At the Speed of Lies
Cindy L. Otis
At the Speed of Lies
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cindy L. Otis
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Quinn's junior year takes a wild turn when her sister joins a mysterious club focused on finding missing kids, sparking a frenzy of social media buzz and conspiracy theories. As classmates disappear and the town searches desperately, Quinn finds herself caught in the middle of growing dangers and online drama. With her sharp instincts and a growing platform, she races to uncover the truth before things spiral out of control.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include bullying, fear & anxiety, mild peril. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated At the Speed of Lies 10ME
At the Speed of Lies is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 368 pages (approximately 86,694 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, At the Speed of Lies works for readers up to grade 7.9.
Read aloud, At the Speed of Lies runs about 9.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate At the Speed of Lies as 10ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Mild Peril, Social Media Trolling, Conspiracy Theories.
Thematically, At the Speed of Lies explores disability representation, friendship, social justice, mystery, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about disability representation, friendship, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781338806762
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 86,694
- Read-Aloud
- ~9h 38m
- Text Density
- Standard