Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
There will be lies
Nick Lake
There will be lies
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nick Lake
The text is written at a 4th 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
Shelby Jane Cooper is about to be hit by a car, but that’s just the start of her wild ride. As she and her mom escape into the unknown, Shelby must figure out who to trust when secrets blur the line between truth and lies. Every mile brings more questions—can Shelby uncover the real story before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This thrilling middle-grade novel follows Shelby Jane Cooper as she embarks on a mysterious road trip with her mother after a sudden accident. Targeted at readers ages 9-12, the story explores themes of trust, family secrets, and self-discovery, with some suspenseful moments that may prompt discussion about reality and perception. The book is appropriate for middle-grade readers and contains no graphic content, though it deals with emotional complexity and mild peril.
Why we rated There will be lies 9ME
There will be lies is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 740L across 454 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, There will be lies works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate There will be lies as 9ME ("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, There will be lies explores adventure, family, secrets, trust, and coming of age — 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 adventure, family, secrets.
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
9ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 9781619634404
- Pages
- 454
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury USA Childrens
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 740L