The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Erdrich, Louise. The Game of Silence. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2005.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The book is the second book to a planned nine-book series that highlights one year in the life of Omakayas, a young native girl. There are only four book released as of April 2017.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Omayakas is a nine year old girl in the Ojibwe tribe. The book takes place one year in the life of the girl. The story follows the big and small events that happens as the seasons change. The area around Lake Superior in the mid 19th century is explained as the tribe moves to different homes depending on the season. As Omayakas explains, their language is not written down and it is hard to define exactly what year it is. They describe time through memories and weather. For example, Omayakas is nine winters old. The white man or non-Indians, called chimookoman, have been around for three generations. There are over one hundred Ojibwe words throughout the book that are explained in a glossary, though most can be inferred from context. Many members of her family and tribe are described in length. A small problem is introduced in Summer that is not pressing to the characters, but is dooming for the readers who know Native American history. By the end of Spring, the tribe is being pushed out of their lands. There is a sense of foreboding while reading the novel knowing the tragedies that will eventually the Native Americans in our history.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

2006 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Matt Berman from Common Sense Media: "Louise Erdrich writes in a flowing, seamless style, and liberally salts her story with Ojibwe words. An Ojibwe herself, she writes with the confidence and authority of an insider."

From Kirkus Review: "Eager readers beguiled by her sturdy and engaging person will scarcely notice that they have absorbed great draughts of Ojibwe culture, habits and language."


5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Jim Murphy:
The Birchbark House     ISBN: 9781504759229
Grandmother's Pigeon     ISBN: 9780786821372
The Range Eternal     ISBN: 9780786802203
The Porcupine Year    ISBN: 9780006393917
Chickadee     ISBN: 9780060577902
Makoons     ISBN: 9780060577933

Lesson Plans:
Chelsea Brolsma, Stephanie Kuzyk, Stephanie Lueck, and Brent Stinson created a lesson plan together. It is meant for middle school grades. Lesson Plan

The publisher offers a great Teacher's Guide for all of the books available in the series. Harper Collins Study Unit

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Vawter, Vince. Paperboy. New York: Delacorte Press, 2013.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

The story is of a young boy struggling with stuttering while having to converse with people on his paper route.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The voice of the book is a highly intelligent boy who struggles with speaking because of stuttering. The book is being written and told by the boy. He explains in the very beginning that he chooses not to use certain grammar symbols. The format of the novel is very unique because the boy does not like to use commas or quotation marks. Once the reader has become accustomed to the style and structure his words, you immediately become engrossed in the historical fiction as it unfolds like a memoir. The story is set in the late 1950's in segregated Memphis, Tennessee. The boy is called Little Man by Mam, the woman who is hired to care for him and clean the house. In the eyes of Little Man, there is no one more important than Mam. The boy struggles to even say his own name so the reader is left in the dark on what to call him, besides what Mam has lovingly nicknamed him. Little Man does not have an understanding for many rules of society during the time and loves Mam with no consideration of skin color. While helping his friend Rat, Little Man meets many interesting characters on his borrowed paper route. Each person is the catalyst for change before the month is over. The book acts like an explanation for the man that this boy will one day become. It was an amazing read that truly paints every corner of the boys life.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

2014 Newbery Honor Book

ABC New Voices Pick

Amazon Spotlight Pick of the Month

From Booklist: "The well-crafted characters, the hot Southern summer, and the coming-of-age events are reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. But this has added dimension in the way it brilliantly gets readers inside the head of a boy who stutters."

From Publisher's Weekly: "[A] tense, memorable story."

From Kirkus Reviews: "Carefully crafted language, authenticity of setting and quirky characters that ring fully true all combine to make this a worthwhile read... An engaging and heartfelt presentation that never white watches the difficult time and situation as Little Man comes of age."

From School Library Journal: "Vawter portrays a protagonist so true to a disability that one cannot help but empathize with the difficult world of a stutterer. Yet, Victor's story has much broader appeal as the boy begins to mature and redefine his relationship with his parents, think about his aspirations for the future, and explore his budding spirituality."

Jane Fraser from the Stuttering Foundation of America: "Paperboy offers a penetrating look at both the mystery and the daily frustrations of stuttering. People of all ages will appreciate this positive and universal story as I did, but it will be particularly meaningful to anyone who has ever struggled with stuttering."


5. CONNECTIONS

Lesson Plans:
Bookrags offers a very comprehensive plans for teachers to modify for many grade levels. Find it here: Paperboy Lesson Plans

The author, Vince Vawter, gives a guide for teachers on his website. Find it here for FREE: Educator's Guide

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Lily's Crossing. New York: Yearling, 1997.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

The book is about Lily, a young girl learning about friendship and the consequences of lying during a war torn summer.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Lily Mollahan never stops lying. She exaggerates every story to anyone that will hear. After meeting Albert, a Jewish immigrant escaping from the Nazis, Lily realizes that her lies could have dire consequences. Set in 1944, Lily and her grandmother have to struggle with Lily's father, Poppy, leaving to help the war efforts in Europe. Their summer is spent in turmoil because they does not know where Poppy is or if he will be okay. A slow friendship begins to blossom with the new, strange boy, Albert, in the beach town of Rockaway as the news of D-Day reaches the States. The town is very near the port where the grand ships leave for the fight in Europe. Readers can sympathize with the reason that Lily lies, but not the outcome. The historical fiction shows the value honesty in building friendships and in life.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

1998 Newbery Honor Book

S. K. List from Common Sense Media: "Giff slowly and persistently connects her readers to the heroine, and, as with friendships in real life, makes the friendship that is at the core of this novel heartfelt. Young readers will recognize this honesty at once and will take to this book with devotion."

From Publisher's Weekly: "...has all the ingredients that best reward readers."

From Kirkus Reviews: "Much of the plot, characters, and premise is conventional, but Giff really pulls readers' heartstrings with Albert's memories of his family, the loss of Margaret's well-liked brother in the war, and Lily's joyful reunion with Poppy."


5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Patricia Reilly Giff:
Pictures of Hollis Woods    ISBN: 9780439579315
Nory Ryan's Song     ISBN: 9780756913045
Maggie's Door     ISBN: 9780375890390
All the Way Home     ISBN: 9780756913755

Lesson Plans:
This PDF is everything amazing in just 33 pages. I feel like you could do an entire semester with this one file alone. I always appreciate worksheets that are ready to be printed it off. Immediately start here: Lily's Crossing: A Study Guide

Bright Hub Education supplies some interesting journal prompts and a short two day lesson. See it here: Lesson Plan