ISBN: 978-1419707858
Jimmy McLean has light hair, blue eyes, and an Anglo name. He is three-quarters Lakota, and despite the fact that he speaks Lakota, he is often teased. Jimmy feels "not Lakota enough," and struggles with his inner identity not matching people's perceptions of him based on his appearance. Therefore, Jimmy's grandfather, Nyles High Eagle, brings him on an adventure tracing the life of Crazy Horse, a Lakota hero who, like Jimmy, had light colored hair. The two men travel to different landmarks throughout the American west. Along the way, Jimmy's grandfather shares stories of courage and bravery of one of the most famous Lakota warriors.
The scenes switch back and forth between Jimmy's road trip in the present day and "the way it was" in the times of Crazy Horse and his contemporaries. Sitting Bull, another famed Lakota, also appears in the stories, as Nyles High Eagle recounts the tale of their resistance to the U.S. government's acts of aggression and oppression. Because of the rich history and geographical descriptions, it seems that the depth of the historical characters is more noteworthy than that of Jimmy. It is valuable to see a modern-day Lakota represented, but the historical sections of the book are much more compelling to read, with more care and detail. Supported by research, these chapters highlight the importance of the Lakota history and culture, and depict a realistic and honorable portrait of the culture. Grandpa Nyles does not shy away from telling of the gritty reality of subjugation and violence by parties on all sides. This is important, so as to provide a realistic and honest history, while still leaving dignity in tact.
The way in which Grandpa Nyles retells these stories to Jimmy mimics the traditional art of oral history. This is a perfect way for Marshall to honor the heritage of his characters and of himself. The story-telling serves to bring the figures to life, and put the reader in the midst of these historical events.
The theme of In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse is identity. The physical, geographic journey of Jimmy mirror his internal journey of understanding the many ways in which someone can belong. Actions, like those demonstrating bravery and courage of Crazy Horse, are more important than physical appearance. After his transformative road trip with his grandfather, Jimmy feels empowered to deal with his bullies and to proudly claim his place in the community.
Joseph Marshall III includes a glossary of terms, a bibliography, an author's note, and a map. These features demonstrate the author's depth of research and passion for the topic. In addition, these supports are useful for the reader to better understand the history and significance of the places and events traced in the book.
As part of the author's note, Marshall reveals that he is of Lakota Sioux heritage, and that Crazy Horse is his hero. Marshall's upbringing on the Rosebud Sioux reservation and current membership in the tribe make him a qualified source to write this book. He is clearly a devoted and reliable source to write about characters and historical figures of Lakota background. It is valuable to have someone of Native American descent who can serve as one voice for a rich group of diverse cultures.
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse earned a starred review from Kirkus, was named one of the best books of 2015, and was recommended by Social Justice Books and American Indians in Children's Literature.
For a lesson related to this book, a teacher-librarian could incorporate resources from Zinn Education Project. At this site, links to further reading and profiles about Native American activism throughout history are provided. After reading In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse, students could be tasked with researching and presenting on a certain individual and his or her contributions, or a major event in Native American history. Historical information, visuals, and an analysis would be included in the creation of a slideshow, poster, or other format.
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