February 21

Shadow Catcher: The Life and Work of Edward S. Curtis 
By Laurie Lawlor

This biography only chronicles the life of photographer Edward Curtis, but also the plight of Native Americans in the late 1800s through about 1930.  In his efforts to chronicle the story of the Indians in text, photographs, and recordings, Curtis sacrifices his wealth, his health, and his marriage.  Though hailed as a masterpiece, his 20-volume series does not sell well, and is largely forgotten.  "Shadow Catcher" is the name given to Curtis by the native Americans with whom he works.  The book itself is beautiful, with Curtis's works reproduced on nearly every page.

This is a biography written for young adults.  While a lengthier work will contain more detail, I sometimes like to start out with a YA level biography to get the gist of a person's story before deciding to delve into something more lengthy and time-consuming.  YA bios also tend to include more illustrations, which offer additional insight.