Passion and Poison

Tales of Shape-Shifters, Ghosts, and Spirited Women

By Negro, Janice M. Del

Publishers Summary:
Janice M. Del Negro's unique storyteller's voice enlivens this collection of eight original tales about strong, resolute females. Whether she's spinning a story about a brave housekeeper who does not suffer fools gladly or a woman who uses her wits to avenge her sister's death, she embroiders her tales with elegant language and vivid imagery. There are characters and settings that will chill the bones, from the skulls in a moonlit mausoleum to the apparition of a wealthy woman "in a cyclone of light and fog" to three cauldrons filled with hair, bones, and blood. Mysterious shape-shifters and ghostly figures appear, but the women here handle them with grace and conviction. Acting to achieve justice and fairness, these characters become heroines in the landscape of the imagination. 10 yrs+

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ISBN
978-0-76145-361-1
Publisher
Cavendish


REVIEWS

School Library Journal

Reviewed on December 1, 2007

Gr 3-Up This collection of eight Gothic tales features strong and resourceful women and girls who take their fates in their own hands and mold their destinies through wit, courage, and intelligence. From the proud housekeeper in "Skulls and Bones, Ghosts, and Gold" to the dedicated sister in "Rubies," these protagonists will stop at nothing to right wrongs and serve justice. With the exception of the final tale, the stories are set in the past, enhancing the mysterious, moody, otherwor...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Horn Book Magazine

Reviewed on November 1, 2007

You could read these seven tales alone to enjoy their spooky twists and turns, but it would be a shame. Del Negro's mesmerizing storytelling begs to be shared aloud; its deceptive informality ("And even if you could make a pact with the devil—and I'm not saying that you can't"), dramatic timing, and challenge to figure out "what really happened" are sure to grab listeners. What was that cat that br...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Horn Book Guide

Starred Review on January 1, 2007

In a scrupulously detailed note, the author explains that these are "original tales or retellings based on traditional folkloric motifs." Del ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

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