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Coyote Winds
First Place for Historical Fiction, Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2013
Honorable Mention, Young Adult Fiction, 2013 Green Book Festival
Lexile Score HL (High Low) 690L
“An engaging story which broaches serious questions about family, the American spirit and hope. “ Foreword Five-Star Review
When thirteen year old Myles brings home an injured coyote pup, his father warns him—something as wild as a coyote can’t be trusted. Land is the only sure thing.
His father is wrong.
Set on the American western prairie in the years leading up to the Dust Bowl, this historical novel follows the adventures of Myles and his coyote, Ro as they hunt rabbits and dodge tornadoes. Meanwhile men like his father are turning the prairie into the world’s breadbasket. The American Dream is within reach. But when drought hits, Myles watches his father’s dreams disappear in the wind.
Seventy years later, Myles’s grandson Andy feels trapped by his safe, suburban routine. His mother charts his grades and packs hand sanitizer in his back pack. All she talks about is consequences. Dreams, she warns, bring only heartache like the Dust Bowl. Wanting more out of life, Andy sets out to discover what is left of his grandfather’s wild prairie.
This young adult historical novel explores the American can-do spirit that drew families to the rugged frontier, and it asks whether that spirit has survived the challenges of the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the years since.
What people are saying about COYOTE WINDS…
“An engrossing account of hardscrabble life in Colorado at the dawning of the Dust Bowl era, as seen through the eyes of a wise-cracking 1920s farm boy, an injured coyote pup, and a disgruntled, 21st century teenager. The story transports readers to a bygone day when dreams died hard and indomitable spirits struggled to endure. “ --David Schweidel, author of Confidence of the Heart and What Men Call Treasure
“In this fresh, affectionate, and poignant novel, Sedwick brings to vivid life the story of two boys connecting across decades with plucky independence and unexpected courage. Pages turn like the Coyote Winds, unfolding a gritty tale of endurance, love, and a touch of magic that will hold young and old in its spell.” --Joanne Meschery, author of Home and Away
“Coyote Winds is engaging and provocative. The book tells the story of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl in a way that encourages readers to think, and to want to know more. It helps us to understand both the harshness and the beauty of farm life on the southern Plains.” --Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, History Professor and Chair, Iowa State University, author of Rooted in Dust and Always Plenty to Do, and contributor to Ken Burns’ film, The Dust Bowl
"There are days when I tire of being a reviewer, but then along comes a book like Coyote Winds that makes me feel excited about my role. Coyote Winds is a bittersweet story, full of sadness and hope." Allison Hunter, Allison's Book Bag
"Coyote Winds is a vivid and beautiful portrait of two very different worlds. Andy’s modern day existence couldn’t be more different than the wide open promise of Vona, CO that Myles and his family approach, but the stories merge brilliantly. Helen Sedwick pens this story so well that I could see the Vincent farm, hear the chickens pecking at kernels and feel the coyote winds blowing across my face. " -- Compulsion Reads 5 Star Review and part of its Irresistible Collection.
Honorable Mention, Young Adult Fiction, 2013 Green Book Festival
Lexile Score HL (High Low) 690L
“An engaging story which broaches serious questions about family, the American spirit and hope. “ Foreword Five-Star Review
When thirteen year old Myles brings home an injured coyote pup, his father warns him—something as wild as a coyote can’t be trusted. Land is the only sure thing.
His father is wrong.
Set on the American western prairie in the years leading up to the Dust Bowl, this historical novel follows the adventures of Myles and his coyote, Ro as they hunt rabbits and dodge tornadoes. Meanwhile men like his father are turning the prairie into the world’s breadbasket. The American Dream is within reach. But when drought hits, Myles watches his father’s dreams disappear in the wind.
Seventy years later, Myles’s grandson Andy feels trapped by his safe, suburban routine. His mother charts his grades and packs hand sanitizer in his back pack. All she talks about is consequences. Dreams, she warns, bring only heartache like the Dust Bowl. Wanting more out of life, Andy sets out to discover what is left of his grandfather’s wild prairie.
This young adult historical novel explores the American can-do spirit that drew families to the rugged frontier, and it asks whether that spirit has survived the challenges of the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the years since.
What people are saying about COYOTE WINDS…
“An engrossing account of hardscrabble life in Colorado at the dawning of the Dust Bowl era, as seen through the eyes of a wise-cracking 1920s farm boy, an injured coyote pup, and a disgruntled, 21st century teenager. The story transports readers to a bygone day when dreams died hard and indomitable spirits struggled to endure. “ --David Schweidel, author of Confidence of the Heart and What Men Call Treasure
“In this fresh, affectionate, and poignant novel, Sedwick brings to vivid life the story of two boys connecting across decades with plucky independence and unexpected courage. Pages turn like the Coyote Winds, unfolding a gritty tale of endurance, love, and a touch of magic that will hold young and old in its spell.” --Joanne Meschery, author of Home and Away
“Coyote Winds is engaging and provocative. The book tells the story of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl in a way that encourages readers to think, and to want to know more. It helps us to understand both the harshness and the beauty of farm life on the southern Plains.” --Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, History Professor and Chair, Iowa State University, author of Rooted in Dust and Always Plenty to Do, and contributor to Ken Burns’ film, The Dust Bowl
"There are days when I tire of being a reviewer, but then along comes a book like Coyote Winds that makes me feel excited about my role. Coyote Winds is a bittersweet story, full of sadness and hope." Allison Hunter, Allison's Book Bag
"Coyote Winds is a vivid and beautiful portrait of two very different worlds. Andy’s modern day existence couldn’t be more different than the wide open promise of Vona, CO that Myles and his family approach, but the stories merge brilliantly. Helen Sedwick pens this story so well that I could see the Vincent farm, hear the chickens pecking at kernels and feel the coyote winds blowing across my face. " -- Compulsion Reads 5 Star Review and part of its Irresistible Collection.
244 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2012
9 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Helen Sedwick
8 books26 followersAuthor and University of Chicago Law School graduate, Helen Sedwick has represented small businesses and entrepreneurs for 30 years. Her self-published historical novel Coyote Winds has earned five-star reviews from ForeWord Reviews and is an IndieBRAG Medallion Honoree. Publisher’s Weekly lists her Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook as one of the top five resource books for independent authors. Helen is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Alliance of Independent Authors and a Contributing Writer for TheBookDesigner.com and BookWorks.com. Helen’s blog coaches writers on everything from saving on taxes to avoiding scams. For more information about Helen, check out her website at http://helensedwick.com
From the Author: I grew up in the wilds of New York City before there were coyotes in Central Park. My parents were theater people, and for many summers we operated a summer stock theater in the Poconos. From those theater years and from reading countless books, I fell in love with the power of the story to make us laugh, learn, love and cry. I majored in English at Cornell University and spent several years as an advertising copywriter. When I grew tired of being broke, I attended University of Chicago Law School, then moved to San Francisco where I have practiced business law for almost thirty years and raised my twin daughters.
COYOTE WINDS was inspired by my father's stories of growing up during the Dust Bowl.
My second book SELF-PUBLISHER'S LEGAL HANDBOOK was inspired by self-publishing authors taking control of their creative careers. I want to help writers publish and market their work while minimizing legal risks.
From the Author: I grew up in the wilds of New York City before there were coyotes in Central Park. My parents were theater people, and for many summers we operated a summer stock theater in the Poconos. From those theater years and from reading countless books, I fell in love with the power of the story to make us laugh, learn, love and cry. I majored in English at Cornell University and spent several years as an advertising copywriter. When I grew tired of being broke, I attended University of Chicago Law School, then moved to San Francisco where I have practiced business law for almost thirty years and raised my twin daughters.
COYOTE WINDS was inspired by my father's stories of growing up during the Dust Bowl.
My second book SELF-PUBLISHER'S LEGAL HANDBOOK was inspired by self-publishing authors taking control of their creative careers. I want to help writers publish and market their work while minimizing legal risks.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 24, 2015
Well, I picked up Coyote Winds because its author is to speak at a meet-up I'd planned to attend tomorrow (though, I will not be). I am, at this juncture, one of a very small handful of readers to review this book on Goodreads and I've got to agree with the others, this is just a wonderful read. Now, I just finished the amazing
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
so the odds against me being swept away by a book from an unknown author were steep. Nonetheless, I loved this book - I probably cried my way through the last quarter of it.
The dialog is often pedestrian, and the sentiments saccharine, but it is a beautiful book filled with trenchant, often heart-rending prose and insightful commentary about the settlement of the American West, specifically, eastern Colorado around 1930. Sedwick balances two stories, past and present, with aplomb and her chapters from the POV of the coyote border, at times, on the brilliant. Admittedly, I have a soft spot for stories about this area and era, as my entire family, paternal and maternal, hails from there. Regardless, I feel confident in recommending this book to anyone with an interest in the setting. If this is Helen Sedwick's debut, she has much to offer going forward. Coyote Winds is a wonderful and engaging read that moved me deeply and I'll be looking for more from this writer.
The dialog is often pedestrian, and the sentiments saccharine, but it is a beautiful book filled with trenchant, often heart-rending prose and insightful commentary about the settlement of the American West, specifically, eastern Colorado around 1930. Sedwick balances two stories, past and present, with aplomb and her chapters from the POV of the coyote border, at times, on the brilliant. Admittedly, I have a soft spot for stories about this area and era, as my entire family, paternal and maternal, hails from there. Regardless, I feel confident in recommending this book to anyone with an interest in the setting. If this is Helen Sedwick's debut, she has much to offer going forward. Coyote Winds is a wonderful and engaging read that moved me deeply and I'll be looking for more from this writer.
July 25, 2013
As soon as the baby coyote is rescued by the boy, I’m sure it’s going to die. Isn’t that the way it always happens in young adult books—so much so that my youngest son refused to read any books with animals on the front because “they always die.” But Coyote Winds defies the rules and begins with the grandfather’s death, not the pet’s. Now Andie is left with promise he can’t keep, a boxful of someone else’s memories, and a haunting feeling that he’ll never be who his parents want him to be.
Coyote Winds is a tale of the wild—wild land, wild animals, and the wildness that sets a person free. Little Ro’s never tame, but he wins over hearts as the story progresses. Fierce loyalty, wild nature, and willing captivity combine to make him a quietly unsung hero as the tale of two boys progresses, one in the present day wilderness of teachers' tests and parental expectations, the other on the Plains of Colorado as the dustbowl advances. Neither boy’s future seems certain. Neither’s parents seem to understand. And neither child is perfect or even overly good and loyal. But a thread of hope runs through both stories like the song of the Coyote Wind, even as Andrew wonders why his grandfather left the farm and why his mother won’t talk about it. The sadness of the grandfather’s death is softened by the wonders of his life (and his incessant jokes!). And a teenager’s lonely tameness slowly changes as he starts to find his place in the world and his role in family.
Coyote Winds is a beautiful book which evokes past and present with ease, hides well-researched information in very natural character and plot, creates three vivid and clear points of view for its protagonists, and keeps the reader glued to the page as lands and peoples change. It’s highly recommended for middle grade and the young at heart—and even those older and ever-nervously worried parents among us.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel with a request for my honest review during its tour.
Coyote Winds is a tale of the wild—wild land, wild animals, and the wildness that sets a person free. Little Ro’s never tame, but he wins over hearts as the story progresses. Fierce loyalty, wild nature, and willing captivity combine to make him a quietly unsung hero as the tale of two boys progresses, one in the present day wilderness of teachers' tests and parental expectations, the other on the Plains of Colorado as the dustbowl advances. Neither boy’s future seems certain. Neither’s parents seem to understand. And neither child is perfect or even overly good and loyal. But a thread of hope runs through both stories like the song of the Coyote Wind, even as Andrew wonders why his grandfather left the farm and why his mother won’t talk about it. The sadness of the grandfather’s death is softened by the wonders of his life (and his incessant jokes!). And a teenager’s lonely tameness slowly changes as he starts to find his place in the world and his role in family.
Coyote Winds is a beautiful book which evokes past and present with ease, hides well-researched information in very natural character and plot, creates three vivid and clear points of view for its protagonists, and keeps the reader glued to the page as lands and peoples change. It’s highly recommended for middle grade and the young at heart—and even those older and ever-nervously worried parents among us.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel with a request for my honest review during its tour.
November 26, 2013
Sedwick's novel alternates between the stories of two boys, Andy, a suburban kid in Evanston, Illinois, and his grandfather Myles, who grew up during the Dust Bowl on the Colorado prairies. Andy has grown up with grandpa's stories about growing up on a farm during the Depression, as well as his corny jokes; now that his grandpa has recently died, Andy wants to discover his grandpa's world. First he does so through a box of mementos and writings from his grandfather, and later first-hand by traveling to the old homestead.
Through Myles' story, Sedwick skillfully recreates the Colorado prairies, where farmers believed that with enough hard work and modern farming methods, they could realize the American dream of prosperity for themselves and their families. Or is the prairie the farmer's enemy, trying to take back what belongs to it? Myles' story starts in 1930, when as a thirteen-year old, he rescues a half-blind coyote pup who's lost in a dust storm, taking the coyote home to raise. Coyotes were the enemies of the farmers, who shot them if they caught them near their livestock. Nonetheless, Myles is determined to raise and tame the pup, much like his father is trying to tame the wild prairie landscape. Sedgwick occasionally switches gears to narrate the action from the point of view of the coyote, who she is careful not to treat as a human character, but instead as an animal who remains half-wild.
Sedwick's novel succeeds in capturing the imagination of the reader with appealing characters, the spirit of adventure in the West, and the adversity of life during the Dust Bowl. We see this through the eyes of Andy, Myles' grandson, who stands in for the young reader. It's a novel I had a hard time putting down.
Helen Sedwick's novel was inspired by her father's stories of growing up on the prairie in the 1930's. An excerpt from the novel can be found at her website.
Through Myles' story, Sedwick skillfully recreates the Colorado prairies, where farmers believed that with enough hard work and modern farming methods, they could realize the American dream of prosperity for themselves and their families. Or is the prairie the farmer's enemy, trying to take back what belongs to it? Myles' story starts in 1930, when as a thirteen-year old, he rescues a half-blind coyote pup who's lost in a dust storm, taking the coyote home to raise. Coyotes were the enemies of the farmers, who shot them if they caught them near their livestock. Nonetheless, Myles is determined to raise and tame the pup, much like his father is trying to tame the wild prairie landscape. Sedgwick occasionally switches gears to narrate the action from the point of view of the coyote, who she is careful not to treat as a human character, but instead as an animal who remains half-wild.
Sedwick's novel succeeds in capturing the imagination of the reader with appealing characters, the spirit of adventure in the West, and the adversity of life during the Dust Bowl. We see this through the eyes of Andy, Myles' grandson, who stands in for the young reader. It's a novel I had a hard time putting down.
Helen Sedwick's novel was inspired by her father's stories of growing up on the prairie in the 1930's. An excerpt from the novel can be found at her website.
May 31, 2019
Surprise and Delight
If a book doesn’t catch me in the first couple of chapters, I will move on to something else. I was close to doing that with this book, but something compelled me to keep reading. Then the story blossomed and grew into something much greater than I thought it could be. It is a coming to terms with man, land, and creation.
If a book doesn’t catch me in the first couple of chapters, I will move on to something else. I was close to doing that with this book, but something compelled me to keep reading. Then the story blossomed and grew into something much greater than I thought it could be. It is a coming to terms with man, land, and creation.
May 12, 2019
I really liked the coyote puppy and his loyalty.
May 20, 2013
I am fascinated with history, so when I was contacted to review Coyote Winds, I jumped at the chance. The story is told through alternating POVs (including a coyote’s), and Myles is experiencing the Dust Bowl first hand. His grandson, Andy, is desperately trying to understand his grandfather’s stories of life on the prairie. Andy feels like he is nothing but a disappointment to his overachieving attorney parents, and he is struggling in school. He can’t seem to connect with his peers or his classes. After his grandfather’s death leaves a hole the size of the prairie in his heart, Andy attempts to reconcile his grandfather’s tales with what life on the prairie in the 1930s was really like. Conflicting accounts his great aunt told his mother puzzle him, and for a boy who didn’t like reading, Andy was suddenly all about researching what his grandfather and his family endured on their homestead. I loved how Andy kept insisting that it’s his story, too, and his mother’s story, after she shuts down and doesn’t want to talk about it anymore.
It took me a while to warm up to Andy and his segments of the story. But before I knew it, I was invested in the lives of all of the characters in Coyote Winds. By the end of the book, I shocked by how much I had come to like them. The more I think about it, the more moved I am by this story. It is raw and uncompromising at times, and Myles’ accounts of his childhood experiences are unflinchingly truthful. From brutal rabbit hunts to disputes with the neighbor over proper farming techniques, Myles’ narrative POV is both unemotional and free of embellishment. He’s just telling it like it is. As he begins to realize how primitive life on the farm is, with no electricity or running water, he begins to question his father’s dedication to farming. Is he just stubborn? Can’t he see how difficult life in the middle of no where is, and how unhappy his mother and sister are? While Myles loves the land, he longs for something more.
Ro, the coyote pup Myles rescues after a dust storm, also shares the story through his eyes. His point of view didn’t work as well for me, because I was so stressed that Bad Things would happen to him. His chapters left me sad and depressed, because he kept longing for the things he would never have; a life among his own kind, and his brothers and sisters to play with. His human pack didn’t understand him, and when Myles, in an effort to protect both his friend and Ro, chases him off, my heart broke for the little guy.
By the end of the book I was sobbing. I don’t know why, other than each character had come to life for me, and had come to mean something to me. Even the people I thought I couldn’t stand had shining moments of insight that made me understand their stance on farming and raising their families. This is a book of broken dreams, but it’s also a story of hope and the courage to attempt to make changes in your life. While the farmland was harsh to Myles and his family, it was healing to Andy and his parents, and brought them closer together.
Grade: B+
It took me a while to warm up to Andy and his segments of the story. But before I knew it, I was invested in the lives of all of the characters in Coyote Winds. By the end of the book, I shocked by how much I had come to like them. The more I think about it, the more moved I am by this story. It is raw and uncompromising at times, and Myles’ accounts of his childhood experiences are unflinchingly truthful. From brutal rabbit hunts to disputes with the neighbor over proper farming techniques, Myles’ narrative POV is both unemotional and free of embellishment. He’s just telling it like it is. As he begins to realize how primitive life on the farm is, with no electricity or running water, he begins to question his father’s dedication to farming. Is he just stubborn? Can’t he see how difficult life in the middle of no where is, and how unhappy his mother and sister are? While Myles loves the land, he longs for something more.
Ro, the coyote pup Myles rescues after a dust storm, also shares the story through his eyes. His point of view didn’t work as well for me, because I was so stressed that Bad Things would happen to him. His chapters left me sad and depressed, because he kept longing for the things he would never have; a life among his own kind, and his brothers and sisters to play with. His human pack didn’t understand him, and when Myles, in an effort to protect both his friend and Ro, chases him off, my heart broke for the little guy.
By the end of the book I was sobbing. I don’t know why, other than each character had come to life for me, and had come to mean something to me. Even the people I thought I couldn’t stand had shining moments of insight that made me understand their stance on farming and raising their families. This is a book of broken dreams, but it’s also a story of hope and the courage to attempt to make changes in your life. While the farmland was harsh to Myles and his family, it was healing to Andy and his parents, and brought them closer together.
Grade: B+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2013
3.5 stars
Did I enjoy this book: I really did. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but this book surprised me.
When a book switches between narrators, it can sometimes be confusing. When it also switches between time periods, it can be even more confusing. When the book throws in an animal’s point of view, your head can spin. While Coyote Winds has two human narrators about a century apart plus a coyote’s point of view, I was not at all confused. In fact, I enjoyed the book even more so because of this.
My favorite narrator was Ro, the coyote. To see the west through his eyes was truly something. I really liked Ro. He made me care about Myles and his family. Ro made me see the farmlands of Colorado, the family, the other animals. Ro was partially blinded as a pup during a dust storm. When Myles’s father, Lionel, wanted to kill the pup, Myles stopped him and decided he would domesticate the coyote pup. Needless to say, Myles succeeded and a friendship like no other was formed. Ro cared about Myles and his family. He missed his pack but he found a fierce loyalty to his new pack. One of my absolute favorite scenes was between Ro and the hog, Spark Plug. I could see it play out in my mind, and it made me chuckle out loud.
The other narrators in Coyote Winds are Myles and Andy. Myles is the young boy growing up in Colorado during the Dust Bowl. Andy is Myles’s grandson and the keeper of his stories. Myles asked Andy to write down all of his stories so that they would live on after he was gone. Andy took this task to heart, though reluctantly at first. But the stories started to take hold of him. I could tell that Andy really started to embrace Myles’s stories and life. He wanted to experience more of it.
Myles didn’t seem quite as prominent despite being a narrator. His story showed us aspects of his entire family. Through Myles, we learn of Lionel’s determined spirit to work the land and provide for his family. We learn about Shirley’s devotion to her husband yet dislike of the dust. We learn about Clare’s desire to be more. Through Myles we also learn about their neighbors, Herbert and Tommy. Myles is the voice of everyone in the 30s in Vona, Colorado. I really enjoyed Myles’s jokes sprinkled throughout the book. They were corny, but they made me laugh.
This was a great read about a time period that I am not that familiar with. Yes, I’ve learned about the Dust Bowl. But I don’t remember every truly learning about how rough it was and how the people worked hard to survive it.
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book, especially if you like historical books about the 1920s and 1930s. I will also have my sons read this when they get into their teens.
Will I read it again: I will not.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2013/05/re...
Did I enjoy this book: I really did. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but this book surprised me.
When a book switches between narrators, it can sometimes be confusing. When it also switches between time periods, it can be even more confusing. When the book throws in an animal’s point of view, your head can spin. While Coyote Winds has two human narrators about a century apart plus a coyote’s point of view, I was not at all confused. In fact, I enjoyed the book even more so because of this.
My favorite narrator was Ro, the coyote. To see the west through his eyes was truly something. I really liked Ro. He made me care about Myles and his family. Ro made me see the farmlands of Colorado, the family, the other animals. Ro was partially blinded as a pup during a dust storm. When Myles’s father, Lionel, wanted to kill the pup, Myles stopped him and decided he would domesticate the coyote pup. Needless to say, Myles succeeded and a friendship like no other was formed. Ro cared about Myles and his family. He missed his pack but he found a fierce loyalty to his new pack. One of my absolute favorite scenes was between Ro and the hog, Spark Plug. I could see it play out in my mind, and it made me chuckle out loud.
The other narrators in Coyote Winds are Myles and Andy. Myles is the young boy growing up in Colorado during the Dust Bowl. Andy is Myles’s grandson and the keeper of his stories. Myles asked Andy to write down all of his stories so that they would live on after he was gone. Andy took this task to heart, though reluctantly at first. But the stories started to take hold of him. I could tell that Andy really started to embrace Myles’s stories and life. He wanted to experience more of it.
Myles didn’t seem quite as prominent despite being a narrator. His story showed us aspects of his entire family. Through Myles, we learn of Lionel’s determined spirit to work the land and provide for his family. We learn about Shirley’s devotion to her husband yet dislike of the dust. We learn about Clare’s desire to be more. Through Myles we also learn about their neighbors, Herbert and Tommy. Myles is the voice of everyone in the 30s in Vona, Colorado. I really enjoyed Myles’s jokes sprinkled throughout the book. They were corny, but they made me laugh.
This was a great read about a time period that I am not that familiar with. Yes, I’ve learned about the Dust Bowl. But I don’t remember every truly learning about how rough it was and how the people worked hard to survive it.
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book, especially if you like historical books about the 1920s and 1930s. I will also have my sons read this when they get into their teens.
Will I read it again: I will not.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2013/05/re...
May 26, 2013
Andy Vincent-McKay is an underperforming suburban teen who suffers beneath the expectations of demanding, helicopter parents. He doesn’t have movie star looks; he doesn’t know how to fit in at school; and he definitely doesn’t know how to fulfill the promise he made to his grandfather, Myles Vincent, to write down the story of Vona, Colorado and the coyote winds.
Coyote Winds seamlessly blends Andy’s modern-day struggles with the story of Myles and his family as they worked their small farm in Vona and watched it all blow away, along with so much else during the darkest days of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
The two stories are connected by the shared blood between Andy and Myles and the new purpose and strength that Andy discovers within himself as he digs deeper to uncover the story of Myles and the coyote winds that stop for no man.
Coyote Winds is a vivid and beautiful portrait of two very different worlds. Andy’s modern day existence couldn’t be more different than the wide open promise of Vona, CO that Myles and his family approach, but the stories merge brilliantly. Helen Sedwick pens this story so well that I could see the Vincent farm, hear the chickens pecking at kernels and feel the coyote winds blowing across my face.
This book pulled me into its grip in the first chapter and didn’t let go. I couldn’t help but sympathize with Andy’s plight and understand intuitively the juxtaposition of his overly-sheltered life with the broad freedom Myles experienced over 70 years earlier even as he and his family faced the heart-wrenching ruin of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.
Coyote Winds is a must-read. Its simple beauty struck a deep chord within me that is still humming with the sound of the coyote winds.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
Coyote Winds seamlessly blends Andy’s modern-day struggles with the story of Myles and his family as they worked their small farm in Vona and watched it all blow away, along with so much else during the darkest days of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
The two stories are connected by the shared blood between Andy and Myles and the new purpose and strength that Andy discovers within himself as he digs deeper to uncover the story of Myles and the coyote winds that stop for no man.
Coyote Winds is a vivid and beautiful portrait of two very different worlds. Andy’s modern day existence couldn’t be more different than the wide open promise of Vona, CO that Myles and his family approach, but the stories merge brilliantly. Helen Sedwick pens this story so well that I could see the Vincent farm, hear the chickens pecking at kernels and feel the coyote winds blowing across my face.
This book pulled me into its grip in the first chapter and didn’t let go. I couldn’t help but sympathize with Andy’s plight and understand intuitively the juxtaposition of his overly-sheltered life with the broad freedom Myles experienced over 70 years earlier even as he and his family faced the heart-wrenching ruin of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.
Coyote Winds is a must-read. Its simple beauty struck a deep chord within me that is still humming with the sound of the coyote winds.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
July 19, 2013
It’s not often that I feel strongly enough to give a book five stars, but this book ranks among the best middle-grade historical fiction novels I’ve read. One measure of a book is its engagement with readers of all ages and I was as entranced by this story as any pre-teen boy might be.
Through the eyes of two boys, the story line bounces back and forth between 2002 and the 1930s, when Middle America was turning to dust and livelihoods were blown away with the topsoil. The protagonists are teenage: Andy the grandson of Myles Vincent, and Myles at age thirteen in 1930. The juxtaposition of their two lives is only one of the factors that makes this story intriguing as well as didactic.
When Myles saves a coyote pup during a huge dust storm, the boy’s character comes to life and we join the incredibly hard times of a family scratching a living from the soil in an environment that seems personally hostile. More than seventy years later, against the background of this narrative, his grandson begins the process of learning who he is. Their stories intertwine like cords in a rope.
The most surprising voice in the story comes from Ro, the coyote pup that Myles bonds with. It’s not only novel, but informative to see the Vincent family and their neighbors through his eyes. The boy’s relationship with the coyote takes me back to Eric Knight’s Lassie and Albert Payson Terhune’s rough collies at SunnyBank.
The author has done a vast amount of research to make life in the Midwest dust bowl authentic and it shows. She also displays a command of language that makes the book a joy to read. I have been concerned about our young American boys’ disinterest in reading and the negative effect it has on their education, careers and lives. I write for those boys and clearly, this author does, too. I enthusiastically recommend this book for pre-teen boys and everyone else.
May 7, 2013
First, thank you to Julia Drake for sending me this book for review. Not only did she send me a copy for myself, she also sent me a copy for the middle school library where I work! That was really nice! Also, thank you to the author, Helen Sedwick, for writing a guest post for the blog...look for that at the end of the post - it's great information!
I am not a big reader of historical fiction, I admit. But, I was quickly drawn into this story. I loved how the chapters alternate between 3 different characters - Andy, a modern day boy who is intent on keeping his beloved grandfather's memories alive; Myles, the grandfather (when he was about the same age as Andy), and Ro, Myles' coyote pup. I don't think I've read a book that not only has narrative from humans AND animals, but also takes place in 2 different time periods as well. You might think this would make things confusing, but Sedwick did a wonderful job in making everything flow perfectly.
I loved Andy - I loved that he loved and admired his grandfather so much that he wanted to learn everything he could about how he grew up. He was desperate not to forget all the stories that his grandfather told him. He even takes a very risky journey to the place where Myles grew up, hundreds of miles away. I loved learning about the Dust Bowl through the eyes of Myles. Living in Oklahoma, I have heard a lot about this scary time, but Myles' story made me understand more about emotional or human side. Ro's perspectives were also a lot of fun to read. You think of coyotes as wild animals that are dangerous to humans, but Ro makes it clear that this isn't always the case. He was a loyal protector to Myles and his family.
This book is directed to a middle grade audience, but I recommend this heartwarming book to anyone!
I am not a big reader of historical fiction, I admit. But, I was quickly drawn into this story. I loved how the chapters alternate between 3 different characters - Andy, a modern day boy who is intent on keeping his beloved grandfather's memories alive; Myles, the grandfather (when he was about the same age as Andy), and Ro, Myles' coyote pup. I don't think I've read a book that not only has narrative from humans AND animals, but also takes place in 2 different time periods as well. You might think this would make things confusing, but Sedwick did a wonderful job in making everything flow perfectly.
I loved Andy - I loved that he loved and admired his grandfather so much that he wanted to learn everything he could about how he grew up. He was desperate not to forget all the stories that his grandfather told him. He even takes a very risky journey to the place where Myles grew up, hundreds of miles away. I loved learning about the Dust Bowl through the eyes of Myles. Living in Oklahoma, I have heard a lot about this scary time, but Myles' story made me understand more about emotional or human side. Ro's perspectives were also a lot of fun to read. You think of coyotes as wild animals that are dangerous to humans, but Ro makes it clear that this isn't always the case. He was a loyal protector to Myles and his family.
This book is directed to a middle grade audience, but I recommend this heartwarming book to anyone!
August 17, 2013
I received a copy of Coyote Winds as part of a goodreads giveaway. Helen Sedwick signed the book, enclosed a Coyote Winds bookmark, and even added a note saying that she hoped I would enjoy the book. What a nice personal touch!
The novel is a fine example of historical fiction. Sedwick successfully navigates between the drought-stricken Dust Bowl period of the 1930s and Evanston, Illinois in 2002-2003. The main characters in both scenarios are boys in their early teens. This book will be a great supplement to our 8th. grade U.S. History curriculum. Novels of this caliber bring history to life.
Animal lovers will immediately be drawn into the story by Ro the coyote pup. The novel deals with the issues of trying to domesticate a wild animal. I found it wasn't always easy to defend the actions of the humans, but I was always compelled to empathize with Ro.
Sedwick made the coyote winds feel like a character throughout the story. She eloquently described how they steal your soil, press dust into your lungs, and how they may even steal your mind. (p. 135) The winds encompassed the spirits and souls of all those living on the prairie.
Coyote Winds is a novel about challenges, hopes, and dreams. It is about hardships and determination. I highly recommend it.
The novel is a fine example of historical fiction. Sedwick successfully navigates between the drought-stricken Dust Bowl period of the 1930s and Evanston, Illinois in 2002-2003. The main characters in both scenarios are boys in their early teens. This book will be a great supplement to our 8th. grade U.S. History curriculum. Novels of this caliber bring history to life.
Animal lovers will immediately be drawn into the story by Ro the coyote pup. The novel deals with the issues of trying to domesticate a wild animal. I found it wasn't always easy to defend the actions of the humans, but I was always compelled to empathize with Ro.
Sedwick made the coyote winds feel like a character throughout the story. She eloquently described how they steal your soil, press dust into your lungs, and how they may even steal your mind. (p. 135) The winds encompassed the spirits and souls of all those living on the prairie.
Coyote Winds is a novel about challenges, hopes, and dreams. It is about hardships and determination. I highly recommend it.
March 6, 2013
It's about the American Dream. It's about the Dust Bowl (a human-made ecological disaster). It's about the Depression. It's about life on the prairie. It's the story of a boy and his dog (except his dog is a coyote). Oh, it's about a modern suburban boy, too.
What is amazing is how it works on all these levels. Sedwick artfully weaves together the tale of Myles and his coyote, growing up on the Colorado prairie in the early 1930's, and Myles's grandson Andy, growing up in the Chicago suburbs in the 21st Century. She paints a memorable picture of a dream that failed--that of turning marginal land into a breadbasket--and the lives of those who attempted it.
This book would make great reading for a middle school class in English or in American history. But it's not just for young adults. It held my attention from start to finish, with vivid characters I found myself really caring about, and surprising depth as a story of family, friendship, and the American character. Strongly recommended!
What is amazing is how it works on all these levels. Sedwick artfully weaves together the tale of Myles and his coyote, growing up on the Colorado prairie in the early 1930's, and Myles's grandson Andy, growing up in the Chicago suburbs in the 21st Century. She paints a memorable picture of a dream that failed--that of turning marginal land into a breadbasket--and the lives of those who attempted it.
This book would make great reading for a middle school class in English or in American history. But it's not just for young adults. It held my attention from start to finish, with vivid characters I found myself really caring about, and surprising depth as a story of family, friendship, and the American character. Strongly recommended!
March 31, 2016
A young YA book that is beautifully written, showing the parallel lives of two boys from the same family, growing up seventy years apart. The perspective switches between both boys' points of view, plus that of a coyote (who soon captures your heart). The sister and the mother from the 1930s story show an alternate viewpoint to that of the men who want to conquer the land, no matter the cost.
This is an ideal book to teach kids about the Depression from a young teen's point of view. The boys' lives are connected by the history of their family and the history of the land. A wild coyote that the Depression-era boy adopts also binds them together over the decades.
I would also recommend this book for middle grade readers, girl readers, and anyone who loves animals.
This is an ideal book to teach kids about the Depression from a young teen's point of view. The boys' lives are connected by the history of their family and the history of the land. A wild coyote that the Depression-era boy adopts also binds them together over the decades.
I would also recommend this book for middle grade readers, girl readers, and anyone who loves animals.
February 24, 2013
This is a wonderful young adult novel about the devastating drought of the 1930s, which created the "dust bowl". The story is told through three points of view, a contemporary teenage who is trying to understand his grandfather's past, the grandfather as a teenager in the 1930s on a prairie farm in Colorado, and a coyote who the grandfather adopted. It is beautifully written and presents a poignant portrayal of a family's struggles and their love for one another. It would be perfect for classes studying US history during the 1930s.
July 13, 2013
This is a wonderful young adult novel about the devastating drought of the 1930s, which created the "dust bowl". The story is told through three points of view, a contemporary teenage who is trying to understand his grandfather's past, the grandfather as a teenager in the 1930s on a prairie farm in Colorado, and a coyote who the grandfather adopted. It is beautifully written and presents a poignant portrayal of a family's struggles and their love for one another. It would be perfect for classes studying US history during the 1930s.
August 23, 2013
“Only when the gopher fell from the sky . . .” – what a way to grab attention!
With those opening words, I was eager to read the entire story. In the end, I was not disappointed, although I must admit there were times when I thought, “where is this going?” The various narrations caused me to wonder if I should continue to read, yet there was something there which caused me to read on. In the end, I was glad I did. The story came together in a surprising way.
I apologize if some of this sounds vague, but telling more would spoil the story for those who have not read it yet.
With those opening words, I was eager to read the entire story. In the end, I was not disappointed, although I must admit there were times when I thought, “where is this going?” The various narrations caused me to wonder if I should continue to read, yet there was something there which caused me to read on. In the end, I was glad I did. The story came together in a surprising way.
I apologize if some of this sounds vague, but telling more would spoil the story for those who have not read it yet.
October 4, 2013
I received it in a Goodreads giveaway,signed and with a personal note from the author, nice touch. I enjoyed the story of a young man coming of age in two very different eras. The story moves along and keeps your interest in both boys as well as the hardships of life in the early 1930's during the Dust Bowl times.
February 7, 2014
Coyote Winds is a beautiful, spare story. Sedwick weaves together two time frames--the dust bowl years, and the 2000s--skillfully. This book is a cross-over, a good read for both YA and adults. I loved the coyote as a character.
June 7, 2013
I loved this book! It had a great story and great characters! The lessons within it are some that have been lost to today's society. I highly recommend this book.
August 3, 2014
had a hard time getting into this one at first, but when I got into it. I couldn't put it down. beautiful story, characters and lesson.
August 19, 2013
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