Lying out loud
Kody Keplinger
Lying out loud
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kody Keplinger
The text is written at a 6th 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
What would you do if your whole life was one big secret? Sonny Ardmore is a master of lies, using them to keep her world from falling apart. But when she starts texting Ryder—the new boy who likes her best friend Amy—one tiny fib could turn everything upside down.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Sonny, a high school senior who copes with family challenges and homelessness by lying to maintain control over her life. Themes of honesty, friendship, and the complexities of teenage relationships are explored in an age-appropriate way for readers aged 9-12. While the story deals with serious issues like family conflict and deception, the content is suitable for middle-grade readers without explicit material.
Why we rated Lying out loud 11ME
Lying out loud is written at a Level 6 reading level across 294 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lying out loud works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Lying out loud as 11ME ("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 — 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, Lying out loud explores honesty, friendship, family, coming of age, and interpersonal relations — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about honesty, friendship, family.
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
11ME — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545831093
- Pages
- 294
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction