The Game of Silence

Bibliography:

Erdrich, Louise. 2005. The Game of Silence. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0060297891.

Summary:

Omakayas, or Little Frog, lives with her parents, her lovestruck older sister, and her annoying little brother. She is a member of the Ojibwe tribe and they live on an island in Lake Superior. She plays with her cousins, helps plant a garden, goes on adventures with her pet crow and dog, and listens to her grandmother's stories around the fire. Life is full of ups and downs for Omakayas, but when her father goes missing, she discovers she has a special gift - the ability to see things through dreams. Her father is found, but another difficult time is on the way for the tribe. The white people are kicking them out of the land, breaking their peace treaty and sending them further west. Omakayas worries about losing “something so important that they never even knew that they had it in the first place” - her home. Still, the book ends with the hope of adventure and a new life as they sail away in canoes.

Analysis:

The author creates memorable characters: the feisty, independent Old Tallow who lives with her perfectly trained dogs; the Angry One, a boy with a tragic past who discovers kindness and healing; and Two Strike, a girl who wants to be a boy and proves herself by hunting and attacking. Words, phrases, customs, and stories of the tribe are woven seamlessly into the text. The author provides an endnote and a glossery about the Ojibwe language. The book has a good balance of historical detail, adventure, and humor. Stereotyping is avoided by showing kind white people as well as those forcing the tribe out of their home. The author's pencil illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment to the text and provide a look at the characters and setting described.

Reviews/Awards:

“Although the story is set on an island in Lake Superior in 1850, readers will identify with the everyday activities of the Ojibwa, from snowball fights to fishing excursions, providing a parallel to their own lives while encouraging an appreciation for one that is very different. The action is somewhat slow, but Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers.”
School Library Journal

“In addition to an abundance of details about life through the seasons, Erdrich deals with the wider meaning of family and Omakayas' coming-of-age on a vision quest. Just on the edge of the child's daily life and coming ever closer are the whites--among them, a Catholic "soul-stealer" priest and a friendly teacher who helps the children learn to read and write both Ojibwe and English.”
Booklist, starred review

Connections:
* This book is a sequel to The Birchbark House. Read both together and discuss.
* Compare to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, set in the same time period.