Live in Infamy (a companion to The Only Thing to Fear) - Hardcover

Richmond, Caroline Tung

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1338111094 ISBN 13: 9781338111095

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2018

Synopsis

In the eighty years since the Axis powers won World War II with their genetically engineered super soldiers, America has changed drastically in the hands of the unforgiving victors. But there are still those who aspire to what the country used to stand for: freedom for all.In the Western American Territories, Chinese American Ren Cabot has lost nearly everything to Imperial Japan's rule. After the public execution of his mom for treason five years ago, Ren lives under constant scrutiny of the Empire, afraid that one wrong step will rip apart what remains of his family for good. However, when a chance encounter with a resistance group offers Ren an opportunity to save lives and quite possibly topple the government, he agrees to their deadly plot. But his role will lead him straight into the heart of the enemy, and if caught, death would be a much better fate than what the Empire will do to him . . .

About this title

About the Author

Caroline Tung Richmond is the author of The Only Thing to Fear and The Darkest Hour, as well as a freelancer writer.

A self-proclaimed history nerd and cookie connoisseur, Caroline lives in Virginia with her family and her dog, Otto von Bismarck―named for the German chancellor (naturally).

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—The Allied powers have lost World War II. The United States, now sliced into pieces held by Japan, Italy, and Germany exists under strictly enforced racial and social hierarchies. The story is set in the Japanese-controlled Western American Territories, where ruling monarch Crown Prince Katsura uses threats of being sent to jail, re-education centers (housed in the former Japanese concentration camps), or execution by the Imperial Army's Ronin Elite to keep the populace under control. The Ronin Elite are "anomalies" possessing a gene enabling them to kill with a look or a touch. Despite this, a resistance movement is growing bolder and the frustrated Crown Prince is becoming increasingly repressive. Ren Tsai, son of a white American man, was forced to watch the execution of his Chinese American mother for treason. He secretly took up her work and became a resistance propagandist known as The Viper. Circumstances force Ren to come forward and assist in a daring plot which will dramatically increase the rebel movement's strength. The straightforward narrative has few twists, and characters are developed just well enough to tell the story. Social issues have as much weight here as the historical elements. The simplicity of the story works in the book's favor; potentially challenging material is accessible to middle grade readers, but there is enough action to hook older ones. VERDICT This is a good introduction to historical reimagining for middle grades; all readers will be engaged with the handling of social issues as well as revelations about the secret pockets of resistors, their plots, and their battles with authorities.—Carla Riemer, Claremont Middle School, Oakland

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1338111094
• ISBN 13: 9781338111095
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304