Secrets, lies, and scandals
Amanda Morgan
Secrets, lies, and scandals
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amanda Morgan
The text is written at a 7th 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 happens when a secret so big it could change everything is hidden behind classroom doors? Five teens—each with their own secrets—face the biggest challenge of their lives when their teacher dies under mysterious circumstances. Can they trust each other, or will the truth tear them apart?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of peer pressure, trust, and the consequences of secrets among a group of teens involved in the death of their elderly teacher. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains mature themes like death and complex social dynamics but handles them in a way appropriate for middle-grade readers. Parents should be aware of the emotional intensity surrounding responsibility and blame.
Why we rated Secrets, lies, and scandals 12ME
Secrets, lies, and scandals is written at a Level 7 reading level across 345 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Secrets, lies, and scandals works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Secrets, lies, and scandals 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, Secrets, lies, and scandals explores friendship, peer pressure, death, schools, and trust — 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, peer pressure, death.
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481449540
- Pages
- 345
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction