Summary
In the future, when the world’s population becomes a mindless horde of zombies, Mary survives in a small holdout with other survivors in the middle of a forest. A huge fence encloses the holdout, protecting the small population from the zombies who inhabit the forest. There are a few gates, which open to paths that are also enclosed by fences.
Mary keeps hope alive within herself by remembering the times before zombies, passed down to her by her great-great-great-grandmother. She clings to the idea of the ocean, a sight she’s never seen and longs to see one day. She believes that if she could get to the ocean, she could be free. When the zombies break through the fence that surrounds the village, Mary must escape, and go on to discover the truth behind the other gates and fences leading away from the village.
Review
If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, yes, I would definitely recommend this book!
This is definitely geared toward Young Adult readers, but I think adults can also enjoy it. It’s a great dystopian novel, much like The Hunger Games or Divergent. What initially drew me in was the title. It’s easy to picture a vast forest, completely run over by hordes of zombies, their hands, and teeth being the most dangerous parts of the entire area.
This was especially terrifying when Mary explores the paths leading away from the village. The paths are completely enclosed by fences, but as she passes through, she draws nearby zombies. The creatures press against the fences, and they try to reach her. Mary later discovers other villages connected to hers by the paths and meets other survivors much like herself. And yes, she does eventually reach the ocean. Which is the opening for the sequel, The Dead-Tossed Waves.
I know this book isn’t for everyone. I’m not usually one for zombie books, and I can’t stomach many Young Adult novels anymore, but if you enjoy either of these genres, I say go for it! Young Adult novels are always quick and easy reads. And this one is sure to keep you turning the pages because it’s fast-paced. There are so many scenes that I must admit, I skimmed because I needed to know what happened next. I didn’t want to read every word in agony, not sure if Mary made it out alive or not. And I know if I’m starting to skim, then it must be a good action scene.
The only problem I had with this book was that the descriptions were sometimes confusing. I often had the same problem with The Hunger Games series. So it was sometimes hard to picture different places or objects. Of course, it was also a little angsty, as is almost every Young Adult novel. But I liked the story so much that it didn’t matter as much.
Overall, I would recommend this to a busy mom. Especially if you enjoy Young Adult novels or books about zombies, this is a great read! It might also be a great book to give to or even read with, a teenage daughter.
Rating
Four out of five stars
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If you enjoyed my review of The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, you might also like The Last One by Alexandra Oliva. Check out my review!
If you’re interested in purchasing The Forest of Hands and Teeth, here are some quick links to buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And, if you’re interested to see what others think, here’s the link to the book on Goodreads.
