Best Selling Books by Joseph Marshall

Jimmy McClean is a Lakota boy—though you wouldn’t guess it by his name: his father is part white and part Lakota, and his mother is Lakota. When he embarks on a journey with his grandfather, Nyles High Eagle, he learns more and more about his Lakota heritage—in particular, the story of Crazy Horse, one of the most important figures in Lakota and American history. Drawing references and inspiration from the oral stories of the Lakota tradition, celebrated author Joseph Marshall III juxtaposes the contemporary story of Jimmy with an insider’s perspective on the life of Tasunke Witko, better known as Crazy Horse (c. 1840–1877). The book follows the heroic deeds of the Lakota leader who took up arms against the US federal government to fight against encroachments on the territories and way of life of the Lakota people, including leading a war party to victory at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Along with Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse was the last of the Lakota to surrender his people to the US army. Through his grandfather’s tales about the famous warrior, Jimmy learns more about his Lakota heritage and, ultimately, himself. American Indian Youth Literature Award

An account of the legendary battle, told from a Lakota perspective, documents key Lakota oral traditions to reveal the nuanced complexities that led up to and followed the conflict.

Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky is an exceptional poetry collection written by Lakota students in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota—founded in 1888 at the request of Chief Red Cloud of the Oglala Lakota. The poems in this collection enable readers to learn about the unique lives and heritage of students growing up in very distinctive circumstances and straddling cultures. Compiled by Timothy P. McLaughlin, a teacher at the school, and working with school administrators, this book contains never-before-published artworks by award-winning artist S. D. Nelson. "This is an important collection that offers opportunities for insight into a culture that has too often been either ignored or misunderstood." — Booklist (Starred Review) "A moving, fascinating glimpse across cultures. Vivid, polychromatic illustrations by Nelson accompany the students'' evocative works." — Kirkus Reviews "As a collection, the poems present an interesting, eye-opening look at the Lakota culture, which is one that is often overlooked. The paintings by S.D. Nelson are gorgeous and vibrant." — Library Media Connection