remarkable journey of coyote sunrise discussion questions

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Teacher’s Guide:

Teacher’s guide: the remarkable journey of coyote sunrise, teacher’s guide: the remarkable journey of coyote sunrise.

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.”

This guide was written by Kathleen Odean. This guide is aligned with Common Core State Standards for grade five but can be applied to grades three through seven. To attain specific Common Core grade-level standards for your classroom and students, you are encouraged to adapt the activities listed in this guide to your classes’ needs.

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February 1, 2023

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise in the Classroom

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise novel study lessons, CLICK HERE for TpT.

Reading is a powerful tool that can help students discover new perspectives and expand their understanding of the world. The novel, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, provides an opportunity to explore important themes like family, courage, and identity. Here’s how you can use this book to help bring these themes to life in the classroom.

Themes & Character Analysis There are several important themes that can be explored by reading The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. One theme is courage; throughout the book, we see protagonist Coyote facing difficult situations with strength and resilience. This provides a great opportunity for students to reflect on their own capacity for courage and discuss how they might apply it in their own lives. Additionally, we learn about the importance of family through Coyote’s relationship with her dad and her grandfather. Students can discuss the significance of family and how it shapes our lives. Identity is another important theme explored in the novel; as readers follow along on Coyote’s journey, they watch as she gains greater understanding of who she is and what she stands for. These themes provide rich opportunities for discussion and analysis among students while exploring the novel.

Activities & Discussion Questions When teaching The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, there are several activities that educators can incorporate into their lessons to help bring these themes to life. For example, have students create a timeline tracking all of the different stops that Coyote makes throughout her journey – this will help them get a better sense for all of the places she visits! Additionally, have students write down some questions they would want to ask each character if given the chance – this will encourage them to think more deeply about each character’s motivations and why they act the way they do throughout the novel. Discussion questions are also incredibly helpful when exploring this book in class; some examples include “How did Coyote show courage throughout her journey?” or “What was most important thing that you learned from reading this story?”

Exploring Character Development One way educators can use this book is by exploring character development. As readers follow along on Coyote’s journey, they can observe her growth as she matures and learns more about herself and her family. Through the course of the story, Coyote finds strength and courage she never knew she had, giving readers an inspiring example of resilience in the face of adversity. To further explore character development, teachers can have students analyze how characters interact with one another throughout the novel and discuss why their relationships change over time.

Discussing Family Relationships The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise also provides an excellent opportunity for students to reflect on their own families as well as those featured in the book. Teachers can ask students to consider how families are affected by changes like divorce or death, or how different generations view family dynamics differently. After reading about how Coyote creates her own unique family unit with her friends, teachers can lead discussions on how people create their own definitions of “family” when traditional models don’t work for them.

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Conducting Research Projects Finally, teachers can use this book as a jumping off point for research projects related to homelessness or mental health issues affecting children and young adults. In addition to providing helpful information on these topics, research projects also give students an opportunity to practice researching sources both online and in print while honing their analytical skills at the same time.

Themes and Character Development The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise provides an excellent opportunity for students to explore themes of family, resilience and hope. Through the main character, Coyote, students can learn about the importance of family relationships and how they shape us as individuals. Additionally, the novel’s themes highlight the idea that no matter what life throws at you, it is possible to remain resilient and hopeful. Discussing these themes in class can help your students better understand their own experiences as well as those of others. It also allows them to practice empathy while examining the characters’ motivations and feelings throughout the story. Asking questions like “What do you think motivated Coyote?” or “How has her father’s absence affected her life?” can help bring these characters to life for your students.

Writing Exercises Another way to use this book in class is through writing exercises that allow your students to draw connections between The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and their own lives. Prompts like “Write a letter from one of the characters in this book” or “Describe a time when you felt just like one of the characters in this book” can spark conversations about how people experience similar emotions even when their circumstances are different from each other’s. These exercises can also encourage creative writing while helping your students deepen their understanding of this novel.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is an excellent choice for teachers looking for books with meaningful themes that will spark discussion among their students. Through activities such as creating timelines and discussing characters’ motivations, readers will gain a deeper understanding of topics like courage, family, and identity – all essential elements for growing up! With its engaging plotline full of twists and turns, your class will be captivated from beginning to end!

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The remarkable journey of coyote sunrise, book 1, common sense media reviewers.

Girl and her dad flee grief in heart-filled road-trip tale.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Coyote reads a lot of books, loves The One and Onl

Erring on side of kindness tends to work out well.

Coyote has been dealing with grief and keeping her

Salvador and his mom are running away from his dad

Coyote and Salvador have moments that they realize

References to farts and pee; description of someon

Quite a lot of book titles are mentioned by name a

An adult character reacts to bad news by drinking.

Parents need to know that The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is author Dan Gemeinhart's take on the classic all-American road-trip tale. This one is seen through the eyes of a bright 12-year-old who's been crisscrossing the country in a converted school bus with her loving but strange dad ever since her…

Educational Value

Coyote reads a lot of books, loves The One and Only Ivan , discusses other favorites with new characters as they come along. Since she spends a lot of time reading (her dad also makes her read New York Times to keep up with current events), she has an excellent, if quirky, vocabulary -- e.g., "I think it says something about their openness to life and their general philosophical outlook." Lots of geography, local color as bus crosses the country, a bit of Spanish from Salvador, his mom.

Positive Messages

Erring on side of kindness tends to work out well. Strong messages about love, family, friendship, creative solutions, helping each other out, respecting differences, accepting people for who they are, dealing with grief instead of running away from it.

Positive Role Models

Coyote has been dealing with grief and keeping her father from going completely off the rails. She's smart, determined, willing to stand up for what she thinks is important, willing to be kind and meet her new friends' needs even when they get in the way of her own. New pal Salvador, violin player, is a strong, helpful friend who has her back, also looks out for his mom. Coyote's father, Rodeo, is definitely strange but also devoted, concerned parent trying very hard to keep daughter from harm. One scene involves entire party breaking into a theater for what they think is a really good cause; scrambling and creative fiction ensue when security guard arrives. Another finds 12-year-old Coyote driving the bus and dodging police.

Violence & Scariness

Salvador and his mom are running away from his dad, who beat both of them but mostly her. A terrifying scene when the brakes on the bus fail. Several misunderstandings and cop chases, leading to one of the characters getting arrested and a cop pulling a gun on some of them.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Coyote and Salvador have moments that they realize could be awkward because of boy-girl issues, but get through it, as when a crisis has everyone leaping from their beds and Salvador politely looks the other way because Coyote's in her underwear. A teen character's parents kicked her out of her home after she told them she was gay. An adult character is ditched by a no-good, lying boyfriend; another, fleeing an abusive marriage; another, going back to his girlfriend. An adult character recalls embarrassing moment when her mom walked in on her and a boy.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

References to farts and pee; description of someone as "pissed off." Occasional "hell."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Quite a lot of book titles are mentioned by name as Coyote and other characters discuss them. Coyote's favorite drink is Squirt.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

An adult character reacts to bad news by drinking. His friends don't let him drive.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is author Dan Gemeinhart 's take on the classic all-American road-trip tale. This one is seen through the eyes of a bright 12-year-old who's been crisscrossing the country in a converted school bus with her loving but strange dad ever since her mom and sisters were killed in a car crash five years earlier. Grief, loss, and running from them are among the hard things going on, and as Coyote and Rodeo pick up passengers along the way, there's more: a musician torn between his band and his girlfriend, a boy and his mom fleeing his violent father, a teen whose parents have thrown her out because she's gay. Also a bit of breaking and entering for a good cause, etc. There's a lot of heart here, and also a lot of books, kindness, creative thinking, and learning to see things from other people's perspective.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (6)
• Kids say (16)

Based on 6 parent reviews

A tangible commentary on grief

I highly recommend this book, what's the story.

THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE finds the 12-year-old title character and her dad, who goes by Rodeo, on the run. From grief. In a school bus named Yager. It's been this way for five years, ever since Coyote's mom and two sisters were killed in a car crash. Not forming attachments, especially to anything you can lose, is a big rule. Which Coyote breaks the minute she sees a gray kitten at a truck stop, smuggles him onboard, and names him Ivan after the hero in her favorite book, The One and Only Ivan . Then she learns that back in the hometown they've been avoiding for five years, the park where she and her mom and sisters buried a memory box just before she lost them is about to be demolished. Now she's got to get back in time to save the box, and also keep her fragile dad in the dark about what she's up to. Along the way, they pick up assorted folks in need, form new connections, and have many adventures. Also setbacks.

Is It Any Good?

Dan Gemeinhart's heart-filled road-trip tale brings an irresistible 12-year-old narrator, an engaging cast of characters, and a lot of nail-biting, hilarious, poignant, and life-changing moments. There's a lot of heavy stuff going on as a kid tries to keep what's left of her family -- i.e., her strange, fragile, but loving father -- together in the wake of her mom and sisters' deaths years earlier. The new friends who join The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise are dealing with stuff of their own -- fleeing abusers, being thrown out of the house for being gay, and facing some hard relationship choices. But kindness helps.

"The girl sniffled and then took another bite and while she got to chewing, I got to thinking.

"Now, obviously I was thinking of giving this girl a ride. I don't care who you are, if you see some girl crying at a gas station at night, you can't help but feel like you oughta help 'em if you can. Just look at that nosy lady who called the cops on me when Rodeo left me behind the night I met Salvador. There is such things as good help and bad help, though, and I was more interested in seeing if I could give Val the good kind. Plus, that bit about Val's parents really got my fur up like Ivan's when he sees a dog. My very favorite aunt -- my mom's sister, Jen -- is gay, and her wife, Sofia, is my very favorite aunt-in-law, and the thought of someone hating on them just 'cause of who they love made me want to put on boxing gloves."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about road-trip stories like The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. Why do you think journeys -- and the way they transform characters -- are such a popular storytelling theme? Do you have any favorites? How does this one compare with them?

Why do you think Coyote and Rodeo get hassled by police (and busybodies) so much? Do you think this is fair? Do you know anyone in a similar situation?

Do you think it would be fun to live on a bus and call the road your home? Or would you rather live in a regular house?

Book Details

• Author : Dan Gemeinhart
• Genre : Family Life
• Topics : Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Henry Holt
• Publication date : January 8, 2019
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
• Number of pages : 352
• Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : February 7, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Our editors recommend.

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• Brothers and Sisters
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The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Who is Lester going to see in Boise, Idaho?

What is coyote's real name, who fixes the yager in montana.

• A Conception

What or who is Yager?

• C A passenger on the trip
• D A school bus

What or who is Gladys?

Who or what is ivan.

• A Salvador's dad's name
• D Salvador's middle name

Who is Coyote's dad?

Who has a beard, what is buried in the park.

• A A box of gold coins
• B A dead bird
• C A memory box
• D A pair of flip flops

How many sisters does Coyote have?

Which of these is not a question asked of people wanting to catch a ride with rodeo and coyote.

• A What is your favorite sandwich?
• B Are you a criminal?
• C What is your favorite place?
• D What is your favorite book?

What is Coyote's favorite book?

• A Harry Potter
• B Jacob Have I Loved
• C Where the Wild Things Are
• D The One and Only Ivan

What slushie flavor does Coyote say is gross?

• B Fruit Punch
• D Watermelon

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The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

56 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-18

Chapters 19-28

Chapters 29-37

Chapters 38-48

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Further Reading & Resources

Discussion Questions

Chapters 1-5 Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1 summary.

Coyote is a 12-year-old girl who has a story to tell and is trying to decide at what point she should begin. She decides to commence on the day she secretly adopted a kitten: “It all started with Ivan” (1). She relates being at a gas station in Oregon on a very hot summer day. She describes her appearance and what she’s doing as she walks into the convenience store to get a Slurpee.

On the way out of the convenience store, she has a quick exchange with two boys who are giving away kittens. She has a long braid of hair down her back and wears t-shirts, greasy blue jeans, and large, round sunglasses. Coyote travels with her father, who she addresses as Rodeo , instead of Dad. He is skinny, has a beard, and wears a bandana. They travel about in an old, beat-up school bus they converted into a permanent home. Coyote and her father seldom have a set plan concerning where they’re going next in the bus.

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The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Discussion Questions

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Reading The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise aloud with your students? Build classroom community with The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise discussion questions. They will save you time and you will be prepared to get the discussion started after you read each chapter aloud.

Looking for more Read Aloud Questions? Grab the whole bundle here!

These questions are the perfect way to guide your students through the novel. After reading each chapter aloud, start a discussion with your students.

How do I use The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise discussion questions?

• print the questions ahead of time on sticky notes
• place one sticky note at the end of each chapter
• after reading, ask students the questions!

How will these questions help?

• prompt student discussion
• engage kids in the novel
• done for you!
• thought-provoking
• guide conversations
• bring the novel to life!

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise discussion questions are NOT meant for students to answer on their own. They are to be thought about and discussed in partners, groups or as a whole class.

These questions are NOT meant to be a comprehension check or used as a written response. They are thought-provoking and interactive. The questions do not have right or wrong answers. They are written to incite conversation and debate amongst your students, as you guide them.

There are templates for you to print the questions out on post-it notes, making it easy for you to stick each set of questions right in the book!

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise discussion questions will bring the novel to life in your classroom!

What do other teachers think?

• I loved having these discussion questions at the end of each chapter. They were thought-provoking and required kids to give thoughtful answers. - Leslie
• I love our classroom read-aloud time...but love not having to think about what questions I want to ask even more. Thank you for taking the time to put these together for us! - Stephani
• I love that these questions are pre-made and specific to a chapter in the book. Most other resources are not book specific but I think this will help students reflect on the reading and a positive and engaging way! - Kayla

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The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

6 questions

Introducing new   Paper mode

No student devices needed.   Know more

Who is Ivan?

Coyote's brother

Coyote's cat

Coyote's dad

Coyote's friend

How long was Coyote able to keep Ivan a secret?

What is or who is Yager?

The school bus

What is Coyote's favorite book?

Harry Potter

Jacob Have I Loved

Where the Wild Things Are

The One and Only Ivan

Check all the answers that apply. Coyote describes Coyote as

hairy and tall

not normal looking

Check all that apply. Coyote is

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The Remarkable Journey Of Coyote Sunrise

By dan gemeinhart.

Critically acclaimed author, Dan Gemeinhart's The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise introduces young readers to an unforgettable girl trying to find her place in the world. 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. Five years. 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 knows she'll do whatever it takes to get back in time to save it. So she hatches a crazy 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. 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."

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