Fantastically fantastic

The Lie Tree
by Frances Hardinge

Awesome book; as irresistible as a potted plant that feeds on whispered lies and divulges secret truths. Who doesn't want to possess it?

The side plot--or really, the main plot--is how an intelligent young girl can survive up in an age that denigrates and discards women's brains. Even her father, a famous scientist, writes her off as a mere female, unable to understand his work, unsuitable to carry it on. But even while she recognizes and rages against the repression, she loves her father and is hurt deeply when he is suddenly, inexplicably scorned by the scientific world. What has he done? And why?

Her mother starts off as a total enigma--an empty-headed flirt whose only real concern for her daughter is that she reflect well on her mother.  You hate her early and often, but her real nature may not be so simple or shallow. We'll see.

Her little brother is just a sweet, energetic kid--but the parents won't admit he's left-handed and he's being forced, almost cruelly, into using his right. Shudder at this: "God only loves good little boys who write their catechism right-handed."  (my quote may be off, but that's the idea)

Add a cast of other characters--superstitious house servants, a kindly uncle who never made it as a scientists on his own so he must tag along on his brother-in-law's credentials, an odd society woman whose husband is going into Parliament, and most of all, a strange boy who keeps showing up at infuriating times--

Great. Nail-biting. Spooky. Masterpiece.