The Unconsecrated aka Zombies

In Mary's world, a time set in the future, there are zombie like creatures known as the "unconsecrated" that constantly hunger for humans just outside the fence of her village.  Mary has been taught to believe that after the "Return," a time when the Unconsecrated began infecting the world, her village was the only one left.  Mary was also taught that the church, aka the Sisterhood, knew what was best for everyone in the village.  However, Mary was told stories from her mother about a time when buildings were larger than trees and an ocean with water as far as the eye can see.  Mary, struggled to believe what she was taught from the Sisterhood and the stories her mother taught her.  Carrie Ryan's book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, is a story full of action and emotion.  The writing is well done, and the story seemed quite unique.  The Forest of Hands and Teeth is the first in a great YA series.  Mary develops and grows and struggles with similar things the YA's do today.  There are currently 3 books in the series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, and The Dark and Hollow Places.

While reading the first one in the series I found myself (several times) unsure if Mary was going to make it.  She had some close calls, and it didn't end the way I wanted or expected it to end.  I was actually impressed that I wasn't able to predict the storyline.  I did find myself losing hope for Mary, and that's exactly how she felt at times.  I was wondering where this story was going to go; I found myself seeing the story end in a dead end, like the many paths they took in the story.  However, while reading I knew this was the first in a series, so I figured Mary had to survive.  What I didn't know is that the 3 books in the series all have different characters in them.   They all deal with "after the Return," but the locations and the people in the stories vary.  I am now actually glad Ryan chose to write the series this way.  It makes me want to read the remaining books in the series to see how the locations and characters' experiences vary from Mary's in The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

If you are looking for a different story, then you should pick up Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised, just like I was.