Customer Reviews

Bar Code Rebellion (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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THE BAR CODE REBELLION, by Suzanne Weyn, is the second book about seventeen-year-old Kayla Marie Reed and the world she lives in. In 2025, when the novel takes place, everyone, at the age of seventeen, is required to be tattooed with a bar code. The bar code is what people use for everything, from paying for bus fare to getting a job. In the first book about this world, The Bar Code Tattoo (Point Thriller), Kayla's neighbor, the now-famous Gene Drake, was killed in a struggle because he had discovered something terrible about the tattoo, and wanted to tell the world.

More terrible, it seems, than what Kayla and other bar code resistors already know: that the tattoo contains each person's genetic code, gained from the blood sample taken when they are tattooed. These codes can ruin a person's life, if they have problems such as bipolar disorder or Parkinson's disease in their family. That's what happened to Kayla's friend Amber and her parents.

Following Gene Drake's example, people everywhere are resisting the tattoo, even though it means forfeiting any chance at a normal life as a part of society. People are burning off the tattoo, or, if they join in time, refusing to get it in the first place.

One day, Kayla sees a girl on TV with her face, telling people how happy she is about the barc ode tattoo. Next thing she knows, this girl is everywhere, pretending to be Kayla, and promoting the bar code tattoo. Is she a digital fake? Or is there more to it than that?

Suzanne Weyn's novel takes place in a scary future society. It's especially scary because it really could come true. We've all read books about what the future will be like, and chances are, none of them are exactly right. Everyone predicts, though, that the government will have more and more control over our daily lives, maybe even getting to the intense and frightening level like that in BAR CODE REBELLION.

In this story, characterization takes a backseat to the action, but that's okay, as it's meant to be more about the plot and the setting than it is about the characters. Even though the characters feel a little two-dimensional, it's still a book worth reading, especially for fans of The Bar Code Tattoo (Point Thriller).

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

Kayla is back. A march on Washington turns into a disaster but Kayla manages to escape. On the run and not knowing who she can trust Kayla is beset by visions of other Kaylas. One seems to be a spokesperson on television saying how wonderful the tattoo is. Kayla is sure it is a doctored image of herself. It is getting harder and harder to survive without bar codes but Kayla meets many who are against the bar codes. In this way Kayla gets involved with a growing network of resistance that is actively working to bring down the bar code tattoo.

Kayla still does not know what part she will play in everything but she is sure she will have one. then she starts to meet others who look just like herself. Maybe the image on television is true. But it all doesn't come together until it is discovered just what horror really lurks withing the bar code and the tattoo. The revelation pushes Kayla and the rebellion forward until the conclusion of the book.

This is a little more fanciful than the first book but it does take the story to a definite conclusion. Unfortunately the corporation still operates like there are no people in it. This time it is stated that there is no link between the President and the corporation (he was a major shareholder in the first book). Although not quite as compelling as the first book, it does bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion. Check it out.

In this book, Kayla Reed has new things to cope with: seperation from one of her close friends, the loss of another, and the feeling that Global-1 wants her (and not just because she is a well known bar code resistor).

The plot in this one is more fastpaced, and thrilling then "The Bar Code Tatoo". There is the tragic death of a major character, but apart from that, this book is pretty good. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes science-fiction, overcontrolling societies, and minor romance.

Rebellion is sharp, fast, and enjoyable. Kayla has grown some brains and is a smart and level-headed young woman who is forced to face down some terrifying news about her past all while trying to save the future. Where the first book was heavy-handed and preachy, this one offered a better pace and a more relatable story.

Ms. Weyn does a good job of building her world and characters in this book to the point that I don't think the first one needs to be read to understand this one. That's a good thing.

Eh, overall I liked the first one better.

This one answered a lot of things left undone but it also added a lot that made the story super awkward as well. In part 3, a lot of it is scientific jargon and its really easy to get lost. Some of the additives made the story pop a little more, but I felt most of it was just silly.

This moved so fast that it just didn't feel right. The intensity was high, but as soon as the intensity hit it was over, and then the next chapter the same. Kind of like if someone were to come up to you, punch you, then walk away. Not that it was super intense in that way, it just made it hard to appreciate the plot twists.

The added characters are okay. Nate and his friend (forget his name right now) are complete pervs. And I fell a little bit in love with Jack (though August is still my favorite =[ ). But my favorite of them all is Kendra. Heh.

The ending? Eh, I wasn't happy. Most people would be, but I wasn't. When I read a dystopia book, I like it to be a dystopia book from page 1 to the last page. I'll leave it at that.

Great ideas, sci-fi & dystopia, grades 7& up. Teenage protagonist conflicted about whether or not to received the government imposed bar code tattoo, loses her parents, her home, and learns of her larger role in the governmental conspiracy.

I felt that this sequel had a strong opening where there was an intense atmosphere as Kayla was struggling to reclaim her true self and free her loved ones- she has some trying doubts that she must overcome which her soul must battle for- very inspiring and shows that Kayla must choose what she knows will help her exterminate fear. I felt like they got the information too fast, like they broke into the computers and succeeded so easily- I mean that one computer was like super awesome and unique right? I think it ended too quickly with the goal too easily resolved....I also was disappointed with Kayla's thoughts about Mfumbe, yes, she is thinking of the other man she has met but there are only two pages at the end that show when they reunite....now I know Mfumbe was sent home and gone for a large part of the book, but it seemed too quick for my taste. Lovely and intriguing imagery though, I am still haunting with what was on page 52 I think, the blood samples pouring over trucks, clever, and daring.

These books were a gift to my granddaughter, she loves reading and found this book interesting. The delivery was delayed but the seller apologized after my claim.

This was the closing book to the Bar Code Tattoo duology by Suzanne Weyn. It was a great book, the action was non-stop and so much story was put into this little book.

Kayla is set to make the journey to Washington DC in order to join the protest against mandatory bar code tattooing. Things get confusing though when she starts showing up on TV as an advocate for the bar code. Who is this girl on TV? As Kayla's journey continues she begins to find out things that completely change the way she looks at herself and her history. Along the way new information comes to light that the bar code may have an even darker purpose than keeping track of everyone's genetic code.

This was a great story. Some wonderful new characters enter into the story. The characters are fairly well-developed but the strong point of the story is definitely the idea surrounding a bar code society. The writing style is okay. The book is a quick read and very engaging.

This book was a bit less believable than the first book. With characters wielding a number of strange abilities, like telepathy and telekinesis, things are much further displaced from a "near" future. Also the whole story about Kayla's history is interesting but kind of strange.

I enjoyed the story; it was a good conclusion to the series and a quick read. Things are nicely wrapped up. If you read the first one you have to read this one. I am actually kind of surprised these two short books weren't published as one novel. The ideas in this novel are what really make it great. Will I read more of Weyn's stuff in the future? Probably not. I will keep an eye on her writing though to see if she comes up with anymore really creative sci-fi premises for a novel.

If you loved The Bar Code Tattoo like I did, this is the sequel you have to read. So many things from the first book are expanded on and there are some unbelievable surprises along the way. You won't be able to put it down, trust me!