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Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3)

Suzanne Weyn

Cover of Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3)

Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Suzanne Weyn

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What if a tiny tattoo could control your future? Imagine living in a world where a powerful company wants to mark everyone with a bar code—and one girl discovers a secret that could change everything. But when her family disappears, Grace must go undercover to stop a plan bigger than she ever imagined.

Quick Assessment

Set in a dystopian 2025, this middle-grade novel follows Grace as she confronts a powerful corporation's plan to control people through bar code tattoos. The story explores themes of identity, family, and resistance, with mild peril and suspense suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of a futuristic setting involving corporate control and some tense moments related to family separation and undercover missions.

Why we rated Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3) 9ME

Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 194 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3) works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3) as 9ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, Bar Code Prophecy (the Bar Code Trilogy, Book 3) explores adventure, science & nature, family, mystery, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 9-12 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 adventure, science & nature, family.

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

9ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Light
Thematic
Moderate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

194 pages
ISBN
9780545470001
Pages
194
Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
Published
2012
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

English & College SuccessEnglish