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The Poison Diaries (Poison Diaries, 1) Hardcover – July 20, 2010

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 96 ratings
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In the right dose, everything is a poison. Even love . . .

Jessamine Luxton has lived all her sixteen years in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle, with little company apart from the plants in her garden. Her father, Thomas, a feared and respected apothecary, has taught her much about the incredible powers of plants: that even the most innocent-looking weed can cure -- or kill.

When Jessamine begins to fall in love with a mysterious boy who claims to communicate with plants, she is drawn into the dangerous world of the poison garden in a way she never could have imagined . . .

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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Poison Diaries
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Balzer + Bray
  5. Publication date
    July 20, 2010
  6. Grade level
    8 - 9
  7. Reading age
    13 years and up
  8. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.97 x 7.75 inches
  9. ISBN-10
    0061802360
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0061802362
  11. Lexile measure
    HL740L
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up–Readers will be intrigued by both the romance and complex moral questions in this fantasy set in late-18th-century England. Jessamine, 16, lives with her apothecary father, Thomas Luxton, in the remote countryside near Alnwick Castle. As she keeps house and tends to the gardens, there is one place she is forbidden to go: only her father enters the locked apothecary garden where he nurtures poisonous plants collected from all over the world. Their pastoral existence is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Weed, a straggly teenage orphan who has an inexplicable knowledge of the medicinal uses of plants. As romance blossoms between Jessamine and Weed, she discovers that he is able to communicate with all growing things. Luxton begins to crave Weed's know-how and allows him into the apothecary garden, where the teen is made physically ill by the overwhelmingly evil personalities of the poisonous blooms. What begins that day propels the three characters into a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and the supernatural influence of the Prince of Poison. The novel explores the nature of good and evil and the consequences of choices whatever their intentions. As Luxton's explanation foreshadows, a plant that can kill used in one way can heal used in another. Told mostly in Jessamine's voice, the story has a compelling sense of urgency and mystery even as climactic events become too melodramatic. The book is based on a concept by the current Duchess of Northumberland who created the real Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle.–Cheri Dobbs, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MIα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Jessamine is skilled at growing plants, but her apothecary father won't allow her into his locked garden of poisonous specimens for fear that she will come to harm. Then Weed, an orphan with a mysterious gift with plants, is left with the family, and things take a strange turn at the peaceful cottage. This intriguing fantasy has many tendrils to wrap around teen hearts: there is the budding romance between Jessamine and Weed, a grave illness that threatens Jessamine's life, Weed's supernatural skills, a series of chilling folklore-worthy tests of Weed's love, and encounters with Oleander, a figure who enters Jessamine's fevered dreams and implores her to abandon Weed and join him in death. The haunting ending will leave readers wanting to talk about the themes of cruelty, honesty, and loyalty. The setting is the area near Alnwick Castle in England, the real home of the Duchess of Northumberland, who has established her very own Poison Garden, and where (savvy fans may know) the scenes at Hogwarts were filmed in the Harry Potter movie series. Grades 8-11. --Cindy Dobrez

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balzer + Bray; 1st edition (July 20, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061802360
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061802362
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL740L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.97 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

About the author

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Maryrose Wood

Maryrose Wood

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Big news: ALICE'S FARM, A RABBIT'S TALE is here!

This book is so dear to my heart. Alice is an Eastern cottontail, but she’s no ordinary rabbit. When her farmland home is threatened, she will do whatever it takes to save it—not just for herself, but for all the creatures of the valley between the hills.

I love writing for young readers and anyone who loves a good story. I grew up on the East coast and lived in New York for most of my life, but for the past few years I've been delighted to call California home. I live in a lovely area about an hour south of Los Angeles, close to the beach, not far from the mountains. For a person who loves vegetables, like me, California is a nice place to live!

I have two rather grown-up kids, and am the amused pet-mama to two cats. One of the characters in ALICE'S FARM is based on my much-loved shiba inu, Lil. And I actually have a grand-bunny named Violet, who lives with my daughter in New York!

Please follow me on Instagram at @Maryrose.Wood -- and for the real inside scoop, hop on over to my website and join my mailing list! You’ll hear about my educational content for kids, writing training for grown-up writers, and the occasional pithy wise saying, too.

With loveawoo,

Maryrose

p.s. - Do you know about THE SWANBURNE ACADEMY? It's a monthly membership of all-new content for incorrigible learners. In fact, it’s a little bit like having Miss Penelope Lumley come to your house! Visit www.swanburneacademy.com for details.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
96 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Steph Kimball
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Sinister Fairytale Quality
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2011
Verified Purchase
The Poison Diaries is an entrancing, quick read that is one part fable, one part fairy tale (sans fairies) and one part love story.

Jessamine's father, Thomas, (as you read in the blurb) is an apothecary. He maintains several different gardens, including: one to feed himself and his daughter (veggies),one for medicinal purposes (herbs) and also one for research (the Poison Garden). Initially, we are not allowed to peek into the mysterious "Poison Garden" because Thomas forbids his daughter to enter for fear of her safety.

The beginning narrative of The Poison Diaries mirrors the glimpses of nature we are allowed to see. The tone is light and breezy while we are surrounded by chamomile, lavender and daises. Into this springtime bliss enters Weed (your typical Love Interest: handsome, glowing eyes, mysterious, thoughtful, weird name, enamoured of heroine....). Does it spoil the story for you to say Jessamine and Weed fall in love? Didn't think so.

In the latter half of The Poison Diaries, we get to enter the Poison Garden (finally) and here's where things take a dark turn. Again, mirroring the background garden against which this part of the story is set, the tone is dark, sinister, cruel and deadly once we are surrounded by belladonna, foxglove and oleander.

The Poison Diaries addresses the nature (pun intended) of life, love, death and deception in a masterful way. The only drawback might be that the ending is not wrapped with a bow. I would like to say that, "neither is real life" and think that is the reason it left off the way it did. However, the truth is: the ending is a good old-fashioned cliff-hanger to keep you coming back for the sequel being released this October.

Well, then it worked Ms. Wood and Duchess, I can't wait to see what you have on store for Jessamine, Weed and Co. next.
2 people found this helpful
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Book Fan
4.0 out of 5 stars Different is Good
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2012
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I had a lot of high hopes for this fascinating story about a lonely Northumberland girl and her apothecary father. The premise and the cover are both beautiful. So is the writing. THE POISON DIARIES gets off to a tentative start, but there is a poetic beauty in the words that kept me reading. The first person point of view is very well done.

Jessamine is the daughter of a healer who is famous throughout the land for his miraculous cures. Their ancient, rambling home is surrounded by gardens. Jessamine is as talented with plants as her father, but she yearns to learn more. The gated, locked up Poison Garden is forbidden. This is something she accepts, until the boy, Weed, shows up at their door. Their attraction to one another is sweet and subtle. The respect and admiration they have for one another is a strong foundation for their fledgling romance.

The mysterious Weed is charming in his innocence but almost frightening in his power as Jessamine learns of his ability to communicate with plants. More than once, I was reminded of the classic 80's film, Edward Scissorhands. Although the setting is historical, there are parallels in the fragile beauty of Weed's personality -- a throwback to that film.

Of everything in this book, the voice of Maryrose Wood stands out. The articulation of scene, of setting and of character, is beautifully crafted. I found the words to be as haunting as the story. But THE POISON DIARIES is not a fast-paced book. It does drag along in some sequences as the young lovers struggle to hold on to one another. In contrast, the evil, eerie twist in the final pages is riveting. It definitely opens the door for more books in the series.

With reservation, I have to suggest that not everyone will find this dark, romantic tale to their liking. I would have preferred a bit more cleverness in the plotting. More sharpness in the editorial eye. However, it is a thought provoking read and a unique story that readers will be relieved to find among all the clutter of cookie-cutter Young Adult fiction
3 people found this helpful
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thoughts&comments
3.0 out of 5 stars Honestly . . .
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2012
Verified Purchase
Okay, as a girl in her teens, who kinda likes books similar to this, I bought it. What a waste of my time. Okay, don't get me wrong, it was ... cute? No, wrong word, weird is more accurate. Anyway, the plot was pretty good . . . but then the author threw in the now-popular Mary-sue heroine. I swear this girl had no thoughts. And a naturally, we cant have a good book without INSTA-Love now can we? (Cue the eye roll).

Plot from my point of view: SPOILER ALERT!

Girl falls in love with boy.

Boy falls in love with girl

Dad is jealous of Boys skill w/ plants.

Dad poisons Girl to learns all these new remedies from the Boy. (WTH?! What kind of father is this?)

Boy has to talk to the deadly plants . . .(I know, right?) and they want him to do tasks.

Blah blah Blah . . . Boy does something to make him feel unworthy, and leaves. He has the Edward Cullen syndrome.

End of Book One. SPOILER ALERT END!

This reads like a TV episode. First half was her falling in love. (which was boring) and the second half is so freaking confusing and immaturely written. And THEN . . . It just Ends! The POV switches randomly, and at confusing times ... and both protagonists have a very similar voice. Both silly, naive and brainless.

So WHY did this earn 3 stars from me?

The plot. The idea, and the fact that for a teen book it is really clean.

I bought this book while it was 99cents. I figured I would get the second too, just to finish it. but the second is 10.00 . . . I'm sorry, I would not spend my money on the sequel. And I don't think I would have taken a risk on this one either if it hadn't been 99 cents.

But good for the author for sticking her neck out there and publishing a book! Thumbs up!
3 people found this helpful
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Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars its so catchy
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2016
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Oh my, this book is intense, there should be more of this available, its so catchy
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Gene Barker
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2013
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This was a good read, but slow in building to any meaningful "action" sequences. It was mostly a high school "drama" written from that emotional level. The end of the book was a good enough leadin to the next book that I also ordered book 2 in the series in the hopes that the story line and action/plot increases significantly.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Geri8472
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read and great twist.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
I brought this product and I really enjoyed reading the book. It was a nice easy read and now I have ordered the second book to continue the story. I would highly recommend this book. I love the twist of the last few chapters towards the end and it does leave a cliffhanger. Looking forward to the next book
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Fleur
5.0 out of 5 stars Belladonna
Reviewed in Germany on May 24, 2012
Verified Purchase
Dieser Roman liest sich sehr flüssig, es gibt keine Längen. Zum Inhalt: Das Mädchen Jessamine lebt mit ihrem Vater sehr abgeschieden. Ihre Freude ist die Natur. Der Vater weiss um die Heilkraft der Pflanzen, was ihm Bewunderung und Hass einbringt.
Eines Tages bringt Thomas Pratt einen Jungen in die Familie, welcher noch viel mehr über Pflanzenheilkunde zu wissen scheint, und die Ereignisse nehmen ihren Lauf.
Besonders gut gefiel mir dabei das Gleichgewicht der Geschichte - die Romantik nimmt nicht zuviel Raum ein, ist aber durchaus vorhanden. Nie driftet das Buch in Kitsch ab. Alles ist wohldosiert.
An diesem Roman gefiel mir besonders das ruhige Erzähltempo. Auch die Figuren mochte ich, nur das Ende war ein wenig schwach. Wer von Vampiren, Elfen und Werwesen genug hat, sollte diesen Roman unbedingt lesen.
One person found this helpful
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Sarah (Feeling Fictional)
4.0 out of 5 stars Poison Diaries book 1
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2011
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Jessamine and her father Thomas live a quiet life in the ruins of Hulne Abbey spending most of their time tending to their gardens. There is one garden that it is forbidden for Jessamine to enter though - her father's poison garden where he keeps the dangerous plants he uses to make medicines. Thomas is the local apothecary and is constantly searching for new uses for his plants. One day a stranger arrives, bringing with him an orphan who is said to have an incredible knowledge of plants. Thomas takes in the orphan hoping to learn from him but Weed is determined to keep his secrets.

It is so nice to come across a book that is so different to anything I've read before, The Poison Diaries is a beautifully descriptive tale full of mystery, love and deceit. I really felt for Jessamine, her father is so wrapped up in his research that he often leaves her alone for days at a time. She isn't allowed to talk to the other villagers in case she gives away some of his secrets so her life is a lonely one. She spends her time taking care of the gardens, looking after the house and cooking for her father but although she longs for company she doesn't sit around feeling sorry for herself. She is thrilled when her father allows Weed to live with them, finally she has someone to talk to and I enjoyed watching their friendship develop.

When Weed first arrives he is nervous and withdrawn, he has never had a family and is afraid to trust Jessamine and her father. As Jessamine takes him under her wing he gradually comes out of himself and begins to trust her but is still scared to tell her his deepest secret. I'm not going to tell you what that secret is because I don't want to spoil the story for you but it added a wonderful element to the book and I was completely hooked from the moment it was revealed. The more we learn about Weed the more likable he becomes and I can't wait to get to know him better in the next installment. What I loved most about Weed and Jessamine's relationship was that it wasn't another case of instant love, the two characters spend time together and their feelings develop slowly which made their relationship so much more believable.

The setting of the story is almost a character in it's own right. It was easy to picture the ruins of Hulne Abbey and the surrounding gardens that Thomas has created and I felt like I was walking alongside Jessamine and Weed as they explored the area. From the first time they step foot in the poison garden you feel a real sense of foreboding and this only increases as you discover more about Weed's special abilities. When Jessamine falls ill Weed has no choice but to face his fears if he wants to save her but it isn't going to be easy for him. I did have a fairly good guess at part of the ending but there were quite a few twists that took me by surprise and I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes us. If you're looking for a magical tale that is a little different from the usual paranormal stories then I would definitely recommend checking out The Poison Diaries.
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Fuchs Joan
3.0 out of 5 stars Zu unausgeglichen
Reviewed in Germany on March 10, 2014
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Das Buch hat sehr gut und spannend begonnen, doch ab dem 2. Drittel wird das Ganze etwas konfus. Wie schon andere Rezensenten meinten, es gibt hier ganz viele gute Ansätze, doch die werden irgendwie einfach liegen gelassen und das Ganze "verkommt" zu einer Story um Magie. Eigentlich schade, denn die Giftpflanzen sind gut recherchiert und man wünschte sich eigentlich mehr davon. Ich werde Band 2 dennoch lesen, vielleicht kann sie dort bringen, was in Band 1 gefehlt hat.
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A. H. Calkoen
5.0 out of 5 stars 1st in the series. Enjoyable book with a story ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2016
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1st in the series. Enjoyable book with a story that draws you in and gives you some information on the medicinal use of plants. Bit of a cliff hanger at the end so you have to get the next installment...
One person found this helpful
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