Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rough language, sexual violence mar odd maritime fable.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Rudy's family has come to a remote island with the hope that a diet of magical fish will cure his younger brother's cystic fibrosis. In the local waters, he discovers a mysterious half-human/half-fish hybrid who calls himself Teeth, and the two develop a strange, emotionally loaded friendship. But when it becomes clear that the welfare of his brother and of Teeth are at terrible odds, Rudy must decide where to put his loyalty.
Is It Any Good?
TEETH has a distinctive (if extremely crude) narrative voice and an intriguing setup, but its fable-like quality is undercut by its refusal to play by the rules of logic. While perfectly willing to believe in fish/human hybrids, Rudy immediately dismisses seeking help on the island or elsewhere. With the exception of Rudy's brother Dylan, all the characters seem to operate at a level of maximum hysteria, which becomes exhausting after a while.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence and how it's used in fiction. Do you find it effective in Teeth or over the top?
Why do you think half-human/half-creature stories remain so popular, from ancient mythology to contemporary fantasy novels?
What might it feel like to leave all your friends behind and live in a new, isolated environment?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon Pulse
- Publication date : January 1, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate