Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Ender's Shadow
	Author:	Card, Orson Scott
	Date Published:	1999
	Genre:	Sci-Fi
	Grade Level:	8 - 12
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh
	Awards:	Former Blue Spruce Award Nominee

Booktalk:
Bean appeared first on the streets of Rotterdam. He was a tiny child for his age, but his mind more than made up for his physical size. He used his wits rather than his strength to survive, joined a gang, and made it the example for all other gangs in the city. Eventually, he gained the notice and the enmity of Achilles, an older, brilliant child with a disposition towards manipulation and control . . . one who would kill anyone who ever saw him in a moment of weakness. Eventually, Bean came to the notice of Battle School, the interstellar school for child military genius' that were being trained to defeat the "Buggers," the insect-like alien race who threatened the existence of the entire human race. Bean was accepted to Battle School, as was Achilles. Eventually, Bean was forced to subdue his rival and have him thrown out of Battle School. Bean, meanwhile, became the right hand of "Ender" Wiggin, the "best of the best." and the head of all the generals. Bean was the steadying force behind Ender. He was the one who, despite being the youngest and smallest, always excelled and watched and learned. He was the one who stepped in and led when Ender was too sick and exhausted to lead. It was Bean who understood the truth, who figured out that the 'test' battles were directing real men in real ships who were dying against the Buggers. He was the strategist and may have really been the Best of the Best, always there, always ready to step in at a moment's notice. He was Ender's Shadow.