Book Review: Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation
(Dread Nation, Book 1)
Justina Ireland
Hardcover, 464 pages
Bilzer + Bray
April 3, 2018
African-American Fiction, Alternative History,
American History, Diverse Reads, Fantasy, Feminist Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, Paranormal Fiction, Satire, Social Justice, Southern Gothic, Young Adult Fiction
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:  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.

Note

I participated in a buddy read of this novel with Barb @ Booker T's Farm. Be sure to read her review, which you can find HERE!

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Buddy Read Update No. 3

I must point out, right up front, that I am definitely not a fan of the horror genre. That might seem paradoxical, since I do enjoy reading urban fantasy, which sometimes almost crosses into horror.  I don't like the horror genre, however, because its writers thrive on the graphic depiction of fear and gory scenes. Besides, many urban fantasy novels are also paranormal romances, which, of course, do interest me! 

So what in blazes got me to read Dread Nation? Well, several months ago, I came across this novel on the blog of one of my book blogger friends, Barb (see above), and it immediately caught my eye! So Barb suggested we do a buddy read, and I agreed. Surprisingly, I didn't run screaming from the book! Instead, I found this to be a very interesting, even entertaining read, despite the seriousness of its deeper themes. But that was because it was what can be called "horror lite". In other words, Dread Nation is not a typical horror novel. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find other, stronger elements involved. Incredibly, there was even some humor in it in the form of snarky observations made by its female protagonist.

Jane McKeene is indeed a very strong, dynamic protagonist. The cover alone gives some hint of this, but then, when I actually encountered her in the pages of the book, she became a very real person. Her sense of justice and adventure, as well as her natural leadership abilities, make her not only likable, but admirable, as well. And her sense of humor, even in dire situations, hits the nail on the head every single time!

The background history of this novel -- which is an alternative version of real events -- is a fascinating, if appropriately horrifying one: the Civil War was actually brought to a halt by the sudden appearance of zombies walking the fields of battle, killing Union and Confederate soldiers alike. Surely one would expect to find some blood and gore here, right? Well, no. This event took place in the year Jane was born, and is not detailed at all, but merely mentioned in order to set the scene.

This unexpected event could have changed the attitudes of those who advocated slavery, but sadly, it didn't. Instead, African-Americans (referred to as "Negroes" at the time) were then legally required to train at special combat schools in order to defend wealthy whites. And this is where the author had a field day unmasking the not-so-subtle demon of racial discrimination. Through Jane, her spokesperson, Ireland depicted the blatant prejudice of the society of the time. While doing so, she also took aim at the prejudice and discrimination of our own times. And with a feminist heroine, no less!

This novel also involves a mystery that Jane is bent on solving, as one of the families which have disappeared are the Spencers. Lily, sister to an old boyfriend of Jane's, Jackson, has disappeared right along with them. 

The action moves from Baltimore, Maryland, to a strange location out in the West, where Jane emerges as a strong leader in the fight against the zombies. The reader sees her development throughout the book, as she battles not only the zombies (known as "shamblers" in the novel), but, even more importantly, the unjust treatment received by her fellow zombie fighters.

Ireland has woven a very believable historical tapestry here. While reading this novel, I frequently found myself believing in the reality of the zombie hordes, the combat schools, and Jane's ability to always, somehow, come out victorious, even against her worst enemies (none of which, by the way, were zombies, ironically enough). 

Dynamic secondary characters made this novel even more believable. The first, and most important of these, was Katherine, whom Jane delighted in calling "Kate", precisely because Katherine hated being called by this shortened version of her name. Although she and Jane were a study in contrasts, they also became good friends, as well as allies in the fight against the prejudice of the times. 

Jane's mother is another important secondary character, although the reader gets to know her mostly through the letters she and Jane send to each other. This woman was very influential in making Jane who she was, and she also hid a secret that, if exposed, threatened to bring tragedy to the slaves at her plantation, not to mention Jane herself.

In regards to this character, I was initially very sympathetic toward her. But, early on, I caught something in her attitude toward Jane.....I'm not sure exactly what it was. Later in the novel, this woman did something entirely shocking and horrifying, so I ended up actually hating her! I couldn't believe  that she had actually turned into a totally despicable person.....

Gideon, the brilliant scientist who sees Jane as who she truly is -- a dynamic, strong woman who acts on her principles -- is another great secondary character. He obviously admired Jane, and it was more than obvious that there was something going on there, too. He, like Jane, bucked the status quo, and I would have liked to have seen more of him in this book. Perhaps he will be featured more often in the forthcoming sequel. I certainly hope so!

Another interesting, though less important, character, was Jackson, also known as "Red". Although I didn't like the offhanded way in which he often treated Jane, I did like how concerned he was about his sister's disappearance, and the way he ended up helping Jane in her quest to escape an intolerable, brutal, situation.

Then there's "The Preacher"..... This character was obnoxious and evil in the extreme, with his disgusting "sermons" about "the divine order" of things, in which Negroes were "divinely ordained" to serve whites. Of course, this character not only represented the racist beliefs of the time, but was also meant as a satirical instrument to ridicule and expose the blatantly prejudiced views of some Evangelicals in our own time. 

I did have a problem with the inclusion of this preacher, though. In my opinion, his presence in the novel should have been balanced by that of at least one other Christian who held opposing views. Not all Christians who lived during the real historical Reconstruction Era after the Civil War were racists. (This period lasted from about 1863 to 1877.) Before the Civil War, there was also the Abolitionist Movement, not only in the States, but also abroad, and there were many Christians involved in it. In the States, such names as Charles Finney, Theodore Weld, and Harriet Beecher Stowe were well-known. So this was something that I found very disappointing.

More than anything else, I see this as a brilliant satirical novel which encapsulates the racist mindset. I also see it as an equally brilliant exposition of feminist ideals. Unlike Kate, Jane never stops to consider whether her actions might be considered "proper" or "genteel" for a young lady. She simply acts, and her actions come from a sense of justice for her people, as well as for all women. She is her own woman, and no one can talk her into acting as the society of her time thought she SHOULD act, not only as a woman, but as a member of an "inferior" race.

Despite all of my admiration for Dread Nation, especially its female protagonist, I am unable to give it the five stars I was sure it deserved when I began to read it. However, the book is so compelling, so well-written, that I cannot bring myself to give it less than four stars.

I have mentioned the shocking event regarding Jane's mother. I have also mentioned the problem with the stereotypical treatment of the Christian religion. There's one more thing, which I will not mention here in order to avoid spoilers. It concerns a shocking revelation toward the end of the novel, one that altered my overall perception of it due to its blatant immorality, as well as the fact that it entailed a very tragic loss of innocence....

It's really very unfortunate when an author makes his/her readers get totally immersed in a novel, only to throw the proverbial monkey wrench in the works towards the end of the story. That's just what happened here. I realize that there are characters who do deserve what they get, because they've done some very evil deeds, but, as another proverbial saying goes, "two wrongs don't make a right". That's all I'm going to state here.

I would still recommend this book to all lovers of alternative history, strong feminist protagonists, and books dealing with social justice. Despite its disappointing elements, this novel goes beyond the Young Adult Fiction genre to become a real tour-de-force, and I know I will never forget it! Although I was not quite satisfied with it, I would like to re-read it at some point in the future. It's just that Jane is such a POWERFUL role model for all young (and not so young) women! So I'm therefore eagerly looking forward to the sequel, which I will also buddy read with Barb! 

MY RATING:

Justina Ireland enjoys dark chocolate, dark humor, and is not too proud to admit that she’s still afraid of the dark. She lives with her husband, kid, and dog in Pennsylvania. She is the author of Vengeance Bound and Promise of Shadows.

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