Dare you to lie
Amber Lynn Natusch
Dare you to lie
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amber Lynn Natusch
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Ky isn't just any girl—she's a muay thai master with a sharp mind and a fierce spirit. When her dad is framed for murder, she faces secrets and betrayals in a town that wants her gone. But messing with Ky means waking a storm you can't stop.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade thriller follows Kylene, a clever and tough girl who must clear her FBI agent father's name after he's wrongfully accused of murder. Set in a small town with dark secrets, the story includes themes of friendship, betrayal, and resilience, suitable for ages 9-12. The book contains suspenseful moments and mild peril but is appropriate for middle-grade readers seeking a fast-paced mystery.
Why we rated Dare you to lie 12ME
Dare you to lie is written at a Level 7 reading level across 351 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dare you to lie works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Dare you to lie as 12ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, Dare you to lie explores friendship, mystery, family, adventure, and high school — 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 friendship, mystery, family.
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
12ME — 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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780765397676
- Pages
- 351
- Publisher
- Tor Teen
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction