Preview of one of the year’s most hyped debuts
We Need to Talk About KevinmeetsGone GirlmeetsThe Omen.
EW can exclusively reveal a chilling excerpt from the book below.
you might also check out a trailer for the book above and pre-orderBaby Teethahead of its July 17 releasehere.
St. Martin’s Press
Excerpt fromBaby Teeth, by Zoje Stage
Sometimes she wasnt sure if she remembered it exactly right.
And heard in the silences all of Mommys regret.
Must have been a weekend, because Daddy was around somewhere.
But only she and Mommy were at the table.
Little bits of colorful food were in each section.
Stuff she still liked to nibble on.
The only thing she couldnt remember is why she didnt feel like eating.
Mommy sat with her, nibbling a sandwich.
Hanna wasnt sure if Mommy was really in there, so she threw a carrot at her.
Mommy hunched back down, blowing out her cheeks.
Hanna didnt like it.
Was Mommy dying, like a toy that needed to be wound up?
She was too big to drag around if all her parts stopped working.
Hanna wanted her to come back to life; she threw a grape at her.
Why are you throwing everything?
She tapped at Hannas plate, like that would make her hungry.
Hanna wanted to say Why?
She wanted to sayStay here dont go away dont look so weird.She squeaked out a noise instead.
Eat a little, something from each you like these.
She and Mommy did one of their games, where they watched each other and neither of them spoke.
And the whole time Hanna dropped pieces of her lunch on the ground, one tidbit at a time.
Dont you ever get tired?
Hanna blinked hard in surprise, and maybe that meant shed lost the game, but she didnt care.
Not that I know who Id want to be.
Not someone I know, just someone… else.
She bent over and picked up the other bits that were littering the floor.
Do you want me to take it away?
When Mommy started to pull it away, Hanna pulled it right back.
Would Mommy really take her food away?
Just because she wanted Mommy to stop being weird?
She put a grape in her mouth and started chewing.
I was just trying to make conversation.
I always do all the talking and its like I just talk to myself all day.
I didnt think it would be so lonely.
I didnt think youd be so hard to spend so much time with.
You make me miss Alex, Daddy, who he was before.
Hanna missed Daddy too.
She spit the chewed grape into Mommys face.
Thats not how we eat our food, you know better.
Chew and swallow, dont put everything on the floor.
If you dont want to eat then just… She flicked the grape onto her own plate.
Mommy deflated again, with a look on her face that Hanna thought meant there wasnt a point.
Hanna wasnt worth the little energy she had left.
Hanna glared at her.
And made a show of chewing, chewing.
See, that wasnt so hard.
It struck her cheek, then started to dribble down.
Mommy scooped the mash from her face.
For a second Hanna thought she might cry.
But Mommy got up and came around and forced the glop back into Hannas mouth.
She held her hand there, making it so Hanna couldnt open her lips.
She couldnt spit anything back out, but she could also barely breathe.
Mommys eyes looked scarier than the dead fish and she pressed hard against Hannas mouth.
and lifted the plate to her mouth so she could spit it all out.
Mommy patted her back and wiped her chin and Hanna coughed and coughed.
Im so sorry, I dont know why I did that.
Mommy scooped her onto her hip, bouncing her, kissing her.
Youre okay, I didnt mean to do that.
I dont know why I did that.
I love you, baby, I love you.
She kissed her cheek so many times.
But Mommy wasnt full of love.
She was full of fear.
Daddy came in then.
Had he been upstairs?
Both she and Mommy were crying.
Daddy ran over like a superhero.
Hanna reached her arms out to Daddy and he took her, bouncing her just like Mommy did.
It really scared us, I dont know what happened.
Everythings okay now, Daddy said.
With him, Hanna felt safe.
Mommy gave her a sip of water to drink and smoothed out her hair.
Hanna gazed at her, in a new way.
A kind of game that wasnt fun, but deadly serious.
She thought Mommy even understood.
She stayed all big-eyed and hovering.
Finally Daddy gripped Mommys arm.
Its okay, shes fine.
I cant do this, Alex.
you’re free to.
Look, totally fine.
I dont understand her anymore
Shell start talking soon.
I dont know what she wants, I dont know what she needs.
I think maybe… Do you think theres anything wrong?
it’s possible for you to hear Daddy, cant you?
And Hanna replied with a big grin.
To show Mommy there was nothing wrong with her, she reached out her arms.
Mommy hesitated, but Daddy held her out for Mommy to take.
See, shes all good, Daddy said.
But Hanna felt it, how Mommy couldnt relax with her in her arms.
How Mommy wanted to drop her.
She knew then, she needed to test Mommy.
To find out what she was made of.
Was she a sandcastle that would melt away as the water lapped ashore?
Or was she made of rockier stuff?
Hanna was determined to give Mommy every possible chance.
Mommy owed her and more than the empty apology that tumbled so easily from her lips.
She understood then how words could hide a deeper truth.
Thats what Daddys mom said, and Daddy agreed: actions speak louder than words.
So Hanna would act, and give Mommy a chance to act in reply.
And then shed know.
If Mommy passed or failed.
