Ok, here's another thing. I want less teens/children who talk like they're way older than they actually are. I always thought John Green was the worst offender of this, but I think I've found one that's actually worse. I'm reading a book where a character says:
"People try and make out there's a greater purpose, a secret meaning, that it means something. And it doesn't. We're a bunch of freaks. That's all there is too it. A big bunch of inconsequential freaks. We don't have to be happy. We don't have to be normal. We don't even have to be alive. We can do whatever we want as long as we don't hurt anyone."
This character is nine, by the way. What kind of nine year old would realistically say this? Did any of you at the age of nine years old know the word "inconsequential"? Let alone using it correctly in a sentence of pretentious philosophical bs? Because I sure didn't.
I'm ready to throw this book out a goddamn window
I feel like the only child characters who would say anything remotely similar to that would be the kids in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and subsequent books. At least there's a reason for that: they weren't supposed to be normal kids but above-the-norm.
Above average maturity in children and teens is an uncommon thing that should have light shed upon it but that's just unnecessary…
It's not actually uncommon. I was an extremely mature child.
But I do think it should be situational. It needs to be explained why they are how they are. Not just random.
I feel like the only child characters who would say anything remotely similar to that would be the kids in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and subsequent books. At least there's a reason for that: they weren't supposed to be normal kids but above-the-norm.
Love that book.
Have you read the rest of the series? Most, if not all, of the characters are clever with words and think deep thoughts (that aren't brought on by drugs).
That and Speaker for the Dead is all.
Ok, here's another thing. I want less teens/children who talk like they're way older than they actually are. I always thought John Green was the worst offender of this, but I think I've found one that's actually worse. I'm reading a book where a character says:
"People try and make out there's a greater purpose, a secret meaning, that it means something. And it doesn't. We're a bunch of freaks. That's all there is too it. A big bunch of inconsequential freaks. We don't have to be happy. We don't have to be normal. We don't even have to be alive. We can do whatever we want as long as we don't hurt anyone."
This character is nine, by the way. What kind of nine year old would realistically say this? Did any of you at the age of nine years old know the word "inconsequential"? Let alone using it correctly in a sentence of pretentious philosophical bs? Because I sure didn't.
I'm ready to throw this book out a goddamn window
Wow. Like maybe a teenager who reads or watches philosophical stuff would say that, but a nine-year-old for no reason? No. Maybe if they had some sort of powers that make them above average but if they're just a normal one. No.
BAD BOYS IN GENERAL AS SO STEREOTYPICAL
OOH! I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE:
THE EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO IS A GENIUS AND IS IN HIGH SCHOOL
IT'S EVEN WORSE IF THEY ATTEND WITH THEIR SIBLING, WHO IS THE AGE YOU'RE 'SUPPOSED' TO BE IN THAT GRADE
That and Speaker for the Dead is all.
If you ever decide to read further, I would suggest bearing off a bit and reading the Shadow series before you continue on with the Ender books. The Shadow series follows the story of Bean, and provides a nice background story for the main series to rest on. If you read straight through Ender's series you wouldn't understand as much if you hadn't yet read Ender's Game and then the whole Shadow series. It's a big commitment, Card is still writing for the Enderverse, but it's rewarding.
OOH! I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE:
THE EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO IS A GENIUS AND IS IN HIGH SCHOOL
IT'S EVEN WORSE IF THEY ATTEND WITH THEIR SIBLING, WHO IS THE AGE YOU'RE 'SUPPOSED' TO BE IN THAT GRADE
Ah, yes. "Make me deplore my average-self even more, would you?"
CARD IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!
CARD IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!
OY! He's 67 going on 68. My sister and I (who love the series) are hoping he'll finish up the series before he has another stroke….just think of having to finish writing one of Card's books after his death. An insurmountable task in my view.
Have you read Kingsmeat?
No, but I just looked it up. Short story, right? Do you recommend it?
Depends. It could be classified as horror. But it's a wonderful tale about morality if you look at it through the right lens.
OOH! I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE:
THE EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO IS A GENIUS AND IS IN HIGH SCHOOL
IT'S EVEN WORSE IF THEY ATTEND WITH THEIR SIBLING, WHO IS THE AGE YOU'RE 'SUPPOSED' TO BE IN THAT GRADE
What's wrong with child geniuses? That's…a…real…thing…?
OOH! I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE:
THE EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO IS A GENIUS AND IS IN HIGH SCHOOL
IT'S EVEN WORSE IF THEY ATTEND WITH THEIR SIBLING, WHO IS THE AGE YOU'RE 'SUPPOSED' TO BE IN THAT GRADE
What's wrong with child geniuses? That's…a…real…thing…?
Yeah, but they aren't as prevalent as authors write them to be. Not every child is a genius, but the amount of times authors write children to be geniuses suggests that every child is a genius. Also, what are some books with the "child genius" trope in them? I can't think of any
I've literally never read a novel where the author portrayed a child as a genius….but okay.
But that's a very believable story line.
OOH! I FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE:
THE EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO IS A GENIUS AND IS IN HIGH SCHOOL
IT'S EVEN WORSE IF THEY ATTEND WITH THEIR SIBLING, WHO IS THE AGE YOU'RE 'SUPPOSED' TO BE IN THAT GRADE
…young sheldon?
I've only ever seen this in a TV show, not a book, and it's only one, so…
Depends. It could be classified as horror. But it's a wonderful tale about morality if you look at it through the right lens.
I'm good with horror, but Card's views on morality, and his views on other things, I'm not as 'okay' with. But I'll give Kingsmeat a shot.
