What Big Teeth

A Strand February 2021 Book of the Month "With a layered mystery, a haunting setting, and thrilling tension, What Big Teeth has an otherness to it that pulls you in and forces you to keep reading." ―Tricia Levenseller, Publisher’s Weekly-bestselling author of The Shadows Between UsEleanor Zarrin has been estranged from her wild family for years. When she flees boarding school after a horrifying incident, she goes to the only place she thinks is safe: the home she left behind. But when she gets there, she struggles to fit in with her monstrous relatives, who prowl the woods around the family estate and read fortunes in the guts of birds.Eleanor finds herself desperately trying to hold the family together―in order to save them all, Eleanor must learn to embrace her family of monsters and tame the darkness inside her.Rose Szabo's thrilling debut is a dark fantasy novel about a teen girl who returns home to her strange, wild family after years of estrangement, perfect for fans of Wilder Girls. This exquisitely terrifying and beautiful tale will sink its teeth into you and never let go.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-After an incident at boarding school sends her running to a home and family she hardly remembers, Eleanor Zarrin must find a way to reconnect with relatives who both terrify and intrigue her. Will she find her place among these bizarre family members, or will her return prove to be their downfall? Set in Maine, ostensibly in the 1950s, this debut YA novel from Szabo is one part haunting mystery, one part dark fantasy. As the title suggests, wolves abound-but so do ghosts, witches, and other, less definable paranormal beings. Eleanor is well-rounded, with understandable motivations behind her actions; many teen readers will surely relate to her feelings of inadequacy and "otherness" as she struggles to find a place where she belongs. The rest of the ensemble are slightly more one-dimensional, though still enjoyable to read. All characters present as white. VERDICT This darkly thrilling gothic fantasy will appeal to fans of Karen McManus and Maggie Stiefvater alike. A recommended purchase.-Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CTα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Tricia Levenseller, Publisher’s Weekly-bestselling author of The Shadows Between Us

"With a layered mystery, a haunting setting, and thrilling tension, What Big Teeth has an otherness to it that pulls you in and forces you to keep reading."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED REVIEW

"Deliciously gothic and wonderfully creepy."

School Library Journal

"... one part haunting mystery, one part dark fantasy ... This darkly thrilling gothic fantasy will appeal to fans of Karen McManus and Maggie Stiefvater alike."

Tor.com

"A tale so gorgeously twisty, it'll turn you inside out."

NPR Books

"Gazes into [the] darkness to face the monster that dwells within."

The Nerd Daily

"A complete ghostly chill that deserves ten stars."

Forever YA

"Has bite―and will leave you feeling dazed."

The Lineup

"A hauntingly thrilling read."

PopSugar

"A fascinating debut."

Den of Geek

"[An] inventive concept

Culturess

"Not your typical YA fantasy."

About the Author

Rose Szabo is a nonbinary writer from Richmond, VA, where they live with an assortment of people and animals and teach writing at VCU. They have an MA in English from the University of Maine and an MFA in creative writing from VCU. Their work has been published in See the Elephant and Quaint magazines. What Big Teeth is their first novel.

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