Suzette Jensen didn't have what one would call a happy childhood.  A debilitating ailment that should have evoked feelings of sympathy from her mother resulted in quite the opposite.  When she married, she knew that this ailment would cause her difficulties while pregnant, yet she was determined to give a child the love and attention she was never given.

Unfortunately, in the case of her daughter Hanna, the difficulties have lasted long past pregnancy.  At seven, she has yet to utter a word.  Suzette has taken her to countless doctors and specialists, but no physical cause can be found.  She can read and write, and at this point all medical professionals insist that Hanna can talk, just chooses not to.   Frustrated at her mother's rules and excessive attention, Hanna acts out, oftentimes aggressively.  Yet when she is with her father, she's an angelic, problem-free child. She's been expelled from countless schools, leaving Suzette with no choice but to home school her.

What is most terrifying is that Suzette can see the jealousy and hatred in Hanna's eyes. Hanna strives to be the sole source of attention for her father.  The constant stress wreaks havoc on her health condition, so it's imperative that she find some...relief from Hanna.  Whether it's her health or the hands of her daughter, either one will ultimately destroy her.

Raising a child is difficult enough, but can you imagine raising a child that is the embodiment of evil? I don’t know what was more terrifying, the feral-like barks Hanna uses to communicate with her mother or that when she finally speaks to her mother, it’s the voice of a long-dead suspected witch!?  Creepy kids scare me to no end (i.e. the twins from The Shining or the characters in Children of the Corn).

In this debut novel, Stage takes the stress and difficulty of raising a child to a completely different level.  At first, it was almost difficult to believe a child could be so evil, starting at such a young age. It as if Hanna was the embodiment of the very sickness (Crohn’s disease) that is attacking Suzette’s body.  Quickly, I became obsessed with trying to figure out the cause of Hanna’s hatred for her mother.  Was it purely a sense of jealousy for the attention of her father? Or was there some underlying issue that had yet risen to the surface.  While my questions were never really answered, I couldn’t tear myself away from this book. I read it in one sitting and it left me with such a haunting feeling!

This is certainly destined to be one of the  most talked about books of the summer.  Highly, highly recommended (with fair warning of an incredibly creepy child!)