For children curious about history's most compelling conflicts, this dual biography illuminates the lives of two iconic leaders, Crazy Horse and Custer, and the clash of their worlds.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is learning about American history and starts asking tough questions about fairness, conflict, and who the 'good guys' really were. This powerful dual biography presents the lives of Lakota leader Crazy Horse and U.S. General Custer, showing their parallel paths from boyhood to their fateful clash at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It directly confronts themes of justice, cultural destruction, and bravery from two opposing viewpoints. Appropriate for older elementary and middle school readers, this book is an essential, nuanced look at a complex period, offering an authentic Indigenous perspective that humanizes history and challenges simplistic narratives.
Directly addresses systemic racism, broken treaties, and the genocide of Indigenous peoples.
Sad ThemesModerate
Deals with the tragic loss of a culture, land, and way of life.
Sensitive Topics
The book's approach to violence, death, and racism is direct and historically unflinching. It details battles, scalpings, and massacres (such as the Washita Massacre) from a historical, secular perspective. The resolution is realistic and tragic, reflecting the historical outcome: Custer's death, Crazy Horse's eventual assassination, and the subjugation of the Plains tribes. There is no contrived hopeful ending, but rather a somber reflection on injustice.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 10 to 13 year old who is a fan of history and ready to move beyond black and white narratives. It is perfect for a child who has been introduced to the 'Cowboys and Indians' trope and is prepared for a more complex, critical, and empathetic understanding of American history.
Parent Prep
Parents should absolutely preview this book, particularly the sections describing battles and the Washita Massacre. The violence is historically accurate but can be graphic for the age range. The book needs the context of U.S. history regarding Manifest Destiny and its policies toward Indigenous nations. It is a book best read with an adult ready to discuss the difficult themes. A parent has heard their child describe westward expansion in overly simplistic or romanticized terms, or the child asks, 'Who were the good guys in the Wild West?'. The child is beginning to grapple with concepts of fairness on a larger, societal scale and is ready for a story with moral complexity.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-10) will likely be captivated by the action, the warrior culture, and the parallel stories of adventure. An older reader (11-13) will be better equipped to understand the profound political and social themes: genocide, broken treaties, propaganda, and the devastating clash of cultures. They will more deeply appreciate the tragedy and the book's critique of the historical narrative.
What Makes It Special
Its primary differentiator is the authorship. Written and illustrated by S. D. Nelson, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, it provides a desperately needed authentic Indigenous perspective. The parallel biography structure is also unique, forcing the reader to constantly compare the two men and their worlds, which prevents easy hero or villain labels.
Read plot summary
This book employs a dual biography structure to narrate the parallel lives of Crazy Horse, the Oglala Lakota warrior, and George Armstrong Custer, the U.S. Army officer. It follows both from their childhoods, detailing their training, their cultural values, and their rise to leadership. The narrative builds toward their inevitable conflict, contextualizing it within the broader history of westward expansion, broken treaties, and the Plains Indian Wars, culminating in a detailed account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and its tragic aftermath for the Lakota people.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The book is titled 'Born Enemies'. After reading about their childhoods, do you think Crazy Horse and Custer were truly destined to be enemies, or did their societies' choices make them enemies?
2
S.D. Nelson shows us Crazy Horse's vision quests and Custer's time at West Point. How were their paths to becoming leaders similar, and how were they different?
3
The author, S.D. Nelson, is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. How do you think his background might have influenced the way he told this story compared to other history books you've read?
4
After the Lakota victory at the Little Bighorn, the U.S. Army retaliated with a 'total war' policy. Do you think the victory was worth the ultimate cost for the Plains tribes? Why or why not?
