Coyote, her Dad, and her found family set off on another adventure. One of my favorite MG authors has written a sequel that’s even better than the first Coyote story - all the laughs, tears, friendship and heartache a book can hold in just the right amounts. Coyote is like India Opal - determined, loyal, vulnerable, and a friend we would all be lucky to have. Stop reading this review and go make friends with Coyote.

Even though this book is about grief and loss, it may just be the feel good story on the year.

Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart, is the sequel to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, which was a wonderful story and then he writes this which is just as wonderful. He includes enough background that it can be read as a stand alone, but you don’t want to miss the first adventure.

Coyote and her dad concluded their never-ending journey in the first book and have settled into a house once again. Coyote attends middle school and is feeling all the feelings that go along with fitting in. She doesn’t! Rodeo has befriended his female neighbor, Candace, and all is going along fairly well until Coyote finds her mother's ashes. She asks her dad about them and he admits that he hid them from her. The couple had a plan and dad has failed to carry it out. Here’s the plan… both Coyote's parents wrote down in a book of poetry what they wanted done with their ashes upon their death. They wrote on different pages and taped the pages together. This is in the event should something happen to one of them and the other would know the others wishes. Rodeo admits that he has never looked in the book to see what his wife had written, so he asks Coyote to do it for him. When Coyote goes to find the book, she realizes that she must have traded it in with a stack of books at one of the many used book stores they visited while journeying around the country. She is able to narrow down the possibilities to four bookstore. The story is set during the Covid 19 pandemic and schools are closed, so, she, Rodeo, Candace and her only friend, Salvador, fire up the old school bus named Yeager and head out on a road trip to scatter her mom's ashes. She’s not delighted with Candace being on the quest, but Rodeo says another driver will help them cover more ground faster. It seems Candace and Rodeo have become an item. But here’s the catch, Coyote hasn't told Rodeo that she doesn't have her mom's book, and therefore, doesn't know what she is to do with the ashes. So Rodeo thinks they are headed in the direction of the final resting place for ashes when in reality they are tracing their steps back to used bookstores. The party of four pick up a couple of interesting passengers along the way making for a more adventurous experience.

Is it even possible that the book will still be in one of those stores?

Get ready for an adventure of fun, laughter, disaster, disappointment, grief, sadness, mistakes and an event that nearly gets one of the party arrested.

Dan Gemeinhart is officially an all time favorite middle grade author. I LOVED this follow up to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. This had the same spirit as the first book - a journey, a great cast of characters, and a very meaningful story about how we deal with grief. Coyote is a great protagonist and I loved having the opportunity to go on another adventure in the bus with her.

If you are interested in checking this out, I HIGHLY encourage you to read the first book first.

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) in exchange for an honest review.

Coyote and Rodeo have finally settled into a house, a school, and a life with a permanent address, but Coyote is not fitting in as much as she would like. Her best friend Salvador lives in another state, and Coyote spends a good deal of time in the library, avoiding students who are frequently mean to her. One day, Coyote stumbles across a box containing her mom’s ashes hidden behind a bookshelf on the bus that used to be their home. The ashes, a missing book, and the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic are the perfect recipe for Coyote and Rodeo to set off with friends in tow to find answers, closure, and solace on the open road.

This companion to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise begins not long after that book ends, yet it can stand on its own if readers have not experienced the first installment. The story unfolds from Coyote’s perspective, and though school and life are difficult for her, she finds ways to remain positive. Every character has a unique and memorable personality, which endears readers to them while drawing readers into the heart of the narrative. Familiar life experiences and the globally recognizable COVID-19 pandemic create an accessible backdrop against which Coyote’s otherwise fictional tale can take place.

Feelings are at the core of this novel, and Coyote experiences several throughout the book. The typical tween emotions of isolation, romance, and self-discovery appear on the surface, but there are also much richer feelings that occur as well. From the management of the death of her mother and sisters to the introduction of a potentially new female companion for her father, Coyote must navigate a path that is foreign to many young people. Yet, the excellent writing helps Coyote grow with grace, and readers will empathize with her no matter their own life stories. This is a captivating and emotionally robust story that will appeal to fans of Walk Two Moons and other stories of self-discovery. It is an excellent addition to library shelves for middle grade readers.

I laughed and cried and I felt lucky for having known Coyote! And finally I cried because it was over. My favorite book for 2024.

This was the ending Coyote & Rodeo needed and deserved! Wow! What a journey. I think Dan Gemeinhart so perfectly brought the angst of a confident, yet grieving and lost 13 year old girl to life. Watching Coyote shove so much of her emotions down and then on the flip side get to see Rodeo finally start opening up and coming to terms with his own was heartbreaking. And I think, as anyone who has grieved a tragedy in their lives, the message of this book was spot on and so important. The person you were before grieving, is not the person you are while grieving, and it's not the person you will become when you come out of your grief. That saying good-bye does not me letting go, it's just changing our grip, so we can move forward. I loved that analogy.

I love when Middle Grade authors transcend they '8-12 year' target audience and craft stories that can be enjoyed by people of any age. Dan Gemeinhart does that so well.

I fell in love with Coyote in the first book. She loves books and I just adore her. This time I decided to write down the books that were mentioned.

- The Little Prince
- The Old Man and the Sea
- I know why the Caged Bird Sings
- Poetry by Kahlil Gibran
- Red Bird by Mary Oliver
- Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
- Beloved by Toni Morrison Overall this book felt heavier than the last one but it was still so good!

How it made me feel: 😬😭🥰

A lost book leads a girl on a journey to finding closure after the tragic death of her mother and two sisters.

Coyote Sunrise lived on a school bus named Yager prior to settling down in a home with her father. She enrolls in school but doesn't fit in with the majority of other children. Despite this challenge, Coyote makes a friend with Audrey.

Coyote finds a box in the school bus. She learns that the box holds her moms ashes who passed away due to a car accident. Her dad mentions a book that stated where her mom would like to have her ashes scattered. After searching for the book, Coyote realizes she may have accidentally given it away to a thrift shop. Coyote comes up with a plan to take her dad on a journey to find the lost book. Along the way, they make friends who join them on the journey. Coyote eventually comes to terms with her loss.

This is a charming book about family and creating friendships. Coyote is conflicted with telling her dad the truth about the lost book. Gemeinhart creates emotionally challenged characters of Coyote and Rodeo as they both find acceptance in honoring her mothers wishes. An excellent read.

Coyote and Rodeo are back for another adventure that will be sure to capture your heart. When Coyote discovers her mother's remains, she also learns of a treasured book that her parents used to disclose their final wishes. The problem: Coyote is certain she put that book in a donation pile during their last year of living on the road; she's just not sure where. So begins her scheme to get her wild, hairy, absolutely loveable dad to take a cross country trip without him knowing the real reason. Filled with the same love of life, humanity, and tear jerking moments as the first Coyote Sunrise novel. You'll definitely want to jump on Yager again for another remarkable journey.

"How lucky am I?" to find this book, and that NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. let me have access to an advance copy? Very lucky indeed.

Coyote and Rodeo are off on another wild road trip with emotion packed hidden motives. One old friend, Salvador, is coming along; and, of course, there's plenty of room on the bus for some new friends, or at least people who want to be friends not all of whom are welcome. This novel is full of hazards, heart, mirth, memories, and growth. I admire Gemainhart's characterizations that come through in speech patterns, dress, and described movements. There's never a chance of mixing people up. This book deals with deep issues, and there's always the angst over when Coyote's horrible secret will come out. Even at the darkest, there is hope around the corner. I recommend it to any middle grader, or, frankly, any adult. A wonderful tale.

Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, are back for another journey. After settling down in a house and a real school - though school isn’t going all that great- Coyote finds her mom’s ashes, but she lost her mom’s book that gives a hint of where to scatter her ashes. In true Coyote fashion, they pick up some new friends on the road and have some pretty events. Coyote’s character grows quite a bit by the end of the story. In true Gemeinhart writing there are many kernels of wisdom to ponder. I cannot wait to this with my students.

Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan for the advance Kindle copy of this 2.27.24 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Ugh, just as good and heartfelt as the first. Coyote and Rodeo have settled down and are living a “normal” life in a house without wheels, a regular job, and middle school. But Coyote’s world is rocked again when she finds her mother’s ashes hidden in Yager (because of course he’s still parked at their house). When her dad tells her that he and her mom both wrote their wishes for their ashes in her mom’s favorite book of poetry, Coyote realizes she gave the book away during their last trip. As the Covid pandemic closes school, Coyote convinces Rodeo to go on a trip to scatter the ashes - without him knowing that they have to find the book first. I can’t wait to get this into students’ hands. Another winner..

After the remarkable events of book one, Coyote is settling in to experience "normal" life in a normal house and normal school. But it's not quite what it's cracked up to be. That's when something momentous happens: she discovers her mom's ashes in a little box and has to go on a quest to find Mom's true resting place. But letting go is hard, and no journey is complete without detours and a few breakdowns, particularly since Rodeo is grieving at a different pace than Coyote.

I don't really think it's fair to compare anything to the original Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. Of the thousands of books I've read, Coyote Sunrise remains firmly in the top 10, and I don't think that will every change. Was I hoping book 2 would surpass it? Maybe. Am I pleased with what we have even if it isn't top 10 best books of all time material? Also yes. Coyote remains one of the most compelling characters I've ever had the privilege to journey with. Coyote Lost and Found had me feeling a full range of emotions from laughing out loud, beaming with pride, glowing with warmth, flinching from shock and dismay, and even tearing up a little from time to time. It has some truly great lines and moments that will stay with me for a long time. I love the way it speaks to loss and the many ways that it can be present, even when we're not thinking about it. Coyote hasn't just lost people she loves; in a way, she's lost her childhood and her chance at being normal and many small moments along the way. But she's found a lot as well. And why should being authentic and belonging somewhere be mutually exclusive? Good point! I don't know whether to hope there will be more Coyote Sunrise books or not, but if Dan Gemeinhart writes it, I will read it, and I hope you will too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I can't even express how I was excited to see this companion. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise ranks among my absolute favorite middle grade books, and I spent most of the book in tears.

Good thing I was ready to get hurt again because *SOB.* So freaking good.

Grief doesn't end, and this follow-up is a perfect example. Even though Coyote and Rodeo got a little bit of closure, the holes left behind don't ever actually fill. This story finds them off on a new adventure with a few old friends...and they meet a few new ones along the way. Coyote finds herself in several predicaments--some hilarious, some traumatic--and I again found myself laughing out loud and sobbing uncontrollably (sometimes on the same page).

I didn't know if it could possibly be as good as the original...but man it's close.

It was going to take something extra special to follow up Coyote’s first journey and Gemeinhart doesn’t disappoint.

I love that this sequel sees Rodeo, Coyote, and Salvador setting off on a new quest in their yellow school bus. There’s new passengers, new destinations, and new stories. A story about grief, friendship, and new beginnings. This sequel is a total success.

I didn’t think Coyote could make me shed anymore tears, but I was wrong. If you loved Coyote Sunrise as much as I did, you will find yourself immersed in this MG sequel just as much. Coyote, Rodeo, Salvador and their new group of vagabonds are some of the kindest and loving characters I’ve ever read before. Dan truly has a gift with crafting stories full of heart and filling up my soul. “How lucky am I?”

Dan Gemienhart writes middle grade perfection! If you were a fan of the The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, you won't want to skip the sequel, Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart. If you haven't read The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, then STOP READING THIS REVIEW AND PICK UP A COPY! Warning: this review may contain spoilers if you haven't read the first book.

Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, are back! Since they concluded their never-ending journey at the end of the previous book, they have settled in a physical house again. Coyote attends middle school and is feeling all the feelings about go along with fitting in. Rodeo has befriended his female neighbor, Candace, and all is chugging along until Coyote finds a box of her mother's ashes. When she confronts her dad about them, he admits that he hid them away and hasn't followed through on the plan Coyote's mom and he shared. Both Coyote's parents wrote down in a book of poetry what they wanted done with their ashes upon their death should something happen to one of them and the other had to know what to do. Rodeo admits that he has never looked in the book to see what his wife had written, and tells Coyote to do it for him. When Coyote goes to find the book, she realizes that she must have traded it in with a stack of books at one of the many used book stores she visited while journeying around the country with Rodeo. After narrowing it down to four bookstores, and getting out of school due to COVID, she, Rodeo, Candace (much to Coyote's dismay), and her old bestie, Salvador, fire up the old school bus and head out on a road trip to scatter her mom's ashes. The thing is Coyote hasn't told Rodeo that she doesn't have her mom's book, and therefore, doesn't know what she is to do with the ashes. On a quest to find the book and set her mom free, the crew will pick up a couple of new passengers along the way. There will be lots of laughter and also some heartache as they move towards their destination unknown.

I did not know that Dan Gemeinhart was going to write a second book, but I loved picking up where I left off a couple of years ago. I had no problem dropping back into the story. I don't think anyone would have much of a problem following this novel if they had never read The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. The author does a good job of adding in the important information from the first book; however, in my opinion EVERY PERSON should read the first book. There are triggers for grief and possibly COVID, but they are mild in my opinion.

One last note: Gemeinhart drops a little Easter egg in the book for readers who know that The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise won The William Allen White Children Book Award in 2022. One of the used book stores Coyote visits again is located in Emporia, Kansas, which is the home of William Allen White. I loved this acknowledgment. My students, who also voted for this book, will be excited to see this when they read book two this spring!

Thanks to Henry Holt & Co and Netgalley for this incredible ARC.

Coyote Lost and Found by @dangemeinhart is a remarkable sequel. Once again, I got to board Yager for a heartfelt journey crisscrossing the country with Rodeo and Coyote. Their unique voices shine in this story of love, loss, friendship, forgiveness, and gratitude. I know my students will clamor to read this. Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC.

Can a sequel ever be as good as the first book? Coyote Lost and Found proves that yes, the sequel can be as good if not better! Coyote is back on Yager with some old friends and some new friends found along the way. She is on a quest to find a book of her mother's, a Mary Oliver book of poetry. Coyote's mother has written her wishes in the book about where she wants her ashes to to be scattered. The only problem is that Coyote left the book at a thrift shop on her last journey, and she can't remember which shop. With underlying themes of Covid and racism, Gemeinhart shows his expertise at interweaving societal issues with the issues of teens coming of age. The characters are well developed and the voices are strong. This is a must read for fans of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. From the first paragraph, Coyote Lost and Found is like getting a warm hug from an old friend. First purchase for all libraries.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise (Dan Gemeinhart, 2019) was one of my favorite all time books. It’s right up there with “Wonder“ by R.J. Palacio. Reading these books to my students becomes a heartwarming journey. Together, we laugh, shed tears, and grow incredibly close to the characters, creating a sense of family among us. I know that “Coyote, Lost and Found” is going to be one of those book too!

“I’m telling you, you’re an awesome freaking mess. You’re my hero, Coyote Sunrise” – Salvador Vega

The narrative of “Coyote Lost and Found” unfolds with Coyote transitioning to a conventional school and home life. Despite her yearnings for these experiences in the previous book, reality doesn’t match her expectations. Her discovery of her mother’s ashes triggers another adventure with her father, Rodeo, and they decide to once again, set off in Yager. In this book Coyote messes up big time by losing something important. We see a similar storyline to the first book, in which she is trying to fix that problem, without letting Rodeo know. A delightful aspect of the first book was the various characters they met on their travels. This sequel retains that allure, reintroducing familiar faces and introducing new ones who become equally endearing. Gemeinhart skillfully integrates contemporary issues into the storylines and in this book, he is highlighting the impact of Covid-19 and the pandemic on his characters.

“And like maybe we can never really become the person we want to be, anyway, you know? ….maybe we’re just always becoming the person…” – Salvador Vega

Similar to its predecessor, ‘Coyote Love and Found‘ delves into the theme of a child coping with the loss of a parent. This year, in my middle school homeroom, I have several students who have experienced this profound loss, and I am considering the potential impact this book might have on them. Once of my students lost a parent 3 months ago. I’m not sure she would be able to read this book right now, but I think it would bring her some comfort if she read it a few years in. I hope other people who have endured the pain of losing a loved one can also find themselves lost and found, like Coyote does in this story. The title couldn’t be more fitting!

“How grateful am I?” – Doreen

Echoing the sentiments of Doreen, the character, my gratitude for receiving an advance copy of this book is immense. Just when I thought a snow day off from school was the highlight of my day, reading THIS BOOK surpassed it! It made me laugh, brought me to tears, and deeply touched me with its numerous revelations and life lessons. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley and Macmilian Children Publishing Group! Thank you Mr. Gemeinhart, for crafting a book so rich with life lessons; reading it with my students promises to be a deeply moving experience that will undoubtedly resonate with us all.”

#NetGalley #MiddleGradeFiction #MacmilianChildrenPublishingGroup #ACR #dangemeinhartbooks