Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Ender's Game

Pretty good. The plot of a boy genius excelling beyond his peers and adults, and then saving the world but feeling alone while doing so reads as very much wish fulfillment for middle schoolers who think they're brilliant and have trouble making friends. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not at that point anymore, and it makes certain sections a bit laughable. The best section is by far the last two chapters, with the bugger queen and the characters' healing. It has, as all half decent dystopian books should, a pretty strong anti-war sentiment, which I enjoy even if the supergenius child soldiers is a bit of a stretch. I'm not especially pressed to read the rest of the series, but it was a nice little jaunt.

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alexashabit's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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katfrenn_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I first read this book just before starting college, and am revisiting it almost a decade later as I approach the end of graduate school. This book has so many interesting ideas and if you love it, you should definitely read speaker for the dead (the semi-standalone sequel). While this is a book about kids, it is certainly not a book written for kids. I think most adults can take something away from this book.

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shannypoo2's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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theunderfold's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

I gave up on this book 50 pages in. I wasn't interested in the writing style and since people had recommended it to me, I'd pressed on this far. When the kids started using slurs and stuff I got real wary and decided I didn't really care to finish. Read the synopsis on Wikipedia. Probably would've been a great book back in the 80s, but better books have come along that don't have to slog through kids using slurs and old writing style. No one is very likeable and Ender is just the best boy. I guess that's the crucial issue in the end, but it wasn't my jam. Very bored. To each their own.

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cricket_witch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Orson Scott Card may publicly be a bigot, but I think he needs to do some serious self reevaluation. Ender’s Game focuses on all that is horrid in humanity and all that can be beautiful. It is a stark look at how humans interact with one another and the ways in which we must grow to become better. It is a book about the knowledge children hold and the ways adults should listen but don’t. It reminded me of “This Is How You Lose the Time War” and “A Psalm for the Wild-Built.” It is a meditation, told through the eyes of a child who does not believe in hatred.

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playfulbee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is for analytical minds. The main character, whose thoughts make up most of the book, is extremely intelligent and observant.
The ethical questions discussed in the book are intriguing, the characters are well written and the language is chosen carefully.
A great read altogether.

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