Prunella by Beth Ferry (review)

Reviewed by: Prunella by Beth Ferry Kate Quealy-Gainer Ferry, Beth Prunella; illus. by Claire Keane. Simon, 2024 40p Trade ed. ISBN 9781665921732 18. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781665921749 10. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-8 yrs Prunella's purple thumb was certainly an oddity when she was born, but her gardener parents turned out to be right in their belief that it meant she would share their love of plants. She cares more for the stranger plants, however, like corpse flowers, poison ivy, and skunk cabbage, and her preferences draw mockery from her playmates. So, she tends to isolate herself, content with the company of Venus fly traps, porcupine tomatoes, and bladderwort, along with the insects that pollinate them. She's initially a little prickly when a younger kid shows up and intrudes upon her garden, wondering at its various denizens, but his joyful interest is hard to turn away, and he and his aspiring mycologist sister soon are regular visitors. Prunella is delightful as a grumpy but confident protagonist, knowing what she likes and unwilling to give her passion up just to fit in, while the neighbor kid's wide-eyed enthusiasm is absolutely infectious. Dialogue in speech bubbles complements the narrative text, adding both emotion and explanation along with the actual plant names and characteristics. The digital art's palette has almost garish undertones, with dusky purples and blues washing over most scenes, yet the cartoony, dynamic characters add plenty of warmth and energy. Aspiring botanists will find this utterly irresistible, and they'll appreciate the endpapers that provide more info on each plant. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois