Tattoo
Jennifer Barnes
Tattoo
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer Barnes
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
These four friends aren’t just lucky—they’re chosen. The tattoos they wear don’t fade, and neither do their new psychic powers. When an ancient evil threatens their school dance, only their newfound abilities can save the night—and maybe more.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows four friends who gain psychic abilities after sharing mysterious temporary tattoos. Together, they face an ancient supernatural threat at their school dance. The story contains themes of friendship, mythology, and the supernatural, appropriate for ages 9-12 with mild fantasy peril.
Why we rated Tattoo 11LE
Tattoo is written at a Level 6 reading level across 260 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tattoo works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Tattoo 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, Tattoo explores friendship, psychic ability, supernatural, and mythology — 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 friendship, psychic ability, supernatural.
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385903639
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Fiction