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The Game of Silence

(2005, Fiction - Historical Fiction, Written by Louise Erdrich)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    White settlers force Indian family to leave land.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Pinch plays numerous nasty pranks on his sister.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    A moose is shot through the head, several fights. children are punished with a switch, some people die from eating bad meat, and a woman's frostbitten finger is amputated with a hatchet.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A couple of references to alcohol, adults and children smoke a pipe.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Game of Silence

Parents need to know that, in the midst of pretty mild content (especially considering that the subject is the forced migration of Native Americans) there is an amputation of a finger. It's not graphically described, but it still may shock sensitive children.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the treatment of Native Americans by European settlers, though the presentation here is gentle. Where could you learn more if you wanted to?
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