Don’t Judge a Girl By Her Cover is a tween/teen novel that is full of action, mystery, and a touch of romance.  There are seven books in the Gallagher Girls Series and this is the third one.  I have not read the previous two and yet I followed the storyline easily.  Author Ally Carter does a wonderful job pulling the reader in and keeping them turning the pages to discover the mystery. Young girls will especially like the thrill of a spy novel.  I enjoyed the twisting storyline and trying to figure out the bad guy’s identity.  There are action scenes with some combat between characters, but there isn’t anything to be alarmed about for younger readers. (See violence/gore rating below.)  Readers will be eager for the next book in the series, or in my case, to go back and read the first two books in the series.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  Characters attempt a kidnapping twice; character punches female minor in the stomach; character kicks character in the knee; characters fight on a roof (few details); character punches another in the throat; character breaks minor character’s arm; character hits another character with metal on the head; character is assumed dead; character suffers a concussion; character drugs another character with assumed chloroform; characters fight in an alleyway; character breaks a characters nose (few details); character is shot (few details).

Sex/Nudity:  Character recalls being kissed (no details); character falls on top of a character of the opposite sex (non-sexual); two minors are assumed to be kissing; characters kiss (no details).

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of a family member, breaking school rules, kidnapping.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adults are assumed to be drinking alcohol; adults drink champagne;
character drugs another character with assumed chloroform.