Baby Teeth

Posted on January 16, 2018 by cayocosta72
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. Published by St. Martins

Can a child be born damaged? Can they be evil or mentally ill from birth? Suzette wants to love her daughter Hanna. Daddy thinks she’s a perfect little angel, but Suzette has a lot of concerns about her 6 year old. The child has been difficult and violent almost since birth and as she’s gotten older, Hanna has become a master manipulator. Suzette doesn’t understand why her husband can’t see that something is desperately wrong with their daughter. Hanna has been so violent and disruptive, she has to be home schooled, and Suzette begins to be afraid of her own child and what she might be capable of. This book is so creepy and so insidious and so utterly believable. And that’s the scariest part of all. Parents may be locking their bedroom doors after reading this

Probably one of the CREEPIEST WTFruit books I have read in years...
There is definite cause to pause and ponder nature verses nurture in helping a child to grow.
Suzette is an adoring wife and mother who also lives with an autoimmune disorder. Alex is her workaholic husband who is blind to what their 7 year old daughter Hanna is doing. How do you explain to your husband your daughter who will not talk is slowly tearing you apart? How as a husband do you NOT try to see and understand more? How as a daughter can you play your parents like that? Soo many questions and soo many creepy weird moments. I

This book was a fun ride! It kept me guessing as to where it was going. Just when I thought I knew what would happen next, it took a left turn.

Never before have I read such a gripping, psychological thriller centered on a young psychopath.

Brilliant literary execution.

The Electra complex on Steroids! Seven year old Hanna, mute by choice, wants her mommy, Suzette, to disappear or better yet,be dead. She wants daddy, Alex, all for herself. Alex is unobservant and oblivious to the family dynamics. He sees nothing at all wrong with his sweet little baby girl.
The intriguing , yet disturbing story unfolds in alternating narratives of Hanna and Suzette - much of the story takes place in the internal musings of both. We learn of Suzette's developmental bonding issues with her own mother, as well as her continuous battles to deal with the ravages of crohn's disease. She gives up a great deal of autonomy to stay home to nurture and home school her child.
Hanna is continually plotting to get rid of mommy. In her nonchalant narrative... she reveals her innermost callous and unremorseful face , as well as her delusional interpretations of actions around her.
Hanna observes a group of peacocks strutting around. She considers them very arrogant and wants to wrap her fist around their delicate necks and squeeze . She wonders if their heads would crack open like an egg. One of her many attempts at making mommy "disappear" involved placing as slew of tacks next to her bed while she was asleep. Hanna then made a loud ruckus outside her door.... the plan was for mommy to suddenly awake in a startled condition and jump up quickly while impaling herself on the tacks .... "she would then burst into the room and whack away with the hammer until her brains started to ooze out"
Confrontations continue to escalate resulting in more drastic measures to control the ever deteriorating and dangerous situation. Hanna's callous and unemotional traits and violent behavior raises the question if she is a sociopath or psychopath or combination of both. Is she a sociopath who lies to manipulate or a psychopath poised to continue her vicious attacks.
The narrative successfully and quickly drives forward to an unusual but satisfying conclusion. I certainly intend on seeking out further novels of Zoje Stage ... this will not be my first and last taste of her skills. Thanks to both Netgalley and St Martin's Press books for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this most unusual and enjoyable book, in exchange for an honest review. #St Martins' Press .








































































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"Baby Teeth", by Zoje Stage, was intriguing from start to finish. I was thrown off guard on a number of occasions. My anticipated ending was dead wrong! The character development of Mommy, Daddy and Hanna was superb. As the reader, I got to know each of them well. Did they surprise me? Yes. Did they disappoint me? At times, yes. Were they predictable? No, although at the midway point of the book I thought they were too predictable.

In general, I liked this book very much. The ending was not as strong as I'd have liked, but the storytelling was superb. Good job, Zoje!

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.

Don't let the sticky sweet cover of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage fool you, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, with chills running up and down your spine. In this dual perspective novel, we get to watch a mother and daughter spin out of control and weave a web of deceit. I have to admit that the storytelling in this book was so good it creeped me out, the chapters that Hanna, the seven year old daughter narrated, gave me instant goosebumps.

Suzette and her family seem to have it all on the outside looking in, they are the perfectly average family. Their house is lovely, Suzette and her husband Alex's marriage is working, and they have an adorable daughter named Hanna. What people can't see is that although Hanna is mute, she's not the innocent little girl that she seems to be. She's in fact a danger to her mother, she wants her out of the picture so that she can have her father, her best friend, all to herself.

Alex doesn't see how evil Hanna can be, she stays home with her mother because she has a hard time fitting in at school, so Suzette gets the brunt of Hanna's terrorizing attitude all on her own. Which means no witnesses. From cutting her mothers hair, taking naked photos, dumping life changing medication down the drain and replacing it with flour, Hanna tries to sabotage her mother by making her sick and ugly- just so maybe she will finally go away.

Watching Suzette crumble under the stress with no one to believe her was enough to make me want to cry for her. I can only imagine the anxiety it would cause to be alone and scared of a person who you are supposed to love and protect. This book will pull you in and suck the life out of you. You'll want to save Suzette and make Hanna go far far away, but you'll also want to pull Hanna in for a big hug because, well, she's just a little girl...

This book was fascinating and frustrating all at the same time. All together it was an incredible story. It was frustrating because I wanted someone to help Suzette. I wanted her and Hanna to get the help that the needed, and felt like they were in this cyclone of despair that they couldn't get out of. All in all, I couldn't get these characters out of my head and that tells me this book was great. Getting to be inside Hanna's mind when she was explaining what she was doing and why was both terrifying and intriguing all at once. I definitely recommend this book for those who love thrillers, it's suspenseful and dramatic all in the right spots. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. The only reason it didn't get that last star was because the ending wasn't that great, it left me wanting more. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.

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

Meet Suzette, just your average stay at home mom doing everything she can to be the best parent she can be to her 7 year old daughter, Hanna. Except Hanna is mute and Hanna may be evil. Wait, an evil 7 year old? That cannot possibly be true can it? A 7 year old that purposely goes out of her way to be insidious towards everyone around her except her father, Alex. But she's just trying to get people to understand her and one person stands in her way. Mommy. Hanna has been expelled from schools, has no friends, talks to no one and plans her attacks quite carefully. All Suzette wants is a perfect family and a perfect little girl and she cannot possibly understand why Hanna has a vendetta against her but it grows increasingly dark and more disturbing.
Baby Teeth is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time. Twisted and suspenseful with bouts of sadness and hope, this book had me turning pages late into the night. As a mother myself -who has a child with autism, I felt it easy to identify with Suzette-wanting the best for your child, wanting to communicate with your child and trying to understand what is going on in their mind. I couldn't fathom what it would be like to have a child with such a dark side though as I tried to put myself in her shoes many times throughout this book and even questioned "What would I do?". I found this to be a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good suspenseful, deeply psychological thriller. I was even more excited that there could be a possibility for a sequel.

This was one of the best books that I have read in a long time. I normally don't like books that jump from people to people but I really like how that worked with this book. I do wish that there was a little more from Alex point of view in the book. But the book really did grab you from the open pages and make you want to read late into the night. Great story development and I love how it wasn't a tied in a bow perfect ending. I can see a book 2 coming.

Well, I ended up just busting through the last 70% of this book this weekend!! Thank you @stmartinspress for the advanced copy!!
And what a debut novel it is for @zoje.stage_author!! Five GIGANTIC stars for me!
This book fucked my mind and didn’t even use lube! 😂 is that too nasty? Oh well, I’m going with it!
This book was everything for me! Apparently, as I think back on my previous reads I’ve not read a bad seed book before, so I didn’t KNOW KNOW the world of fucked up children. I’ve seen plenty of movies about bad seeds but not books!
This got me from the beginning. And it never let up for me! Hanna is one badass psychopath of a seven-year old!
The writing was amazing. Smooth. Realistic to me. Switching from mom’s perspective to Hanna’s perspective was seamless in my mind. You really got to see how Hanna’s mind worked. How some things were so adult in her thinking and some were still so childish.
You REALLY question Suzette’s (the Mom) thinking and wonder in the end if she’s a good mom or bad mom and that really fucked me up too!
I just loved every part of this book. If I had ONE complaint it was that I wish Suzette would have tried to record with her iPhone the crazy ass shit Hanna was doing. Why didn’t that ever cross her mind?!
I will for sure be buying this in hardcover when it’s released!!
I know one person LOVED it like me and I buddy read it with my friend Chandra @wherethereadergrows and it was just alright for her so I guess you’ll have to make your own assessment when you read it! And be sure to let me know! I’d love to talk endlessly about this one!!

I have never hated a child (character) so much. And I mean that as the greatest compliment to Zoje Stage. The characters are real, believable. I was sucked into the novel from the beginning and couldn't wait to finish to see what happened. There were a few times I had to stop reading because I found myself worked up over the actions of Hanna - which is unusual for me to be involved in the characters' emotions. Wonderful read!

I enjoyed this book! It was a page turner for me. I recommend this book for readers who liked The Bad Seed and We Need To Talk About Kevin. If you don't like the evil child trope, then you may want to pass on this book. I'm predicting that Baby Teeth will be a controversial book and people will either love it or hate it. It shows the darkside of parenting. The story is told in alternating points of view; it goes from the mother's perspective to the daughter's perspective. It leaves the reader questioning whether kids are born bad or if it's bad parenting.The scariest part about this book is knowing that kids with mental health issues with violent behaviors are a reality in today's society.

Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.


WOW! I loved this book, totally dark and disturbing! It took me only 2 days to read this, if I didn’t have a job or kids I could’ve have finished it one sitting! I just finished and had to flip back to the last page to make sure I was at the end, please tell me there is going to be sequel!

I have just read this in 24 hours - I could not put it down.
It’s not going to be for everyone but i absolutely loved it.
Is seven year old Hana just manipulative? Or is there more to it. Seen through Hana’s view and her mum Suzette in alternating chapters this goes from intriguing to downright scary.
If I hadn’t already had my kids this would definitely make me think twice!! Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of “Baby Teeth” in return for an honest review.

This is an extraordinary remarkable story. This was an easy book to get into right away, it certainly held my attention.

I have sat on this review for a few days now wondering how I could write a review without giving anything away, I need to say, this book won't be for everyone, and its hard to say "I loved it" but I did, for all sorts of reasons.

The authors writing is well and truly remarkable, easy to read, flows well and evenly without let up so the reader never gets bored, I felt everything that this Mother felt, and much more.

Hannah doesn't speak, has never spoken, can she or won't she?

When I had to put this book down to sleep or eat or do some boring chore around the house, I remained thinking about what I had just read. Its impossible for me to place all my varied thoughts on this in a single review.

I was talking to my husband about the subject matter. Without giving anything away I was tossed in so many thoughts and ideas within its pages, supernatural ? Nature or nurture? Mental health?
But shes a small child {I kept reminding myself}

Is this how serial killers have no conscience?
Does it start from a small age?
Is it the parents fault?

I had so many unanswered questions.

I knew I would get to the bottom of this in the end with the help of the author.

Reminding myself that Hannah was a young girl was a constant battle for me.

I felt for the Mom. You never want to admit to yourself that there is something wrong with your child. Even if you are told that you're child is a little bully, you don't want to listen.

So, its not helpful or constructive when her Swedish husband never gets to see the bad side of Hannah, she is always his little 'squirrel' his little darling.

No school can manage Hannah so its left to her Mom to school her from home, her Mom has an illness and finds it hard to cope, you see this as the days go on.

One thing I took from this fictional story [although verges on a fact] is how strong Hannah's parents were together although it seemed sometimes they weren't on the same page but like anything, there are many diversions you can go down but it can lead to the same point. The same destination, and that was, what is best for Hannah.

I warn you, sometimes you may think parts unbelievable, but each has its purpose. You may gasp and raise you're eyes to the ceiling, you will see its all worth while.
The authors research in this field has been second to none. I applaud her.

Its a book I will remember for all sorts of reasons.

As I say, its not to everyone's taste, but is sure impacted on me.

This book follows Hanna, a silent child who loves her daddy, her mother, Suzette, sick with Crohns, trying to homeschool a nonverbal child who continuously harasses her and her father, who is blind to all of Hanna's negative behaviors.

This book is categorized as a psychological thriller and I would 100% agree. This book was AWESOME; totally creepy and kept me turning the pages. I will admit, it took me awhile to get hooked with this book and I was totally not feeling it for awhile... but then it got me. I am all about the creepy, the not knowing, ahhh everything psychological thriller, I just love. There had better be a book number 2 coming, because this one ended in with a cliff-hanger, which killed me. Thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.

Wow. I’m not sure how to express everything this book made me feel. Sadness, fear, anxiety and a hope for more. This can’t be the end. Will Hanna play the part of good girl well enough to come home to Suzette and Alex? Will they survive if she does?

Wow, this book really kept me riveted from start to finish. What a fantastic story about a very dysfunctional family. Mom Suzette has health problems, father Alex is a workaholic who seems to cater to daughter Hanna's every whim which causes jealousy between Mom and Hanna. This jealousy leads to all sorts of devious acts by Hanna to try to do away with her mother. There are plenty of twists and turns in this very interesting book.

I absolutely loved this book! My first read from the author and definitely won’t be my last. I think I was expecting more of a thriller/adrenaline fuelled read, but whereas this was more steady-going, I still couldn’t put it down. I was instantly drawn in by the characters and loved the different points of view given between the chapters. Will definitely recommend!

I liked it! Baby Teeth is very creepy and unsettling. Kept my guts wrenching in anticipation of what was coming next. I liked the candid thoughts of all the characters and that the author isn't afraid to approach tough subject matter through many different viewpoints.

Not the type of book I usually read, but enjoyable. You can feel the furstration the mother has, and you can't wait for her to be vindicated.
Would read this author again

Debut novel, Baby Teeth, by Zoje Stage is a disturbing study in family dynamics when faced with an unpredictable mental illness.

Suzette is a chronically ill mother doing her best to raise her mute, but brilliant, seven year old daughter Hanna. With the face of an angel, no one but Suzette realizes how disturbing Hanna’s behavior can truly become. Not even the schools she’s been expelled from, or even the other children she’s hurt. Especially not Hanna’s clueless father Alex, who explains away every incident Hanna has been responsible for.

But as Hanna’s calculated tricks get more treacherous and Suzette’s sanity slips day by day, will Alex finally realize there’s something seriously wrong with Hanna, before it’s too late?

What I really liked about this novel is how the author juggles all the emotions of every family member who is struggling in this bad situation. The reader slips in and out of sympathy for everyone involved, even as you fear that Hanna’s behavior will turn deadly before her parents will be able to find a diagnosis and treatment for Hanna. You slip in and out of fear, empathy, and anger at Suzette’s obvious frustration, missteps, and guilt. You long for her to assert herself more where her daughter and husband are concerned and also let go of guilt over a situation she has very little control over. You want to shake the rose colored glasses from Alex’s face, hoping he’ll see the problems sooner. And you long to hug and kiss Hanna until you realize just how profoundly messed up the child really is. The author was able to, despite everything, cause you to sympathize with Hanna’s point of view.

I was truly creeped out by the whole tale while at the same time rooting for a happy solution for everyone involved. The writing style of personal third-person points-of-view was very effective and lent a broader view of events than dueling first-person view points, that at times leave me feeling like I might be missing some aspect you can’t get when the story is only being told from one person’s standpoint. While not a fan of stories in this genre, I thought this was masterfully done, keeping the story both scary but very human and relatable.

WOW! I did not know how this book would end. Was she possessed by a demon or does she have mental illness? So good and so different. You don’t usually read thrillers from mother and daughter prepective.

i've pretty much never really wanted children, although i have at times entertained the idea of perhaps doing so at some unforeseeable point in the future. i've occasionally thought about what it would be like to have a kid, and feel all the joy that comes with it.

and then i read this book.

most of the genius of the novel is in the slow escalation of hanna's behaviour - at first you think, oh, she's non-verbal, okay, whatever. then you think, oh, acting up a bit, guess most kids do that.

and then - oh! she's an actual goddamn psychopath!

this was a really suspenseful novel that i read in one sitting on the train and i'd definitely recommend it if you like psychological thriller/horror.

Wow - This book will scare you out of having kids. Hanna is only 7-years old, but has the mind of an adult psychopath. Hanna and her mother Suzette don't have the greatest relationship, and as this book is told from the alternating perspectives of both Hanna and Suzette you can feel empathy for both of them, but also completely dislike them at the same time. I felt like both of them come across as manipulative and cunning, so it really is a case of nature versus nurture in raising Hanna.

Reading this book will definitely give you a different perspective on kids and their parents. It is a very disturbing book, but one I couldn't stop reading. I think anyone would find a book with a creepy child disturbing, so this book is not for everyone.

One of the things I found difficult with this book was the random Swedish words that were used (at least I think they were Swedish). For me, it's similar to seeing a misspelled word in a book and finding it a struggle to move passed it. I didn't know what the words meant and it was often difficult to tell from the context. I prefer when authors at least spell it out for us folks that are ignorant of foreign languages.

Overall, I liked the story and thought the author did a great job for her debut novel.

Alex and Suzette are madly in love, the perfect couple, a match made in heaven. What a blessing a baby could be to this union. How lucky a child would be to have such loving and devoted parents. Suzette is especially determined to be a better parent than she had, to be the mother she wished she had instead of the neglectful and uncaring mother who was too wrapped up in herself to even notice that Suzette needed medical care. Sadly, no amount of love and attention seems to please Hanna unless it comes from her father. Suzette's days are spent taking Hanna to appointment after appointment in search of a reason for her lack of speech. Home schooling Hanna as best she can since she can't fit in at school, and being the object of Hanna's hatred. When Alex is home Hanna is all smiles. the perfect little silent angel. But Alex can't always be there, and when he is he prefers to bury his head in the sand. Meanwhile Hanna's hatred for her mother is escalating into something dangerous. Does Hanna have reason to hate her mother or is she just a born psycho? You be the judge.

This book honestly scared me. To think that a child this young could feel such rage against a parent and the parent be at a loss as what to do is terrifying. I definitely enjoyed the book, but it was interesting the emotions that it made me feel.

I literally devoured this book, it was way too good to put down for very long! #BabyTeeth had me wondering who I should root for and changing my loyalties with the page number! I can't wait very long to see what little devious Hanna does next!

Alex is a happy husband and father. He has the absolute adoration of his 7-year-old daughter, Hanna and the love of his wife Suzette. Life is perfect. Except Hanna is nonverbal and a very disturbed little girl who hates her mommy. Suzette grew up with a cold mother and hoped to do better for her little girl. Unfortunately, her little girl has made it her life's work to get mommy out of the picture permanently.

Told in Suzette and Hanna's alternating points of view, we have a story about a mother struggling to homeschool a little psychopath while dealing with a debilitating illness and a husband that refuses to see his child's issues. It is not her fault that she was expelled from so many schools, it must be the teachers' fault, etc. Suzette is not entirely an innocent victim but you wonder if the over the top reactions are a sign of her own psychosis or PTSD.

This was an interesting book, closer to We Need to Talk About Kevin than Gone Girl. I was expecting a more surprising ending than what we were given. Overall, I would recommend this book and I thank Zoje Stage, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read it.

This book is reminiscent of The Omen (without the religious component) or The Bad Seed...only we get to see inside the child's thought processes. It is super creepy, but adult sociopaths were all once children, so this premise of the book is fascinating. It is also almost too horrible to contemplate and it is not a book for everyone., but for me it was a riveting read.

An original story with thought-provoking characters. I raced through it in a day! Definite 'We Need to talk About Kevin' vibes.

I'm two pages away from the end and can't wait to get back to Hanna, Suzette and Alex. Gripping story, well-told, with one caveat: Suzette's gastrointestinal issues tended to slow the momentum for me.

This is for you, if you liked _"We Need to Talk About Kevin"_ and _"The Bad Seed"_.

Creepy, spooky and at times terrifying that a child so young can be so evil. Reminiscent of Patty McCormick in the Bad Seed.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

4.5 stars.

This debut novel is a story is told in alternating POV chapters switching between mother Suzette and daughter Hanna. After finishing this book, I'm excited to see what the author will come out with next.

The story is so intriguing and gripping- I devoured this book! I had to constantly resist the urge to peek at my kindle while at work, and by peek, I mean read the rest of the book. Hanna is so creepy, and I kept wanting to know and simultaneously dreading what new scheme she would cook up next for her poor mother. It was really disturbing reading the Hanna chapters and seeing the language and disturbing things she would imagine. There were a few times where I felt a bit bad for her and wondered whether Suzette was an unreliable narrator, and I don't want to spoil anything, so that's all I'll say about that. The book is fast-paced; I never got bored and was always curious to find out what would happen next. A real page-turner!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

This was a disturbing book about a troubled child. With a family that looked perfect from the outside.

Some things I found interesting, especially the parents. First of all, I know the whole premise of this book feeds on a mother's innate fears- is she a bad parent, does her child not love her as much, are people judging her? This child obviously has some issues. The family dynamic looking closer is odd to me, too, though. They never have visitors, they are pretty isolated. The husband chooses to be blissfully unaware, the wife struggles with her own mental health.

Some moments were more suspenseful or even shocking than others. I do wish the ending were a little something more. But overall, an enjoyable read.

Judge me not, I do love creepy reads. I have read a couple of thrillers with some really dark characters. However, this has to be one of the darkest. This is mainly because of the age of the baddie.

Hanna’s parents have view different opinions about her. Mom, Suzette knows there is something wrong with her child. She has seen the ugly side of Hanna, the tantrums, abuse and meanness of this little girl. However, daddy knows a different Hanna who is just adorable and seemingly misunderstood.

The story is narrated through the POVs of Hanna and Suzette. Suzette is struggling to be a good mom. It is obvious that she loves her little girl. However, she is having some serious difficulties understanding her. And it seems that her love is unreciprocated. On the other hand, Hanna loves her dad and she wants him all to herself. However, to do that, she needs to get mommy out of the way.

There are so many chilling scenes in this book. I read it almost a week before writing this review and I can still remember the chill that went down my spine a couple of times. There are others that are so horrific that it is hard to imagine a little girl being behind such evil. However, I was totally hooked. This is one of train-wreck, compulsive reads. I just couldn’t look away. I had to see how it would all end.

I think that this book is more of psychological horror than thriller. Hanna reminded me of the baddie in the movie, The Orphan or Damien in The Omen. I know this might not be for everyone and I can already this title being a bit controversial. However, I am glad that I read it and I know that it is one that I won’t forget any time soon.

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

This is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. But I loved it!!

This book was amazing! I am still left wondering what actually happened. It is really a book about how each individual views their world. This book is told in alternating perspectives, however by the end I still didn’t know who the “villain” was. Excellent characters and writing. I highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

I first found this book in a NetGalley email advertising it as Read Now. I immediately logged in and downloaded it. It caught my eye nearly instantly! It looked like such a good book, I knew I had to read it.

And oh my goodness was it so creepy good. I devoured it. I was absolutely enthralled by Hanna and Suzette’s story.

The only reason this one didn’t get a 5 star rating is because I had a little bit of a hard time accepting that a 7 year old could actually be as evil as Hanna. At one point it flashes back to when Hanna was like 2 or 3 and she realized that Mommy was going to fail her “test”? I mean, come on – I have two children, almost 6 and almost 3 years old …. there’s no way at 2/3 a child could think in that manner. And to imagine that at 7 she could be actively plotting to kill her mother? I’m not sure that I buy that either…. And we won’t even talk about the unhealthy obsession Hanna has with her father. Yikes.

The ending (or really lack thereof) was a little disappointing. But I can totally understand why Ms. Stage chose to end it as she did. I can appreciate that, but I would have liked a little more closure than I got. Maybe a teenage Hanna will re-emerge in a few years?! 😉

I’m nearly positive this is going to be one of the most talked about books this summer. It’s definitely buzz worthy. It’s controversial. It’s enthralling. I’m glad that I read it and I’m looking forward to Ms. Stage’s future ventures in writing!

While I can fully appreciate that this book would not be for everyone, it’s definitely a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and will be recommending it to everyone I know!

The book was different from just about any book I have ever read, which is difficult to do- great read!

It’s about a family A mother, a father and a little girl. What a book! If you want highly suspenseful, can’t put the book down story this book is for you. Hannah is 7 years old and loves her daddy, but must spend her days with her mommy. Hannah is having behavioral problems and is being homeschooled by her mommy. But things aren’t as you make might expect. Read more of this suspenseful story.

Wow! This book was truly creepy! I enjoyed it immensely! I love psychological thrillers but the ones with children are particularly disturbing. I loved the author's style of writing, the back and forth was an interesting way to tell Hanna and Suzette's story. The challenges that a non-verbal child presents were described very well in this book. I would read more from this author. The ending definitely poses the question...will there be a sequel??

This was one of the most disturbing and messed up books I've read in a LONG time. Enjoyable writing style, I'd pick up something else by this author.

As a mother, this book really bothered me. I think all parents deal with issues, many of them they can't readily share with others for fear of being judged. If society was more open and understanding about mental health, perhaps parents wouldn't have to navigate through a mine field of shame and guilt. Hanna is clearly troubled. I would have liked the story to really hone in and when and why her anger at her mother manifested and when she transferred all of her love to her father.

Suzette made me so frustrated. She kept anguishing over the events caused by Hanna and the injuries Hanna gave her but never once did she consider installing a few video cameras, a Net Nanny, to catch Hanna in the act. Maybe this could have been solved much sooner, maybe Alex wouldn't have kept thinking Hanna was a sweet adorable child, would have seen she was a nasty little monster.

And Alex...I wanted to throttle him. Such an oblivious idiot. I kept fearing he might actually be in cahoots with Hanna. Now THAT would have been a disturbing twist!

The ending was doubly disturbing. I fear for this family when Hanna comes home.

Baby Teeth written by Zoie Stage
This is a very gripping psychological thriller. Suzette And Alex have a wonderful life and marriage . They have a beautiful little girl who is not what she seems. She has never talked and no one can figure out why.Her Daddy things she is 100 percent angel and could never do anything wrong. However her Mom is now a stay at home Mom and can sense that things are not right, Her daughter is full of evil and manipulation. She is also a brilliant child with no compassion or empathy.Is she mentally ill or can this child be pure evil!
Suzette know her own mother was mentally ill and emotionally distant Could it be her or could it really be her daughter is evil?
Zoie's main goal is to get rid of her mother at any cost and she doesn't care how she has to do it. Of course Alex and others do not believe Suzette. As Zoie starts pre k she begins to exhibit more psycotic behavior and more things begin to evolve.
Although this is a little far fetched (not wanting to think little kids can be evil ) and at the same time very belieable, especially if you have ever lived with someone with mental illness
An excellently written book with well deveoped characters that you will not want to put down.

Thank you so much to netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the kindle version of babyteeth! Wow! From the first page I was hooked! I couldnt believe the depth of evil and jealousy of Hanna! I felt so sorry for her poor mother! She tried so hard to help her and felt so alone! I was drawn into each chapter of the book and wondering what was going to be happening next! I couldn’t believe how Hanna’s jealousy progressed! Ok I won’t give anymore away! Make sure you read this book when it comes out ! I will be recommending this book to friends and family!

My thoughts are still racing, this book kept me on edge it was definitely a psychological thriller, and though it is not for everyone it is one I could not put down . Hanna is a wild child with scary defiant calculated behaviors who has her Daddy, Alex wrapped around her little finger and doesn't make nice with her Mommy, Suzette. She wants her gone away for good. Suzette suffers from Crohn's disease and is often too overwhelmed to take care of Hanna the way she thinks she should. Although she tries to tell her husband Alex what occurs, he isn't home when Hanna targets her mom . He doesn't believe there is anything wrong beyond Hanna's selective mutism even though she has been kicked out of several schools for hurting other children. There are several escalating events that brings the dysfunction to a crisis point and several diagnoses and treatment venues are presented. Will there be something to help Hanna, and bring hope to the crumbling relationship between Alex and Suzette? This book is brilliantly written and the ending is one I don't want to say anymore about except it leaves the reader wondering .... for those who love psychological thrillers, this is one to read.

T his book was an incredible read. The story of a couple and their daughter Hanna.
We are introduced to Hanna at age 7. She doesn't speak and her mother is always taking her to doctors for tests to see why she doesn't speak.

Hanna and her mom are constantly engaged in a battle of wills and her dad who works outside the home never sees this side of his daughter.

Hana resents her mother and plots to harm her and kill her thereby leaving her with total access to the good loving parent: her dad.

Hanna plots constantly to be kicked out of the schools she's placed in by being abusive to other children and at one point taking red paint and mixing it with water to appear as fruit punch and giving it to another child to drink.

She also hits a toddler in the supermarket after the child hits her.

She hides her mother's jewelry ass well as a babysitter's jewelry and cuts her mother's her while she's sleeping.

Her violence towards her mother escalates to a point where her father is home and observes when she tries to kill her mother by burning her with embers from a fire pit.

The psychiatrist tells them that as long as Hanna lives in the house with them her mother's life is in danger.
She advises them of a facility where other children like Hanna live and are treated until they are no longer a danger.

Hanna is taken to the facility and after a period of time she is allowed to phone her parents. She talks to both of her parents, astounding both of them and tells them she's very sorry and promises to be good if they will relent and take her home.
Her father seems to be on board with idea at first until his wife make him realize that its just another scheme of Hanna's and she's not

At the end of the book we see that Hanna is indeed plotting: she has figured out that if she exhibits good behavior at the facility they will think she's cured and release her to go home.

This was an amazing story: of an intelligent evil child who is manipulative and very cunning: evil incarnate

Zoje Stage’s Baby Teeth is a dark and twisted tale of a seven-year old girl named Hanna who has one goal in life – to get rid of her mother so that she and her father can live happily ever after together. As a mom, I found Baby Teeth to be perhaps my worst nightmare come true – that my child would hate me and want me gone – so in that sense, it was an incredibly uncomfortable read for me. At the same time, however, it was still such a riveting read that I couldn’t stop turning the pages no matter how uncomfortable it made me.

Hanna is a troubled young girl. For reasons doctors haven’t established yet, she does not speak. In addition to being mute, she also has severe behavioral issues and has thus been expelled from every school that her parents have enrolled her in. Suzette, Hanna’s mom, makes the decision to stay home with Hanna and home school her. It’s not a permanent solution but at least Hanna won’t fall behind academically until a better solution presents itself.

Somewhere along the way, Hanna decides that she hates her mother and only loves her daddy. While she and her mom are alone together all day, Hanna goes out of her way to let her mom know just how much she hates her and then even starts scheming about ways to get rid of her. Then when Daddy comes home, she turns on the sweetness and perfectly plays the role of Daddy’s little angel, keeping him in the dark about how she really feels about her mom and of course frustrating her mother to no end.

As Daddy remains oblivious to Hanna’s dark side even as Hanna steps up her attacks on her mom, Suzette truly begins to fear for her own safety. Can she get through to her husband and make him understand that they have a serious problem on their hands with Hanna before it’s too late?

It’s hard to review books like this because I don’t want to give away any of the twist and turns that make it such a compelling read, but here are some elements of Baby Teeth that I really thought the author did a wonderful job with:

Two Points of View – I thought it was brilliant to present this story in alternating chapters between Suzette and Hanna. Being able to get a glimpse inside each of their heads as this disturbing family dynamic played out was what really made the book such an engaging read for me.

Suzette’s perspective was especially easy to relate to because all she can think about is what did she do wrong as a mother to make Hanna hate her so much. Not only does she question where she went wrong as a parent, but then she feels tremendous guilt because there are times when Hannah pushes the envelope so far, that Suzette finds herself thinking horrible things about her child and sometimes even saying horrible things to her because she has been pushed to her limit. In many ways, Suzette starts to really question herself as a mom. How could she possibly think such terrible things about her child, who she really does love with all her heart, no matter how troubled she is? Again, I found Suzette’s perspective to be very relatable and could imagine myself thinking many of the same things if I was in her shoes.

Hanna’s perspective added another disturbing layer to the narrative because even a quick glance at what’s going on inside her head reveals that she is truly a troubled little girl on many levels. She’s callous, unfeeling, manipulative, and frankly, just all around creepy. As soon as I’d read a chapter from Hanna, I’d instantly be all the more sympathetic to Suzette because she clearly had her hands full and was on her own thanks to Daddy Oblivious falling for all of Hanna’s tricks.

Twists and Turns – Another aspect of Baby Teeth that really entertained me was that it was fast-paced and filled with twists and turns that constantly kept me guessing about what was really going on with Hanna. At times, the story had the feel of a horror movie so it really had me considering any and all possible explanations for Hanna’s behavior – is it psychological? Are we going to find out she was somehow abused? Is there something supernatural afoot? I liked that the story really had me open to so many possibilities, no matter how over the top they seemed.

I’m guessing that you’ve picked up on the fact that I was not a huge fan of Hanna’s dad. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt – that Hanna was just that good of a manipulator – but it really just frustrated me to no end that he just didn’t get how dysfunctional their whole family situation was and how troubled his daughter truly was.

The only other real issue I had with Baby Teeth was that sometimes I found it hard to believe that a 7-year old child could devise some of the intricate and truly evil plots that Hanna came up with against her mother. I know some kids are more precocious than others, but some of her schemes and just some of her thoughts in general came across as way too sophisticated for a child of that age. In some ways it bothered me because I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it and sometimes it felt like maybe the author was just trying too hard to make the book shocking, but at the same time, it still kind of worked for me because it made my own imagination run wild, which added to the dark and twisted nature of the book and to the horror vibe that I was already feeling: Does she have multiple personality disorder or some other mental illness? Is she a psychopath? Do we have a case of The Exorcist going on here? Has she been possessed? Those last ones probably sound a little silly, but the book really just sucks you in that much!

Baby Teeth is sure to please readers who enjoy thrillers and/or horror. It’s a wild, dark, and twisted ride that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch the battle between Hanna and Suzette play out.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. Suzanne is Hanna’s mother but they never really bonded. Hanna is now 7 years old and she can’t or won’t speak. As Hanna’s behaviour towards her mother becomes more manipulative and disturbing but she saves her best behaviour for her father who does not believe his little angel could do wrong. Baby Teeth is told in alternating points of view between Suzette and Hanna and you will not be able to put this one down. So dark, creepy, and makes you think real hard about your child’s motives. Such an amazing psychological suspense that I bailed on life just to keep reading. Really disturbing in only the best ways. As a bonus for me, Suzette has Crohn’s Disease like I do. I thought this addition and the description of her fears and pains and worries were so spot on for me. I have always felt alone and a little crazy freaking out over every stomach pain but you never know when another flare will take hold, and this was described perfectly. I liked how it added to Suzette’s state of mind and some of her insecurities around her relationship but was not the focus of the story. It made me feel like my concerns are normal for someone with a chronic disease and made me feel less alone. Also, my son did not speak a word until he was 3. Luckily, that is where his similarity to Hanna stops, but Suzette’s fears over it being her fault or her parenting was the cause, searching for a diagnosis, all felt very deja vu for me too. Publishing July 17, 2018.

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 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.

My Review of “Baby Teeth” by Zoje Stage St. Martin’s Press July 17, 2018

WOW! WOW! WOW! Kudos to Zoje Stage , author of “Baby Teeth” for writing such a chilling, horrific, frighteningly intense and captivating story. Kudos to St. Martin’s Press for their marketing strategies. The letters, the postcards, everything leading up to reading this novel was such a tease and so amazing. The Genres of this Novel are Fiction, Mystery and Thriller with Suspense thrown in.

The author describes her colorful dysfunctional cast of characters as complex, and complicated . Suzette is having a really difficult time being a Mom. She suffers from Crohns disease for years, and when she is stressed this triggers her symptoms. Suzette is very artistic has a creative loving husband. Hannah is their seven-year old selectively mute daughter. Hannah seems so sweet and loving to her dad, but hasn’t bonded with her Mom well at all. Lets just say that this sweet little girl has been thrown out of schools, and is extremely manipulative.

Hanna just wants to love and live with her Daddy. Is that too much to ask? Mom has to home school Hanna, but Hanna has other ideas. Dad doesn’t see what Mom sees. This reminds me of the Twilight Zone Episode “It’s A Good Life” (1961). (about a little boy) This also makes me think of “The Exorcist”. Actually, I think this novel has all the ingredients of being a movie, one that you perhaps shouldn’t watch before you go to sleep.

I highly recommend this intriguing , sharp, twisted, edgy, page turner for those readers who enjoy a chilling and thrilling read. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Whoa, what an incredible debut novel for Zoje Stage! I fully expect that people will either love or hate this book, I'm not sure there's much of a middling ground to be had here.

Baby Teeth is about the relationship between Hanna and her parents and the increasing strain she puts on them until they reach an inevitable breaking point. Hanna is a 7-year-old non-verbal child who is incredibly bright and incredibly calculating. Hanna loves her Daddy and her Daddy loves her. Hanna hates her Mother and her Mother fears her.

Told in alternating chapters from Hanna's perspective as well as her Mother's, this was a quick read for me because once I started it, I could not put it down. I thought that there was going to be an inevitable conclusion and I could not have been more wrong about it. The only reason I dinged a star off from a full 5 is that I was left wanting more from the ending; I understand WHY it ended how it did but that doesn't mean that I was completely satisfied with it. Part of me hopes that there is a follow up to this so that I can find out more about what happens to the Jensen's...

There's a lot to unpack here - familial bonds, chronic health issues, mental health issues, alternative schools, therapy, Swedish traditions/heritage/language (just to name a few) - and Stage juggles everything adeptly. She's very good at creating a mix of suspense and disbelief and I was left in awe of the Hanna chapters in particular.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what she does next!

I received this ARC as a courtesy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Rating: 5/5

I started reading Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage during a cross country flight and was 80% of the way done when we landed. This novel is gripping - I’m so glad I saved it for the plane because I didn’t want to put it down.

Baby Teeth begins by introducing you to the Jensen (pronounced Yensen) family and their 7 year old daughter, Hanna. All Suzette wanted was the best for her daughter but Hanna’s calamitous and calculating behavior is evident to everyone around her, except her father. She a master at manipulating him, transforming into the perfect daughter when he’s in the room and although she’s already been kicked out of two schools for some seriously disturbing behavior - like hurting other children and setting a fire - he refuses to see it. Hanna’s mental state is frightful; like getting a look inside the mind of a child psychopath. She’s determined to eliminate her mother while keeping Daddy all to herself; wrapped around her little finger.

Its impossible to not become transfixed on the relationships in this story. You’ll follow the struggle of parents trying to come to terms with who their child is - longing to love her but terrified of what she’ll do next. Then you’ll follow Hanna through her own shrewd and calculating thoughts. You’ll be frightened by the strength of her own delusions and her determination to get what she wants. This novel is gripping, dramatic, powerful and twisted; you won’t be able to put it down.

Baby Teeth is set to release in July 2018 - if you’re a fan of thrillers this is one you’re definitely going to want to put on your summer TBR list!

(Review will go live on nikaleighreads.com on 5/29 at 8:00am EST)

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. I was warned by a friend about this book and she did not lie. It is intense, thrilling, and addictive. I actually stayed up Thursday night and finished this because I knew I wouldn't be able to read for several days. I had to figure this out. I have to say I am still not sure who was crazier, but all the characters were driving me crazy. I do hope there is a sequel. I really need one. This is a must read!

4.5 Stars

Move over stalkers and serial killers, little girl psychopaths are the new scariest thing.

This is by far one of the most, if not the most, disturbing thing I’ve ever read. No there isn’t a ton of gruesome scenes or mutilations; there’s a (possibly) psychopathic little girl.

Hanna’s character is so well-written and perfectly creepy. As an elective mute who adores her dad and despises her mom, she toes the line of sanity, playing innocent one moment and completely unhinged the next.

Suzette left me with some questions. It was hard to get a read on her true character. On the one hand she’s clearly a victim of her daughters, but I couldn’t help feeling that we weren’t seeing a certain darker quality of hers.

Alex, the husband and father, was probably my least favorite character. His unwillingness to see Hanna as she really is, his promise to be there one moment but then overwork the next, his wishy-washy-ness in decisions...I don’t know. He just irritated me.

The only issue I had was the ending. It’s left open and as far as I know there’s no sequel planned. I would have liked a little more finality, but with the rest of the novel being so dreadfully wonderful it’s easy to forgive this.

Thanks to St.Martins Press and Zoje Stage and a Netgalley for this ARC. This is a new author for me and I am looking forward to more books by her. To say this book was creepy, is a compliment. The author gives us a child whom I wasn’t sure was a demon spawn, a witch, or a reincarnation of a witch. This mixture of possibilities was quite a great idea from the author.
The author had me feeling sorry for the mother, Suzette up until the very end, with the phone call from Hanna where she asks her mother if she loves her, and Suzette says “not enough “. That is one great line ! I read this book in 1 sitting, it was fabulous , I thoroughly enjoyed every creepy aspect of it !
I mentioned this book to my mystery/ thriller book club, and they were like “Oh, no! ” but we all voted it in for one of our book club reads anyway. 👍🏻😊
I will give my 5 Star review on Amazon, Goodreads, a Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This book is not for everyone!!!

That being said, it was well written and kept me engaged until the end. It's primarily a mother/daughter story and gives a disturbing picture of a dysfunctional family, where the child involved is increasingly violent.

I found myself getting annoyed with all of the characters, but especially the clueless dad. His inability to recognize the truth of his daughter's behavior and total lack of empathy for his wife was a bit of a barrier to my enjoyment.

I did enjoy the variety of perspectives from chapter to chapter, as I did feel it gave some complexity to the good/bad child story.

I loved this book. The characters were well developed and had strong personalities. Chapter by chapter you can see the psychological interplay becoming more and more complex. If you have a defiant child, this book will scare the daylights out of you! As a mom myself I could feel everything Suzette was going through and felt both sorry and afraid for her. My heart ached for the damaged child that was Hanna and I wanted to grab Alex and scream at him "don't you see what is going on?" It wasn't until late in the book that you realized that he was in his own special kind of turmoil as well. I was so engrossed in this story that when it reached the unforeseen end I felt like I'd been sucker punched! I highly recommend this to lovers of psychological thrillers. #chapterchatterpub

I just put this down, and I wanted to write the review while it was still fresh. Let me lead with these words: HOLY S#!T.

This book was probably the most terrifying book I've read since I read the Amityville Horror in fifth grade (I was an advanced reader). I had to sleep with my door open and the hallway light on for about a month after reading that one; I feel the same way now. Mind you, I'm a pretty desensitized reader - not a lot of stuff bothers me. This book managed to do it.

Now granted, I am a parent (my kids are 13 and 9). I think that this book will hit the spot for readers around my age who are also parents. If you're not a parent yet, this book will definitely make you think twice about becoming one. I might be keeping an extra close on my daughter...just in case. Five awesomely well-deserved stars.

5/5. 5/23/18

What do you do if you have a child that you should love unconditionally, but that child is disturbed and wants nothing more than to kill you. What do you do when no one believes you and your husband never sees the disturbing behaviour? Your child is constantly in trouble in school but Daddy won’t believe his daughter is disturbed. This story is dark, disturbing and very controversial. Parts of it may be unbelievable but I was thoroughly entertained.

Hannah is a 7 y/o selective mute, precocious little girl. She lives with her parents, Alex (eco-architect designer from Sweden), and her mother Suzette, a woman who has been scarred and traumatized over a life of dealing with Crohn’s disease. They have a wonderful, eco-friendly, perfectly designed and furnished home. Neither of them seems capable of tolerating the slightest imperfection in their lives. They get triggered by Americans pronouncing “Jensen” improperly. For all of us who are not Scandinavian, it’s “Yensen.” Get your shit together, and learn some Svenska, Y'all!

Hanna loves her daddy. He is fun, silly, loving, understanding. He doesn’t think we all need words to communicate. To him, his little spawn is incapable of hurting a fly (the man lives in denial). Hanna doesn’t like much as much as Daddy. Mommy needs to go. NOW.

Suzette has placed her career on hold to take care of the little ray of Sunshine for 7 years. She refuses to speak, and she’s been different and more challenging (how dare she doesn’t like art and creates sketches and eco-friendly homes like her parents, dammit!) . Suzette blames herself. What did she do wrong? Where did she fail as a mother? What will precious, perfect Alex think if she told him the little girl is Satan in a dress?! Poor Suzette, she’s on her own dealing with Wednesday Adams and has zero support elsewhere. She-Devil behaves like an innocent doll when Dad’s around.

Obviously, there’s something wrong with this smart-ass kid (it was hard for me not to like her. She’s quite the clever thing!). Is she possessed by a witch’s spirit?, A demon?, Psychotic? a psychopath?! How far will things go before Mr. “I Can’t Believe it's Not Butter” grows a pair?

Zoje Stage is brilliant at creating a character who has both the imagination and naiveness of her age and the coldness and determination to creep you out. I’m shameless in saying I liked her, all the way to the end.

Read it! Read it! … I mean, only if you’re OK with creepy, murderous, children characters. The book is a delight, and I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press (I love your books, guys!) in exchange for an honest review.

The mother and daughter dynamic, even under the best of circumstances, is fragile territory. The daddy's girl syndrome is very real. I have a daughter. She will be 40 years old this year. She is still very much Daddy's girl. Our relationship is a good one but has had its ups and downs, as anyone might expect.

BABY TEETH is told, in alternating chapters, by Hanna, the daughter, and by Suzette, the mommy. To say that each of these characters comes with her own, somewhat peculiar, set of issues would be an understatement in the extreme. Each of them is seeking some kind of elusive perfection founded in a reality with which I am unfamiliar.

On the periphery of, yet highly central to, the plot is daddy. Mommy is the stay at home variety and daddy is the go to work, and the gym, and have a life variety.

It is difficult to pin this tale into a single category. It is about the family dynamic alongside the interpersonal relationships of the individuals that comprise said family. It is a psychological study of way nurture plays different roles in different households. It is a horror story of unimaginable ferocity.

I would be lying if I said I enjoyed reading this book. It was in no way an enjoyable experience. However, not all books are written to provide joy and uplift. Some are written to provoke thought and intense reactions. BABY TEETH certainly does that. To enumerate my emotional reactions would be to give away the farm (so to speak), and I just don't do spoilers.

gahhh this book is so freaky it's so good! I have to say that the cover is what hooked me first. The cover alone gives you that creepy eerie feeling. It's sweet, innocent, and shattered? Did I just describe the book? lol I love reading stories about messed up families. They really stick with me and when I'm done, they make me question ...other families. The change in POV is why I liked this book so much. It was great to experience this book through different views rather than just one biased view. There were a couple things that were left open ended that i still wonder about, but overall I'm extremely satisfied with this book. I can't wait for everyone to read it.

Baby Teeth: A Novel (July 17, 2018) by Zoje Stage
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (July 17, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250170753

Entertainment Weekly writes that Baby Teeth was like “We Need to Talk About Kevin meets Gone Girl meets The Omen....” I’m still a bit haunted by We Need to Talk About Kevin so I hoped that I would like the book.

The story is told in alternating points of view between the mother, Suzette, and the daughter, Hanna. I did not really want to read a seven-year-old’s point of view at first but even this turned out to make the book creepy. At times this narration was a bit too omniscient for my taste but by the end of the story it worked.

Unlike We Need to Talk About Kevin that includes a much longer period of time with the *I’m-glad-he’s-not-my-kid* Kevin, Baby Teeth sticks to a much shorter time period.

What’s creepy: Hanna does not talk. Except, of course, when she conjures a French accent for her first (creepy) sentence to her mother. This very much reminded me of Richard Matheson’s “Drink My Red Blood” with young Jules who “never spoke a word until he was five. Then, one night coming to supper, he sat down at the table and said, ‘Death’.” Hanna’s phrase is not explicitly problematic but I doubt it would sit well with any parent.

I liked that the narration lets us see how Suzette speculates about Hanna’s condition: is her daughter possessed? Is her daughter a psychopath? Is her daughter being molested by her father, whom Hanna adores?

There are specialists, counselors, special schools, and Suzette is more likeable than Eva (see, I keep going back to We Need to Talk About Kevin) but she is whiny.

Dad is in major denial but I doubt you will hate him for it. He is also Swedish, which brings an interesting aspect to the book since some phrases are purely in Swedish with no translation. There is an emphasis on Swedish traditions. Further, there is a witch theme and they celebrate Walpurgisnacht, which surprised and delighted this reader.

In some ways, the book nods more to Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts, which to me is the ultimate compliment because that book was amazing.

I was not too surprised by the ending but I also liked it; and, if you know me, I cannot stand neatly *tied up with a happy bow* endings so be forewarned.

Wow! A mother's worst nightmare! Hanna is so desperate to have her loving father all to herself that she is willing to do anything! Her ultimate plan is to eliminate her mother, Suzette, from their family! After being frightened by Hanna's alter ego, Suzette must get her husband to understand how manipulative and unsafe Hanna is and find a way to protect herself. Whose' plan will be successful? I could not stop reading this! I had to know how this would all play out! I am definitely hooked and will be awaiting a sequel! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review!

While I did enjoy the book, it was a little darker than I expected...(not a bad thing!). The concept is brilliant.....Hanna doesn’t talk...Hanna wants mommy out of the way. She wants to be with daddy. Daddy is oblivious to the toll everything that Hanna is putting her mother Suzette through. I recommend it, it’s different and I think this book will do very well!

There is no other way to describe this book other than disturbingly good. At points, I could not tell if it was a horror book or thriller. Baby Teeth kept me guessing what was going to happen next the whole time I was reading.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press. The title and description are what caught my attention. Absolutely loved this gripping novel! Full of suspense between mother and daughter. Just when you think that the little girl has gone too far, she pushes beyond any mold of reason. Honestly, I do wonder what will become of the characters and would love a part two as Hanna grows into her teen years.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints of the mother and child. Hanna loves her father a bit too much to be considered healthy at all. And she is unreasonable in her obsession. She doesn't want to share him with her mother at all. Suzette struggles to get her husband and Hanna's father to see the truth about the situation with Hanna's behavior. Mother faces issues of guilt as Hanna's behavior spirals out of control into dangerous territory, repeatedly. The father is oblivious since Hanna acts more like a saint in his presence, while she's a devil towards anyone else.
This book was disturbing, in that "can't put down...what next?! level of suspense. I am in awe of the author's story and writing in this debut novel. The title is perfection! I look forward to more works from this author.

Wow, what a horribly disturbing yet completely enthralling book! I could not put this book down. I just had to know if Hanna was possessed, psychotic, or just in need of attention. From start to finish, I read to see what horrifying thing she would do next, yet I felt sad for her because her mother, Suzette  was unlikeable, uncaring, and a bit disturbed herself. I think this is story that would disturbed even Stephen King because of the way it builds the suspense slowly, a little bit at a time. It's definitely a must read.

Baby Teeth caught me straight from the first few pages. Read in duel perspectives, from seven year old Hanna and her mother. Hanna, we learn from the start, is nonverbal and has a deep seeded hatred of her mother, Suzette. Suzette, who has an autoimmune disease, was raised by an uncaring mother and strives to have a perfect, or at least normal mother/daughter relationship with Hanna. Hanna goes to great lengths to make this impossible, getting kicked out of schools, and playing tricks that only her mother witnesses. She believes that her father is the only one worthy of her love and that truly loves her.

“Hanna kept her words to herself because they gave her power...She scrutinized Mommy and other adults, studied them. Their words fell like dead bugs from their mouths. A rare person, like Daddy, spoke in butterflies, whispering colors that made her gasp.”

Throughout the book you follow Hanna’s strategic and highly intelligent plots and Suzette’s struggles, as she deals with her mounting grief, mental and physical health and comparisons/parallels between her mothering and her mother’s.

I was given the honor of getting an ARC of this novel and finished it in a day. It’s suspenseful, thought provoking and keeps you turning the page, truly wondering what is going to happen next. The similarities between Suzette and Hanna both seeking Alex’s approval were well woven into the novel and each person had no idea how alike they both were presents well.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“From blazing new talent Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth is a story about a perfect-looking family, and a darling little girl who wants nothing more than to kill her mother.”

Wow. What a weird, gripping, frightening, suspenseful book. Not everyone is going to like this, but that's okay. A lot of suspense. A lot of "what the heck was this author thinking that she came up with this concept."

Possessed? A psycopath? Just plain evil? What can a stay-at-home, home schooling mom, struggling with chronic illness, do when her 7 year old daughter hates her and no one believes her? Hanna, the daughter, is very intelligent but refuses to talk and gets herself expelled from every expensive school her parents try. Hanna pits her beloved daddy against her hated mommy, convinced daddy is under evil mommy's spell. A compelling read, I kept coming back to it, even though I had other books to read and finally finished it in one setting.

Thank you to the publisher for the preview copy of this book. Scary and unforgettable? Yes.
Sorry, i could not get more than halfway through this book. The family described in this book needed an exorcist, not a child psychologist. The book creeped me out and I had to stop reading...
Readers that like psychological thrillers will love this one. Keep the lights on if you read it at night and do not read before going to bed!

Wow!!!!!!! Baby Teeth really gives you insight into the mind of a psychopath even if it is a fiction story. Little Hannah is a very troubled child who loves her daddy so much but believes that her mommy is taking daddy away from her. So Hannah plots to kill mommy and have daddy all to herself. I will highly recommend this book to everyone. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the oppurtunity to read this amazing novel

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 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 when I read it years ago. 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.**

Team Suzette!!!!! I enjoyed this fast paced page turner. Every chapter kept me wanting more. This is a perfect book to curl up with on a rainy night in any season, or to crack open on the beach.
This novel shows a very interesting mother daughter relationship, one to be very nervous about. Great read!!!

Wow. What an absolutely terrifyingly good story. I finished this book in one day.

I will start by saying that this book likely will not be for everyone. recommend steering clear if you are a first time parent or soon to be!

Hanna is a truly horrendous and smart yet mute child, who happens to hate her Mommy. Daddy however, hung the moon! She has decided that Daddy must be under Mommy's spell and it is up to her to save him so that Hanna and Daddy can live happily ever after.

Suzette is a woman that gave up her own passions to take care of her child. She loves her but can feel the hate that rises off Hanna when Daddy is not around. As the story continues, she starts to become afraid of her own child, who of course acts like a perfect angel the second Daddy gets home.

I really hated Alex at first. He so easily lets himself get manipulated by his 7 year old daughter. H questions his wife and doesn't always believe the things she tells him about their demonic child. My heart broke for Suzette as she struggled with his denials.

Having just finished I am still in a bit of shock and speechless. The end left is seeming like there will be a sequel which I hope is the case!

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage is a novel that is every much a horror story as one about a mother and daughter. Suzette had a difficult relationship with her own mother and is haunted by the fear her Crohn’s disease will eventually lead to being attached to a colostomy bag permanently. She spent her teen years recovering from surgery and controlled by Crohns’. When Suzette marries Alex a man that loves her and cares about her health, life seems perfect. A child should only add to that happiness, but their daughter Hanna is 7 and has never spoken. She has been kicked out of schools for things like setting fires, and hurting other kids. Alex is Hanna’s champion and seems to refuse to believe anything could be wrong with his daughter. Suzette sees a very different side of Hanna. Baby Teeth’s use of alternating narratives between mother and daughter leaves the reader in a unique position. We are privy to both characters’ inner most thoughts, There were times I was mentally screaming, “run, get out!” This book will draw you in, it will scare you in ways you didn’t think were possible.

What a chilling tale! Told in the alternating voices of a mother (Suzette) and her seven year old daughter (Hanna), this book grabs you by the throat and holds on tight until the very last word. This book was not easy to put down once it was started. How could a seven year old be so evil? How could a father not see it? Will Suzette survive with a child like Hanna in the house? Creepily twisted, this book was done very well, and will be one I won’t quickly forget.

I tend to contemplate on how many stars I'll give all the way through a book. This one went back and forth between 4 & 5. First, let me say that while I had never read Zoje Stage, she is an excellent writer, truly has a way with words and would have aced all of the creative writing classes I had in college. I read the first page and said, "Wow"!

This is a very emotional read and, I'm sure, will garner mixed reviews. Hanna is a truly evil child, and one has to wonder if there will ever be any redemption for her. At one point, her mother has thoughts that she'll end up as a serial killer, and I believe the readers are wondering right along with her. My rating went down at the end; if you've read it, you'll understand why.

Rating: R for language and sex

Loved this book. I like how it goes back and forth between what hanna who is cannot speak is thinking to her mother and fathers perspective. You can tell from the beginning something is different with Hanna . Suzette is an interesting character as well. This book really makes you think.... would you be able to love your child no matter what they did , to you or others? Would you still love ypur child if they show no emotion except hatred towards you. Its a hard concept to imagine but in suzette s world its a reality. I really hope there is a sequel so we can find out if the marshes really do help here or if shes beyond help

Fantastic psychological thriller . Hanna loves her Daddy very much,her Mommy is a different story. Hard book to put down, am very impressed with this author. Would love to see a second part to this book! Plan on buying the hardcover when available. Five stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What do you do when your own child hates you? What if no one believes you? How do you handle the judgment and fearing for your safety. This book is scary but realistic and will grip you through to the end. I think everyone will walk away with a different attitude toward it but it is a wonderful psychological read.

I love dark and suspenseful, but Zoje Stage pushes those dimensions with this Baby Teeth. I would almost have to say this is on the edge of horror. Either way, it will stay with you long after you have finished reading!

Gah!

Absolutely riveting and juicy.

'Baby Teeth' (such a chilling title) is a stunner of a novel, about an uncertain mother and a rapacious child, intent on destroying her matriarch in order to seek the prize: dear old Daddy. Hanna - the daughter - is absolutely, without a doubt, the kind of kid that horror movies have been written about. A silent, perfect angel in the eyes of her father, Hanna is devoid of emotion behind the scenes, scheming to remove her Mom by any means possible. I mean, why won't she just DIE already, amirite?

Suzette, Hanna's long-suffering mom, is desperate for someone - anyone - to believe her when she says this just isn't normal behaviour. Her husband is a moron, believing everything that comes from Hanna's butter-wouldn't-melt-mouth, and it takes some seriously sick actions on the part of his daughter for him to come to terms with the fact that he sired a monster.

'Baby Teeth' portrays Hanna as a little too sophisticated at times in her thinking, but all in all, this is delightfully campy (Suzette glorying in the free-and-clear sex she gets to have once Hanna's out of the picture suggests that perhaps her daughter wasn't too far off the mark after all), frightening and has enough thrills to keep anyone up at night. Recommended!

Zoje Stage’s debut novel Baby Teeth is a disturbingly entertaining look at being a mother to a problem child.

Suzette wants to be a loving mother to her daughter Hanna. She wants nothing more than to have a happy and functional family.

But Hanna has other ideas.

Hanna wants a happy family too, but she doesn’t want Suzette to be part of it. She wants it to be just her and her father, Alex, and Suzette is in the way.

The more Hanna tries to eliminate her mother, the more Suzette feels out of control. Alex doesn’t believe her, he sees Hanna as his little angel and refuses to acknowledge that something is wrong. But as Hanna’s behaviour escalates, Suzette needs to convince him that maybe their home isn’t the best place for Hanna.

So a quick side note before I get into this review: I’m not a big fan of kids. I started reading this all ready to hate Hanna for being a little brat. And that’s definitely how it started out. She flushes Suzette’s diamond earrings down the toilet, she shits on the floor making the babysitter clean it up, and she punches another child in the supermarket. Definitely a little brat.

But then Zoje Stage does something amazing. She makes you feel for Hanna. She writes from Hanna’s perspective and lets us into why Hanna acts the way she does. She wants to be included and doesn’t understand when her parents do things that don’t include her. It’s hard not to feel for her. Hanna doesn’t speak so she can’t explain any of this to her parents.

But then, of course, she does something so sadistic, like tamper with Suzette’s medication, that you go back to thinking she’s a psychopath. She makes it clear that she’s choosing not to speak rather than not being able to. You go back and forth between sympathy and horror at Hanna’s actions and I have to admit there were some parts when I was a little impressed at her ingenuity (don’t judge me).

Suzette is interesting as well. She has some mother-issues of her own and is trying her best to give her child the love she felt her mother didn’t give her. She’s also struggling with her health, which gives the book some extremely uncomfortable scenes where she describes her surgeries and fistulas resulting from them.

You feel for her and it’s impossible not to imagine how difficult her situation is. To have a child that you know loathes you, a husband that doesn’t believe you, and a fear for your life when your daughter’s actions turn dangerous can only be torturous.

I loved Baby Teeth more than I probably should have. I’ve heard a lot of people saying they didn’t enjoy the disturbing nature of Hanna’s behaviour, but it’s what made me want to keep reading. She’s such an interesting character, nothing like any other book I’ve read before. I’ve heard it being likened to We Need to Talk About Kevin, so that’s definitely going on my TBR list.

If you’re a fan of unusual kids, a layered plot, and some visceral imagery then you should definitely give Baby Teeth a read

I was given a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! This book scared the crap out of me! I don't usually get literally scared from reading books but this one did it for me. This is the story of a little girl, Hanna, and her parents. Hanna loves her Daddy. She's his little angel. But when Daddy isn't around Hanna is completely different for her Mom. It amazed me how clever and dark little Hanna is. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was an exciting book with a great premise. Seven year old girl who is mute, loves her father and plotting to kill her mother. I think the author did a great job delving into the thought process of someone who is mentally ill as well as their caregivers. Yes it’s a thriller, but it’s also very realistic. Great character development. I just with there was more. More education about why Hanna was so driven, more on her early development, more on the treatment process. I don’t know if the author purposely left the story open for a sequel, but I was so angry at the ending! I feel there is so much more story to tell!

I LOVE reading about evil children. Why? I don't know. I think they're probably the creepiest around. And there's the argument between nurture versus nature and no one ever really knows for sure as arguments to both make sense ... some of the time. I used to SCOUR true crime and the kids section were always the most fascinating to me. So when presented with this book, YES PLEASE!

Have you ever seen the movies Bad Seed and the Good Son? No? You should! Especially if you like stories such as these. Meet Hanna - phew, this precocious 7 year old is SMART, DEVIOUS, MANIPULATIVE and MUTE. As this book goes back and forth between her mind and the mind of her mother, Suzette, we really get right into the psychology of Hanna's mind and how she sees the world and it is FASCINATING.

Now, I'll admit, I was a bit into the book and was hemming and hawing. Like, ok, she's evil clearly, but when is she going to really do something BAD? I was a bit bored and .. just... waiting for it. Like, DO SOMETHING already. I could see what the author was doing though - building her mental state and her progression as her ideas and plans become more and more convoluted. So when I put aside the want of more action on her part, I found the psychological aspect intriguing and needed to know what was going to happen.

I can see this being a bit divisive in readers. As someone who loves the psychological mind, I appreciated where the author took this at the end and how the parents reacted. Not being a parent myself (and certainly not wanting to be after this read....), I can only imagine how hard it is to deal with loving your child simultaneously while being afraid of her.

Hanna is not your typical seven year old girl. She does not speak but can write notes in French, Swedish, and very colorful English, can imagine creating a friend that lives under her bed, is home-schooled by her mother, and is completely devoted to her daddy, so much so that she wants to get rid of mommy. By any means necessary.

I really did not know what I was getting myself into when I started reading this novel. At first I thought it might be a story about a family's struggles to understand their daughter's behavior, but as Hanna's behavior became more creepy, more sinister, more manipulative, and downright violent, the tension tightened, and I could not stop reading. Maybe it is because I have my own little mischievous daughter that I was so wrapped up in this story (hopefully mine does not grow up to be anything close to Hanna.) I also found the mother, Suzanne, interesting because she has Crohn's disease, and this is not something that I have experienced in a main character. Stage does a really good job depicting the battles a person with Crohn's fights on a daily basis, and I think that for this angle alone, "Baby Teeth" is worthy of a wider amount of attention. I wouldn't wish Crohn's disease on my worst enemy, and I find it refreshing that a main character has something that not everyone knows about and Stage uses her novel really as a way to educate people while telling a tense, thrilling story. This will be the novel that I recommend to everyone this year.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I will however be picking up a hard copy for my personal collection.

*I received this book from NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

Holy Moly! Stage writes a gripping psychological thriller that will leave you wondering “Is this really happening??” Seven year old Hanna, to her father (Alex), seems to be a normal mischievous little girl. To her mother (Suzette), she’s anything but. Go out and get this book! I thought I could see what the twist was, but Stage had me fooled in the best way! You won’t be disappointed if you like mystery, horror, thrillers, or fast reads! It even has a touch of romance-esque between Suzette (the mom) and her husband Alex.

Your child doesn't talk. She won't talk to you or anyone else. Until the day she does....and it's terrifying. Would you rather you child remain silent or tell you she's possessed? This book was slightly creepy in a very good way!

Suzette's seven year old daughter Hannah can't (or won't) speak. Suzette has brought her to doctor after doctor to find out if there is something physically wrong that is preventing her from speaking. Hannah adores her daddy, but hates her mother and only Suzette sees this side of Hannah. Hannah, in fact, wants to kill mommy so she and daddy can be together, just the two of them. The book alternates from Suzette's to Hannah's perspective as we see the tension and battle building between the two of them. Deliciously creepy!

If your worst fear is your child turning on you, you might find your pulse skyrocketing reading this book. I almost had a struggle picking it back up any time I was forced to put it down. The plotline is just that intense! Very cool read that chilled me to the bone.

To be honest, I’ve been in a little of a reading slump. I’ve read a fair amount of books, but they’ve all hovered between the 2.5-3 star range. I enjoyed them, but nothing to write home about. I am so happy to say that I’ve broken the rut.

Holy CRAP, this book.

The 411: Alex, Suzette, and their daughter, Hanna, live a normal, domestic suburban life. Hanna has selective mutism, but uses her few words to scare the living daylights out of her mother, who is convinced that Hanna is out to get her. And, spoiler alert, she is. Hanna goes out of her way to ruin her mother’s life and undermine her, all the while remaining the image of absolute innocence with her father. And Alex doesn’t believe Suzette that Hanna is a little different.

This book alternates perspectives between Suzette and Hanna. Hanna’s chapters are chilling and creepy and there were several times where I actually said out loud, “What the fuck?!?!” Suzette’s chapter are equally hard to read but in a completely different way. Suzette is a mother just desperately trying to connect with her daughter. And her daughter is a budding psychopath.

Feels very Rosemary’s Baby, right? Well, here’s the thing. Hanna’s not possessed. She’s just a sadistic kid. And quite honestly, that makes it even the more scarier for me. At the moment, I have no interest in kids, and quite frankly, I’ve never been the biggest fan of kids. Especially babies. But thanks to Damien and now, Hanna, I am more than happy to prolong the time before I am a mother. Because this book encapsulates one of my worst nightmares: What if I’m not a bad parent, but my kid just doesn’t like me?

This is going to a polarizing book, I can feel it. It’s going to be a 5-star or a 1-star read for you. I’m a horror junkie, so I highly enjoyed this book. My knowledge of psychopathy ended in freshman year Psychology I in college, but Hanna’s thought-process seemed very realistic and well-researched to me. I would definitely categorize BABY TEETH as a horror novel. And it’s hands down the best horror novel I’ve read in a long time. Thank you for the nightmares, Zoje. Dark and twisty just like I like it.

MY RATING: ✰✰✰✰1/2
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of Nick Cutter and Stephen King

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my e-galley! Baby Teeth is available July 12.

I received an advanced copy of this from St. Martins Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. If you are uncomfortable reading books about disturbed children, this is not for you. I found it fascinating and very well written, although I will say I was disappointed with the ending. Hanna is the 7 year old mute, manipulative, psychotic child of Alex and Suzette. She refuses to speak, acts so badly she is kicked out of every school she attends, and loves her daddy very much. Mommy, not so much. So mommy has got to go. Hanna has a very high IQ and keeps coming up with ingenious plans to get rid of Suzette. Aided by her alter ego, Marie-Anne Dufosset, who happens to be the last known woman to be burned as a witch centuries ago, Hanna schemes to find a way to get rid of mommy for good. Then she and daddy can live happily ever after. Alex is totally oblivious to her bad behavior since she only does it around mommy. And Mommy has had enough. Suzette has an autoimmune disease that has plagued her all of her life. Dealing with Hanna daily and with her health failing, she becomes desperate for answers as to why her child is trying to kill her. This is written from both Suzette's and Hanna's point of view so you get to know them well and understand their thinking. Now that was the scary part.....after all, she is only 7 years old...

WOW! What would you do if your 7 year old daughter tries to repeatedly kill you? This book takes you for a thrilling roller coaster ride and drops you fast at the end! I was enthralled with the power struggle between Suzette and Hanna and the power struggle inside of Suzette.
Everytime that Hanna acted out, I was like, ok it can't get worse, but then it did. I am glad of the direction of the book and how it ended. GREAT BOOK!

Baby Teeth is the debut novel by Zoje Stage. In Baby Teeth the story is told in alternating voices of Suzette (mother) and Hanna (daughter). This story is fascinating and scary at the same time. Ms Stage does an excellent job of keeping the reader turning the pages. Looking forward to reading more by this author. I was given an early copy to review.

Mind bending, compulsively readable and OMG are some of the thoughts that kept spinning through my head as I devoured this novel, and then started re-reading it, because I just wanted to try to understand Hanna a little more, and I loved getting sucked back in to this mother's nightmare of a life.

Hanna is the beautiful, beloved child of Suzette and Alex. But Hanna is different. She doesn't speak. And Suzette feels as though her daughter may hold some malice for her...but that's crazy, right? It's easy to see why Hanna loves her daddy so much...and it's just unthinkable that her daughter could be anything beyond a quiet little girl...

This novel presents both Suzette's thoughts and those of Hanna as the two navigate their relationship with each other and with Alex. As a reader I was utterly immersed, and found my heart pounding as the stakes got higher and higher.

This book is fantastic. I may have to read it...AGAIN.

Loved this book. Every parent's worst nightmare realized. And the characters so believable in their relationships. I found the book creepy and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Well done!

I am still absolutely reeling from this book. It is a psychological masterpiece and puts many of the "psychological thrillers" currently on shelves to shame. A great book is one that has you CONSTANTLY wondering, constantly second guessing, and this book does just that. Every other chapter I went from thinking the mom was nuts, to a saint. At one point I even believed that we would find out Hanna was a figment of a delusional mother's imagination. The masterful writing had me jumping to every possible conclusion I could think of..... EXCEPT the actual ending! Bravo Zoje Stage on a MAGNIFICENT thriller!!!

This story could have gone in a different direction, with Suzette as an unreliable narrator, but the first chapter in Hanna's head destroyed all illusions. This despicable little girl goes way beyond just being what I call: a little shit. Something is seriously wrong with her. What child would entertain fantasies of getting rid of their mum, permanently?

If there's one thing that pisses me off, and fills me with dread at the same time it's the  oblivious husband. Our dear Alex Jensen in this book is a prime example, and I just wanted to kick him in the balls so badly! Of course Hanna is all sweetness and smiles when he's around, his 'squirelly girl', but his complete dismissal of his wife's concerns made my blood boil. Throughout her ordeal, Suzette remains a loving mother, and although she's scared shitless, I had to admire her ability to show so much compassion towards her little monstrous Hanna. I honestly don't know what I would have done.

Mental illness is a real thing: ignoring it, or finding excuses for it does not help anyone at all. With her clear prose, and the brilliant character, Beatrix, the psychologist the Jensen family seek out for help, Zoje Stage gets her point across efficiently. If your child had cancer, or even just a sore throat, you would want to help them. Why stick your head in the sand when it comes to mental illness then? Suzette (a.k.a. Mommy) is worried that she will get the blame. As a stay at home mother, at the end of her rope, maybe it's her fault Hanna turned out like this... Beatrix also clears up some confusion about the nature vs. nurture debate, and the differences between sociopaths and psychopaths.

Dark and sinister, Baby Teeth is entirely relatable.

This story is told from the alternating perspectives of Hanna and Suzette. This really brought the characters closer and gave them strong voices. When I first started reading this book, I thought that Hanna was just a bratty little girl. Yet, this book was much more than just a story about a bratty little girl.

I had two "I got this story figured out" moments. However, it seems by the end that I did not have this story figured out. The ending was good but at the same time I feel sad saying the ending was good. To understand what I am speaking of, you will have to pick up a copy of this book to check out for yourself.

What a debut novel from new author, Zoje Stage. I can't wait to see what Zoje has up her sleeves for her next book. I was hooked. You could say that I had "sunk my teeth" into this book with pure delight!

A story with incredible creep-factor! I’ve still got the shivers — the alternating POV heightens the both the fear and the pathos. I hope the author’s research was as thorough and accurate as it seems because the characters’ struggles with physical and mental illness are chillingly gripping. Even with my children long out of the house I’m sleeping with one eye open....

I really enjoyed this book! Hanna is a very odd & cunning little girl. I was engrossed from the first chapter, & knew I was going to love this book! If you like creepy thriller type books this is a must for you. I highly recommend!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher/author for a copy of BABY TEETH in exchange for an honest review.

Disturbing, chilling, terrifying and mind warping. What a crazy unique and vexing read by Zoje Stage. I could not put this one down!

Suzette wants to be a good mom, but Hanna only has eyes for her dad and is determined to eliminate her mother from that equation forever. What does it feel like to fear your seven year old daughter? Read this book and you get an interesting perspective, both from Suzette and from Hanna, both of which will leave you questioning all you knew about the relationship between mothers and daughters.

The level of sinister content in this book is not going to be for everyone, but if you enjoy a good, dark, shocking read, this may be the book of the year for you. It left me unsettled and spooked, and deeply disturbed, but all in a good way. I really loved this one!

Great noir psychological domestic suspense title with unique spin. Author does a brilliant job covering two distinct voices which conflict each other brilliantly.

I really liked this book. It's very creepy and disturbing - so if you do not like those kinds of books, I would advise that you avoid it - but if you like creepy books, please read this! I also have to say that a small positive of it for me was that there was a speech therapist who appeared in it, and they got the aspects of that right, even if the speech therapist was only a small character. I found the alternating viewpoints between Suzette (the mother) and Hanna (the daughter) enlightening - I think that this is a book that needs to show the multiple perspectives because otherwise the story would not feel as full as it did. Hanna's father and Suzette's husband, Alex, is mostly oblivious to everything that is going on - something that allows his daughter to continue to torture her mother, and makes him not believe his wife fully when she is trying to tell him just what Hanna is doing. I am fascinated by this sort of subject, and I think that Zoje Stage did a very good job with her research. If you like this book, I would also recommend My Sister Rosa.

This book was good, though parts of its conclusion were not my favorite, but I fully plan on buying this when it is released!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

Very creepy and twisted. I really liked the suspense I felt reading this. I would definitely recommend this book.

When I started this book, I wasn’t sure I would finish it. Seven-year-old Hanna was not only unlikable, she was terrifying. A tiny psychopathic manipulator, her goal was to get rid of her mother so she could have her father all to herself.

The mother, Suzette, started off as a shallow upper class matron whose main concern was keeping face while her daughter exhibited bizarre and sometimes violent behavior in public. The father, a successful businessman who was away a lot, knew Hanna only as a sweet, innocent child who adored him. He refused to believe that she was capable of the nastiness attributed to her by her mother and what he considered to be inept headmasters of private schools that kept expelling Hanna.

Before long, however, the personalities and backstories of Suzette and Hanna blossomed as each narrated the tale in alternating chapters. Hanna became more terrifying, but Suzette was now someone I could care about. I found myself enthralled by Hanna’s resourcefulness as she gleefully tormented her mother in accelerated attacks. Meanwhile, the father began to witness injuries and destruction that he could not ignore.

The author does a great job of fleshing out the characters, including a child therapist who does her best to help the family cope with Hanna’s aberrant behavior. Hanna’s childishness comes through as she gives snide names to adults like “Brown Teeth” and “Mrs. Stinky Breath.” The mother’s navel-gazing regarding how she may have messed up became somewhat redundant, but not terribly. My one complaint is that the ending left everything hanging. Sometimes, you just want to know that the people you care about are going to be safe.

************ AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ************

Woah! This story messes with your mind, especially if you have kids! Not only do I have a kid but an 8 year old girl! So it’s a bit freaky! The writing was perfect. It was so creative and descriptive that is draws a picture right before you. I felt myself getting so angry with Alex and his blinders on. Zoje Stage is good... I was on all their sides at different times.

I was sble to listen to the audiobook. The narrator really did a great job of putting feelings into each character. She didn’t try so much to give different voices to different people which I was fine with since we hop back-and-forth between Hannah and the mom. However the narration wasn’t really a creative and interesting way to tell the story.

I received an advance copy of this audiobook. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All thoughts and feelings on this audiobook are mine and solely mine.

Hanna is a clever seven-year-old girl who doesn’t talk and her parents are trying to find out why. Hanna doesn’t get along with her mother and believes that she should be able to have her daddy all to herself. Hanna uses all her tactic to scare and even harm her mother to get her out of the way. Hanna is good at manipulation and only acts like a sweet little daughter when her father is around. As the home becomes more dangerous for Suzette (mommy), she wonders if she’ll ever feel safe in her own home.

So I’ve read many different reviews on this novel and I was so excited to get it and be able to review it on NetGalley! I have to say that I am in the camp that finished it quickly and absolutely loved it. I was so interested in this type of book and I’ve never read anything quite like this! I enjoyed that this book went back and forth between Hanna’s and her mother (Suzette’s) perspective. I loved the writing and I found myself immersed into their lives and was so curious as to what little Hanna was going to get up to next. I loved that Hanna was so intelligent and that she decided to take on another persona for a while to do the talking.

I loved that this book was totally different from all the other books that have been coming out. It was fast-paced and I loved all the character from the book that Hanna loved and how they made a version for her to take with her. I loved how diabolical she was throughout the whole novel and how her father takes it when he finally realizes what she’s been up too. This book was incredibly creepy and I loved that about it, you really can’t see the ending coming. I enjoyed the last few chapters, although I want more closure! This was definitely a read I recommend everyone at least try! 4.5 stars from me!

Wow! Wow! Wow! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

If you enjoy thrillers and don’t mind that the child is a psychopath you’ll love this book. The story is told from two alternating perspectives, Hanna (daughter) and Suzette (mother). Hanna views her mom as an obstacle that stands in her way of having all of daddy’s love and attention. Suzette is a mother who tries her best most days to take care of Hanna and only she sees the tricks Hanna plays. .
Be forewarned some scenes may be difficult for some to read. I literally found myself grimacing and saying “Oh my God!”

While some may say they found Suzette to not be relatable I would disagree and argue that any parent has found them self wondering if they are doing the parenting thing right. Is there something that could be done differently or better? How does a parent’s choices effect their children?

I REALLY hope there is a sequel because the ending certainly lends itself to it.

Not to be Missed! I myself love this book. Hanna is a sweet girl when her Daddy is around but when alone with Mommy she is a whole Another child . I do not want to give a bunch of spoilers away so this is one you will need to read for yourself if you like this type of book. I love these type of books. I would love more on little Hanna . Yes I recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for an ARC of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage for an honest review.

Hands down a five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thriller! This book is fantastic it was creepy, and very disturbing that that seven year old Hanna dispises her mother so much that she wants her dead. She wants her daddy Alex all to herself! The story is told from both Suzette mother and daughter Hanna’s POV. I couldn’t stop reading and when I did I kept going over the book in my head. If you love a good Thriller you won’t be sorry with Baby Teeth it’s excellent and by far the best I’ve read.

This was an interesting book in that I didn't like any of the characters but still found myself rooting for Suzette anyway. Hanna was a totally unlikeable character but I guess the author wanted it that way. I was so satisfied with the ending because I had fears it was going to be different. I will recommend.

What a creepy yet satisfying book. As a mother of a child the same age as the main character this gave me extra chills.

As a parent, Suzette always questioned if she is the best parent she could be and when she noticed that her child was "different from the norm" she questioned herself even more. Her daughter Hanna is mute but clearly makes her wishes know by her behavior. She is a daddy's girl, all the way, but is a nightmare to her mother. Hanna will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Oh, man! I loved having the two narrators, this gave me a full view of what each person saw and thought. Being inside of Hanna's head was super creepy because she justified all her actions and makes you want to cheer for her but then you realize how messed up that is. You can feel the desperation of Suzette as she fights that line of love and fear for her own child. It is so intense. The writing made me feel so attached to both of the characters.

I highly recommend this book.

I must admit, this book was very creepy and I almost put it down multiple times because it was so disturbing but I couldn't look away.

This book, told in alternating chapters of Hanna and her mother means you easily get wrapped up in the story and how absurd but intriguing the situation is.

Through Hanna's increasing disturbing nature and her parents struggle to understand you are led through a journey in this book, one not for the faint of heart

Alex can’t believe how lucky he is to have a wonderful job, a loving wife, and a perfect daughter. Suzette can’t believe nobody else has noticed that their daughter is a psychopath. Hannah can’t believe nobody else has noticed mommy is a witch. What can Suzette and Hannah do when Hannah doesn’t speak, and Alex believes she can do no wrong? As events escalate both Suzette and Hannah become more desperate to prove the other is the enemy, and Alex doesn’t know who to believe.

The first word that comes to mind when I think about this book is “primal”. It’s a primal look at the rivalry between mother and daughter, the tension of that relationship, and the development of the Electra Complex – the daughter’s rivalry with the mother for possession of her father. I don’t usually like books that alternate points of view, but it was well used in Baby Teeth to show us both Suzette and Hannah as their rivalry grew more tense and violent. That’s not to say the book is a gore-fest. It absolutely isn’t. Every act of violence is carefully planned and tastefully described. Alex and Suzette are artists, and though she may resist expressing herself Hannah can’t hide the artist in herself. It comes out in her body language and her thoughts, her acts are creative.

One thing I loved, actually, was getting to see the thought process behind everything. So much media paints psychopaths, sociopaths, and others with mental differences as pure evil. There’s not much thought behind the actions. Baby Teeth shows the connections of logic that Hannah makes to see what she sees, what makes her decide to do what she does, and while some of her reactions are taken to an extreme you can even understand why she would behave the way she did. In the end you’re left feeling sympathy and empathy for everyone, desiring to know more about what happens to this exhausted and beaten down family.

I truly hope Baby Teeth has a sequel, one that shows us how Hannah fares at her new school, how Alex and Suzette prepare to have her back, and what plans Hannah develops for her parents. This is a must read for anyone who loves true crime style books, family drama, mysteries, thrillers, or reading about troubled youth.

I loved this book! Hanna is a very creepy and scary child that is an angel for dad and more of a devil for mom. I am not sure everyone will appreciate the villain being a child but that made it more interesting for me. The story goes back and forth between Hanna and the mom’s POV. Some things may have been a bit far fetched but given the story as presented to us I could understand a lot of the motivation from the parents. That being said, I am not a parent. Creepy as hell, totally engaging and awesome. I would love a sequel!

A definite wild ride of a book creating a "can't put down" title filled with unexpected twists and turns on every page. Totally engrossed from the beginning to the end, I found myself wanting to speak with others about this book--but also wondering about the rules of parenthood, marriage and love A definite must read and thank you for allowing me to read this prior to publication.

Baby Teeth is the most creative and most creepy book I have read in a very long time. For readers of Stephen King—this is a must read!

I think I’m full on #TeamSuzette or maybe #TeamHanna
Okay so we have here a husband, a wife and their daughter. We also have a perfect wife and a perfect daughter, who also may be a horrible mother and a horrible daughter. You choose.
While reading this story I feel it took too long to get to a climax, it felt repetitive. I wanted more. I did however like the second half of this story more than the first half, but I felt it was still missing something.
Overall the feel of the story was good and the characters were interesting.
I think my expectations of this story were too high that when I finally read it, it didn’t live up to the hype, that I had been hearing about it.
#BabyTeethBook #BadSeed #NetGalley #stmartinspress #BabyTeeth

This book was great! I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. The story centers around Hanna, a 7 year old girl, and her parents, Suzette and Alex. The book is told from both Hanna and Suzette’s perspectives which is great because you can see where they’re both coming from. Hanna is non verbal and does not like Suzette. The story centers around the two of them as Hanna tries to get Alex all to herself. Super creepy and great - totally recommend it.

Talk about a genre bending novel.

For me this works more like an old school horror novel. Oh, yeah! I'm a huge fan - think (yes as the cover states) The Omen or even Rosemary's Baby (style/tone not subject matter).

It's chilling yet also heartbreaking (yes, I did find some such moments) and that is why this novel is so freaking brilliant.

Set time aside once you start it.

Hanna...oh Miss Hanna...if she doesn't make the hair stand up on the back of your neck at least once...

Also I was impressed with the accuracy and thoughtful approach to Suzette's having Crohn's (a member of my family has it).

For me, the ending could not have been more perfect and to say more would ruin things.

I was happy to read that Ms Stage has sold another novel and I hope I don't have to wait long!

First of all, THIS BOOK MADE ME CRY.

"It was hard to pour endless love into someone who wouldn't love you back. No one could do it forever."

I was expecting an intense psychological thriller that would have me on the edge of the seat, constantly guessing who would come out on top, even inciting a wide mix of emotions from fear to anger. This book delivered all of that — and more.

The story, told through alternating POVs from mother Suzette and daughter Hanna, had distinct voices, both of which were thoroughly enjoyable to read. I felt conflicting emotions for all three main characters (the third one being father Alex) throughout.

Although I find Suzette to be overly-mopey and weak at times, I appreciated her honesty. That maybe she didn't, couldn't love her child unconditionally. Resented her even. Hanna, on the other hand, was devious to the point where I really wanted to slap her at times. Yet I also felt sorry for her, for her inability to convey how she felt and thought, for feeling like nobody understood her, for so many things. And mainly anger at Alex, for not seeing the truth, for choosing to stay oblivious.

But what I wasn't expecting was for this book to break my heart.

(full review with spoilers on Goodreads)

Thanks for all the feels!

P.S. There are at least 3 to 5 typos.

WOW, I didn't think I would like this book, but it was AMAZING! It is dark in the best possible way. The story is told from both the mother's and the daughter's perspective and makes you question everything: Who is the sane one? Who is to blame? Why is this happening? I don't want to say too much to give anything away, the story is told perfectly. Just read it, I couldn't put it down.

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review, I most likely wouldn't have read it otherwise, but I'm glad I did, can't wait to recommend it to others.

This is a book of a different type. A thriller that thrills in a slow and horrifying way. Suzette is a mother who is staying at home raising her daughter, Hanna. Hanna is mute and does not communicate with her parents aside from some nods and other simple communications. However, we begin to slowly see (through Hanna’s chapters) that Hanna is perhaps disturbed and sees her mother as an obstacle to her all-encompassing love for her father. She begins to speak only infrequently to her mother and in the voice of “Marie-Anne”, a witch who had been burned at the stake. This was a fast read and absolutely fascinating. I was spell-bound by the relationship between the mother and daughter and the father’s complete denial of what his daughter was becoming. I urge you to grab this book as SOON as it hits shelves because it is like nothing I have read recently and I guarantee you will enjoy it!

I requested this book because I was intrigued by the description, even though this is not a book that I would usually gravitate towards. And I am so glad that I read it! The plot hooked me right away, even though. as a parent I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading fiction.

The plot is well developed, but I felt like the ending was a little flat. I also had some issues with Suzette, I understand your child is trying to kill you, but she still acted selfishly, in my opinion.

Overall, a good book. Would recommend to anyone who's looking for a thought-provoking plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for providing me with a copy of this book.

Before and After Hanna is how Suzette could label her life. Hanna actually ruined Suzette’s life.

Despite her pain from Chron’s disease, Suzette could handle that better than she could handle her daughter. She also couldn’t handle how Alex, her husband, never saw how Hanna really was. Hanna was two different people - one when she was with Suzette and one with Alex. Alex was definitely clueless

Hanna was evil and manipulative. Hanna is going on seven years old and still doesn’t speak, physically lashes out, plans things to harm her mother, plans things to exasperate her mother so she will leave, and won’t be accepted in any school because of her behavior.

Hanna is an evil, brilliant child who is definitely frightening. I can’t even imagine how she thinks up these horrific things she does. She is VERY unlikable for a supposedly sweet girl.

BABY TEETH has the reader following Hanna’s days with her mother and her evenings with her father as he reads to his sweet girl at night. Many issues are brought up, and you can feel the frustration of Suzette in all aspects.

BABY TEETH is set in Pittsburgh, and the author lives in Pittsburgh.

Ms. Stage’s writing is truly marvelous and immediately draws you into the story line but at the same time has you shaking your head at what is happening because it is unbelievable.

I am not a normal reader of disturbing situations or horror, but any reader who likes disturbing reads will like this book. 4/5

I received an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

WOW, really enjoyed this suspenseful book and story line. Haven’t enjoyed a book like this in a long time. Thank You Netgalley and St. Martins Press. I’ll been reading more from this author for sure.

If you are a fan of the old movie BAD SEED starring Patty McCormick, you will LOVE this book. This book would fit well in the horror genre, right up there with Stephen King and John Saul.

I wasn’t crazy about the story itself, but I could not stop reading it. I had to see what happened next. The writing is intense.

Hanna is an intelligent, precocious seven-year-old. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She has difficulty being understood as she does not talk. Hanna loves her daddy. Loves him so much she wants to marry him when she grows up and live with him forever. Come on, we have heard that before. Nothing unusual. However, Hanna wants her mother out of the way – permanently. This child wants to kill her mother.

Suzette, Hanna’s mother, loves her daughter – as well as she can. She didn’t grow up with a loving mother so struggles with the parenting role. But she finds Hanna exhausting. When her husband Alex isn’t around Hanna speaks to Suzette. As Hanna becomes more and more aggressive toward her mother while her father continues to see her as his little angel, Suzette suspects there is something seriously wrong with their daughter. Can her little girl really be so manipulative? Through the masterful writing I could feel Suzette’s growing frustration and fear, Hanna’s hatred and determination, and Alex’s baffled reactions.

This is going to be a controversial book due to the subject matter. Can children be so evil? How far should parents go in defending their child? It definitely isn’t for everyone.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reading copy. The opinion is purely my own.


Note: Also reviewed on Edelweiss, Litsy, LinkedIn and Books-a-Million.

Awestruck!, it has been a long time since a book has left me this captivated. At times I wondered who was the evil one, Hanna or her mother Suzette. I was a little disappointed in the ending. Will there be a sequel?

This is a heck of a read - compelling, page turning and disturbing - it kept me up well past my bedtime every night that I was reading it. I love a creepy AF kid, and Zoje Stage's Hanna of Baby Teeth, may be the winner.
In this novel, we focus on a young family that seems pretty perfect - stay at home mom Suzette, hipster dad Alex, and home schooled, Hanna. Hanna, however, loves her father so much that she wants her mother gone, and she is willing to make that dream a reality.
Stage cleverly sets up the novel in alternating perspectives between Hanna and Suzette - very clever, and in Suzette's chapters, we see her analyze (and antagonize) over her relationship with her mother. There were times where I hated both of the characters, and I was not sure who was more evil or if there were any "good" characters in the book; I appreciate this obscurity. A theme of supernatural horror is woven in as well, and I appreciated the possibility of possession and exorcism, which further made me question Suzette's reliability.
If this is Stage's debut, then I cannot wait to read her future novels. I am recommending this book to all of my friends, and Hanna definitely joins such characters as Lionel Shriver's Kevin in the most disturbing category.
Bravo.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for review.

Holy moly this book was amazing. I was so captured by the description that I knew I had to get my hands on it. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I’m so glad I did. It was almost as if this book was playing mind games with me. I spent the whole book second guessing my views on Hanna and Suezette. It’s a constant back and forth between okay is she an evil child, does she have a mental disability, or is she just trying to get her mother to change. As a mother of two daughters who are very much daddy’s girls myself this twisted thriller surely hit close to home. I had no issues with book at all and I plan to read it again to see if there’s any little details I may have missed in my first read. I can’t wait to purchase my own copy on release day.

Wow. I finished this book last night and am still feeling unsettled. Baby Teeth is an eerie thriller that will have you up all night questioning if child-rearing is really for you after this roller coaster ride. Hearing from both the mother and the child that wants to kill her will leave you flipping back and forth on whom you are rooting for and shaken to the core. An incredible debut for Zoje Stage.

This is a book about a demented, cruel, entirely too precocious to be realistic, mute seven year old girl. It's about a mom who has no confidence in herself and a dad who is willingly oblivious to any fault in his child, placing his child before his wife, when there is any question about the child acting out. The ending could suggest a sequel, especially because it seems like the book ended when there was so much more to learn...when finally things were going somewhere.

Suzette grew up with a severely depressed, cold mother who did nothing to help her deal with her crohn's disease, until she had to have emergency surgery at 17. What followed was years of more pain and coldness from her mother, as she dealt with compilations of the surgery. Eventually she would go to college, got a degree and met her future husband at her first job. Alex is a loving husband but once they have their child Hannah and realize that she has some problems, Alex puts Hannah first in everything. Suzette, due lack of confidence in herself, from her life with a cold, uncaring mom, never stands up to Alex when what this family and demented child needed, was a united front from her parents, people who would put their foot down, and also would do anything to try to really help Hannah, rather than put the blame on any institution or person who would find fault with Hannah, where it rightly belonged. These parents are filled with guilt, thinking they are a cause of Hannah's problems while I believe she was born that way.

We read the book from the perspective of Suzette and Hannah, each chapter alternating that perspective. I enjoyed the book but was frustrated by some of the actions of the mom...her passiveness in the face of danger (she often destroyed evidence that could prove what Hannah was doing) and her complete lack of use of modern technology to help record Hannah's demented behavior (she could have easily made use of the camera, video and audio recorders on her phone), Alex was such a useless dad during most of the book, making things even harder in fact, as he coddled Hannah and made it clear he believed her over his wife.

Then there is Hannah, who refused to talk even though she is physically capable of doing so and does so as her alter ego. Her thoughts and actions are those of a much older person, not those of an isolated, mute seven year old. Hannah thinks that life would be perfect if she could murder her mom and have dad all to herself and her attempts to do so escalate until Alex finally has to believe that his daughter is a sociopath/psychopath. Once appropriate action has taken place, the book abruptly ends, just when I was hoping we could learn more. We do learn one thing from Hannah and that is that her mom had better watch out!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I'm going to start by saying that this book is probably not going to be for everyone. Our "Big Bad" in this case is a seven-year-old girl, so it may lead to a little bit of weirdness for some. And that's okay - it's your reading life! But, that uncomfortable factor is why I enjoyed it. Well, that and I was able to empathize with Suzette - something I'll get into later.

Baby Teeth is the first from Zoje Stage, and it's a delightfully twisted piece of work. Ms Stage fearlessly ties in a couple of common suspense tropes and does so with style.

Suzette never really had a proper mother/daughter relationship and spent most of her life dealing with illness, so when Hanna comes along, she is determined to do what is best for her. Only Hanna is a little different. When we first meet her, we learn Hanna is non-verbal. Like most little girls, Hanna's heart belongs to Daddy. And only Daddy. Her affection doesn't extend even a little bit to her mother. In fact, she hates Suzette and would much rather she wasn't around, something husband Alex can't see, even when Suzette tells him. Hanna is always a perfect little angel when Daddy's around (Hands up all the Mamas who know that feeling!).

Told in two points of view (both Suzette and Hanna), we learn what's going through the minds of both, and both can be a little dark. 

Seriously. We're not talking about putting the "fun" in dysfunctional here. 

As Suzette struggles to maintain her relationship with both her husband and her daughter, as well as her hold on her sanity, Hanna's behaviour escalates dramatically, setting the stage for some genuinely jaw-dropping and creepy moments. And moments where you to grab the main characters around the collar and yell "What the ACTUAL HECK!".

But, I get it. I really do. 

I've read a lot of reviews where people feel the subject matter in Baby Teeth is too uncomfortable and a little unrealistic. Not me. While I felt Hanna may have been aged a little young for some of her schemes, I had empathy for Suzette. This may be a little TMI, but I have a bipolar son, and once he reached a certain age, there were times when we felt genuinely concerned for our safety. We were abused and threatened pretty regularly, sometimes physically. We had holes in walls and doors, destroyed furniture, photos and mementos. And yes, sometimes he would do stuff to our personal belongings. We would have to keep things locked up - things you wouldn't ever expect to have to hide. At one point, we had our bedroom door alarmed. We had law-enforcement on speed dial, just in case. So I understand that fear, and I understand how difficult it is to voice it to other people, including mental health professionals. You feel like (and in some instances, viewed as) a bad parent. You're not always believed, especially when that behaviour is often behind closed doors and not in public view. Ms Stage, with (I assume!) no actual experience of parenting a troubled child, managed to nail those feelings.

At this point, all I can say is that it's up to you. Baby Teeth is definitely different, but if you think you can cope with our "Little Bad", then definitely give it a go. Happy reading! 

Review crossposted at https://bookishbiker.com/2018/06/review-baby-teeth/

Wow! Such a sad, creepy, weird, angering story! It kept me enthralled the entire time, going between Suzette and Hanna's stories. I almost felt bad for Hanna, but then something would happen and my emotions did a 180. Very hard to be a parent and imagine going through what these parents dealt with.

Hannah is 7 years old and doesn't speak, there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with her, so what is it that is keeping her mute?

As it turns out, Hannah is extremely intelligent yet there is something seriously wrong with this little girl, she is definitely not Mommy's best buddy. I was seriously scared at a couple points in this book and as the mother of a 4 year old girl, was worried I was going to have nightmares each night as I put the book down to go to sleep. This story is told from both the mother & daughter's points of view, and I just had to find out what the other character was going to do next, so putting the book down at all was a difficult task!

I really enjoyed this book, I typically read thrillers and this is not your typical thriller. The story was engaging, I liked the adult characters very much and just was amazed during Hannah's chapters. I highly recommend adding this book to your "must read" list. Is it too soon to ask for a sequel?

WOW! I cannot stop thinking about this book... It was so creepy and makes me glad I don't have children. I really liked how the story was told from both points of view - Hanna as the child and Suzette as the mother. Hanna, a 7 year old, really did not like her mother.... to the point of attempting to murder her (and actually coming pretty close for a 7 year old). It was a little unrealistic that a 7 year old could be so manipulative and diabolical, but it wasn't outrageous in my opinion. I really hope this turns into a movie - it would be a good one! Also, ended on a minor cliffhanger, so hoping there is a sequel!

Thanks to Zoje Stage, the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage delivered a fast-paced, twisted tale that will set the reader on edge. Dark, creepy and disturbing you won't be able to look away. . What do you do when daddy's little girl wants mommy dead?

This book really creeped me out! How heartbreaking to have a child who is mentally unstable. The child’s father loves her so much and is in denial to the extent of his child’s illness. Born to a woman who grew up iwith a disfunctuonal mother. For me it was a very hard book to read but I would recommend it to others. Be ready to be freaked out..

Hanna is nearly perfect, at least according to her daddy. So what if she still isn’t speaking at age seven? She’s clearly very intelligent, and more than capable of communicating in her own way. Those schools she’s been expelled from? They just didn’t understand her. Suzette, Hanna’s mother suspects something is wrong. Her precocious child is displaying worrying tendencies towards manipulation and violence. While her husband remains blind to Hanna’s problems, Suzette begins to suspect she may be the target of Hanna’s wrath.

Let me say at the start that my interpretation of the book may be a bit different from most. I am emphatically childfree, don’t really care for children in any case, and tend to regard most of them as tiny little psychopaths until they reach their midtwenties. Am I justified in this point of view? Probably not. But that’s the mindset I’m coming from when reading this book.

And it was nightmarish. The book is great, don’t get me wrong. It is tightly written, and the alternating points of view between Suzette and Hanna let us truly get to know the central characters. I had to take a break from the book about 100 pages in because it was keeping me up at night. The utter despair and hopelessness of Suzette’s situation is wrenching. She is trying (though imperfectly) to do right by her daughter, though years of abnormal and worrying behavior from Hanna have made her a bit ambivalent about motherhood. Compound this with her husband’s need to see only the perfect, upper-middle class family he desires, and Suzette is entirely alone to deal with her daughter. This I find terrifying: when dealing with mental and behavioral abnormalities in childhood, it is generally left to the mother to wonder where she went wrong, and what she could have done differently. And in all cases, motherhood is a condition with no escape. Someone may regret bringing a child into the world, but there are few socially acceptable ways to divorce oneself from parenthood, especially when being “a good mother” is considered the epitome of female (and especially middle class) success.

Well, enough ranting. I did, obviously, pick the book back up (and finished the remainder in one sitting). In the interests of keeping this review spoiler-free, I’m going to say little about the latter part of the book, but I will say that I was surprised by the direction the story took.

In sum, this book is a nuanced look at motherhood and psychopathy, at the loneliness of being a stay at home mother, and the frustration of being an atypical child. This book intimately describes the horror of finding out that, rather than the sweet, beautiful child you may have dreamed about, you have given birth to a monster, and are now tethered to its side.

I’d be curious to see what more maternally-minded people thought of his book? We’re their sympathies (like mine) fully with Suzette? Or do they see something redeeming in Hanna? Do they feel the horror as “that could have been me”? Or does the horror lie in “Suzette should have done x,y,z”? I would love to hear your thoughts, feel free to leave me a comment or two!

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I saw this as a dark and twisted look into Nature vs. Nurture, and trying to break the cycle of becoming our own parents.
Each chapter's pov goes back and forth from the mother; Suzette, to the daughter; Hanna, as did which person I blamed for the way Hanna was, and which character I was rooting for.
The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat (literally clutching a pillow from mid-way to the end of the book!)

Suzette is mom to 7yr. old Hanna. They have run the course of blood tests and scans for years. You see, Hanna does not talk. So far, all medical tests have shown no reason for this. Dad to Hanna, Alex, is enamored with Hanna - the sun and moon rise in her. Mom is battling Crohn's disease and a full-time mom and home schooler for Hanna would like mommy to go away. Suzanne is frankly tired of all of this and gazes back on the days with Alex before Hanna. Hanna is of the mind that she is a witch or has at least the power to make mommy go away for good. One day Suzette has had it with Hanna's antics and says, "Why won't you ever listen to me?" - Hanna DOES answer, "Because I'm not Hanna". Hanna has already been kicked out of 2 schools due to destructive, even violent, antisocial behavior.
One morning on the way to a third school, Hanna says to mom, "I'm Marie-Ann". Here, they suggested a special needs school, That night, Hanna constructs a collage of pictures of dead women and one of Suzanne sleeping among the pictures. Next day, Hanna goes into Suzanne's bedroom and cuts half of her hair short. Hanna is selfish and wants daddy to herself and wants mommy to go away. (We begin to think Suzanne wants Hanna to go away, too). Suzanne gets sick when Hanna replaces her capsules with flour. Hanna is bound and determined to think of "ways to kill mommy... so to save daddy". At the family's Swedish bonfire, Hanna throws flaming pieces at her mom. Alex throws Hanna off mom and Hanna sprains her arm. both Suzanne and Hanna are taken to the clinic by Alex. Beatrix, child psychologist, tells Alex and Suzanne that the only way Hanna will improve is 1-3 years inpatient at Marshes Clinic. Yes, they take Hanna there.............. No spoilers! The conclusion does have a bit of a twist but likely to be a great follow-up novel. We'll see! Many Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this book!

A truly chilling horror story set against the backdrop of a perfect suburban life. The different points of view and the slow reveal of the backstories of the main characters really helps build the tension. The ending is both creepy and satisfying.