The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

This heartfelt middle-grade adventure follows twelve-year-old Coyote and her father Rodeo as they crisscross America in a refurbished school bus, five years after a family tragedy changed their lives forever. When Coyote learns that a treasured memory box from her past is about to be destroyed, she secretly plots a cross-country route back to their old hometown, orchestrating a series of "unplanned" stops to pick up a wonderfully quirky cast of fellow travelers. The journey becomes a moving exploration of grief, resilience, and the unexpected ways we find family, all set against the ever-changing backdrop of the American highway.

Gemeinhart masterfully balances the rollicking fun of a road trip with profound emotional depth, creating a story that is both an exciting travelogue and a tender portrait of healing. Young readers navigating their own complex feelings about change or loss will find a brave and relatable heroine in Coyote, whose clever determination and big heart guide everyone toward a more hopeful destination. This is the kind of transformative friendship and family story that sticks with you long after the final mile, reminding us that sometimes the most remarkable journeys are the ones that lead us home.