Memory Blank
John E. Stith
Memory Blank
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John E. Stith
The text is written at a 6th 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
Cal Donley wakes up with no memory and smeared in someone else's blood. He lives in a space colony and has a mysterious AI watch named Vincent that’s lost its memory too. But as Cal pieces together the puzzle, danger closes in fast—and not knowing the truth might be the deadliest risk of all.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows Cal Donley, a computer engineer who wakes up with amnesia and finds himself in a perilous mystery on a space colony. The story explores themes of identity and trust while delivering suspense appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should note some suspenseful moments involving accidents and threats but no graphic content.
Why we rated Memory Blank 11ME
Memory Blank 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, Memory Blank works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Memory Blank 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, 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, Memory Blank explores science & nature, mystery, adventure, and family — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, mystery, adventure.
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
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
- 9780441524174
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Ace Books
- Published
- January 1986
- Type
- Fiction