What reading level is The Truth Commission?

The Truth Commission by Susan Juby is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 760L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Truth Commission appropriate for?

The Truth Commission is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The Truth Commission?

The Truth Commission is fiction — Art schools.

Does The Truth Commission have any content warnings?

The Truth Commission has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The Truth Commission?

The Truth Commission by Susan Juby is 309 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The Truth Commission

Susan Juby

The Truth Commission

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Novel

by Susan Juby

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

What would you do if everyone around you was hiding secrets? Normandy Pale and her two best friends start asking questions that no one wants answered. But when Norm’s famous sister exposes truths that shake everything, what will they discover next?

Themes

Family Friendship Coming of AgeJuvenile FictionSisters

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Normandy Pale as she explores the hidden truths within her school community for a creative nonfiction project. Through candid conversations with classmates and faculty, the story delves into themes of family dynamics and personal secrets suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book addresses family problems and complex emotions in an accessible way for young readers.

Why we rated The Truth Commission 9LE

The Truth Commission is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 760L across 309 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Truth Commission works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Truth Commission as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, The Truth Commission explores family, friendship, coming of age, juvenile fiction, and sisters — 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, friendship, coming of age.