The body market
Donna Freitas
The body market
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Donna Freitas
The text is written at a 8th 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
The buzz of digital pulses fills the air, thick and electric against Skylar’s skin. She’s just found her sister—but instead of rescue, betrayal waits in the shadows of the App World. Now, everything Skylar knows is for sale, and time is slipping away like a fading signal.
Quick Assessment
This science fiction novel follows Skylar, a teenage girl caught between the virtual App World and the real world, as she confronts her sister’s betrayal that endangers everyone still connected to the App. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it explores themes of trust, family, and identity within a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative. Parents should note the presence of tension and conflict typical of dystopian fiction but no explicit content.
Why we rated The body market 12ME
The body market is written at a Level 8 reading level across 409 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The body market works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The body market as 12ME ("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, 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, The body market explores science & nature, friendship, family, adventure, and fantasy world-building — 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 science & nature, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
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
- 9780062118639
- Pages
- 409
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction