McCullough, Joy. Everything Is Poison. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2025. 978-0-593-85587-4. $19.99. 304 p. Grades 9-12.
McCullough (Blood Water Paint, 2018; Enter the Body, 2023) returns with another powerful young adult historical fiction that transports readers to 17th Century Rome. Carmela Tofana is desperate to follow in her mother’s footsteps in their family’s apothecary La Tofana. Finally on her 16th birthday, Carmela is permitted to accompany the women of the apothecary into the workroom where all the ingredients for the magical remedies are stored. Often feeling like she’s in the way but desperate to prove that she belongs there, Carmela struggles to find her place among the respected (and sometimes feared) healers. As she masters simple remedies and the art of watching her tongue while working with customers, Carmela begins to blossom. However, there are remedies and secrets Carmela never knew about as a naive child. Some clients come to the apothecary and are seeking a last resort cure. When Carmela is faced with helping a peer who has been nothing but unkind to her, she has to decide who she will be and if she is cut out for the work of an apothecary woman.
THOUGHTS: Filled with beautiful descriptions of plants and historical architecture, McCullough’s newest novel will fill a gap in older historical fiction, shining a light on women at a time when they were not recognized as powerful. This is more than just a historical fiction, so readers will enjoy the strong female friendships and familial relationships. Highly recommended for high school collections.
Historical Fiction