The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Coyote Sunrise has spent the last five years traveling around the country on a converted school bus with Rodeo.  Her name isn't really Coyote, and Rodeo is actually her father, but they don't talk about the past.  After her mother and sisters died in a car accident, Coyote and Rodeo have been living in the present. 

Everything changes the day she trades a watermelon slushie for a kitten.  She knows Rodeo will say no, so her plan is to hide Ivan and gradually let him in on the truth.  Coyote never really asks for anything, not even the truth, and she needs Ivan.  Maybe Rodeo can see that longing in her eyes, or maybe it's Ivan innate charm, but she gets her cat.

When she finds out the park where she and her mom and sisters buried a memory box is about to be destroyed, she knows she needs to get home and claim it.  She also knows Rodeo would never willingly return to a place with such painful memories.  She will have to trick him into it. 

As they begin their journey home, they pick up a series of strangers who seem destined to be part of the ride.  Normally, Coyote and Rodeo roll alone, but it seems like Ivan started something.  Lester is on his way to meet the girl of his dreams, Salvador and his mom are looking for a fresh start, and Val just wants to be someplace safe. 

These are the first real friends Coyote has had in a long time, and as they help her on her journey back home, they also help her come to some realizations about the truth and how you can't run away from it forever. 

I really loved Dan Gemeinhart's new book.  Y'all know I'm a sucker for a kitten, but this is a sweet story about grief and forgiveness.  It is a bit unrealistic.  They never run into any scary people, and I doubt Coyote would have been willing to keep living this sponge bath life for much longer, but I'm willing to overlook that for this beautiful road to truth and healing.  Also, I met Dan Gemeinhart at TLA, and he signed the book to me and Princess Buttercup!