Remotely Controlled
Aric Sigman
Remotely Controlled
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
How Television Is Damaging Our Lives
by Aric Sigman
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered how much TV really controls your life? Imagine a world where the small screen rules more than your family does. What secrets are hiding behind those glowing images, and how far will this obsession go?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book explores the impact of television on children's physical health, brain development, and social behavior, highlighting concerns such as obesity and exposure to harmful content. Intended for middle-grade readers, it provides a critical look at media consumption with strong claims that may prompt thoughtful discussions about screen time and family dynamics. Parents should be aware that some assertions are intense and may require guidance to contextualize.
Why we rated Remotely Controlled 12IS
Remotely Controlled is written at a Level 7 reading level across 370 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Remotely Controlled works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Remotely Controlled as 12IS ("Intense — Social") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Strong Social Issues, Health Concerns.
Thematically, Remotely Controlled explores family, health & fitness, consumer behavior, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, health & fitness, consumer behavior.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IS — Intense — SocialHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780091906900
- Pages
- 370
- Publisher
- Random House
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Nonfiction