Zombies and Fighting Galore -- "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

     
Jane McKeene was born just days after the dead started walking again and brought an end to the Civil War. Under a law enacted years later, children with colored skin are sent to combat schools where they are taught how to put down the dead (affectionately called shamblers) for good. Girls like Jane can get a job protecting wealthy white women as Attendants, which will hopefully lead to a better life. In Baltimore, where Jane attends Miss Preston’s School of Combat, politicians have started voicing their desire to restore America’s pre-shambler glory but Jane doesn’t want to hear any of it when she’s so close to going back home to Kentucky. Before she can return home, though, Jane finds herself entangled in a conspiracy concerning the disappearance of families in the Baltimore area.

    I found that the elements of this story that were rooted in history were very heartbreaking but also important to tell. I liked the inclusion of a Native American character who attended a combat school and worked for a rich, white politician like Katherine wanted to do after graduating from Miss Preston’s School of Combat. He followed the path that society intended him to, but we don’t know where he ends up. We do know that he identifies with Jane, Katherine, and Jackson (the main characters) through their shared mistreatment.

    The zombies in this book were definitely different and I kind of liked it, even though I haven’t read very many books that involve zombies. No one is looking into the reason why the dead are coming back to life, they are just fighting and trying to come up with a vaccine to seemingly no avail. African and Native Americans are the only ones physically fighting the shamblers.

    I like the letter Ireland wrote for the beginning of the story because I think that it brings a lot of emotional weight/ urgency to the story, specifically how everyone is treated. She also includes an author’s note that reiterated the historical and societal significance of this story even though it’s in the background.

    Overall, this book is amazing and showed how people were affected by America’s past. I can’t wait for you all to experience the heart wrenching story of Dread Nation by Justina Ireland when it comes out in April 2018!

So Much Mystery, So Much Intrigue!- "Something Strange and Deadly" by Susan Dennard

      The Dead are walking, her brother is missing, her dad is dead, her mom is trying to marry her off, and she is trying to hold down the family finances. When Eleanor Fitt puts more focus on her brother’s disappearance, her life becomes increasingly dangerous as she finds herself in the Spirit-Hunter’s lab more often than would be advisable.

      Something Strange and Deadly was interesting. You’re confused and looking for answers from the very beginning. There is even an air of mystery around Eleanor’s life outside of finding her brother, for example, while she interacts with the charming Clarence Wilcox. Why are the Dead rising? How? There’s even some extra mystery….

      I just kept on turning pages, even when I told myself this is the last chapter, the last page. This story did fall a little flat during society scenes, even though there was plenty of curiosity such as to where this friendship between Clarence and Eleanor would go or what kind of spirit came out of the seance (yes, there is supernatural mischief), but it would pick up when Eleanor would be pulled back to the Spirit-Hunters. I do see how the social gatherings add to the story, though, because Eleanor would have a revelation or something in the scene would help move the story along.

      Something that I really enjoyed about this book is that almost all of the characters tie into the mystery, they’re all connected to the people who are behind everything! Everyone faces their demons, both literally and figuratively! I also enjoyed the change of pace when the scene changed from some sort of social gathering to Eleanor running around with the Spirit-Hunters because of how much more action there is, whether it be Eleanor trying to figure things out or everyone fighting off the Dead. It wasn’t sudden, there would be a couple of paragraphs of transition, but it was faster sometimes which kept me on my toes.

     Your thirst for answers will get the better of you. Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop. I’m warning you right now, make sure your schedule is empty the next few days because this is one of those page turner stories. It isn't constant action, but your curiosity might just make you finish it!