The Bar Code Tattoo 2017 discussion

What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader? How did the author try to do this?

Some specific themes the author emphasized throughout the novel were not giving into peer pressure.Kayla is constantly pressured to get a barcode tattoo along with everyone else. She refused because she believed that the barcode tattoo was the cause of her parents' deaths and that it was a very dangerous thing to do. Kayla knew that if she did get the tattoo,her life would be ruined. Most other people in her society did get the tattoo, and the book shows how giving in to peer pressure can negatively change your life.Kayla showed bravery, and how important it is to "just say no." Another theme in the book is warning us about how our personal information can be misused if it falls into the wrong hands. The information collected from everyone's barcode tattoo was used to have control over the citizen's lives by an evil government. Genetic information was recorded and used against people. Citizens were tracked at all times through their tattoos so they could not rise up against the rulers of society. The book shows how important it is to protect our personal information and to avoid anyone or anything that would demand having it.I think that the author is trying to get these across, because our human society has put our trust into the government and some things have come back to bite us in the end, a lot of sci-fi books have shown in a certain way that you cannot trust the new technology when there is proof that people are going insane.

A specific theme the author emphasized in were don't let people tell you what to do when you don't want to do it. I think the author was trying to come across that you don't have to give in to peer pressure. The author did this by Kayla not getting the tattoo. Or Mfumbe not getting the tattoo either by not listening to his dad.

Tanvi wrote: "Some specific themes the author emphasized throughout the novel were not giving into peer pressure.Kayla is constantly pressured to get a barcode tattoo along with everyone else. She refused becaus..." I agree with you because she did not give in to peer pressure and she stayed strong without getting the tattoo.

Jada wrote: "A specific theme the author emphasized in were don't let people tell you what to do when you don't want to do it. I think the author was trying to come across that you don't have to give in to peer..."
I agree but I am wondering was Zekeal pressured into getting a tattoo or did he willingly get the tattoo.Do you think that he might have gotten threatened.

"It's better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction. Do what you feel is right for you."- unknown
This quote to me supports the book and a specific theme the author tried to emphasize throughout the book. Throughout the book there were different situations where Kayla was pressured to get the tattoo by a lot of people but she refused to get the tattoo because she believed the tattoo was the reason her parents killed themselves. She was a fighter and even though it was hard she followed her heart and didn't get it. The quote said 'Its better to walk alone than walk with a crowd going in the wrong direction", Kayla wasn't alone she had Mfuble who also refused to get the tattoo. Also the crowd that is described in the quote as going the wrong direction is the people who got the tattoo. What i'm trying to say is its better to do what is right than what is easy.

Tanvi wrote: "Some specific themes the author emphasized throughout the novel were not giving into peer pressure.Kayla is constantly pressured to get a barcode tattoo along with everyone else. She refused becaus..."
I agree with you because peer pressure was the main theme throughout the book, and Kayla followed what she thought was the right thing to do.