{"id":6466,"date":"2019-05-10T12:39:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T16:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/?p=6466"},"modified":"2019-05-10T12:39:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T16:39:40","slug":"book-review-baby-teeth-by-zoje-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/book-review-baby-teeth-by-zoje-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/p>\n

Baby Teeth <\/em>by Zoje Stage.<\/p>\n

St. Martin’s Press, 2018<\/p>\n

ISBN-13:\u00a0978-1250170750<\/p>\n

Available: Hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stage enters the collection of novels about creepy kids with a solid entry that is tough to categorize. Some might call it horror, others a thriller, but many would consider it to be a family drama– all depending on what the reader discerns is the true dilemma facing the family between the covers of this engrossing book.<\/p>\n

While it may be compared to\u00a0The Bad Seed<\/em> and The Omen<\/em>,\u00a0Baby Teeth<\/em> doesn’t attempt to mimic either story. It is content to narrate its own tale, that gradually and organically grows from something trite and familiar, into a final product that will either have readers scratching their heads, or shaking them with disbelief. Both could be a good thing– or utterly frustrating.<\/p>\n

The Jensens are a normal family, at least until little Hanna comes along. Suzette and Alex have no idea what’s in store for them when this little seven-year-old unleashes her terror on them– well, just on Suzette. Hanna worships her daddy and shows him only the sunshine in her damaged soul. She saves the darkness for mommy.<\/p>\n

The alternating point of view between Hanna and Suzette might recall shades of Gone Girl<\/em>, but the story is not as complex. It is, however, almost as twisted. Stage constructs a story that takes the reader on a mind-bending journey that flits between reality and something that might be just a little into the realm of horror. Is little Hanna possessed by the spirit of a witch who was burned at the stake in the 17th century? Is she pure evil? Or is she something different?<\/p>\n

When the Jensens’ home situation dissolves into pure hell, Hanna targets her mother, but in a subtle manner, choosing to remain mute, except for in a special instance. Suzette and Alex send her off to a special school, only to have her return soon afterwards, for reasons that remain mysterious.<\/p>\n

Readers who are seeking pat answers and conclusions that will cross every T and dot every I might find some issue with\u00a0Baby Teeth<\/em> in its construction, yet that’s also what makes the novel work so well. While it has more in common with\u00a0Gone Girl<\/em> and domestic suspense than horror or supernatural stories, that isn’t a bad thing. Stage’s writing renders the plot lean, and the characters strong. He takes chances with styles and pulls off more hits than misses. This novel breathes new life into a sub-genre that has long needed a book to spin a new angle.\u00a0Recommended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reviewed by Dave Simms<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Editor’s note:\u00a0Baby Teeth\u00a0<\/strong>is a nominee on the final ballot of the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievment in a First Novel.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. St. Martin’s Press, 2018 ISBN-13:\u00a0978-1250170750 Available: Hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook   Stage enters the collection of novels about creepy kids with a solid entry that is tough to categorize. Some might call it horror, others a thriller, but many would consider it to be a family<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2070,3419,2392,3713,83,2621,3667,3830,3053,3829],"class_list":["post-6466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-baby-teeth","tag-children-in-horror","tag-domestic-horror","tag-gone-girl","tag-horror-fiction","tag-psychological-suspense","tag-stoker-awards-2018","tag-the-bad-seed","tag-the-omen","tag-zoje-stage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6466"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6580,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6466\/revisions\/6580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}