A DEATHLY COMPENDIUM OF POISONOUS PLANTS

An introduction to the seemingly harmless flowers, leaves, and seeds that hold dark potential as unexpected tools for murder and warfare.

Appealing illustrations abound in this collection of facts and cautionary tales about the world’s most poisonous plants. Readers learn about familiar plants, such as tobacco, habanero chili, and poison ivy, along with more mysterious ones, such as henbane, mandrake, and aconite. Each chapter contains harrowing anecdotes about poison victims and subsections relaying scientific information and concludes with a detailed description of the plant’s toxic effects on humans (and sometimes animals, too). Hirsch includes a bulleted list of “Deadly Details” for each plant, providing surprising facts (“People have been poisoned by eating honey made by bees gathering nectar from heartbreak grass flowers”). The striking page design evokes a strong sense of the macabre and is reminiscent of dark academia. Botanical drawings and other images break up the blocks of text. Color photographs of the plants provide a glimpse of how these dangerous species appear in the wild. Bookended by a thoughtful prologue and cautionary epilogue, the contents are organized alphabetically, allowing for quick reference. Source notes, a selected bibliography of high-quality works, a comprehensive glossary, and teen-appropriate further resources (including a quirky blog by a professional horticulturalist) invite readers to continue their education beyond the text.

An engaging, visually appealing guide for science buffs, true-crime enthusiasts, and herbalists alike.