
In 'Dread Nation' by Justina Ireland, the Civil War is interrupted by a zombie uprising, leading to the conscription of black and Native American youths to combat the undead. The story follows Jane McKeene, a fierce and rule-breaking combat school student, as she navigates a world filled with historical complexities such as the horrors of slavery, racial passing, and the struggles faced by non-white characters. As Jane uncovers secrets and conspiracies, she becomes entangled in a thrilling survival story set in a post-Civil War America divided by factions and plagued by zombies.
The book is praised for its engaging narrative, strong character development, and thought-provoking exploration of race, gender, and historical issues within a zombie apocalypse setting. Readers appreciate the diverse representation of characters, the focus on friendships over romance, and the compelling world-building that incorporates elements of alternate history and social commentary.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include racism, misogyny, and themes of sexual violence, all integral to the book's exploration of its historical context.
From The Publisher:
New York Times bestseller; 6 starred reviews!
At once provocative, terrifying, and darkly subversive, Dread Nation is Justina Ireland's stunning vision of an America both foreign and familiar-a country on the brink, at the explosive crossroads where race, humanity, and survival meet.
Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania-derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever.
In this new America, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead.
But there are also opportunities-and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It's a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society's expectations.
But that's not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston's School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn't pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose.
But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies.
And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.
"Abundant action, thoughtful worldbuilding, and a brave, smart, and skillfully drawn cast entertain as Ireland illustrates the ignorance and immorality of racial discrimination and examines the relationship between equality and freedom." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List")
Ratings (9)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (3) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (30):
Read It (10) | |
Want To Read (17) | |
Not Interested (3) |
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