A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants - by Rebecca E Hirsch (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"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.

Review Quotes

"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

-- (11/29/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"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

-- (9/19/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"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

-- (9/18/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"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

-- (8/28/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"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

-- (7/29/2024 12:00:00 AM)