Book Review: ‘Boys with Sharp Teeth’ by Jenni Howell
Sometimes a book comes along at exactly the right moment, with exactly the right voice, and it just sinks into your bones. 'Boys with Sharp Teeth' by Jenni Howell turns out to be one of those books for me.
Here's the summary:
“Seventeen-year-old Marin James has spent her entire life living in the shadow of the exclusive Huntsworth Academy. So when her cousin’s dead body is found in a creek on school property, Marin knows exactly who’s to blame: Adrian Graves and Henry Wu, the enigmatic, yet dangerous leaders of the school's ecosystem.
Swapping her ragged T-shirts for a crisp prep school uniform, Marin infiltrates Huntsworth to exact her revenge. But her quest for vengeance is quickly muddied by a confusing attraction to her new life, and to the two dysfunctional and devastating boys who understand her better than anyone ever has.
When Marin uncovers a dark, eerie secret hiding behind Huntsworth's ivied gates, the lines between justice and vengeance, love and hate, and the real and supernatural begin to crumble – and nothing is as it seems.
Welcome to Huntsworth Academy.”
We picked this up to feature on Season 12 of the podcast, so naturally we were looking closely at the Dark Academia angle. If you want more on that particular aspect, definitely check out the episode. But if you want more, and of course you do, stay right here.
Sophie and I talk a lot about the evolution of YA and how the boundaries of the genre have shifted over the years. And sure, that’s partly a reflection of the changing times. Younger generations are exposed to much more, much earlier, and literature inevitably begins to mirror that. But there’s still a line, right? Just look at recent controversies (see: 'Sibylline' by Melissa de la Cruz) and it’s clear that people still feel very strongly about where that line should be.
This is a long way of saying that I think 'Boys with Sharp Teeth' looks directly at that line, toes it, and then walks very carefully along the edge.
Look, I’m from the golden age of YA, where I habitually devoured books like 'Dangerous Boys' by Abigail Haas, 'Hysteria' by Megan Miranda, and 'Killer Instinct' by S. E. Green. YA has always had the capacity to be dark. Sometimes very dark.
'Boys with Sharp Teeth' definitely embraces that tradition. It also pushes the age limits slightly, with the characters being seniors at an elite school, which gives the story room to explore some heavier themes without losing that YA intensity.
And you know what?
I absolutely ate this up.
It feels reminiscent of Maggie Stiefvater’s 'The Raven Cycle', with shades of a teen version of 'The Secret History' (not a comparison I make lightly). There’s that same sense of atmosphere, of dangerous friendships, of something just slightly uncanny simmering beneath the surface.
And then there’s Henry… The Dark Academia “Henry” tradition really is something.
All the characters are, frankly, unlikable in the best possible way. I wasn’t exactly rooting for Marin, but I was with her all the way, I wanted to see it through. Graves was so interesting and I am a little sad that we didn’t get more time to explore the dynamic between him and Henry.
The slightly paranormal-leaning plot twist? Completely here for it. And I loved that the story doesn’t tie everything up neatly with a lover’s kiss… in fact, if anything, it makes things worse.
All of it is wrapped up in a surprisingly elegant exploration of some genuinely thorny philosophical questions, as well as giving us a twisty academic thriller to keep you on your toes!
I had a great time reading this.
Dark, clever, and just a little bit dangerous, 'Boys with Sharp Teeth' reminds us that YA has always been capable of exploring the shadows. And sometimes the most interesting stories are the ones that refuse to step neatly back from the edge.
