Lies I told
Michelle Zink
Lies I told
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Michelle Zink
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 your whole life was a secret? Grace Fontaine seems to have it all—beauty, confidence, and a perfect family. But when the biggest heist starts to unravel and she falls for the one she's supposed to con, everything is at stake.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult thriller follows Grace Fontaine, a teenager adopted into a family of con artists who target wealthy victims. As she navigates high-stakes heists and complicated loyalties, Grace faces emotional challenges around identity and trust. Recommended for teens 13 and older, the novel includes themes of crime and romance but handles them with depth and sensitivity.
Why we rated Lies I told 12ME
Lies I told is written at a Level 7 reading level across 333 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lies I told works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Lies I told 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, Lies I told explores coming of age, family, romance, adventure, and crime — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, romance.
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
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Liars, Inc
Paula Stokes
Liars, Inc
Paula Stokes
Promises I Made (Lies I Told Series, Book 2)
Michelle Zink
Promises I Made (Lies I Told Series, Book 2)
Michelle Zink
Lies I live by
Lauren Sabel
Lies I live by
Lauren Sabel
Lies about Truth
Courtney Stevens
Lies about Truth
Courtney Stevens
Lies you never told me
Jennifer Donaldson
Lies you never told me
Jennifer Donaldson
Heart of lies
Jill Marie Landis
Heart of lies
Jill Marie Landis
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062327130
- Pages
- 333
- Publisher
- Harper Collins
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction