Thursday, November 13, 2014
The Game of Silence
Erdrich,
Louise. 2005. The Game of Silence. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0064410293
Summary:
The story is about a girl named Omakayas and her family
life. Omakayas's gift is a constant reminder of how she is
different from everyone else. She has
dreams that show real time events. The title of the book is significant to the story because the reader can see it
played throughout. The hierarchy of the
culture is evident throughout the book.
Each thing or place has significant meaning bringing a realistic view of
the time period and people. It is
filled with difficulties, sacrifices and rich in Ojibwe culture.
Characters:
The main character is Omakayas. She tells the story from her viewpoint. She seems like an ordinary girl, with a
special gift which make her relatable.
How many people see themselves different from others? Her
extended family is also mentioned throughout the book and the reader can see
each role the individual plays. Daily
chores are done to accomplish the goals of the community. Children can relate to doing chores at home
which makes the book believable. The
pencil drawings assist the reader to understand and picture the story in their
mind. It also depicts the characters of
the story.
Plot:
The plot can be followed quite easily. It is broken down into seasons so that the
reader can establish a time period. The
story is filled with daily activities that have to be accomplished for survival. The depiction of the life during the time
period is clearly described in the story.
The game of silence is not a foreign concept. Everything from harvesting crops to hunting
animals, make the book realistic. The
only difficulty children might encounter is the language dialect which is
extremely complex.
Setting:
The setting is a small island next to Lake Superior,
Michigan around 1849. A map of the
island is in the back of the book to show the reader, the location of
significant places in the story.
Theme:
The Ojibwe each have a specific role in their society. There are individuals who hunt, some cook,
other gather supplies, each learning a trade that can benefit the culture. The people live in a collective society and
share their goods among the rest of the tribe. There is a common goal of survival. Family unity is a familiar quality that can
be seen today.
Style:
The style of the story is cohesive and draws a correlation
to traditions. The author gives insight
to a culture rich in traditions and storytelling.
Additional Criteria:
The author notes that she is a descendent to the Ojibwe
people and has written an open letter to the reader, giving a personalize look
into her ancestry and traditions. The
author has given the reader a dictionary of Ojibwe language to translate the
native dialect of the tribe. A mini
family tree also provides additional information, as well, as a map of the
island, where the story takes place.
Excerpts
From Book Links
"In this powerful novel of love and sorrow, loss and
change, readers will mourn with Omakayas when she finally leaves her adored
home but will also share her hope for the future."
Tillotson, Laura. 2006.
"The Game of Silence." Book Links 15(3): 30.
From Library
Media Connection
"Author Louise Erdrich has a wonderful facility with
language as she draws readers oh so gently into a peaceful life of Omakayas and
her tribe."
2006. "The Game of
Silence." Library Media Connection 24(4): 70.
From Book Links
"In addition to an abundance of detail about life
through the seasons, Erdrich deals with the wider meaning of family and
Omakayas' coming-of-age on a vision quest."
Rochman, Hazel. 2005.
"The Game of Silence." Book Links 15(1): 13.
From Publishers
Weekly
"When she's not fighting with her pesky brother Pinch,
helping her mother, or gleaning advice from mentor Old Tallow, Omakayas starts
to discover more about her talent for reading dreams."
2005. "The Game of
Silence." Publishers Weekly 252(30): 68.
From
Horn Book Magazine
"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."
Smith, Robin. 2005. "The
Game of Silence." Horn Book Magazine 81(4): 469.
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. It's hard not
to weep when white settlers drive the Ojibwe west, and hard not to hope for
what comes next for this radiant nine-year-old."
2005. "THE GAME OF
SILENCE." Kirkus Reviews 73(9): 538.
From
Booklist
"In this heartrending novel
the sense of what was lost is overwhelming."
Rochman, Hazel. 2005.
"The Game of Silence (Book)." Booklist 101(18): 1674.
From School
Library Journal
"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."
Monaghan, Kimberly, Trevelyn
E. Jones, Luann Toth, Marlene Charnizon, Daryl Grabarek, and Dale Raben. 2005.
"The Game of Silence." School Library Journal 51(7): 102.
Awards
ALA Notable Books
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Connections
The Birchbark House ISBN 0786814543
The Porcupine Year ISBN 0064410307
Chickadee ISBN 00660577908
Activities for
Children
Children can create a family tree, as the author, has shown a
how to demonstration in the back of the book.
Children can be asked to talk about their ancestry or family
traditions.
Personal Response
I believe there is an authentic quality to the
book. I especially loved the roles of
the individuals and how each worked together for a common goal. I particularly could relate to the story
because I have learned how to do specific tasks from my grandparents and
parents. Children can associate tasks
from a family member such as cooking a traditional meal or learning a skill
like sewing or creating a tent. Keeping
family tradition is important and should be passed down generations, like the
Ojibwe people have.
Catherine, called Birdy
Cushman,
Karen. 1994. Catherine,
called Birdy. New York: Clarion
Books. ISBN 0395681863
Summary:
The story revolves around a young girl, age fourteen, named
Catherine. She has created a diary to
record her daily observances and uses
corresponding saints to describe each memo.
Catherine includes dates, people, events, and places to describe her surroundings and how she lived
in 1290. Her dislike for marriage leaves Catherine wondering, how she could
change her destiny? She wants to be
independent and does not understand how she could be seen as property. She wants to have more self worth than to be
a wife, sold to the highest bidder.
Catherine's father, in true tradition, looks for various suitors for an
arranged marriage that is profitable to him.
Characters:
Catherine, is the main character, is a girl, whose
viewpoints exceed the time period of 1290.
She has dreams of becoming something other than a housewife. She wants to be independent and yearns to find out what the world is like outside her home. Catherine does not want an arranged marriage,
and goes to extremes to see that it does not happen. Catherine's father seems to be a believable
character in the way he is described in detail.
His attitude, his viewpoints and his need to climb the social ladder
makes his character, real. Her character
is somewhat believable in some respects because she wants to be her own
person. Children can appreciate
Catherine's need to be independent, like most teenagers, today. The storyline creates a cohesive correlation
to the description of the diary entries.
Plot:
The plot revolves around Catherine and her father, Rollo, who
is intent on marrying his daughter to a wealthy man in order to modify his
social status. Each entry of the diary,
is a descriptive circumstance of the day.
Catherine's mother is trying to teach her how to be a wife but all
Catherine can think about is the outside world.
She fantasizes about being something or someone else, other than a wife. The book does veer off into the relationships
of Catherine's brothers and her friends who have similar situations. The
overall book revolves around finding a husband for Catherine. The book has a lot of details because it is
structured in a journal format. The
only difficulty were the names of individuals that seemed unfamiliar to today's
society.
Setting:
The story takes place in Stonebridge, England in 1290. The
depiction of the setting is vivid, throughout the book. Each description of a place or things can be
seen in each diary entry. The
description of the village or how people are perceived are described in
detail. Catherine describes people's
emotions, her dislike for her potential suitors and what it is like to live in
the specific time period. Her distaste
for her father is evident throughout because she makes insulting references to
his character.
Theme:
The idea of arranged marriage is not uncommon and can be
see, today, in many cultures. The moral dilemma
for Catherine, is that cultural customs must be honored. At the same time, Catherine stand her ground,
and believes arranged marriage for money is not for her. Readers can appreciate the character's need
for independence.
Style:
The book does keep in line with the time period from the medicinal
concoctions to what is eaten on a daily basis.
The language used is in the English language with various words spelled
differently giving the reader, the authenticity of the storyline.
Additional Criteria:
The author's notes in the back of the book, recommends
several titles of the time period for further reading. The author does note that research was done
for the completion the book.
Excerpts:
From Horn Book
Magazine
"Her diary of the year 1290 is a revealing, amusing, and
sometimes horrifying view both of Catherine's
thoughts and of life in the Middle Ages."
A.A.F. 1994. "Catherine,
Called Birdy." Horn Book Magazine 70(4): 457-458.
From School Library
Journal
"From the number of fleas she kills in an evening to
her herbal medicines laced with urine, Birdy reveals fascinating facts about
her time period. A feminist far ahead of
her time, she is both believable and lovable."
Shook, Bruce Anne. 1994.
"Book review: Junior high up." School Library Journal 40(6):
147.
From Kirkus
Reviews
"The period has rarely been presented for young people
with such authenticity; the exotic details will intrigue readers while they
relate more closely to Birdy's yen for independence and her sensibilities
toward the downtrodden."
Kirkus Reviews.
1994. "Review of Catherine,
called Birdy by Karen Cushman. Accessed November
11. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-cushman/catherine-called-birdy/.
Awards
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
1995 Newberry Honor Books
Notable Children's Books 1995
Top 10 First Novels for Young Listeners- Booklist November
15, 2003
School Library Journal- Best Books 1994
Booklist Best of the Best One-Hundred
Connections
Other Karen Cushman books
The MIdwife's Apprentice ISBN 0547722176
Ballad of Lucy Whipple ISBN 054772215X
Activities for
Children
Ask children to create a diary so that they can write about
their daily activities in school.
Personal Response
I believe the book is a great depiction of the time period
because the characters seem realistic.
Although arranged marriages are not in every culture, it does still
exist in many. The story shows a teenage
seeking independence and tries to go
against the social norm to be her own person.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Kelly,
Jacqueline. 2009. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York: Henry
Holt and Company. ISBN 0805088415
Summary:
Calpurnia Tate, who dreams of becoming a scientist, fills her
days observing nature. She is fascinated
by the animals, insects and plants that surround her. Calpurnia is eleven years old and has a thirst
for knowledge. She along with her
grandfather, set out on a journey to observe different species of insects and
plants. Calpurnia writes in a journal
her observations, questions, and conclusions to each entry. Her non-traditional role as child scientist,
makes her, extraordinary.
Characters:
Calpurnia seems like a normal child that wants to explore
the outdoors. Trouble is, her time, is
spent doing things she dislikes, such as embroidery. Calpurnia wants to discover what nature has
in store. With the support of her
grandfather, Calpurnia embarks on her journey to discover a new plant species,
which she gets recognition. The
handwritten letter from the Smithsonian gives a believable quality to the story. Her journal observation in Calpurnia's handwriting
also makes the reader identify with the overall theme.
Plot:
Calpurnia is a
remarkable child who is intelligent and wants to learn about science. The story revolves around Calpurnia and her
daily observances. Children can
comprehend the story because it is told by Calpurnia, herself. She expresses her thought in a daily journal
of events to experiment with her findings and conclusion. Her tenacity for knowledge leads her to learn
about the scientific method. The
relevance of the scientific method is prevalent today in many classes.
Setting:
The setting is a small rural town of Fentress, Texas in
1899. It is a desolate place with the
nearest town over 40 miles away.
Theme:
Calpurnia lives in a small town and has an enormous pressure
to become a lady but all she thinks about is becoming a scientist. Readers can appreciate a character like
Calpurnia because she has thought outside the box and dreams of something more
lucrative. Becoming a scientist, in 1899, is unheard of during the time period
for a woman.
Style:
The story is an easy read and can be comprehended by the
reader. The few French phrases that are carefully mention
in the book seem displaced. The French
language is not common in Texas so I was surprised to see it written in the
book.
Additional Criteria:
The only criteria that would be relevant is that the author
states she lives in Fentress, Texas part time.
From School Library Journal
"Twelve-year-old Calpurnia (the only girl of
seven siblings) is interested in science rather than cooking and sewing. She would rather spend her time exploring the
river with her grandfather, a naturalist and a loner, who has given her a copy
of The Origin of the Species."
Lawler, Terry Ann1. 2010.
"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate." School Library Journal 56(4):
57.
From Booklist
"While practicing the hated piano and knitting
lumpy socks for her brothers, Callie ponders her dreams and future."
Hartshorn, Laurie. 2010.
"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate." Booklist 106(13): 86.
From Kirkus Reviews
"While other girls her age are encouraged to sew and cook,
Callie Vee discovers a love for examining insects, an interest that is fostered
by her grandfather, a nature-loving recluse who revels in examining plants and
fermenting pecans for whiskey."
2009. "The Evolution of
Calpurnia Tate." Kirkus Reviews 77(22): 10.
From Library Media Connection
"In the summer of 1899, Calpurnia sets off to
discover life in the woods behind her house.
To assist her, Callie refers to a book by Charles Darwin given to her by
her grandfather."
Glantz, Shelley. 2009.
"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate." Library Media Connection 28(2):
72.
From Publishers Weekly
"Together they dream up experiments and seek answers to
backyard phenomena, discovering something new about the invisible world each
day."
2009. "The Evolution of
Calpurnia Tate." Publishers Weekly 256(18): 51.
From Horn Book Magazine
"Calpurnia’s perseverance
and confidence gained working side-by-side with her grandfather are evidence
that she’s more than capable of meeting her goals."
GERSHOWITZ, ELISSA. 2009.
"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate." Horn Book Magazine 85(5):
565-566.
Awards
2010 Newberry Honor Book
ALA Notable Books
ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Notable Children's Books
Connections
Other Jacqueline Kelly books
Return to the Willows ISBN 080509413X
Activities for
Children
Children can be asked to create an journal to observe nature.
Personal Response
I believe the book has an inspiring story that children can
look at and say, wow. Calpurnia's dream
of becoming a scientists, shows true motivation to learn what you love to
do. I believe the lesson children can
learn is to follow your dreams.
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