The Forest of Hands and Teeth: A Review

I'd never have believed that I'd love a dystopian action/adventure/love story with zombies, but I did! The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (Delacorte, 2009) is set in a future world where things have gone terribly wrong. Mary lives in a small village surround by the Forest of Hands and Teeth. The forest is populated by thee Unconsecrated whose constant hunger for human flesh leaves them futilely shaking the fences around the village and moaning. The Unconsecrated are a constant threat. If one of them bites you, infection will course through your body causing illness, death, and return as one of them. Society survives in this village because of the Sisterhood, who makes all rules, and the Guardians, who patrol the fence line and ensure that the boundary is maintained.


Mary has reached the marrying age and is hoping that Travis will ask for her, but marriage in her village is about civic responsibility, not love. Instead of Travis, it is his brother Harry who asks for Mary. She never has a chance to tell him whether she will accept since her mother becomes infected by the Unconsecrated. Mary believes her mother has intentionally allowed this to happen so that she can join her husband who was lost to the forest some time ago. Mary finds herself alone when her mother becomes Unconsecrated and her brother refuses to take her in. She is forced to go to live with the Sisterhood.

Mary’s independent spirit and her faith that there is still a world outside the village lead her into a number of difficult situations. Will she be able to survive? Will she be able to be with Travis? Will the Unconsecrated once and for all eliminate civilization? The Forest of Hands and Teeth keeps you turning the pages to find out.