Starred ReviewStarred Review A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants
Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds
“Should you encounter any of the plants in this book, do not treat them lightly. They can kill you. Or cause you unbearable agony. Or land you in jail. Consider yourself warned.”
Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants.
Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother’s Nature’s ghoulish garden. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own.
In A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds author Rebecca Hirsch takes you on a wild journey to look at how toxic chemicals in the natural world have been used for medicine, warfare, and sinister acts of foul play. Tread lightly as we explore these plants’ ominous deeds.
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978-1-7284-9328-2
Temporarily out of stock
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$28.99 | |
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979-8-7656-2524-8
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$18.99 | |
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979-8-7656-1953-7
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$43.99 |
Awards
- Notable AwardNotable Award YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers Top Ten
- Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices
- Green Mountain Book Award Nominee
- Notable AwardNotable Award School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
- Notable AwardNotable Award Kirkus Best Teen/YA of 2024
Reviews
Starred ReviewStarred Review School Library Journal
“This compendium is perfect for science buffs, true-crime lovers, herbalists, and teens drawn to the macabre. A must-have for anyone with a curiosity about nature’s most sinister secrets.”—starred, School Library Journal
Shelf Awareness
“A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants is a deeply interesting and informative YA book that will appeal to those who dance with danger and those curious about the science of deadly plants.”—Shelf Awareness
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“Each chapter opens with a full page, gorgeously rendered illustration of a plant in all its glory, set against a sepia-toned background that evokes a well-used, old-fashioned guidebook, and captioned photos throughout bring added appeal. While the organization makes this eminently browsable, it’s possible readers just won’t put it down.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Foreword Reviews
“Beautiful color photographs and drawings throughout the book make the plants easy to identify and bring their use throughout history into vivid focus. A memorable, enjoyable reference book, A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants combines often gruesome historical anecdotes with edifying botany lessons.”—Foreword Reviews
Booklist
“Promising “myth, mayhem, and murder,” this diabolical botanical guide delivers on all fronts . . . Deliciously macabre and almost conspiratorial in tone, Hirsch’s coverage is nicely rounded, pulling in traditional uses of many of these plants, some of which have medicinal treatments in small doses."—Booklist
Starred ReviewStarred Review Kirkus Reviews
“The striking page design evokes a strong sense of the macabre and is reminiscent of dark academia . . . An engaging, visually appealing guide for science buffs, true-crime enthusiasts, and herbalists alike.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews