Teeth are referenced throughout the book, what do they symbolize?

References to teeth throughout the novel symbolize identity. As a child at the start of the genocide, Clemantine understands her teeth as a source of protection. Because she is so young and vulnerable, still identifies as a child, she sees her teeth as her main source of defense if and when she must fight for her life. Later, when traveling between African countries, Clemantine mourns the loss of her baby teeth, which coincides with other changes in her body. Suddenly she no longer looks like a child, and must reorder her behavior accordingly. Teeth are also referenced repeatedly in the context of the girl who smiled teeth. In the fable, the magical girl has beads for teeth, which create trails behind her whenever she travels the land. Clemantine later realizes that she has identified as the girl in the tale.