Enjoyable and easy to follow exploration of the complex origin of Andrew Wiggin's shadow: Bean. The writer managed to find a workable way to compress and tell his story on the streets, on the space station, and Sister Carlotta's investigation of his past. The artist also does a fine job capturing and expressing the characters and settings. The layouts keep things moving. Next up: Command School (for both Ender and Bean). ( )

An excellent adaptation of the first part of Ender's Shadow. The art captures the feel of the setting and the characters are well done and conceived. ( )

As the graphic novel version of the first portion of Ender's Shadow, this story is engaging, with some intriguing mystery. I enjoy stories like this that provide a new perspective to a "known" story (in this case, Ender's Game). I look forward to the next volume and I'll probably also read the novel at some point. ( )

Ender’s Shadow: Battle School is a graphic novel that tells another facet of the Ender’s Game series, telling the story of Bean, one of Ender's friends at battle school. The realistic pictures are extremely violent; portraying children killing other children. One picture depicts a young boy with his head smashed in by a brick. The adults are incredibly manipulative and selfish. But Bean's mysterious origins will keep even an avid reader of Ender's Game captivated throughout this graphic novel. Recommended for ages 14+. ( )

In the near future, Earth has just barely survived a war with an alien species and is preparing for the next battle by recruiting and training child soldiers. Meanwhile, a tiny orphan boy dubbed "Bean" is fighting for his life on the streets of Rotterdam, relying on his unnatural intelligence to make it through each day. He catches the attention of a nun who is looking out for potential soldiers to help save humankind and of a murderous fellow orphan, Achilles, who is after his blood. Bean is sent off to battle school in space where his size and smarts earn him ridicule and respect, but it is evident that he is something special. Hints as to the reason for his peculiarity and the sudden reappearance of Achilles at the end of the book leave readers eager for the next book.

Devotees of Orson Scott Card's Ender Wiggin saga will want to read this book if for no other reason than as one more way to experience the world he has created. However, anyone unfamiliar with the original Ender's Game and its parallel Ender's Shadow (in novel form) should read them first: the text and illustrations in the graphic novel leave too much unanswered for a newcomer. Also a warning to squeamish readers: this is a bloody, graphic, violent graphic novel. If that isn't your thing, try the novel form of Ender's Shadow. That said, the graphic novel format has a lot of potential for reinterpreting this saga, on account of its ability to portray mood, multiple settings and scenes in various sequences, action, and a futuristic world. The illustrations are beautifully rendered and paneling effectively paces the story.

The Ender graphic novel series is best suited to teen collections in public libraries and high school library collections, but may also be suitable for some middle schools, depending on the community and demand. ( )