Crazy Horse is among the most well-known Native American heroes. Yet many people do not know his boyhood name was Curly, a name inspired by his head of curly hair.

Even as a young boy, Curly was a leader, taming wild horses and hunting powerful buffalo. But his bravery did not prepare him for the trouble the Lakota Indians would face from the white settlers. After a fierce battle that mortally wounded Chief Conquering Bear, Curly felt compelled to help his people. He defied traditional custom and ran away, up to the hills, to seek a vision to guide him. What Curly experienced changed him forever. Renowned Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac recounts the gripping story of the remarkable young boy, Curly and his transformation into the brave warrior, Crazy Horse. Sioux artist S.D. Nelson, painting in the traditional ledger book style of the Plains Indians, brings to life the dedication and humanity of this important figure in American history.