$19.99
Type: Young Adult Novel
Pages: 440
Format: Hardcover
Publication: September 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781646141777

EL PRÍNCIPE & EL COYOTE

by David Bowles, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos

1418 - Pre-Columbian Mexico

Fifteen-year old crown prince Acolmiztli wants nothing more than to see his city-state of Tetzcoco thrive. A singer, poet, and burgeoning philosophical mind, he has big plans about infrastructure projects and cultural initiatives that will bring honor to his family and help his people flourish. But the two sides of his family, the kingdoms of Mexico and Acolhuacan, have been at war his entire life – after his father risked the wrath of the Tepanec emperor to win his mother’s love.

When a power struggle leaves his father dead and his mother and siblings in exile, Acolmiztli must run for his life, seeking refuge in the wilderness. After a coyote helps him find his way in the wild, he takes on a new name – Nezahualcoyotl, or “fasting coyote” (“Neza” for short).

Biding his time until he can form new alliances and reconnect with his family, Neza goes undercover, and falls in love with a commoner girl, Sekalli. Can Neza survive his plotting uncles’ scheme to wipe out his line for good? Will the empire he dreams of in Tetzcoco ever come to life? And is he willing to risk the lives of those he loves in the process?

This action-packed tale blends prose and poetry – including translations of surviving poems by Nezahualcoytl himself, translated from classical Nahuatl by the author. And the book is packed with queer rep: queer love stories, and a thoughtful exploration of pre-columbian understandings of gender that defy the contemporary Western gender binary.

From Pura Belpré honoree David Bowles comes a young adult epic about one of the greatest minds of the Americas (honored to this day on Mexico’s 100-peso bill).

About David Bowles

David Bowles es un autor y traductor mexicoamericano del sur de Texas. Entre sus múltiples títulos premiados se encuentran Cuentos sagrados de América; Serpiente emplumada, corazón del cielo: mitos de México; Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Maya Poetry; y Noche antigua. David actualmente se desempeña como vicepresidente del Instituto de Letras de Texas.

About Amanda Mijangos

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.