Crazy Horse and Custer: Born Enemies

In an engaging dual biography format, author-illustrator Nelson (who is Lakota) profiles Lakota Chief Crazy Horse and Army Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, drawing parallels between these historic figures’ short but infamous lives. Both embraced a warrior lifestyle, loved to fight, and were fearless and physically gifted, as relayed in accessible prose: “The two youths were taught that personal glory could be won through violent conflict.” Crazy Horse gained notoriety amid fights with other tribes, while Custer became famous for his hell-bent leadership during the Civil War. Their racial divides led to them becoming fierce enemies: Crazy Horse despised Euro-Americans killing Native people for their land; Custer believed that privileged whites led the pecking order, and people of color could never rise to the same level. The text is lean and straightforward, even when describing the atrocities of war. A mixture of historic photos and paintings augment the text, while the author’s ledger-style drawings—rendered in ink, colored pencils, and acrylic paint—successfully honor Lakota artwork of the late 1880s. An evenhanded examination acknowledging both figures as “flawed human beings and triumphant, yet tragic, heroes.” Back matter includes an author’s note on his background, art notes, historical context, a timeline, quote notes, selected bibliography, art credits, and an index. Ages 10–up. (Nov.)