India Rel-McNeese 2025

Abstract

Baby Teeth is a Midwestern Gothic fairytale taking the form of a 64-page picture book dummy with graphic novel elements. It follows twelve-year-old Luisa, who has grown unhappy with the many changes in her life. Leaving her old home behind, Luisa and her mother start anew in an isolated rural town. Strange teeth and a mysterious creature begin to appear as she grapples with her fears of growing up. Although Baby Teeth is not autobiographical, it is intrinsically connected to my experiences in Nebraska, my family's history, and my childhood. Like a scrapbook, all of these little pieces of myself have been taped together into a single narrative. This project has become more than just a story, but rather a therapeutic exploration of fear, grief, and the many experiences that have shaped me.