Coyote Sunrise vs. Cursed: Which will win?

 Coyote Sunrise vs Cursed:

Well, our team has read (took a couple of weeks), considered (took 3 seconds), debated (took even less time) and decided (unanimously):

Coyote Sunrise:  The idea of a road trip is fun, and is even believable (sort of) after the loss of a wife and 2 children.  An escape makes sense... but 5 years?  Without formal schooling?  Through the years of reading in Smack Down I have always had to remind myself that these are books designed for 10 - 16 year olds (mainly), but even so, some of the writing style left me cringing.  

What was with the focus on the southern accents that annoyed me more than I care to admit? 

How can a father be comfortable pretending that the events of the past didn't matter (and for five years, “count 'em bro, one, two, three,, four, and a five..”)?  I know, deep repression.  This guy needs serious psychological help from a professional… which he eventually received… even if the pseudo psychologist was barely into her double digits.  

Yes, a  7 year old girl becomes a philosopher / psychologist by age 12 from riding aimlessly in a yellow bus chasing sandwiches thousands of miles away.  Dad... weak, pathetic, hiding from reality.  Barely double digits girl, psychologist, philosopher, counselor, bus driver, race car driver, archeologist (or at least ditch digger)... and the list goes on.   

Then dad leaves his daughter at a gas station.  Well.... actually, I have done that as well...  so perhaps that part is believable. 

Salvador on the other hand is more believable.  He compensates for a dismal back story with cosmetic bravado that makes him sort of endearing.  But then, along comes Gladys, who, with a brain the size of a thumb nail, knows to protect Coyote from a police officer.  Good Grief. 

In sheer entertainment value the book was fun.   For the intended audience, the book is probably a good read.  In believability, it can only be consumed as a "comedy".  Read in that light, it was enjoyable.

Cursed:  Cliched, whiny, poor me, dark life, f bomb this, f bomb that. Etc.  Ricky is a fairly flat character, negative in her evaluation of everything (parents, physicians, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, etc.)  Jokes are shallow, and what-is-with-the-ridiculous-use-of-hyphens?  I had to remind myself again, that this novel is meant for apparently easily impressionable pre teens and teens.

But the book does have some redeeming qualities as well.   Ricky's eventual accepting of her illness is believable, although dramatically sudden.  I like the character of Mr. Jenkins.  I love the focus on the power of words and the eventual change that Ricky undergoes as a result of this understanding.  I really liked the implicit (and sometimes explicit) message that the use of too many f-bombs is demeaning (how about even 1 f-bomb).  I liked the character of Oliver.  I liked the positive messaging of the new physician, and his understanding that attitude is half the battle (perhaps more than half).  

Despite the redeeming qualities, the consistent negative whining was tiring.   This 300+ page book could be 200 easily. In fact, by page 150, I found the book to be a real “Page Turner” (also known as skimmer). 

One last critical observation.   It seems to me that there is no real audience for this book.   It is too course (language / attitude / anger) for the elementary reader, but too negatively messaged, and too juvenile a tone for the JH reader.  

If I have to choose between the books based on messaging and meaning, it is a toss up.  If I have to choose between the books right now for entertainment value, CS wins.  

There.   Coyote Sunrise, with its 12 year old prodigy wins!