Ender's Game

About this book

In a future where Earth braces for a third war with an insectoid alien species, the military recruits gifted children and trains them through ever-harder war games. Six-year-old Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is the most promising of them — and the most isolated. As the simulations escalate, Ender confronts the cost of being shaped into a weapon. Widely taught in grades 6-10 for its themes of leadership, morality, empathy, and the ethics of war.

Why widely assigned

This Young Adult Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 6–10. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on war and leadership.

Where this book is assigned

No curriculum assignments on file yet.

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Common questions

What grade level is Ender's Game?

Ender's Game is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 6–10, with a Lexile measure of 780L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Ender's Game?

Ender's Game has a Lexile measure of 780L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Ender's Game?

It takes about 5h 55m to read Ender's Game (324 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 355 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Ender's Game hard to read for 6th grade?

At 780L, Ender's Game reads below the typical 925–1185L text-complexity range for 6th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

Is Ender's Game banned in schools?

Ender's Game does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.