This companion novel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth begins in the town Mary arrived in at the end of the story and follows her daughter Gabry through similar emotional territory. We have the love triangle, the childhood crush, the growing apart from the childhood best friend, the fear and fascination with the outside world, the absent/aloof parents, and the dangerous journey. It's true that these elements resonate with teen existence, but didn't I already read this story?
We also have a girl whom multiple boys love and will incomprehensibly sacrifice themselves for even while she yoyos between them. I was profoundly unconvinced when she finally decided that one of them was resolutely the one. This is sinking into Twilight territory here. Mary, though selfish, was braver, stronger, and more independent. Gabry wants others to solve her problems for her. While there is a glut of unattainably strong females in teen lit these days, this flipside of damsels is not the answer.
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