Zachary Beaver, "the world's fattest boy" has come to town as a sideshow that everyone in town is willing to pay to see. Thirteen-year-old Toby Wilson lives in this town and is having a tough time himself. His mother has gone off to Nashville, Tennessee to become a star, and she doesn't seem to be coming back. Toby gets to know Zachary and, through their friendship, the life stories of many of the townspeople will be affected. Very memorable story!
256 pages 978-0312632120 Ages 9-12
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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National Book Award Winner
The red words painted on the trailer caused quite a buzz around town and before an hour was up, half of Antler was standing in line with two dollars clutched in hand to see the fattest boy in the world.
Toby Wilson is having the toughest summer of his life. It's the summer his mother leaves for good; the summer his best friend's brother returns from Vietnam in a coffin. And the summer that Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, arrives in their sleepy Texas town. While it's a summer filled with heartache of every kind, it's also a summer of new friendships gained and old friendships renewed. And it's Zachary Beaver who turns the town of Antler upside down and leaves everyone, especially Toby, changed forever.
With understated elegance, Kimberly Willis Holt tells a compelling coming-of-age story about a thirteen-year-old boy struggling to find himself in an imperfect world. At turns passionate and humorous, this extraordinary novel deals sensitively and candidly with obesity, war, and the true power of friendship.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is the winner of the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. This title has Common Core connections.---from the publisher
