The tooth fairy

The tooth fairy in this riveting coming-of-age story (which won the British World Fantasy Award in 1997) is not the winged fae who leaves coins under a child's pillow, but rather a monstrous, cruel, sexually-charged entity who hovers on the edge of one boy's shifting reality. And this fairy doesn't just take teeth . . . it bites. Pubescence is always painful, but never quite this literally. As in many of the best, most affecting supernatural stories, The Tooth Fairy plays with our sense of reality—is the creature real, or is it a figment of a tortured adolescent imagination run amok? You'll have to read it to find out.

It's hard to put into words exactly how I feel about this book. After pondering for quite some time, I decided to give it 3 stars.

On the one hand, I thought it was really well written. The characters are very easy to relate to, and their individual personalities make them interesting to read about. Sam is the awkward one, Clive the smart one, Terry the athletic one. Just like the groups of boys we all knew in school. Following the boys through their youth was sad at times, but they always bounced back like kids do.

I never really felt fully immersed in the book though. It might be because the story centers mainly around the lives of male characters, but I'm not sure that was the only reason. The whole issue of the “Tooth Fairy” was odd and confusing at times. I found myself wanting to slap some sense into Sam.

I know that this book is meant to be like the cautionary tales of old. At the deepest level, this is a book about growing into adulthood and all the trials and tribulations that come along with it. I would say give it a try and see what you think!