When an unexplained disaster turns the human race into cannibalistic zombies, survivors of the disease must barricade themselves in small civilizations, their protection being only a high fence which surrounds their villages. This fence not only acts as their protection, but also their imprisonment. Mary is a young girl living in one of these villages which is ruled by the Sisterhood and the Guardians. The Sisterhood is shrouded in secrecy, never revealing their true knowledge of what lies beyond the fences. The Sisterhood carefully watches everyone in the village, making sure they are kept in line, while the Guardians guard the forest around them.
There are only two ways through the fence: gates that open to expel those who have been infected, or a hidden path on the outskirts of the fence. Mary is curious as to where the hidden path leads, but the Sisterhood insists that the village is the only human habitation left on Earth. However, Mary is convinced that something must lie beyond the forest. She has grown up hearing stories of her great-great-great-grandmother who spoke of an ocean and a world without zombies. Mary believes if she can reach the ocean, she would be free and safe.
When a zombie infiltration takes place, Mary knows that this is her chance to escape. She, along with her brother and several others, make their way through the hidden pathway and eventually come across other fences. Each fence has a gate marked with a Roman numeral. Mary has never seen these symbols before, but later learns that they refer to numbers—the numbers of villages. The Sisterhood had been wrong; their village had not been the only one left.
Unfortunately, most of the villages they visit have already been wiped out, and Mary is forced to believe that they are, indeed, the last human survivors. That is, until they reach a dead end. Zombies surround the small group, and they are unable to move any further. Mary decides to leave the protection of the fence and run into undead territory. As she is running, she finds a waterfall and jumps; she later wakes up on a sandy beach and is greeted by an unknown man. Mary has finally found her ocean and a civilization she never knew existed.
The romantic language of this novel makes this a truly interesting read. The title itself is also intriguing and makes you want to learn more about the story. A good amount of action sequences take place in the book, most of which involves the killing of zombies; therefore, it is recommended you not read this book if zombies freak you out. The only criticism would be that the reader may not develop an attachment to the main characters. Their personalities seem a bit cut-and-dry even as they try conveying emotions such as love and fear. And while the romantic language is beautifully crafted within the story, it may sound as if someone placed you in the Elizabethan era. Depending on your taste, you may or may not find The Forest of Hands and Teeth to your liking. Overall, it is a good novel, riddled with suspense and a bittersweet love story tossed in for good measure.
