Coyote Sunrise, whose birth name is Ella, is the protagonist and the narrator of the story. She is a 12-year-old girl who dresses in T-shirts and shorts, wears her hair in a long braid down her back, and goes barefoot whenever possible. As described by Lester, she has a firm handle on a great depth of experience and learning: “That’s a lot of wisdom for a 12-year-old to drop” (84). Coyote repeatedly demonstrates through the narrative that she is quick-witted and seldom at a loss for words. She outsmarts grownups regularly and does not hesitate to be as manipulative as necessary to achieve her goals.

When Coyote is first introduced, she is portrayed as someone who is simply accepting the eccentric life forced upon her by her father: traveling endlessly, aimlessly around the country in an old school bus, homeschooling, singing, and abruptly changing course when the mood strikes. She asserts that she is resigned to this lifestyle. She confirms several times that she accepts this existence because she loves her father, Rodeo, and is concerned that, without her, he will breakdown.

Coyote changes when she learns that the memory box she buried with her deceased mother and sisters just before their deaths is about to be destroyed.