Canyons (novel)

Canyons is a novel written by Gary Paulsen. It involves two boys, one living in modern times (Brennan) and an Indian boy (Coyote Runs) living over one hundred years ago.

Plot introduction

Canyons is a book about two boys. One boy is named Cayote Runs and the other boy is Brennan Cole. Coyote Runs lives in the 1800s and Brennan Cole lives in the present. Coyote Runs is fourteen and Brennan is 15.

The story starts with Brennan making a short narrative about his life and switches back and forth from Brennan and Coyote Runs. Later in the story, the switching ends when Coyote Runs gets shot in the head during his first raid that would (if successful) make him a man among his people, is shot by soldiers and dies instantly. Near that time, Brennan finds his skull and becomes obsessive of it, eventually leading to Brennan linking to Coyote Runs. After talking to his old biology teacher, he runs to get the skull back to Coyote Runs “Medicine place”. After a grueling run and chased by so-called rescuers, he gets Coyote Runs skull back to his medicine place ending the bond and the book.

References

• http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/edition/?isbn=1439520887