Review #9 Ender's Shadow

Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Shadow. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Book, 1999. Print.

Annotation: 

When Bean, an orphan who struggles to keep him and the other street children fed with his wily tactics, is chosen to become a student at Battle School and ultimately fight the Buggers. Living parallel to Orson Scott Card's novel Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow follows Bean as he grows and learns about his special talents and why he is so incredibly indispensable.



Genre: Science Fiction

Ender's Shadow won the Alex award in 1999. You may have been introduced to Ender Wiggin in Orson Scott Card's first novel, Ender's Game. However, when Bean, an orphan with extraordinary skills, is only a side character in that book. However in Ender's Shadow, the reader focuses on Bean and his special talents which eventually earn him Ender's recognition. In the book, Bean is even smarter than Ender, yet becaue he is not the one who is fated to save the world he is a supporting genius to Ender instead of a savior himself.

The story is mainly told from the point of view of Bean as he 'shadows' Ender but occasionally the view does shift. Bean often criticizes Ender's decisions, yet he states that he is envious of Ender's position but never would want to go through what he did to get that position. Bean has altered DNA, and in the end, it makes him grow faster than other children. That means that Bean is destined for a lifespan of only up until the age of 25. It is a tragic and sad realization that his intelligence will help the rest of humanity be saved from the Buggers, yet he will never fully get to enjoy life as an adult in the world.

I thought this book, as well as the original story Ender's Game is very good. I can see why it would be nominated for the Alex award. It had adult themes even though it was about children, and yet, it could captivate either audience.