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BOOK REVIEW
ENDER’S GAME
Reviewed by Margaret Gamble
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BONNIE BRANT
Margaret Walters Gamble is, rst and foremost, Mom to Rachel and Ian, and Gigi to the amazing Tucker. During ten years as a children’s librarian, Margaret was called “book princess,” “book lady,” “library mom,” and even, “hey you with the books!” Margaret will answer to any of the above and she relishes every opportunity to talk books, collect books, and give books away. In addition to reading, she enjoys traveling, especially visiting independent bookstores and literary haunts with good friends. While Ender’s Game is not her favorite book, her recollection of Wendell is a favorite library-memory.
My book recommendation is based on personal experience as a children’s librarian in North Carolina. My favorite aspect of the job was to try to match readers to books. I employed a variety of techniques, reading excerpts, doing “book commercials,” honoring purchase requests by students– whatever it took to get students reading. It was not always an easy task.
My nemesis was Wendell, a fth-grader. Large for his age, smart as a whip, friendly, but awk- ward. For the life of me, I could not interest him in the books I thought he should read. Each week he made selections but without any apparent preference or consistency–books on cooking, auto repair, chess strategies. I was determined to “assist” him in nding a ction genre he could embrace. Finally, after weeks of struggle, he stood at the circulation desk and gently challenged me. “Ms. G., I’ll read what you want me to read if you will read what I like also.” My response was, of course, “Brilliant, fabulous! Bring me what you like.” Then he immediately backpedaled. I insisted. “I want to read something that appeals to you, Wen- dell, please tell me what it is!” He hemmed and hawed a little more before admitting the book he liked most might have some language I would not condone. I continued to encour- age him. “No problem, Wendell. I’m a big girl, don’t think you can surprise me!” Of course, by then I was really intrigued. What kind of book would he bring?
The very next day, as soon as the library opened, Wendell appeared at my desk with his
dog-eared copy of “Ender’s Game,” a novella written by Orson Scott Card in 1985. Science ction. It was a genre I kept stocked, but typi- cally avoided. Over the years and without one ounce of regret, I had managed to dodge Star Trek and Star Wars and anything else prefaced with “Star.” But, true to my word and with grit- ted teeth, I took Wendell’s book home. I read it in a weekend and was completely blown away. The action, tension, and surprise ending all had me enthralled. Yep, there was profanity, much more than I would ever recommend to any fth-grader, but Wendell had already prov- en himself to be di erent. I returned his book with enthusiastic commentary that caught him by surprise. He had been worried I was going to be o ended, or judge him based on the language. Instead, two readers bonded over a really powerful shared story.
Several months later I attended a weekend re- treat in Montreal. As an icebreaker activity, a group of about 25 middle-aged adults were asked to name their favorite book. Imagine my surprise when “Ender’s Game” was the top choice! I shared this with Wendell and the Cheshire grin on his face was priceless.
www.PanamaCityLiving.com • May - June 2018 • 23