"Your heart needs this joyful miracle of a book." ―Katherine Applegate, acclaimed author of The One and Only Ivan ★ “Narrator Coyote is legendary: wise, thoughtful, and perceptive” ―Booklist, starred review A 2020 ILA Teachers’ Choice A 2019 Parents' Choice Award Gold Medal Winner An Amazon Top 20 Children's Book of 2019 # 1 New York Times -bestselling author Dan Gemeinhart pens an unforgettable tale about family, friendship, and the meaning of home. Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash. Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished―the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box―she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it. Along the way, they'll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there's Gladys... Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after.” Don't miss the companion story, Coyote Lost and Found ! Gr 5–8-In Gemeinhart's latest heartwarming realistic fiction novel, authentic life experiences are tackled and resilience reigns supreme. Coyote is a young girl traveling the American countryside with her father. The pair made a home of a refurbished school bus after a terrible car accident killed Coyote's mother and two sisters. When Coyote learns that a park that holds an important part of her past is set to be demolished, she and her father set a course back to Washington state. Through their travels, Coyote and her father pick up a kitten, wayward travelers, and knowledge of all kinds. Readers will be drawn into the story of Coyote immediately. Her authentic voice and personality shine. Gemeinhart takes readers on a cross-country experience of self-discovery and empathetic growth. The realistic cast of characters that join Coyote add dimension and depth to an already spirited story. Readers who have experienced loss will see themselves, while those that have not will learn through Coyote's eyes. VERDICT A must-read and purchase for every school library. Truly a story that will engage readers of all types.-Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL A 2022 William Allen White Children's Book Award Winner A California Young Reader Gold Medal Winner A 2019 Parents’ Choice Award Gold Medal Winner An Amazon Top 20 Children's Book of 2019 A Bank Street Books' Best Books of the Year A Junior Library Guild Selection A Bookriot "25 Of The Best Middle School Books For Today's Readers" Pick A School Library Journal Best Book of 2019 A 2020 Lone Star Reading List Selection A Book Riot “Best Middle School Books for Young Readers” Selection A GoodReads “Best Middle Grade Books of 2019” Finalist “Coyote’s bold, engaging voice pops off the page...Gemeinhart infuses the story with moments of lyrical writing and folksy wisdom served up with a dollop of girl power.” – The New York Times “Narrator Coyote is legendary: wise, thoughtful, and perceptive...The narrative is beautifully paced and ranges easily from comic to bittersweet.” – Booklist , starred review “Sincere friendships, inventive obstacles, and emotional depth propel the cross-country trip as the winning protagonist stakes a claim for her future by reclaiming the past.” – Publishers Weekly “This is not just a story about Coyote’s remarkable journey―this novel solidifies Gemeinhart as a remarkable children’s author.” – BookPage “Gemeinhart has created a memorable voice in Coyote, a girl wise beyond her years, in this poignant tale of strangers becoming family and helping a grieving girl and her father come to terms with a terrible loss.” – The Buffalo News “Coyote’s story is wise, funny, and holds onto your heart long after you’ve read the final page.” – Amazon “A rollicking, wonderful adventure.” – The Young Folks "[Gemeinhart] tempers Coyote's grief with her triumphant growth from a girl whose sole purpose is keeping her father on an even keel to one who realizes that she alone must find, and even fight for, her own happiness." – Horn Book “You’ll plain want to hug the world in the end.” – Paste Magazine “There’s a lot of heart here.” – Common Sense Media Dan Gemeinhart is the #1 New York Times –bestselling author of the novels The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise , Coyote Lost and Found , The Midnight Children , Busted , The Honest Truth , Some Kind of Courage , Scar Island , and Good Dog as well as the picture books O