When I read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, I noticed a some complex ideas and themes in the book.
One of these complex ideas is isolation. In the book, Ender is often isolated from most people. In the text, it says "He [Ender] recognized they were isolating them again..." He knows that the teachers isolate him, but that leads to more questions, like "Why are they isolating me?" Isolation in the book often forces Ender to think about who his "real" friends are. The fact that he is isolated means he has contact with few people- but since is isolation is controlled, he wonders if the people he does know are really his friends or not. In the text, it says "But Ender wasn't sure Dink was his friend anymore". Since the issue of "real" friends is caused by Ender's isolation, it kind of loops around infinitely.
Another complex idea is bullying. In the story, Ender is confronted by bullies multiple times, but it is more layered than that. He knows that the teachers will not help him confront the bullies, so he faces this issue: Should he try to beat them once, and hope they don't come back, or defeat them, permanently? In the text, Ender says "Knocking him down won the first fight. I wanted to win all the next ones, too. So they'd leave me alone". He doesn't want to continue attacking people, but he realizes it's the only way to keep himself safe.
One final complex thing is morality. Ender is forced into being cold-hearted and what others around him consider a "killer", which is not what he wanted to be like. When it comes down to destroying another alien race at war with the Humans, Ender doesn't want to, because he couldn't bear the weight of genocide on his shoulders. The question Ender is really thinking, in a deeper meaning, is "Is killing a race because they've killed humans moral?" Because Ender thinks that there isn't, he essentially asks "Is there another way?" He eventually is tricked into killing all but one queen of the race, but he finds a way to escape the genocide linked with the murder of the species by bringing the queen to another planet to start their race over for them. In the text, it says "And always Ender carried with him a dry white cocoon, looking for the world where the hive-queen could awaken and thrive in peace".
In Ender's Game, the complex ideas of morality, bullying, and isolation are very present and form challenges that help make Ender's Game a complex book. It is also a book that many people can relate to- issues like bullying are common in many places. Issues like the ones mentioned make the reader think about how Ender reacts to them, and that could lead to the reader thinking about how they would react to a similar situation.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Argument Essay
YA fiction, according to many students, parents, and teachers, is becoming increasingly darker in recent times. This "Dark YA" is also very popular. Because of how dark the books are, people are asking: Who should limit (or not limit) the accessibility to dark YA for children? Parents should decide what books are accessible to children, because they are their childrens' guides, and parents know what they can or cannot help their children understand.
Parents know what they can help their children understand. In the article "The sick-lit Books..." by Tanith Carey, child psychologist Emma Citron is quoted as saying " 'It's OK [To read dark YA] as long as parents are talking to them [teen readers] about these books and what they are thinking and feeling.' " This quote is saying that if parents don't, or can't, help their children in reading books with dark topics, it's probably not a good idea for them to read the book. In the same article, Citron is quoted again, saying " 'Parents should be vigilant if a child is reading a lot of these books.' " Carey then writes, "So next time your teen is curled up with a book, ask them what it's about, says Emma." These to quotes are showing that parents need to be on top of what their children read, so that they can know what they're reading, ultimately to make sure that it's not something so outrageous that they cannot be of service if necessary. If parents can't help teens understand the books that they read, they won't be able to help them with any troubles they are having while reading the book.
Parents have known their children for the entirety of the teen's life- parents are there to guide their children in the way they think is the best. In the article "Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker", by William Porter, the young adult specialist at Standley Lake Library, Jenna Obee, is quoted saying " 'The parents' job is to help children decide what they should read." This quote is tells the reader that a parent's obligation to their children's reading life is to help them choose what books to read. Because parents have known their children for so long, they are in a unique position to do this. They can use books to help guide their children to the best path possible for their lives. Also in "Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker", the article says "Librarians and Booksellers insist the responsibility is up to parents...Jefferson County Public Library System's policy is stated on a brochure..."We provide alternatives. You make the choices." This quote says that the people who are giving teens the Dark YA books know that it's still up to the parents to make sure it's a good book for their child- and if it's not, the parents can have alternatives that may be better to help the teen in his/her future. Overall, Librarians and booksellers say that parents have to be the ones to have a final say on books; parents need to choose books that will lead their children in the right direction.
Although letting teens make choices on their own and letting teens become more independent can be a good thing, with books there can be consequences. In the article "Darkness too Visible" by Meghan Cox Gurdon, it is stated that letting kids read whatever they want "depends on your [the parent's] philosophical outlook." However, there are flaws to letting kids read what they want without parents' knowledge. In "The sick-lit books..." by Tanith Carey, the text states "Child Psychologist Emma Citron urges parents to keep a careful eye on their children if they find they keep reading these books." This is telling readers that having teens read a lot of Dark YA without parents watching them is strongly advised against, which means it might not have a good ending. Parents should watch over their kids' reading, even if it means taking away some independence, because it is advised against, and could lead to consequences.
All in all, parents have an obligation to guide their children, and help them understand anything that they might have a hard time understanding in the child's reading life. Parents always should be there for kids, and their kid's reading life is no exception.
Parents know what they can help their children understand. In the article "The sick-lit Books..." by Tanith Carey, child psychologist Emma Citron is quoted as saying " 'It's OK [To read dark YA] as long as parents are talking to them [teen readers] about these books and what they are thinking and feeling.' " This quote is saying that if parents don't, or can't, help their children in reading books with dark topics, it's probably not a good idea for them to read the book. In the same article, Citron is quoted again, saying " 'Parents should be vigilant if a child is reading a lot of these books.' " Carey then writes, "So next time your teen is curled up with a book, ask them what it's about, says Emma." These to quotes are showing that parents need to be on top of what their children read, so that they can know what they're reading, ultimately to make sure that it's not something so outrageous that they cannot be of service if necessary. If parents can't help teens understand the books that they read, they won't be able to help them with any troubles they are having while reading the book.
Parents have known their children for the entirety of the teen's life- parents are there to guide their children in the way they think is the best. In the article "Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker", by William Porter, the young adult specialist at Standley Lake Library, Jenna Obee, is quoted saying " 'The parents' job is to help children decide what they should read." This quote is tells the reader that a parent's obligation to their children's reading life is to help them choose what books to read. Because parents have known their children for so long, they are in a unique position to do this. They can use books to help guide their children to the best path possible for their lives. Also in "Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker", the article says "Librarians and Booksellers insist the responsibility is up to parents...Jefferson County Public Library System's policy is stated on a brochure..."We provide alternatives. You make the choices." This quote says that the people who are giving teens the Dark YA books know that it's still up to the parents to make sure it's a good book for their child- and if it's not, the parents can have alternatives that may be better to help the teen in his/her future. Overall, Librarians and booksellers say that parents have to be the ones to have a final say on books; parents need to choose books that will lead their children in the right direction.
Although letting teens make choices on their own and letting teens become more independent can be a good thing, with books there can be consequences. In the article "Darkness too Visible" by Meghan Cox Gurdon, it is stated that letting kids read whatever they want "depends on your [the parent's] philosophical outlook." However, there are flaws to letting kids read what they want without parents' knowledge. In "The sick-lit books..." by Tanith Carey, the text states "Child Psychologist Emma Citron urges parents to keep a careful eye on their children if they find they keep reading these books." This is telling readers that having teens read a lot of Dark YA without parents watching them is strongly advised against, which means it might not have a good ending. Parents should watch over their kids' reading, even if it means taking away some independence, because it is advised against, and could lead to consequences.
All in all, parents have an obligation to guide their children, and help them understand anything that they might have a hard time understanding in the child's reading life. Parents always should be there for kids, and their kid's reading life is no exception.
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