Beautifully writtten tale of Ojibwes forced off their land.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
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. Forcing the Ojibwe people off their land is an act of violence.
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An Ojibwe family and village are at the center of the story. They live peacefully beside with White settlers, -- but the settlers eventually force them off their land and make them migrate west.
Family and tradition are important. Help others in need and share what you have. People deserve to live on land their people have lived and worked on for generations. You can learn a lot from your elders.
Educational Value
a lot
Lots of information about the Ojibwe people, culture, legends; hunting, gathering, and fishing practices in the mid-19th century; religious beliefs and ancient rituals. Ojibwe words are sprinkled in the text, and there's a glossary with explanations.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Omakayas is strong, curious, and courageous. She learns a lot from her mother, grandmother, and storyteller Old Tallow. Her mischievous brother Pinch plays numerous pranks on her.
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.
My 9yo and I have been reading The Birchbark House series aloud, and we both love it. An important counterpoint to Little House on the Prairie.
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.
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?
Available on:
Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Last updated:
October 20, 2022
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