Wait- Thanksgiving is only a week away? How did this happen? Soon 18 family members will arrive at my home for meals, games, and happy hour. (Happy hour might start early on Thanksgiving Day.) 😉 I won’t be traveling for this holiday, but I know a lot of people will, either now, or in December, or both, so I want to share a few journey themed books perfect for holiday travel.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
First up, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart. This fun little read is considered middle grade. Goodreads users also classify it as “family” and “adventure.” That means it’s perfect in the car for little ears and big ears too! (Note: I’m an adult who LOVES kid lit!)
The Premise of Coyote Sunrise
Ever since the sudden death of her Mom and two sisters five years ago, Coyote and her father, Rodeo, have been driving across the country in a old school bus turned mobile home. But when Coyote learns a park holding sacred memories of her family will be demolished, she wants to go home. Unfortunately, home is in Washington State, 3600 miles away. And, Coyote only has four days to get there. And, Rodeo can’t know where or why they are going.
What I liked
Coyote is a plucky, relatable main character with great voice. Her dad, Rodeo, is thoughtful and kind, yet flawed. He and Coyote manage their grief in very different ways, and that leads them on a collision course. Rodeo wants to forget, but Coyote wants to remember. Rodeo may drive the bus, but Coyote doesn’t back down.
Along the way to Washington state, Coyote and Rodeo pick up several interesting passengers, all looking for something different: true love, a new start, a place to feel safe. The novel successfully balances a fun and light tone with deeper themes about how to cope with loss and how to connect with people who are different. It also poses a significant question:” Is choosing happiness selfish?
What I didn’t like
While I enjoyed the journey motif, which compliments the plot nicely, the end felt a little drawn out. Also, at times Coyote and Rodeo’s folksy voices sound somewhat cliche (but, I listened to the audio book, and perhaps that was more performance than prose.) Overall, I enjoyed the audio book.
Word Nerd Recommendation
If you enjoy stories about family, chosen family, and acceptance, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is a perfect choice. It’s won several awards, including Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award for Middle Readers (2021), Truman Readers Award Nominee (2022), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children’s (2019), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (2022)
Other great books for a journey
Coyote got me thinking about other books with a journey theme. Here are some I recommend:
- Pony, by R.J. Palacio (author of Wonder). This middle grade historical fiction novel tells the story of a young boy on a quest to find his father. A ghost and a mysterious pony are his only guides. I enjoyed the audio book of this title too.
- Paper Towns by John Green. (Do I really have to tell you who John Green is?) This young adult mystery follows Quentin as he tries to find his adventurous neighbor Margo who has suddenly disappeared. Note: Quentin has had a crush on her for years.
- Mosquitoland by David Arnold. This young adult adventure follows Mim as she travels by Greyhound bus from her life with her father and stepmom in Mississippi to her mother in Ohio. Yes, I said Greyhound bus, so you can expect a colorful cast of characters.
- The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. (author of A Gentleman in Moscow.) Adult historical fiction. I have not read this yet, but my book club really enjoyed it. Blurb from Goodreads: “Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles’s third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes.”
Those are my ideas. I’ve gotta go clean. What books can you recommend for travel?
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
I love this! It reminds me of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech that I read a longgg long time ago. I’ll have to add the audiobook to my list 🙂
Yes, it’s a fun one. In the first chapter, Coyote adopts a kitten. So, you’ll love her. 😊