The Only Thing to Fear
Eighty years have passed since the end of WWII. In this alternate history, the Nazis developed genetic superpowers, “anomalies”, before the United States could complete the atomic bomb. North America has been conquered and occupied by the Axis powers. Sixteen-year-old Zara lives in German-controlled Shenandoah Valley. She is half Japanese, fit only for the most menial work as a janitor at an Aryan school. Her mother, part of the anti-Nazi resistance, died in a mission gone awry. Zara desperately wants to join the resistance, but her Uncle Red refuses to let Zara join. The activities of the resistance are dangerous, but Zara is even more at risk because she has an “anomaly” power herself. The Nazis would use her for medical experiments if her powers are revealed. Despite Uncle Red’s warnings, Zara is drawn into the movement where she will have a crucial role to play that may change the world.
An Aryan boy sympathetic to the cause provides a romantic subplot that balances the action nicely. The premise of The Only Thing to Fear is unbelievable, and the inevitable backstory slows down the beginning of the novel. However, once you accept the premise, the story is filled with action and an appealing heroine. As Zara learns to use her powers and fight for the resistance, she comes into her own as a heroine and as a young woman in a way that YA readers will find appealing.
