Children’s Librarian Judy Zimmer recommends The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart. Audio book read by Khristine Hvam.
Coyote Sunrise hasn’t been home for five years. She’s been living in an old school bus with her dad, crisscrossing the country trying to outrun the grief of losing her mother and two sisters.
Coyote is a thirteen-year-old with a big personality and a unique way of looking at the world.
When she reads that the park in her hometown in the state of Washington is being torn down, she knows she must return to rescue the memory box that she buried there with her mother and sisters—all without revealing the truth of the destination to her dad.
Let the adventure begin! Starting in Florida, she races to get to her destination in Washington before the memory box is gone.
Along the way, Coyote picks up a fascinating cast of characters:
A kitten named Ivan, whose name was inspired by Coyote’s favorite book The One and Only Ivan, a pet goat named Gladys, Salvador, a young boy traveling with his mom, Lester, who is looking to reunite with his girlfriend in Idaho, and Val, who has run away from home.
If you’re looking for an adventurous road trip, coming of age novel, I recommend this book to upper grade Middle schoolers. Find it in our collection in print and eAudiobook and on YOTO here.
