Baby Teeth is an unsettling book by Zoje Stage. Seven-year-old Hanna Jensen is the the only child of Suzette and Alex. The point-of-view alternates between Suzette and Hanna. A look at other reviews of Baby Teeth all use the word “creepy” to describe Hanna. Is it possible that such a young child is capable of all the mayhem she’s causing or is something else–or someone else–directing Hanna’s actions? This is a review of an advanced readers’ edition I received from St. Marten’s Press, the book’s publisher.

The subjects of Baby Teeth are members of the Jensen Family. Alex is a celebrated Pittsburgh architect, while Suzette is a reluctant at-home parent to Hanna. The family lives in a showplace home that Alex designed and by all appearances their lives are good. Suzette spends her days trying to give Hanna the perfect childhood. Hanna does not speak and is home-schooled by Suzette because Hanna does not play well with others. Alex often seems aloof and presumptuous, and Suzette, who lives with Chrohn’s disease, has trouble balancing the demands of her life. Suzette and Alex have gone through many one-time babysitters, several schools and had Hanna tested repeatedly in their unsuccessful search for answers about Hanna’s condition. Hanna is as creative and talented as she is uncooperative and strong-willed. Though Hanna’s bad behavior and malice toward her mother escalate, Hanna never acts out in front of her father. As a result, not only does Alex not believe Suzette’s accounts of Hanna’s actions, but he regularly ends up undermining Suzette. Which delights Hannah, because she wants Suzette to leave so she can have her dad all to herself.

Baby Teeth is the first book by Zoje Stage. At times the book seemed to plod along, but for the most part I wanted to see what happened next. The author did an excellent job of creating a world that seemed to constrict more tightly around the Jensens with each chapter. I have seen more than one version of “The Bad Seed” and thought it was a unique take to have Hanna tell part of the story.

Baby Teeth Book Cover via Amazon.com.