Make Me
by Lee Child
Random House 2016
Book 20 of Jack Reacher
Easy read — content targets 9th–12th grade
Reading level 5.9 (5th grade) but themes aimed at ages 14+
Book 20 in a series — earlier books first
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Genre
Themes
- small-town secrets
- conspiracy and cover-ups
- vigilante justice
- the dark web and technology
- isolation and paranoia
- moral ambiguity
- missing persons
- power and exploitation
About this book
Drifter Jack Reacher steps off a train in the tiny prairie town of Mother’s Rest for a brief stop and finds a wary community, a PI named Michelle Chang searching for a missing colleague, and a cryptic clue about two hundred deaths. Following a trail from wheat fields to big cities and into the hidden reaches of the internet, Reacher uncovers a chilling conspiracy and confronts a nightmare buried at the edge of the American heartland.
Setting: Mother’s Rest, a remote prairie town in the Great Plains (contemporary U.S.), with investigative trails through major cities and into the dark web
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Make Me right for my child?
It depends — here's what to consider for Make Me. The reading level is AR 5.9, which is typical for 5th grade. The interest level is rated Upper Grades (9–12), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 14+ (9th–12th grade). Themes include small-town secrets, conspiracy and cover-ups, vigilante justice. Note: this is book 20 in a series — your child should read the earlier books first.
How long does it take to read Make Me?
At a typical 5th grade reading pace, Make Me takes around 14h to finish. The book has 140,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Make Me have an AR quiz?
Yes — Make Me has an AR quiz available, worth 20 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is Make Me?
Make Me has an AR reading level of 5.9, which places it at a 5th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Upper Grades (9–12) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.