Custer and Crazy Horse: A Story of Two Warriors

I read this book when I was in junior high school and found it to be quite a good read; it helped to spark my life long interest in American history. This book details the life of Custer and Crazy Horse, from the beginnings of each's life to their showdown at the Battle of Little Big Horn, to the years immediately following this. Custer is shown as an ambitious and assertive man with political ambitions. His hope was that a military victory over the Sioux would catapult his name into the national political arena. Likewise, Chief Crazy Horse was disappointed at his tribes continuiung retreat away from white settlers. After repeated attempts, he and Chief Sitting Bull finally convinced enough natives to join together and fight the settlers. The result was the Battle of Little Big Horn in which Custer let his arrogance rule over common sense and caution. Several hundred American troops advanced on a series of Sioux villages, only to find themselves surrounded by two thousand plus warriors. The end result was a slaughter. Unfortunately, the Sioux could not keep their forces together long enough to deal with the other groups of US soldiers in the area. Chief Sitting Bull took his forces north into Canada and Crazy Horse was eventually defeated in battle. The book is written for the early-teens reading level and is quite interesting. I recommend this book as a good introduction to American - Native American history for youngsters.