Munro vs. the Coyote

by Darren Groth

Overview

Since the sudden death of his younger sister, Evie, sixteen-year-old Munro Maddux has been having flashbacks and anger-management issues.

He has a constant ache in his right hand. And there's a taunting, barking, biting voice he calls "the Coyote." Munro knows a six-month student exchange will not be the stuff of teenage dreams, but in Brisbane, he intends to move beyond his troubled past. It is there, at an assisted-living residence called Fair Go Community Village, that Munro discovers the Coyote can be silenced.

Munro volunteers as a "Living Partner" and gets to know the team of residents he is assigned to. The burden Munro carries, however, is not so easily cast aside. When one of the team makes the decision to leave, the Coyote gets a new life. When a second resident is taken away, the specter of trauma and death looms larger than ever. Will Munro learn how to silence the voice? Or will the Coyote ultimately triumph?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459823853
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	748,179
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.69(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Darren Groth is the author of several novels, including the acclaimed Are You Seeing Me? and Munro vs. the Coyote. He was the winner of the 2016 Adelaide Festival Award for Young Adult Fiction and has been a finalist for numerous other prestigious prizes, including the Governor General's Literary Award, the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize and the CBCA Book of the Year. Darren is a former special-education teacher and the proud father of a son with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He lives in Delta, British Columbia.

Editorial Reviews

"An engrossing, uplifting must-read. An insightfully complex cast of characters, engaging dialogue and an original storyline that masterfully tackles weighty subjects…A welcome, highly readable addition to every YA lover's bookshelf…By deftly lending a voice to discrimination and disability while simultaneously weaving a believable tale of grief, family, hope and healing, Groth has penned an emotionally satisfying read. "

Canadian Children's Book News

"Groth offers readers a thoughtful and ultimately uplifting story about grief and healing, as well as difference and acceptance…[He] skillfully illustrates the personal challenges each person faces in dealing with trauma and loss, and reminds readers that while the journey to healing isn't ever easy or straightforward, time and refocused energy can lessen the pain."

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award Jury

"The novel deals realistically with very difficult situations…Readers will learn a great deal about coping with grief, dealing with psychological problems, working with special needs adults, and facing responsibilities in life."

Resource Links

"Exceptionally fine; Groth writes with knowledge, compassion, maturity of vision and piercing humour. His characters, created with warmth and depth—from major to minor—are idiosyncratic and lively. It is Groth's deft evocation of Munro's self-aware narration and the voices in his head that powerfully propels the novel."

Vancouver Sun

"This book exceeded my expectations with very simple to read writing, excellently plotted twist, and strong friendships with fantastic characters."

Mariam's Yummy Books blog

"A great tale about friendship and open-mindedness, and accepting differences in others."

award-winning author of Optimists Die First Susin Nielsen

"Munro vs. the Coyote is an engaging read—one in which teenagers facing loss, personal anguish, or negative self-talk may find familiarity and comfort."

Quill & Quire

"[Groth] portrays all his characters as multifaceted and flawed individuals, while still capturing the undeniable transformative power of helping others."

The Globe and Mail

Authentic, intense emotion drives the story.

The Horn Book Online

"Engrossing, entertaining and uplifting…This book will strike a chord and shift perspectives for many readers while it entertains them. Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine

"Groth's novel is an unassuming look at survivor's guilt. Munro is a likable character, and all the new friends he makes are quirky and well-drawn supporters in his journey to recovery. A welcome addition to realistic-fiction collections."

Booklist

"A celebration of all that makes us weird, wonderful, and unique. Groth creates characters who learn resilience in the face of grief and discrimination and does it with the perfect balance of humour and heart."

bestselling author of With Malice Eileen Cook

"Munro's journey is compelling and his voice believable."

Canadian Literature

"In addition to some laugh-out-loud humour, this page-turner has some heart-wrenching moments...It is a richly layered book about love, the tenacity of the human spirit, and our capacity to mend. Darren Groth is a brilliant storyteller...A delight to review."

BC Bookworld

"Groth's novel is an unassuming look at survivor's guilt. Munro is a likable character, and all the new friends he makes are quirky and well-drawn supporters in his journey to recovery. A welcome addition to realistic-fiction collections."

Booklist

"In addition to some laugh-out-loud humour, this page-turner has some heart-wrenching moments...It is a richly layered book about love, the tenacity of the human spirit, and our capacity to mend. Darren Groth is a brilliant storyteller...This book was a delight to review."

The Ormsby Review

"A celebration of all that makes us weird, wonderful, and unique. Groth creates characters who learn resilience in the face of grief and discrimination and does it with the perfect balance of humour and heart."

bestselling author of With Malic Eileen Cook

09/01/2017
Gr 10 Up—When Canadian teenager Munro decides to participate in a student exchange program in Australia, he brings along an unwanted, omnipresent guest—the "Coyote." Coyote unhelpfully chimes in whenever Munro begins to believe he has regained some sort of clarity and happiness after the unexpected death of his little sister, Evie. As Munro begins a volunteer program at Fair Go, an assisted-living facility for adults with special needs, he finds a deeper purpose and conviction. Coyote, however, still does his best to waylay the teen's intentions and cast doubt—is Munro directly responsible for Evie's death? Can he forgive himself, if so? As the protagonist grapples with these questions, he is treated to a fascinating tour of Brisbane, Australia, through the eyes of a group of individuals from Fair Go. Munro is a likable character, foibles and all—many teens will relate to his challenges and the underlying issues of guilt and mental illness. Groth's realistic novel is a can't-put-it-down read. Young adults will root for Munro to defeat Coyote and find peace. The mature language often borders on distraction, but most readers will find Munro's coping with death fascinating and relevant. VERDICT Recommended for fans of The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner and Winger by Andrew Smith; this book will fly off the shelves.—Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston

School Library Journal

2017-07-17
Groth, a former special education teacher, introduces readers to a sympathetic main character who is trying to move through trauma and to a sparkling supporting cast that gives voice to disability. White Canadian 16-year-old Munro Maddux is trying to free himself from the Coyote, which is what he calls the thoughts in his head that constantly remind him of all his failings—in particular, how he failed to save his 13-year-old sister, Evie, who had Down syndrome and a heart defect, from dying the year before. A student exchange program to Australia is just the ticket toward healing, and Munro hopes that when he returns home he'll have left the Coyote Down Under. As he gets to know his host family and starts volunteering at Fair Go Community Village, connecting with its special needs residents, his plan seems to be working. But is the Coyote gone or just prowling? Readers may find Munro's journey and character development awfully linear, but his first-person narration is strong (both sassy and heart-wrenching) and the thoughtful handling of trauma and difference, both genuine and relevant. Characters that will steal readers' hearts with their humor and resilience, smooth writing, and a satisfying and hopeful ending make this a book to enjoy both emotionally and critically. (Fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews