The Game of Silence: Birchbark House, Book 2
Beautifully writtten tale of Ojibwes forced off their land.
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Based on 1 review
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Game of Silence, by Obijwe author Louise Erdrich, is a sequel to her 1999 novel The Birchbark House. It's set on Madeline Island in Lake Superior in 1850, and traces a year in the life of 9-year-old Obijwe girl Omakayas and her family, culminating in White settlers and the U.S. government forcing them and their fellow villagers to migrate west. The authors's charming pencil drawings add to the atmosphere. There are several moments of violence: A moose is shot through the head, there are 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. It's not graphically described, but it still may shock sensitive readers. There are a couple of references to alcohol. Adults and children smoke a pipe.
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Should be required reading
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What's the Story?
Omakayas' tribe is worried when they hear rumors that, despite treaties, they will be forced to leave their lands to make room for White settlers. They send messengers out in different directions to try to find out what's happening. Meanwhile, the rest of the tribe carries on with their daily lives through the fall, winter, and spring, as they wait for the messengers to return. Omakayas has plenty to deal with: There are the everyday survival tasks of gathering and preparing food and creating shelter and clothing; an upcoming spiritual quest which she dreads; and dealing with her brother Pinch, a prankster who has fallen in with two of the tribe's hotheads.
Is It Any Good?
This beautifully written sequel paints a vivid portrait of Ojibwe life in the mid-19th century, much like Book 1 in this series. While The Game of Silence has a marginal plot, there are no mean people or villains, beyond the distant, disembodied U.S. government that's making the Native Americans move off their tribal land. The Ojibwe and settlers live side-by-side in peace and friendliness, if not mutual comprehension.
Author Louise Erdrich writes in a flowing, seamless style, and liberally salts her story with Ojibwe words (explained in a glossary, though most can be inferred from context). An Ojibwe herself, she writes with confidence, authority, and authenticity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the The Game of Silence shows the impact of forced migration of Native Americans by European settlers. How much do you know about this history? Where could you learn more?
The author is a member of the Ojibwe tribe, like the main characters. How do you think who tells a story can make a difference?
What do you think of Omakayas' spirit quest? Can you imagine going on a spirt quest? What might you be looking for?
Book Details
- Author: Louise Erdrich
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models, History, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Curiosity, Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: July 4, 2005
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 20, 2022
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