Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1) by Justina Ireland
"Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation 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."
“See, the problem in this world ain’t sinners, or even the dead. It is men who will step on anyone who stands in the way of their pursuit of power.”
― Justina Ireland, Dread Nation
A zombie story set after the Civil War? Sure! Why not? This book was amazing! I really loved Jane’s character. She is super smart and such a badass. I listened to the audiobook of this, and I loved her before but Bahni Turpin is a FANTASTIC narrator!
This book was so interesting to see how things had changed and not really changed at all with the introduction of zombies. At times it made me want to scream at how frustrating the society in this book played out. And how people would uphold these pillars of racism to their own detriment. UGH.
The story telling in this was also fantastic. There was a twist at the end with Jane’s story that I did not expect but which made total and complete sense. It was so well done. Highly recommend this book!
Genre: ya, fantasy, alternate history, lgbtqia+
Representation: bi/queer mc, ace secondary character, BIPOC MC
Content Warnings: violence & gore, sexism, racism, kidnapping, slavery