Immoral Code
Lillian Clark
Immoral Code
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lillian Clark
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The sharp click of keys fills the room as Nari, with her fingers flying over the keyboard, races against time to crack a secret billionaire's code. The air buzzes with excitement and a hint of danger as five friends team up, each with dreams bigger than school halls. But can stealing tuition money really be the right way to help a friend? The answer might change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows five diverse teens who band together to hack into a wealthy absentee father's company to fund their friend's college tuition. The story explores themes of friendship, ethical dilemmas, and the pressures of academic ambitions in a fast-paced, accessible way for ages 9 to 12. While it involves theft and hacking, these elements are treated with humor and thoughtfulness, making it suitable for middle-grade readers interested in modern, socially conscious stories.
Why we rated Immoral Code 11LE
Immoral Code is written at a Level 6 reading level across 272 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Immoral Code works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Immoral Code as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Immoral Code explores friendship, coming of age, family, adventure, and social justice — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780525580478
- Pages
- 272
- Publisher
- Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction