The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan


This companion book to The Forest of Hands and Teeth was almost as good as the original and just as exciting. The story is told from the point of view of Mary's daughter, Gabry, and it takes place roughly 20 years later than TFOHAT. Carrie Ryan uses the same spare prose to create suspense and horrific scenes. The Dead-Tossed Waves refers to a seething sea of Mudo (referred to as The Unconsecrated in TFOHAT) and a classic zombie-trapped-in-cars-on-the-bridge scene is turned even darker when Ryan unforgettably details a car full of hungry little Mudo children. In addition to the gore, I also liked Gabry's transformation from a girl who looks back to the things she could/should have done in the past to the things she hopes/desires to do in the future. She moves from conditional to subjunctive smoothly and believably. Lots of smoldering romance between Gabry and the two boys who love her will keep readers turning the pages as well. Click here for the book trailer and Ryan's website. Grade 8+

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