Baby Teeth: A Novel

Woah just finished Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. It is a chilling, psychological thriller that hooked me from the very first page and never let go. I loved it!!! For a debut novel it certainly delivered a twisted, unsettling story of a family dealing with mental health issues of their non verbal child while dealing with their own past childhood drama and maternal instinct. If you’re a fan of dark, character-driven stories that keep you guessing, this book is an absolute must-read. The story centers on the seemingly perfect couple Suzette and Alex Jensen, who are dealing with their non verbal seven-year-old daughter, Hanna. The chapters alternate between Suzette, a mother battling both her health and her growing fear of her own child, and little Hanna, who possess some frightening thoughts and isn’t afraid to bring them to life. The characters are the heart of this book, and Stage crafts them with such depth and nuance that I felt invested in their struggles immediately. Suzette’s vulnerability and desperation to be a “good mother” are palpable, while Hanna’s cunning and eerie intelligence make her one of the most memorable child antagonists I’ve read. Alex, caught between love for his daughter and loyalty to his wife, adds another layer of tension that kept me glued to the pages. What I loved most was how Stage pulls you into the story right away. The opening scene sets a tone of unease that only intensifies, blending domestic drama with psychological horror in a way that feels both fresh and deeply unsettling. Beautifully paced, with interesting writing that had me back and forth on who my real protagonist was. Baby Teeth is a book that will linger and had me questioning who was really the evil one. Was it Hanna and her alter personality, perhaps it was Suzette who is dealing with her own childhood trauma. It’s creepy, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down. I loved every second of it and can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who enjoys a dark, character-driven thriller that doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. I loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have finally read Zoja Stage’s debut, Baby Teeth, and I’m so glad I did! This is a beautifully written, taut domestic thriller with tinges of such stories as The Omen or The Bad Seed, and while there isn’t anything overtly supernatural about this story, Stage keeps readers wondering just what the hell is wrong with young Hanna Jensen. Suzette and Alex are worried about their seven-year-old daughter Hanna. She refuses to speak (or can’t), and so Suzette insists on all sorts of tests to pinpoint the cause of her silence. Doctors can’t seem to find anything wrong with her, but Suzette knows something isn’t quite right with her daughter. Whenever Hanna and Suzette are together, Hanna misbehaves and refuses to listen to her mother. But when Alex is around, Hanna is the perfect child, sweet and playful and loving. Suzette needs a break and wants to put Hanna in school, but so far she’s been kicked out of every one they’ve tried. Suzette is at her wits’ end and things are only getting worse. And then Hanna speaks—but it’s not what Suzette expected to hear at all. The story alternates between Suzette’s and Hanna’s points of view, so the reader gets to experience what each character is thinking. This format worked great, and I liked how Stage made their voices so different. For whatever reason, Hanna hates her mother and is jealous of the close relationship she has with Alex. Hanna wants Daddy all to herself and Mommy is only getting in the way. So Hanna comes up with various plans to get Mommy out of the picture for good, and it’s truly horrifying to see such premeditation in a seven-year-old child. There are a few scenes that made me cringe, and I was waiting for Hanna to finally get what she deserves. Suzette was such a well drawn character, and she’s the perfect foil for psychopathic Hanna. Suzette has Crohn’s disease and has had it since she was a teenager, and Stage doesn’t flinch when it comes to the details of her illness, including various surgeries, scars, and the day to day trails of the disease. Because her own mother didn’t take her seriously when she got sick, she’s had to deal with it by herself, and this is one reason she’s determined to be a better mother to Hanna and help her through whatever is wrong. Stage does a great job of portraying Suzette as a woman who strives to be perfect but is having a mental breakdown as Hanna’s actions become more and more troubling. Her character reminded me a lot of Rosemary in Rosemary’s Baby, who was also going through something terrible but no one would believe her. For some reason I can see Baby Teeth as a Swedish horror film, set in Sweden with English subtitles. The story takes place in the United States, but it would be easy to switch it over to another country. Alex is Swedish, and Swedish words are sprinkled throughout the story, usually when Alex is speaking to Hanna. Seriously, somebody make this into a movie, I’ll be the first in line to see it! Readers who like solid answers by the end of a book might be disappointed that Stage never really explains what’s wrong with Hanna. As I mentioned before, there are hints that she might be possessed, and I thought that would have been an interesting direction to take. Instead, the author leaves it up to the reader to decide for themselves, although I was a bit frustrated at the open-ended conclusion. The author is publishing a sequel this year (or rather, a stand-alone story that revolves around the same characters), so perhaps she’ll finally explain everything. This was a lot of fun and a quick, fast-paced read. Recommended for readers who enjoy well crafted domestic thrillers, especially those with evil children!

حجمه صغير للاسف 🗿

Amazing book ✨

I could not get enough of this book! Highly recommend to those who love psychological thrillers and creepy horror movies about evil kids. Also for people who aren’t triggered easily by family trauma and psychological problems. Very easy to read and very hard to put down! I hope for a sequel!

My goodness what a horror. The events that unfurl as a mother battles with her emotions trying to understand her daughter or your husband looks on in the traumatic events that unfold becomes more and more Claire child is on stable, and ending that reminds me very much of an old-fashioned horror. A great read I would recommend to anyone who likes to be scared.

Great , thank you