Faith Sunderly is a fourteen-year-old girl in Victorian England whose family moves to a small island after a scandal involving her father, Reverend Sunderly, a respected naturalist who is suspected of fraud. When he is found dead in strange circumstances, Faith is sure it was murder. She finds a secret in his things, a tree that thrives when someone lies about it and gives a truth to whoever eats its fruit. Frances Hardinge uses this fantasy device to look at the lies women are told, and at Faith's own ambition to become a scientist, in a mystery with an atmospheric setting.
Readers aged twelve and up who like historical mysteries with a fantasy element will enjoy it. It also appeals to adults who like clever, dark stories about intelligence and prejudice.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
