G5: The Game of Silence

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 2005. THE GAME OF SILENCE. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0-06-029789-1.

Life near what is now called Lake Superior in the mid-19th century is predictable for the young Omakayas (Little Frog) and her extended Ojibwe family and tribe. Divided into seasons and opening in summer, her story opens with the arrival another group of Ojibwe who have narrowly escaped from land belonging to another tribe where they were resettled after white settlers were given their land. Early in the story, able-bodied male members of Omakayas’s tribe venture in four directions to determine exactly what the whites want, while the new arrivals and the women and children remain behind. Until these messengers return at the end of the book and apprise members of their group of the future of their tribe, the bulk of the story concentrates on the games, seasonal preparations, stories, daily events, and relationships among themselves and with local white missionaries of this small group of people.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Erdrich has balanced providing the historical and social context of the Ojibwe with an appealing story for young people. Omakayas is an exceptional protagonist who grows and changes throughout the novel. She puts up with her annoying younger brother (Pinch), looks for acceptance from her older sister, resents her cousin Two Strike’s excessive pride while feeling shame at what she perceives to be her own inadequacy, finds comfort in her grandmother’s warm embraces and stories, endures a tumultuous relationship with her mother, and befriends a young white girl (Break-Apart Girl) while simultaneously attempting to understand her culture and introduce her to her own. When she has her dream in Spring (Zeegwun), she saves her father and becomes widely respected for her understanding of the spiritual world. Where she was just an aimless girl before, she has, like many young people, found and developed a talent and grown up because of it.

The book is peopled by characters who contribute to Omakayas’s growth and show both Ojibwe and white culture. Old Tallow, the one who found Omakayas originally when she was abandoned, embodies Ojibwe self-sufficiency with her hunting and living in isolation. Like the others who know that the inevitable move is coming due to the whites, she works throughout the story on a strangely designed canoe. She is also grateful to Omakayas for alerting her to a plot that a band of child “warriors” led by the prideful Two Strike have to attack her dogs. Similarly, the minor characters of Father Baraga and the shopkeeper reveal different sides of white culture. One is the stubborn missionary with a knowledge of the Ojibwe language who cannot understand the existence of deities other than his own and who almost gets Omkayas’s father killed. The other is the welcoming but slightly patronizing local trader impressed by the bargaining talents of Angeline, the older sister, who quietly wants to buy a gift for Fishtail, her future husband.

The plot runs through the four seasons, which suggests how connected the Ojibwe are to the land on which they live. In addition to the games and other diversions, much of what they do on the land is devoted to preparing for the next season. Rice is gathered, fish are caught, and belongings are prepared for the long, cruel winter. Introducing the escapees early in the book allows Erdrich to give a feeling of impending doom in the face of westward expansion by the whites. This doom, however, is not realized until the end of the book when Omakayas interacts with the bears while she is out on her own in the forest exploring her new-found spirituality. At that point, she realizes that the life depicted in the book is over and will have to be recreated elsewhere if her group is to survive. In short, the plot and setting consist of two threads: the Ojibwe viewpoint on the common “settlement” history of westward expansion and the practices of their daily lives. They accept forces beyond their control and work to survive on the bounty of nature. Their loss is poignant, and their future uncertain.

Younger readers will find an abundance of ideas to which they can relate, and they will also be taken with the detailed descriptions of life in that time. The title, THE GAME OF SILENCE, refers to a game played by children in which the first one to talk loses. (They play the game while the adults discuss the serious business of the future of the tribe.) The English transliterations and definitions of their language and descriptive names will increase appreciation of the Ojibwe. Alcohol (ishkodewaaboo) is the “water that scorches the throat,” while Break-Apart Girl is named because her corset seems to split her in two. Advice on the proper time and way to do things and stories designed to teach also feature in this book, which could be almost a primer on how the Ojibwe lived in harmony with their place. Simple pencil illustrations of the characters and their context are sprinkled liberally throughout and add to the cultural understanding.

Thematically, the novel combines a coming-of-age story with the need to remain dignified and true to oneself in the face of adverse circumstances. Erdrich does not preach as she paints her picture of Omakayas and the Ojibwe. Readers of all ages will appreciate their spirit and dignity in how they live on their land even as they are bound to lose it. All of the events and ideas in the book are delivered matter-of-factly, as if they are part of the natural order of things. When the new people come, they are integrated as cousins and siblings, as Omakayas was when she was found. The Angry One changes without a lot of fanfare, and even Pinch the mischievous brother comes around to appreciate his older sister. When Fishtail finally returns and he and Angeline hug, the younger children make kissing noises. Nothing in the action is overwrought; instead, it is almost journalistic in style and described thoroughly.

According to the author description at the back of the book, Erdrich was inspired by research into her own family history. By concentrating on the “small” history of this particular girl and those around her in the context of expansionism, she is able to avoid stereotypes and stay true to the time period. Its ending of a people in search of a new life after saying goodbye to the life they knew will resonate with everyone.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
--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, July 2005)
--Like its prequel, this meticulously researched novel offers an even balance of joyful and sorrowful moments while conveying a perspective of America's past that is rarely found in history books. (PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, May 2005)
--The threat that the federal government poses to the community is more than just a framing device; it penetrates all the other concerns of the novel, drawing them tightly together. This novel combines all the emotion and joy of THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE with an impressive deftness of structure. (VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES, August 2005)
--(Erdrich’s) 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, May 2005)

Review excerpts from the BOOKS IN PRINT database.

CONNECTIONS
--This novel would be an excellent choice to supplement or even begin a middle school unit on Native Americans in social studies. Activities could include attempting to use natural materials to recreate Ojibwe belongings, in addition to examining Ojibwe life and the history of the time.
--ALA Notable Book for Middle Readers (Association for Library Services to Children), 2006
--Winner, Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2006
--Louise Erdrich’s first and third novels about Omakayas:
THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE. ISBN: 978-078681454. (ALA Notable Book, 2000)
THE PORCUPINE YEAR. 2008. ISBN: 978-0060297879 (ALA Notable Book, 2009)