King Coyote

by Rachael MeyersJones

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 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 Meyers Jones brings a fresh take to the classic wilderness survival tale.

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2026

Reviews

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Coyote is a middle-grade book for ages 10 and up, exploring mature themes in an age-appropriate way through a story about identity, discovery, and unexpected belonging.

King is taken away from all he knows in the city of Boston to rural Vermont as his parents process the end of their marriage, and he’s understandably angry and confused because he leaves not only his sister behind but the sanctuary that is his parents. I vividly recall the confusion I experienced when my parents' marriage ended, so I believe having a character you can connect with — even regarding everyday events, is extremely valuable. The author shows the conflict King is facing because he’s strong and as mature as a young boy can be, but he’s also a child and he’s frightened by something he doesn’t fully understand.

King is like a square peg in a round hole when it comes to his relatives who he hasn’t seen for a long time and all he wants is to be at home with his friends and family - but it’s not just his family where King doesn’t feel like he belongs. The townsfolk initially stare at him, and show racial bias towards him because of King’s ethnicity, whilst his cousin Nat is treated well for example at the local store - King is treated like he’s trouble and the only difference is how dark his skin is in comparison to Nat. I really liked how Rachael Meyers Jones handles the racism King faces and the brief conversations he has with his uncle over slavery and civil rights which could be used to further conversations with the reader and an adult. The fact the uncle knows exactly what King is going through and points out how owning the land the family lives on is his own revolution made me smile.

I loved the moments where you see King let himself enjoy Vermont with his cousin, and you can practically see the weight lift off him as he becomes carefree for a moment. The worldbuilding of this rural town is showcased perfectly and you can feel the heat of the afternoons and hear the buzzing of insects because it comes to life so well. The adventure really does build though in the latter part of this short read (256 pages) because we get to meet a young wild Coyote whose survival becomes the forefront of the children’s minds. This too has lessons in it because they learn that the humane hunters who the town rely on are far from it. Additionally, there’s the unfortunate lesson that children need to understand that sometimes animals die due to the laws of hierarchy in the wild because the family owns chickens and have to be protected from the many wild coyotes.

This is a great story, with lots going on for young readers to relate to, enjoy and be on the edge of their seat over when things get a little chaotic. King grows throughout the story, and I wanted to hug the boy tightly and reassure him that even if his family changed, it was still a family. I just wonder if that young Coyote did go back to being wild and free after experiencing the kindness of some humans.. But I’ll never know.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting summertime adventures paired with a hard-won coming-of-age story.

King Coyote by Rachael Meyers Jones is a wonderful and exciting summertime coming-of-age story as a pre-teen navigates his parents' impending divorce, loneliness, and a fish-out-of-water stay in rural Vermont. King is twelve years old when he is dropped off for the summer at his cousin's house in Northeast Vermont, while his parents work through the process of separating and setting up two households back home in Boston. When he and Nat were much younger, they had been inseparable: their families even shared a duplex. But when their grandfather had died, Nat's parents had relocated to the family farmstead in Vermont, and the two had not seen each other since. This summer, the cousins are thrust back together and finally have their comfortable relationship restored enough to work through the really big feelings they've both kept tamped down.

King is the engaging main character whose hurt radiates from every pore. It will take the summer and a lot of adventure for him to realize he can't fix the change in his parents' feelings for each other. While reuniting with Nat gives him the sounding board he needs, it is his feeling of responsibility for the small, scraggly coyote he names Coal that eventually pulls him out of his sadness and allows him to gain some perspective.

Intruding on his healing are the awkward encounters with the few white people in the area, who see him as someone to fear because of the color of his skin. His cousin knows what's going on but chooses to look the other way, at first. Nat, the only child of mixed ancestry at her school, had found their attitudes isolating, with most people choosing to ignore her, only seeing her white heritage, while others rudely overstepped basic common boundaries and personal space: a confusing and painful situation for her that her Black father tried to help her understand and overcome. While no answers are found on the teens' adventure into the wilderness, they come away from the experience with more confidence in themselves to handle whatever comes their way in the future.

The description of the Vermont setting and the kids' summertime activities on the mountain are, for the most part, vivid, glorious, and idyllic. Their freedom to roam and relax without cellphones, videogames, and streaming services is a renewal, especially for King, who had much more access to this back in Boston. They gain knowledge, self-reliance, trust, and build resilience from their experiences, but still realize the toll their unexpected and impulsive absence had on their frantic parents.

I recommend KING COYOTE to readers of middle-grade fiction and adventure stories, especially those who enjoy a natural or wilderness setting.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NorthStar Editions and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Twelve-year-old King is not happy. His parents are separating and he must spend the summer with his aunt, uncle and cousin in upstate Vermont. It is a very rural area – no Wi-Fi and they have a landline! His cousin, Nat, is excited for King to spend the summer – the cousins were very close until Nat’s family moved to Vermont. The two of them spend a lot of time in the woods with King learning all about the trees and animals in the area. King encounters racism in the town center but light-skinned Nat is accepted. King want to go home to Boston but then he encounters a very young coyote, apparently on his own, and connects with the seemingly other lonely creature. When King’s aunt and uncle find out, they contact a local trapper to remove the coyote and relocate him. But King and Nat find out that there is an ulterior motive for the trappers and the pup isn’t safe. Will King and Nat be able to use Nat’s wilderness survival techniques to help save the young coyote?

This is a very moving and realistic upper middle grade novel. It is relatively short but fast-paced. As mentioned above, the tweens encounter racism that is difficult for both of them to deal with. King lives in a diverse area of Boston so the vitriol was alarming to him. It is a beautiful coming of age story. I would recommend for readers grade 4 and up.
#KingCoyote #NetGalley

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great wilderness survival book that shows resilience and confidence. King, who’s Black, goes up to northern Vermont for the summer to stay with his cousin Nat and her family. While hiking one day King and Nat come across a coyote’s den. They tell her dad who calls animal trappers who do catch and release. While in a store one day they hear the trappers and realize they aren’t humane trappers. Nat and King try to keep the small coyote who they name Cole away from the trap. One day while hiking again they hear the trap go off and Cole is inside the cage. A storm is coming, but they get Cole and the cage and take off in a canoe. They end up capsizing but find their way to the shore with the coyote. They end up having to camp outside at night foraging for shelter and food. They go to the Canadian border and a sniper sees Cole and shoots him with a tranquilizer dart. King hears them say we might have to put him down. King thinks no we need to save him. What ends up happening? Being Black King faces a few instances of racism while in Vermont.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Lia Anshar · Rating 5 out of 5]

King, a 12-year-old boy, from Boston whose world is turned upside down when his parents separate. He gets sent away to spend the summer in rural Vermont with his aunt, uncle, and cousin Nat. With no Wi-Fi and barely any people who look like him, he feels like a total outsider at first. But everything changes when he meets a lonely young coyote. Seeing himself in the misunderstood animal, King decides he must protect it at all costs.

This book is not just about adventure, it’s about finding where you belong. I loved how the author tackles real-life issues like parents' divorce, identity, and even racial bias in such an honest but age-appropriate way. The conversations King has with his uncle about history, slavery, and civil rights are so powerful and give opportunities for both young readers and adults to talk about.

It’s fast-paced, exciting, and impossible to put down. The descriptions of nature are so vivid that you can almost feel the summer heat! Also, it was fun to watch King grow from an angry kid who just wants to go home into a brave hero, and the friendship between King and Nat is truly adorable.

*Read full review on my blog (link in bio).

[Merry]

Summary
King moves to Vermont from Boston and feels isolated due to the lack of familiar community and amenities. The townspeople are unfriendly, and even his relatives lack Wi-Fi, making him eager to return home. However, a late-night meeting with a lonely coyote changes his perspective. King bonds with the animal, who seems misunderstood like himself. When King’s uncle contacts local trappers to remove the coyote, King faces a dilemma: go back to Boston or stay to protect his new friend.

Inspired by the author Rachael MeyersJones’s own childhood experiences in Vermont, the story follows King’s growth and survival skills with help from Nat, an experienced wilderness explorer. King learns to navigate mountains, encounters wildlife like skunks, and camps outdoors as he seeks a safe place for the coyote. Through this journey, King not only finds a home for the animal but also discovers a sense of belonging for himself.

The narrative offers a fresh perspective on classic wilderness survival themes, emphasizing friendship, courage, and self-discovery.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.75⭐️
A heartwarming story of identity, discovery and belonging. I really enjoyed this, the descriptions are so vivid that even though I've never stepped foot in Vermont I could picture it perfectly.
King and Nat have a lovely dynamic and I enjoyed the banter between them. However the 'chicken nuggets' catchphrase got annoying quickly.
I really empathised with King through the difficulties he faced with racism. It is so important to highlight this, especially for younger audiences. The discussion guide at the end of the book had some thought provoking questions that had me going back to reflect more on the text and will definitely be beneficial for younger audiences.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👦🏻 review: This realistic fiction is definitely stunning. The real issues discussed in this book tend to focus on the reality surrounding many people everywhere. What King experienced triggered him to want to go back to Boston and I don’t blame him at all. Also for King to strike an unusual balance with Coyote gave the story a new meaningful spin. I was taken aback by the way the story was yet the reality can be cumbersome to read. Do you think the book is telling us what we need to know and be aware of the truth evolving into something more than what we are capable of dealing with? Absolutely an amazing book to read and learn how to be in King’s shoe for a day.

[Catherine Arguelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

KING COYOTE is the perfect middle grade combination of authentic coming-of-age story and exciting survival story with just the right amount of stakes! I loved reading about King's struggles to find his place as well as his riveting adventures in the wilderness with his plucky cousin Nat. MeyersJones deftly handles issues of racism as well as controversies over handling wild animals and complicated family situations. This is a perfect book for middle grade readers looking for adventure and relatable characters. KING COYOTE has so much going on, I couldn't put it down!

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate the author adding a discussion guide at the end.
This is a very emotional journey, not just with the tension and dealing with the wilderness as kids on their own, but navigating the different issues (family) divorce, change, racism, what it means when people say "real Black People." The author possesses great skill in creating the right mood through dialogue, making scenes both very funny and very emotional.
Did you know wood sorrel is different from clover? I learned how to differentiate them. Yay!

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD. This book deals with challenging topics in such an accessible, age-appropriate, and beautiful way. Rachael MeyersJones is telling stories that need to be told.

“It has taught him how the land could take care of out of you were willing to listen, learn, and treat nature with respect and care. He would take what he learned with him no matter where he was, and he’d always remember these woods. These were his woods, and he knew that despite everything, he belonged here. There was nowhere on earth he didn’t belong.”

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are adventures in King Coyote, but there are also hard and real conversations. This is where King learns it’s okay to cry, to not talk, and other days to just keep it real. Jones beautifully weaves history, family story telling, and the excitement of exploring a new place.

“Thank you, North Star Editions, for providing this book for review consideration via Toppling Stacks Tours. All opinions are my own.”

[Kate Brasington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic middle grade read that deals with some heavier subjects like racial bias, divorce and saving an animal from a cruel de@th. I loved reading how these two main characters devised a plan to help a wild coyote! I also enjoyed the MMC King discussing harder subjects and figuring out how to manage his feelings at such a young age!

[Tracey Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was not keen on King but as the story continued I began to like him as I learned about what he had to deal with which Rachael did a good and as for Nat she was an amazing character and really brought the good out of King as did Coal. There was so much danger whether it was out in the forests or facing people who had a problem being you which King found out on occasions. I loved the understanding Coal had that the humans King and Nat wanted him to be free. What would of been really good if there were chapters where we saw Coal's point of view.


For all the above reasons King Coyote receives 4 stars