Review: The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich

The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich

                              
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 200. The Game of Silence. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060297891

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The Game of Silence continues the story from The Birchbark House, of Omakayas and her family, who are part of the Ojibwe tribe living in the Lake Superior area during the mid 1800s. The central problem facing the Ojibwe tribe is their impending forcible removal by the United States government to a part of the country where an enemy tribe makes their home. After the tribe sends out men to discover the reasons why the government broke the treaty with the Ojibwe, Omakayas and her tribe attempt to continue a normal life of hunting, fishing, and the occasional sibling squabble. They face many hardships, especially as winter falls and they struggle to keep warm and fed, while awaiting the notice of their forced evacuation.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

It is apparent while reading this book that Erdrich has thoroughly researched the Ojibwe tribe as well as being a member of the tribe herself. She includes an author’s note on the language of the Ojibwe tribe used in The Game of Silence, with a glossary and a phonetic pronunciation guide on the words used in the text. The plot of forcible removal by the government is presented bluntly, as are the consequences of strangers intermingling with the tribe. Although the introduction of smallpox by white settlers is discussed, Erdrich makes it a point to present sympathetic white characters who are friends of tribe members, rather then presenting all of them as villains and all native Americans as heroes.

The book is divided into sections based on the four seasons, with a few chapters per section. Erdrich sprinkles pencil illustrations throughout the book, highlighting a few characters or important details in the book. Partially based on research Erdrich has done of her ancestry as well as her connections to the Ojibwe tribe, The Game of Silence contains surprisingly relatable characters and circumstances. Omakayas and her brother Pinch fight and occasionally gets in trouble with her parents and grandmother which is a situation many children can sympathize with. During the winter, she and her cousins have snowballs fights, and play with dolls just as children do now. The love of family is a powerful theme expressed throughout the story.

My only recommendation, and this may be based only on my personal preferences, is that readers begin with The Birchbark House before continuing on with the remainder of the series.


4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Scott O’ Dell Award Winner

Starred review in Booklist: “In this heartrending novel the sense of what was lost is overwhelming.”

Review in School Library Journal: “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.”

5. CONNECTIONS (Recommended for middle school grades)

* Read the Birchbark House series in conjunction with a study of Native Americans.

* Game of Silence is the second book in the Birchbark House series. The others are as follows:

The Birchbark House (Birchbark House 1). ISBN 9780756911867

The Porcupine Year (Birchbark House 3). ISBN 9780060297879

Chickadee (Birchbark House 4). ISBN 9780060577902