The Lie Tree
Ratings20
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings20
Average rating4.2
Read this thought-provoking, critically acclaimed novel (6 starred reviews!!!) from Frances Hardinge, winner of the Costa Book of the Year, Costa Children's Book Award, and Horn Book-Boston Globe Award. Faith Sunderly leads a double life. To most people, she is reliable, dull, trustworthy—a proper young lady who knows her place as inferior to men. But inside, Faith is full of questions and curiosity, and she cannot resist mysteries: an unattended envelope, an unlocked door. She knows secrets no one suspects her of knowing. She knows that her family moved to the close-knit island of Vane because her famous scientist father was fleeing a reputation-destroying scandal. And she knows, when her father is discovered dead shortly thereafter, that he was murdered. In pursuit of justice and revenge, Faith hunts through her father’s possessions and discovers a strange tree. The tree bears fruit only when she whispers a lie to it. The fruit of the tree, when eaten, delivers a hidden truth. The tree might hold the key to her father’s murder—or it may lure the murderer directly to Faith herself. Frances Hardinge is the author of many acclaimed novels, including Cuckoo Song, which earned five starred reviews.
Reviews with the most likes.
I really enjoyed this parable on evolution, emerging feminism and honesty. You'd think that a speculative fiction book about a girl's role in society, the tension inherent in being a natural scientist while being clergy (as most Victorian scientists were), the Victorian obsession with death, and evolution would be pretty scattered. However, I found The Lie Tree to be one of the most tightly woven books I've ever read: no subplot was left unresolved, and barely a sentence was included without being tied back to one of the central themes of the book. This smoothness may be a turnoff for some – in places, it made the book feel a little juvenile to me – but I couldn't help but marvel at the artistry.
And at the end of the day, my favorite themes are women's place in science, the marvel inherent in natural science, the importance of uncomfortable honesty and speculative fiction, so I enjoyed this thoroughly.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it better towards the end, so I'd recommend sticking with it. Lots of thoughts on feminism and women's diminished roles in the Victorian era. The female characters slowly revealed complexities as the book reaches it's climax is fascinating. Faith and Paul's mutually antagonistic friendship was a delight to read. Faith's interactions with her little brother Howard were also heartfelt and at times deeply sad. When she tells him that good boys write their scriptures right handed, and ghosts don't bother good boys, and then he reveals almost hysterically his pages showing his attempts - that scene was so sad.
Honestly what I dislike about the book is more to do with the Lie Tree itself, even suspending disbelief over it's general magical concept. There is no evidence that the plant is actually helpful in anyway, if anything, Faith should have read her father's journal and thought “My father ate hallucinogenic fruit that drove him mad, and ruined our family. The last thing I should do is also eat this fruit.” Her reaction to both believe the journal, and then follow through with cultivating and consuming it were bizarre to me.
Also - the row boat. I have no idea why the author's idea was to hide the plant in a sea cave only accessible by boat. This immediately threw me off, it's such a weird and random choice. For one, who owns the row boat? Why is it there? Why would someone just leave it on the beach? Has the author ever used a rowboat? They are heavy, and it takes a lot of arm strength to propel and steer it. It's not like being in a small plastic kayak. I do not believe for an instant a 14 year girl in the 1800s who is used to being bound up in corsets and not exercising much would have been able to propel that boat into the ocean against waves and current. It was easier to believe in the magic of the Lie Tree than to believe Faith would not have been washed out to sea.
4.5 stars. This book was very well written and engaging throughout. I loved the main character, named Faith, and the setting and time period gave a lot of interest to the story. The author was able to weave together multiple themes throughout the book and I think that this is what I appreciated the most. Highly recommend for those looking for YA titles that are unique and layered.
