One Too Many Lies
L. A. Bowen
One Too Many Lies
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by L. A. Bowen
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
The sharp scent of spilled juice mixes with the quiet whispers of secrets shared under the playground slide. Paige and her friends weave small lies every day—harmless at first—to dodge trouble and keep peace. But when those little fibs start to spiral, can they still trust each other?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the everyday lies children tell to navigate friendships, family expectations, and peer pressure. It gently addresses themes of honesty and the potential consequences of deceit, including exposure to alcohol use at parties, making it suitable for ages 9-12 with some guidance. The story encourages discussions about integrity and the complexities of growing up.
Why we rated One Too Many Lies 11ME
One Too Many Lies is written at a Level 6 reading level across 202 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, One Too Many Lies works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate One Too Many Lies 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Alcohol Use.
Thematically, One Too Many Lies explores friendship, family, coming of age, parties, and honesty — 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 friendship, family, coming of age.
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.
Content Flags
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
- 9781538383254
- Pages
- 202
- Publisher
- Enslow Publishers, Inc.
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction