For children curious about history, this book offers a crucial Native American perspective on a significant conflict, fostering empathy and critical thinking about historical events.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is ready to understand that history has more than one side, especially concerning conflicts in the American West. "Brave Eagle's Account of the Fetterman Fight" retells a significant 1866 battle entirely from the perspective of the victorious Oglala Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. It directly addresses themes of justice, bravery, and the defense of one's home and culture against an invading force. For children ages 9 to 12, this book is a powerful tool for building empathy and critical thinking, moving beyond simplistic hero and villain narratives to see the humanity and motivation behind historical events. It provides essential representation and a necessary counter-narrative to traditional textbook accounts.
The story centers on the conflict caused by the U.S. Army's invasion of Native American lands.
Sad ThemesMild
Deals with the loss of land, culture, and life due to conflict.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with warfare, violence, and death. The approach is not metaphorical. It is a historical account of a battle, and casualties on both sides are described in a straightforward manner. The perspective is secular but deeply rooted in Lakota culture and the spiritual importance of the land. The resolution is a military victory for the Native warriors, but it is presented realistically within the context of a much larger, ongoing, and ultimately tragic conflict for their people.
Ideal Reader
A child aged 9-12 who is a developing history buff and is ready to question primary sources. This reader is curious about fairness and asks questions like, "But why were they fighting in the first place?" It's perfect for a child who is ready for a more complex and challenging historical perspective than what is often presented in school.
Parent Prep
Parents must read this book first or alongside their child. The descriptions of the battle are not gory but are direct. It is essential to provide historical context: this was one battle in Red Cloud's War, and the victory was temporary. A conversation about perspective (why one side called it a massacre and the other a victory) is crucial. The parent sees their child learning about "pioneers and Indians" and is concerned about the one-sided, often stereotypical portrayal. The child may come home from school with a simplified or inaccurate understanding of Westward Expansion and ask questions that show they are ready for a more nuanced view.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will likely focus on the bravery, the action of the battle, and the clear injustice of the soldiers taking the land. An older reader (10-12) will be better able to grasp the strategic elements of the fight, the significance of inter-tribal alliances, and the profound political and historical implications of the event as a temporary victory in a losing war.
What Makes It Special
Its unwavering first-person Native American perspective is its most powerful and unique attribute. Written in 1972, it was a groundbreaking work for its time and remains a vital counter-narrative. The distinctive, ledger-style illustrations by Paul Goble are integral to its authenticity and impact, visually rooting the story in a specific cultural tradition.
Read plot summary
The story is a first-person account by Brave Eagle, a young Oglala Lakota warrior, of the 1866 Fetterman Fight (also known as the Battle of the Hundred in the Hand). He details the reasons for the conflict, specifically the U.S. Army's construction of forts along the Bozeman Trail in their treaty-guaranteed hunting grounds. The narrative describes the unified strategy of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho forces, the luring of Captain Fetterman's troops into an ambush, and the ensuing battle.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Brave Eagle explains why his people decided to fight the soldiers. What were their main reasons? Do you think their decision to fight was justified?
2
The Lakota called this "The Fight of the Hundred in the Hand," while the U.S. Army called it "The Fetterman Massacre." Why do different groups give the same event different names?
3
At the end of the book, Brave Eagle says, "The victory was ours, but we had not saved our country." What do you think he meant by this, even though they had just won the battle?
4
Look closely at Paul Goble's illustrations. How does the art style, which is based on traditional Plains Indian ledger art, help to tell the story from Brave Eagle's point of view?
