It seems as if zombies are all the rage, and have been for quite some time now. Enter author Carrie Ryan to the scene. In her mind's eye, she envisions a society much like that of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. The creatures beyond the fence in this society are Unconsecrated beings, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, who have been bitten and turned. All it took was one viewing of the official book trailer to get students excited about this incredible saga.
"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?" (http://www.carrieryan.com/forest-hands-teeth.php)
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Our Sr. High Book Club gathered to Skype with author Carrie Ryan who graciously met with us from her North Carolina home. The students asked really thoughtful questions about what sparked her interest in zombies and how she came up with calling the returned the "Unconsecrated." Several students asked for practical tips for how she overcomes writer's block. We also, of course, wanted to know what she was currently working on.
One of the questions was about some of the more shocking parts of the novel and how she comes up with these ideas. And her answer was this...she thinks about what could be the worst thing that could happen at that point in the novel, and then dares to go there in her writing. For example, after the gang has found respite in the trees, there is a time of relative peace and rest. But it wouldn't be a proper zombie novel if it stayed that way. Their worst nightmare would be a fire that would take down their haven and destroy the very shelter that put them just out of the zombie's reach.One of my seniors who was probably the biggest fan of the series called for a prequel for Forest of Hands and Teeth which I thought was an excellent idea. We found out that there was actually a short story, called Hare Moon, that was written that does tell a bit about Mary's world and how it came to be such a rigid, protective society. Perhaps we will get the answers we have been looking for in this short story.
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Carrie Ryan was so much fun to meet with. And if you have not had a chance to read her Forest Trilogy, I highly recommend that you do so, especially if you love the zombie genre.
Until next time,
Amy Hutto, LMS
South Side High School
