The Game of Silence

Anna Fields's lucid narration introduces Omakayas (Little Frog), her family, her Ojibwe tribe, and her life on an island in Wisconsin's Lake Superior in 1850. Fields brings the vibrant tale, with overtones of the classic narrative poems HIAWATHA and EVANGELINE, to life, making it timely and accessible and reflecting the innocent, playful, and wonderful world of children, families, and pets in any time or place. While the title is designated for children, I'd recommend this captivating listening experience for adults as well. As the reading ends poignantly, be prepared to discuss the material with young listeners. Packaging is attractive and helpful, with chapter titles and listening times on each disc. L.C. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2005
In the sequel to Erdrich's novel The Birchbark House,
about the Ojibwe Indians, Fields reads at an often leisurely pace in a deep, calm voice—a good match for the tone of the text, but not a great choice for an engaging listen. The author picks up the story of Omakayas, now nine years old, as her tribe faces government expulsion from their island settlement on Lake Superior in 1849. 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. But no one can really know what the future—and the move west—will hold. Fields admirably masters Ojibwe names and vocabulary, but this recording's appeal lies with true fans of the material. Ages 8-12.

May 30, 2005
This sequel to The Birchbark House continues the saga of Omakayas, now "nine winters old," a member of the Ojibwe tribe who reside on an island in Lake Superior. The tranquility of the little village is threatened when word arrives that white leaders are going to force Omakayas's people farther west into enemy territory. While some men from the tribe—including Omakayas's father and Fishtail, her sister's special friend—travel in different directions to investigate the rumor, the rest of the villagers remain. They struggle to regain normalcy by returning to their routine of hunting, fishing, weaving and gathering. Erdrich once again shows what is was like to grow up Native American during the same time period about which Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote. The unadorned narrative, sprinkled with ancient legends, clearly expresses not only the traditions and rituals of the Ojibwe but also their values and religious beliefs. Erdrich's pencil drawings (somewhat reminiscent of the style of Garth Williams's illustrations for the Little House series) capture the mood and spirit of such characters as Pinch, Omakayas's mischievous little brother and noble Old Tallow, who gives Omakayas a precious gift. 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. Ages 8-12.