Poison

Chris Wooding's 'Poison' is a dark, metafictional fantasy novel that follows 16-year-old Poison on a quest to rescue her baby sister, Azalea, who has been swapped for a changeling by phaeries. The story is rich with folklore and fairy tale tropes, but subverts them with a gritty, intense narrative. Poison's journey is one of self-discovery, rebellion against fate, and forging unlikely friendships with a wraith-catcher, a naive girl, and a talking cat. Parents should note the book's mature themes, including violence, peril, and philosophical discussions about destiny and identity, making it suitable for middle school and early high school readers, generally ages 12-16.