The Dead Tossed Waves

by:  Carrie Ryan

published by:  Delacourte Books

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

For those of you that have read The Forest of Hands and Teeth this book The Dead Tossed Waves picks up approximately 17 years later.  At the end of  tFoHaT Mary left the Forest and made her way to the ocean and that was where it had ended.  This book starts with her teenage daughter Gabry hanging out with her friends and making a life altering decision to leave the safety of their protected area for a little adventure.

The behavior that made Mary somewhat unlikeable in the first book continued into this book.  Her selfishness was jaw-dropping at times.  However, she does own up to it in time.  I guess that is somewhat redeeming.  The fact that she raised a good daughter in Gabry is good thing too.  I really liked Gabry's character.  She was one of those kind of characters that we all love with a deep core of inner strength but very humble.

I had to wait forever to get this book from the library and it was well worth the wait.  All the creepiness of the Infected/Unconsecrated continued along with some information about different different types of Infected.  Some great new characters were introduced: Gabry, Elias, and Catcher.  I'm ready for the next book in the series to come out, The Dark and Hollow Places, next March.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

By:  Carrie Ryan

In Mary's world, there are simple truths:  The Sisterhood always knows best.  The Guardians will protect and serve.  The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

First off, does anyone else think "Jennifer Love Hewitt" when they see this version of the cover?  That's who immediately  comes to mind for me. 

I've developed such a love of YA dystopian.  I don't even know where it came from, probably Stephen King.  I think he's responsible for all us 30-somethings that love these books so much.  Back when we were little tykes we didn't have much in the way of YA so we were reading stuff like Stephen King at a very young age and had our impressionable minds warped and twisted (in such a delightful way).

I thought this book was fairly decent.  I tore through it in about a day so it must have been good.  I read it as part of my "It's my birthday I can read what I want to" weekend.  When I was done, I immediately returned it to the library and put a hold on The Dead Tossed Waves. 

My only issue with this book, was the relationship with Mary to the love interests.  The whole brother swapping thing and throwing her best friend in there was not complicated, but brow-furrowing maybe?  A head scratcher.  I guess it just added some drama to the story.

If you aren't familiar with this series, this is the first book.  The Dead Tossed Waves is next and the third book is called The Dark and Hollow Places and it'll be released March 2011.