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The Forest of Hands and Teeth (by Carrie Ryan)

common sense media says

Cool heroine makes this for more than zombie horror fans.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a great read for teens who love horror. Expect the gruesome deaths that come with any zombie story -- it's kill or be killed, and kids are taught at young ages to use weapons and show no pity for the undead. But even teens that don't usually read horror will find this dystopian romance compelling.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: This book imparts messages about keeping hope alive, and fighting for a better world -- even if it means chopping off some zombie heads.
Positive role models: Mary is a positive role model who never gives up. She is tough, strong, curious, adventurous, and brave. Her brother and friends are also loyal and compassionate people who try to do the right thing as they can see it.
Violence: Life in a primitive village surrounded by wire fencing is pretty violent for those inside trying to stay out of reach of the zombies living outside it. Gruesome deaths of both zombies and the villagers are everyday occurrences; parents are left to die, children are infected and become zombies if they're not killed first.
Sex: Some kissing.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Forest of Hands and Teeth

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the religion that governs life in Mary's village. How does the Sisterhood enforce its rules? Through love or fear?
  • Are the marriages arranged by the Sisterhood? Or do the young people truly have the freedom to choose their spouse?
  • When Mary finds herself inside the Sisterhood, secrets begin to reveal themselves. Is it easier to keep secrets in a small village, or a large country?
  • What drives Mary to pursue the truth? Her mother's stories? Or her belief in true love?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Teenaged Mary has lost both parents to the Unconsecrated zombies that live outside her village. The boy she loves is courting someone else. Her brother wants her to join the Sisterhood and puts her in the convent. The Sisters are zealots that rule through fear and control with ritual weddings while the male Guardians keep everyone safe -- or at least alive. But then the Unconsecrated break down the fence and it's anarchy. What's a girl to do? Mary leads her brother, her betrothed, and her true love through the zombie-filled forest of hands and teeth, severing heads as she goes, and finding more secrets as she gets closer and closer to the truth.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Very well crafted with compelling narratives, this is a complex novel that reveals its secrets slowly. The post-apocalyptic setting among the undead will resonate with teens who find escape in dystopic tales. Mary is a teen surrounded by despair who never gives up hope, and dreams of a better world even when everyone around her gives up. Readers who don't mind some gore will find it hard to put down. Even the romance has twists and turns without easy answers. Ryan creates some unforgettable characters and world-blending here.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: March 10, 2009
Number of pages: 310
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 12
Read Alone: 13

This review was written by Debra Bogart
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

thekatfew
teen, 15 years old
 
loved it
omg so good loved it omg u haft to read it so good god is talkt about thru out the book so thats y i give itpoitiv messag

hockeyman47
teen, 13 years old
 
This is a very good book but violent. The violence is not very detailed but still gruesome. Some talk about bones sticking out and axes slicing people. There is one scene with two people in bed but not doing anything sexual. Good, exciting book to read, But you should watch out. The unconsecrated might get you.

Grace1111
teen, 16 years old
 
I thought this was an interesting book, but I really dislike it when books deliberatey leave out things becuase they want youn to read the other books in the series. In this sense it was very disappointing because I enjoy series, but I like each book to good on it's own as well. I felt like I was being prodded into reading the next book, just because I didn't understand everything in the first book. However, I did think this was an interesting twist on zombie apocalypses. It wasn't too science fiction-y, and I expected it to be just like every other zombie apocalypes book, movie, or tv show ever made, but it wasn't, and I really enjoyed and appreciated that.

annafan
teen, 13 years old
 
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
It was an amazing book. I read it a few times, own it and the entire trilogy and it is my favorite of all books i've read. It is slightly violent because it is in a zombie apocalypse so you have the deaths, but nothing extreme. There is no language, and nothing extremely sexual, just some kissing. Children younger, at youngest 11 could read this too, because it really isn't that extreme in it's content, but it might be scary for littler children, thinking that one day we might actually become zombies, and give them nightmares, so know your self or your child. But above all, I highly recommend this book. Adults will also like it, because I recommended it to my aunt, and she loved it.

ruthannbh
teen, 17 years old
 
GREAT book
Okay...so I'm a zombie buff, I'm not gonna lie. The book captivates me! Carrie Ryan is a very in-depth and passionate writer. I have read all three of her books and it's so addicting! This is a teen romance. There isn't sex in the book, but a good deal of kissing and "I love him soooo much" and bla bla bla. The message of hope in a world without any, and surviving when the odds are against you is A+. Good for teens at least 15, maybe 13 or 14 depending on maturity levels!

one_day15
teen, 16 years old
 

threelilac
teen, 16 years old
 
good book
very violent, but an over all good read. suspenseful until the very end!

movies4
teen, 14 years old
 
Beautiful, if you can call a Zombie thriller that.
Beautiful, if you can call a Zombie thriller that. When I finished reading this, I was amazed to find out that Carrie Ryan has never ever written before. I love to read, and really only give books 5 stars if there amazing (like maybe To Kill a Mockingbird.) The Forest of Hands and Teeth would get a 5 star if it was a Zombie related book (at lest their not Vampires) If you're a mom of a 13 year old daughter, who does not want her daughter to read about Edward, well here you go. A zomped up romance that won't be so obsessive. Violence is a lot stronger than the Twilight Saga.

caraiggy
teen, 15 years old
 
Nice
*The violence is not described in detail *Bland writing *Good plot meh. . .

sweettee11
teen, 14 years old
 
Amazingz!
Oooh! I loved it! The thought of being the only city left, is capturing. The book is chilling, but also inticing. I loved it.

readresponsibly
parent of 3 and 4 year old
 
violence, not a protagonist to admire, but entertaining
There is violence, esp as involves the killing of the zombies (dubbed the Unconsecrated). These are zombies that infect, however. They don't eat flesh. Which I think makes them more tasteful to read. I wouldn't go so far as to say Mary is a bad role model, but I definitely didn't think she was a positive one, either. She is more obsessed with her life-long dream of "finding the ocean" and doesn't seem to really care about her friends. It's a fun, interesting read, however. (Somewhat of a cliff-hanger at the end which is not resolved in its companion novel.)

Skylyn
teen, 14 years old
 
Great book
I love video games as much as books ( mostly zombie games) so wen I saw this i knew i had to read it my mom loves these kinds of books i read this last year when i was 13 and i just love the whole idea on how life would be if something this life-changing happened to society and what would really happen and this book really gives it a perspective on how it might be -- anyways i just really liked the book !!

XXXALLY1XXX
teen, 15 years old
 
THE BEST BOOK ALIVE!!!
I love this book. I have trouble reading alot of books but this book is an amazing book! i love it so much. I would really perfer you to read this book!

sammy4488
teen, 13 years old
 
nothing wrong with this one
I really liked it! It was really interesting to read about what our world now looks to Mary. There is some violence in it though so if you don't like horror don't read it. I think it would be ok for an 11 year old but much younger would maybe take it too literally and nightmares who start to come into play. Mary is a positive role model because she never gives up and she is strong, just like any girl would like to think of females. I couldn't put down! It kind of freaked me out in a way to think about having to live in a world like that, I don't think I could have kept going like Mary. And of course a little romance is thrown in among the zombies. It ends so that you have to read the next one. Loved it!

Bunny Hugger
kid, 11 years old
 
EXCELLENT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!
Very good book. 12 and up depending on mautrity levels. Very intertianing however lots of killing and charicters turning into zombies.

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