At fifteen, Crown Prince Acolmiztli is preparing to enter the calmecac, the temple school that will prepare him to rule the Acolhua people. However, his time there is cut off abruptly after only a few months, when war threatens his beloved capital city of Tetzcoco. David Bowles' young adult novel The Prince and the Coyote follows Acolmiztli's journey from young prince, to hunted refugee, to revered king.

Acolmiztli was a real historic figure, better known today as Nezahualcoyotl, the name he used as ruler of Tetzcoco. He was a celebrated warrior, architect, and poet, as well as part of the Triple Alliance that became the Aztec Empire. Bowles is wonderful at bringing his perspective to life. The world in which Acolmiztli lives is integral to the book's fast-paced, exciting plot, from the religion that guides him, to the complicated interplay between family and political ties, to the ...