The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise ~ Dan Gemeinhart

Woah woah woah. I am SO grateful to the friend who put this book in my hands for my birthday because I’m pretty sure this book isn’t just a book. It’s LIFE wrapped up in a hardcover and book jacket. Once again, Dan Gemeinhart has brought me to tears (see pic of me dressed as a Christmas tree for proof) and made me fall in love with the power of stories all over again. 

In this novel, protagonist Coyote Sunrise and her dad, Rodeo, are hiding a secret. A big one. Even bigger than the big yellow school bus they drive cross country (over and over, again). Their secret is so big, in fact, that they don’t even talk about it with each other. Instead, they sing songs, tell each other stories, and camp out on the bus rooftop when the weather’s nice. The bus has been their home for the five years since they left their hometown, and during that time, Rodeo has always called the shots--where they go, how long they stay, and who they spend time with. 

But one day, a tiny cat changes Coyote’s life. It cracks her heart wide open and makes her remember their secret. It brings back some sadness, and that sadness makes Coyote question everything. Then, when Coyote’s grandma mentions on the phone that a construction crew is about to bulldoze the beloved park in her hometown, Coyote knows she needs to get home fast, whether Rodeo likes it or not. And because she knows that Rodeo won’t agree to drive back home, she decides she’ll trick him into getting her there. The people (and animals) they meet on the way, though, give new meaning to Coyote’s life. They also cause one problem after the next, and the likelihood of Coyote making it home before her park becomes a pile of dirt gets slimmer and slimmer by the day...

Buy it here!

Maturity: 1/4

This novel is ideal for age 11+. It contains no mature content. However, given the reading level and emotionally mature content in this novel (it gets quite philosophical at times), I would not recommend this one to reluctant or struggling readers.

Pages: 344

Lexile: 730L

Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.

If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!

Happy Reading!

♥ Kara & Riley