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Two dollars to see the fattest boy in the world is something that Toby and his friend Cal can't resist on a hot summer day in Antler, Texas. Little happens in Antler, so the whole town seems to show up when the trailer parks in the Dairy Maid parking lot. Everyone files into line and hands their money to Paulie, the owner of the trailer and the guardian of Zachary Beaver. To Toby and Cal six hundred and forty-three pound Zachary is not a disappointment, Toby is filled with shock and Cal with unending questions. The town expects them to be gone by morning, but when they awaken they find Paulie's car gone and the trailer containing Zachary parked in the same spot.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is a coming-of-age novel that takes place during the Vietnam war. Kimberly Willis Holt has created a picture of boys friendship quite perfectly, the two main characters are more than believable. However, Holt created too much plot with this book and this makes a lot of it difficult to digest. Each of the three main characters have at least one HUGE tragity, which causes the flow of the book to seem like a waterfall even though her attempt was the possitiveness of friendship. Upon finishing this book it almost feels like you need more, there are so many loose ends that didn't get tied together that leave the reader wondering what happens.
This is a book that discusses war, death, and parents sepertaing; not reccomended for younger readers, best for children in the mid-upper grades. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is a novel that children can turn to to help remind themselves that when someone else is rude to them it probably means they are hurting inside and the best thing to do is love them rather than be mean back. An interesting perspective on friendships and hardships is what this book will leave you with.
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