Reading Metrics
Description
Rudy's life is flipped upside down when his family moves to a remote, magical island in a last attempt to save his sick brother, Dylan. The plot contains pervasive profanity and sexual situations, including sexual violence, and disturbing imagery.
Quick Summary
If you like stories that mix a strange, almost enchanted setting with really raw family drama, "Teeth" by Hannah Moskowitz might hit the spot. Rudy and his brother Dylan end up on a remote island that feels alive with its own rules, and the whole move is a desperate bid to find a cure for Dylan's illness, which gives the plot a tense, heart-in-your-throat feeling. The book is gritty lots of strong language, some sexual situations, and a few scenes that are pretty disturbing so it's really geared toward older teens who can handle that kind of intensity. Readers who love a mix of magical realism and emotional stakes, similar to how "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" balances wonder with dark moments, will find the island's weirdness hard to put down. There are moments of humor, too, especially when Rudy tries to navigate the island's bizarre customs, but the story never lets you forget the stakes are sky-high for his brother. Parents should know the content is heavy, but if your teen can handle a tough, ultimately hopeful story about family sacrifice, it's a memorable read.