How we learned to lie
Meredith Miller
How we learned to lie
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Meredith Miller
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What happens when the secrets between best friends start to unravel? Joan and Daisy’s world turns upside down when a mysterious, bloodied visitor shows up at Joan’s door. As strange disappearances and confusing truths pile up, can their friendship survive the storm?
Themes
Quick Assessment
How We Learned to Lie is a gripping middle-grade novel about friendship, family struggles, and the challenges of growing up in a troubled town. The story tackles complex themes like loyalty, honesty, and the emotional weight of difficult choices, suitable for readers ages 9-12 who can handle mature topics with guidance. Parents should note the presence of violence, family conflict, and emotional intensity within the narrative.
Why we rated How we learned to lie 12IE
How we learned to lie is written at a Level 7 reading level across 384 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How we learned to lie works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate How we learned to lie as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Family Conflict.
Thematically, How we learned to lie explores friendship, family, honesty, best friends, and coming of age — 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 friendship, family, honesty.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780062474285
- Pages
- 384
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction