When the Birds Go Silent
What it's about
When the Birds Go Silent is a historical novel set during the Mojave War of 1858-1859. It follows the Rose-Baley emigrant wagon train as it reaches the Colorado River crossing and encounters the Aha Macav — the People by the River — who have watched the crossing for generations. Told from both sides, the novel moves from the attack on the wagon train through the military expedition that followed, the establishment of Fort Mojave, and the sacrifice of Cairook, the Mojave leader who gave his life so that younger captives could escape. Based on primary sources including the diary of John Udell, military dispatches, and Mojave oral histories.
Who it's for
The catalog lists When the Birds Go Silent as Historical Fiction by C. V. Wooster.
Subjects listed on the book page: Mojave War, historical fiction, Native American, Aha Macav, Colorado River, American Southwest, frontier, 1850s, desert, military history.
The catalog lists this title as coming soon.
Similar books
No other title in the catalog shares the Historical Fiction label.
Reading order and age notes
When the Birds Go Silent is not listed as part of a numbered series on this site.
The catalog does not list a separate age rating for this title.
Frequently asked questions
Is When the Birds Go Silent fiction or nonfiction?
Historical fiction. The events are real and drawn from primary sources, but the interior lives of the characters are imagined. No dialogue is fabricated without historical basis.
What is the Mojave War?
The Mojave War (1858-1859) was a conflict between the U.S. Army and the Mojave people at the Colorado River crossing in what is now the tri-state area of California, Arizona, and Nevada. It resulted in the establishment of Fort Mojave.
How does this connect to C.V. Wooster's other books?
When the Birds Go Silent covers the same events described in the prologue of West of the War, but as a full novel rather than a historical overview. Desert Eccentric also explores the same Mojave Desert region.
When does When the Birds Go Silent release?
Coming soon. Sign up for the newsletter to be notified on release day.