Journal 1

One of the major themes of this novel is the difference and the relationship between children and adults. In this book, every child in Battle School has to act like adults. They are treated as soldiers, trained like soldiers, and taught like soldiers. The students in Battle School are taught how to kill, or how to take control of other “weak” people (Ender having to listen to Bonzo when he first goes into Salamander Army). The only difference between adults and the children in the novel is the physical appearance and strength. The children have forgotten that they are children because of the adults’ control. This theme is important to teenagers in this year because they have to know that they are not adults and that they should not be exactly like them. If a child is treated and trained like an adult, his mind will become uncomfortable someday when he becomes a teenager. Teenage is only the beginning of learning how to become a successful, “good” adult. A child should not be taken away from his youth, a period where the child can learn and grow. Trained or not trained harshly like adults, the child will affect the world. Training children or teenagers this way is not the best way. Youth is a chance to live the world, and taking that chance away is the same as taking a child’s life away.