Scientifically Engineered Foods
Allan B. Cobb
Scientifically Engineered Foods
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Debate Over What's on Your Plate
by Allan B. Cobb
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Explore how foods are changed through both traditional methods and modern genetic engineering, uncovering the benefits and risks that come with these scientific advances. Dive into the ways these technologies impact the food we eat and the world around us.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 8-9 book with gentle content intensity. It's a Sweet Spot read — challenging text with gentle themes, ideal for advanced or 2e readers. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Scientifically Engineered Foods 12C
Scientifically Engineered Foods is written at a Level 8-9 reading level across 64 pages (approximately 7,516 words). Strong independent readers around grade 9.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Scientifically Engineered Foods works for readers up to grade 10.4.
Read aloud, Scientifically Engineered Foods takes about 50 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Scientifically Engineered Foods as 12C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Scientifically Engineered Foods explores technology & industrial arts, science & nature, and social justice — 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.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about technology & industrial arts, science & nature, social justice.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Focus on Science and Society series.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Focus on Science and Society Series
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Genetically engineered foods
Karen E. Bledsoe
Genetically engineered foods
Karen E. Bledsoe
Genetically Modified Food
Jeri Freedman
Genetically Modified Food
Jeri Freedman
Genetically modified foods
Lillian E. Forman
Genetically modified foods
Lillian E. Forman
Food Engineering
Michael Burgan
Food Engineering
Michael Burgan
Genetically modified foods
Nigel Hawkes
Genetically modified foods
Nigel Hawkes
Genetic engineering
Ellen Thro
Genetic engineering
Ellen Thro
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0823932087
- Pages
- 64
- Publisher
- Rosen Publishing Group
- Published
- August 2000
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 7,516
- Read-Aloud
- ~50 min
- Text Density
- Light Text