I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (by Ally Carter)

common sense media says

Fun debut of spy school series is OK for tweens.

parents & educators say

100% say there are positive role models
67% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there isn't too much controversial material here. There's kicking as well as two simulation kidnappings, and Cammie is led to believe her friends have been tortured. Also, Cammie's father was a spy who was killed out in the field. Really, this book has a great message: Cammie is a strong, smart girl who learns to be her own true self. She has a great group of friends who are always there to support her (although these friends do help Cammie sneak out of school to meet up with her new boyfriend).

Educational value: May encourage more reading: This book is the first in a series that includes Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy and Only the Good Spy Young. See our "Families Can Talk About" section for some discussion ideas.

Positive messages: Cammie learns to be her own true self. She has a great group of friends who are always there to support her.

Positive role models: Cammie and her friends are smart, strong girls who really look after one another (although these friends do help Cammie sneak out of her school to meet up with her new boyfriend).

Violence: There's kicking as well as two simulation kidnappings, and Cammie is led to believe her friends have been tortured. Also, Cammie's father was a spy who was killed out in the field.

Sex: Hand holding is as heavy as it gets (though Cammie does dream of a "very sexy kiss.")

Language: Some words like "sexy" and "hot," including references to an attractive teacher.

Consumerism: A few references to stuff like Bose headphones or Nikes, but not much.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

What to talk about
What's the story?
Is it any good?
Book themes & details

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about series books. Will you read more of the books in the Gallagher Girl series? What's fun about a series, and why do you think they are so popular with teens? What other books would you like to see turned into a series?
This book has been optioned by Walt Disney Pictures. Do you think it would make a good movie? Who would you cast in the role as Cammie? Do you like it when books you've read become movies? Are the movies ever as good as the books?
The girls in Cammie's friend group are pretty archetypical: There's gutsy Bex, bad girl Macey, and intellectual Liz... Can you think of other books or movies that have these same types? What do you think of reducing characters down to one characteristic? Is it realistic? Does it happen to female characters more than male characters?

What's the story?

Cammie, a student at a secret school for girl spies, has an unusual talent: No one ever notices her. But then nice, normal Josh singles her out when she's on her first covert mission. Cammie decides to keep her spy story a secret and pretend that she's just a normal teen ("All these years I'd thought being a spy was challenging," she muses. "Turns out, being a girl is the tricky part."). But Cammie's act doesn't mean that she and her plucky friends can't use their spy training to get to know everything they can about Josh, from reading his email to going through his garbage.

Is it any good?

Readers will have fun learning all about the Gallagher Academy: Cammie can speak 14 languages, and the final for one of her classes involves a dangerous mission that leaves her kidnapped and blindfolded. Plus, her school is full of secret passages and cool classes like Covert Operations. Underneath this fun premise, Cammie struggles with a pretty sweet and straightforward teen problem (i.e. she has to learn that being herself is the best way to win Josh over) -- and she's got a great group of supportive friends who are there for her, from sorting through Josh's garbage to rescuing her from a kidnapping. Readers may find that some of the characters aren't fully developed, but they'll find out more about them in the sequels to this fun book.

Book themes & details

Book Details

Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Publication date: May 1, 2006
Number of pages: 288
Paperback price: $8.99
Read Aloud: 12
Read Alone: 12

This review was written by Kate Pavao

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What parents & educators say

Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:

100% say there are positive role models
67% say there are positive messages

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Stargirl0422
kid, 12 years old

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I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (by Ally Carter)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Book themes & details

Book Details

Review It

Review I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Snooozzeerrrr.

Aazing!

Read the rest of the series, too

Good book for tweens

Good Book

Love it!

Absolutely Breath-Taking

A Geat Book!

Three gr8 book genres wrapped into one gr8 book

good for teens :D

Perfect for tweens on up

Best book ever!

Awesome!!!

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