Dread Nation

Wow. Somehow this book manages to be funny, shocking, brutal, and thrilling all while providing a complicated look at what the realities would be if the dead had risen again during the Battle of Gettysburg and then began eating the living. It’s not a 1:1 metaphor, but you do pick up on things similar to real historical events or drawing from historical sentiment of the times. Like instead of General Sherman (Union) burning crops and towns along the south to take down the Confederate Army the book has the General having a burning campaign to rid the South of zombies. These zombies are called shamblers. They can be put down by removing their head or burning them. The US has schools for young Black girls to become part of the zombie patrols or a personal Attendant saving rich white women from the undead and from unscrupulous suitors. The boys have schools too, but I don’t remember if they also have roles as Attendants. Our narrator Jane McKeene is a hilarious narrator, both self-aware and firmly committing to lies. Well, just over inconsequential matters. She’s also a great leader, strategist, fighter, and friend. Secondary character Katherine is refreshing as someone with a lady’s air and fashion sense but still can battle zombies with swords. Katherine could “pass” as a white lady, and she’s a key part of some of the very complicated situations that the novel delves into. Without spoiling anything, her light complexion and ability to “pass” as white happens within the plot. An important historical context is that the USA had what was termed the “one drop rule” where anyone with Black ancestors was not considered white which impacted things like who was enslaved and who someone could marry. Other tough topics are examined, not as rhetoric but as harsh reality. Like white supremacy being preached and upholder with violence. And how this line of thought even penetrated some Black folks. And how rich white candidates used racist ideologies to get poor white folks to vote against their own self-interests. All of this plays out in plot, not statements, which is really effective. And I swear there is a lot of humor in this book. The novel strikes a great balance of all that it was trying to do. 9/10 Justina Ireland may just become an autobuy author for me.