Dread Nation

 Ireland, Justina. DREAD NATION. 2018. New York: Balzar + Bray. ISBN 978006257604

Plot Summary:

Jane was taken from her home, Rose Hill plantation. Born to a rich White Southern woman, Jane would always be considered less of a person because she was Black.  But Jane was taken because it was required of her and girls like her (brown and black) to learn how to fight and kill Shamblers aka zombies.  jane's mother taught her how to read and carry herself in society but Jane was born too dark and so she will never be accepted by the upper crust.  While attending Miss Preston's School of Combat Jane befriends Katherine Deveraux. Jane and Katherine are chosen to work at a society event that is being hosted by the mayor. Jane was chosen primarily for her skills that she exhibited while out when Shamblers invaded a crowd of people. Before long, and through circumstances that Jane brought upon herself, she gets shipped to a new town called Summerland. Soon, Jane discovers something evil about the men of Summerland: they are mean and do not like outsiders especially Jane and Katherine.

Critical Analysis:

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland was an exciting read! I have to say that reading about zombies and the Civil War was not on my list. However, Ms. Ireland writes with depth and detail; she tackles topics that may not be obvious to the reader but the more you read about Jane and the adventure she goes on to help her ex, you may pick up on the sexism, classism, and racism that is woven throughout this story. Ms. Ireland jumps right in by writing about Jane being born on a plantation to a mother who is white but the father is black (a slave). While Jane's mother loves her unconditionally, she cannot protect her from the law that says girls who are Black and Native Americans (Indians) must go to school and learn how to fight the zombies known as Shamblers. Ms. Ireland does not hold back on writing about the societal norms and ills that take place throughout the story. She manages to stay true to the setting in that this story takes place during the Civil War; a time of slavery and segregation. It is also a time when women were seen as weak and lacking the ability to do for themselves. But Ms. Ireland decides to give what one can read to be a historical fiction story a twist by adding zombies and a perfect town, that isn't perfect. Ms. Ireland writes a story that is a mash-up of historical fiction meets dystopian and add a little scary and a little love and you get fantastic fiction. 

Review Excerpt(s):

Common Sense Media-" It is well written with complex themes regarding slavery, self-determination, and good and evil. Zombies, of course, are never just zombies, but metaphors for the ills of society. It straddles the lines of historical fiction and fantasy well. Jane and Catherine are great, strong, complex characters. I love a story where the heroes are teen girls of color." (Jeanette W. 2021. commonsensemedia.org. Accessed 2022, November 15.)

Publishers Weekly-"Abundant action, thoughtful worldbuilding, and a brave, smart, and skillfully drawn cast entertain as Ireland (Promise of Shadows) illustrates the ignorance and immorality of racial discrimination and examines the relationship between equality and freedom. Mounting peril creates a pulse-pounding pace, hurtling readers toward a nail-biting conclusion that inspires and will leave them apprehensive about what’s to come."

Connections:

Find short stories and historical accounts that talk about life during the Civil War. Have students read these pieces as they are reading Dread Nation. Ask them what do they notice?

Share with students "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"; allow them read the play (there is an abridged version). Hold a discussion asking them if they notice any themes or topics that could be similar to Dread Nation. Then let them watch the Twilight Zone episode.

The words of this review are my own and are created for graduate studies work at Sam Houston State University.