The Truth app
Jack Heath
The Truth app
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jack Heath
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What if there was an app that could tell when anyone was lying? Imagine a world where the truth is impossible to hide, but being honest might not keep you safe. When Jarli's invention goes viral, secrets start unraveling—and danger follows close behind.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult thriller explores the consequences of absolute truth in a high-tech world where a lie-detecting app exposes secrets and puts its creator in serious danger. Suitable for teens aged 13 and up, the story involves themes of technology, privacy, and the risks of fame, with some suspenseful and intense moments involving threats and social conflict.
Why we rated The Truth app 11ME
The Truth app is written at a Level 6 reading level across 225 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Truth app works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Truth app 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Mild Peril, Social Conflict.
Thematically, The Truth app explores technology, thriller & suspense, action & adventure, friendship, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about technology, thriller & suspense, action & adventure.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781534449862
- Pages
- 225
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction