A review by booksblabbering
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card

4.0

I want to hug Bean, but I think he would think I’m trying to strangle him and would come up with a way to get me killed.

We start with Bean in the streets taking on gangs, hunger, and bullies. Then in space for battle-school where he trains to fight an alien invasion. 

Bean is a lot more likeable than Ender and, I believe, cleverer. It can be startling and disconcerting to have a four year old talking and acting the way he does, especially as we end the story when he is seven years old and he is making decisions and acting like an adult. 

However, if I just told myself - hey, this a sci fi where weird things can make sense like toddler geniuses.

Weirdly, I cannot tell you much about the aliens or their attack. This is a more a character and human study. My favourite kind of story where the character happens to the plot instead of the character being a piece of the story.

<b>God gives us the freedom to do great evil, if we choose. Then he uses his own freedom to create goodness out of that evil, for that is what he chooses.

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Just like with Ender’s Game, I would recommend the audiobook for an immersive experience.