This was one of the best book I have read. I was hooked from page one. It is an intense and somber read from 1st person perspective. I really feel a connection to the characters, especially Mary. This is one of the most vivid and heart renching stories I have read in a while. The images that Carrie ryan described leap to animation in my mind like a movie. These images are grotesque and horrifying in some instances but at the same time the emotions associated with each moment are in some cases warm and loving. It is amazing to me how the author attained such an amzing blend of horror and love and warmth and cold. Somehow she managed to tell the story in a way that makes me believe that it is the way things are or rather could be and that all the elements to her story belong in exactly the space where she places them. It all seems to belong together, death and love, love and hate, simplicity and complexity. It is a gripping story. At one point I began to be annoyed with Mary. I had in my mind an idea of how I wanted the story to go and it did not follow that path. I think that it may have been intentional for the reader to go through all emotions towards mary. At one point I cried and at other points I would smile. I was disappointed with the way it ended, very abruptly. I had a lot of questions about things that were left open. I immediately went to the website to see if there would be a sequel but it is only a companion book coming out in march 2010. I wonder if my questions will be answered. I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves to feel connected to the characters, loves to gobble up a story in one to two sittings, and loves suspense. ( )

When I'm at the highest point in our village I look out at the Forest. I strain to see if I can find the edge of it, find where the rest of the world begins. But all I can see is darkness. My entire life has been about the world outside the fence line, has been about the Forest.

- Mary

Summary

Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

My Opinion

Characters. I have read a few reviews saying that the characters in this book were undeveloped and didn’t feel “important”. While i read books, i mostly picture what I'm reading from what I’m given from the author. I’m happy to say that i had no problem visualizing any part of this book. The characters all had a certain personality and was easy for me to like. I think the character development is very good without be too much. In some books, you just get way too much stuff. This book seems level and even.

Theme. The theme of this book is centered around free will. Mary’s village is controlled by the “Sisterhood.” Mary doesn’t want to be forced to conform. It’s not that she wants to go crazy and do illegal or immoral things, she just wants to be able to choose her own path. Instead, the sisterhood determines what is best, then everyone does what they want to achieve that.

Plot. This story has various elements of suspense. There were times where I couldn’t stop reading because i needed to know what was going to happen! There is a huge journey throughout the book; not just literally but emotionally as well. There is also some mystery because there is a speculation that the sisterhood may know more then they let on too.

Style. This story evoked many emotions from me including fear, sadness and brief happiness (very, very brief). It was simple to read and understand. Some simile/comparisons but not too much to cause it to be too confusing. The dialog was somewhat brief but i found it effective.

Setting. The setting of this book occurs in an isolated village. This village is surrounded on all sides by a fences and a forest beyond the fence. The unconsecrated zombies are in the forest preventing escape. There are also abandoned trails lead away from the village, but the villagers are prohibited from exploring these trails. The trails seem to be a huge maze! The atmosphere is developed great.

Comparison. Similar to Resident Evil & The Village [that movie] but written for a younger audience.

Overall. Defiantly 5 stars because it was written well, had great characters and cover a topic i have seen much in young adult books. I really really enjoyed this book. I may even go out on a limb and say it was the best one i have read in a while. This reason for this i think is because it really made me think. It some YA books, there is a girl and a boy and the whole story is about there love or relationship. While that kinds of book are good, i think i really like this too. In this book, the whole villages’ wellbeing was considered. There was more issues then just that “mysterious new guy at school” one that so often comes up. Family, friendship, duty, and lose are all covered in this book. And I'm not ashamed to admitted that i almost cried (ok, maybe more then almost.)

The Bottom-Line

Mary lives in a secluded village surrounded my people eating zombies, protected only by a fence. She wants to find a way out of the village..out of that life.

http://margaretsbookstbr.blogspot.com...

A book about zombies...refreshing! I may need to switch up my genres. Between fairies, vampires, zombies and werewolves, I'm starting to get freaked out at night!

This story was set in a post-apocalyptic world where most people have turned into flesh-eating zombies. The main character, Mary, lives in an isolated village. Sadly, they've been there so long, no one remembers how they got there. What's even worse is no one cares. The villagers are content to get married, have babies and continue living in this isolated village surrounded by protective fences keeping the zombies out. Everyone once in awhile, someone gets chomped and they have to kick them out. That's about the only excitement in the village.

I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. I wasn't in love with the ending. It felt unfinished to me. There's going to be a sequel, but it sounds like more of a prequel, so I'm not sure if it will resolve anything. I alternated between rooting for Mary's spunk and wanting to throttle her for being so whiny and self-destructive. ( )

In “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” Mary lives in an isolated village protected by a wall from the forest which is filled with zombies. The village is protected by the Guardians and governed by the Sisterhood. This is all that Mary knows and she longs to see the ocean (a story her mother told her all her life). When the village is overrun by the zombies, Mary, her brother and others take off to try and find a new life for themselves. Carrie Ryan had written an intense story of teenage angst in this world of post-apocalyptic zombies. It was an uncomplicated read and the story was compelling. ( )

Could not finish. All I have to say is: Mary, shut up about Travis, you whining idiot.

It had great potential..but main character just couldn't grab me into the story.