Fever (Chemical Garden Trilogy, #2)

by Lauren DeStefano

[Kim Deister]

The America of The Chemical Garden is absolutely chilling. DeStefano has created a world that may be a dystopian future, but it is one that is entirely believable. The world has changed drastically from what it once was, from the world as we know it now. But, as much as it has changed, there are some things that remain, even if they have been warped by the new world and its new needs. It is a world of fear and sadness and the inevitability of a shortened lifespan. Yet throughout this book, and the others in the series, there is the never ending thread of hope and humanity.

This series is an engrossing one, with fabulous characters and story lines that make you, as a reader, think. The characters are all very different people, all with stories of their own. Some of them you love and some of them you just love to hate. But they are characters that often challenge you and your values, your thinking. There are moments throughout the books when various characters act in somewhat questionable ways and, at first, it is easy to judge them. But when you put it in the context of the chaotic world they live in, it makes you wonder what you yourself would do in the very same situation. It is a book with definite messages, but it is done in such a way that there is absolutely no feeling of being lectured. Instead, you have a book that is somehow beautiful, even set in a world of despair, darkness, and fear. One of the major questions I found myself asking was whether freedom was worth the things that Rowan and Gabriel had to go through?

Things to love about Fever...

--The mythology. DeStefano has taken elements of our own reality and used them as the foundation for the new post-apocalyptic reality of Rowan's world, creating a reality that is entirely possible.
--The characters. They challenge the reader to really think about themselves and their own beliefs and values.
--The story lines. There are some story lines in this book that are extremely powerful, many with some strong messages about freedom and humanity.

My recommendation: You definitely need to read Wither first, but this is an absolutely wonderful read!