The truth
Jeffry W. Johnston
The truth
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jeffry W. Johnston
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 cold, damp basement smells of dust and fear as Chris wakes up, tied to a chair and trapped. Shadows flicker, and every creak tells a story of secrets too heavy to bear. What dark truth hides in the silence, and can it ever set them free?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade thriller explores themes of family loyalty, secrets, and moral dilemmas through the tense story of two brothers grappling with the aftermath of a tragic shooting. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains elements of kidnapping and emotional conflict that may prompt discussions about justice and forgiveness.
Why we rated The truth 11MN
The truth is written at a Level 6 reading level across 244 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The truth works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The truth as 11MN ("Moderate — Neutral") 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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Kidnapping, Family Secrets, Emotional Conflict.
Thematically, The truth explores family, secrets, brotherhood, moral dilemmas, and suspense — 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 family, secrets, brotherhood.
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
11MN — Moderate — NeutralReal 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781492623205
- Pages
- 244
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction