The future will be BS free
Will McIntosh
The future will be BS free
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Will McIntosh
The text is written at a 7th 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 sharp buzz of electric secrets fills the air as Sam and his friends unveil a tiny device that can catch any lie. It smells like danger and opportunity, sparking hope for a world where truth rules. But when Theo, their fearless dreamer, suddenly disappears, the hunt for honesty turns into a fight for survival.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a near-future dystopia, this middle-grade novel follows a group of teens who invent a lie detector to expose government corruption. The story explores themes of truth, political intrigue, and friendship, while raising complex questions about honesty and societal stability. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains action and tense moments but handles mature themes thoughtfully.
Why we rated The future will be BS free 12MT
The future will be BS free is written at a Level 7 reading level across 334 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The future will be BS free works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The future will be BS free as 12MT ("Moderate — Thematic") 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, social complexity, 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 future will be BS free explores inventions, political corruption, lie detectors and detection, dystopias, and friendship — 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 inventions, political corruption, lie detectors and detection.
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
12MT — Moderate — ThematicReal 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780553534146
- Pages
- 334
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction