I really had high hopes for this book. Upon finishing it, I just feel let down and disappointed. I had been thinking there would be this big plot twist. But there wasn’t. The ending left way for a sequel it seems. Though I doubt I would read it. An evil child wanting her dad all to herself, wanting to get rid of her mom. And the mom being jealous of the child? Everyone was just so selfish. Had there been a better ending, I think I would have given the book 3 or 4 stars because it did have a good storyline and there were some good suspenseful areas.

The description of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage is what first drew me into the book. A suspenseful, yet slightly spine tingling, story about a small child who seems to have it out for her mother? Sign me up.

The idea that Stage had was well intended and almost a guarantee to bring people in. Unfortunately I found that the idea was not as well executed as I would have hoped. Hanna's thoughts and actions are well beyond her years to a point where I find that it was incredibly awkward to read. I feel like maybe Stage was trying to make us uncomfortable due to the idea of the book, but it went to an extreme. I have to admit, I was unable to finish reading this book and that was disappointing. I wish the mentality of Hanna was equivalent or even close to that of a normal child her age. It just seemed to jump back and forth over the line of believability. Too much so for me.

I will say that Stage has a great writing style. She's clear and concise and has a good flow to her story. It didn't feel rushed or lagging from the parts I did read. I would be very interested to read Stage's next novel and she continues to develop as a writer and explore different story lines. I also think this book will be something others will enjoy. It just wasn't for me.

Baby Teeth is author Zoje Stage’s deliciously creepy debut novel. It’s not quite a thriller but definitely is a dark, compulsively-readable page-turner, peopled with complex, dysfunctional characters. It alternates between the point of view of Hanna, the nonverbal, but brilliant seven-year-old child of well-educated parents who try to do everything right from the moment of conception, and that of her mother, Suzette. This technique lets the reader inside the vicious mind of Hanna and and allows insight into the effects her manipulations have on her mother. Stage ratchets up the tension by having Hanna and Suzette play them off of each other, each pushing the other into new behaviors. in incredible ways, ratcheting up the tension throughout the novel as we see how far the two of them can push each other.

If you enjoy reading about twisted minds, even that of a child, this book is for you. Whether you like the book or not, it’s bound to stir up strong emotions, especially among parents who will second-guess their parenting skills.

As the story progresses, Stage reveals that all is not perfect in this seemingly-perfect family. Suzette, the mother, suffers from Crohn’s disease, and that inflammatory bowel disease progresses during her pregnancy. The victim of poor mothering herself, Suzette resolves to be a better parent that her own mother had been. Once the child arrives, the parents grow somewhat apart, but each feels that is normal when a baby moves in with two adults who are very much in love.

Suzette, a stay-at-home mother, bears the brunt of raising Hanna and must begin homeschooling after her daughter is expelled from kindergarten. Tensions escalate between mother and daughter as Hanna’s acting out increases. Suzette’s over-exposure to her daughter leaves her questioning her child-rearing abilities—to the point she wonders whether the unconditional love of a parent for a child is possible.

The father, Alex, like many fathers, is only involved with his child in the evenings and on weekends and refuses to believe his adorable daughter is as manipulative as Suzette leads him to believe—or even acknowledge that Hanna misbehaves. Eventually, Alex begins to see his daughter’s flaws. Her behavior cracks even his unconditional love.

As a physician, I’ve seen sociopaths and psychopaths. Though Hanna’s thinking seems a bit too mature for her chronological age, being an intelligent is not incompatible with being a budding psychopath—and in fact may enhance the state.

Thanks to SMP and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
A really creepy, psychological thriller that has no redeeming social value except that it got me thinking. It is very well written with well developed characters. I could not put it down.
If I talk about the book, it will contain spoilers so just read the book.

Baby Teeth is a dark, disturbing book that is sure to generate a lot of talk and controversy. How could it not, when it's about a 7-year-old girl actively plotting to kill her mother so she can have her father to herself?

Reminiscent of the old book The Bad Seed (but not nearly as well done IMHO), this book makes you wonder if children can be born evil. Hanna does not talk; she can talk, but she doesn't unless it's to say something to totally freak her mom, Suzette, out. Hanna has been placed in school after school, only to be kicked out of all of them due to her bizarre behavior. Suzette is home-schooling her, but is overwhelmed by her own poor health, and the hour to hour struggles of dealing with Hannah. Worse, Hanna shows none of this behavior when her dad, Alex, is around, so he thinks his wife is overreacting. She's not. When things escalate to physical harm to Suzette, Alex finally gets his head out of the sand and works with Suzette to get the help their daughter needs.

I didn't care for this book. It all seemed very gratuitous to me. I kept reading only to find out how things resolve, but I am disappointed in myself that I took precious time to read this. From the wide band of reviews, this book is apparently something you love or don't. I'm on the don't side.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book left me kind of speechless. It’s horrifying, but also weirdly intriguing. I kind of hated it, but also needed an explanation for what was going on (which was why I finished it). Hanna is hands-down the most diabolical child I’ve ever read about and I felt bad for her parents. But, they have their own faults. Hanna’s father is in denial about Hanna’s behavior and coddles her. Before Hanna’s behavior got really bad, her mother made her feel unwanted. Hanna is jealous of the affection her father gives her mother and sort of pits them against each other. If you need likable characters in your reading, you won’t find them here. The overall family dynamics and premise of the book could have been really fascinating, but Stage took the plot way over the top (won’t say more to avoid spoilers!). If she’d left out one particular element and cut back on another, I think I could’ve liked it. The ending did bring things down to earth, but I wish the culmination of the story had happened earlier (maybe 60-70% of the way through?) so we could explore the aftermath and how it impacted the family. I wanted more psychology and less shock value. If you’re on the fence about having kids, Baby Teeth might just push you into the “hard no” camp.

I double-dog dare you to read Baby Teeth if you have a small child/children at home, because you may end up tempted to drop them off at the nearest fire station and run for the hills. This psychological family drama with flavors of The Omen and We Need to Talk About Kevin is a creep-fest of epic proportions.

Seven-year-old Hanna has had CT scans and MRIs, but the tests provide no medical explanation for her muteness. Hanna's mother, Suzette, is at her wit's end; on top of Hanna's issues, she's dealing with her own chronic illness (Crohn's disease), questioning her mothering skills (based, in part, on her own dysfunctional relationship with a narcissistic mother), and missing her working partnership and prior close relationship with husband Alex.

That alone might be enough for an interesting family drama, but Zoje Stage isn't content with "interesting" and ratchets the issues up to a super sinister level. Because while Hanna may be mute, her devious and intelligent mind is working a mile a minute, all in furtherance of her adoration of Alex and desire to be rid of her mother so she can have her father to herself.

While Hanna may be non-verbal, she isn't void of means to communicate. Her violent barking and growling behaviors have been successful in getting her kicked out of every school where Suzette tries to enroll her; and of course no babysitter will ever come back. Despite her knowledge that the silence is driving her mother crazy, Hanna eventually starts talking. But even that is part of her diabolical plot--she speaks only in front of Suzette and in the threatening voice of Marie-Ann Dufosset, a young French girl from the 17th Century who was accused of being a witch and subsequently burned at the stake.

Stage does a fantastic job alternating between the points of view of Suzette and Hanna. I'm not sure which was more uncomfortable--being in Hanna's head as she plots against her mother or in Suzette's as she tries to figure out if she's losing her mind or Hanna really is as evil as it appears. Each narrator makes the reader question her reliability, making the trip to the ultimate showdown all the more suspenseful.

There are times when Hanna's behaviors feel above her age capabilities on a mental and/or physical level, but I found these instances easy to overlook I was so weirded out yet entranced by Hanna. The worse she gets (or the better she gets at being worse), the more the cycle between the three characters spins in intensity. Stage really pushes the boundaries of deviance, particularly in a child, and I was impressed by that since it was certainly taking a risk. For me, the risk paid off, I loved every squirmy minute of Baby Teeth.

STREET SENSE: If you like to be creeped out, this is the book for you.

A FAVORITE PASSAGE: I picked several for this section, because I didn't want to lose track of the fact that this book is not just sinister fun, but is also thoughtful and well-written.

Hanna kept her words to herself because they gave her power. Inside her, they retained their purity. 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.

* * *

Sometimes Mommy was an octopus with a sharp blade in each hand. It seemed fair to Hanna that when Mommy bruised her heart, or made her feel all icky crumbly inside, that she should be able to hurt her back.

* * *

“For fuck’s sake, Hanna. Why don’t you ever listen to me?” The girl stood there, arms loosely at her sides, considering her mother. Then her eyes rolled back until they were solid white. Dead nothingness in the sockets. “Because I’m not Hanna,” the girl whispered. [IS THIS AWESOME, OR WHAT??]

* * *

She could kill Hanna. No, she couldn’t. She could. She’d never. She might.

* * *

Now, the Hula-Hoop lay forgotten and Hanna stood just on the other side of the glass, inching along as Suzette sprayed and rubbed, stepped to her right, sprayed and rubbed. With a certain glee she was able to spray it on Hanna’s face without actually damaging her. But a sense of disappointment remained that with all her effort and rubbing, she couldn’t make her daughter dissolve with the dust and oily smudges.

COVER NERD SAYS: I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. At this point I can't even recall if candy or a lollipop has anything to do with the plot, but it just doesn't matter. The simple image that can be seen as an innocent sucker or the detritus from an act of violence fits this book like the fabulously eerie cover it deserves. A+

Hanna is a 7-year-old girl who does not speak. Her parents, Suzette and Alex Jensen, are very concerned and are getting her tested. The doctor finds nothing physically wrong with her and suggests a child psychologist. Hanna’s behavior is bad. She hates schools and is disruptive. At home, she disobeys and is destructive with her mother but acts like an angel with her father. Hanna has thoughts of getting rid of her mother.

After three attempts to place Hanna in different schools where she is literally asked to leave due to her behavior, her parents are beside themselves.

Suzette has suffered from Crohn’s disease since she was a teenager and still has many health problems due to the disease. Having recently been through another surgery, she is nervous at how much she is losing control over her body.

When Alex finally realizes how bad Hanna’s behavior is, he finally agrees that she needs real help.

The child psychologist is quite interested in Hanna’s case and makes a suggestion that surprises both Suzette and Alex, but secretly relieves Suzette.

This is a truly gripping story of a deeply disturbed child. Without giving away any spoilers, I must say that this book will keep the reader mesmerized all the way through. Don’t miss it!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Too creepy and strange for me to enjoy. Unfortunately I did not get very far in the novel. It sounds intriguing, but the first few chapters we're too unsettling for me to finish.

It is natural for parents to love their children, but what if a child doesn't love you back or, worse, doesn't want you around? Baby Teeth is the story of one such child. Seven year old Hanna is the only child of Suzette and Alex. As the story progresses readers see this is probably a good thing. Even though she does not speak, she has developed other means of communicating, some of which are terrifying. Hanna adores her father, but not her mother. Hanna, an enigma, is to be feared. Just how far can this child go to achieve her ultimate goal?
This is a fast moving and well constructed story. There is tension from the start and it doesn't abate throughout the entire novel. It is a riveting and memorable story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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Evil girl, Hanna, wants her mom, Suzette, dead so she can have her daddy, Alex, all to herself.

"[Some day] ... he would understand why she had to do it. Why Mommy had to die so he could be saved. In the end, he'd thank her." - thought by 7 year old Hanna

The premise was unique and chilling, and I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I found myself reluctant to read, and I didn't connect with any of the characters. #BadSeed Hanna was only 7 years old and home schooled, yet her thoughts and evil plans were very complex and creative for her age, making the story implausible and over the top. In my opinion, it felt like certain (sexual) scenes were included only for their shock value. I was hoping the end would make it all worthwhile, but nope.

Lastly, Suzette suffering from Crohn's was difficult for me to read about since my own husband suffers from the disease. Overall, this book left a bad taste in my mouth... that not even a sweet, red lollipop can erase.

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

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#BadSeed #BabyTeethBook #TeamSuzette

Hanna is the type of child any father—or mother, for that matter—would be proud of. She loves her daddy so very much. Her mother, on the other hand, she can do without. From the moment, she's been able to speak, she's chosen to keep her own voice hidden. She'll give her daddy all her love. For Mommy, however, she has nothing.

I've had the privilege of reading such an intriguing book. Zoje has crafted such an intense story that you often find yourself rooting for both Suzette and Hanna. These are two complex characters who often mesh in more ways than one. Granted, they're also opposites.

Zoje has given us a child who wants nothing more than to be a princess in her daddy's eyes. This is something anyone can relate to, since as children growing up, people often strive to make their parents love them more. This fact is shown quite clearly throughout the story itself. There's nothing Hanna wouldn't do to please her daddy.

Her dislike for her mother is palpable. She's the type of child who refuses to accept the circumstances set upon her. Hanna has made up her mind when it comes to her mother, often unwilling to abide by her mother's rules.

Zoje takes us for a ride from the moment we start reading. She's written a relatable story, one where a child will do whatever is necessary to assert him/herself in the world they live in. There are a good many children out there who aren't satisfied with the lives they lead. They often take matters into their own hands, not once thinking about the consequences of their actions.

In Baby Teeth, Hanna is no different. She just wants to be accepted by her daddy without her mommy ruining the perfection she's crafted around her from the moment she began understanding the world around her. I can't wait to see what Zoje has in store for us within this beautiful, bittersweet, and chaotic world she's created.

I'd heard so much buzz about this book that I wanted to like it. Unfortunately, that was not completely true. While there were elements that were good, I just didn't enjoy this thriller. I think little Hannah's viewpoint was the reason. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

My initial response is to slowly remove my jaw from the floor. This was one of the most intense psychological thrillers that I’ve ever read! Reading a story about a crazy husband, wife, friend or neighbor is one thing. A story about a psychotic child… quite another.
Zoje Stage’s writing is real, raw, super tense and jaw dropping. With every description of a “Hannah episode”, my heart began to race faster! At some points, I had to close the book and take a breath but couldn’t wait to open it back up again!
I can’t imagine experiencing what Suzette went through. My heart broke for her and for Hannah’s loving father, Alex. On the other hand… the foundation of Suzette’s story will make you wonder and Alex’s naïveté will make you cringe! Who do you trust? Was Hannah born with a demonic gene? Is her behavior environmental?
How would you handle living in a house where you fear for your life and constantly have to prove your worst fears?
In summary, this book was on a totally different level of thrilling. It was crazy, crazy, crazy yet, so, so, so fabulously twisted!
5 “bat shit crazy” stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

On the surface, Alex, Suzette, and Hanna are the perfect family. However, something sinister lurks beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect home. Suzette knows something is wrong with their seven-year-old daughter, Hanna, but will Alex accept it? Or will he blame Suzette for failing to parent Hanna better?

BABY TEETH alternates viewpoints as we see the story unfold from the eyes of both Hanna and Suzette. I won’t lie- despite having a career of many years working with children with behavioral issues, I had to put BABY TEETH down on several occasions just to get control of my own emotions. BABY TEETH is both gut-wrenching and emotionally charged as the situation starts to spiral out of control. I’m still not sure if BABY TEETH is more fitting with the horror genre than the likes of books such as WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN.

Readers who are sensitive to abuse issues may have difficulty with reading BABY TEETH. The abuse isn’t on the parents’ part, however, as Hanna crafts some of the most diabolical schemes one can ever imagine. It’s hard to remember that she’s only seven years old at times due to the depth of her anger and complexity of her scheming but then Zoje Stage will expertly remind us just how young Hanna is.

BABY TEETH is a chilling story and one that will make many flinch at the abusive and manipulative scenes orchestrated by Hanna. It’s not an easy read but it’s one that will perhaps open some eyes to what a family living with a violent child experiences. BABY TEETH is Zoje Stage’s first novel and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for us next.

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

This star rating is one I don't like to give, but this book just can't reach the two-star mark for me. Seven-year-old Hannah wants her mother to die. Her mom is a weak woman who never disciplines her child. Suzzette has no brain and no skills. Hello, use a nanny cam. Do NOT beg a child to forgive you for abusing you. (I have to roll my eyes at that!) Hannah is cruel, manipulative and everything you'd expect from a child raised like this. Alex is a horrible husband, not at all in tune with his wife, he's part of the issue too. It does show dysfunctional families well, but it's not realistic.

There's plenty of abusive actions going around, no shortage of that. From that point of view, no wonder the child is what she is in this book. They do stupid things over and over, like a bad movie you wish you hadn't watched. Hannah doesn't fit her age. The last time I saw a "thriller" like this the girl was at least a teenager and it wasn't her own father. (Gross!) The ending was just as much of a letdown. It fell far from the mark for a phycological thriller for me as well.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts, opinions and my review is my own left here only because I agreed to review this book. (This is one I wish I'd skipped!)

Zoje Stage is channeling the great Ira Levin in this one. I foresee Baby Teeth being today what Rosemary's Baby was in the 60s. (Am I dating myself there?) Baby Teeth is a smart, calculating thrill ride with a possibly psychotic, possibly sociopathic, possibly evil 7 year-old leading the way. While every detail is not as tight as it is in Levin's work, this is Zoje Stage's debut novel, and I'm confident she will learn to screw each detail in with precision. This book straddles the genres of horror and thriller with tightrope precision, leaving the reader teetering with arms out between the two. Which does it fall into? It doesn't matter, it's a heck of a walk down the middle! I rounded up from a 3.5 star rating (needs to tighten those details with a bit more precision, leaving absolutely nothing unnecessary), but I truly feels this book deserves the upgrade. It will make you cringe, it will make you fidget, it will leave you feeling exposed, it will be controversial, but it will be read by many!

This is EXACTLY THE REASON why I don't want kids! You try to do everything right. You follow all the best practices, give them all the best opportunities. Yet they still want you dead! Baby Teeth is spooky, thought provoking, and intense. It starts a little slowly for a thriller, but definitely hooks you by the end. Eek, creepy kids!

Definitely a page-turner, though I had a hard time seeing the point to the book by the end.

I wonder if this would have been better as a novella because something about the pacing dragged and it felt a bit repetitive towards the second half. Also, Alex was an insufferable character and the author's heavy-handedness about his Swedish background didn't help.

Baby Teeth is the book equivalent of a horror movie, which doesn't mean that it isn't engaging and creepy, but the overall reading experience remains fairly superficial.

This book has a killer amount of buzz, and it's for a good reason. It's disturbingly addictive, like something you feel you shouldn't be enjoying but you can't stop turning pages. It's not trying to teach you anything, and that's okay. It's a great summer book for those of us who are less into beach reads brimming with romance and more into disturbing books to immerse ourselves in on rainy, dreary evenings.

Little Hanna loves her Daddy very much. She's going to marry him when she's grown up, you know. Hopefully Mommy will be gone by then. She's like an annoying insect, always buzzing in Hanna's ears. Do this, don't do that, don't say that... life would be much better without Mommy. Everything would be better if it were just Hanna and Daddy.

Hanna wishes Daddy would see Mommy like she does, and becomes determined to sever their ties. She plots and plans, determined to have her father for herself. Mother Suzette is just about at the end of her rope. Hanna chooses to be mute, instead communicating with a combination of noises and gestures. She seems to be very intelligent, but refuses to focus on her homeschooling. Who has time for lessons when there's a Mommy to get rid of? Poor Suzette also suffers from Crohn's disease, trying to manage her illness while caring for her difficult daughter.

Can Suzette make her husband Alex see Hanna's true colors, despite her angelic behavior when he's around? Will Hanna succeed in getting rid of her mother or destroying her parents marriage... or will Suzette finally snap? The whole book is a power struggle the likes of which most of us have never imagined. Seven year olds can certainly be precocious and hard to handle... but Hanna is in a league of her own.

I'm unsure if I think the character of Hanna should have been older or not. She is certainly written as older at times, but her being so young definitely added to the creep factor - and if she were older, she would be more of a physical threat. At times it was hard to buy that she was only seven, but it did make her thoughts and actions even more alarming. I did enjoy this one a lot - it's one of the most unique books I've read in some time. Certainly creepy and addicting.

St. Martin's Press kindly sent me an early copy of this book, thank you! I chose to read and review and will always do so honestly