Review: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Overview:
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
This book gives the typical zombie apocalypse story a very new, very socially-relevant twist. The characters are phenomenal, the narration is to die for (no pun intended), and it gave me a lot to think about. Definitely a must read for YA fiction and fantasy lovers.
Content Warning:
Dread Nation contains racism, enslavement, death, gore, violence, body horror, child death, gun violence, and references to assault.
Book Summary:
Dread Nation is a YA historical fiction/fantasy/horror hybrid that transports readers to a post-Civil War era in which zombies terrorize the United States. Our heroine, Jane, attends Ms. Preston’s – a school that trains girls of color to fight the undead in service of rich white families. Jane’s greatest wish is to return to her (white) mother at Rose Hill plantation following graduation. However, achieving this goal quickly becomes less attainable as the story unfolds: families start going missing, Jane and her classmate Katherine are shipped off to a western settlement, and, despite what the Survivalist political party would have people think, the zombie safe havens might not be so safe after all. Jane must navigate the horrors an impending shambler invasion in addition to an oppressive system in order to survive.
On the Characters:
Jane has officially been added to my list of favorite literary heroines. We experience the novel from her perspective, in addition to letters written between her and her mother. Jane’s narration is equal parts kick-ass, sarcasm, and tenderness. I found myself laughing aloud as often as I had moments of intense sadness and reflection because of her (Justina Ireland’s) words. She is a strong, well-rounded character and I am absolutely in love with her.
Katherine, Jane’s school-enemy-made-friend, is equally as interesting and multi-faceted as Jane is. At the start of the story she’s depicted as the popular, snobby girl who only cares about fashion and tattling on Jane — and I truly thought that was all she would live up to be. I was so wrong! Her charm and knowledge of “etiquette” become weapons to be used against the racist leadership of Summerland. We learn that, despite her socially acceptable, white-passing looks, she too is forced to grapple with monsters that are white supremacy and the patriarchy (albeit, for slightly different reasons than Jane). Again, another complicated, killer female character that I can’t help but to fall in love with.
On the Lack of Romance:
Don’t get me wrong, this book is not without romance and crushes and jealous yearning. It’s just such a much smaller fraction of the total story compared to everything else…. and thank goodness for that! I appreciate a good love story as much as the next person, but it was such a breath of fresh air to focus on the greater conflicts and themes of the story (see below for more on that). I love a strong female lead who’s main concern isn’t their romantic relationship with another person.
Oh! and speaking of relationships/attraction — this is one of the first YA fiction/fantasies I’ve read with an ace character! Ahh!!
On the Overarching Themes:
While Dread Nation has plenty of zombies, the undead compromise only a fraction of the obstacles faced by Jane. Misogynoir, white supremacy, colorism, and classism are all huge themes in the book, and characters have to navigate their presence in pretty much every chapter. In a country where police brutality, systemic racism, and white supremacy are still very present and very real, Ireland’s work brings a much needed perspective to the table. I highly encourage fantasy and fiction lovers to give Dread Nation a read — especially so if your shelf is dominated by white authors and characters.