Fantasy Finds

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Set in 31st century London centuries if not millennia after a "downsizing" that seems suspiciously like a nuclear holocaust, this story is told by Fever Crumb, a fourteen year old girl. Dr. Crumb, a member of the Order of Engineers, found her abandoned as an infant and brought her to live within the confines of the Order's quarters. Because it was the only rational thing to do at the time because of the political unrest and imminent upheaval. Fever is raised to be strictly rational. The only girl living amongst this exclusively male order (females are not rational) she shaves her head every other day (hair is bothersome, not rational). When an ex-engineer requests her assistance, Fever leaves the safety of the Order's sanctuary (the enormous head of the ex-king's statue) and ventures out into the irrational world for the first time. Dr. Crumb's story was not exactly truthful, and Fever struggles with situations that perhaps demand a bit of irrationality while confronting the threat of municipal darwinism in the form of nomadic, mobile cities which threaten to pillage stagnant cities in the fight for survival.

Brilliant, complex, hilarious, packed with dry, english humor. The pokes at the irrationality of present day culture, seen through the eyes of 31st century society, is pitch perfect. I chose it because of the many starred and breathless reviews I read about it which turned out to be true. An unfortunate cover.


Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.

Set on the Gulf Coast far enough into the future that oil burning engines have become relics and the violent storms and rising sea levels scientists now predict will result from global warming are taking place regularly. The story is told from the perspective of a teen boy ship breaker - one whose livelihood consists of crawling over the wrecked remains of beached oil tankers for scrap metal. His dream of sailing getting close to the modern clipper ships which run on wind powered sails aided by hydrofoils may be realized when the latest and most violent storm leaves a clipper wrecked on a nearby beach. His recent brush with death, and the failure of one of his crew to try and save him, move him to take the higher road and save the rich girl aboard the wreck rather than kill her for the gold she wears, which would free him from his miserable life.

The debut young adult novel of an award winning author, I chose this for its rave reviews (National Book Award 2010) and because my students love it. The cover art is stunning when you examine it closely and realize the significance of the copper and scratches. Not yet done, but it is fabulous so far.


Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

A young girl of ten is dragged by a pack of wolves from her Minnesota back yard to the woods, where one wolf saves her from being devoured by the starving pack. Their eyes meet, and for the following six years they commune, at a distance, in her yard each winter. Her wolf disappears in the summer and we learn, through chapters that alternate between his and her perspectives, that he returns to human in the summer months. When she saves him from hunters, he reverts to human form and a love affair is predictable.

I was seeing this book everywhere and had to try it. I loved the cover art. The start was very strong, but evaporated into something less compelling. For a great fantasy featuring wolves I much preferred David Clement-Davies The Sight.

In the Must Read! category ...



Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston.

A seventeen year old who discovers a faerie realm. Laced with references to Shakespeare and with a sequel already out. My students who have read it love it.







Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.

A red riding hood tale with feisty sisters battling werewolves! Fabulous cover art!