Justina Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Justina Ireland
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Justina Ireland in 2018 at the National Book Festival
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| Born | February 7, 1985 French Camp, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Armstrong Atlantic State University (BA) Hamline University (MFA) |
| Genre | Science fiction Young Adult |
Justina Ireland (born February 7, 1985) is an American author. She writes exciting science fiction and fantasy books for young adults. She was also the editor-in-chief of FIYAH Literary Magazine.
Justina Ireland won the World Fantasy Award in 2018. Her book, Dread Nation, became a New York Times bestseller. It also won the Locus Award in 2019.
Contents
About Justina Ireland
When she was a teenager, Justina Ireland wanted to be a historian. At 19, she joined the military. There, she worked as an expert in the Arabic language. Today, she lives in York, Pennsylvania. She works for the U.S. Navy. She also teaches creative writing at York College of Pennsylvania.
Justina Ireland studied history in college. She also earned a special degree in writing for children and young adults. For this degree, she wrote about how small, everyday actions can sometimes make people feel excluded. She is currently working on her PhD in English Literature.
Justina Ireland's Books
Justina Ireland is known for creating strong female characters. Her stories often explore important topics. These include race, fairness, and how people treat each other. She writes about these issues in a way that makes readers think.
Dread Nation Story
Her most famous book is Dread Nation. It is an alternate history story. This means it imagines what might have happened differently in the past. The book is set in the 1800s in the U.S. In this story, the Civil War ends when zombies appear. They rise from their graves at Gettysburg.
After this, enslaved people are freed. But Black and Indigenous children are then trained to fight the undead. They learn to protect the country. The main character is Jane McKeene. She is a biracial teenager. Jane is sent to a special combat school. She trains hard, hoping to be assigned to protect a wealthy family.
Dread Nation Reviews
Dread Nation received many positive reviews. People praised Ireland for how she handled tough topics. These topics included slavery and its lasting effects. Kirkus Reviews called it "an exciting must-read." They liked the main character, Jane.
School Library Journal said the book was a "perfect blend of horrors real and imagined." They noted how Ireland showed different types of enslavement. Alex Brown from Tor.com also praised the book. They said it showed why more diverse authors are needed in young adult literature.
Standing Up for Others
Justina Ireland is a strong supporter of diversity in young adult books. She believes there should be more authors of color. She also thinks more stories should feature characters of color. This helps all readers see themselves in books.
She founded an organization called Writing in the Margins. This group helps writers from groups that have often been overlooked. They provide guidance and support to these new authors.
Personal Life
Justina Ireland is married and has a child. Her family lives in York, Pennsylvania.
Awards and Recognitions
Justina Ireland's books have won several awards. They have also been nominated for many others.
- 2018: Won the World Fantasy Award for FIYAH (with Troy L. Wiggins).
- 2019: Dread Nation won the Locus Award.
- Dread Nation was also nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, Lodestar Award, and Andre Norton Award.
- Her book Deathless Divide was nominated for the Ladies of Horror Fiction Award in 2020.
- In 2021, Deathless Divide was nominated for the Locus Award again.
