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Coyote Lost and Found

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Plugged In

Book Review

When a young girl named Coyote Sunrise discovers her mom’s ashes, she and her dad, Rodeo, realize it’s past time to spread them at the location Coyote’s mom chose. Rodeo explains his late wife wrote the location on the page of a book, but he’s never looked at the page. That’s when Coyote realizes she accidently donated the book.

Plot Summary

Soon after Coyote discovers her mom’s ashes, she and her dad decide it’s time to spread them. There’s just one problem: Coyote donated the book where her mom wrote the location.

She doesn’t want to tell Rodeo about her mistake, so she makes a list of all the used book stores and thrift shops she might have left it at during their cross-country trip the summer before. When COVID shuts down the world, they set off on their quest with a few of their friends and Coyote setting the route.

The group stops at one store after another while Coyote lies and deflects suspicion about the route. Along the way, they add a new friend to their group and have a little fun too. But as time goes on, Coyote starts to lose hope. She needs to find the book and get them on the right route before everyone realizes she’s been leading them on a quest to nowhere.

Christian Beliefs

The Bible is mentioned.

Other Belief Systems

Another character named Audrey loves dragons. Luck, negative vibes and gods are mentioned. The universe is mentioned in a way that deifies it. Coyote talks about her mom’s ashes as if they truly are her mom. In the end, she comes to the conclusion that her mom lives on in memories alone.

Authority Roles

Coyote’s mom has passed away, but her dad, whom she calls Rodeo, is attentive. He ran away from his grief for a long time, but now he sees a counselor.

Profanity & Violence

Coyote’s mom and two sisters died years ago in a car crash. Her sisters were buried, but Coyote finds her mom’s ashes on the bus she and her dad lived in for years.

In the context of the ongoing story, robbery, a car chase and a fistfight are mentioned. We hear about someone’s sister who has died. Coyote breaks her arm while breaking into a thrift store. At the ER, she sits next to a guy that got stabbed.

A bar and swearing are mentioned. Rodeo and Coyote both say “d–n.” Rodeo says, “Christ on a cracker.” Salvador says “bull crap” and “BS” multiple times. Coyote calls the world “craptastic,” and at one point exclaims, “[For the] love of God.” The bell on the bus is called the “holy h— bell.”

A man at a gas station curses threatens someone with a baseball bat if he doesn’t leave, blaming him for bringing COVID to the US because the character (who’s name is Wally) is Asian.

Sexual Content

A woman massages Rodeo’s neck and flirts with him. Another character, named Salvador, talks about kissing his girlfriend.

Discussion Topics

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. Why does this passage say that Christians have hope when facing death?

When you face hard times, who or what do you turn to? Do you think that there’s anything you should do differently the next time something difficult happens?

Coyote had to apologize to those she hurt. Is there anyone you need to apologize to? If so, what’s holding you back from having that conversation?

Additional Comments

Coyote Lost and Found contains memorable characters, and sthe story encourages readers to develop empathy and be slow to judge. However, the characters also blur the truth at times. Perhaps more importantly, these characters’ lack of real hope when confronting the reality of death makes this a difficult story for young readers.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected].

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not necessarily their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

Review by Rachel Pfeiffer

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