Fiddle Fever

by Sharon Arms Doucet

Realizing that he was born to be a musician, and despite his mother's forbidding him to play, Felix LeBlanc is forced to test his relationships with those closest to him when he secretly practices on a homemade instrument.

Genres: Fiction, Music, Historical Fiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is interesting that the cigar box fiddle that 14-year-old Felix makes in Cajun Louisiana is patterned after a real incident. It is based on the true story of Conray Fontenot, who, in his youth, built his own cigar box fiddle because his family had no money to buy him a fiddle. He later became a famous fiddler.
Another interesting thing is that the author, Sharon Arms Doucet, is married to a man who is a famed fiddler and musicologist specializing in "cajun" music of Louisiana. From her own studies, and through working with her husband, she is a recognized authority on cajun music, history and culture.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by the late Canray Fontenot, Ms. Doucet portrays fourteen-year-old Felix LeBlanc as he makes a troubled beginning with traditional music near his farm home, not far from Eunice, LA. Doucet describes the processes of making a fiddle from a cigar box, playing alone and together, getting in trouble and doing penance, all during the tumult of 1914. What's great here is the determination depicted in Felix, to succeed in the wayward path of traditional music, overcoming many obstacles, inspiring the interest of my family. We all loved Fiddle Fever. Allons-y! Read this chapter book by Ms. Doucet, wife of Michael (Beausoleil) Doucet.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books ever.I read it around 6th or 7th grade and it has stuck with me ever since. I can relate to how much the boy loves music and I would have done the same thing. It was an all around stellar book and I recommend it to whoever hasn't read it. :)

[Puck · Rating 5 out of 5]

ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! wat a grrrrrrrreeeeeaaaaaat book!!!!!

[Darklysewn · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the storyline and one child's views of adults and coming of age to understand why they make the choices they do and that family is important.