The Game of Silence

The story of Omakayas, begun in The Birchbark House, continues in this story. The year is now 1850, and white settlers continue to threaten the Ojibwe way of life. Among them are a Catholic "soul stealer" priest, and a friendly teacher who helps the children learn to read and write English and Ojibwe, so that they can confront cheating white fur traders or other agents. Omakayas also discovers her special gift, the ability to tell and interpret dreams. Written by Louise Erdrich, this also is a useful resource for classes needing an alternative viewpoint on the westward movement. Just yesterday I read that the third book in the series, The Porcupine Year was released earlier this month. Stay tuned for the next installment in the story.