Blacklisted
Gena Showalter
Blacklisted
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gena Showalter
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What if sneaking into a nightclub meant stepping into a dangerous game between humans and aliens? Camille and her best friend are on a mission to catch their crushes' attention, but when they follow two mysterious figures through a secret door, everything changes. Suddenly, Camille is caught in a chase that could cost her everything—whose side will she choose when danger and desire collide?
Quick Assessment
Blacklisted is a young adult romantic suspense novel about Camille, a high school senior who gets caught up in a conflict between humans and aliens after sneaking into a nightclub. The story explores themes of trust, danger, and young love, with some action and mild peril involving gunfire and drug accusations. Suitable for teens 13 and up, it contains suspenseful moments but no graphic violence or explicit content.
Why we rated Blacklisted 11ME
Blacklisted is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blacklisted works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Blacklisted as 11ME ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Blacklisted explores romance, adventure, coming of age, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about romance, adventure, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781416532255
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- MTV Books
- Published
- July 17, 2007
- Type
- Fiction