Trust Me, I'm Lying
Mary Elizabeth Summer
Trust Me, I'm Lying
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mary Elizabeth Summer
The text is written at a 7th 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
Julep Dupree slips through the halls of St. Agatha's, pulling off scams to pay her way. But when she returns home, everything is shattered — her apartment ransacked and her dad nowhere to be found. Now, with danger closing in and a mysterious senior by her side, Julep must outwit the shadows before it’s too late.
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows Julep Dupree, a clever teen who uses deception to navigate life at an elite private school. When her father, also a con artist, disappears under suspicious circumstances, Julep teams up with a charismatic senior to uncover the truth. The story includes themes of family, trust, and danger, appropriate for teens aged 13-18, with some mild peril and complex social dynamics.
Why we rated Trust Me, I'm Lying 12ME
Trust Me, I'm Lying is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Trust Me, I'm Lying works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Trust Me, I'm Lying 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, physical peril — 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, Trust Me, I'm Lying explores coming of age, family, mystery, adventure, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
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
3/10A 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
- 9780857987037
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Random House Australia
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction