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Demon Dentist
464 pages
A delightfully wicked and slightly gross romp that turns a universal childhood fear into a hilarious, creepy-crawly adventure.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like a gleeful ride through a haunted funhouse, blending genuine creeps with laugh-out-loud absurdity. The narrative moves at a brisk, energetic clip, propelled by a cheeky narrator who loves to wink directly at the reader. It leans heavily into the Roald Dahl tradition of delightfully wicked adults and clever, underdog children, wrapping a surprisingly tender core—a boy caring for his ailing father—in layers of gross-out humor and exaggerated villainy. The atmosphere is delightfully sinister, filled with creepy-crawlies and the distinct, terrifying whine of a dentist's drill. It is the perfect read for kids who love their comedy laced with a little bit of dread, offering a safe, hilarious space to confront the universal terror of the dentist's chair.
- Mood
- creepy-crawly
- wacky
- slightly sinister
- energetic
- Tone
- cheeky
- irreverent
- darkly comedic
- exaggerated
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- facing childhood fears · absurdity of adults · caring for a sick parent · unlikely bravery
- The writing
- Bouncy and conversational, heavily peppered with exaggerated typography, made-up words, and direct winks to the reader.
- The arc
- Begins in a state of anxious dread and isolation, escalating into a chaotic, courageous battle against a terrifying foe.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who delight in gross-out humor, delightfully wicked villains, and underdog heroes.
Content notes
- dental trauma
- gross-out humor
- parental illness
- mild horror elements
About the book
This from David Walliams, the UK’s #1 bestselling children’s author and “the heir to Roald Dahl” (The Spectator), launched his books stateside in a big way!
Walliams makes going to the dentist a wacky adventure with his signature humor—this is one dentist appointment you don’t want to miss.
Something strange is happening in Alfie's town. Instead of shiny coins from the Tooth Fairy, kids are waking up to dead slugs, live spiders, and other dreadfully icky things under their pillows.
Who would do something so horrific? Alfie is sure that Miss Root, the creepy new dentist in town, is behind it all. There's nothing Alfie hates more than going to the dentist, but to solve this mystery, he may have to book a dreaded appointment....
Description from Open Library.
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