Bruchac, Joseph. 2000. CRAZY HORSE'S VISION. Ill. by S.D. Nelson. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 978880000946
2. Plot Summary
This is a story of the life of Crazy Horse. "Many children cry when they are born, but not Crazy Horse" (2). His name was Curly before he had the vision that would change his name. When he was a young boy he hunted buffalo, broke wild horses, and led his people. "Although Curly's life as a boy was good, things were about to change" (10). The white settlers begin to make homes in the land of the Lakota. After a battle where one of the Native American men is wounded severely Curly decided to go to the hills and seek answers from a vision.
3. Critical Analysis
The setting of the story takes place in the plains where the Lakota Native Americans reside before the white settlers made they move. The theme of the story is the life of Crazy Horse from a baby to a young man who will lead his people.
The illustrator paints the pictures in traditional ledger book style of his ancestors the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. The artists used the following media to create this ancient style: pencils, pens and watercolors. The Native Americans in the pictures have many different skin colors. They are red, brown, yellow, green, and blue. The white settlers have only one skin color which is white. The characters do not have any distinct facial features this is due to make the pictures meet the standards of the ancient art. The bodies of the characters are square with strong lines. None of the shapes are soft in the pictures they stand out and make their presence known. The Native American and settlers wear the correct attire for the time period. The Lakota wear loin clothes and feathers in their long dark hair and the army men wear blue and gold uniforms. The homes are tepees and a fort for the white people. All of the elements in the pictures go with the time period of the story and follow the rules of the traditional ledger book style of drawing. The illustrator is conveying the message of an ancient style of art for the illustrations in the time period of the story.
The text the author as no descriptions of the characters physical attributes. They are evident with the illustrations. The identification of the culture in the text is through the characters names, their way of life, the name of the Native American tribe, the events that take place in the story, and religious practice. The names of the characters in the story are Crazy Horse, Tashunka, and Chief Conquering Bear. The story introduces the reader to the life of Crazy Horse which includes breaking horses and hunting buffalo. "I give this buffalo to all those in our camp who have no hunt for them" (7). The name of the Native American people the Lakota is mentioned several times in the book to let the reader know exactly who the author is talking about. The events that happen in the story introduce the reader to how Crazy Horse's life begin before he started to lead his people. The religious practice that is introduced in the story is vision's to find a person's way. "What would happen now to his people? Who would defend them? Curly decided he needed a vision to guide him" (16). The author provides many great cultural markers to show the reader what group of people he is talking about in this story.
4. Review Excerpts
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "As he did in Gift Horse, Sioux artist Nelson blends contemporary and traditional elements for the striking illustrations that accompany this story of the legendary Lakota warrior. Bruchac (A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull) traces Crazy Horse's boyhood, zeroing in on a pivotal event in his life and highlighting an important Native American rite of passage. As a youth, Crazy Horse (then known as Curly) witnesses U.S. Army soldiers brutally and unjustly attack his people."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "PreSchool-Grade 3–Joseph Bruchac's excellent picture book (Lee & Low, 2000) about the brave Lakota warrior presents information about his youth. The beauty of the story is not quite realized in the narration by Curtis Zunigha, former Chief of the Delaware (OK) Nation. While richly voiced, he reads Bruchac's spare narrative inordinately slowly and mechanically."
5. Connections
This is a great book to introduce children to the life of Crazy Horse before he became a legend.
Other books about Crazy Horse:
Brimmer, Larry Dane. CHIEF CRAZY HORSE: FOLLOWING A VISION. ISBN 9780761430612
Freedman, Russell. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CRAZY HORSE. ISBN 9780823412198
Landau, Elaine. CRAZY HORSE: AMERICAN INDIAN LEADER. ISBN 0766022161
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