Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
A pack of lies
Geraldine McCaughrean
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: a mysterious stranger arrives with tales that twist reality and spark curiosity in a teenage girl and her mom. What starts as quiet days turns into a journey filled with secrets and surprises—but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of honesty, storytelling, and family dynamics through the lens of a mysterious visitor who impacts a teenage girl and her mother. Suitable for ages 9-12, it gently encourages critical thinking about trust and the power of stories, with no intense content.
Why we rated A pack of lies C (Gentle)
A pack of lies is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 168 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage A pack of lies on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate A pack of lies as C (Gentle) because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, A pack of lies explores honesty, storytelling, family, books and reading, and antiques — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about honesty, storytelling, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
C · GentleReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780761455790
- Pages
- 168
- Publisher
- Marshall Cavendish
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction