The Fever (novel)

The Fever is a novel by American writer Megan Abbott first published in 2014 by Little, Brown and Company. It is Abbott's seventh novel.

This article is about the Megan Abbott novel. For similar uses, see Fever (disambiguation) § Novels.
The Fever
AuthorMegan Abbott
LanguageEnglish
GenreCrime fiction
PublisherLittle, Brown and Company
Publication date
June 17, 2014
Media typePrint (paperback and hardback)
ISBN9780316231053

Abbott was inspired to write the novel by the 2012 LeRoy, New York Mass hysteria case.[1]

Plot

Deenie Nash is a diligent student with a close-knit family: her brother, Eli, is a hockey star and her father is a popular teacher. But when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in the middle of class, the Nashes' seeming stability dissolves into chaos.

Soon more local girls start to experience bizarre symptoms, leaving health officials puzzled and parents in an uproar. As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families, and the town's fragile idea of security.

Reception

The Fever was generally well received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist,[2] Kirkus Reviews,[3] and Library Journal.[4] Booklist called the book "a powerful portrait of community, with interesting echoes of The Crucible."[2] Kirkus wrote, "Nothing should be taken at face value in this jealousy- and hormone-soaked world except that Abbott is certainly our very best guide."[3] Library Journal said The Fever was Abbott's best novel to date.

The New York Times described Abbott as "a skilled storyteller," and The Fever as "a gripping and unsettling novel."[5]

Publishers Weekly wrote, "Abbott’s adolescents are close to pitch-perfect with their sudden switches between childlike vulnerability and calculating maturity," though mentioned "the narrative lacks in depth."[6] Ultimately, they called the novel "a gripping story fueled by the razor-sharp treachery, jealousy, hormones, and insecurities of teenage girls."[6]

Entertainment Weekly gave the book a B+ grade.[7]

Awards for The Fever
Year Award Result Ref.
2014 Strand Critics Award for Best Novel Nominee
2015 ITW Thriller Award for Novel Winner [8]

References
  1. Brown, David W. "Writing of Rage and the Teenage Girl". Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. Graff, Keir (2014-05-01). "The Fever". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  3. "The Fever". Kirkus Reviews. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  4. French, Liz (2014-07-18). "The Fever". Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  5. Tennant-Moore, Hannah (27 June 2014). "The Awakening 'The Fever,' by Megan Abbott". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  6. "The Fever by Megan Abbott". Publishers Weekly. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  7. LEE, STEPHAN. "The Fever". Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  8. "Megan Abbott". Stop, You're Killing Me!. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
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