• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Intense fantasy about a compulsive liar and/or werewolf.

Why We Rated This for Ages 15–16

The good stuff

• Messages:

  This book isn't really heavy on the moral, but Micah's character could lead parents into some good conversations with their kids about trust, and what happens when it's broken.

What to watch out for

• Role models:

  You certainly wouldn't want your kid to act like Micah, who at minimum is a liar -- and could even be a murderer. She is a sympathetic character, however, and readers may want to think about how she is treated at school. How do outsiders fare at your own school?
• Violence:

  This book begins with the murder of Micah's secret boyfriend. Later on, Micah describes finding his body ("How can you recognize someone when their face is gone?).  She also attacks a boy who is being mean to another girl at school.
• Sex:

  Though she tells her parents that she never had sex with Zach, Micah later admits that "other than running [having sex] was what we did most." After his funeral, she shares kisses with both Zach's official girlfriend and his best friend. She later says they went further together the next time they got together, but then says it was a lie.
• Language:

  Plenty of adult stuff, like the f-word, the b-word, etc. 

What Parents Need to Know

About LIAR

Families Can Talk About