Module 5 Book Review #1: The Game of Silence

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*This book review was written for a MLS course at SHSU.*

Image result for the game of silence book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. (2005). THE GAME OF SILENCE. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
ISBN 9780064410298

PLOT SUMMARY
On an island in Lake Superior, Omakayas and her family embrace their home and all their fellow
Ojibwe friends and family members within it. One day in 1850, another tribe shows up to their
island due to them being forced to relocate by the “chimookomanag” (white people). It was then
that Omakayas and the Ojibwe realized that they were expected to do the same thing. Their home
was going to eventually get left behind and lost to these settlers, so with caution and preparation,
the tribe decides that they need each other now more than ever.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In The Game of Silence, Louise Erdrich does an excellent job in representing how a community always works together in a time in need. For example, when the other tribe relocates to the Ojibwe island, they were not turned away, for they were welcomed with open arms instead. Many jobs were still needed to be done within their homes and ricing camps, and everybody, including adults and children, all made sure to pitch in and be there for one another for both physical and emotional support.

 In addition to this, Erdrich really captures what happens from the “inside” of an Ojibwe’s lifestyle. Often in history, students learn more about the settlers’ motives and results, but whatabout the various types of Native Americans who were forced out of their lands? In this novel, readers are allowed to witness the worries and the struggles a tribe had to encounter whenever receiving the devasting news of eventually being displaced. The other literary element that is used within this historical fiction novel is the use of terms from the actual Ojibwe language itself. The terms appear within the text often, which actually makes the story have a more authentic feel to it. Most of the time, the author provides many context clues for the readers to figure out the translation for themselves, but if there was still confusion, a glossary is provided in the back of the novel.

 Lastly, the mini illustrations in The Game of Silence also represent an exceptional cultural portrayal of the Ojibwe tribe. The pencil-like sketches are very satisfying and helped with the family and community themes displayed within the story. An example of this can be viewed on page 100 when Omakayas and her “Nokomis” were folding a blanket together, which can be inferred as a loving and bonding moment between the two.

 REVIEW EXCERPTS
*Review from Publishers Weekly: “Like its prequel, this meticulously researched novel offers aneven balance of joyful and sorrowful moments while conveying a perspective of America's pastthat is rarely found in history books.”
*Review from Kirkus Reviews: “Eager readers beguiled by her sturdy and engaging person will
scarcely notice that they have absorbed great draughts of Ojibwe culture, habits and language.”
*Review from The Horn Book: “Erdrich’s own gifts are many, and here she has given readers
another tale full of rich details of 1850s Ojibwe life, complicated supporting characters, and all
the joys and challenges of a girl becoming a woman.”

CONNECTIONS
*The Birchbark House and The Porcupine Year by Louise Erdrich are the other two books in thisbook’s trilogy. Students can continue to read about Omakayas and her family’s journey when ontheir own island and when searching for a new home.
*Chickadee and Makoons are also by Louis Erdrich but based off another Ojibwe family’sexperiences.
*Students can refer to the “Glossary and Pronunciation Guide of Ojibwe Terms” in the back ofthe novel and do a match-up vocabulary activity.
*Students can research the Ojibwa tribe and read various articles and look at several maps.https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ojibwa

 PICTURE SOURCE
https://www.amazon.com/Game-Silence-Birchbark-House/dp/0064410293

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