Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Dangerous Lies
Becca Fitzpatrick
Dangerous Lies
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Becca Fitzpatrick
The text is written at a 3rd 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
What would you do if you saw something no one else was supposed to see? Stella is hiding far from home, trying to stay safe while her world feels like it's falling apart. But when someone new shows up, can she trust him — or is danger closer than she thinks?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows Stella, a high school senior placed in witness protection after seeing a murder. The story explores themes of trust, safety, and young love as Stella navigates new surroundings and threats that challenge her sense of security. Suitable for teens 13 and older, it contains suspenseful moments and mild peril but no graphic violence.
Why we rated Dangerous Lies 8ME
Dangerous Lies is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 690L across 384 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dangerous Lies works for readers up to grade 5.5.
We rate Dangerous Lies as 8ME ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Dangerous Lies explores witnesses, young adult fiction, love, witness protection, and juvenile fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about witnesses, young adult fiction, love.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481424912
- Pages
- 384
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 690L