The Thing I’m Most Afraid of

Kristin Levine received her BA in German from Swarthmore College and an MFA in film from American University. She spent a year in Vienna, Austria, working as an au pair, and has taught screenwriting at American University. Currently, she lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her two daughters. She is the author of the critically acclaimed The Best Luck I Ever Had, The Lions of Little Rock, and The Paper Cowboy.

A new middle-grade tale from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Kristin Levine about facing your fears, set in Vienna during the Bosnian genocide.

Most twelve-year-olds would be excited to fly to Austria to see their dad for the summer but then Becca is not most twelve-year-olds. Suffering from severe anxiety, she fears that the metal detectors at the airport will give her cancer and the long international flight will leave her with blood clots. Luckily, she's packed her Doomsday Journal, the one thing that always seems to help. By writing down her fears and what to do if the worst happens, Becca can get by without (many) panic attacks.

Routines and plans help Becca cope but living in a new country is full of the unexpected--including Becca's companions for the summer. Like Felix, the short and bookish son of Becca's dad's new girlfriend. Or Sara, the nineteen-year-old Bosnian refugee tasked with watching the two of them for the summer. As Becca explores Vienna and becomes close to her new friends, she soon learns she is not alone in her fears. What matters most is what you do when faced with them.

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR: Kristin Levine is the author of the award-winning The Lions of Little Rock, Jigsaw Jungle, Paper Cowboy, and The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had. Kristin is known for her heartfelt stories of family and friendship that amass starred reviews and excels at placing them in historical settings.REFUGEE CRISIS: Set in Vienna in 1992 during the Bosnian genocide, readers will learn about refugees who fled to Austria seeking safety. The topics of asylum, refugee legal status, and immigration are difficult but important issues to discuss in today's world, especially with the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and refugee crisis on our own southern border.WINNING MAIN CHARACTER: After her parent's divorce, Rebecca develops severe anxiety. She begins to worry about everything and the only way to allay her fears are to write them down and how she would handle them if they came true in her "Doomsday Journal." Readers will identify with Rebecca's situation and her unique coping mechanism.PERSONAL BACKSTORY: Kristin worked as an au pair in Austria from 1992-1993 and this book draws from her own firsthand experience.ENDEARING FRIENDSHIP STORY: Heartfelt friendship stories are the core of every one of Kristin's books and this novel is no exception. Readers will identify with and root for Rebecca and Felix as they form a strong bond that helps each of them work through their anxiety and insecurities.