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."
Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother’s Nature’s ghoulish garden.
Zest Books (October 22, 2024)
ISBN-10: 1728493285
ISBN-13: 978-1728493282
200 pages
Honors
YALSA 2025 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers - Top 10 Selection
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Best Teen/YA Book of the Year
Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices
Rhode Island Teen Book Award nominee
Vermont Green Mountain Book Award nominee
Reviews
★ “An engaging, visually appealing guide for science buffs, true-crime enthusiasts, and herbalists alike.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “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.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
“Promising “myth, mayhem, and murder,” this diabolical botanical guide delivers on all fronts . . . Deliciously macabre.”
—Booklist
“A memorable, enjoyable reference book… combines often gruesome historical anecdotes with edifying botany lessons.”
—Foreword Reviews
“Eminently browsable, [but] it's possible readers just won't put it down”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“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
“An engaging volume for strong-stomached horticulturists and medical aficionados.”
—Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Want to explore the science, history, and true crime featured in A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants?
Download the complete bibliography here: