Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

My favorite quote From Ender Wiggin: “The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and therefore should be treated with great caution.”

The story is deep and complex and takes a completely different angle from book one “Ender’s Game” and the author does say that he wanted this sequel to stand alone. After Ender destroys the “buggers”, he and his sister Valentine decide to space travel and discover other worlds. Speaker for the dead is one who tells the truth about the life of the deceased. We are introduced to all new characters. I did not like the book because even though the story is imaginative and has some interesting characters, it is mired in religious theology. I did like Card’s comparison of the discovery of intelligent life on another planet with the European explorers encountering the natives of South America.

Speaker has a lot of great characteristics and does bring up important issues such as, discrimination, guilt, redemption, compassion, and the power of truth but its religious tone makes me very uncomfortable. I enjoyed the philosophical aspect and still love the Ender character but wanted to see it developed a lot more.

A new world is discovered, and with it - the piggies, an unknown primitive race. Luisitania is colonized by humans who are restricted to minimum interaction. When the piggies, the natives of Luisitania and the only other being found since the buggers, kill the lead scientist the other worlds begin to fear that they are dangerous. Andrew Ender Wiggin is called to speak the scientist’s death. 

The 39 Clues

Includes a website, so far the story has 11 books, games and cards to keep you engaged; this can put a little bit of a hole in your pocket. I’ve read the first three books.

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

After the death of their grandmother, Amy and Dan (14 and 11) are given a choice; Inherit One Million Dollars each or to go on a dangerous scavenger hunt in search of 39 clues that will lead them to a family secret that would make them the most powerful members of the family. They discover that their family, The Cahills, is no ordinary family. Benjamin Franklin it turns out is one of their ancestors and the focus of book 1. The story is full of adventure and very fun to read.

 One False Note by Gordon Korman

The adventure continues and the writer has kept the pace. The story focuses on Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart, older sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was a very talented musician in her own right. Her talent was never acknowledged and eventually suppressed because she was a woman. Amy and Dan follow clues that lead them to Vienna and Salzburg in Austria and Venice, Italy.

The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis

I didn't like the beginning of this book and found Amy and Dan acting like idiots, sounding like babbling fools. I felt like Amy was not dependable and her stutter was becoming annoying. Towards the middle the story really picks up and I really liked the end of the book.  Amy, Dan and a few of the Cahills are in Japan and South Korea for this adventure. We are introduced to samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Yakuza.