2025 American Writing Awards Winner in Fiction: Historical

“During WWII, a young wife struggles to define her role when her husband is chosen to join the secret team who will help create the radioactive fuel for the atom bomb. Instantly relatable, full of rich detail, and beautifully written, Fission will reverberate long after you read the last page.”—Jennie Fields, author of Atomic Love

“Schover’s story provides a quiet, domestic perspective on the Manhattan Project . . . but the softer approach works for this story . . . Doris, with her dogged determination not to sit still for the rest of her life, is a uniquely powerful depiction of a 1940s housewife.”—Kirkus Reviews

“An evocative, richly detailed portrayal of love and betrayal during one of history’s most secretive operations . . .  a powerful and impactful story that I’ll certainly remember long after setting it down.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“. . . enjoyable to read and very believable, as it describes life in Oak Ridge well.”—D. Ray Smith, Oak Ridge historian and author of the column “Historically Speaking” 

“Fission delves into the constraints imposed on women who dared to harbor ambitions beyond being homemakers and mothers . . . an interesting and highly accessible account of this world-changing time and place.”—Galina Vromen, author of Hill of Secrets