Ender's Shadow
Why This Book Should Be In Our School Library
Why Should We Include It?
"Poke gave him life. Ender gave it meaning" (Card 156). Ender's Shadow is a thrilling and philosophical novel that has a place in any middle or high school library. It should definitely be included in our library with its perfect pace, plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and relatable characters who go through life just as we do.
Pace
Ender's Shadow has a good pace. Without being too fast or too slow, it tells the story of the protagonist, Bean, at a rate appealing to young adults. Each event is described in detail without being lingered upon. The text also flows smoothly and is understandable for most levels of readers.
Plot
The plot of Ender's Shadow is altogether quite thrilling. Set on a spacecraft and told almost entirely through the perspective of children, the book can speak to children of a broad age range. Complex enough for teens and relatable enough for pre-teens, the book by all means should be found in our middle school library.
Characters
“I want to be the kind of boy you are, thought Bean. But I don’t want to go through what you’ve been through to get there" (Card 178). The characters of Ender's Shadow have qualities and go though struggles that any young adult can relate to, such as envy for a person who has accomplished more and desire to be that person. A novel such as this could even help teens think about their own lives and make more sense of them.
But Some Might Say...
While some might argue that the themes in Ender's Shadow are too complex for middle schoolers, the truth of the matter is that the students at our school are able to maturely think about controversial and challenging topics such as the ones present in this book, for example, religion, society, and our future. This book should definitely be included in our school library.
Citations
Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Shadow. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Book, 1999. Print
Tor Books. Ender's Shadow Cover. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 8 Feb. 2004. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ender%27s_shadow_cover.jpg>.