Part of Ender's Saga by Orson Scott Card, book 1.1
First published 2007
At Battle School, religious holidays are strictly forbidden. The young trainees come from different nations and faiths, but their commanders want no religious conflicts during military preparation. Dink Meeker, an older student, decides that gift-giving isn't truly religious. On Sinterklaas Day, he slips a present into a fellow student's shoe. This simple gesture ignites a major confrontation between students and staff over holiday celebrations. Battle lines form as children choose sides in what becomes known as the War over Santa Claus. Ender Wiggin finds himself facing off against Zeck Morgan, a new arrival at the school. The conflict forces every student and instructor to decide where they stand on religious expression and personal freedom in their militarized world.
Genres: science-fiction, military-fiction, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Battle School
Period: 20th-century
126 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books