The Forest Of Hands And Teeth Book Summary
Introduction
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a post-apocalyptic young adult novel written by Carrie Ryan. It was published in 2009 and is the first book in The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy. The story is set in a small village surrounded by a forest of zombies known as the Unconsecrated.
Plot Summary
The story follows the life of a girl named Mary, who lives in a small village called the Sisterhood. The village is surrounded by a fence that protects them from the Unconsecrated, who are zombies that roam the forest. Mary's mother was killed by the Unconsecrated, and her father is a Guardian who protects the village.
Mary is in love with a boy named Travis, but he is already engaged to her best friend, Cass. One day, a group of strangers arrives at the village, and they bring news of a place called the Ocean, where there are no zombies. Mary becomes obsessed with finding the Ocean and convinces Travis and a few others to leave the village with her.
The group faces many challenges on their journey, including being attacked by zombies and dealing with their own personal conflicts. They eventually find the Ocean, but it is not what they expected. Mary discovers that the strangers who came to the village were lying about the Ocean to lure people away and steal their supplies.
Themes
The Forest of Hands and Teeth explores themes such as love, loss, survival, and the human condition. The story shows how people can come together in times of crisis and how they can also turn on each other when resources are scarce. It also highlights the importance of hope and how it can keep people going even in the darkest of times.
Characters
The Forest of Hands and Teeth has a variety of interesting characters, each with their own unique personalities and motivations. Mary is the main character, and she is strong-willed and determined to find a better life for herself and her friends. Travis is kind and loyal, and he is torn between his love for Mary and his commitment to Cass. Cass is selfish and jealous, and she resents Mary for trying to take Travis away from her.
There are also several minor characters who play important roles in the story, such as Mary's brother Jed, who is a rebel and wants to leave the village, and the mysterious Sister Tabitha, who knows more about the Unconsecrated than she lets on.
Conclusion
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a thrilling and emotional story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is a unique take on the zombie genre and explores themes that are relevant to our society today. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is full of surprises and twists. Overall, The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a must-read for anyone who loves young adult fiction and post-apocalyptic stories.
