The Forest of Hands and Teeth (chapters 1-4)

If you went to the Carrie Ryan talk then you already know that this book is about what happens after the zombie Apocalypse. I decided to read her book because I thought it sounded interesting and she made it sound like an exciting book to read. I never thought I was going to think zombies were interesting, but I decided to give it a try because she made them sound pretty cool.

In chapter one it starts off with a girl named Mary and how her mother used to talk about the ocean. That there was "nothing but water as far as you can see and that is was always moving, rushing toward you and then away (C)" (1). But she stopped believing in the ocean because how could there be such a thing if there were droughts? Mary has never seen the ocean because her whole town is fenced in for the Unconsecrated. They cannot get through fences so they are safe, until they break through. Her mom stands at the fence looking out, looking for her lost husband, believing that he is not one of them. At least she has something to believe in. No one in that town really believes anymore, they just go through the motions.

Mary is at the stream when a boy named Harold comes up and asks if she would go with him to the Harvest Celebration. The Harvest Celebration is for those who are old enough to get married, declare themselves to one another. Mary says,"Marriage in our village is not about love-it is about commitment (S)" (4). It reminds me of an arranged marriage. I would not like that. I would want to find love, not just someone who asked me for commitment and to keep the population up. That's when the sirens go off. That means they have to get to the towers and bring the ladders up so the Unconsecrated cannot get them. But it turns out that someone got bitten, unfortunately it was her mother.

Her mother saw her husband and was reaching out when she got bitten. Now she had a choice. Die now, or join them. She decided to join them to be with her husband. That is sad. I think I would want to die. Mary waits it out with her mother until she turns. When she does turn and is sent into the woods her brother Jed returns and yells at her for not killing her. Because not he has too. I feel bad for him. He has to kill both his parents now. Jed however shuns Mary and makes her join the Sisterhood where she will not get married and help those who are hurt and be one with God. It is not her first choice but she has no other choice. After she has read the scripture five times she can start to earn her privileges.

I feel bad for Mary. No one has accepted her and now she has to join the Sisterhood when she does not even want too. Her brother abandoned her and now she has to be reminded of her mother when someone new comes into the church to be helped. I feel this book is going to get very depressing and everyone is going to die. Let's hope I'm wrong.