King Coyote
In Rachael MeyersJones’s stirring novel King Coyote, a city boy navigates the rugged Vermont wilderness and the even more treacherous landscape of his family’s dissolution.
Twelve-year-old King is a “soup-brained zombie” of the digital age, resentful of his summer “vacation” to his relatives’ farm while his parents navigate their separation. However, with the help of his cousin Nat—a “walking wildlife encyclopedia” and puckish survivalist—King begins to trade his video games for the sensory-rich reality of the farm. He also forms an unexpected connection with Coal, a scrawny, misunderstood coyote pup with a clipped ear. Indeed, King recognizes his own loneliness and displacement in the animal.
When local trappers are called to remove Coal as an alleged threat to the neighboring farms, the narrative shifts into a high-stakes adventure. King and Nat embark on a perilous rescue mission involving a stolen canoe and a daring trek toward the Canadian border.
Empathy and conservation are among the championed themes of this adventure-filled, heartwarming tale about the lengths one will go to protect the vulnerable. Indeed, King’s evolution into a resilient protector is handled with authenticity and grace. He learns that “a place becomes like a person, when you know it so well.” This transformation is mirrored in the prose, which balances the urgency of the survival plot with quiet, emotional resonance. The settings are developed with immersive details, as of the earthy “guttural chatter” of chickens, the scent of cow manure, and the haunting silence of the deep woods.
A classic wilderness survival tale featuring a Black hero, the evocative novel King Coyote concerns the complex intersections of family change and environmental stewardship.
Reviewed by
John M. Murray
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
