Summary: Shark Teeth
Sharkita’s (aka Kita) alcoholic mom is on her last chance to maintain custody of her kids, Kita, Lamar, and Lily. Kita is anxious about whether her mother’s well-being streak will end and when they’ll be shipped off again to foster homes, separated from each other. Throughout the book, that worry and her mom’s unstable behavior worries Kita, leading sometimes to panic attacks which she hides from her mother. Kita has also been teased for ages about her hyperdontia (the presence of too many teeth resembling shark teeth), and her mom has refused to help her get braces. The arrival of a new assistant principal brings light into Kita’s life as she and Kita’s friends Niecy and Chasity, help her learn to have fun — until her mom acts out again with terrifying consequences for Kita.
The Good
I really liked this story. It started a bit too slowly for me, and because it was so intense and full of anxiety, I had to keep forcing myself to get back to reading it until things took off at the 40% mark or so. My heart ached for Sharkita as she dealt with an emotionally abusive parent, needing to parent her own siblings, one of whom has special needs. There was no time for her to be a child.
The author also provides a glimpse into the history of Kita’s mother’s experiences with her own mother and how the cycle of trauma gets passed on over generations. Still, there are much-needed moments of respite in the levity of Kita’s interactions with her friends, her supportive principal, Kadejah, who’s there for the girls in her school, and Kita’s crush on a boy named Quintin. Kita also loves and writes poetry, while one of her friends enjoys baton twirling and wants to be an actress.
I appreciate the way this story depicts Kita’s anxiety and panic disorder and the help she receives from her school authorities and counselor. Her anxieties also create nightmares for her, and the bullying she experiences because of her teeth doesn’t help the anxiety or her self-esteem. This story is ultimately satisfying, and the end feels like a massive sigh of relief for all the characters — as it will for readers, too.
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: None on page
- Alcohol/substance abuse: Kita’s mom is an alcoholic
- Sexual content: Two tweens of the opposite sex hold hands
- Violence: Mild
Diversity
- Ethnic: Kita and most of her community are Black
- Sexual orientation: None
Recommended for ages: 10+
Good for Kids Who Like:
- Touching stories
- Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy
- The First Magnificent Summer by R.L. Toalson
- Stories about body image issues
- Books about bullying
- Books by Sherri Winston
Publisher Details
Publisher details | Chronicle Books; Reprint edition |
Author: | Sherri Winston |
Illustrator: | N/A |
Publication date: | January 16, 2024 |
Audiobook? | Yes, Libro.fm |
Page count: | 304 |
Cover artists | Designer: |
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