection of themselves. There is sex and swearing and some violence, although the threats are worse than the descriptions. I cannot say I enjoyed it, but I did think it was great, weakened only by the ending, which was left a bit open for my taste - it didn’t strike me as the kind of book which would get a sequel. So, read with caution (you should get an idea of whether this is for you from the reviews - follow your instincts rather than reading this to see what the fuss is about!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Some parents do not want to see the truth about their child. And then some do. This book reminded me of the movie ‘The Bad Seed.” It will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

You know that horribly creepy feeling you get when you wake up and one of your children is right there staring at you? Yes, that one. That is how Suzette feels every second of every day. 

Hanna doesn't speak. She can speak. But she won't speak. Until she decides to, but only as a dead french witch and only to her mother and the things she says would have me dropping her off at the nearest mental hospital.

Books with children as the evil ones scare the living daylights out of me. Remember Children of the Corn?  Well this is one that will have you sleeping with one eye open!

Job well done!

NetGalley/July 17th 2018 by St Martin's Press

I always think that thrillers are best when you don't know much about them and don't try to anticipate where they are going, so I will start this review spoiler-free and then hide the more in-depth comments under spoiler tags. If you enjoy an unpredictable page-turner with a creepy kid and references to Swedish language and traditions, you may enjoy this book and find it a relatively quick read.
**Possible spoilers below**
[Okay, if you're still reading, you probably are leaning toward not reading this book, or maybe already read it, or perhaps you enjoy spoilers. In my honest opinion, this was a compelling book, but a bit much for me. I don't have a lot of experience with kids, but the main antagonist, Hanna, seems really manipulatively sophisticated for her age. It didn't entirely take me out of the story but a few times it went beyond my suspension of disbelief.

I also felt a bit frustrated as I got further into the book. This may be a petty gripe for a psychological thriller, because part of the fun is not knowing where the book is going. Nonetheless, I found it difficult to enjoy this book because we meet this family when the daughter Hanna is 7 years old and displaying psychotic behavior. Is she deranged? possessed by the devil? We know her parents aren't perfect but we have Hanna's point of view and the mother's point of view, but very little information about when this situation began to escalate to this point, and why Hanna refuses to talk. The author hints at the dysfunctional household through the mother's POV, but if I'm reading about a potential psychopath, I'd like to get a little deeper into the history and background of the characters than what we are given here. For me, that can make the difference that keeps me thinking about the book long after I've finished it. This one did not have that affect on me.]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it! Learning about Hanna and what makes her tick along with the mother/daughter relationship was really interesting.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. What can I say but very creepy. I don't understand the title. The book is about a couple with a mute child who has been home schooled. Attempts to put her into school have been unsuccessful. Gradually it appears the little girl is a demon child who wants to kill her mother. As I said, the book gave me the creeps.

Oh my goodness, this book was something else. Probably, one of the creepiest I have ever read. I like creepy, and crazy out there books. But, I had a hard time with this one. The writing was great, and I would definitely try the author again. I think for me, it was the age of the child, that threw me off. I personally have 4 kids, my youngest just turned 8. I can’t imagine a 7 year old doing those kind of things. I mean 7 years old just seems stretching it to me. I feel like she should have been a little older. Other then that if you really like these type of thrillers, I can see you loving.

The description appealed to me, but I found the actual reading a bit disturbing. Sort of 'Bad Seed' disturbing. Although the author provided a lot of foundation for why the parents weren't in better communication with each other (personal fears, oblivion, illness, etc.), I didn't feel their love for each other. As the book started, I actually found myself wondering if Hanna or Suzette was the crazy one. One minute I was feeling sorry for one and then flipping to the other. Not one of my favorites, but only because of the subject. The writing was fine and the concept well-developed. Just not my cup of tea.

Thanks to the author, publisher (St. Martins) and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I loved this book. No, it wasn't perfect, but it was tense, dark, and just a ride. It's The Omen meets We Need to Talk About Kevin, following Suzette, a somewhat fragile mother of a mute child, and Hanna, that child who isn't so mute and isn't so innocent.

I liked the chapters going from Suzette to Hanna, although it did take me out of the book during some Hanna chapters since the language or mentality was too adult. I enjoyed how selfish and petty Suzette could be, especially because it was realistic. She wasn't the perfect mother or a perfect person, but she was trying. The ending was perhaps too abrupt and maybe the author didn't know how to end it, but it did make me intrigued for a sequel.

The book was well written and a great debut. Thank you to NetGalley and I look forward to the author's next works. I hope Reese Witherspoon snatches this up for a miniseries adaptation!

Unfortunately, I only made it a couple chapters into this book. The main character, Hanna, was such an awful, spiteful child that I couldn't continue.

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review

Man, this was good. It's almost too good for that cheesy, 99-cent-ebook cover. This is actually a well done, three dimensional story about a family's response to a psychopathic child, no real twists but more character-driven, how we don't see what we don't want to see, why we would doubt what we know to be true, how victims of abuse tend to be re-abused. Didn't want it to end

I liked this. Wait. Maybe “like” isn’t the right term. But whatever. This book made me feel incredibly uncomfortable. Stayed up reading until 2 am - I have an infant, so sleep is a prized commodity. I couldn’t stop reading though, alternating back and forth between, “this can’t be happening” and “eeeeeeeeeeeee.” I think art is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable, and push your boundaries. That’s what makes it unique and powerful. I didn’t love this, I didn’t hate it either. The writing isn’t groundbreaking, you won’t have a spiritual awakening after reading this. Well, unless your kid is a psychopath. Then, I am so sorry, I can’t even imagine. This is art. This is creativity. This is a world flooded with stories that have been told and retold over and over. This is new, and maybe it’s not for you, but appreciate what the author is doing here, and think about the way it makes you feel. Why is that? Dig in. 👊🏼

Baby Teeth was EXCELLENT and unlike anything that I have read previously. Zoje Stage was exceptionally deft at creating a creepy story without it seeming farfetched or like some gruesome horror novel. I loved it! This is definitely an author to watch out for.

Baby Teeth is told from two perspectives, Hanna, the seven year old, mute daughter of Alex and Suzette. Hanna absolutely hates her mother and thinks of many devious ways to rid she and her father of the third member of their family. The second perspective is Suzette, the much hated mother of Hanna. Suzette battles Crohn’s disease and her scary little daughter daily who is always plotting her demise.

I have worked with children for close to 10 years who have various diagnoses and can be quite scary and often cunning, just like Hanna.

I wish the ending had packed more of punch but it was left perfectly for a sequel which I would definitely pick up and devour! Fingers crossed for another helping of Hanna and Suzette.

*** BIG thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of Baby Teeth in exchange for my honest review.

I guess I fall to nurture in the “nature vs nurture” discussion because I just couldn’t buy into the character of Hanna. We are expected to believe that a 7 year old was prescient enough as an infant to make the decision to never speak because she hated her mother but unhealthily adored her father. I got through about 10% of this novel before calling it quits. I guess I just can’t buy into the premise that a child could be this evil and manipulative at such a young age. It didn’t ring true to me and I quickly tired of page after page of pure hatred.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this advance copy, but I need to move on.

I enjoy reading thrillers. I love it when a book gets under my skin and I can’t stop thinking about it. When the publisher offered me the book through the widget and I read the synopsis, I thought “Sure, why not“. I figured that the book would be like John Saul’s books. Creepy kids who end up doing horrible things because they were possessed. For the first half of the book, it was that. Then it got creepy and got under my skin (not in a good way).

Baby Teeth’s plot is pretty straightforward. Hanna wants her Daddy to herself in the worse way. But to have that, her Mommy needs to go away. So Hanna starts a campaign to drive Suzette out of the house. When she realizes that isn’t working, Hanna decides that Mommy needs to go.

Suzette is stressed to the max. Taking care of a special needs child is a full-time job. She needs a break. But Hanna will not let that happen.

Alex is oblivious to what Hanna is doing and writes off Suzette’s complaints as petty. That is until something happens. What happened?? Read the book.

Hanna was so evil. The things she did to Suzette was awful. Like taking pictures of a naked, sleeping Suzette and putting that picture next to a dead woman. Or impersonating a long-dead witch. Or messing with Suzette’s Crohn’s medication. I was disturbed that a child could hate her mother that much and at such a young age.

Suzette did bother me for most of the book. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t record Hanna talking or even set up a nanny. It baffled me. Instead, she ranted and raved about how Hanna was doing this and doing that with no evidence. No wonder Alex was oblivious to what was going on. It wasn’t until the tack incident that he finally figured it out. Also, her attitude towards Hanna bothered me. She treated her like she was a burden for most of the book.

I mentioned in the first paragraph that I thought that this book was going to be like John Saul’s books. I did think that Hanna was possessed by the ghost of the witch. There was nothing that suggested otherwise. Until midway through the book. Then my mind was changed.

Like I said in the first paragraph, this book got under my skin. By the end of the book, I was disturbed by it. I have read reviews where people thought this book was fantastic. As a mother, I was disturbed by the lengths that a 7-year-old went through to try to kill her mother. I kept comparing this book to “Rosemary’s Baby” and other horror books that are similar. What made this book stand out from them was that it was raw and gritty and different from any other book in the thriller category.

There was not a happy ending to Baby Teeth. The implication in the last chapter was chilling and kept me up thinking about it the rest of the night.

I am not going to do a Pros/Cons of this book. I can’t do that without giving spoilers.

I would give Baby Teeth an Adult rating. There is sex, language, and violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are triggers in this book. They are abuse (of a parent by a child), PTSD like symptoms, and Crohn’s disease.

I am on the fence about recommending Baby Teeth to family and friends. I would have to make sure that they like thrillers and can deal with what this book is about. I would also include a warning about the triggers. I am on the fence about rereading this book too.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Baby Teeth.

All opinions stated in this review of Baby Teeth are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

DNF--What you expect from the blurb is pretty much what you get from the book. Thrillers are usually easy reads for me, but this one was a bit creepy. Creepiness is usually a good characteristic for a thriller, but this was a kind of creepy that I couldn't connect with. Hanna's tone was confusing, and I felt like she was creepy just for the sake of being creepy. I couldn't immerse myself in these characters or the story. What I got from what I read was like The Orphan (2009) 2.0. (I still get creeped out by that film. It took me a lot of courage to type the title out here on the blog. *shiver*)

This book had me in a state of shock...the daughter (Hanna) hates her mother (Suzette) so much that she believes the only way to make herself happy is to kill her...this is a seven year old...so yeah not an easy read but it is on the edge.
Both mother and daughter are vying for daddy's attention. Both manipulate him at their whims, one is more diabolical than the other...he on the other hand is a weak man, not knowing what or whom to believe.
Zoje really delved into the epitome of the family dynamic, where one needs more attention than the other and in the end only one wins. She is a talented writer to write something so dark and taboo but not to let it slip into another realm. So kudos on her for her delving into something many would not.
This book is kinda out there but it is very good. It makes you think, at least you raised a good kid and not as damaged as Hanna.

Suzette, a mother trying the best that she can to help her child. Hannah is seven, she is mute, talented, bright and exceptionally smart. All she wants is her daddy's full attention and his unconditional love. All she has to do to have this happen......is to kill mommy.
A great novel that has creepiness,scariness and psychological terror.
Hold on to your seats, the surprises will haunt you for a lifetime. You'll never view you children in the same.
Recommended!
5 Stars

BABY TEETH was an uncomfortable read. This is a complex book about parenting a child who isn’t normal. A child who does things that strike fear in a parent. It is also the story of a young girl on a mission to remove her mother from the house, by any means necessary.

Hanna is a child that doesn’t talk. She has undergone various tests and they all point to the fact that Hanna is choosing not to talk, not that she can’t. Suzette, Hanna’s mother, is her primary caretaker as she is a stay at home mom. Hanna doesn’t like her mother and does things to make life hard for her. Hanna loves her father, Alex, though and goes to extremes to make sure her father always chooses Hanna over her mother. Hanna is careful not to reveal her true nature to Alex, which further frustrates Suzette. What would you do if your child hated you and wanted to cause you harm?

A few things about BABY TEETH I want to discuss.

Why would anyone read this? Well, as a parent I can relate to some of it. I have been horrified by things my children have done or said, especially when it comes to pitting me against dad. I have not measured up, but I would still do anything for my child. I also think it is eye opening for anyone who has “normal” children. Proof even, that you can do everything “right” and still end up with a “bad” kid.

This book should make you uncomfortable. It is almost unbelievable at some points but it brings up such a hot topic for parenting. How responsible are you for your child’s behavior? When should you really start asking for help? What are the options for a child that wants to literally kill one of her parents?

Hanna is a special needs child. Not only is Hanna a little disturbed, but she doesn’t talk at all. Both Suzette and Alex believed there was something wrong with their child because she doesn’t speak at all. They do everything they can to accommodate her. I think when you have special needs child, with any special need, you throw the parenting books out the window. It doesn’t apply to your child because they have ____. This, along with the fact that this is their only child, really put Suzette and Alex in a unique situation parenting wise.

BABY TEETH is a well written read with fast paced action. It is a dangerous look into the mother-daughter paradox. This story is told in both Suzette and Hanna’s POV. I found Hanna’s POV to be a little far fetched, but I think Suzette’s was spot on. This is a love-hate story that is basically every mother’s nightmare. I found the story gripping and even though it was uncomfortable, I had to see this story through. This was a good psychological thriller!

Hanna Jensen is a seven year girl who is extremely smart, imaginative, and creative. She is the only child of her parents, Alex and Suzette, and despite her intelligence, she is mute. Because of this, and other behavioral issues, Hanna cannot attend a traditional school and is home schooled by her mother. The only problem is that while Hanna loves and idolizes her father, she HATES her mother. Mommy takes too much of daddy’s attention and love from Hanna, so Mommy needs to GO. AWAY. Permanently. What follows is Hanna’s creative ways of making that happen.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I know it is fiction, but I had a hard time believing that a child could come up with these twisted, convoluted, schemes. However this could be because I thought Hanna was much younger than she was, (4 or 5?) and it wasn’t until the the end of the book that it was mentioned that she was 7. Easier to believe a 7-year old having this level of intelligence, but still somewhat of a stretch. And a child THAT smart really needs to be somewhere for the gifted.

Suzette (Mommy) was a bit of a mess. She’s stuck balancing the household, the demon child, and her Crohn’s disease (which I thought was very well described as it is a disease that I don’t know much about). In one scene she’s literally cursing at Hanna and the next she’s offering her orange slices. She was a slightly confusing character, but I probably related to her the most. I couldn’t imagine bringing a child like Hanna into the world and could only imagine how that would rock your sense of self.

Alex (Daddy) was a joke. Completely clueless and oblivious.

All in all, while some of this was far-fetched, it was definitely entertaining. I had a hard time putting it down sometimes because I couldn’t wait to see what Hanna would do. But there was something about this that I found a bit off so I debated between 3 and 4 stars. 3.5 because the ending was kind of a let down. Definitely recommend this to someone who is not squeamish about rough language and criminally insane children.