BABY TEETH

3 stars out of 5

"Dysfunctional" doesn't come close to describing this family of three: Mother Suzette, father Alex and young daughter Hanna. Reminiscent of the 1956 horror-thriller movie "The Bad Seed," Hanna is the Devil incarnate; she spends her days dreaming that Mommy is dead (and conjuring up ways to make that happen) so she can have her beloved Daddy all to herself.

Both parents have issues; Suzette, who has suffered from Crohn's disease since childhood, had a messed-up, uncaring mother and constantly worries that she won't be perfect in the eyes of her husband and even the daughter she's come to fear. Alex fuels Suzette's internal combustion by loving her perfection, whether it be through her beauty, their magazine-worthy home or the child he refuses to believe could possibly have a nasty bone in her little body. Both parents are understandably concerned about Hanna's development, but asking what she's thinking won't be much help because she doesn't talk. In fact, she hasn't spoken a single word for all of her seven years. 

She does, however, have a precocious brain, clearly understanding almost everything that's said to her and a whole lot more; for instance, she knows her way around computer searches better than I do. She's also fond of barking, growling and making other ungodly noises, especially when she's around people she doesn't like and wants to upset (including her mother, of course).

Mom and Dad have tried special schools, but to no avail; Hanna simply does something so awful - like setting a wastebasket on fire - that she gets expelled every time. Dad, of course, balks at Mom's attempts to seek more help; after all, he goes to work all day and comes home to find a sweet, loving daughter who's all smiles and smooches. So what's not to love?

Readers learn early on, getting clued in on what's really happening by way of chapters told from Suzette's and Hanna's perspectives. Although there's rarely a dull moment, though, it's positively agonizing to read chapter after chapter as Suzette continues to question what she's doing wrong all the while being terrified of her own child and Alex can't see beyond the end of his own nose. And Hanna? Well, I've given it considerable thought since I finished the book and concluded there's not a single nice thing I can say about her.

Suffice it to say, then, that reading this book isn't much fun. Sure, there's nerve-wracking tension and the constant question of what could this kid possibly come up with next, but mostly I just wanted somebody to get bumped off (and I didn't much care which one bit the dust). That said, this is a well-written book that's loaded with page-turning incentives; those who enjoy psychologically damaged characters as in "Carrie," "Rosemary's Baby" and "Children of the Corn," I think, are in for a real treat. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance review copy.

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage (St. Martin's Press, July 2018); 320 pp.