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| Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
"It was out here all alone, without a pack or a home. King knew exactly what that felt like. They were both outsiders, determined to survive but unsure how."
In King Coyote by Rachael Meyers Jones, we meet King, a twelve-year-old boy from Boston whose world is turned upside down. With his parents going through a divorce, he is sent to spend the summer on the rural side of Vermont with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, Nat. To King, it feels like a punishment. There’s no Wi-Fi, barely any other people who look like him, and the townsfolk aren't very welcoming. He feels like an outsider.
But things change when King meets a lonely young coyote. Seeing himself in the misunderstood animal, King decides he must protect it. When his uncle calls trappers to remove the coyote, King and Nat embark on a wild journey to find the animal a safe new home. Along the way, King learns about courage, history, and what it really means to find home.
This isn't just an adventure story; it tackles real-life issues in a way that is perfect for young readers. It explores themes of identity and belonging, showing how King struggles with feeling different and facing racial bias in a small town. I really appreciated how Rachael Meyers Jones addresses the racism King encounters. The meaningful discussions he has with his uncle about history, slavery, and civil rights are handled beautifully, offering valuable opportunities for both young readers and adults to talk about these important topics.
The book also handles family dynamics with honesty, portraying the confusion and anger that come with parents separating. It gently reminds readers that instead of pushing children away, give them support and understanding during difficult times.
Furthermore, it raises interesting topics about nature and ethics, challenging our perspective on wildlife. It teaches readers to look beyond simple labels like "pest" and "cattle" and consider the complex relationship between humans and animals.
As a main character, King is a relatable boy. Watching him grow from an angry kid who just wants to go home, into a brave boy who stands up for what is right, is truly inspiring. His friendship with Nat, the wilderness expert, is fun and heartwarming to see.
Also, the setting is absolutely beautiful. The author does an amazing job bringing Vermont to life. You can almost feel the summer heat! The story pacing is perfect, fast enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, but slow enough to let you feel what King is going through.
Overall, King Coyote is the perfect mix of a coming-of-age story and adventure. It is heartfelt, realistic, and exciting all at once. Whether you love nature stories or books about friendship, family, and finding where you belong, this book will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.
This review is part of the King Coyote Book Tour by Toppling Stacks Tours. Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for including me in the book tour. Please visit this link to catch up with the book tour schedule.
About the Book
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publishing date: April 14, 2026
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Rep: Black
Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old King has been banished to the Vermont woods for the summer, and there’s nothing he can do about it. As if his parents getting divorced wasn’t bad enough, they’ve shipped him off to his aunt and uncle’s house to protect him like he’s some baby. The only bright side is being reunited with his favorite cousin, Nat, who he hasn’t seen in years.
At first, King wants nothing more than to go home to Boston. There are barely any other Black people in Vermont, the townsfolk are mean to him, and his relatives don’t even have Wi-Fi to play games! But a late-night encounter with a young coyote changes his mind. King develops a bond with the creature, who seems just as lonely and misunderstood as he is. Then King’s uncle calls the local trappers, saying the coyote is a threat to their farm, and King is forced to decide: return home to Boston, or stay and save his new friend?
With the help of Nat, a veteran wilderness explorer and walking wildlife encyclopedia, King scales mountains, faces off against skunks, and sleeps under the stars to find a new home for the coyote—and just maybe, a home for himself, too.
Inspired by her own childhood traipsing through the Vermont wilderness, debut author Rachael MeyersJones brings a fresh take to the classic wilderness survival tale.
Content Warning: racism, mentions of putting an animal down, animal cruelty.
About the Author
Rachael Meyers Jones is a neurospicy writer and nonprofit executive director based in Oakland, California, where she lives with her husband and anxious black cat Chi Chi. Oakland is also known as Huichin, the unceded territory of the Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people who continue to steward and thrive on the land. Rachael grew up in both Boston, Massachusetts, and the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont, splitting her time between urban and rural environments. Her writing has been shaped by her experiences as a Mixed Black woman, and by the many amazing young people she’s known throughout her career. Rachael strives to build and protect consistent communities of care for Black & Brown youth. She loves cooking for her friends and family, making stained glass windows and other visual arts, Prince, and being outside by a lake somewhere. Rachael is the Executive Director of Youth on Root, a grassroots youth environmental justice leadership nonprofit based in California. Her debut novel, King Coyote, will be released on April 14th, 2026.
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