The Prince & the Coyote

PURA BELPRÉ HONOR WINNER

BOOKPAGE TOP 10 BEST BOOK OF 2023
KIRKUS BEST OF THE YEAR

Mexico. 1418.

Meet Prince Acolmiztli. Puma of the Acolhua People. Heir to his father's throne. Half Acolhuan, half Mexica. Singer. Warrior. Poet. Sixteen years old.

And now, betrayed. A palace plot, placed by the deadly Tepaneca Empire, kills his mother and siblings, puts his father's army into retreat, and sends Prince Acolmiztli into a treacherous exile. Battling hunger, snow-swept mountains, and the machinations of the city-states all around him, Prince Acolmiztli vows revenge. It will take years, but he will return to seek justice. And he'll do it with a new name:

Nezahualcoyotl. Fasting Coyote. One of the most legendary figures in history.

From the award-winning David Bowles comes a heart-pounding historical epic that is Gladiator meets the Song of Achilles -- The Count of Monte Cristo set in pre-Columbian Mexico. Illustrated throughout gorgeously by Amanda Mijangos, The Prince & the Coyote brings to life one of Mexico's most treasured heroes - Nezahualcoyotl - in a story that will thrill readers far and wide.

P R A I S E

★ "Riveting...A maelstrom of oscillating joy and tragedy."
--Kirkus (starred)

★ "Bowles adeptly crafts a complex, multi-format, and genre-bending novel for teens."
--School Library Journal (starred)

★ "Weaving history and fiction together, David Bowles fashions a rich story of political intrigue, ferocious battles, beautiful landscapes and the enduring hope of humanity."
--BookPage (starred)

"The pre-Columbian world comes brilliantly alive... Striking four-color illustrations by Amanda Mijangos enhance the sense that this is a glimpse into a complex world as it once existed."
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Once again, Bowles expertly builds on Nahuatl heritage through the historical life of the sapient Acolmiztli (Nezahualcoyotl)."
--Booklist

"Sophisticated... Bowles's immersive prose makes this a mature novel that never shies away from the ferocious realities of war and death."
--Publishers Weekly

"A stunning historical epic set in pre-Columbian Mexico based on the life of Nezahualcoyotl. Not only are there beautiful illustrations from Amanda Mijangos, but David Bowles incorporates Nezahualcoyotl's surviving poetry into the novel as well. The Prince and the Coyote is a rich and layered story about one of the Americas' greatest heroes. I was mesmerized from beginning to end!"
--Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company

Author: David Bowles
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 10/10/2023
Pages: 440
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.15lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.40w x 1.50d
ISBN: 9781646141777
Audience: Young Adult


Award: Pura Belpre Award - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 07/24/2023
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2023
Booklist 09/15/2023 pg. 47
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 11/01/2023
School Library Journal 10/06/2023 pg. 1
BookPage 10/01/2023

About the Author
David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from South Texas. Among his multiple award-winning titles are The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas; Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico; Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Maya Poetry; and Ancient Night. David presently serves as the vice-president of the Texas Institute of Letters.

Amanda Mijangos was born in Mexico City, graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, and studied illustration in Mexico and Buenos Aires. She has illustrated literature and poetry in books and magazines for people of all ages and gives drawing and illustration workshops for all audiences. Her work has been recognized with awards from countries near and far. This her third book for Levine Querido, following The Sea-Ringed World and Sheep Count Flowers.