Plot Summary
At six years old, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is recruited into the Earth's military program for training. In Battle School, his extraordinary intelligence, natural leadership skills, and uncanny ability to win allow him to quickly advance through the ranks. Clearly, Ender is the Earth's best chance to thwart the imminent attack of an alien enemy, but is he enough?
Personal Reaction
I consider Ender's Game to be an excellent example of the genre. Although violence, profanity and overall mean-spirited characters do not appeal to me, those elements are essential to understanding why Ender thinks, feels, and reacts the way that he does, and to maintaining in the reader a feeling of sympathy and caring for him.
Memorable Literary Element
This novel exemplifies characterization! Card has brought the most despicable antagonists to life in a way that gives the reader chills. Then, in the next paragraph he depicts his protagonist as an equally cold, vicious killer, all the while evoking in the reader a sense of sympathy and even justification.
Illustrations
There are no illustrations.
Reviews/Awards
Hugo Award for Best Novel -- 1986
Nebula Award for Best Novel -- 1986
Booklist, 1985 -- Expanded from a novella of the same title, Card’s latest novel is one of his best. In a future Earth engaged in an interstellar war against insectoid aliens, Ender Wiggin is chosen at the age of six to be trained as the military genius who will carry his people to victory. Along with his brother, Peter, and his sister, Valentine, he not only successfully ends the conflict but also affects the evolution of human society. Card has taken the venerable conceits of a superman and an interstellar war against aliens, and, with superb characterization, pacing, and language, has combined them into a seamless story of compelling power. This is Card at the height of his very considerable powers—a major sf novel by any reasonable standard.— Roland Green
YA/General Interest: War is the game that Ender is tricked into playing in an engrossing novel in which the overriding theme involves humanness, empathy, and compassion. A treat for mature war-gaming buffs as well as science-fiction fans. --Sally Estes
From Publishers Weekly -- For the 20th anniversary of Card's Hugo and Nebula Award–winning novel, Audio Renaissance brings to life the story of child genius Ender Wiggin, who must save the world from malevolent alien "buggers." In his afterword, Card declares, "The ideal presentation of any book of mine is to have excellent actors perform it in audio-only format," and he gets his wish. Much of the story is internal dialogue, and each narrator reads the sections told from the point of view of a particular character, rather than taking on a part as if it were a play. Card's phenomenal emotional depth comes through in the quiet, carefully paced speech of each performer. No narrator tries overmuch to create separate character voices, though each is clearly discernible, and the understated delivery will draw in listeners. In particular, Rudnicki, with his lulling, sonorous voice, does a fine job articulating Ender's inner struggle between the kind, peaceful boy he wants to be and the savage, violent actions he is frequently forced to take. This is a wonderful way to experience Card's best-known and most celebrated work, both for longtime fans and for newcomers.
From School Library Journal -- Starred Review. Grade 7 Up—This new young adult edition of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic sci-fi novel by Orson Scott Card, winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for outstanding lifetime contribution to writing for teens, includes an original postscript by the author in which he discusses the origins of the novel is all about leadership. The novel asks: What does it take to successfully lead men into battle? The buggers have invaded Earth twice. The last time mankind survived only because of the brilliance of Mazer Rackham, commander of the International Fleet. Years later, a third invasion is feared and a new commander is sought. Ender Wiggin is only six years old when he is plucked to succeed Rackham and sent to the space station Battle School. He is isolated, ridiculed, bullied, and persecuted—but he survives and thrives. Using his astonishing intelligence, the boy learns to be a top-notch solider and, despite his youth and small stature, is quickly promoted up the ranks. By the age of 12, Ender learns the art of command and earns the respect and fear of his fellow soldiers. This audio version was created in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the novel and it's a gem. The audiobook is narrated by a full cast. Stefan Rudniki is particularly good as Ender. Despite Ender's age, this is not a children's novel. Its profound themes (and mild profanity) call for intelligent teens who appreciate a complex novel.--Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK
At six years old, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is recruited into the Earth's military program for training. In Battle School, his extraordinary intelligence, natural leadership skills, and uncanny ability to win allow him to quickly advance through the ranks. Clearly, Ender is the Earth's best chance to thwart the imminent attack of an alien enemy, but is he enough?
Personal Reaction
I consider Ender's Game to be an excellent example of the genre. Although violence, profanity and overall mean-spirited characters do not appeal to me, those elements are essential to understanding why Ender thinks, feels, and reacts the way that he does, and to maintaining in the reader a feeling of sympathy and caring for him.
Memorable Literary Element
This novel exemplifies characterization! Card has brought the most despicable antagonists to life in a way that gives the reader chills. Then, in the next paragraph he depicts his protagonist as an equally cold, vicious killer, all the while evoking in the reader a sense of sympathy and even justification.
Illustrations
There are no illustrations.
Reviews/Awards
Hugo Award for Best Novel -- 1986
Nebula Award for Best Novel -- 1986
Booklist, 1985 -- Expanded from a novella of the same title, Card’s latest novel is one of his best. In a future Earth engaged in an interstellar war against insectoid aliens, Ender Wiggin is chosen at the age of six to be trained as the military genius who will carry his people to victory. Along with his brother, Peter, and his sister, Valentine, he not only successfully ends the conflict but also affects the evolution of human society. Card has taken the venerable conceits of a superman and an interstellar war against aliens, and, with superb characterization, pacing, and language, has combined them into a seamless story of compelling power. This is Card at the height of his very considerable powers—a major sf novel by any reasonable standard.— Roland Green
YA/General Interest: War is the game that Ender is tricked into playing in an engrossing novel in which the overriding theme involves humanness, empathy, and compassion. A treat for mature war-gaming buffs as well as science-fiction fans. --Sally Estes
From Publishers Weekly -- For the 20th anniversary of Card's Hugo and Nebula Award–winning novel, Audio Renaissance brings to life the story of child genius Ender Wiggin, who must save the world from malevolent alien "buggers." In his afterword, Card declares, "The ideal presentation of any book of mine is to have excellent actors perform it in audio-only format," and he gets his wish. Much of the story is internal dialogue, and each narrator reads the sections told from the point of view of a particular character, rather than taking on a part as if it were a play. Card's phenomenal emotional depth comes through in the quiet, carefully paced speech of each performer. No narrator tries overmuch to create separate character voices, though each is clearly discernible, and the understated delivery will draw in listeners. In particular, Rudnicki, with his lulling, sonorous voice, does a fine job articulating Ender's inner struggle between the kind, peaceful boy he wants to be and the savage, violent actions he is frequently forced to take. This is a wonderful way to experience Card's best-known and most celebrated work, both for longtime fans and for newcomers.
From School Library Journal -- Starred Review. Grade 7 Up—This new young adult edition of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic sci-fi novel by Orson Scott Card, winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for outstanding lifetime contribution to writing for teens, includes an original postscript by the author in which he discusses the origins of the novel is all about leadership. The novel asks: What does it take to successfully lead men into battle? The buggers have invaded Earth twice. The last time mankind survived only because of the brilliance of Mazer Rackham, commander of the International Fleet. Years later, a third invasion is feared and a new commander is sought. Ender Wiggin is only six years old when he is plucked to succeed Rackham and sent to the space station Battle School. He is isolated, ridiculed, bullied, and persecuted—but he survives and thrives. Using his astonishing intelligence, the boy learns to be a top-notch solider and, despite his youth and small stature, is quickly promoted up the ranks. By the age of 12, Ender learns the art of command and earns the respect and fear of his fellow soldiers. This audio version was created in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the novel and it's a gem. The audiobook is narrated by a full cast. Stefan Rudniki is particularly good as Ender. Despite Ender's age, this is not a children's novel. Its profound themes (and mild profanity) call for intelligent teens who appreciate a complex novel.--Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK
Promotion Idea
Students could create a Glogster poster representing the different themes of Ender's Game.
Have students choose a character from the book and write a bio poem following the attached template.
Students could create a Glogster poster representing the different themes of Ender's Game.
Have students choose a character from the book and write a bio poem following the attached template.
enders_game_biopoem.pdf | |
File Size: | 87 kb |
File Type: |