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danileighta's review
5.0
So, I won't waste your time absolutely raving about this book, but I will say that it was one of my favorite books, period. The main character is a 12 year-old girl named Coyote Sunrise with a dad named Rodeo. They live in a bus that's been kitted out as a makeshift home. They are constantly on the move for reasons the reader learns about slowly and with so much care. The folks they meet and pick up along the way are every bit as real as the main characters and the friendship that develops between Coyote and Salvador, especially, is so touching.
Coyote is so funny and quirky! She's very wise, sharing such truths as, "I don't care who you are, it changes the tone of a conversation if you can see each other's belly buttons." There are several times on the road that Coyote touches in with timelessness and presence, though the author finds a juv way of saying these things. The characters are so hopeful, as well: "...for the most part, human beings try to do the right thing, if they can see what that is". Important words to remember in tumultuous times.
I absolutely loved this book and I think you will, too. Just one question, though: what's your favorite kind of sandwich? =)
Coyote is so funny and quirky! She's very wise, sharing such truths as, "I don't care who you are, it changes the tone of a conversation if you can see each other's belly buttons." There are several times on the road that Coyote touches in with timelessness and presence, though the author finds a juv way of saying these things. The characters are so hopeful, as well: "...for the most part, human beings try to do the right thing, if they can see what that is". Important words to remember in tumultuous times.
I absolutely loved this book and I think you will, too. Just one question, though: what's your favorite kind of sandwich? =)
lucyyinthesky's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
luccinda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? No
5.0
ahorelik's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
kellyncorrado's review
5.0
4.5 stars! There were a few practical things that bothered me: how was Coyote doing her schooling (I don’t think they mentioned homeschooling but maybe I missed it), how did she have basic needs met as an adolescent girl (it would have been different if it were an RV with running water, etc.)? Life on the road the way described for 5 years from age 7-12 felt unrealistic, but I’m sure there are some lifestyles that support this and the logistics are unknown to me. That said, I decided to put that aside because I really enjoyed the storytelling and the complex characters. Grief is so unique to every person and at every stage of life. I could understand where Rodeo might have made the choices he did (it def pisses me off that it was at the expense of his daughter, but life is like that sometimes). I found so much charm in all the supporting characters and the relationships built, self discovery and realizations with each. Ultimately I was gripped by the book and I’m letting that drive my rating.
gabmc's review
4.0
This is a gorgeous YA novel about a young girl and her journey to recover from a huge loss. Coyote and her dad Rodeo changed their names and took to the roads in a converted school bus after the loss of their mother/wife and sisters/daughters. Coyote is not allowed to call Rodeo 'dad' and he never calls her by her birth name. Rodeo feels like the best way to recover from grief is to move on and not look back - he doesn't allow Coyote to talk about her sisters or her mother. As they travel across America, they pick up fellow travellers - Lester, Salvador and his mother, and Val. Along the way Coyote adopts Ivan the cat and they even have a goat as a passenger for a while. In her weekly phone call to her grandmother, Coyote discovers that something very precious to her is about to be destroyed. She realises she needs to get back to her hometown but she can't let Rodeo know what she's doing. With the help of her fellow passengers, Coyote manages to develop a plan that should work to get her back home in time. But, as with all things that 'should' work, there will be obstacles along the way. I laughed and cried while reading this joyous book.
pstegman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thriftylibrarian's review
4.0
Hoo boy. Hooooo boy. This book. You know how every so often a book comes along that hits you right in the feels ? That was this book for me.
12 year old Coyote Sunrise (not her real name, but rather the name she adopted five years ago after the tragic car accident that killed her mother and two sisters) lives a transient life with her father, Rodeo, living in modified school bus and traveling the United States. They don't talk about the past. Ever.
Rodeo doesn't even want to be called Dad, because the memories associated with that word are too difficult to bear. He's a crusty hippie with a lot of issues (possibly too many, if I'm honest), but he and Rodeo love each other and support each other the best they can.
Here's one of my favorite quotes, told from Coyote's point of view:
"I love Rodeo because if tomorrow I spit in his face and threw all his favorite books out the window and called him all the worst words I could think of, he wouldn't love me one little bit less... I love Rodeo because on the worst day of my life he held me and held me and held me and didn't let me go". I tried to clear my throat but kinda failed, so I went on in a scratchy sort of whisper. "I love Rodeo because if I didn't love him, he'd fall apart".
Which, whew, is a lot of pressure on a kid. But it also describes the grief and love that holds this pair together.
Coyote gets a call from her Grandma, who tells her that the neighborhood park is going to be destroyed to put in a new intersection. The same park that Coyote and her mom and sisters buried a memory box in just days before the accident. Coyote knows she has to dig up the box, the last thing remaining of her former life, and fuflill the promise she made to her mom and sisters five years ago. She has to convince Rodeo to drive from Florida to Washington in four days, without him knowing the real purpose of their trip. Along they way, they collect a rag-tag bunch of riders with their own issues, and share in their joys and sorrows.
4/5 stars because some of the characters seemed like they were put there to fill a diversity quota or as plot devices (every flavor of trauma imaginable) rather than as real people. Also the ending was a little unbelievable. And there was a bit of sloppy editing (the car accident happened a few days after Coyote's older sister's tenth birthday, but later Coyote states that her sister will be eleven forever) that took me out of the story more than I would have liked. Overall worth a read, especially for children and parents who are dealing with grief
12 year old Coyote Sunrise (not her real name, but rather the name she adopted five years ago after the tragic car accident that killed her mother and two sisters) lives a transient life with her father, Rodeo, living in modified school bus and traveling the United States. They don't talk about the past. Ever.
Rodeo doesn't even want to be called Dad, because the memories associated with that word are too difficult to bear. He's a crusty hippie with a lot of issues (possibly too many, if I'm honest), but he and Rodeo love each other and support each other the best they can.
Here's one of my favorite quotes, told from Coyote's point of view:
"I love Rodeo because if tomorrow I spit in his face and threw all his favorite books out the window and called him all the worst words I could think of, he wouldn't love me one little bit less... I love Rodeo because on the worst day of my life he held me and held me and held me and didn't let me go". I tried to clear my throat but kinda failed, so I went on in a scratchy sort of whisper. "I love Rodeo because if I didn't love him, he'd fall apart".
Which, whew, is a lot of pressure on a kid. But it also describes the grief and love that holds this pair together.
Coyote gets a call from her Grandma, who tells her that the neighborhood park is going to be destroyed to put in a new intersection. The same park that Coyote and her mom and sisters buried a memory box in just days before the accident. Coyote knows she has to dig up the box, the last thing remaining of her former life, and fuflill the promise she made to her mom and sisters five years ago. She has to convince Rodeo to drive from Florida to Washington in four days, without him knowing the real purpose of their trip. Along they way, they collect a rag-tag bunch of riders with their own issues, and share in their joys and sorrows.
4/5 stars because some of the characters seemed like they were put there to fill a diversity quota or as plot devices (every flavor of trauma imaginable) rather than as real people. Also the ending was a little unbelievable. And there was a bit of sloppy editing (the car accident happened a few days after Coyote's older sister's tenth birthday, but later Coyote states that her sister will be eleven forever) that took me out of the story more than I would have liked. Overall worth a read, especially for children and parents who are dealing with grief
pboutin75's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0