The Lie Tree
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Exciting, twisty mystery stars clever Victorian teen sleuth.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Interesting, unique and different
Report this review
Slow
Report this review
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
- Author: Frances Hardinge
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Adventures , Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Amulet Books
- Publication date: April 19, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 18
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate