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Exchange of Heart
Sometimes, Life takes on a life of its own…
Since the sudden death of his younger sister, Munro Maddux has been stuck. Flashbacks. Anger. Chest pains. And a voice – taunting, barking, biting – that his counsellor calls ‘the Coyote’. Munro knows a student exchange will not be the stuff of Disney movies. But in Australia he intends to move beyond his troubled past.
Forced by his new school to join a volunteer program, Munro discovers the Coyote is silenced in one place: Fair Go, an assisted living residence in Brisbane’s west, where Munro gets to know his team of residents: dogged designer Bernie; sleeping refugee Shah; would-be wedded couple Blake and Dale; comic creator Iggy; and self-defence tutor Florence. As this unlikely group shows Munro the sights, Munro’s notion of what it means to be a big brother begins to change.
But the burden Munro carries is not so easily cast aside, and unexpected developments at Fair Go prompt a devastating flashback that threatens to end the student exchange. Will the Coyote ultimately triumph? Or can Munro find the fortitude necessary to mend his heart?
Since the sudden death of his younger sister, Munro Maddux has been stuck. Flashbacks. Anger. Chest pains. And a voice – taunting, barking, biting – that his counsellor calls ‘the Coyote’. Munro knows a student exchange will not be the stuff of Disney movies. But in Australia he intends to move beyond his troubled past.
Forced by his new school to join a volunteer program, Munro discovers the Coyote is silenced in one place: Fair Go, an assisted living residence in Brisbane’s west, where Munro gets to know his team of residents: dogged designer Bernie; sleeping refugee Shah; would-be wedded couple Blake and Dale; comic creator Iggy; and self-defence tutor Florence. As this unlikely group shows Munro the sights, Munro’s notion of what it means to be a big brother begins to change.
But the burden Munro carries is not so easily cast aside, and unexpected developments at Fair Go prompt a devastating flashback that threatens to end the student exchange. Will the Coyote ultimately triumph? Or can Munro find the fortitude necessary to mend his heart?
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2017
10 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Darren Groth
8 books58 followersDarren Groth is a Vancouver author and citizen of Canada, having moved from his native Australia in 2007. His novels include 'Kindling', 'Boy in the Blue Hammock' and the acclaimed YA works, 'Are You Seeing Me?' and 'Munro vs. the Coyote'. His new memoir, 'Marooned: A Memoir of Fandom, Fatherhood and the Far Side of the World', will be out May 20, 2026.
Darren has been a winner in the South Australian Literary Awards and a finalist in numerous other prestigious prizes including the Governor General's Literary Awards (Canada), the OLA White Pine Award (Canada). the CBCA Book of the Year (Australia), and the Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australia).
For fun, he watches 'American Ninja Warrior' with his beautiful Canadian wife and eats Fatburger with his wondrous twins.
Darren has been a winner in the South Australian Literary Awards and a finalist in numerous other prestigious prizes including the Governor General's Literary Awards (Canada), the OLA White Pine Award (Canada). the CBCA Book of the Year (Australia), and the Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australia).
For fun, he watches 'American Ninja Warrior' with his beautiful Canadian wife and eats Fatburger with his wondrous twins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 15, 2017
There is so much to love about Exchange of Heart. I enjoyed every single minute spent reading this amazing book. Heart, humour, grief, and friendship combine in this moving story.
After the sudden death of his sister, Munro Maddux is desperate to do something to shake the numbness and remove the voice in his head. So he grabs at the opportunity to complete a student exchange program to Australia. Here, he hopes he can find the peace he is searching for. But a volunteering program at his new school has him working at Fair Go, an independent-living residency for young adults with disabilities. Instead of this sparking more trauma and flashbacks, like he expects, being around the residents finally quiets the voice in his head.
I wasn't expecting to love this book like I did, but it just captured me from the start. Munro is a likeable character and narrator. His sense of humour is a welcome addition to a story that is centred around themes of grief and guilt. But the book retains a wonderful lightness and hopefulness. I was snort-laughing in surprise through the book (rather embarrassing when you are reading in the workplace lunch room) and crying buckets by the end. I thought I might have been able to make it through the book without breaking down but that ending just added layer upon layer of feelings until I couldn't hold back any more.
Of course I really liked the setting of this book. Munro travels to Australia and stays with a host family in Brisbane. While volunteering at Fair Go, Munro's team plan and take him on a sightseeing tour, so many iconic places around Brisbane are visited. The familiarity of Brisbane seen through an outsider's eyes is so much fun to experience.
There is a wonderful host of diverse characters that make up the cast for this book. The residents from Fair Go all shine in this book. Blake, Bernie, Dale, Shah, Iggy, Florence are beautiful, detailed characters and each bring something special to the story, as does the director for the centre, Kelvin. Munro might think he is there to help them, but it is they who help him. In his host brother, Rowan, Munro finds an understanding and supportive friend. Caro is likewise a kind and supportive romantic interest. Munro's family, both Aussie hosts and parents back in Canada play important roles in Munro's journey, as, of course, does Evie, who we only see through Munro's memories. Munro's internal voice, the Coyote adds another layer to the story, helping the reader to get a better understanding of Munro's thoughts.
The heart of this book stands out. So many important themes - guilt, grief, disability and people's treatment of people with a disability, immigration and refugees, family, friendship, and purpose - are all seamlessly wrapped in this story of friendship and healing and Aussie sightseeing.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
After the sudden death of his sister, Munro Maddux is desperate to do something to shake the numbness and remove the voice in his head. So he grabs at the opportunity to complete a student exchange program to Australia. Here, he hopes he can find the peace he is searching for. But a volunteering program at his new school has him working at Fair Go, an independent-living residency for young adults with disabilities. Instead of this sparking more trauma and flashbacks, like he expects, being around the residents finally quiets the voice in his head.
I wasn't expecting to love this book like I did, but it just captured me from the start. Munro is a likeable character and narrator. His sense of humour is a welcome addition to a story that is centred around themes of grief and guilt. But the book retains a wonderful lightness and hopefulness. I was snort-laughing in surprise through the book (rather embarrassing when you are reading in the workplace lunch room) and crying buckets by the end. I thought I might have been able to make it through the book without breaking down but that ending just added layer upon layer of feelings until I couldn't hold back any more.
Of course I really liked the setting of this book. Munro travels to Australia and stays with a host family in Brisbane. While volunteering at Fair Go, Munro's team plan and take him on a sightseeing tour, so many iconic places around Brisbane are visited. The familiarity of Brisbane seen through an outsider's eyes is so much fun to experience.
There is a wonderful host of diverse characters that make up the cast for this book. The residents from Fair Go all shine in this book. Blake, Bernie, Dale, Shah, Iggy, Florence are beautiful, detailed characters and each bring something special to the story, as does the director for the centre, Kelvin. Munro might think he is there to help them, but it is they who help him. In his host brother, Rowan, Munro finds an understanding and supportive friend. Caro is likewise a kind and supportive romantic interest. Munro's family, both Aussie hosts and parents back in Canada play important roles in Munro's journey, as, of course, does Evie, who we only see through Munro's memories. Munro's internal voice, the Coyote adds another layer to the story, helping the reader to get a better understanding of Munro's thoughts.
The heart of this book stands out. So many important themes - guilt, grief, disability and people's treatment of people with a disability, immigration and refugees, family, friendship, and purpose - are all seamlessly wrapped in this story of friendship and healing and Aussie sightseeing.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
August 17, 2017
5-Munro-stars
Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for the ARC, provided via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the most profound and beautifully written books that I have ever read.
The story was heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. I loved how Munro’s grief was realistically portrayed. It was never sugar-coated or glossed over. Sometimes it felt so real that I started crying for his part.
While the book mostly deals with the depression and acceptance phases in the 5 stages of grief, there were still so many great and hilarious moments in the book, especially with Munro’s adventures with the residents of Fair Go.
The residents of Fair Go were really special and very interesting. Each one of them was stunningly integrated into the plot and into Munro’s life. They were funny and had so many great life lessons to impart onto any reader.
I loved Munro as a character very much. I loved how he was patient and kind to people with special needs. I loved the fact that he loved his sister so much. I loved how he was portrayed as a character that had grief in a raw and very realistic detail. I loved the portrayal of the Coyote because of the significance of the inner voice that one has especially when dealing with grief.
I cannot sufficiently express just how much I enjoyed this book. It is a real gem in the YA genre as it wasn’t an easy journey to enlightenment and problems weren’t solved within a few chapters, as it tends to be in the YA genre, especially when the main focus shifts to romance. This book is packed with great character development and a realistic portrayal of grief.
I recommend this book to any and all readers, whether YA readers or not, as anyone can appreciate Munro’s journey and the difficulties that he faced.
Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for the ARC, provided via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the most profound and beautifully written books that I have ever read.
The story was heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. I loved how Munro’s grief was realistically portrayed. It was never sugar-coated or glossed over. Sometimes it felt so real that I started crying for his part.
While the book mostly deals with the depression and acceptance phases in the 5 stages of grief, there were still so many great and hilarious moments in the book, especially with Munro’s adventures with the residents of Fair Go.
The residents of Fair Go were really special and very interesting. Each one of them was stunningly integrated into the plot and into Munro’s life. They were funny and had so many great life lessons to impart onto any reader.
I loved Munro as a character very much. I loved how he was patient and kind to people with special needs. I loved the fact that he loved his sister so much. I loved how he was portrayed as a character that had grief in a raw and very realistic detail. I loved the portrayal of the Coyote because of the significance of the inner voice that one has especially when dealing with grief.
I cannot sufficiently express just how much I enjoyed this book. It is a real gem in the YA genre as it wasn’t an easy journey to enlightenment and problems weren’t solved within a few chapters, as it tends to be in the YA genre, especially when the main focus shifts to romance. This book is packed with great character development and a realistic portrayal of grief.
I recommend this book to any and all readers, whether YA readers or not, as anyone can appreciate Munro’s journey and the difficulties that he faced.
January 1, 2018
When I was a child, my mother had a friend whose daughter was mentally retarded, as they used to say. She was a single mom, and had no idea how to deal with having a daughter whose mental age wasn’t above 10 years old. In those days, the bad old 50s and 60s, they would just stick her into a mental institution, or a home, or something. I met Lucy, the daughter, several times, as a kid, and thought she was nice. When her mother died, I lost track of her. She would be an old woman by now.
It is sad how society didn’t want to deal with mentally disabled people, back then, shoving them off, out of the way.
In this book, Munro is a student exchange student, trying to run away from the death of his sister who had Downs Syndrome. He feels responsible for her death, though he had nothing to do with it, and is trying to escape the voice in his head, his Coyote, which is driving him crazy.
And he can’t hear his sister in his head, though he longs to.
What I enjoyed about this book was that Munro hocks up with a living system set up for the mentally challenged, that teaches them life skills, and he sees, as it progresses, that this would be the kind of charity that he needs back in Canada. In face “Fair Go” the facility, is the most interesting part of the book, which is good, because after a while, that is the only place that Munro wants to be.
It makes sense, since the author is a former special education teacher.
Since this is YA, be warned that there are a lot of Fbombs and swearing in here. Not gratuitous, just the way that teenagers talk these days.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It is sad how society didn’t want to deal with mentally disabled people, back then, shoving them off, out of the way.
In this book, Munro is a student exchange student, trying to run away from the death of his sister who had Downs Syndrome. He feels responsible for her death, though he had nothing to do with it, and is trying to escape the voice in his head, his Coyote, which is driving him crazy.
And he can’t hear his sister in his head, though he longs to.
What I enjoyed about this book was that Munro hocks up with a living system set up for the mentally challenged, that teaches them life skills, and he sees, as it progresses, that this would be the kind of charity that he needs back in Canada. In face “Fair Go” the facility, is the most interesting part of the book, which is good, because after a while, that is the only place that Munro wants to be.
It makes sense, since the author is a former special education teacher.
Since this is YA, be warned that there are a lot of Fbombs and swearing in here. Not gratuitous, just the way that teenagers talk these days.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
November 18, 2017
Munro is on exchange to Australia from Canada. We are privy to his history, but he is choosing to keep the death of his sister on the lowdown. But huge secrets like this one are hard to keep quiet - especially with the Coyote yapping away in Munro's ears.
Exchange of Heart (Munro v the Coyote in the northern hemisphere) successfully explores a range of issues. Grief, guilt, difability (not a typo), friendship, trust, and love. The story is simple - boy leaves home to try to escape his past - but Groth handles Munro's situation with compassionate aplomb. He affectionately and accurately explores the 'Australian-ness' of our country: our language, our obsessions and our idiosyncrasies, whilst also giving Munro a Canadian-ness of his own. Each character has a part to play, and the diversity of the cast never feels tokenistic or forced.
Exchange of Heart is a fantastic upper-middle grade novel. Nothing ever feels too over-the-top, and the depth of the subject matter is pitched just right. Recommended.
PS. Long read-time is due to only reading EoH during my lunch breaks - and not even every day!
Exchange of Heart (Munro v the Coyote in the northern hemisphere) successfully explores a range of issues. Grief, guilt, difability (not a typo), friendship, trust, and love. The story is simple - boy leaves home to try to escape his past - but Groth handles Munro's situation with compassionate aplomb. He affectionately and accurately explores the 'Australian-ness' of our country: our language, our obsessions and our idiosyncrasies, whilst also giving Munro a Canadian-ness of his own. Each character has a part to play, and the diversity of the cast never feels tokenistic or forced.
Exchange of Heart is a fantastic upper-middle grade novel. Nothing ever feels too over-the-top, and the depth of the subject matter is pitched just right. Recommended.
PS. Long read-time is due to only reading EoH during my lunch breaks - and not even every day!
September 12, 2017
This review first appeared in Magpies magazine, Sept 2017
Munro Maddux is still hurting from the sudden death of his little sister Evie a year ago. It has left its mark on Munro in a number of ways. He has anger issues, suffers from flashbacks and chest pains, and there is a constant ache in his right hand. But the most invasive is the voice he calls the Coyote; the one in his head that comments sarcastically on every aspect of his life, making him miserable. Looking for an escape from everything that reminds him Evie is no longer there, Munro signs up for a student exchange program and finds himself travelling from Canada to Australia.
Munro’s parents have channelled their grief into a charitable foundation in Evie’s memory, raising funds and awareness for Downs Syndrome back in Canada. Munro thinks it’s great, but wants no direct part in it, because everything about losing Evie is so painful for him. His parents see him as lost, rudderless, and agree readily to his exchange student plan in a desperate effort to resurrect the boy he was before they lost Evie. It’s definitely a case of the old adage, “if you love something set it free”.
Once he arrives Munro has to sign up for a volunteer program at his host school, and finds himself placed at Fair Go, an assisted living residence for young people. As he befriends and works with his assigned team of residents, Munro finds that the Coyote is silenced and he begins to find his own voice and sense of identity again. Their achievements become his own milestones and he begins to put his life back together.
This wry, gentle novel has a powerful message about grief and acceptance. It also has a lot to say about how we treat people, particularly young people, we consider to be “other” in our society. The Fair Go residents are all marginalised people, just trying to make their own way in the world; just as Munro is. Blake and Dale, a Downs Syndrome girl and a guy with what might be MND, want to get married more than anything in the world. Not because, as their parents continually worry about, they want to have sex, but because they never want to be
separated. Shah, an Afghan refugee, sleeps most of the day not because he is exhausted, but so he can see his family in his dreams. They, and the other residents: Iggy; Bernie; and Florence, are all trying to realise their potential in a world that often thinks they have none. Munro is looked on as such a case at home, especially by his parents, and he readily identifies with his charges at Fair Go. He sees them, and they in turn see him as no-one else does.
Throw in a typically Aussie host family and temporary brother, some school friends, and a budding love interest, and what results is a highly engaging and heartfelt story, deftly told. Darren Groth’s characters are believable and grounded. There is not a lot of flowery language here, just great storytelling. The relationship between Munro and his Australian host brother, Rowan, was authentic; as were the conversations between Munro and his parents and friends back in Canada. I was also delighted to see an appearance by Perry Richter (from Groth’s last novel Are You Seeing Me?) as a first aid instructor at Fair Go – a nice way to connect the two books thematically without making it a “sequel” as such. This is a really accomplished effort by Groth, and I look forward to seeing it shortlisted for many awards in the coming year.
Suitable for secondary school students from Year 7.
Munro Maddux is still hurting from the sudden death of his little sister Evie a year ago. It has left its mark on Munro in a number of ways. He has anger issues, suffers from flashbacks and chest pains, and there is a constant ache in his right hand. But the most invasive is the voice he calls the Coyote; the one in his head that comments sarcastically on every aspect of his life, making him miserable. Looking for an escape from everything that reminds him Evie is no longer there, Munro signs up for a student exchange program and finds himself travelling from Canada to Australia.
Munro’s parents have channelled their grief into a charitable foundation in Evie’s memory, raising funds and awareness for Downs Syndrome back in Canada. Munro thinks it’s great, but wants no direct part in it, because everything about losing Evie is so painful for him. His parents see him as lost, rudderless, and agree readily to his exchange student plan in a desperate effort to resurrect the boy he was before they lost Evie. It’s definitely a case of the old adage, “if you love something set it free”.
Once he arrives Munro has to sign up for a volunteer program at his host school, and finds himself placed at Fair Go, an assisted living residence for young people. As he befriends and works with his assigned team of residents, Munro finds that the Coyote is silenced and he begins to find his own voice and sense of identity again. Their achievements become his own milestones and he begins to put his life back together.
This wry, gentle novel has a powerful message about grief and acceptance. It also has a lot to say about how we treat people, particularly young people, we consider to be “other” in our society. The Fair Go residents are all marginalised people, just trying to make their own way in the world; just as Munro is. Blake and Dale, a Downs Syndrome girl and a guy with what might be MND, want to get married more than anything in the world. Not because, as their parents continually worry about, they want to have sex, but because they never want to be
separated. Shah, an Afghan refugee, sleeps most of the day not because he is exhausted, but so he can see his family in his dreams. They, and the other residents: Iggy; Bernie; and Florence, are all trying to realise their potential in a world that often thinks they have none. Munro is looked on as such a case at home, especially by his parents, and he readily identifies with his charges at Fair Go. He sees them, and they in turn see him as no-one else does.
Throw in a typically Aussie host family and temporary brother, some school friends, and a budding love interest, and what results is a highly engaging and heartfelt story, deftly told. Darren Groth’s characters are believable and grounded. There is not a lot of flowery language here, just great storytelling. The relationship between Munro and his Australian host brother, Rowan, was authentic; as were the conversations between Munro and his parents and friends back in Canada. I was also delighted to see an appearance by Perry Richter (from Groth’s last novel Are You Seeing Me?) as a first aid instructor at Fair Go – a nice way to connect the two books thematically without making it a “sequel” as such. This is a really accomplished effort by Groth, and I look forward to seeing it shortlisted for many awards in the coming year.
Suitable for secondary school students from Year 7.
January 2, 2019
This book follows the story of Munro, a boy living in Canada who is struggling with an inner battle to come to terms with the untimely loss of his sister Evie who had down syndrome. He is suffering flashbacks, depression – even anger and he’s dealing with a voice inside his head which is known as “The Coyote”. Upon losing interest in school and life itself, one way Munro finds to deal with this is embarking on a student exchange program to Australia. Once in the land down under, Munro starts a new life, makes new friends and even takes part in a volunteer program, Fair Go which is to help him move past this rough patch in his life and may even help silence “The Coyote”.
A story of tragedy, friendship, dealing with real youth issues. I found the flow of this story quite interesting even if the voice of the coyote creeped me out a little. The dialogue was quite whitty and what I enjoyed most was even though Munro was dealing with a lot in his life, his character did not come across as “whiny” like a lot of YA characters do. Munro was in the dumps but took it upon himself to do something about it – albeit a trip to the other side of the world. I found this story was real – honestly, how does a teenage boy deal with something like this? Especially when there’s a voice in his head that springs to life upon his sister’s death and in taking the steps to deal with this – does he succeed?
Special thanks to Penguin Random House Publishers for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
- Annie
A story of tragedy, friendship, dealing with real youth issues. I found the flow of this story quite interesting even if the voice of the coyote creeped me out a little. The dialogue was quite whitty and what I enjoyed most was even though Munro was dealing with a lot in his life, his character did not come across as “whiny” like a lot of YA characters do. Munro was in the dumps but took it upon himself to do something about it – albeit a trip to the other side of the world. I found this story was real – honestly, how does a teenage boy deal with something like this? Especially when there’s a voice in his head that springs to life upon his sister’s death and in taking the steps to deal with this – does he succeed?
Special thanks to Penguin Random House Publishers for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
- Annie
July 7, 2017
review on my blog soon;
alwaysandforeverreading.wordpress.com
alwaysandforeverreading.wordpress.com
June 6, 2017
Heart-breaking and real.
June 26, 2018
CAN EVERYONE PLEASE GO AND BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
Munro Maddux (who has a superhero like name btw) deserves all the love in the world. He’s a boy who recently lost his little sister and he needs a hug. He doesn’t get a hug though, instead he goes from Canada to Australia on a student exchange.
This books is so entertaining and heart-warming. Munro meets some really great friends at his new school and he also volunteers at a live in home (I don’t know the exact name???) for people with disabilities who decide to show him all their favourite spots in Australia.
We hear so many stories following people with a variety of disabilities something I never see and also we get to see Munro grieving his sister and learning to live with all that grief and guilt he’s holding inside.
Also my inner fangirl totally freaked because there’s an Imagine Dragons mention and I love them.
My favourite thing about this, besides the Imagine Dragons mentions, was the supportive friendships especially regarding mental health! There’s a conversation between Munro and a friend back in Canada, Louis, over the phone which I just loved! It was such a great thing to see a teenage boy supporting his friend.
And it’s not only the teenagers struggling with their mental health. The host family’s father also struggled, maybe with PTSD after a traumatic event although it’s never specified. It was just something so great to see.
I honestly think this book would make a really great Indie movie and like I said, disabilities isn’t something we see all that often in books so just bringing that to a movie would be so great.
Munro Maddux (who has a superhero like name btw) deserves all the love in the world. He’s a boy who recently lost his little sister and he needs a hug. He doesn’t get a hug though, instead he goes from Canada to Australia on a student exchange.
This books is so entertaining and heart-warming. Munro meets some really great friends at his new school and he also volunteers at a live in home (I don’t know the exact name???) for people with disabilities who decide to show him all their favourite spots in Australia.
We hear so many stories following people with a variety of disabilities something I never see and also we get to see Munro grieving his sister and learning to live with all that grief and guilt he’s holding inside.
Also my inner fangirl totally freaked because there’s an Imagine Dragons mention and I love them.
My favourite thing about this, besides the Imagine Dragons mentions, was the supportive friendships especially regarding mental health! There’s a conversation between Munro and a friend back in Canada, Louis, over the phone which I just loved! It was such a great thing to see a teenage boy supporting his friend.
And it’s not only the teenagers struggling with their mental health. The host family’s father also struggled, maybe with PTSD after a traumatic event although it’s never specified. It was just something so great to see.
I honestly think this book would make a really great Indie movie and like I said, disabilities isn’t something we see all that often in books so just bringing that to a movie would be so great.
December 23, 2017
Munro is a very special type of book character. He isn't as he appears and has such a warmth and rawness in him that just remains with you even after you've read the book. I like the idea behind the coyote. So many of us have our own coyotes and we hardly even realize and recognize it.
Munro goes to Australia to distance himself from the reality of his sister's death. Instead he realizes that his grief still haunts him and that he needs to change for the better. At first 'The coyote' is an ever present force in Munros life, but as he comes to terms with his own grief, its presence slowly dwindles. Honestly, I loved this book. The only negative thing, was that I felt like towards the end the story was a bit rushed. But overall this was a very promising book.
Munro goes to Australia to distance himself from the reality of his sister's death. Instead he realizes that his grief still haunts him and that he needs to change for the better. At first 'The coyote' is an ever present force in Munros life, but as he comes to terms with his own grief, its presence slowly dwindles. Honestly, I loved this book. The only negative thing, was that I felt like towards the end the story was a bit rushed. But overall this was a very promising book.
June 5, 2017
Full review upon release
August 26, 2017
I have never read anything by Darren Groth before and when I read the blurb for this book, it didn’t seem like a great premise. But I wanted to give it a go anyway. And I am so glad that I did, because it is one hell of a book, that everyone should read.
The story follows a teenage boy Munro, as he is trying to navigate life now as an only child, as his sister recently passed away. With emotional and physical pain consuming his every waking thoughts, and school and home life going down the drain, Munro and his parents decide to send him to Australia for 6 months on a student exchange program. With new friends, new experiences, new environments, Munro starts getting back into his life and with help from some very special people, he starts to feel normal again.
“My chest is on fire. My legs are filed with sand. It’s so hard to move, but I have to keep going, find somewhere to hide – an escape, away from all the people who want to say it isn’t your fault and you did your best and you should go home” page 234.
This book is sad, and poignant and tough to read. It is filled with grief and hurt and lots of anger. It is a hard read, but because of the simple and easy writing, it is an easy read to get through.
I read this book in 2 and a bit day. I was engrossed with it from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down at all. The themes of disability play a very big part in this book and I can say it was nice and refreshing to read about a topic that I have never read about before. It is great to see disabled and ‘different’ people our society classify written well and truly uniquely into a young adult book.
It is new and different and this book will make you cry, just a little bit.
If you like the kind of story that will make you feel, a lot, then this is the book for you.
The story follows a teenage boy Munro, as he is trying to navigate life now as an only child, as his sister recently passed away. With emotional and physical pain consuming his every waking thoughts, and school and home life going down the drain, Munro and his parents decide to send him to Australia for 6 months on a student exchange program. With new friends, new experiences, new environments, Munro starts getting back into his life and with help from some very special people, he starts to feel normal again.
“My chest is on fire. My legs are filed with sand. It’s so hard to move, but I have to keep going, find somewhere to hide – an escape, away from all the people who want to say it isn’t your fault and you did your best and you should go home” page 234.
This book is sad, and poignant and tough to read. It is filled with grief and hurt and lots of anger. It is a hard read, but because of the simple and easy writing, it is an easy read to get through.
I read this book in 2 and a bit day. I was engrossed with it from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down at all. The themes of disability play a very big part in this book and I can say it was nice and refreshing to read about a topic that I have never read about before. It is great to see disabled and ‘different’ people our society classify written well and truly uniquely into a young adult book.
It is new and different and this book will make you cry, just a little bit.
If you like the kind of story that will make you feel, a lot, then this is the book for you.
July 4, 2017
How does someone in their late teens deal with the sudden death of his younger sister? This book follows the story of Munro, a boy living in Canada who is struggling with an inner battle to come to terms with the untimely loss of his sister Evie who had down syndrome. He is suffering flashbacks, depression – even anger and he’s dealing with a voice inside his head which is known as “The Coyote”. Upon losing interest in school and life itself, one way Munro finds to deal with this is embarking on a student exchange program to Australia. Once in the land down under, Munro starts a new life, makes new friends and even takes part in a volunteer program, Fair Go which is to help him move past this rough patch in his life and may even help silence “The Coyote”. A story of tragedy, friendship, dealing with real youth issues. I found the flow of this story quite interesting even if the voice of the coyote creeped me out a little. The dialogue was quite whitty and what I enjoyed most was even though Munro was dealing with a lot in his life, his character did not come across as “whiny” like a lot of YA characters do. Munro was in the dumps but took it upon himself to do something about it – albeit a trip to the other side of the world. I found this story was real – honestly, how does a teenage boy deal with something like this? Especially when there’s a voice in his head that springs to life upon his sister’s death and in taking the steps to deal with this – does he succeed? Special thanks to Penguin Random House Publishers for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is due to hit the shelves by the end of July 2017.
July 7, 2017
Being published on Oct 17th, 2017
I was able to receive an early copy of Munro vs. the Coyote by Darren Groth from Netgalley.
This is one of the best contemporary novels I've read in a considerable amount of time. I'm usually not one for contemporary, but coming of age stories have a special place in my heart.
Munro, our main character was a witty teen dealing with a lot of shit. Watching his growth throughout the story made my heart so warm, and it was honestly done so well. Not only the pacing and reasoning behind the path his journey was taking, but the writing style was incredibly interesting! Munro is facing an inner demon we learn little about throughout the novel and the way it is presented in the text and how Munro's voice changes during their conversations hold a fair amount of meaning in the long run. I highly suggest giving this one a go! We meet a good handful of characters throughout the novel that all have distinct personalities even if their appearances were few and far in between. Most importantly, the portrayal of the Fair Go team was diverse and did a really good job at showing an example of the spectrum. Once again each character has a distinct voice and were so lovable and unique.
So much of this story was just...realistic and that's the best way to describe it! The lessons are hard hitting and important and the dialogue is both fun and real. I felt sucked into the story and transported to Australia, and I felt like I was learning about Canada as well.
This story is going to stick with me for a plethora of reasons, but Munro will always be a little reminder of how much best-er I can be.
I was able to receive an early copy of Munro vs. the Coyote by Darren Groth from Netgalley.
This is one of the best contemporary novels I've read in a considerable amount of time. I'm usually not one for contemporary, but coming of age stories have a special place in my heart.
Munro, our main character was a witty teen dealing with a lot of shit. Watching his growth throughout the story made my heart so warm, and it was honestly done so well. Not only the pacing and reasoning behind the path his journey was taking, but the writing style was incredibly interesting! Munro is facing an inner demon we learn little about throughout the novel and the way it is presented in the text and how Munro's voice changes during their conversations hold a fair amount of meaning in the long run. I highly suggest giving this one a go! We meet a good handful of characters throughout the novel that all have distinct personalities even if their appearances were few and far in between. Most importantly, the portrayal of the Fair Go team was diverse and did a really good job at showing an example of the spectrum. Once again each character has a distinct voice and were so lovable and unique.
So much of this story was just...realistic and that's the best way to describe it! The lessons are hard hitting and important and the dialogue is both fun and real. I felt sucked into the story and transported to Australia, and I felt like I was learning about Canada as well.
This story is going to stick with me for a plethora of reasons, but Munro will always be a little reminder of how much best-er I can be.
April 23, 2020
Munro vs. the Coyote is one of the most beautifully written books I've read so far.
Munro is a 14 year-old boy who's mourning the death of his sister, who had Down's Syndrome, so he decides to go to Australia to fulfill her dream and see if he can get rid of the "Coyote" while being away from everything he knows.
The Coyote is how Munro has represented his depression: a constant voice torturing him for what happened to his sister. Blaming him.
While in Australia, he joins a volunteering program at Fair Go, a home for mentally disabled people, and he finds that working there has placated the Coyote's voice. As he befriends and helps the residents with their crafts and skills, the residents help him become better and help him grieve the loss of his sister as well.
I loved how this book was written. All the characters were properly developed, we got to learn a bit about each resident, the emotions shown were so raw and real... The character development we see in Munro is amazing, too. He grew so much during those six months of exchange; and his parents grew too, and I really liked that.
This book is a solid 5/5. I recommend it to absolutely everyone. You'll learn a lot from reading it.
I can't wait to read more books by Darren Groth!
Thanks to NetGalley, Orca Book Publisher, and Darren Groth for giving the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Munro is a 14 year-old boy who's mourning the death of his sister, who had Down's Syndrome, so he decides to go to Australia to fulfill her dream and see if he can get rid of the "Coyote" while being away from everything he knows.
The Coyote is how Munro has represented his depression: a constant voice torturing him for what happened to his sister. Blaming him.
While in Australia, he joins a volunteering program at Fair Go, a home for mentally disabled people, and he finds that working there has placated the Coyote's voice. As he befriends and helps the residents with their crafts and skills, the residents help him become better and help him grieve the loss of his sister as well.
I loved how this book was written. All the characters were properly developed, we got to learn a bit about each resident, the emotions shown were so raw and real... The character development we see in Munro is amazing, too. He grew so much during those six months of exchange; and his parents grew too, and I really liked that.
This book is a solid 5/5. I recommend it to absolutely everyone. You'll learn a lot from reading it.
I can't wait to read more books by Darren Groth!
Thanks to NetGalley, Orca Book Publisher, and Darren Groth for giving the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
December 13, 2017
I really loved reading Munro vs. the Coyote. I got thru it in less than a week, and that's impressive with a 4-month-old baby. The book grabbed me from the first page, and kept my attention through the final scene. Flawed as he was, Munro, the main character, was easy to love. As a young man dealing with great loss in a new place, I wanted to root for him. And I think that is important for the protagonist of any story.
It was also very nice to read a book featuring characters with disabilities, who were more than just those disabilities. They were real people who had personalities and stories of their own. The book didn't feel "ableist" to me at all. (Note: Ableism is defining a person or character by their disabilities and as inferior to the non-disabled.) Though I will leave the final judgement on that to someone who has an actual right to make that decision.
I should also tell you that part of this book made me cry. I'm going to blame "new mom hormones" on the actual crying, but I'm sure this book will give you the feels, too.
Munro vs. the Coyote felt like more than your basic YA novel. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction. So don't let the main character's age, or the section in the book store stop you from picking this one up.
It was also very nice to read a book featuring characters with disabilities, who were more than just those disabilities. They were real people who had personalities and stories of their own. The book didn't feel "ableist" to me at all. (Note: Ableism is defining a person or character by their disabilities and as inferior to the non-disabled.) Though I will leave the final judgement on that to someone who has an actual right to make that decision.
I should also tell you that part of this book made me cry. I'm going to blame "new mom hormones" on the actual crying, but I'm sure this book will give you the feels, too.
Munro vs. the Coyote felt like more than your basic YA novel. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction. So don't let the main character's age, or the section in the book store stop you from picking this one up.
December 27, 2017
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Eve’s death has devastated Munro’s life to the point that he’s suffering flashbacks and anger on a daily basis. The voice in his head is constantly taunting him, and the only way to escape seems to be run all the way to Australia on student exchange. A volunteer placement at an assisted living placement shuts up Munro’s little voice some of the time, but can Munro silence it for good?
Hmm, I really wasn’t convinced by Munro’s story about Eve’s death, particularly as it was interspersed with the flashbacks he was having. I also felt that he was suffering from PTSD – why wasn’t anyone helping him with that? Yes, getting away from a situtation will help, but as Munro learns, it can’t fix all the problems.
I read this so long ago, probably when it first came out in July, especially as I had an ARC copy. Thus this review is not as in-depth as it should be. From what I remember, it gave me a lovely warm fuzzy feeling as I was reading. As I dipped back into the novel to refresh my memory, I remembered that there was a nice selection of supporting characters, and his love interest was believable.
I like that it’s not stacked full of ‘Australian vernacular’ like some novels that have an American protagonist. Something about having a protagonist from another country seems to make authors feel that they can get away with ‘G’day’ and a lot of things that regular Auzzies like me don’t even say. Groth is a native Australian.
It’s not a re-read for me, but it was a pretty RAD and AWESOME good book. 4 stars.
Eve’s death has devastated Munro’s life to the point that he’s suffering flashbacks and anger on a daily basis. The voice in his head is constantly taunting him, and the only way to escape seems to be run all the way to Australia on student exchange. A volunteer placement at an assisted living placement shuts up Munro’s little voice some of the time, but can Munro silence it for good?
Hmm, I really wasn’t convinced by Munro’s story about Eve’s death, particularly as it was interspersed with the flashbacks he was having. I also felt that he was suffering from PTSD – why wasn’t anyone helping him with that? Yes, getting away from a situtation will help, but as Munro learns, it can’t fix all the problems.
I read this so long ago, probably when it first came out in July, especially as I had an ARC copy. Thus this review is not as in-depth as it should be. From what I remember, it gave me a lovely warm fuzzy feeling as I was reading. As I dipped back into the novel to refresh my memory, I remembered that there was a nice selection of supporting characters, and his love interest was believable.
I like that it’s not stacked full of ‘Australian vernacular’ like some novels that have an American protagonist. Something about having a protagonist from another country seems to make authors feel that they can get away with ‘G’day’ and a lot of things that regular Auzzies like me don’t even say. Groth is a native Australian.
It’s not a re-read for me, but it was a pretty RAD and AWESOME good book. 4 stars.
July 2, 2017
I received this arc through Library Thing's early reviewer program in exchange for a review.
Canadian teenager, Munro Maddox witnessed the death of his sister, and struggles throughout the book to overcome his sense of failure and culpability of her death. His sister, Evie, had down syndrome, and Munro lived as her big brother, best friend, and helper. And yet, he couldn't save her life.
A part of him becomes "The Coyote," talking in his head, causing physical outbursts, dark thoughts, and separation from many in his life. After loosing interest in school, Munro and his parents look at an exchange program to Australia as a way for Munro to restart his life.
I enjoyed the story, found the writing quite good, and I connected with many of the characters. There are a few good messages in the story, which Munro has to learn as part of his recovery, as well as topics around special needs children and adults. The only real fault I found with the plot was the ending, where Munro finds out he apparently suffers from a heart condition, which might explain his hallucinations and the coyote? I didn't quite understand what all was said there - everything from the point of Munro's collapse in the dark with Iggy to the end scene, for some reason didn't seem to fit. Otherwise, it's a great book.
Canadian teenager, Munro Maddox witnessed the death of his sister, and struggles throughout the book to overcome his sense of failure and culpability of her death. His sister, Evie, had down syndrome, and Munro lived as her big brother, best friend, and helper. And yet, he couldn't save her life.
A part of him becomes "The Coyote," talking in his head, causing physical outbursts, dark thoughts, and separation from many in his life. After loosing interest in school, Munro and his parents look at an exchange program to Australia as a way for Munro to restart his life.
I enjoyed the story, found the writing quite good, and I connected with many of the characters. There are a few good messages in the story, which Munro has to learn as part of his recovery, as well as topics around special needs children and adults. The only real fault I found with the plot was the ending, where Munro finds out he apparently suffers from a heart condition, which might explain his hallucinations and the coyote? I didn't quite understand what all was said there - everything from the point of Munro's collapse in the dark with Iggy to the end scene, for some reason didn't seem to fit. Otherwise, it's a great book.
January 3, 2018
Munro Maddux’s little sister had Down Syndrome and died in his arms from heart complications. Ever since, Munro has been plagued by a nasty internal voice he calls the Coyote. Drowning in self-doubt and self-destruction, Munro heads to Australia on a student exchange in hopes of recovery and escape. There he starts volunteering at Fair Go, a community residence for adults with developmental disabilities and challenges. It may seem too neat and tidy for Munro to deal with his demons by helping others like his sister, but author Darren Groth’s experience as a special education teacher shows in his seventh novel. He portrays all his characters as multifaceted and flawed individuals, while still capturing the undeniable transformative power of helping others. And what about the Coyote? Closure comes swiftly, just not quite in the way you expect.
July 12, 2017
A heart-warming story that explores both the struggle of being a consistent giver, and the healing that can come from expressing compassion for others. It also explores trauma, its impacts, and the process of learning to heal from the grief of losing one loved deeply. It's a short, quick read, but nonetheless one worth reading, particularly as it contains a cast of relateable, likeable characters that embrace disability not as a hindrance, but as an accepted characteristic of who they are as unique, worthy individuals. The novel overall offers an empowering, refreshing lens of healing, life, and acceptance.
September 24, 2017
A heart-warming read about a boy named Munro Maddux who lost his sister and goes to Australia to recover. I'll have to admit I didn't expect to love this book, the beginning was a little slow and there is some profanity throughout this book, but as I read on I began to warm up to Munro and the rest of the characters and I can honestly say I love this book. I especially loved his big brother spirit and how the coyote appears and attacks him throughout the book.
I didn't expect to cry and I definitely didn't expect the ending but this book is heart-wrenching and beautiful and you need to read it.
My absolute favorite thing about the book is the cover, I could stare at it all day! I highly recommend anyone ages 14 and up give this book a try. 4.5 Stars
I didn't expect to cry and I definitely didn't expect the ending but this book is heart-wrenching and beautiful and you need to read it.
My absolute favorite thing about the book is the cover, I could stare at it all day! I highly recommend anyone ages 14 and up give this book a try. 4.5 Stars
August 10, 2017
Sensitively written...a teenage boy struggles to adapt to life after his sister's death; the loss, his personal guilt at having 'failed', the mask he wears to somehow convince everyone that he is ok. Ultimately this is a life affirming novel, with big heart and big characters, and the power of finding meaning and self worth.
January 14, 2019
Finished this book in one sitting. Heartwarming, heart wrenching, and an interesting take on the voices in our heads and how one learns to overcome them. YA coming-of-age stories will always have a place in my heart.
January 24, 2019
I really enjoyed both the story line, plot and characters of this book. I wondered about the Coyote initially but figured he was who he was (the negative voice we all have that counters all things good when a bad thing happen).
September 25, 2023
I can definitely appreciate and respect the work it takes to bring characters with disabilities to life but in an authentic way. I also enjoyed the change in scenery (we don’t get a lot of books set in Australia in the YA world.) While some storylines I felt were ended too abruptly, I recommend this book for anyone who has people with special needs in their lives and or trying to cope with the death of a loved one / sibling.
December 31, 2018
This was a very interesting read from start to finish. I really started to fall in love with the characters and the journey that Munro was on.
July 2, 2017
This is the second book in a month I've read about a Canadian teenager grieving the death of a younger sibling. It wasn't a conscious choice, but rather chance; I won both Munro vs. the Coyote and Optimists Die First from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.
Munro Maddox has been struggling since the sudden death of his thirteen year old sister six months earlier. Munro hears a cruel, pessimistic voice in his head that he has named 'the Coyote' and, though it is never mentioned in the text, he also seems to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Munro's symptoms make it difficult for him to attend school, the place where his sister died, so he signs up for a school exchange program in Australia. In Australia he stays with a nice foster family that are more sympathetic to what he's going through than he expected and is assigned a volunteer position at a care community.
The community is set up like a village, for adults who have developmental or physical disabilities. One girl in particular reminds Munro of his dead sister, who also had Down's Syndrome. At first this triggers Munro's issues, before eventually alleviating them. Munro's interactions with the residents are sweet and you can see how it helps him.
The story is quick and readable, the language accessible and, in many ways, quite simple. Munro's a sympathetic character, his pain is palpable and relatable, his confusion understandable. However, the length of the book made the story feel very rushed, particularly towards the end. That was a big drawback for me as it made Munro's recovery feel far too fast. I would have liked the setback Munro has towards the end of the book to have been focused on more. It felt like it wrapped up too early.
Other than that, I really liked it. There's minor romance that's sweet and doesn't overpower the story as well. The school exchange to Australia was a particularly nice conception; the location served as a reminder that you cannot run away from grief, while at the same time recognizing that sometimes the only way to come to terms with trauma is to remove yourself from the emotional triggers. Plus the culture clash was cute and fun.
Munro Maddox has been struggling since the sudden death of his thirteen year old sister six months earlier. Munro hears a cruel, pessimistic voice in his head that he has named 'the Coyote' and, though it is never mentioned in the text, he also seems to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Munro's symptoms make it difficult for him to attend school, the place where his sister died, so he signs up for a school exchange program in Australia. In Australia he stays with a nice foster family that are more sympathetic to what he's going through than he expected and is assigned a volunteer position at a care community.
The community is set up like a village, for adults who have developmental or physical disabilities. One girl in particular reminds Munro of his dead sister, who also had Down's Syndrome. At first this triggers Munro's issues, before eventually alleviating them. Munro's interactions with the residents are sweet and you can see how it helps him.
The story is quick and readable, the language accessible and, in many ways, quite simple. Munro's a sympathetic character, his pain is palpable and relatable, his confusion understandable. However, the length of the book made the story feel very rushed, particularly towards the end. That was a big drawback for me as it made Munro's recovery feel far too fast. I would have liked the setback Munro has towards the end of the book to have been focused on more. It felt like it wrapped up too early.
Other than that, I really liked it. There's minor romance that's sweet and doesn't overpower the story as well. The school exchange to Australia was a particularly nice conception; the location served as a reminder that you cannot run away from grief, while at the same time recognizing that sometimes the only way to come to terms with trauma is to remove yourself from the emotional triggers. Plus the culture clash was cute and fun.
December 27, 2018
I absolutely loved the characters Munro and... The Coyote! Their relationship was a love and hate throughout the book, but I loved the way The Coyote seemed to be negative, but was actually realistic.
November 17, 2018
A delightful, touching, beautiful little book that leaves you in a really good place. It’s like a mash up of some favourites: think The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night meets The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B meets Precious Cargo meets A Complicated Kindness. Well balanced with just the right portioning of the humourous and the serious.
The coyote was a little annoying at first (and could be a little better developed) but the novel really soars - and finds itself - when we meet the residents of Fair Go and the adventures begin. This book will have you in tears... happy tears.
Things to love about this book...
writing your own story
good (smart) friends and family… complex, flawed, yet authentic characters
humour
the heavy burden of guilt and sorrow
hope… and baby steps to recovery
the healing power of art
on keeping your perspective about life
messaging about diversity and acceptance
This is just so delightful and such a positive representation of a group of characters we don’t see much at all, let alone portrayed authentically, in Canadian - or any - literature. Read, listen to the story and the characters, and learn.
Thank you Darren Groth for bringing us this story.
The coyote was a little annoying at first (and could be a little better developed) but the novel really soars - and finds itself - when we meet the residents of Fair Go and the adventures begin. This book will have you in tears... happy tears.
Things to love about this book...
writing your own story
good (smart) friends and family… complex, flawed, yet authentic characters
humour
the heavy burden of guilt and sorrow
hope… and baby steps to recovery
the healing power of art
on keeping your perspective about life
messaging about diversity and acceptance
This is just so delightful and such a positive representation of a group of characters we don’t see much at all, let alone portrayed authentically, in Canadian - or any - literature. Read, listen to the story and the characters, and learn.
Thank you Darren Groth for bringing us this story.
December 3, 2018
This was a very heart opening book I really liked the realism in this book. this book is about a boy named Munro whos little sister died (disabled). he has a lot of trouble so he has a trip to Australia. he has this voice in his head called the coyote who pretty much beats Munro up. in Australia, he finds a job that seems to be healing him of the coyote forever.
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