Teeth

Gore Vidal calls Hugh Gallagher's Teeth the "dental masterpiece we've all been waiting for." The protagonist, Neil, is the sort of hip, jaded, MTV-pumped, post-postmodern, literary punk who will appeal to street-savvy teens across the globe, and he's probably the most dentally challenged guy readers will ever encounter. After a freak accident leaves his teeth in shards in his mouth, Neil skips his suburban town, leaves his boring parents in the dust, finds a hovel to call home, crashes classes at a renowned New York City college, and earns his 15 minutes of fame by penning postpunk literary manifestos for a reckless zine called (what else?) Dusted. The truth is this: All of this glory and excitement is just a mirage, a facade, a set of sparkling dentures in an otherwise rotted mouth. Neil is running away from something. But what? He crosses the globe, sells his soul, and abandons his calling all to discover that the key to lasting happiness may rest inside himself--maybe even in his own mouth. Teeth is a coming-of-age tale like no other. Younger teens may be mystified by it, but older teens will sink their ummmm ... teeth into it.