Quote:
Originally Posted by cearbhallain
There will probably be SPOILERS!
I personally feel that a story about a child who logically, and arguably correctly, puzzles out the the solution to a pack of bullies is to stomp their leader (accidentally to death) and is then trained and tricked into committing genocide might be a little much for a fifth grader to process. I could be wrong, what do you think?
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And what solution would you have come up with that would have stopped the bullying?
Every watch "A Christmas Story"? Bullies respond to one tactic and one tactic only....it solved the problem.
All the "be nice children and don't bully" lessons currently being used in schools today will never work on those who are empowered by their ability to cause fear and enable them to have control over their victims. They just hide it better.
As I recall, Ender felt and will always feel remorse that he caused that death....he hated that it happened. Thats a great lesson there. Sometimes you do what HAS to be done, when every other option has been tried, but it doesn't feel good....
As for "genocide"....well....when you cannot communicate with an alien species who is hell bent on enslaving or wiping out your own species, what other option is there?
Ender was 'tricked' because no way in hell could a child that young be able to process the horror of what he had to accomplish. The ending of the book stunned me...I did not see that coming.
And finally, as for this book not being suitable for 5th graders, I respectfully disagree.
I work with 5th graders all day, as a volunteer. There is a wide range of maturity there....some, like my granddaughter are still in the "I love My Little Pony" stage....totally innocent but not for long i fear. We're very careful about what she watches, but cannot control what she sees and hears at school.
Many, however, have been exposed to violent games, (they play with their dads) and have unrestricted TV watching.
If Abbey were ever to want to read a book I felt was too old for her, I'd let her in a heartbeat.....but we would talk about it, in depth. Thats how you make sure they come away with the lessons you want them to learn from what they read.