Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

As I was reading this, I kept thinking about how selfish Mary was.  I wanted her to grow and didn’t feel like she did.  The world Ms. Ryan has written is so fascinating that I had to finish even though I really didn’t like Mary.  Imagine living in a world where the dead didn’t stay dead unless they were killed twice.  Would you build a wall to protect you and everyone you love or would you leave to find some place safe?

Author site