Scored

Review

Common Sense Media says

Teens will relate to dystopian world where scores = status.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this near-future dystopian novel features a lively debate about freedom of expression and forcefully  dramatizes the sort of alienation that can occur when private citizens are under near-constant surveillance. There is also some profanity and sexuality.

  • Educational value4
    Scored raises important issues about corporate surveillance, standardized testing, and peer pressure. Two main characters must argue the pros and cons of each from perspectives they do not personally subscribe to. Other classics of dystopian fiction, such as 1984 and Brave New World, are mentioned as sources for further study.
  • Positive messages4
    Although surveillance and behavior scoring can seem to make a community safer, they can also foster divisiveness and ostracism. Fortunately, loyalty and honesty can mitigate the negative effects of too little personal privacy and freedom of expression.
  • Positive role models4
    Imani initially worries that her friendship with Cady will drag down her score, and when the plunge in ranking is greater than she expects, she is faced with a choice to spy for the school authorities. As the story progresses, she learns from her friends, from her family, and from people she views as enemies. She eventually learns that people are more than just numbers and that privacy and honesty can make society stronger.
  • Violence1
    In an act of defiance, a character smashes a surveillance camera.
  • Sex4
    The main character recalls an uncomfortable encounter when her awkward date attempted to put his hand down the back of her jeans and up the front of her shirt. In the current storyline, a young woman is ostracized for dating and presumably sleeping with a "lowbie" (a low-scorer) and is then caught on camera making love in a field with her boyfriend. The resulting video is distributed as Farm Field F*&K Fest.
  • Language4
    The f-word is used about a dozen times, mostly as an exclamation, and the main character stops just short of calling someone an assh--e. But because the characters are under surveillance at most times, their verbal exchanges are largely swearing-free.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    A high school senior offers a beer to the protagonist and drinks his own bottle of brew.
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What's the story?

In Somerton, MA, your future is determined by your score. By placing smart-cams throughout the community, Score Corp keeps track of students' every move, adding or subtracting points for approved or forbidden behavior. Imani LeMonde is a 92 and a semester away from high school graduation, but her friendship with Cady, a 72, threatens to drag down her score and disrupt her plans for college. Even more problematic is Imani's relationship with her study partner Diego McLune, a brilliant but unscored student who believes Score Corp and its practices are pernicious. Can Imani be true to herself, family, and friends, or must she sacrifice her integrity and privacy in the name of upward mobility?

Is it any good?

 

This near-future dystopian novel by the author of Cycler and (Re)Cycler smartly explores the implications of near-constant surveillance and the willingness of some people to trade privacy for the illusion of upward mobility. In a recession-raddled society where being a member of the middle class no longer guarantees employment, students compete for scores that supposedly measure their merit as citizens. McLaughlin presents a chilling but nuanced picture of conformity run amok and raises important questions about freedom of expression.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about whether achieving high scores on standardized tests is a true measure of intellectual merit.

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of having nearly every public interaction recorded by digital technology? How might such a system be abused?

  • Scored is set only a few years in the future. What current trends might lead to a time when high school students are monitored by spy cams and receive scores based on their behavior?

This review was written by Michael Berry
Adult
November 8, 2011
AGE
18
 
12 F-words? Seriously?
How could a book that contains twelve f-words possibly be ok for ages twelve and up? Who decides this stuff?
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Kid, 13 years old
November 13, 2011
AGE
18
 
Who rates this stuff???!!!
Just based on your review of sexual content and language, HOW is this an apporpriate choice for a 12-14 year old? We don't let our child watch movies like this; why would we let her read the content?
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (12) | Had useful details (12) | Read my mind (15)
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Kid, 13 years old
November 27, 2011
AGE
18
 
SOMEONE NEEDS TO REVIEW THIS REVIEW!
The F-word about a dozen times? What on earth?!?! And the sexual content seems a HUNDRED times worse than any other book on here. Who would write something so raunchy? More importantly, who would rate something so raunchy so highly?!
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (15) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (14)
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This review was written by Michael Berry
Author:Lauren McLaughlin
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Science Fiction
Publisher:Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication date:October 25, 2011
Number of pages:230
Hardcover price:$17.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):12
This review was written by Michael Berry
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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