Bibliographic Information:
Title: What Big Teeth
Author: Rose Szabo
ISBN: 978-0374314309
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers (New York)
Copyright Date: February 2021
Reading Level / Interest Level: Min/Max grade levels 9-12 (Novelist)
Genre / Format: Fantasy Fiction, Horror, Magical Realism / Book
Themes: Family, Complicated Relationships, Identity
Awards or Honors: None as of the publication of this post.
Plot Summary: Eleanor Zarrin was sent to boarding school and denied communication with her family. But after a terrible incident at boarding school, Eleanor escapes to the only other place she knows, her home. While trying to understand why she was abandoned at boarding school, she is given the responsibility to take care of her monstrous family. As the story progresses Eleanor starts to learn more about herself, and begins to understand why she feels like she doesn’t belong.
Author Background: What Big Teeth is Rose Szabo’s first novel. Rose is a nonbinary writer from Richmond, Virginia. A self-proclaimed horror fan, they have written multiple short stories about monsters. Rose received their MA in English from the University of Maine. They also received their MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University, where they teach writing (Szabo, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation for Books and Non-Print Items: This story has a dark Addams family feeling to it. What Big Teeth takes the readers on a journey through Eleanor Zarrin’s eyes. There are many twists and turns that can make the storyline a bit hard to follow, but that is because the main protagonist doesn’t have all the cards. Eleanor soon realizes that she has suppressed memories from some traumatic events in her life. As someone who feels like she is getting to know her monstrous family for the first time, she reaches out to her estranged grandmother to help keep her family safe and financially stable. Through her estranged grandmother, she understands herself more and grows as a person who realizes she deeply cares about her family. If you loved the Addams family, you will love this dark twisted tale.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Monster Family Tree
Teens will be asked to create a family tree with a twist. This family tree will be designed with monsters. Eleanor Zarrin has a wild family. Each family has a different personality. Her mother needs to be in a bathtub, she is a part of a family of werewolves, and other creatures. Her grandmother on her mother’s side is able to control people, and her grandmother from her father’s side is able to read the family future.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer: Eleanor Zarrin has been estranged from her wild monstrous family for years, but an incident at her boarding school has forced her to make her way back to her family. As Eleanor tries her best to fulfill a promise to take care of her family, she soon realizes that there are gaps in her memory. She must figure out who she is and make sure her family isn’t put in danger.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: The protagonist is lesbian and there are other characters who are gay/bisexual. LGBTQ+ representation in books has historically been challenged, particularly material aimed for school-aged children. As a Young Adult book with multiple characters that are gay/bisexual, What Big Teeth is a prime candidate for such attacks. While the LGBTQ+ representation is not the main focus of the story, parents who are searching for these representations will not like how it is normalized. I would argue that you need this book to be a part of the collection in order for the collection to be more inclusive. We need to see diverse characters live their life like everyone else in order to capture as many possible readers. There is a strong message of family that unfolds as the main character learns to accept her monstrous family with all their quirks.
Reason for Inclusion: This story is a great dark fantasy young adult novel. This story has a strong family message. While Eleanor feels like she doesn’t fit in with her family, and her family reacts skittishly around her, communication is the key needed for acceptance. Eleanor’s grandmother sent her away to boarding school because she felt like she couldn’t control her, but Eleanor blocked all memory of any problems. Eleanor overcomes many of her difficulties through communication and acceptance. This is a strong message that readers should be exposed to. The LGBTQ+ representation in the book is another reason to include this book: It is important to build an inclusive collection that represents the diversity in our community.
Enhancements
Interview with Rose Szabo