Dread Nation Rise Up is a unique and thrilling novel that blends historical fiction with horror in a captivating way. The story is set in an alternate  version of America during the Civil War which is interrupted by a zombie uprising. Our main character, Jane McKeene, is a fierce and determined young woman trained as a zombie (they call them “Shamblers”) hunter.  The book explores complex themes of race, gender and power.  One of the strengths of the story is it’s well-developed characters, particularly Jane McKeene. She is a strong and relatable protagonist who is not afraid to speak her mind and fight for what she believes in. There’s also a diverse cast of characters, including people of color, LGBTQ+ characters, and characters with disabilities.  This novel explores issues of racism and oppression in a way that is both nuanced and thought-provoking.   Dread Nation Rise Up is a must read for fans or dystopian fiction, horror and historical reimagining. It will leave you thinking long after the last page. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Dread Nation Deathless Divide.  

This is a beautiful and sometimes painful story of love lost and personal loss and of the possibility of second chance love. It’s heart breaking and hopeful. I cheered and I cried throughout this book and in it’s own way, it was very therapeutic. It’s a wonderful read I would recommend to all. 

This is a story of Rachel, a slave on a plantation on the island of Barbados who runs away from the plantation a day after the Emancipation Act proclaims the freedom of slaves only the slaves are not freed and instead are told they are apprentices and will continue to work on the plantation for the next six years. It’s a story of Rachel’s journey as she sets out to find the children that were taken from her. Eleanor Shearer’s style of writing pulls you in from the very first page and immerses you in this compelling story of hope, love, family and the brutal reality of this time in Caribbean history.