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BOOK RAP: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The end of July, I journey to the West Coast to attend my FIRST Los Angeles SCBWI Conference. I can't wait. I've hit New York, and it's great fun, but I heard LA rocks!


I signed up for the World Building Intensive with Krista Marino. She assigned three books to read: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, the sequel to it, The Dead Tossed Seas, and Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross. (I already finished my assignment--yes, my nose shines bright!)


I have never read a zombie book before. There, I said it. I never had an interest in zombies. I tossed zombies over the fence with aliens and always felt if they didn't bother me, I won't bother them.
Front Cover

I didn't read the back cover of the book. I jumped right in. Well, the Forest of Hands and Teeth starts off at break neck speed and doesn't stop. I followed Mary on her journey through death, heartache and betrayal, and more death.


Carrie Ryan actually never says the Z-word until the acknowledgements in the back of the book, but I have to admit, I suspected that the Unconsecrated might be zombies (about 3/4 of the way through--don't laugh!) Though I suppose the signs were there--After all, the unconsecrated crave human blood, spread disease through bite marks,and break their fingers, teeth, and bones trying to get to their prey.


But Carrie Ryan spins a tale so well and so tight in the first person present tense that I devoured the book. It didn't matter it had zombies in it, just like it didn't matter to me that a vampire fell in love with a human, or an angel fell in love with a demon, or a boy fell in love with a witch. A good book is a good book.


The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a tale of survival, a test of faith, and an excellent example of spell-binding writing.


I challenge you to read it. Go out and buy a copy. Or, if you doubt me, download a sample onto your Kindle or Nook. You won't be sorry.


Go ahead, you know you want to.


Write on,
Kim

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