Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Classified under fantasty/science fiction and young adult literature, Ender's Game will not disappoint readers of any age.
Ender's Game is a brilliant Modern Fantasy book that is categorized under Science Fiction/Fantasy. The book takes place in the far future where Earth was attacked by an alien form known to the world as buggers. The government is now looking for the next savior of the world. Each child (in this time you are limited to having two children) has a monitor implanted in the back of his/her head to determine if they are smart enough to be enlisted in battle training. The Wiggin family has the ability to produce genius children. Peter and Valentine had their monitors longer than any other children, but because one (Valentine) is too kind and the other (Peter) is too mean the Wiggins are allowed to have a Third. This "Third" as he is often meanly called is Andrew "Ender" Wiggin. Ender is the perfect combination of his brother and sister, thus the hope for all mankind. Throughout the book, we follow Ender through battle training taken from his family at the age of six and ending with his life after the battle.
After Ender beats up a boy who has been bullying him, the government questions him about his actions. His thought process sends him to battle school...in space! Ender is purposefully ostracized and alienated by others. He is given laser guns and engaged in battle games. Ender quickly excels and works his way through the ranks of the school eventually earning respect.
This book will bring many teaching opportunities to middle school and high school students. Bullying plays a major part in Ender's Game and will lead to many classroom debates. Although there are violent scenes in the book, especially when Ender decides to stand up to his bullies, there are also many teachable moments as well. In class, teachers can also talk about how Card creates the future and whether the students think it is believable and how we are already similar to the future of the book. Another question to ask students is to discuss Ender's dreams and what they may mean. Also, it will be interesting to get the students perception of Graff and how they feel about he treated Ender over the years.
Whether you read this book with your class or by yourself, it is a must read that will submerge you in Ender's world and leave you thinking, "what if?".
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