In my opinion, books such as The Forest of Hands and Teeth is one of those books that elevates the YA genre from its saccharine roots. I'm including this novel in an elite group that contains Little Brother by Cory Doctorow and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'd include Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, but it wasn't released as YA.
Mary lives in an isolated village surrounded by fences. Some time in the past, her father was lost to the Unconsecrated outside the fence. Her mother watches the fence, hoping to see her father. And Mary watches with her, in order to watch her mother.
It is made clear that all men and women fulfill traditional roles in this village, with women staying in the home or becoming part of the Sisterhood (read nuns) if no man asks for them. Men guard the village as part of the Guardians or Guild and protect the home. Love is not considered important, rather, people tend to make poor decisions once they are in love. While Mary is being asked to a dance preliminary to betrothal, she leaves her mother alone. Sudden sirens indicate a breach of the fence: Mary's mother had gone close to the fence and been bitten, probably by Mary's Unconsecrated father.
In this village, those infected are given the option of being killed or being allowed to die and Return and be thrust outside the village fence to continue among the Unconsecrated. Mary's mother chooses the latter option and Mary watches her mother die and return. Afterward, Mary is sent to take vows with the Sisterhood, which is where the story really begins.
Mary is very much concerned with love, and finding it. She has dreams of something else and the main conflict in the novel is between Mary's love and her dreams.
I found this novel compelling for a multitude of reasons, but I picked it up because I wanted to see a story about life after the Zombie Apocalypse. As I understand it, Carrie Ryan is planning to write more about this Universe, which is good, because the book was a fast read and felt like it ended prematurely.
I was frustrated by Mary allowing events to happen to her, rather than being a mover in her own story, but her character does grow. I hope to see her again.
