Book Review - Five Stars
Description: Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever.
In this new America, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Education 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.
Thoughts:
First, I have to tell you that I LOVE the cover. They say not to judge a book by its cover but I totally do. And this one is rich and dark like a chocolate you need to savour. Second, I’m not into zombies (shamblers in this book) AT ALL. You will never catch me watching a show, movie or playing a game that features zombies. They freak me out.
Now that that’s out of the way let me tell you why I enjoyed this book so much.
The idea for the novel is unique and Ireland does a wonderful job of weaving in the racial, and patriotic, tension of the time with a touch of the speculative.
Jane’s character was complex and believable. I felt for her and her plight. I loved the relationship that grew between her and Katherine throughout the book.
I also enjoyed how Ireland successfully addressed the history of racism towards black and indigenous people while also delivering a realistic alternative reality and plot.
All in all, it was a book that made me think but I also enjoyed the high stakes and powerful woman vibes. 🙂
Themes:
– slavery
– self determination
– justice
– privilige
– status (those of a higher societal status are able to have someone take care of the shambles for them)
As a writer, the most important thing skill I took from Justina Ireland…
She does a fabulous job of the voice (and attitude!) of her characters. Also, the originality of the book idea is something I often struggle with. Sometimes I just need to let my imagination to take the lead.
Recommendations:
This is a great book and I really enjoyed it. It has a good message about injustice without hitting you over the head perpetually with it. However, if you (or your teen) are a sensitive reader you might not like reading about how they control the shambler population (LOTS of zombie fighting!)