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What I Saw and How I Lied

(2008, Fiction - Mystery, Written by Judy Blundell)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sophisticated mystery for older teens only.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 15 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Racism against African Americans and Jews; Evie's parents lie, steal, and may have committed murder; and Evie lies under oath to get them acquitted.

  • Violence:

    A man is murdered, possibly by the main character's parents, but it's not described.

  • Sex:

    A girl has a crush on an older man: they kiss passionately and nearly have sex but are interrupted. The same girl begins to have sex with a boy rather graphically, but she stops him in the middle. Adults have extramarital affairs, some discussion of sex, growing breasts, "screwing."

  • Language:

    Some mild swearing: "damn," "son of a bitch."

  • Consumerism:

    Cigarette, soda, candy, lotion, liquor, car, and cracker brands mentioned.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Lots and lots of adult smoking, drinking of beer and cocktails, drunkenness.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About What I Saw and How I Lied

Parents need to know that the book has references to and discussions of adulterous sex, a man almost has sex with a minor, and two minors begin to have sex but don't finish, this last incident described somewhat graphically. Also, all the adults smoke constantly and drink, sometimes to excess, and they lie, cheat, steal, and may get away with murder.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the differing values between the time depicted in the book and now. What parts would be less likely to happen now? What things were normal then and unusual now? Have we advanced or gone backwards since then. Why have these things changed?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    molly-kate
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    perfect love story

    i loved the book!!! because it was full of drama and love between evie and peter.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    charlie lou
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0

    its an okay book. though why is it under 15?

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    blue.blood
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages

    Great book for 12+

    I really enjoyed reading this book. It is full of deatails about what it was like after the war. At some parts the book is kind of depressing, but it gives a realistic view. The message is: be yourself and don't try to grow up to fast.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind (1)
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    nejitenluv
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Great For 13 year olds!

    This book was very good. Honestly I don't understand why it would be for 15 year old's cause i read this when i was 12 and i thought it was great and i understood it very well.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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