Million Word Club

Ender's Game

A match for readers who enjoy strategy and moral uncertainty. The school-like competition gives way to questions that deserve more than a scorecard.

MWC editorial selection · Updated

Cover of Ender's Game

By Orson Scott Card

What is it about?

Ender is selected for an intense military training programme intended to prepare humanity for an alien threat. Orson Scott Card combines strategic competition with questions about how adults use children’s abilities.

Who might enjoy it?

For readers attracted by tactical problems but interested in the ethics behind winning. Track who controls information and who bears the consequences of a decision. Avoid plot summaries that reveal the ending.

Things to consider

Bullying, child manipulation, violence and war. A young protagonist does not make this a book for young children.

A question to take into your reading

What responsibility does a person have when the rules and information come from someone else?

Premise and publication context: Publisher: Ender's Game. Reading-fit suggestions and discussion questions are MWC editorial guidance.

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