Summerland

Summerland features a shifting narrative and strong mythological base that allow different, and sometimes opposing, stories to emerge from its characters and conflicts. Through Coyote’s personal history and relationship with the gods, as well as Taffy’s backstory, the novel explores how stories differ depending on perspective and who tells them. From the outset, the book defines Coyote as the villain, both because of his past and because of the actions he takes. From the perspective of those who defend the Tree of Worlds, Coyote is a destroyer who acts only for personal gain. However, Coyote doesn’t share this view of himself. In Chapter 10, when Ethan’s dad equates Coyote to Satan, Coyote is annoyed because he’s always blamed for bad things, and he challenges Ethan’s dad to “name one thing you enjoy in that woebegone world of yours […] I guarantee you, I’m responsible for it” (219). Following this challenge, Ethan’s dad offers a list of things he enjoys, and while Coyote doesn’t directly take credit for them, he points out how his influence allowed the beings of the Middling to enjoy them, showing how Coyote puts a different spin on what others view as negative actions.