Fever Crumb | Philip Reeve

My_hipstaprint_0

Fever Crumb has been brought up to be logical above all else. After being found as an infant by Mr. Crumb, she is raised alongside his fellow Engineers until her services are needed by a local archeologist. Her rational mind is tested, however, when the dig uncovers memories that cannot possibly be her own. Memories of the Scrivener daily life -- impossible, as the last known members of the fallen, mutated race were killed off when she was but months old. Worse still, there are folks in London who believe Fever is one of them despite her unblemished skin. Will Fever's reason prevail or will she burn alongside London?

I am in love with this book.

It was so hard to put down to do anything -- bathe, compile a Halloween costume, have normal face-to-face conversations with friends I haven't seen in far too long. No matter where I was physically, my mind was still in the complex steam-punk world that Reeve built. Fever reminds me a little of Lyra in The Golden Compass, with her education and origin story, but she also felt like a new creature. After watching the first 20 minutes of Coraline with 15 classes while my voice rested, I also came to appreciate that Fever needs no Wibey-esque sidekick. She carries the story's adventures and mysteries on her own or through interactions with adults.

I also have a soft spot for the discussion of our current technology as something past, a la The Search for WondLa, might be my new favorite middle-grade fiction trend. And the little details just do it to you. The Stalkers, which are reanimated (zombiescoughcough) corpses fused with machines to build an army, are an interesting parallel to the frequent use of paper balloons and the Engineers' library. I liked that Fever's name originated from a trend during the riots wherein pregnant women named their offspring for the maladies they endured during pregnancy. I liked the very wording of Mr. Crumb's struggle to maintain his cool when Fever left home for the first time and Fever's dissatisfaction with the theater.

It is with a sad sigh I admit I haven't read the Mortal Engines quintent yet, so I do have some reservations that my first exposure to Reeve might cloud my review with adoration's first blush. But whatever - Cybils shortlist reccomended! There, I've said it.

Posted on Monday, Nov 1, 2010