Success has no secrets. It’s the result of preparation, hard work, and learning to fail. The main protagonists of the novels; The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card explore how their outcast status in their world motivates them to succeed and surpass their peers. Both authors implement this in their novel by having the main character suffer severe bullying, having him deal with injustice in his life, and having his society discriminate against his social status. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay First of all, both Arnold and Ender face severe bullying throughout the novel. Arnold is the victim of intimidation by the occupants of the reservation. He has all kinds of physical problems that are a result of his brain damage, which prompts bullies to pick on him. Arnold asks, “Do you know what happens to the retards on the ground floor? We are beaten. At least once a month” (Alexie 4). Arnold is bullied because he is different from everyone else on the reservation. According to Mr. P, Arnold is being bullied by others because they have all given up hope; that Arnold is the last one who still hasn't given up. This hope motivates Arnold to follow his dreams and go to a place where there is still hope so that he can follow and achieve his dreams, which leads Arnold to transfer schools to Reardan. Just like Arnold, Ender is bullied by his classmates. Ender is bullied because he is a third, the third child in a family. The term Third is an insult because they come from non-compliant families who broke birth control laws in the dystopian world. At the beginning of the novel, just before his fatal fight, Stilson says: "We are people, not third parties, turdface." You are as strong as a fart! (Map 37). Ender was constantly bullied and called an outsider throughout his childhood, which pushed him to prove that he is better than everyone. This motivation is what ultimately gets him chosen for Battle School and, ultimately, what makes Ender the leader of the fleet that would destroy the Buggers, saving the world. Both novels reveal how the protagonists had a troubled past, that of being bullied and being excluded brought them success. The Absolutely True Diary shows physical bullying through Arnold's appearance, while Ender's Game explores verbal bullying through Ender's social status. To summarize, the bullying the characters face motivates them to work harder than anyone else. In the same way that Arnold and Ender deal with bullying, the injustice they face in their lives motivates them to work harder. The injustice in Arnold's life is linked to his family's poverty. Because of this, Arnold often misses meals as well as school and has no money for school events because his parents cannot provide enough money for his expenses. Arnold says: “But we Indians on reservations cannot achieve our dreams. We don't have those chances. Or choices. We are simply poor. This is all we are” (Alexie, 13 years old). Arnold feels hopeless, like he can't do anything if he lives in poverty. This feeling creates a motive for him to surpass his ancestors so that he can end his family's curse of poverty, causing Arnold to work even harder to achieve.