Angela Marie
asked
Zoje Stage:
I'm a clinical psychologist myself and absolutely loved this book! I'm going to encourage my colleagues and friends to read this book. Thanks for portraying the importance of psychology and seeking mental health services! Could a sequel show the effects of mental health treatment?
Zoje Stage
Hi Angela!
Thank you so much for your comment & question! It means a lot to me to hear from someone in the mental health field, as I endeavored to approach this family's situation as realistically as possible. The rest of my answer here may be a little bit spoilery, so if others folks haven't read the book yet you may want to stop here...
I continue to receive many requests for a sequel, but I had a specific desire for leaving the ending where I did. I think many (perhaps most) readers, when left to project Hanna into the future, imagine her as troubled as she was during my book. But a few readers - and you may be one of them - imagine the possibility where Hanna's treatment truly helps her, and may ultimately change the dynamic of the entire family. I left both possibilities open because I like that each reader can "create" a different life for Hanna. While it seems to drive some readers a bit nuts, I LOVE that so many people are seeing Hanna beyond the confines of the pages of this book!
I believe that a sequel would provide too definitive of a conclusion, and might prove to be disappointing: some readers will want to see Hanna, a couple years from now, even worse and more dangerous than she was at seven; other readers see her future more optimistically. To allow for both/all possibilities, I felt the best way to end the story was to leave the options open, and each reader can maintain their belief that their interpretation of the story is the "correct" one.
Thank you again for your enthusiasm for my book, and for giving me this chance to discuss the ending! :-)
Thank you so much for your comment & question! It means a lot to me to hear from someone in the mental health field, as I endeavored to approach this family's situation as realistically as possible. The rest of my answer here may be a little bit spoilery, so if others folks haven't read the book yet you may want to stop here...
I continue to receive many requests for a sequel, but I had a specific desire for leaving the ending where I did. I think many (perhaps most) readers, when left to project Hanna into the future, imagine her as troubled as she was during my book. But a few readers - and you may be one of them - imagine the possibility where Hanna's treatment truly helps her, and may ultimately change the dynamic of the entire family. I left both possibilities open because I like that each reader can "create" a different life for Hanna. While it seems to drive some readers a bit nuts, I LOVE that so many people are seeing Hanna beyond the confines of the pages of this book!
I believe that a sequel would provide too definitive of a conclusion, and might prove to be disappointing: some readers will want to see Hanna, a couple years from now, even worse and more dangerous than she was at seven; other readers see her future more optimistically. To allow for both/all possibilities, I felt the best way to end the story was to leave the options open, and each reader can maintain their belief that their interpretation of the story is the "correct" one.
Thank you again for your enthusiasm for my book, and for giving me this chance to discuss the ending! :-)
More Answered Questions
Chris
asked
Zoje Stage:
Thank you, Zoje, for your artistry! "Mothered" was one of the best books I've read all year, and "Baby Teeth" was entirely deserving of all its acclaim. You wrote you initially pursued a career as a filmmaker, and since Baby Teeth was optioned, I'm curious whether you're involved in the adaptation of the book into a screenplay? Do you have any desire to write a screenplay, rather than a novel, at some point? Thanks
Paula K.
asked
Zoje Stage:
Having lived with IBD for well over a decade, & experiencing exactly what you wrote about- strictures, scar tissue, fistulas, biologics, etc- eventually winding up with a perm ileo- I found your description of ileostomies pretty offensive. Truthfully It's a lot nicer living with one than with a diseased colon. I'm not sure if your own personal fears colored your writing? Everything else re. IBD was spot on, but jeez..
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