*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!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read Baby Teetch by Zoje Stage. This book is an introspective look at mother/daughter dynamics at an early stage of a child's life. But this takes it to a new level - is Suzette's child a little demon or just the normal actings out of a child.. The child, Hanna, loves her Daddy and he only see the lovely child he and his wife have brought into the world.
BUT>>>>things are not likely to be as they seem to Daddy, and Suzette believes Hanna is just not normal and maybe EVIL. What's a mother to do.
Good read.

I really thought this book would be right up my alley and that I would fall in love and recommend it to all my "weird" friends. Boy was I wrong.

This "physiological" thriller is about a highly dysfunctional family and their disturbing child named Hanna. Hanna acts like an angel around her father, leading him to believe there is nothing wrong mentally or emotionally with his daughter. Hanna's behavior, when around her mother, is another story.

Suzette, Hanna's mom, is homeschooling her daughter while also dealing with her own health issues. She is also the target of Hanna's disturbing mental issues that cause bad behaviors, mostly aimed at her mother.

This story is told in the alternating perspectives of Hanna and Suzette. As a reader it was interesting to get into the mind of each character.

This book seemed to be more about "shock value" in the actions and thought of a deranged Hanna than about character building. Hanna is 7 years old but acts like a much older child, which I just couldn't believe. I was also very appalled at the way Suzette spoke to her child. As a special needs mother myself, I can't imagine saying such things to my son. The lack of connection between Suzette and her husband on "what is wrong" with Hannah was also a stretch. Two parents living in the same house raising a child cannot possibly be that disconnected in how they view the child's behaviors and needs.

Overall this book was a bust for me. From other reviews I have seen, there seems to be a mixed consensus of how readers felt about the book. While I appreciate the "hard topic" nature of the book, I just found it all so unbelievable I couldn't full immerse myself in the story being told. Very quickly I ended up hating every single character and simply read to see how it ends.

"Baby Teeth" is due to be released July 17, 2018 here in the USA. Pre-order it now if the premise sounds like a book you'd like. I am interested to see what everyone thinks, as I said before there have been such mixed reviews!

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me the egalley to read and give my honest review.

This was a 2 star read for me.

Happy Reading!

I liked the plot twist , I was trying to finish the book in my own mind . Trying to come up with all the wicked and devious ways she would be able to get rid on mommy. Then the story abruptly ends , so it's unclear if we will seeing a second book continuing the story line . Or if it's just a big fail, stay tuned ?

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.

I can definitely picture this in many beach bags over the summer. A new thriller writer to watch for sure!

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.

Spine tingling , creepy book! That book was great!!!! You have a beautiful, perfect daughter or so it seems? This is the story of little psychopath Hannah the is the apple of her daddy's eye or is Suzette a very jealous mom? You have to read to find out . SOOOO different then anything I have read in awhile and it kept me reading into the night. I will definitely keep watch for anything this author writes in the future. LOVED!

Wow.

I found myself genuinely enjoying this book. What a fantastic debut book for Zoje Stage! The main characters were written incredibly well and the depth that Zoje went into was great. You truly understood each main character's feelings and thoughts. You were also given insight into both Suzette's and Alex's backgrounds. (I love the Swedish influence!) Not to mention, the suspense is wonderfully written with what I felt was the right amount information given. The time line that the book covered made complete sense as did all of the character's actions. Lastly, the entire plot was nerve-wrackingly believable. Like, chills down your spine and goosebumps on your skin believable. More than once I found myself inching towards the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down. In fact, every spare moment I had at work I would pick the book up to read more.

As a mom, I honestly began to understand and relate to the paranoia that Suzette felt. This is even though my sweet son is absolutely nothing like Hanna! To have a child so intent on harming you or removing you from the picture is rather frightening. Suzette's feelings, of both wanting to be rid of her daughter and do all she could for her, were what I would have felt as well in that situation.

I feel that Zoje did amazing research into mental health and psychiatry and put just enough into the book to give the reader good information on that specific situation. I think that readers will either love this book, or not. I definitely do and I really look forward to reading more books by this author!

Baby Teeth is a novel told from alternating perspectives: Suzette and her daughter Hanna. Hanna is seven years old, and honestly I hope I never meet a child like her in my life. She loves her daddy (normal), but to the point that she plots to destroy and kill her mother (not so normal). All Suzette wants is a normal, happy life, but is constantly struggling with her Crohn’s disease, and her psychotic daughter. Did I mention the father doesn’t believe Suzette and the stories she tells about Hanna? All he sees is his little angel. When all is said and done, this story isn’t terribly believable if you take a step back, but if you get lost in it, *shudder* Hanna is terrifying.

This is Stage’s first novel, and I have to point out that I loved that the setting was in Pittsburgh, PA. As a resident of the city, there were so many little nods to the culture and characteristics that make it unique. I have never read a novel that takes place in a city I live in, and it has made me want to explore other novels that incorporate cities I am familiar with, as I felt I could imagine the scenery so vividly. I would be walking to the bus stop (on a street that was mentioned in the novel no less) and look at a house and think to myself, “That’s the house that xxxx took place in.” Who knows, maybe it is?

While I didn’t particularly connect with the characters in the novel, I saw others I knew in them (not Hanna, don’t worry). At times some of the phrasing in the book was a little strange (“freshly f***ed”) which gave me pause, but overall I could imagine myself sitting on a lawn chair enjoying reading this book this summer, getting chills from the creepy factor.

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...

This might be one of the hardest reviews I have ever written. Talk about conflicted. Let me be clear, I did not like any part of this story. I saw the term “nonsense fiction” and I think that fits this book beautifully. This book is pure junk, yet I couldn’t put it down.

Hanna hates her mommy. Really, hates her, like enough to want her dead. Oh, Hanna is 7. Hanna loves her daddy. Really, loves him, like enough to want mommy dead so daddy can belong solely to Hanna. Did I mention Hanna is 7?!? Did I mention that Hanna refuses to speak, unless she’s threatening to murder mommy, but she never allows daddy to hear her threats, remember Hanna loves Daddy?!?! This book is odd but not good odd,JUST the odd odd.

I apologize to the author, but I found so much about this book preposterous. Hanna might be gifted but there is no way she is that manipulative, crafty, diabolical, tech savvy and possess such a host of other exceptional skills, she’s 7. Adults can be morons, but there is no way any parent would have put up with that type of behavior and not sought professional mental health care earlier. Same for educators, family doctor, family members, neighbors, someone would have intervened and flagged Hanna as a child in need before age 7. None of their actions make any sense. See, nonsense fiction.

Comparing this book to We Need To Talk About Kevin is completely unfair to that outstanding novel. Kevin explored deep questions about motherhood, nature, nurture, indifference, apathy and bad behavior verses evil inclinations. This book explored nothing but gratuitous shock value.

I’m a huge fan of St. Martin’s Press but this book was a big disappointment. I recognize not every book is for every reader and I’ve seen many glowing reviews. Congratulations to Zoje Stage for writing a most controversial debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced read in exchange for this read.

This book is disturbing. Just look at the title, and then you can just imagine that this book is going to be disturbing. Stage does an incredible job of developing the characters, and you'll feel highs and lows with them. I can't say I enjoyed it (I don't think you are supposed to), but I didn't anticipate a lot of the book which is hard now with this genre.

Oh my my …where to begin…

Talk about some eyebrow raising moments. I was prepared to read more of a horror story with an atmospheric home with terror inducing scenarios, BUT what I felt reading most of the book was…. Bored.

I loved the movie The Omen with the little boy who terrified me. He ruled the house with his evilness, an underlying force. I thought the story would offer more of this terror inducing scenario.

Hannah, who is 7 years old, is portrayed as a manipulative and troubled girl who wants to harm her mother and have her father all to herself. There are plenty of shocking events and what did I just read moments, but for me this one didn’t pull it off. I will say the author does a good job of diving into the minds of the mom and daughter. It just wasn’t compelling to me.

If you want some shock and awe, a total freak show, then this one will fit the bill.
Thanks to the publisher for my ARC.

3 likes

I picked up this book because it was compared to The Bad Seed and Damion. It is, unfortunately, neither, but a stereotypical bad kid doing horrible things on steroids. Would make a suitable B-rated movie. The six year old child thought critically like an adult. Even a genius child can't do that. They don't have the frontal cortex capabilities yet. The mother was a walking discussion board thread for "my experience with Chrone's Disease" -- way overdone. It was just plain awful. I plodded through it hoping for improvement or a twist , Neither materialized. Don't waste your time.

This book is completely bonkers, and I loved every minute of it!

In fact, this review was very difficult to write, precisely because the book is so darn crazy! I don't think I've ever before so much enjoyed a book in which the entire cast of characters was so utterly unlikable! Let's break it down, shall we?

1. Hanna is a creepy and manipulative kid who would like nothing better than to get rid of her mother so she can have Daddy all to herself. She's very serious about this goal and is open to considering all options to make it happen, up to and including murder.

2. Suzette is Hanna's mother and she's had just about enough of being doting to a child who is such a brat. She's getting to the point where she wouldn't really mind Hanna being gone either; it doesn't help that Hanna is clearly Daddy's little angel.

3. Alex/Daddy is Hanna's father and Suzette's husband. He might also be the most oblivious man to walk the earth.

4. Other annoying random characters include teachers (and other school staff) and doctors who do not seem concerned about any possible abuse or mental illness, or if they do, they're easily convinced that nah, nothing's really wrong.

The short chapters alternate between the perspectives of main characters Hanna and Suzette, and they suck you in until you've "just one mored" your way to the end of the book. I'm a big fan of alternating perspectives when they're done well, and they are very nicely paced here, indeed. I found myself flip flopping allegiances as the book progressed.

Let me be very clear: you must be very willing to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this book. I found it distracting that Hanna is unevenly precocious, and OMG! Suzette! Please let me tell you about this clever invention called the nanny cam! However, if you can overlook these little quibbles, then you must also be willing to set aside a good few hours once you pick this book up, because once you get started, you won't be able to stop. This is the most deliciously voyeuristic book I have read in a long, long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.

Save your eyes, and brain power. I thought this might be a controversial book, and it sure was given hype by the publisher! I think I could tell you about the book in a sentence. Child hates Mommy, loves Daddy, and wants him all to herself. She's mute, intelligent, and a sociopath. Adulterating children like this makes me cringe. Don't waste anytime with this one. I weep when I know there is good talent out there with read-worthy stories that are passed off while this type is published. Sad.
Received this book via Netgalley for an honest review. (Can't get more honest than this one...)

The story collapses nearly immediately under the weight of some questionable stylistic choices. The alternating POV between tormenter and victim--here, a daughter and mother--destroys any chance for dramatic irony and tension. Each character's choices are spelled out in her respective chapter, and they come to pass in the next. For a creepy kid tale like Baby Teeth, a bit less explanation and a lot more ambiguity would have gone a long way.

I also disagreed with the choice to age Hanna so young. She's only 7 years old here, which is patently absurd with some of the vocabulary found in her first-person narration. Her character is drawn into an impossible corner: she's supposed to be a sociopathic genius lightyears beyond her parents' reckoning as well as a small child with all of the accompanying mental and physical weaknesses.

A disappointing thriller. The blurb compares it to We Need To Talk About Kevin; just go read--or reread!--We Need To Talk About Kevin instead.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2111769544?book_show_action=false