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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
So so good
This book is so much more than I expected. It is an adventure story. It is a reflection on grief and how important it is to really process it. It's also about friendship, love, self-esteem, regret and coming of age. It's the best novel I've read since A Man Called Ove. In fact, I think I liked this one better. Someone is eventually going to make it into a movie. I'm gong to go hug my children now.
3.5 stars—I loved the characters, the character development, and the big emotions tackled in this middle grade book. But I didn’t like some of the far-fetched ideas or events that just didn’t make sense?? It took away from the story a bit, which had some very real and very raw human emotions and experiences of loss and grief. The characters were definitely a treat though :)
Wow. I'm honestly shocked right now. I loved the ending so much and thought it was a perfect way to finish off that masterpiece. I had gone into the book with low expectations and was caught off guard by such a work of art!
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
from my tbr: loved this book definitely cried a bit. cant wait to read the second book!
"Yeah. Maybe I'm a little broken. Maybe I'm a little fragile. But I think of Val, and Salvador, and Lester, and I think it's all right. Maybe we're all a little broken. Maybe we're all a little fragile. Maybe that's why we need each other so much" (388).
&
"There is so much happiness in the world. There is so much sadness in the world.There is just so much in the world" (341).
When I was finishing this book, I just kept crying. Deep, healing tears. I didn't expect a book written for 6th graders to impact me so deeply, but wow. I needed this book. I loved it so much. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise shows a movement from loneliness to reconnecting. It doesn't feel corny. It feels hopeful.
The only part of the book I didn't love was the ending section with the cops-- both when Rodeo gets arrested, and then when Coyote (ELLA! <3) & Salvador have to outrace the police. I think Lester was actually put in a really dangerous situation as a black man. And then Salvador, too. And some of that danger is acknowledged, specifically when Coyote/Ella tells Salvador to be careful and have his hands up-- and there is a definite mistrust of police in the book & how their hands are often on their guns-- but race/racism isn't part of that acknowledgment.
Considerations for teaching: If I taught middle school, I would definitely include this in the classroom library. And possibly as a bookclub choice--but the book is pretty white, do other choices would definitely need to be not so white. I would also put it in a classroom library for 9th grade, and I will put it in my Sheltered Library. Event though it is for a younger demographic, the lessons are ageless and I think would still resonate with many kids. And it doesn't feel super young.
Other considerations-- mental health & trauma. Grief.
Coyote's dad/ Rodeo clearly is dealing with mental health problems in the wake of the accident that killed his wife & 2other daughters. I personally think that is shown fairly-- where Rodeo is doing the best he knows how, but that he needs to change-- but I also think it is a fair criticism to say his behavior is unacceptable, and that isn't pointed out directly enough. Making your daughter live on the road, and not call you dad, and not call her by her birth name are pretty extreme. And yet, at the same time, I think that children are constantly dealing with how to navigate a parents' trauma and grief, and that is indeed complicated. I think it is done relatively well in this book, but I see how others disagree.
Identities: Coyote/ Ella & Rodeo are white. The author is white. Secondary characters are characters of color, but they are not fully fleshed out. I think Salvador is, but not totally Lester, and definitely not Salvador's mom.
Considerations for ELLS: Coyote often speaks colloquially, and dialogue often is shown how speakers sound, as opposed to written in standard written English. Teacher should point this out to ELLs. Would def be accessible with audio support.
&
"There is so much happiness in the world. There is so much sadness in the world.There is just so much in the world" (341).
When I was finishing this book, I just kept crying. Deep, healing tears. I didn't expect a book written for 6th graders to impact me so deeply, but wow. I needed this book. I loved it so much. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise shows a movement from loneliness to reconnecting. It doesn't feel corny. It feels hopeful.
The only part of the book I didn't love was the ending section with the cops-- both when Rodeo gets arrested, and then when Coyote (ELLA! <3) & Salvador have to outrace the police. I think Lester was actually put in a really dangerous situation as a black man. And then Salvador, too. And some of that danger is acknowledged, specifically when Coyote/Ella tells Salvador to be careful and have his hands up-- and there is a definite mistrust of police in the book & how their hands are often on their guns-- but race/racism isn't part of that acknowledgment.
Considerations for teaching: If I taught middle school, I would definitely include this in the classroom library. And possibly as a bookclub choice--but the book is pretty white, do other choices would definitely need to be not so white. I would also put it in a classroom library for 9th grade, and I will put it in my Sheltered Library. Event though it is for a younger demographic, the lessons are ageless and I think would still resonate with many kids. And it doesn't feel super young.
Other considerations-- mental health & trauma. Grief.
Coyote's dad/ Rodeo clearly is dealing with mental health problems in the wake of the accident that killed his wife & 2other daughters. I personally think that is shown fairly-- where Rodeo is doing the best he knows how, but that he needs to change-- but I also think it is a fair criticism to say his behavior is unacceptable, and that isn't pointed out directly enough. Making your daughter live on the road, and not call you dad, and not call her by her birth name are pretty extreme. And yet, at the same time, I think that children are constantly dealing with how to navigate a parents' trauma and grief, and that is indeed complicated. I think it is done relatively well in this book, but I see how others disagree.
Identities: Coyote/ Ella & Rodeo are white. The author is white. Secondary characters are characters of color, but they are not fully fleshed out. I think Salvador is, but not totally Lester, and definitely not Salvador's mom.
Considerations for ELLS: Coyote often speaks colloquially, and dialogue often is shown how speakers sound, as opposed to written in standard written English. Teacher should point this out to ELLs. Would def be accessible with audio support.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Heartbreaking but fantastic. This is children’s fiction, but worthwhile for everyone to read.