The Game of Silence

Written by Louise Erdrich

Narrated by Anna Fields

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, The Game of Silence is the second novel in the critically acclaimed Birchbark House series by New York Times bestselling author Louise Erdrich.

Her name is Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop, and she lives on an island in Lake Superior. One day in 1850, Omakayas’s island is visited by a group of mysterious people. From them, she learns that the chimookomanag, or white people, want Omakayas and her people to leave their island and move farther west.

That day, Omakayas realizes that something so valuable, so important that she never knew she had it in the first place, could be in danger: Her way of life. Her home.

The Birchbark House Series is the story of one Ojibwe family’s journey through one hundred years in America. The New York Times Book Review raved about The Game of Silence: “Erdrich has created a world, fictional but real: absorbing, funny, serious and convincingly human.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jul 5, 2005
• ISBN: 9780060796877

Louise Erdrich

Louise Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, is the award-winning author of many novels as well as volumes of poetry, children’s books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Erdrich lives in Minnesota with her daughters and is the owner of Birchbark Books, a small independent bookstore. 

Reviews for The Game of Silence

[kyuuketsukirui · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This sequel to The Birchbark House spans another year in the life of Omakayas, two years after the events of the first book. While the first book mainly focused on everyday life and events throughout the year, with little hints of coming changes due to the encroaching white population, The Game of Silence places that struggle front and center, as the Anishinabeg try to figure out why the white men have gone back on their word to let the Anishinabeg stay where they are. There is still plenty of daily life stuff going on, though, as life goes on for Omakayas despite the fear that she and her family might be forced to leave.There were several new characters introduced, and more focus on some of the supporting characters (I love Two Strike Girl), but the focus remains on Omakayas. I think this book is actually a little longer than the first, but I found it a much faster read and enjoyed it a little more. Definitely no "middle book syndrome" here.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read this at least twice, and am puzzled that goodreads seems to have deleted my review. Continues Omakayas' story and Erdrich's superb storytelling about a Native family's experience during the White westward expansion. Extremely well done.

[jgmencarini · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I very much enjoyed reading The Game of Silence, but I think it is important to consider that much of what is revealed (or not revealed) depends on the viewpoint of the person telling the story. It is certainly important to acknowledge Erdrich's Native American heritage and the importance of minority storytellers contributing to the "canon," for lack of a better word. But should we not also consider what does not get said? Except for Two Strike and Pinch, who are children and are therefore expected to misbehave on occasion, there are no Native American adults who behave less than nobly in the story. If we accept Erdrich's version of life among the Anishinabeg, everyone gets along, newcomers are always accepted with open arms, resources are always shared and distributed equally, and the white settlers (including the priest and Break-Apart Girl) are treated with nothing but kindness and even a winking acceptance of their "white" ways. Nokomis, Deydey, and Old Tallow are benevolent, loving leaders who nurture Omakayas and the other members of the community without strife or conflict. I felt this was somewhat unrealistic. Native Americans are human. That means they make mistakes and bad decisions, they are not always kind or unselfish, and they are not universally supportive and understanding parents. I say all of this to suggest that perhaps, in attempting to counteract the negative stereotypes contained in so many of the stories written about Native Americans, Erdrich went overboard in attempting to depict them positively, and in doing so sacrificed some of the realism necessary to effectuate acceptance and understanding by non-Native American readers.
The inclusion of Old Tallow, who acknowledges her inability to remain in a marital relationship but survives and thrives on her own, contributes to the message that girls are important and contribute to the community in significant ways. I also appreciated Erdrich's subtle inclusion of environmental issues, such as the importance of conserving natural resources and recycling available materials rather than throwing them away. These messages were subtle, and not "preachy," but were communicated in ways that younger readers can appreciate and understand.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A compelling story about strength and gifts in a time of uncertainty. This sequel to The Birchbark House continues Omakayas' quest to understand her power as a dreamer, even as white settlers threaten to encroach on their way of life.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Digital audiobook performed by Anna Fields.Book two in the Birchbark House series which is about an Ojibwa tribe’s life on their island in Lake Superior in the mid-19th century. Omakayas is the young girl who narrates this book, which chronicles a year on the island that is today known as Madeline Island. I love how Erdrich depicts these people and their way of life. Not everything is pleasant or easy, but there is room for joy and happiness, for children to explore and learn. I loved the various adventures (and misadventures) Omakayas, her younger brother Pinch and cousin Two Strike, a girl who is every bit as strong and fierce as any boy her age, get into. It is two years after book one, and Omakayas is growing up. At age nine she has more responsibility to help with the necessary tasks of tribal living. Her intelligence, courage and spirit are recognized by the elders, and her friendship with a white girl, whom she calls “the Break Apart Girl” because of her tightly corseted waist, will be important to them all as they face the changes to their way of life. Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa, and she spoke to various Ojibwa elders about the significance of Madeline Island. Events depicted are historically accurate. The text version includes Erdrich’s pencil drawing illustrations. I will definitely continue reading this series.Anna Fields does a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and her diction is clear enough that even younger children will not have trouble following the story.

[grace.van.moer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second book in series about a young Anishinabe girl and her family. The author does not hold back even though this is written for middle years children. Death by starvation, broken treaties, attacks by neighboring tribes. Fascinating and informative literature.

[librarycin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 starsThis is a children’s book, a continuation of “The Birchbark House”. It is 1850 and Omakayas is now 9-years old. This book goes through another year in her life, all four seasons. In the spring, Omakayas, her family, and the other Ojibwe discover that they are being told by the white people that they need to leave. They send out four men to find out what happened, why they must leave – did they break the treaty? While the four men are gone, Omakayas learns about medicines from her grandmother, while her cousin, Two Strikes, though a girl, wants to build her own little army made up of the boys. And, there is more day-to-day stuff happening, as well. I enjoyed this. Not quite as much as “The Birchbark House”, but it was still enjoyable and I will continue the series. There are very nice illustrations, and some well-done descriptions of how things were done (similar to the first book). I also appreciated the prologue, which was a bit of a recap, as it's been a few years since I read "Birchbark House".

[joeydag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

2nd in the series and another year in the life of a young Native American girl on the Minnesota frontier in the 1840's. Very moving.

[amrahmn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a tough read with so many different native names and words. Also, it was a sequel to a book that I have not read! It is a Global Reading Challenge book so many of my students will find it difficult as well. It took a while to get into the story and realize what is happening and what the characters are like but it was really interesting - the author does an excellent job of really putting the reader into this historical world. Omakayas is a little girl whose way of life and those of her people is threatened by the white man forcing them to move out of their territory. I enjoyed learning about this particular tribe's way of life and would encourage middle readers to read it to compare how people live - with other native tribes and how we live today.

[hemlokgang · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Audiobook............I listened to this story while in bed with a virus. Usually reading would be too much, but this book was just right! The story is a familiar one about the cultural upheaval of the Ojibway nation resulting from betrayal by the people who "come from where the sun rises". Louise Erdrich tells it so well that it is definitely worth a listen. The characters are endearing and varied, and the tales within the tale are universally applicable to any human beings life in terms of love, loss, betrayal, determination, the life of the spirit, and relationships which shape our lives. A really, really nice book!

[jenpark_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book mostly because of the characters, both minor and main. The story line moves a little slowly, I think, but the character development makes up for it.

[bluemopitz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the sequel to The Birchbark House and I really enjoyed it. The addition of new characters like Two-Strike girl and Angry boy make for great new stories and the tension is palpable in scenes where the children must play the Game of Silence. This book could be used in curriculum about Native Americans and the forced eviction of them from their lands.

[megmcg624 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Omakayas's family senses that more trouble is coming from the invading chimookoman (white people), continue with their way of life while considering the changes to come. This novel continues the saga started in "The Birchbark House." Erdrich's novel is in English, with several Ojibwe terms including and annotated in a concluding glossary.This is a fantastic and subtle criticism of the injustices done to native Americans. The novel describes the day -to-day tasks and crafts of Omakayas's family, while giving a relatable story of sibling rivalry and the difficulties of growing up. This would be a good recommendation for a 4th grader who likes longer chapter books.