Joy McCullough’s 14th book “Everything is Poison” is pictured above. Released on Jan. 14, the young adult historical fiction novel tells the story of a young woman living in ancient Campo Marzio, Rome, and delivers a fast-paced, entertaining novel that carries themes relevant to today. “Despite its historical setting, ‘Everything Is Poison’ still manages to explore themes and subjects that are still discussed today, such as someone’s right to control what happens to their body and the dangers of making somebody a scapegoat,” Journalism I student Sasha Barkan wrote. Photo fair use of Goodreads
Joy McCullough’s historical novel “Everything is Poison” delivers an entertaining and fun story full of relevant themes and questions.
Is it ever okay to take a life? What is the true meaning of family? Who is deserving of forgiveness? These are just some of the questions that Joy McCullough asks in her young adult historical fiction novel“Everything is Poison”.
The approximately 300-page novel delivers a well-paced and interesting fictionalized account of Giulia Tofana, a professional poisoner from 17th-century Campo Marzio, Rome, and her apothecary.
The story follows Tofana’s daughter, Carmela, as she watches her mother and her mother’s assistants, Laura and Maria, craft remedies and, unbeknownst to Carmela at the time, poisons. As Carmela starts working in the apothecary, she begins to discover its inner workings and secrets.
The story is told in a combination of prose and verse, with every few chapters of prose punctuated by a poem. These poems provide insight into the district of Campo Marzio by drawing comparisons between established characters and ones living separate lives disconnected from the main storyline and help flesh out the setting of Campo Marzio and break up the monotony of the book.
For example, after a chapter focusing on a priest called Father Piero, there is a poem that details the life of another priest whose story doesn’t connect to the larger plot but instead serves to provide depth and insight into the world of Campo Marzio.
Is it ever okay to take a life? What is the true meaning of family? Who is deserving of forgiveness? These are just some of the questions that Joy McCullough asks.
The book delivers unexpected turns and exciting realizations around every corner. While the writing can often drift into the realm of purple prose, flowery and exaggerated, the vivid descriptions of characters and their actions help transport readers across the centuries.
Despite the difference in time period, “Everything Is Poison” manages to explore themes and subjects that are still discussed today, such as someone’s right to control what happens to their body and the dangers of making somebody a scapegoat.
All in all, “Everything Is Poison” by Joy McCullough is an exciting and entertaining novel that discusses issues and questions still relevant in the 21st century through the lens of a 16-year-old woman in Campo Marzio, Rome.
