Crazy Horse: Sioux Warrior

Children's Literature

Crazy horse was a respected leader of the Sioux who fought to protect their lands from homesteaders. The late 1700s and early 1800s was a time of change for Native American tribes. The United States was becoming a country of people who wanted to live on land American Indian tribes thought belonged to them. When the United States Government sent soldiers to remove them from their lands and place them on reservations, wars broke out. Crazy horse was one of the bravest and fiercest warriors. This title relates the story of Crazy Horse in ten short chapters. Chapter one describes who Crazy Horse was and why he was so important to his tribe. Chapter two goes into his early childhood growing up in the Oglala Sioux tribe in South Dakota; his name as a child was Curly because he had wavy, brown hair. Crazy Horse grew up with the knowledge that white settlers were coming onto their lands with the help of the government. Eventually, trouble began between the settlers, soldiers, and the Sioux. Misunderstandings, explosive events, and the struggle for control of the land by all parties caused many battles. When a beloved Chief named Conquering Bear was killed by soldiers, the Sioux retaliated. A US Lieutenant Grattan was shot and many soldiers killed. The Grattan Massacre marked the start of the Sioux Wars. Crazy Horse became a leader in these wars. Fighting became his life, leaving very little time for a wife and a family. Eventually he did marry and had a child who died at a young age. Crazy Horse fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, but a year later he surrendered at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. He died there on September 6th. He was only about thirty-seven years old. The text hasinteresting sidebars as well as color and black-and-white photographs. Back matter includes a time line, further reading, web sites, and a glossary. 2006, Compass Point Books, Ages 10 up.
—Della A. Yannuzzi

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Each book introduces the life of its subject within the context of the era in which he lived. Former slave, mountain man, and the first African American to venture west, Beckwourth was respected by the Native tribes until 1864, when he was forced to assist Colonel John Chivington on a raid of Chief Black Kettle's camp. A warrior among his people, Crazy Horse fought white settlers who encroached on Native lands. He also fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. A great warrior who fought for the freedom of his people, Geronimo refused resettlement and fled with his followers to Mexico. He was later captured and forced to relocate to Fort Sill, OK. Each book is illustrated with color and black-and-white reproductions, maps, and illustrations and includes primary-source excerpts such as letters and diaries. All three titles are attractive and well researched.-G. Alyssa Parkinson, Highland Township Library, MI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.