- Paperback: 310 pages
- Publisher: Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers (9 Feb 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385736827
- ISBN-13: 978-0385736824
- Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.9 x 20.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,059,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Forest Of Hands And Teeth
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Product Description
Review
"Mary is a poweful, sympathetic heroine with plenty of depth and complexity, which will draw readers into her struggle for freedom." (Damian Kelleher WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY )
"The narrative sets a cheerless scene and the careful and often compassionate crafting of the horrors of the living dead add to the horror of the situation which Mary finds herself in. However, one of the great strengths of the book is its ability to make clear the resilience and determination of the human spirit, not only to survive but to search for those dreams which make existence whole. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is an assured debut." (BOOKS FOR KEEPS )
"Compelling enough to suggest that zombies may be the new vampires." (Lisa Tuttle THE TIMES )
"What makes this captivating, apart from the beauty of the prose, its wonderfully measured pace and neat plot twists, is the tension between Mary's dreams and the ever-present knowledge of the evil surrounding the village. For once, the hype surrounding a novel is not exaggerated. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is unputdownable." (Eric Brown THE GUARDIAN )
"Ryan writes with an infectious style that draws the reader in, buoying them with momentum at the right moments before delivering sequences of tense action. It's a very effective style and one that will surely resonate with fans of similar novels. A worthy and highly recommended read." (SCI-FI NOW )
"The Forest of Hands and Teeth truly is so much better than Twilight on numerous levels. Ryan has taken a familiar horror theme - the apocalyptic zombie tale - and refreshed it by setting Mary's story several generations beyond the fall of civilisation, with an intriguing and exciting plot that never quite takes the expected path. The book is well written, the language concise and easy to read. The characters are as realistically flawed as any teen you may meet, and never fall to stereotyping." (HORROSCOPE )
"Every once in a while, I come across a book that completely sucks me in from the very first page. 'The Forest of Hands and Teeth' is an astonishing debut, skillfully written by Carrie Ryan, poignantly narrated by Mary, powerfully unforgettable, and better than advertised. The Forest of Hands and Teeth' is one of the best debuts of the year." (FANTASY BOOK CRITIC )
"The Forest of Hands and Teeth is diverting, its mixing of romance and zom-conventions oddly engaging. Expect sequels." (Guy Haley DEATHRAY )
"The Forest of Hands and Teeth is original, gripping and rich in metaphor. In the cluttered zombie fiction market, it stands out like a living creature among reanimated corpses." (James Lovegrove THE FINANCIAL TIMES )
"I was terrified in parts, but I could not put it down." (TEEN TITLES Holly Kesterton, Gracemount High )
"Readers who have enjoyed the 'Twilight' series will love this novel, with its strong characterisation, intense atmosphere and supernatural motif." (Sandra Bennett THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"The narrative sets a cheerless scene and the careful and often compassionate crafting of the horrors of the living dead add to the horror of the situation which Mary finds herself in. However, one of the great strengths of the book is its ability to make clear the resilience and determination of the human spirit, not only to survive but to search for those dreams which make existence whole. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is an assured debut." (BOOKS FOR KEEPS )
"Compelling enough to suggest that zombies may be the new vampires." (Lisa Tuttle THE TIMES )
"What makes this captivating, apart from the beauty of the prose, its wonderfully measured pace and neat plot twists, is the tension between Mary's dreams and the ever-present knowledge of the evil surrounding the village. For once, the hype surrounding a novel is not exaggerated. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is unputdownable." (Eric Brown THE GUARDIAN )
"Ryan writes with an infectious style that draws the reader in, buoying them with momentum at the right moments before delivering sequences of tense action. It's a very effective style and one that will surely resonate with fans of similar novels. A worthy and highly recommended read." (SCI-FI NOW )
"The Forest of Hands and Teeth truly is so much better than Twilight on numerous levels. Ryan has taken a familiar horror theme - the apocalyptic zombie tale - and refreshed it by setting Mary's story several generations beyond the fall of civilisation, with an intriguing and exciting plot that never quite takes the expected path. The book is well written, the language concise and easy to read. The characters are as realistically flawed as any teen you may meet, and never fall to stereotyping." (HORROSCOPE )
"Every once in a while, I come across a book that completely sucks me in from the very first page. 'The Forest of Hands and Teeth' is an astonishing debut, skillfully written by Carrie Ryan, poignantly narrated by Mary, powerfully unforgettable, and better than advertised. The Forest of Hands and Teeth' is one of the best debuts of the year." (FANTASY BOOK CRITIC )
"The Forest of Hands and Teeth is diverting, its mixing of romance and zom-conventions oddly engaging. Expect sequels." (Guy Haley DEATHRAY )
"The Forest of Hands and Teeth is original, gripping and rich in metaphor. In the cluttered zombie fiction market, it stands out like a living creature among reanimated corpses." (James Lovegrove THE FINANCIAL TIMES )
"I was terrified in parts, but I could not put it down." (TEEN TITLES Holly Kesterton, Gracemount High )
"Readers who have enjoyed the 'Twilight' series will love this novel, with its strong characterisation, intense atmosphere and supernatural motif." (Sandra Bennett THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Surrounded by death one girl must learn what it is to live. The debut of 2009, moving, scary, stunning, comes into paperback.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Mary lives in a village surrounded by the Unconsecrated (essentially zombies) who claw at the fence keeping them out. Her options are stark - she can wait for a boy to claim her for his bride or she can join the Sisterhood (a quasi-religious organisation who give the village its morals and control its history). Mary hopes that Travis will claim her but is instead claimed by his brother, Henry. When her mother is involved in a tragic accident, Mary is taken in by the Sisterhood, where she becomes embroiled within their secrets, including the discovery of a mysterious girl called Gabrielle, who Mary is sure is from outside the village. As Mary tries to discover the truth about the world outside, the Unconsecrated break through the village's defences and Mary is sent on a terrifying quest for survival.
There is much to admire in this debut novel. Ryan's village is a complex and highly structured world and there's a strong mystery surrounding the Sisterhood, personified through Sister Tabitha a zealot who will do anything and sacrifice anyone to keep the village safe. The constant moans of the Unconsecrated is a chilling reminder of the dangers surrounding Mary and her friends.
The set piece scenes are excellent - notably a heartbreaking moment involving Mary and her mother and a key scene where Mary and her friends are trapped on a platform being consumed by fire while the Unconsecrated wait below. Mary's an interesting character, driven by an irresistible curiosity to see the ocean that her mother has told about and troubled by her religious doubts. It's refreshing to read a YA novel with a love triangle where the female's wants are put above those of the male characters.
Although Mary's narrative voice is strong, Travis, Henry, Cass and Jed are painted with broader brushstrokes and Mary tells us of her relationship with them rather than showing it. Also frustrating is the fact that the Sisterhood's secrets are never fully uncovered with the book becoming a bleak struggle for survival as Mary and her friends search for the world she believes is outside while being harried by the Unconsecrated.
Ryan's unsentimental about her characters and many do not survive to the final page. This may put some readers off, but the story ends on a note of hope and I eagerly await the sequel to see what will happen to Mary next.
There is much to admire in this debut novel. Ryan's village is a complex and highly structured world and there's a strong mystery surrounding the Sisterhood, personified through Sister Tabitha a zealot who will do anything and sacrifice anyone to keep the village safe. The constant moans of the Unconsecrated is a chilling reminder of the dangers surrounding Mary and her friends.
The set piece scenes are excellent - notably a heartbreaking moment involving Mary and her mother and a key scene where Mary and her friends are trapped on a platform being consumed by fire while the Unconsecrated wait below. Mary's an interesting character, driven by an irresistible curiosity to see the ocean that her mother has told about and troubled by her religious doubts. It's refreshing to read a YA novel with a love triangle where the female's wants are put above those of the male characters.
Although Mary's narrative voice is strong, Travis, Henry, Cass and Jed are painted with broader brushstrokes and Mary tells us of her relationship with them rather than showing it. Also frustrating is the fact that the Sisterhood's secrets are never fully uncovered with the book becoming a bleak struggle for survival as Mary and her friends search for the world she believes is outside while being harried by the Unconsecrated.
Ryan's unsentimental about her characters and many do not survive to the final page. This may put some readers off, but the story ends on a note of hope and I eagerly await the sequel to see what will happen to Mary next.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I wasn't expecting too much from "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" after reading a few reviews from disappointed readers and after reading 50 or so pages I was beginning to think I should have listened to them and avoided this one. BUT THEN, it suddenly improved and I couldn't put it down! So with that said, it's fair to say that this book is a bit a chewy to begin with, but persevere because it's so worth it, and here's why:
The world of "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" is unlike our own. Surrounded by fences like caged animals the villagers of Mary's, our main protagonist, town are trapped. Or are they? The Sisterhood holds many secrets except one - if that fence is breached there will death. Because outside of the fence lies the forest, and inside the forest are the Unconsecrated. The unconsecrated are infected humans; zombies desperate to infect the living. The Sisterhood, those controlling the villagers, promise that the village is safe. The fences are patrolled by the guardians. They cannot get in. That is, until the fence is breached, the alarms bare and Mary must make a decision. Fight or run.
I liked Mary. Sometimes. I liked her because she had ideas, she believed that there was more than just her village left - they couldn't possibly be the only living people left to preserve humanity. She's extremely inquisitive, which is great because we readers want to find out as much as we can about the secrets the Sisterhood are keeping. But sometimes I really wanted her to shut up. She's a very restless character, never content with things even when they're working out for her, and this can be frustrating because the story sort of flat-lines whilst she rants on about the ocean (Growing up Mary's mother told her stories of the ocean and Mary wants to believe that the ocean is real and it does exist).
Carrie Ryan's done a great job in my opinion of creating a believable zombie apocalypse. BUT, I wish she'd have explained how the infection was started, why one of the zombies is much faster than the others and how the village was initially formed but I suppose these things may be better explained in the following books. It was great to have a quick extract from the next of her books in the series "The Dead-Tossed Waves" and by the looks of things it's set quite a while after Mary's story - this is such a good idea! It's not often that series are set much later in the characters' futures; most of the time they pick up almost straight after where the last one finished so I think the series has promise.
Overall, a good read if a little chewy to begin with. I recommend this, I'd even read it again! Hope this helps.
The world of "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" is unlike our own. Surrounded by fences like caged animals the villagers of Mary's, our main protagonist, town are trapped. Or are they? The Sisterhood holds many secrets except one - if that fence is breached there will death. Because outside of the fence lies the forest, and inside the forest are the Unconsecrated. The unconsecrated are infected humans; zombies desperate to infect the living. The Sisterhood, those controlling the villagers, promise that the village is safe. The fences are patrolled by the guardians. They cannot get in. That is, until the fence is breached, the alarms bare and Mary must make a decision. Fight or run.
I liked Mary. Sometimes. I liked her because she had ideas, she believed that there was more than just her village left - they couldn't possibly be the only living people left to preserve humanity. She's extremely inquisitive, which is great because we readers want to find out as much as we can about the secrets the Sisterhood are keeping. But sometimes I really wanted her to shut up. She's a very restless character, never content with things even when they're working out for her, and this can be frustrating because the story sort of flat-lines whilst she rants on about the ocean (Growing up Mary's mother told her stories of the ocean and Mary wants to believe that the ocean is real and it does exist).
Carrie Ryan's done a great job in my opinion of creating a believable zombie apocalypse. BUT, I wish she'd have explained how the infection was started, why one of the zombies is much faster than the others and how the village was initially formed but I suppose these things may be better explained in the following books. It was great to have a quick extract from the next of her books in the series "The Dead-Tossed Waves" and by the looks of things it's set quite a while after Mary's story - this is such a good idea! It's not often that series are set much later in the characters' futures; most of the time they pick up almost straight after where the last one finished so I think the series has promise.
Overall, a good read if a little chewy to begin with. I recommend this, I'd even read it again! Hope this helps.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved that this was a story about zombies where the focus was on the living. Mary lives in a simple time where the focus is on surviving. The Unconsecrated (zombies) are not a recent development but something everyone has lived with all of their lives. Living in a village surrounded by fences Mary's daily life is simple and full of chores, but if the warning bell rings there has been a breach and everyone must get to elevated platforms built into trees to stay away from the dead. To ensure survival the sisterhood demand that everyone marries as soon as they are ready. Mary has the weary task of marrying someone who loves her even if she loves someone else. Soon Mary starts asking questions such as who gave the Sisterhood their power, what are they hiding and what are behind the gates in the village?
From very early on in this novel I felt there were similar tones to the M. Night Shyamalan film "The Village". You have that feeling of being isolated and only knowing the village but suspecting that there must be something else outside through the Forest of Hands and Feet. The writing in this book made me fell that I was full immersed in the life (even if I was lying on a sun lounger beside a pool!!) and was feeling all of the doubts along with Mary.
I loved the characters in this book, well I didn't LOVE them all, I thought there were some nasty characters, but I thought they were all well written. The story does not rush along either. I read this book in a day, but I felt like I had been reading it much longer as the story took it's time to unfold and develop. There were certain parts to the story, where she would find something which we would be familiar with but was completely foreign to Mary, which made me want to shout at the book. I thought it was a really interesting concept that whatever education they had was focused on the present and how to survive, and never looking at the past.
I can't wait to pick up the sequels to this book and see what is to become of the world we live in.
From very early on in this novel I felt there were similar tones to the M. Night Shyamalan film "The Village". You have that feeling of being isolated and only knowing the village but suspecting that there must be something else outside through the Forest of Hands and Feet. The writing in this book made me fell that I was full immersed in the life (even if I was lying on a sun lounger beside a pool!!) and was feeling all of the doubts along with Mary.
I loved the characters in this book, well I didn't LOVE them all, I thought there were some nasty characters, but I thought they were all well written. The story does not rush along either. I read this book in a day, but I felt like I had been reading it much longer as the story took it's time to unfold and develop. There were certain parts to the story, where she would find something which we would be familiar with but was completely foreign to Mary, which made me want to shout at the book. I thought it was a really interesting concept that whatever education they had was focused on the present and how to survive, and never looking at the past.
I can't wait to pick up the sequels to this book and see what is to become of the world we live in.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One for young adults
I bought this while I was just browsing around, I wasn't sure what sort of age group it fell into (I'm 25 and reading around the horror/zombie genre atm)but since I had it I read... Read more
Published 2 months ago by RL
Hands and Teeth and Teenage Angst
Do you know the mark of a good book?
It is one you are loath to put down. It is one where you hold your breath as you see the story unfold in front of you, one where you... Read more
It is one you are loath to put down. It is one where you hold your breath as you see the story unfold in front of you, one where you... Read more
Published 6 months ago by AReaderWrites
One of my top ten books.
I read this book about a year ago, it is one of my all time favourite books. The story has stayed with me - which is the sign of a great book. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J Juckes
There is more emotional depth in the zombies, than there is in any of...
Garbage. Ah, is that too mean? I just really, really hated this book.
I had such high expectations. Read more
I had such high expectations. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Britishwotsit
The Beginning ......
In Mary's world , things are simple, the sister's know best and the guardians will serve and protect. The Unconsecrated will never relent. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sanz
the forest of hands and teeth
Ever seen the film The Village? This book reminds me of that film. But it's so much better. The world building, the intrigue, the questions - how did the Unconsecrated become... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ali
chillingly realistic YA-approved
I've rarely come across a novel whose concept and scope is so powerful. I bought this for my teen daughter, but read it first myself. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Steffie Caddick
Good story, bad ending
If you like books with some mild terror, then you should try this one.
Though sometimes a little repetitive, I enjoyed on this book, as I battled with Mary against the... Read more
Though sometimes a little repetitive, I enjoyed on this book, as I battled with Mary against the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by ACTheNerd
A refreshing change from Vampire Novels!
This was such a refreshing change from all of the Vampire dark fantasy out there. Zombie apocalypse (love it!) meets YA fantasy. I'd recommend the whole series. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Glynn James
BelleBooks
I started this book not really knowing much about it except it was a YA dystopian novel. Of course with my current love affair with dystopian novels I had to read it! Read more
Published 12 months ago by littlepinkstars44
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