Get even
Gretchen McNeil
Get even
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gretchen McNeil
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if you could get back at the bullies who make school a nightmare? Four girls at a fancy private school form a secret club to do just that, but when a target ends up dead with their mysterious calling card, everything spirals out of control. Who is hunting them now, and can they trust anyone?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel centers on four girls from an elite private school who secretly band together to take revenge on bullies and harsh teachers. When their actions lead to a death, they face serious consequences and danger, making it a suspenseful story about friendship, secrets, and moral choices. Suitable for teens aged 13 and up, it contains themes of bullying and some suspenseful, potentially intense situations.
Why we rated Get even 12ME
Get even is written at a Level 7 reading level across 389 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Get even works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Get even 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying, Suspense, Death.
Thematically, Get even explores bullying, friendship, mystery, private school life, and young adult 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 bullying, friendship, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Getting Even
Paul Kropp
Getting Even
Paul Kropp
Getting Even
ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Getting Even
ReShonda Tate Billingsley
The girls get even
Jean Little
The girls get even
Jean Little
Avenged
Krys Fenner
Avenged
Krys Fenner
5 times revenge
Lindsay Eland
5 times revenge
Lindsay Eland
Five Times Revenge
Lindsay Eland
Five Times Revenge
Lindsay Eland
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062260857
- Pages
- 389
- Publisher
- Balzer + Bray
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction