Fever Crumb

Fever Crumb
Author(s)
Age Range
14+
Release Date
May 05, 2009
ISBN
0545207193
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A stunning new novel by master storyteller Philip Reeve.
Fever Crumb is a fourteen-year-old girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the Order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order. Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb-nearly the only person she's ever known-to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project.

As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own, and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London?

Fever Crumb is haunting, arresting, and astonishingly original.

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A Solid Piece of Writing
(Updated: June 24, 2026)
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Reader reviewed by Jane

Fever Crumb grew up in the Engineerium. She was raised to be rational and not give into emotionalism, so when she is sent to be the assistant of an archaeologist named Kit Solent (a very emotional man) she is in for quite a shock- not only is his behavior completely unfamiliar to her, but she finds herself plagued by memories that could not possibly be her own. They call into question not only the stories she has been told about her birth, but also her humanity.

I read Philip Reeve's first book, Mortal Engines, when it was up for a statewide award. Since then, I have slowly but surely made my way through everything he has written, including, most recently, Fever Crumb, which returns to an earlier version of the world of Mortal Engines. It bears traces of the London gods and the traction cities with which I am familiar, but it is also evident that Philip Reeve put a lot of effort into creating the world in which this book takes place, which I, of course, appreciate.


While I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone, I would caution that it is not Reeve's best- it's a solid piece of writing, but he's done better.

G
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