The Prince and the Coyote

July 24, 2023
Bowles (Secret of the Moon Conch) fictionalizes the life of poet Nezahualcoyotl (1402–1472)—an Indigenous figure whose actions brought forth the rise of the Aztec Triple Alliance before Spanish colonization—in this sophisticated work. With his father preoccupied with military strategy in pre-Columbian Mexico, 15-year-old Prince Acolmiztli—the half Acolhuan, half Mexica heir to the throne of the city-state Tetzcoco—must begin taking on more the responsibilities as he prepares for his future role as king of the Acolhua people. When tragedy strikes and the war overcomes his kingdom, Mexica soldiers kill everyone he holds dear, and he barely escapes into the wilderness. Resolving to enact revenge upon the Mexica who invaded his kingdom, Acolmiztli assumes the name Nezahualcoyotl and endeavors to reclaim the throne. Along the way, he’s pursued by a relentless god and falls in love with a commoner. Striking charcoal-like drawings by Mijangos (The Sea-Ringed World) feature throughout, depicting Nezahualcoyotl’s travels alongside significant landmarks and symbols. The inclusion of translations of the figure’s actual poetry interwoven with Bowles’s immersive prose makes this a mature novel that never shies away from the ferocious realities of war and death. Includes extensive back matter. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2023
Fight alongside young Nezahualcoyotl as he comes of age and earns his crown. In pre-Columbian Mexico in the year 1418, a forced peace has granted the Acolhua people temporary reprieve. Fifteen-year-old crown prince Nezahualcoyotl (then called by his birth name, Acolmiztli) must leave the palace for the calmecac and become a man. This rite of passage is interrupted, however, when battle returns to Tetzcoco and everything changes forever. Nezahualcoyotl kills a man for the first time. He also watches silently from a tree as his father is slain. Shedding his clothes and his birth name, Nezahualcoyotl goes into hiding until the time is right to return. In a maelstrom of oscillating joy and tragedy, the story follows Nezahualcoyotl (of contemporary 100-peso bill fame) until the age of 23 in this grand adventure. While most of the four-part story is told through prose, scattered verse showcases Nezahualcoyotl's poetic gifts (including some direct translations of Nahuatl poems). Political machinations abound alongside an exceedingly high body count. Bowles deftly uses the first-person present tense to add immediacy to Nezahualcoyotl's otherwise distant story. Gender and sexuality are understood differently in Nezahualcoyotl's culture, but significantly, a main love interest is xochihuah ("a queer gender in Nahua culture that doesn't quite align to modern perceptions"). Though sparse, Mijangos' full-color illustrations add a regal beauty to the book's design. An appended "Guide to Unfamiliar Concepts" offers extensive additional context for each chapter. Riveting. (family trees, map, pronunciation notes, author's note) (Historical epic. 14-18)

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September 15, 2023
Grades 9-12 Teenaged Acolmiztli lives in pre-Columbian Mexico in the year 1418 and, for one so young, carries unfathomable burdens. He has spent his life being groomed to be king of Tetzcoco. While not a fan of the unending warfare, Acolmiztli's open-minded interests lie in developing a leadership that honors artists, musicians, and philosophers. As the crown prince, jealousy among his half-siblings and extended family creates obstacles for him that lead to the harrowing demise of his loved ones. Filled with grief and anxiety, Acolmiztli goes on a quest, seeking refuge, developing new friendships, and learning to heal from the trauma. As in his earlier works, Bowles expertly builds on Nahuatl heritage through the historical life of the sapient Acolmiztli (Nezahualcoyotl). Though there are moments in the story that are filled with graphic torture, Bowles creates balance by including poetry. The addition of annotations and terminology at the end allows for further exploration of the Aztec culture. Readers will admire the protagonist's confidence in his sexual identity and the author's care in developing a consensual, polyamorous relationship.

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Starred review from October 6, 2023

Gr 9 Up-Mesoamerican thrones, alliances, wars, and wicked machinations take center stage. Acolmiztli, 16, is the son of a betrayed and murdered king, exiled and running for his life. With a broken heart and shrewd strategy, he vows revenge. He hides in the mountains, alone except for a coyote companion. There, he takes on the name of his familiar and becomes Nezahualcoyotl, meaning Fasting Coyote. But after a season of mourning, he returns to civilization, and there meets his future lifelong companion, Sekalli. But he still has a kingdom to recapture. Nezahualcoyotl plays the long game, putting systems in place that will give him back his beloved city, Tetzcoco. Years in the making, he never abandons the dream of serving his exiled people. The protagonist is also a philosopher, poet, musician, and engineer. It is through his genius that the Island of Mexico gets fresh water from Chapoltepec, among other talents and accomplishments. The work defies a specific genre. At times this epic novel reads like a military history with pops of romance. The romance leans into the inclusion of Izcalloh, his two-spirit concubine. Court intrigue creates a sense of mystery. Long passages of poetry also fill the pages of this novel. As Nezahualcoyotl ages into manhood, the novel bridges audiences between young adult and adult. VERDICT Bowles adeptly crafts a complex, multi-format, and genre-bending novel for teens.-Stephanie Creamer

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