The Poison Diaries
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4.0 • 2 Ratings
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
A dark, gothic tale of romance… and murder.
In the right dose, everything is a poison.
Jessamine has spent her whole life in a cottage close to her father's apothecary garden, surrounded by medicinal plants and herbs that could kill her – although her father has never allowed her into the most dangerous part of the grounds… the poison garden. And so she’s never had reason to be afraid – until now. Because now a newcomer has come to live with the family, a quiet but strangely attractive orphan boy named Weed.
Though Weed doesn't say much in words, he has an instant talent for the apothecary's trade, seeming to possess a close bond with the plants of the garden. Soon, he and Jessamine also share a close bond. But little does Jessamine know that passion can be just as poisonous as the deadliest plants in the garden – for behind Weed's instinctive way in the garden is a terrible secret. The plants can talk to him – and not just the kind ones that can heal, but the ruthless ones that can kill too…
About the author
Maryrose started out writing for the theatre and film, as a lyricist, librettist, playwright and screenwriter. She was the first recipient of the Georgia Bogardus Holof Lyricist Award, and is a three-time recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for New Musicals, which is administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
She has written a number of novels for young adults including WHY I LET MY HAIR GROW OUT, HOW I FOUND THE PERFECT DRESS and WHAT I WORE TO SAVE THE WORLD.
She enjoys gardening, kayaking, napping, reading tons of books, and trying new vegetarian recipes (with mixed success). She lives in New York with her two children, two kittens, and a small, feisty, red-headed dog.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Based on a concept by the duchess of Northumberland, Wood (The Mysterious Howling) tells a passionate story of love, betrayal, and loquacious plants in this unique, slightly bizarre tale, first in a planned trilogy. Sheltered 16-year-old Jessamine lives with her domineering apothecary father, Thomas, in an austere cottage near an abandoned castle in late 18th-century England. Frequently left alone while her father journeys to London, Jessamine is thrilled when Weed, a taciturn teenage orphan, shows up. Weed has a vast knowledge of plants, which Jessamine learns comes from his ability to communicate with them. A sweet romance between Weed and Jessamine is threatened by Thomas s desire for Weed to teach him about the poisonous plants in his garden. The story, slow at first, accelerates when Wood makes it apparent that Jessamine s father is connected to her grave and sudden illness. The final chapters are a bit disjointed, as the first-person narration jumps between Jessamine, Weed, and the slyly evil Prince Oleander plant. Still, Wood does a marvelous job of creating heart-wrenching decisions for her characters and portraying a doomed romance reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. Ages 12 up.
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