Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
A pack of lies
Geraldine McCaughrean
A pack of lies
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by 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.
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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 9LT
A pack of lies is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 168 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A pack of lies works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate A pack of lies as 9LT ("Light — Thematic") 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about honesty, storytelling, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LT — Light — ThematicNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
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