Query parametrizzata per MySQL con C#

Prova invece questo:

private String readCommand = 
             "SELECT LEVEL FROM USERS WHERE VAL_1 = @param_val_1 AND VAL_2 = @param_val_2;";

public bool read(string id)
{
    level = -1;
    MySqlCommand m = new MySqlCommand(readCommand);
    m.Parameters.AddWithValue("@param_val_1", val1);
    m.Parameters.AddWithValue("@param_val_2", val2);
    level = Convert.ToInt32(m.ExecuteScalar());
    return true;
}