Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2010)

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.
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This book was more than I could have hoped for. The Forest of Hands and Teeth was one of my favorite reads last year and I wondered how the second book could live up to it. These two books are on a whole other level from each other....but in a good way. The Dead-Tossed Waves isn't just a continuation of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, it is like a different story...Gabry's story. Very unique.
Gabry herself is not one of my favorite characters. She is rather reckless and whiny, but she does seem to grow throughout the story. Even though she is not one of my faves, Gabry IS a very interesting character as well as the others that go along with her.
Explaining this story is like trying to explain an episode of the show Lost. It is nearly impossible, you just have to watch the show for yourself to understand. An amazing story written by an amazing writer.

5/5