Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon’s Army & Other Diabolical Insects

paper, 257 pp., $18.95

Wicked Bugs is not for the fainthearted. Amy Stewart examines the serious foibles of a variety of insects with the same intesity as in her Wicked Plants, the successful predecessor. Stewart is a captivating writer, making her “icky” subject matter interesting, ludicrous, frightening, and diabolical. Stewart's is a carefully researched book. You won’t be able to put it down, except to wipe away imaginary insects while reading.

— Adele Kleine, Master Gardener and volunteer, Chicago Botanic Garden; writer for Chicagoland Gardening magazine