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Bar Code #2
The Bar Code Rebellion
Kayla has resisted getting the bar code tattoo, even though it's meant forfeiting a "normal" life. Without the tattoo, she's an exile. But she can't stay an exile for long. . . .
For reasons she doesn't completely understand—but will soon discover—Kayla is at the center of a lethal conspiracy that will soon threaten the very notion of freedom. Kayla can either give in to the bar code, or she can join the resistance and fight it. The choice, to her, is clear:
It's time to fight.
They want your identity.
They want your freedom.
They can't have them.
The bar code rebellion.
For reasons she doesn't completely understand—but will soon discover—Kayla is at the center of a lethal conspiracy that will soon threaten the very notion of freedom. Kayla can either give in to the bar code, or she can join the resistance and fight it. The choice, to her, is clear:
It's time to fight.
They want your identity.
They want your freedom.
They can't have them.
The bar code rebellion.
265 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
139 people are currently reading
4330 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Weyn
206 books648 followersSuzanne Weyn grew up in Williston Park, Long Island, New York. She has three sisters and a brother. As a girl, she was very interested in theatre and in reading. Louisa May Alcott was her favorite author, but she also read every Sherlock Holmes story. Suzanne lived pretty close to the ocean and going to Jones Beach was one of her favorite activities. Even today, if she goes too long without seeing the ocean, she starts feeling restless.
Suzanne now lives in upper New York State with her husband, two teen daughters and Abby the cat. Her house is at the edge of the woods and is nearly 200 years old. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and received her master's degree from Pace University. She teaches part-time at City College in New York.
Suzanne's other books for Simon Pulse include South Beach Sizzle, a romantic comedy written with Diana Gonzalez. Her novels for the Simon Pulse line "Once Upon a Time" are The Night Dance: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Water Song: A Retelling of the Frog Prince, and The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin. She very much enjoys rethinking these classic tales from an original point of view, always looking for the real psychological underpinning of the story. Suzanne is currently doing revisions on her fourth book in the line, which will be coming in 2009.
Suzanne's other recent novels are include The Bar Code Tattoo (2004) and its sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion (2006). The Bar Code Tattoo was selected by the American Library Assoc. (ALA) as a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was a 2007 Nevada Library nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction. It is currently translated into German and was nominated for the 2007 Jugenliteraturpreis for Young People's Literature.
Suzanne now lives in upper New York State with her husband, two teen daughters and Abby the cat. Her house is at the edge of the woods and is nearly 200 years old. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and received her master's degree from Pace University. She teaches part-time at City College in New York.
Suzanne's other books for Simon Pulse include South Beach Sizzle, a romantic comedy written with Diana Gonzalez. Her novels for the Simon Pulse line "Once Upon a Time" are The Night Dance: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Water Song: A Retelling of the Frog Prince, and The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin. She very much enjoys rethinking these classic tales from an original point of view, always looking for the real psychological underpinning of the story. Suzanne is currently doing revisions on her fourth book in the line, which will be coming in 2009.
Suzanne's other recent novels are include The Bar Code Tattoo (2004) and its sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion (2006). The Bar Code Tattoo was selected by the American Library Assoc. (ALA) as a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was a 2007 Nevada Library nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction. It is currently translated into German and was nominated for the 2007 Jugenliteraturpreis for Young People's Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
June 15, 2015
Am I the only one who HATES KAYLA? She is such a selfish brat! Why can't mfumbe like someone who is WORTH caring about! OMG then she goes on FLIRTS with other dudes and than when they like her back she just says I have a BOYFRIEND. This isn't the exact same thing that happened but it went mostly like that. And what the heck is up with that other Kayla joining global-1. I mean, WHAT THE HECK! I rated it a 4 but really! It's a 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2016
The Bar Code Rebellion: Now With 100% Deus Ex Machina!
Warning: Spoilery review! Proceed with caution.
The bar code thing was interesting, but the plot twists and how the idea was developed was close to terrible. It all fell flat, shallow, and made little to no sense.
For instance, the main character is (supposedly) on the bad guys (aka government) "wanted" list. Still, she's not hiding. She goes out like it's no big deal. Like, excuse me? Are you stupid or what?
Things are solved way too easily, abusing with the Deus Ex Machina thing. The main characters barely face any troubles to get what they're looking for, in spite the info they're after is more than just Top Secret. Yet so, in no time they get everything they need—which was not believable at all. I rolled my eyes in several oportunities. If only I had such a good luck.
Warning: Spoilery review! Proceed with caution.
The bar code thing was interesting, but the plot twists and how the idea was developed was close to terrible. It all fell flat, shallow, and made little to no sense.
For instance, the main character is (supposedly) on the bad guys (aka government) "wanted" list. Still, she's not hiding. She goes out like it's no big deal. Like, excuse me? Are you stupid or what?
Things are solved way too easily, abusing with the Deus Ex Machina thing. The main characters barely face any troubles to get what they're looking for, in spite the info they're after is more than just Top Secret. Yet so, in no time they get everything they need—which was not believable at all. I rolled my eyes in several oportunities. If only I had such a good luck.
February 23, 2009
Three stars for idea, only two for execution. Interesting, but characters were flat.
August 31, 2018
“The Bar Code Rebellion” by Suzanne Weyn Review
I found myself absolutely loving this book. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars. I found this book to be so appealing because of how much the protagonist Kayla discovered about herself and her family. I also thought that the further explanation on the barcode tattoo was also very appealing.
A quote from The Barcode Rebellion that really drives home the appeal is, “‘What did Gene find in the bar code?’ Kayla asked Nate. Gene had told her that in his training to be a bar code tattoo provider he’d befriended someone who’d learned the password to access Global-1’s bar code database”(page 46). This shows the appeal because you want to learn what it is that Gene learned. I think that Suzanne Weyn did this to make you want to keep reading.
In The Bar Code Rebellion Suzanne Weyn explains more about what the bar code can do. She talks about what Global-1 does to you when you get the bar code. Kayla also learns more about her family through her visions and she learns why she has them. This happens through her traveling to escape getting the bar code.
This book I find is an indication of what could happen to us in the future. I think this because we continue to learn more about genes. I believe that it also shows how there might be problems in our society that we will need to figure out to help further our society.
I think that The Barcode Rebellion portrayed the idea that we need to stay close together as a country, and to not split us apart through matters of company products or certain trends. I also think that it portrays the idea that we need to try to understand all of the perspectives on problems that occur with certain people instead of just investigating one perspective and believing that one perspective instead of looking at multiple.
I have really enjoyed the first two books in the Bar Code Trilogy. I can’t wait to read the third one.
I found myself absolutely loving this book. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars. I found this book to be so appealing because of how much the protagonist Kayla discovered about herself and her family. I also thought that the further explanation on the barcode tattoo was also very appealing.
A quote from The Barcode Rebellion that really drives home the appeal is, “‘What did Gene find in the bar code?’ Kayla asked Nate. Gene had told her that in his training to be a bar code tattoo provider he’d befriended someone who’d learned the password to access Global-1’s bar code database”(page 46). This shows the appeal because you want to learn what it is that Gene learned. I think that Suzanne Weyn did this to make you want to keep reading.
In The Bar Code Rebellion Suzanne Weyn explains more about what the bar code can do. She talks about what Global-1 does to you when you get the bar code. Kayla also learns more about her family through her visions and she learns why she has them. This happens through her traveling to escape getting the bar code.
This book I find is an indication of what could happen to us in the future. I think this because we continue to learn more about genes. I believe that it also shows how there might be problems in our society that we will need to figure out to help further our society.
I think that The Barcode Rebellion portrayed the idea that we need to stay close together as a country, and to not split us apart through matters of company products or certain trends. I also think that it portrays the idea that we need to try to understand all of the perspectives on problems that occur with certain people instead of just investigating one perspective and believing that one perspective instead of looking at multiple.
I have really enjoyed the first two books in the Bar Code Trilogy. I can’t wait to read the third one.
April 2, 2012
The Bar Code Rebellion picks up right where The Bar Code Tattoo ends. Since it does not need to spend a lot of time on exposition this second and final chapter of The Bar Code series contains non-stop action. Although, in many ways, the fast pace read like a script for a typical action film: great special effects to cover up plot holes. The entire plot twist of Kayla discovering she is a clone (and it was a long drawn out process that my 6th grader picked up on immediately) doesn’t fit with the set up in the first novel as revealed by Kayla’s mother. I find it unbelievable that in this moment of drug induced revelation Ashley Reed fails to even hint at Kayla not being her biological child or a genetically modified clone. Also, the first book alludes to legal battles for clones in Europe. Apparently they are being refused bar codes. An interesting idea, but completely dropped in the second book, along with the idea of any other existing clones besides the KM-6s. And really, how on earth could Kayla’s father work for the FBI and still have gone “underground” and kept his cloned mother from the prying eyes of global-1? They really lost track of these infants? Not likely. And, then, of course, there is yet another romantic interest for Kayla. Actually, I must admit, I think I’m a little jealous by how quickly these guys fall into her lap. Maybe I should splice a little avian DNA into my genetic code.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2017
While I liked the first book because it gave us a glimpse into the making of a dystopian society, I felt this second book fell a bit flat.
First, the dialogue was a bit choppy. The wording was not natural and didn't flow like normal speech patterns. Part of the problem is all of the internal monologues that Kayla has going on in between each sentence when she talks to someone, or the constant visions. Her "thinking things out" got a bit monotonous, especially when it became pretty clear what was going on but she couldn't seem to get it.
Which brings me to the second thing that bothered me: it was very obvious that there was a nanotechnology thing going on, and the clone thing (trying not to spoil), way before the characters figured it out. I mean, come on! I thought Kayla was supposed to have some sort of psychic ability here!
And then the ending was pretty quick and easy. All of the sudden, they just happen to come upon the perfect solution. deus ex machina anyone? It was pretty easy to take down an evil, global superpower. They would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for those darn kids!
First, the dialogue was a bit choppy. The wording was not natural and didn't flow like normal speech patterns. Part of the problem is all of the internal monologues that Kayla has going on in between each sentence when she talks to someone, or the constant visions. Her "thinking things out" got a bit monotonous, especially when it became pretty clear what was going on but she couldn't seem to get it.
Which brings me to the second thing that bothered me: it was very obvious that there was a nanotechnology thing going on, and the clone thing (trying not to spoil), way before the characters figured it out. I mean, come on! I thought Kayla was supposed to have some sort of psychic ability here!
And then the ending was pretty quick and easy. All of the sudden, they just happen to come upon the perfect solution. deus ex machina anyone? It was pretty easy to take down an evil, global superpower. They would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for those darn kids!
January 25, 2017
The book The Bar Code Rebellion by Suzanne Weyn Is a dystopian novel published in 2006. It is set in the future, 2025. There are many places that take place throughout the book, but a good portion of the first part of this book takes place in the Adirondack mountains. The protagonist, Kayla, is a strong, brave, intelligent, and rebellious leader. She disagrees with the government and global-1 and takes a stand for what she believes in by trying to defeat them. Throughout the b0ok things are revealed about herself, her genetics and her family that come as a huge surprise. Even with all of the new information about herself, and finding out that her whole life has been a lie, Kayla stays strong and still works at her goal of defeating global-1. She does whatever she can to try and protect herself and others from the lie that hides behind the bar code tattoo. I thought this book was very exciting and it kept me wanting to read more and know what came next. Although the middle of the book was a little dragged on, I still enjoyed reading it and want to read the next book of the series. I would recommend this book to middle schoolers. It is not too challenging reading but its also not too easy, its a perfect book for middle school kids.
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May 10, 2023This is the second book I have read from this author and honestly I would recommend this author but to be honest with you I liked more the first one (The bar code tattoo) More then the second one aka the Bar code Rebellion. It returns with everything on how Kayla had an opinion with the bar code and ready to stop it from controlling everyone but soon she will find some news out that she didn't know before and it affects how the whole thing will happen. She had soon found out the her neighbor that had warned her before of the tattoo was right but soon there was more information being kept that has been affecting the community more than just holding important personal information. Kayla soon discovers she sees some girls that look identical like her. With this fact she learns more secrets kept in her family that affect her. I think the first was more well written then this one but I still enjoyed it and to see how they had continued to fix this problem.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2018
Well, I have to say I'm warming up to this series, and I'll give it a 3.5, BUT still there are so many things in this book that I somewhat like, and then some that I absolutely hate. So, I guess I'm being generous with my rating, yet again.
The writing style was ok, but again with Kayla
First there was the telepathy, the shamans, and the whole healing shebang, then
There's not that much I can say about the book, without spoiling stuff, it didn't take me very long to finish the book like the first one, this only took two days, and I gave it 3.5, but in no way would I ever in ANY universe give this book 4 stars... NOT EVEN CLOSE!
The writing style was ok, but again with Kayla
First there was the telepathy, the shamans, and the whole healing shebang, then
There's not that much I can say about the book, without spoiling stuff, it didn't take me very long to finish the book like the first one, this only took two days, and I gave it 3.5, but in no way would I ever in ANY universe give this book 4 stars... NOT EVEN CLOSE!
November 11, 2020
So I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series until I had started it and there were references to characters that I didn’t recognize. Still, I was able to jump in and follow along decently well.
The story was interesting, but there was a lot of tell and not enough show, which made the stakes seem fairly low.
This was written in 2006 and it was set in 2025, so there was a lot of disparity between what happened in the story between 2006 and 2020 and what actually happened. It made the book seem somewhat dated.
The story was interesting, but there was a lot of tell and not enough show, which made the stakes seem fairly low.
This was written in 2006 and it was set in 2025, so there was a lot of disparity between what happened in the story between 2006 and 2020 and what actually happened. It made the book seem somewhat dated.
Read
September 11, 2011The 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, 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, gotten 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 barcode tattoo. Next thing she knows, this girl is everywhere, pretending to be Kayla, and promoting the barcode 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 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.
More terrible, it seems, than what Kayla and other bar code resistors already know: that the tattoo contains each person's genetic code, gotten 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 barcode tattoo. Next thing she knows, this girl is everywhere, pretending to be Kayla, and promoting the barcode 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 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.
November 29, 2013
Meh. Took a good initial premise and more or less squandered it. I kept wanting to like this book more than I did, because it is fun enough and the author seemed good intentioned, but when I got to the final section, where the author resolved literally every loose end (and we're talking BIG loose ends, what used to be called the denoument and stuff) in less than fifteen pages, I couldn't be charitable any longer. Yeah, lots and lots of loose ends. Seen better endings in overlong Stephen King novels.
April 29, 2013
The story was of science that of a world of no privacy, that all information about you that could be accessed by a major company that wants to get rid of weaknesses in this world. Could you Imagine living in a world that it was against the law to refuse getting a tattoo, that you had to provide indentation at all times. Imagine one day you are living your life and when you woke up you found out that you have five other versions of you. That is what happens to Kayla the day she turned seventeen, she experienced an incident that changed her view of everything she was taught.
This book is a as some would say a sci fi, and I can say that this story will keep you at the edge of your seat. There are many biologic terms that many may not be able to understand it, but it is mostly simple enough to understand. This story is you can maybe say is similar to the world of the Hunger Games, the world that the government controlled everything.
These tattoo’s were the only thing that would allow a person to do anything there is no more credit cards, money, or checks the barcode is the way for payment now. Imagine you got a full ride to a university that you really wanted to go to, but the only way way you could get in was to have a barcode tattoo.That the only way to survive and help everyone that was under the influence of the barcode, she had to fight against getting a bar code tattoo. By trying to figure out what the tattoo’s are for and help everyone Kayla comes across secrets about the barcodes that endangers everyone with them.
This book is a as some would say a sci fi, and I can say that this story will keep you at the edge of your seat. There are many biologic terms that many may not be able to understand it, but it is mostly simple enough to understand. This story is you can maybe say is similar to the world of the Hunger Games, the world that the government controlled everything.
These tattoo’s were the only thing that would allow a person to do anything there is no more credit cards, money, or checks the barcode is the way for payment now. Imagine you got a full ride to a university that you really wanted to go to, but the only way way you could get in was to have a barcode tattoo.That the only way to survive and help everyone that was under the influence of the barcode, she had to fight against getting a bar code tattoo. By trying to figure out what the tattoo’s are for and help everyone Kayla comes across secrets about the barcodes that endangers everyone with them.
May 24, 2011
Although I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Bar Code Tattoo, I found the second book lacked it's originality. This book just took things too far & crazy. The secrets that Kayla is supposed to find out aren't very secret or very hard to find out & don't seem to have a whole bunch to do with the plot line other than to add some crazy into the mix. Kayla spends the whole first book learning how to do all this amazing stuff with her mind, which she then seems to forget she can do in the second book. When her boyfriend, Mfumbe, gets hurt, she doesn't even try to heal him with her mind, even though in the last book she managed to bring a bird back from the dead. I think she just liked that the first book was so popular & wanted to make a sequel, even though there really wasn't enough story for it. Then, after all this drawing things out & making more drama than is really necessary for any story line, it just kind of ends. It wraps up all the drama in 4 pages & ends it. I always hate the whole Deus Ex Machina endings, & this one has one big time. Find the uber person & she solves everything in 10 minutes flat, the end. It just made me mad.
July 28, 2020
This second installment was better than the first. I still believe the psychic storyline was contrived and unnecessary, but the overall story flowed much better than the first. The idea is excellent. The execution of that idea still lacks ingenuity and left so much to be desired. Too much superficial “love story teenage angst” that just didn’t propel the story forward, but seemed more intrusive than interesting. Sometimes an author just doesn’t know what to do with such a great idea. If Neal Shusterman had taken this idea, I expect it would’ve been a spectacular story.
May 23, 2014
The Bar Code Rebellion is written by Suzanne Weyn she is a magnifiecint writer who puts great detail in her work. This is her second book about the bar codes an cant wait to get the next one. Kayla has resisted the bar code tattoo she is one of the strongest on the run with different people trying to end the madness of the tattoo. And trying to figure out what the deep secret is in those tattoos that is ruining everyone's lives.
March 15, 2017
The book was ok because it wasn't as interesting as the first one the first was more tense to me and seemed like it was more interesting, I like how Kayla has more people to be on the side where people don't want to get the barcode tattoo.Kayla still decides to not get the tattoo she thinks it will ruin her life but if she doesn't the global officers will take her away and force to get it so she tries to hide from global officers her life is not normal anymore.
October 2, 2022
Apparently this is the second book in a series, and I didn’t read the first one (Bar Code Tattoo). So I was thrown into the action of these characters I didn’t know, without any introduction to slowly warm up to them. I see the author made a point to make everyone racially diverse. IMO, things moved too fast. Some things didn’t make sense, like when Kayla walked across coals, cried and immediately fell asleep on the ground, and none of her friends came to her aid (112-113). I guess the simplicity can be good for young readers who don’t have long attention spans or deep thinking.
The reading level of this book is sixth grade, but the characters are 17+. There is romance, but nothing sexual. A few bad words like “bastard” and “damn.” There are some mature topics mentioned, such as suicide, schizophrenia, murder, theft, arson, & government corruption. The science behind the technology was realistic and well written. The most unrealistic thing in the book was telepathy.
Even though the story was simplistic, I appreciate that it was written. It’s a good book for middle school aged kids to understand politics, that not everything you see on the news is true, and the gravity and implications of real life government mandates and implanting technology onto/under our skin.
The book was published in 2006 but takes place in 2025. There were a lot of parallels between the book’s world and ours. Just as Jeffrey Epstein didn’t really kill himself, there are fake suicides in this book too (106). Just as democrats tampered with the 2020 election to get Biden elected, a corporation called Global-1 hacked computerized voting machines to get President Waters elected (22). Global-1 made all food GMO, just like Bill Gates wants to do (172). Just as the US performed illegal gain of function research in China, Global-1 used Korea to do their illegal scientific experiments (203). Just as covid-19 and the vaccine were used to lower human population, the bar code could kill people digitally (176, 197, 209). Just as the globalist elites want to replace cash with digital currency so that every transaction can be easily tracked and they can disable your bank account if they want, in this book cash money was eliminated five years ago and the bar code tattoo was the only acceptable form of payment (11). Just like our world’s scientists think they can wipe out all diseases with vaccines, the scientists in this book use the bar code tattoo to eliminate unhealthy people and want to use nanobots to wipe out all viral diseases and increase the human lifespan (30, 195). Just like with the covid-19 vaccine card and “Green Pass”, people couldn’t go to college, get a job, or see a doctor unless they got the bar code tattoo (11, 28, 67). Just as real hospitals wouldn’t make a genuine effort to help covid patients because letting their health worsen got them more money from insurance companies, the hospitals in this book wouldn’t help a patient who Global-1 wanted dead (250). Just as some judges take custody away from a parent who doesn’t want to vaccinate their child, this book’s parents are deemed unfit unless they get bar codes (215). Just like the vaccine was marketed for the greater good, so too was the bar code (118).
This dystopia was restricted to the US, so people could be safe if they got to Canada (38). But covid-19 responses were coordinated across the globe, so no where was safe. I like it when dystopias blame human nature instead of a single evil person/government/corporation. It’s too easy to hate that one single entity while ignoring our own contribution to the problem. But we should all realize that the evil lurks inside all of us, and we need to take action in ourselves to prevent the dystopia from coming. Feed by MT Anderson seemed to do that because the people willingly embraced the feed; it wasn’t forced on them; but the UN-like organization was condemning the US for its overconsumption, when in reality overconsumption is a global problem, and as long as mass production is allowed, it won’t stop. Feed was more realistic in its depiction of future teenagers—so dumb. This book’s teenagers were intelligent and into art and poetry.
“Strange, Kayla thought, not for the first time, that an odd character like Gene Drake—heavyset and badly groomed, reeking of cigarette smoke, nervous and uncharismatic—should be so deified and adored after his death” (72). Like George Floyd, eh? An ugly, broke, drug-addicted criminal who nobody cared about until a white cop put his foot at his neck. Now spoiled anarchist youth itching for excitement in their lives paint murals of his mug on buildings that don’t belong to them and use his name as an excuse to smash windows.
“Genes have multiple tasks. When they began trying to genetically cure sickle cell anemia they discovered that the same gene made people resistant to malaria. By knocking out the disease-causing gene, they could have caused a worse problem” (222). Moral: don’t try to alter genes.
“New technologies will always offer the greedy and power hungry new opportunities to oppress its citizenry. Advances in science must be made with due consideration. They can advance the health and wellbeing of all people, or they can enslave them. In a free society we must work together to make this a world where human dignity is the yardstick by which we measure progress” (257).
The reading level of this book is sixth grade, but the characters are 17+. There is romance, but nothing sexual. A few bad words like “bastard” and “damn.” There are some mature topics mentioned, such as suicide, schizophrenia, murder, theft, arson, & government corruption. The science behind the technology was realistic and well written. The most unrealistic thing in the book was telepathy.
Even though the story was simplistic, I appreciate that it was written. It’s a good book for middle school aged kids to understand politics, that not everything you see on the news is true, and the gravity and implications of real life government mandates and implanting technology onto/under our skin.
The book was published in 2006 but takes place in 2025. There were a lot of parallels between the book’s world and ours. Just as Jeffrey Epstein didn’t really kill himself, there are fake suicides in this book too (106). Just as democrats tampered with the 2020 election to get Biden elected, a corporation called Global-1 hacked computerized voting machines to get President Waters elected (22). Global-1 made all food GMO, just like Bill Gates wants to do (172). Just as the US performed illegal gain of function research in China, Global-1 used Korea to do their illegal scientific experiments (203). Just as covid-19 and the vaccine were used to lower human population, the bar code could kill people digitally (176, 197, 209). Just as the globalist elites want to replace cash with digital currency so that every transaction can be easily tracked and they can disable your bank account if they want, in this book cash money was eliminated five years ago and the bar code tattoo was the only acceptable form of payment (11). Just like our world’s scientists think they can wipe out all diseases with vaccines, the scientists in this book use the bar code tattoo to eliminate unhealthy people and want to use nanobots to wipe out all viral diseases and increase the human lifespan (30, 195). Just like with the covid-19 vaccine card and “Green Pass”, people couldn’t go to college, get a job, or see a doctor unless they got the bar code tattoo (11, 28, 67). Just as real hospitals wouldn’t make a genuine effort to help covid patients because letting their health worsen got them more money from insurance companies, the hospitals in this book wouldn’t help a patient who Global-1 wanted dead (250). Just as some judges take custody away from a parent who doesn’t want to vaccinate their child, this book’s parents are deemed unfit unless they get bar codes (215). Just like the vaccine was marketed for the greater good, so too was the bar code (118).
This dystopia was restricted to the US, so people could be safe if they got to Canada (38). But covid-19 responses were coordinated across the globe, so no where was safe. I like it when dystopias blame human nature instead of a single evil person/government/corporation. It’s too easy to hate that one single entity while ignoring our own contribution to the problem. But we should all realize that the evil lurks inside all of us, and we need to take action in ourselves to prevent the dystopia from coming. Feed by MT Anderson seemed to do that because the people willingly embraced the feed; it wasn’t forced on them; but the UN-like organization was condemning the US for its overconsumption, when in reality overconsumption is a global problem, and as long as mass production is allowed, it won’t stop. Feed was more realistic in its depiction of future teenagers—so dumb. This book’s teenagers were intelligent and into art and poetry.
“Strange, Kayla thought, not for the first time, that an odd character like Gene Drake—heavyset and badly groomed, reeking of cigarette smoke, nervous and uncharismatic—should be so deified and adored after his death” (72). Like George Floyd, eh? An ugly, broke, drug-addicted criminal who nobody cared about until a white cop put his foot at his neck. Now spoiled anarchist youth itching for excitement in their lives paint murals of his mug on buildings that don’t belong to them and use his name as an excuse to smash windows.
“Genes have multiple tasks. When they began trying to genetically cure sickle cell anemia they discovered that the same gene made people resistant to malaria. By knocking out the disease-causing gene, they could have caused a worse problem” (222). Moral: don’t try to alter genes.
“New technologies will always offer the greedy and power hungry new opportunities to oppress its citizenry. Advances in science must be made with due consideration. They can advance the health and wellbeing of all people, or they can enslave them. In a free society we must work together to make this a world where human dignity is the yardstick by which we measure progress” (257).
Read
November 22, 2008SOOOOOO GOOD!!!go Mfumbe!!GO Mfumbe!!!
May 2, 2012
Wow! very thought provoking.
June 29, 2012
Interesting, but not totally put together. Lots of threads were brought up that didn't feel totally taken care of in enough detail by the end.
Read
April 6, 2016i liked this book because without picture you picture the illutration in the book
January 7, 2018
Kayla continues the battle for freedom against the bar code tattoo. At this point, she has already lost so many beloved people in her life, she can not lose anymore. As the days pass, she becomes stronger, smarter, more resistant, and more determined. She finds old friends, who help her or who make matters worse. Kayla is through with hiding, now that her psychic abilities are more powerful than ever, she is ready to fight for her freedom. She is constantly in search for answers to the question: What is in these bar codes? She finds out secrets that were never before imagined possible. These lead to new people who will help her in her fight against President Waters and the Tattoo Gen.
The Bar Code Rebellion takes place in August of 2025 when the bar code tattoo is taking over the world, with the help of Global 1 -- the worldwide corporation who is notably in charge of the rules. Kayla travels all over the U.S.; in California where she meets up with Allyson, her high school friend who studies nanotechnology at CalTech, to help her lie low and hopefully find out more about the tattoo, and in Washington D.C., where she and fellow bar code resistors went to a rally in which President Waters was supposed to admit his fault and reveal what the tattoo was hiding within it.
The Bar Code Tattoo was an amazing book! So starting out, I had high standards of The Bar Code Rebellion, and this book surpassed every single one of my expectations. This book was action packed, with many new characters that added to the story so seamlessly and unbelievably. There were too many unexpected turns in the story to count, this was what grabbed my attention and kept me engaged in the reading of the book. The Bar Code Rebellion is the second book in the Bar Code trilogy, which means if you want to read this book you should read the first book too because they are both heavily connected. There was one thing I did not like about this book, and it was how Suzanne Weyn, the author of the Bar Code series, would introduce a character then leave the character, and not come back to them physically in the story. There were some references to what certain characters have said, but she would not reintroduce them and dig deeper into their pasts. I am hoping she will build on those characters in the third book of the trilogy. I personally love almost anything science fiction in movies and books, especially when it is combined with Dystopian fiction. These types of books keep me interested and “wanting more” with the story, so if you do not like science fiction books, this book is not for you. This whole series, so far, has been an awesome experience and I would most definitely read any of these books again.
One major theme of this book was “freedom.” The whole storyline of this book was for Kayla to find what is wrong with the bar codes or what they are hiding to use it against Global 1 and Tattoo Gen, once they release this information, they can gain freedom from this tattoo and whatever it is doing to people. “‘We act, but we don’t carry weapons. We’re for freedom and life, not against it.’” (Weyn 41). When Kayla meets her new friends, they tell her this to reassure her that she is doing the right thing and to not give in or back out. During this time, may things were happening to Kayla that could have easily shaken her up, but she stayed strong and true to wha she believed in. Fighting for freedom is much more difficult when people do not even realize they are being enslaved, even more so when this freedom makes you an outlaw and an outcast to society. “Her father’s suicide. Her mother, burned to death. Mfumbe gone. Betrayal everywhere. Confusion! The world! How had the world turned into this world? How could she live in a world such as this?” (Weyn 113). Kayla was so lucky to have found friends and other people who shared the same passion for the resistance. The drive for freedom can fade quickly without friends who have that same drive.
The Bar Code Rebellion takes place in August of 2025 when the bar code tattoo is taking over the world, with the help of Global 1 -- the worldwide corporation who is notably in charge of the rules. Kayla travels all over the U.S.; in California where she meets up with Allyson, her high school friend who studies nanotechnology at CalTech, to help her lie low and hopefully find out more about the tattoo, and in Washington D.C., where she and fellow bar code resistors went to a rally in which President Waters was supposed to admit his fault and reveal what the tattoo was hiding within it.
The Bar Code Tattoo was an amazing book! So starting out, I had high standards of The Bar Code Rebellion, and this book surpassed every single one of my expectations. This book was action packed, with many new characters that added to the story so seamlessly and unbelievably. There were too many unexpected turns in the story to count, this was what grabbed my attention and kept me engaged in the reading of the book. The Bar Code Rebellion is the second book in the Bar Code trilogy, which means if you want to read this book you should read the first book too because they are both heavily connected. There was one thing I did not like about this book, and it was how Suzanne Weyn, the author of the Bar Code series, would introduce a character then leave the character, and not come back to them physically in the story. There were some references to what certain characters have said, but she would not reintroduce them and dig deeper into their pasts. I am hoping she will build on those characters in the third book of the trilogy. I personally love almost anything science fiction in movies and books, especially when it is combined with Dystopian fiction. These types of books keep me interested and “wanting more” with the story, so if you do not like science fiction books, this book is not for you. This whole series, so far, has been an awesome experience and I would most definitely read any of these books again.
One major theme of this book was “freedom.” The whole storyline of this book was for Kayla to find what is wrong with the bar codes or what they are hiding to use it against Global 1 and Tattoo Gen, once they release this information, they can gain freedom from this tattoo and whatever it is doing to people. “‘We act, but we don’t carry weapons. We’re for freedom and life, not against it.’” (Weyn 41). When Kayla meets her new friends, they tell her this to reassure her that she is doing the right thing and to not give in or back out. During this time, may things were happening to Kayla that could have easily shaken her up, but she stayed strong and true to wha she believed in. Fighting for freedom is much more difficult when people do not even realize they are being enslaved, even more so when this freedom makes you an outlaw and an outcast to society. “Her father’s suicide. Her mother, burned to death. Mfumbe gone. Betrayal everywhere. Confusion! The world! How had the world turned into this world? How could she live in a world such as this?” (Weyn 113). Kayla was so lucky to have found friends and other people who shared the same passion for the resistance. The drive for freedom can fade quickly without friends who have that same drive.
December 8, 2018
Set in the year 2025 “The Bar Code Rebellion” centers around seventeen-year-old Kayla Reed and her friend Mfumbe Taylor’s resistance to being tattooed in a world where not accepting the bar code is considered an offense with severe consequences.
This story heats up when Kayla and Mfumbe attend a rally in Washington, D.C. expecting President Loudon Waters who’s in league with the multinational corporation Global-I heading up the implementation of the tattoos to resign, only to have the protestors confronted with a gas attack and arrests which include David Young the head of Decode, the organization against the bar code. Fearing further reprisals after releasing a battered and ill Mfumbe from jail and returning him to the care of his parents, Kara escapes to the desert, joining the Drakians’ resistance determined to discover answers to the side effects that are killing the protestors who were tattooed against their will.
Fast-paced and action-packed the intriguing and mystery-laden plot keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. Intensity and suspense continually build as Kara and new Drakian friend Jack not only search the desert for her best friend Amber’s whereabouts but reconnect with Allyson after a tragic death, discovering the truth about her existence, and Global-I’s determination to find her.
Well-written and intense the pressure mounts to promote Kyla as the poster girl for the tattoo; to stop the depression and suicide tendencies targeting the jailed protestors; and to stop the government’s control of citizens’ behavior. In this plot there is an emotional conflict as romantic feelings flare between Kyla and Jack and she tries to keep her distance remembering how much Mfumba meant to her.
Breathing life and tension into the plot are compelling and committed characters like strong, kind and brave Kayla Reed; smart and down-to-earth Mfumbe Taylor; outspoken but warm-hearted Amber; Allyson the rational and realistic science whiz; as well as Jack the charismatic and confident techie genius. All fuel the story with their tenacity and spirit as it progresses to a surprising conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Bar Code Rebellion”, the best book in this series so far.
This story heats up when Kayla and Mfumbe attend a rally in Washington, D.C. expecting President Loudon Waters who’s in league with the multinational corporation Global-I heading up the implementation of the tattoos to resign, only to have the protestors confronted with a gas attack and arrests which include David Young the head of Decode, the organization against the bar code. Fearing further reprisals after releasing a battered and ill Mfumbe from jail and returning him to the care of his parents, Kara escapes to the desert, joining the Drakians’ resistance determined to discover answers to the side effects that are killing the protestors who were tattooed against their will.
Fast-paced and action-packed the intriguing and mystery-laden plot keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. Intensity and suspense continually build as Kara and new Drakian friend Jack not only search the desert for her best friend Amber’s whereabouts but reconnect with Allyson after a tragic death, discovering the truth about her existence, and Global-I’s determination to find her.
Well-written and intense the pressure mounts to promote Kyla as the poster girl for the tattoo; to stop the depression and suicide tendencies targeting the jailed protestors; and to stop the government’s control of citizens’ behavior. In this plot there is an emotional conflict as romantic feelings flare between Kyla and Jack and she tries to keep her distance remembering how much Mfumba meant to her.
Breathing life and tension into the plot are compelling and committed characters like strong, kind and brave Kayla Reed; smart and down-to-earth Mfumbe Taylor; outspoken but warm-hearted Amber; Allyson the rational and realistic science whiz; as well as Jack the charismatic and confident techie genius. All fuel the story with their tenacity and spirit as it progresses to a surprising conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Bar Code Rebellion”, the best book in this series so far.
March 21, 2023
Not my normal genre, but an ok book
There were some cringe worthy terms/phrases. One being "final level" and the other I can't even remember right now. But they were in both of the first two books. Each time I read them I cringed and then rolled my eyes. But they seem more heavily used at the beginning of the book except "final level" at the end of this one. Both seemed a bit cheesy in context and reality. (Edit to add: "Banged out" is the other cringeworthy phrase.)
Overall, the book was an interesting read again like the first one. No this isn't my normal genre, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't over the top enjoyment. If that makes sense.
I will say, it was nice to have a little break from my typical romance/smut books with this story. And the depths that they went through for the book seemed pretty good. But I definitely struggled with a book being a future dystopian state in 2024 to 2026 timeframe. The book was written in 2012 so I felt a future state should be at least 50 years into the future. Seeing as I'm reading it in 2023, it just doesn't really age well I suppose since I'm practically reading it in current time.
But, I will read the third book to finalize the trilogy and wrap it up. Somehow I came across a paper copy of the second book. Which is what started reading the series. I don't think I'd really care for the book as a young adult though either. Hmm. That's something to think about too I suppose.
There were some cringe worthy terms/phrases. One being "final level" and the other I can't even remember right now. But they were in both of the first two books. Each time I read them I cringed and then rolled my eyes. But they seem more heavily used at the beginning of the book except "final level" at the end of this one. Both seemed a bit cheesy in context and reality. (Edit to add: "Banged out" is the other cringeworthy phrase.)
Overall, the book was an interesting read again like the first one. No this isn't my normal genre, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't over the top enjoyment. If that makes sense.
I will say, it was nice to have a little break from my typical romance/smut books with this story. And the depths that they went through for the book seemed pretty good. But I definitely struggled with a book being a future dystopian state in 2024 to 2026 timeframe. The book was written in 2012 so I felt a future state should be at least 50 years into the future. Seeing as I'm reading it in 2023, it just doesn't really age well I suppose since I'm practically reading it in current time.
But, I will read the third book to finalize the trilogy and wrap it up. Somehow I came across a paper copy of the second book. Which is what started reading the series. I don't think I'd really care for the book as a young adult though either. Hmm. That's something to think about too I suppose.
June 22, 2017
Read both Barcode Tattoo and Barcode Rebellion.
Overall, great idea, poor execution.
These 2 books were rushed. I personally think that if the author would have spent more time on these books they would have been an amazing series. The author basically just jotted this story from the top of her head, and didn't really put much effort into making it worth while. She didn't put much thought in the character development or the details of the story. She also underestimated her readers. The readers figured out that the girl on the TV was a clone WAAAYYYYY before the main character found out. Seriously?!
I don't know how these books got published to be honest. It had a lot of room for improvement.... Learn from this my fellow amateur authors out there, and don't rush your work. If you have an idea, do not stop until you are fully satisfied with your story. That is the secret to amazing work. Do not do what Suzanne Weyn did, and rush your writing because you need to meet a deadline on books to publish. Fun fact: Ms. Suzanne Weyn released easily 7 other books the same year "The Barcode Tattoo" came out, that's how you know the author rushed.
Overall, great idea, poor execution.
These 2 books were rushed. I personally think that if the author would have spent more time on these books they would have been an amazing series. The author basically just jotted this story from the top of her head, and didn't really put much effort into making it worth while. She didn't put much thought in the character development or the details of the story. She also underestimated her readers. The readers figured out that the girl on the TV was a clone WAAAYYYYY before the main character found out. Seriously?!
I don't know how these books got published to be honest. It had a lot of room for improvement.... Learn from this my fellow amateur authors out there, and don't rush your work. If you have an idea, do not stop until you are fully satisfied with your story. That is the secret to amazing work. Do not do what Suzanne Weyn did, and rush your writing because you need to meet a deadline on books to publish. Fun fact: Ms. Suzanne Weyn released easily 7 other books the same year "The Barcode Tattoo" came out, that's how you know the author rushed.
April 25, 2024
Much better with the pacing! It felt like we kept making consistent steady progress with this one which was super nice after the weird slow start and sped through end of the first book. This book also picks up where the last one left us hanging thankfully, but its still not perfect. I love the idea we had with the barcode tattoos and the dangers we worked into them but it feels like we may have got a bit side tracked. I considered the first book a fiction, a few hacker things here and there but other than the machines that made the tattoos nothing majorly weird or out of place for the modern day. This one we take a turn and dive right into sci-fi which I don't think was super needed. But that being said this one atleast stays in its own lane by making sure everything we do in this book is resolved in this book, unlike the first one which I stand by was just a rushed set up for this one. There's still 1 more book to go and im honestly not sure how after the ending we had but imma read it anyway! Like The Adoration of Jenna Fox series I just gotta know how it ends.
April 14, 2023
This book was a dystopia book written by Suzanne Weyn. This author has written many other books such as Bar Code, which was the first book of this sequel, Empty, The crimson thread, and a few others. I haven't read any other of her books besides bar code and bar code rebellion. I can't really compare the two I have read because they were about the same thing. Based on these two books I'm not really interested in reading any of her others. Not saying this book was bad or wasn't well written. Just that I could tell what was gonna happen next in the plot and didn't leave me with a mystery or a cliffhanger at all. It was interesting there were parts where I got into it and it's a great idea for what the book is about as a whole but some parts could've been more intriguing for me to like this book better. When first glancing at this book and I couldn't really tell what it would possibly be about, and what I thought it would be about wasn't at all what I had guessed. The protagonist of this book is a 17-year-old girl named Kayla living in Washington D.C. in the year 2025. Which isn't that far from right now. But what the book setting seemed like was a scary future for our world. At the age of 17, the government makes you get a barcode tattoo. And this has become their form of payment, how you get jobs and many different things all with a tattoo. Kayla and her friend Mfbumbe resist getting the barcode tattoo and don't agree with it at all but if you don't get it you are considered an exile.
February 24, 2020
If your up for a fight for your rights,this is the book for you. Kayla does not like the bar code tattoo.She is against everything about it.She is one of the most well known bad code resistors in the world.The bar code tattoo is supposed to give you such a normal life when all it really does is mess it up. Kayla and her friends will do whatever it takes to prevent getting the bar code and to prevent other people from getting it.Little does Kayla know that that's not the only thing she's up against but that global-1 is after her not just for her being a bar code resistor but for something else..You either choose to put up a fight or to get the bar code tattoo ad let your whole life go down into flames.It's your choice...so what are you picking?
November 24, 2020
Interesting story with a neat premise and some good concepts to think about. Some things with the writing bothered me, like how the news articles lacked standard convention. Interesting futuristic science ideas, though a couple were weird and didn't make sense. The story seemed to finish in a hurry and certain things were way too easy for the characters to pull off, but I'm aware this is a book for teens, and I'm twice that age, so I'll forgive some of those flaws (though they did interfere with my ability to get engaged with the story, which is why it took me so long to read this book). I read the first book as light reading in college, I think, and just never got around to book two until now.
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