Willmar Public Library Reads discussion

1. What did you think of the book?

2. What did you like most about the book?

3. What did you like least about the book?

4. Do you think what the military did was justified?

5. How did Peter and Valentine influence each other in Ender’s absence?

6. How do you feel about the futuristic technology described in the books such as the implants or Battle School?

7. How would you feel if you were expected to save the world? Would you rather stay home and watch the world be destroyed?

8. Do you feel the attack on the Buggers was justified in the end?

9. Why did Orson Scott Card continue the story after the final battle? Given that the sequel to the book is called "speaker for the dead" - what do you think that story will focus on?

10. Orson Scott Card first wrote Ender's Game as a short story in the 1970s and as a novel in 1985. He was able to imagine technology that we use today, like the iPad and interactive, multi-player video games. What do you think about how well he imagined the technology that we use today? What do you think about some of the technology in the book that doesn't yet exist? When do you think it will exist?

11. Why are there so few girls at the Battle School? Do you think that's a flaw in the book? The good and kind characters are girls and the one pacifist is from another culture. Do you think this is stereotyping?

12. What does this book say about children?

13. What does this book say about adults?

14. What do you think the author was trying to say when Peter, someone who is cruel and takes pleasure in killing, becomes a peaceful ruler and Ender, someone who despises those traits in his brother, murders an entire race as well as two of his peers?

15. How would you rate it?