The Lie Tree

Book review by Michael Berry, Common Sense Media
The Lie Tree Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 12+

Exciting, twisty mystery stars clever Victorian teen sleuth.

Frances Hardinge Fantasy 2016
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardinge, is a Victorian fantasy/mystery featuring a resourceful female teen sleuth. The novel was selected as the 2015 Costa Book of the Year; these awards are given to the most outstanding books by authors based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It has scenes of violence, but they're generally understated. A character's father is found dead. A doctor is thrown into a pit. A boy is seriously injured by a rabbit trap. Villains are shot and jump to their deaths. There's no strong language or substance use, and the only sexual content is that some adult characters are suspected of having affairs.

Community Reviews

Student01
Student01 Adult
May 13, 2019
age 14+

Slow

I think that the book is a VERY slow start and can be hard for some to understand, I also believe that it only gets exciting in the last 100 pages. I recommend to those who enjoy reading for a while before it starts to get interesting.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
L Rowland
L Rowland Adult
February 8, 2018
age 12+

Victorian gothic

Initially slow moving book with the entertainment in subtle observation - may, gently, prepare children for Jane Austin in this respect. Second half speeds up as a gothic horror. As with the best horror; the possible supernatural element is left veiled. Warnings: Plot turns half way on an apparent suicide of a major character - may distress some. The novel is set in the wake of Darwin's publication - though it isn't a major feature, it won't sit well with any 'Creationists' out there. There is a scene of rat-baiting. Several characters are assumed to be having affairs. There is a hint that two minor characters are in a lesbian relationship, though it could go unnoticed by children. There is a scene with a character apparently intoxicated on opium. The child deliberately invests a mind altering substance. In all cases the effect is painted as undesirably unpleasant. I let this book sit on my mind for a day before deciding it would be great for my bright twelve-year-old, if we read it together first time; and an entertaining diversion for my fifteen-year-old.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When her family abruptly moves from Kent to the isolated isle of Vane, Faith Sunderly doesn't understand the urgency of the situation. Her clergyman father, who's also a respected natural scientist, is embroiled in a scandal involving falsified fossils. When her father is found dead, Faith suspects murder, while nearly everyone else believes he took his own life. Determined to learn the truth and exact revenge on the guilty parties, Faith searches through her father's belongings and learns about a mysterious plant known as the Lie Tree. The tree feeds on lies and grows bitter fruits that grant revelatory visions to those who dare to eat them. Intent on her mission, Faith can't foresee the terrible consequences of nurturing the plant.

Is It Any Good?

A rich mix of Victorian mystery and timeless fantasy, this award-winning novel has plenty of plot twists and turns, as well as keen insight into the psychology of its cast of characters. In THE LIE TREE, Faith Sunderly demands justice for her murdered father, and author Frances Hardinge sets up a puzzling set of circumstances worthy of her sleuthing skills. The addition of a magical plant that feeds on lies and dispenses hidden truths adds a creepy tinge of the supernatural, not to mention a crucial serving of unpredictability. Each of the characters is seen in a different light by the end of the book.

Exciting, intense, and slyly funny, The Lie Tree will appeal to a wide and diverse audience of readers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the reasons why people lie. Are some lies worse then others? How do you know the difference?

  • Faith's father can't be buried near the church because people suspect he committed suicide. How have attitudes about suicide and mental illness changed since the 19th century?

  • What role does violence play in The Lie Tree? How is violence or the threat of it used to control people's behavior?

Book Details

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