Scott O’Dell Award Winning Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 2006. THE GAME OF SILENCE. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN-13 978-0064410298.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Omakayas or Little Frog is a 9 year old girl who lives with her family and tribe, the Ojibwe, on an island on Lake Superior. Change is coming to Omakayas’ life, white people want Omakayas’ tribe to leave their homes and move farther west.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE GAME OF SILENCE is the second book within the Little Frog series. The events of the book occur on an island called the Golden Breasted Woodpecker which is located on Lake Superior in 1847. The author does a good job in relating Omakayas feelings to the readers. Omakayas still misses her baby brother who died two years ago and the emotions she feels for her brother are evident in a scene when she carries a baby for his mother “she would….give him all the love she….could no longer give her little brother Neewo.” Older children who understand death and who have lost someone in their own lives would relate to Omakayas. I think that students will be interested to learn about the Ojibwe tribe and the native language that is used within the book. There are black and white illustrations included within the book. The illustrations provide the reader with small details like the dolls made from corn husks and reeds that Omakayas and her cousins play with. The author note at the end of the book explains more about the Ojibwe language. The author admits that the Ojibwe words used within the book is based on phonetic spelling rather than the actual spelling of the words.         

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“As Erdrich said in the Booklist Story Behind the Story, "Little House on the Lake" [BKL Ap 1 99], about The Birchbark House, her research into her ancestors revealed the horrifying history and also a culture rich, funny, and warm. In this heartrending novel the sense of what was lost is overwhelming.” - Booklist

“Although the story is set on an island in Lake Superior in 1850, readers will identify with the everyday activities of the Ojibwa, from snowball fights to fishing excursions, providing a parallel to their own lives while encouraging an appreciation for one that is very different. 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.” – School Library Journal

Honors

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Kirkus Editor’s Choice

Horn Book Fanfare

ALA Notable Children’s Book

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice

New York Times Notable

CONNECTIONS

Use this book to start a lesson on Native Americans and the history of different local tribes.

The Game of Silence

The Birchbark House