Do you like books with magic? How about witches, werewolves, and other equally mystifying and somewhat terrifying creatures? Then WHAT BIG TEETH by Rose Szabo will be an interesting read for you.  

Eleanor Zarrin runs away from school after an alarming incident between herself and another pupil. With nowhere else to go, she returns home. Even though Grandma was the one who suddenly sent her away to boarding school all those years ago. Even though nobody wrote to her while she was away.  Or visited her. Even though they all forgot about her – stopped loving her.

Eleanor didn’t fit in at school. But she doesn’t fit in with the multiple generations of creatures that make up her family either. Grandma is a tarot-card-reading witch. Grandpa, one sister, and her cousin constantly shift between human and wolf. Mom sprouts polyps on half her body and sits in a tub of water even while eating. And then there’s Arthur, a family friend who hides behind dark glasses, appears from nowhere, never eats, and only drinks a dark brew prepared by her other monosyllabic sister.

When her Grandma suddenly passes away, she charges Eleanor with protecting their family. But her family treats her with suspicion, often casting fearful glances her way. Why would they fear her? What is it about herself that even she doesn’t understand? That’s the question that draws you into the story and keeps you reading.

To be honest, I didn’t think WHAT BIG TEETH was a good fit for me. I was wrong. And I’m going to tell you why.

Szabo humanizes even this mismatched group of not-quite-humans. She grounds you in the setting, makes you believe in the unbelievable, and writes monsters readers can sympathize with. Because we all need to belong, all need to be loved. We all want to feel safe and secure. It’s a universal need for humans and (I suppose) for monsters alike. But beyond that, Szabo creates a story blooming with intrigue, mystery, and the complicated relationships of the ultimate dysfunctional family.