Summary Of The Forest Of Hands And Teeth
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a novel written by Carrie Ryan. It is a post-apocalyptic zombie fiction novel that was published in 2009. The book tells the story of Mary, a teenage girl, who lives in a village surrounded by a fence that protects them from the Unconsecrated, which are zombies that roam the forest beyond the fence.
Plot
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where most of the human population has been wiped out by a virus that turns people into zombies. The few remaining human settlements are surrounded by fences to keep the zombies out.
Mary is a teenager who lives in one of these settlements, which is called the Village. She has always been curious about what lies beyond the fence, but her mother warns her that the outside world is dangerous and that the zombies will kill her if she leaves the Village.
Despite her mother's warnings, Mary cannot resist the temptation to explore the forest. She discovers a group of survivors who have managed to survive outside the fence by living on a ship that is moored in a nearby river.
Mary is fascinated by the group and their way of life, but she soon discovers that they are not as friendly as they seem. They have their own agenda, and they are willing to kill to get what they want.
Mary is torn between her loyalty to the Village and her attraction to the group. She must decide whether to stay in the safety of the Village or risk everything to join the group and explore the world beyond the fence.
Main Characters
Mary: The main character of the book. She is a teenage girl who lives in the Village.
Travis: Mary's love interest. He is a member of the Village Guard.
Cass: Mary's best friend. She is also in love with Travis.
Harry: The leader of the group of survivors that Mary discovers in the forest.
Jed: Harry's second-in-command. He is more aggressive than Harry and is willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
Themes
The Forest of Hands and Teeth explores themes such as love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Mary is torn between her love for Travis and her loyalty to the Village, and she must make a sacrifice to protect both.
The book also deals with the theme of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The characters must make tough decisions to ensure their survival, and they learn that sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones that need to be made.
Reception
The Forest of Hands and Teeth received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the book for its unique take on the zombie genre and its strong female protagonist, while others criticized it for being too derivative of other post-apocalyptic stories.
Despite the mixed reviews, the book has gained a cult following and has been adapted into a stage play and a graphic novel.
Conclusion
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a gripping post-apocalyptic zombie fiction novel that explores themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. It has gained a cult following and has been adapted into a stage play and a graphic novel.