Dread Nation Book Review

 Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

2018

Historical fiction, sci-fi, young adult

Spoiler-free!

Dread Nation follows protagonist Jane who lives in an alternate reality where the civil war ended after the dead rose as zombies. Seventeen-year-old Jane attends a finishing school for young black girls where they learn to take down zombies, but when Jane and her fellow boarding school classmate Katherine learn the truth behind the zombies plaguing their town, they’re taken down a path neither will ever recover from.

I enjoyed the pace of Dread Nation, it picks up speed quickly and doesn't let up until the end. One of the best things about this novel is Ireland’s ability to weave the past and the present. Dread Nation explores real historical issues through zombies and acknowledges how innocent black people were used for medical experiments. While a fantasy, alternate history book, many of the themes and plot points are historically accurate.

Jane is a witty main character and an absolute joy to follow. She’s also confirmed as bisexual,  which is cool for a historical novel! 

Rating 4/5: This book is meant for younger readers, but still makes for an enjoyable read that I would recommend for junior high students and beyond.