Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Of all the books that have been read in my classroom over the years, one continually grabs the attention of my students and keeps them interested from page one: Ender’s Game. Maybe it’s the non-stop action; maybe it’s watching Ender try to rise through the ranks of the battle school; maybe it’s the threat of the Buggers returning to make war on humanity. I think it might just be that they like Ender Wiggin so much, they want to see how far he can go.
The book takes place in the future, when parents are only allowed two children. However, the military is looking for geniuses to fight against the coming alien invasion, so they have the authority to requisition extra children from parents with high IQs. Ender Wiggin is one of these “Thirds,” the youngest child in the Wiggin family. And he has an amazing ability to know exactly what he must do to win–no matter how dangerous the game is. More information than that would spoil the fun of reading this for yourself.
Ender’s Game is that extremely rare book that has something important to say about life in an exciting and suspenseful way. It is most definitely science fiction, but it also contains elements of fantasy, politics, warfare and even love. Readers need to be aware that the book contains some vulgar expressions and references, similar to what one would expect to encounter in a military barracks during wartime. Mature readers will be able to handle these without any problems. Immature readers are better off waiting.
[This review was originally written for my students at Mr. Senger’s Junior High Reading Lists, a website for my 8th graders.]
