ARC Review of Dread Nation

Hello everyone! Happy monday! About a month ago, I got an ARC (advanced reader’s copy) of Dread Nation by Justina Ireland.

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.

To start with: wow. The story is so incredibly powerful in its subtle social commentary. The story provides a deep look at the horrible treatment of African Americans during and after the civil war and asks a simple question “Why?”. Jane is a heroine who does not see herself as a heroine. She sees herself as flawed and broken. However, that never stops Jane from fighting for her rights and standing up for herself and others. The cast of characters is something that makes Dread Nation truly memorable. Jane’s quick witted remarks and tendency to make elaborate plans that take many risks to achieve her intended goal makes her a character that you want to be friends with and have on your side during any battle of words or wits. Katherine is a friend of Jane and a remarkable character in her own right. Katherine’s past is questionable and her manners are impeccable but the real strength of  her character is in her unwavering loyalty and tremendous bravery. One of my favorite aspects of Dread Nation was that every chapter started with either an excerpt from a letter that Jane wrote to her mother or an excerpt of a letter that her mother  wrote back to her. This is an incredibly sweet and nostalgic way to set the stage for what is going to happen in that chapter. Although Jane’s mother is not a main character in the book, it is through these letters that she really comes alive and becomes one of the most notable characters. These letters also help that reader to get inside of Jane’s head and learn about who she truly is. Whenever a piece of Jane’s history is revealed, another aspect of her character is explained and the way her history all fits together is especially fascinating.

A second thing that I enjoyed about Dread Nation was the setting. The idea of post civil war apocalyptic America fascinated me. I will admit that I was slightly skeptical when I saw the attempt to mix American history with zombies, but I am very pleased to report that it worked out very well. The idea of a zombie apocalypse in the middle of the war was executed well. I thought that the story managed to stay true to the time period despite the addition of zombies. The novel manages to incorporate shamblers into everyday life and still retain some of the social customs and quirks of the time period. Dread Nation is incredibly well written and I encourage everyone to go out and read it the second it comes out on April 3. In fact, I will make it even easier for all of you and include the link to amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dread-Nation-Justina-Ireland/dp/0062570609

I hope that all of you bookworms are having a wonderful first few days of spring. Remember, only a month and a half until TBF!

Until next time!

-Laura