Las Cruces Writer and biologist Fenton Kay continues his publishing maelstrom with two new books for the young and the young at heart:
Chipmunk Jumped Over Him
Many years after the climate change disaster. The few people who survive on the edge of the Great Basin Desert have adopted many First People’s traditions to live in an arid and harsh land. Among them is the coming-of-age journey for boys. At 15, boys travel, guided by Coyote, the Trickster, into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On his journey, Vincent faces the challenges of living in the wild. Two ancient shamans task him with destroying an ancient monster. With the help of the ancient ones’ magic, Vincent succeeds, but Coyote is killed. Vincent restores Coyote’s life by stepping over him. Coyote disappears, and Vincent travels with Chipmunk, a shaman. Later, with help from a returned Trickster, Chipmunk, other creatures, and the ancient shamans’ magic, Vincent defeats an evil Shaman, the Gambler. Nearing his journey’s end and showing his maturity, he outsmarts another trickster, Raven, and returns to where his grandfather waits, a confident young man.
Natural History for Young Folks: Gone Fishing
This book discusses and illustrates the variety of terrestrial fish-eating animals that exist around the world. It talks about their tools and how they use them.