The Only Thing to Fear

by Caroline Tung Richmond

Overview

In a stunning reimagining of history, debut author Caroline Tung Richmond weaves an incredible story of secrets and honor in a world where Hitler won World War II.

It's been nearly 80 years since the Allies lost WWII in a crushing defeat against Hitler's genetically engineered super soldiers. America has been carved up by the victors, and 16-year-old Zara lives a life of oppression in the Eastern America Territories. Under the iron rule of the Nazis, the government strives to maintain a master race, controlling everything from jobs to genetics. Despite her mixed heritage and hopeless social standing, Zara dreams of the free America she's only read about in banned books. A revolution is growing, and a rogue rebel group is plotting a deadly coup. Zara might hold the key to taking down the Führer for good, but it also might be the very thing that destroys her. Because what she has to offer the rebels is something she's spent her entire life hiding, under threat of immediate execution by the Nazis. In this action-packed, heart-stopping novel of a terrifying reality that could have been, Zara must decide just how far she'll go for freedom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545872140
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/26/2016
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	422,389
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Caroline Tung Richmond is the author of the alternative history novels The Only Thing to Fear and Live in Infamy, as well as the historical fiction novel The Darkest Hour. She’s also the program director of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit that seeks to create a world where all children can find themselves on the pages of a book.

A self-proclaimed history nerd and cookie connoisseur, Caroline lives in Maryland with her family and her dog, Otto von Bismarck—named for the German chancellor (naturally). You can find out more about at her at carolinetrichmond.com.

Read an Excerpt

Zara froze, each word of his puncturing her skin. A spy. An execution. She tried to breathe, but the air wouldn't come fast enough. Was her uncle safe? Had he gotten arrested? He had been so cautious these last eight years, but when it came to the Nazis no one was ever truly safe. She had to find out who the spy was. Zara wanted to run to the square immediately, but she forced herself to wheel her cart back into the utility room. She had to act like a humble hausmeister for another few minutes she couldn't let anyone get suspicious. After she pulled off her apron, she found the nearest exit and broke into a sprint once the academy was behind her, passing the tea shop and the Nazi Women's Charity League, which was gathering old coats and shoes for an orphanage. Hundreds of people had lined the streets already, a sea of pale-faced men and wide-eyed women, Germans and laborers mixed together. No one had seen an execution in years. Please, please let Uncle Red be all right, Zara thought desperately. A cloud of tears stormed into her eyes. She hadn't even waved good-bye to him that morning. She should have kissed him on the cheek, told her that she loved him. She urged her legs faster. Weaving from left to right, Zara squeezed through the throng until she neared the stage in the square. Two dozen soldiers had spread over the stage, standing shoulder to shoulder, forming a wall of guns and muscle. Zara had to stand on her tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the spy. Not Uncle Red. Please, not Uncle Red, she repeated over and over in her head. She strained her neck until she saw a sliver of the spy's face. Zara's throat cinched like a belt.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Only Thing to Fear"Richmond makes an impressive debut with this alternate history . . . She twists history and throws in creative exploitation of superpowers to deliver a fast-paced adventure." —Publishers Weekly "Reminiscent of series like The Hunger Game and Divergent, but the alternative-history angle adds a spark of its own." —Booklist"An outstanding debut that will thrill readers of all ages."—SciFiPulse.net"The Only Thing to Fear can be summed up in two words: realistically frightening . . . This heart-stopping novel goes to the extremes of what could have been and what may have been done." —TeenReads.com"The plot is fast-paced and will appeal to both historical fiction and science fiction readers." —Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

09/29/2014
Richmond makes an impressive debut with this alternate history, which sees a 16-year-old half-Japanese girl growing up in the Nazi-dominated Eastern half of the United States, decades after Germany won WWII through the use of genetically engineered superhumans. Zara St. James, constantly subjected to prejudice and discrimination, is hiding a secret: she, too, is an Anomaly, with the power to control wind. Though she wants to join the rebel Alliance, her uncle believes it too dangerous for her. Events spiral out of control when the Nazis crack down on potential rebels and sympathizers, forcing Zara to reveal her powers while teaming up with a surprising ally—the privileged son of a high-ranking German official. Readers will be able to detect shades of Katniss in this story of a brave and resourceful young woman who inadvertently becomes the poster child for rebellion. But Richmond twists history and throws in creative exploitation of superpowers to deliver a fast-paced adventure that incorporates romantic themes without being overly reliant on them. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

2014-06-10
That 20th-century speculative-fiction staple, the what-if-Hitler-won-the-war alternate history, meets 21st-century special-girl dystopia.It’s been almost a century since the Axis powers divided a conquered North America among them: Japan in the west, Germany in the east, and Italy in the Dakotas. In the Nazi-controlled Shenandoah Valley, 16-year-old half-Japanese Zara is an Untermensch, a half-breed fit only for scut work. Though she works all hours as both a janitor and a farm girl, Zara desperately wants Uncle Red to allow her to join the Revolutionary Alliance, the anti-Nazi underground. But her uncle, still grieving the death of Zara’s mother in an Alliance mission gone wrong, is determined to protect her. Besides, he argues, it’s vital that Zara hide her Anomaly power—superpowers the Nazis developed in their death camps that allowed them to win the war. Only Aryans are allowed to be Anomalies; if the Nazis learn Zara can control wind with her mind, she’ll be headed to a dreadful fate. Along with an Aryan child of privilege who wants to join the rebellion, Zara must do the unthinkable and save the world. Though these Nazis are oddly restrained in their evil compared to the real thing (they haven’t tried to ethnically cleanse North America, for one), they make for believable dictatorial overlords.Overall, a satisfying and appropriately hectic action adventure with a perfectly likable if interchangeable (but for her biracial heritage) protagonist. (Dystopian adventure. 12-15)

Kirkus Reviews