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27th out of 38 books
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21 voters
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When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (Readers Circle)
Nothing ever happens in Toby’s small Texas town. Nothing much until this summer that’s full of big changes.
It’s tough for Toby when his mother leaves home to be a country singer. Toby takes it hard when his best friend Cal’s older brother goes off to fight in Vietnam. Now their sleepy town is about to get a jolt with the arrival of Zachary Beaver, billed as the fattest bo...more
It’s tough for Toby when his mother leaves home to be a country singer. Toby takes it hard when his best friend Cal’s older brother goes off to fight in Vietnam. Now their sleepy town is about to get a jolt with the arrival of Zachary Beaver, billed as the fattest bo...more
Mass Market Paperback, 256 pages
Published
May 13th 2003
by Laurel Leaf
(first published October 15th 1999)
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I was forced to read this book for my english class. This was really awful. To quote one of my friends "why are your eading that? It sounds like a little kids book." I felt like a little kid while reading it. Then, the author came to our school to come and tlak to us about writing. I think i knew more about writing then she did. It really was one of the 2 most boring hours of my life, and i've been many of my grandmothers friends houese so i know what i'm talking about when i say borin...more
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The writing of this was crisp and clear, and easy to read, and seemed like an enjoyable novel. However, as I think on it now, there are too many loose ends and sub-plots that don't go anywhere (the whole idea of Toby trying to gain the favor of a certain young girl, and then fixing her up again with her ex-boyfriend seems pointless in retrospect).
Some lofty themes and dealing with issues such as death and divorce make it easy to see why this is an award winner, but it is not a book t...more
Some lofty themes and dealing with issues such as death and divorce make it easy to see why this is an award winner, but it is not a book t...more
Taylor811
added it
Taylor Schulz
2/2/08
8-1
When Zachary Beaver came to town
This book teaches us all a lesson. It teaches us to not judge a book by its cover or how a person looks like their weight, clothes, style, and more. That’s exactly what had happened to Zachary Beaver. He had no friends because people judged him by his weight. All he had was Polly, who drove him around the world so he could make a profit. People picked on Zachary and took him for granted; no body took the time to find ...more
2/2/08
8-1
When Zachary Beaver came to town
This book teaches us all a lesson. It teaches us to not judge a book by its cover or how a person looks like their weight, clothes, style, and more. That’s exactly what had happened to Zachary Beaver. He had no friends because people judged him by his weight. All he had was Polly, who drove him around the world so he could make a profit. People picked on Zachary and took him for granted; no body took the time to find ...more
I taught this novel to a class of high intermediate level ESOL students. The majority of them didn't really enjoy it. We (the ULL IEP) try to choose books for them that have the right combination of appropriate/inoffensive language and thematic content, challenging but reasonable vocabulary, and subjects or characters they can relate to.
This novel was chosen because it deals with themes the students are familiar with-- being an outsider in an unfamiliar place, separation from family ...more
This novel was chosen because it deals with themes the students are familiar with-- being an outsider in an unfamiliar place, separation from family ...more
“When Zachary Beaver Comes to Town,” was an easy book to read, it was a nice change from Gary Paulsen to Kimberly Willis Holt. It’s about the summer when there are big changes in Toby’s life finally because nothing big happens in Texas Town where Toby lives. Toby’s life isn’t the great because his mother leaves her home because she wants to pursue her dream of becoming a singer and his best friend’s older brother goes to the army to fight in Vietnam. When Zachary Beaver, “the fattest boy”...more
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When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt is about two best friends that meets the fattest boy in the world named Zachary Beaver, when they become friends with him both of their life changes. The two best friends Toby and Cal goes through different adventures for and because of Zachary. Their life changes because they see how the life of Zachary is much more difficult than theirs. Zachary doesn't have any parents and his guardian left him alone in the "boring" town of An...more
Kimberly Willis Holt was thirteen when she saw the “Fattest boy in the World” at the Louisiana State Fair. This memory gave her the idea for When Zachary Beaver Came To Town. She writes about obesity, friendship and war through Toby’s experience, a thirteen year old boy in the small town of Antler, Texas. When Zachary Beaver came to town as a sideshow, people stood in line to pay $2 to see him. He was somewhere around 600 pounds! He said he didn't mind people paying to see him because peopl...more
The place is the south, the Texas town of Antler, but the time period has moved up about 20 years. This is a story of an unlikely friendship between three boys: Toby, his best friend Cal (whose brother, Wayne, is serving in Vietnam); and the sideshow star, Zachary Beaver, who comes to town and is billed as the "fattest boy in the world." Ostensibly, Zachary is trying to eat his way into the Guinness Book of World Records and is hostile to the boys' feeble attempts to befriend him. It's...more
When Zakary Beaver Came to Town, by Kimberly Willis Holt, A. narrated by Will Patton, produced by Listening Library, downloaded from audible.com.
Toby lives in a boring town, Antler Texas, where nothing ever happens. But, while he and his best friend Cal stood in line beside a trailer one day, a sign went up saying they could pay to see the fattest boy in the world-600 pounds. They paid and went in to see him. He looked at t.v. or read and paid no attention to the people coming in...more
Toby lives in a boring town, Antler Texas, where nothing ever happens. But, while he and his best friend Cal stood in line beside a trailer one day, a sign went up saying they could pay to see the fattest boy in the world-600 pounds. They paid and went in to see him. He looked at t.v. or read and paid no attention to the people coming in...more
This novel is aimed at the elementary, junior high audience, with its 13 year old protagonist. However, the plot and subject matter make it appropriate for more mature readers. In the summer of 1971, Zachary Beaver, billed as “the fattest boy in the world,” is parked in a trailer next to the bowling alley in Toby’ small, spare, bleak Texas town. The protagonist, Toby, slowly learns to appreciate and accept Zachary, along with others who are “different” from Toby in one way or another, and to ...more
I'm kind of wishy washy between a 2 and 3 star. Decent book just not all it was cracked up to be. I would not have guessed this was an award winning book if I had not already known.
I think the book probably wanted to delve into the don't judge by looks alone sort of thing. It didn't really hit it hard enough to say that was a main theme.
Toby's family was messed up and he spent much of his time wanting to be part of his best friend Cal's family. Toby's mom abandons ...more
I think the book probably wanted to delve into the don't judge by looks alone sort of thing. It didn't really hit it hard enough to say that was a main theme.
Toby's family was messed up and he spent much of his time wanting to be part of his best friend Cal's family. Toby's mom abandons ...more
This is one of those young adult books that leaves me scratching my head. It is a wonderful, moving book that actually had me teary-eyed at the end, but I can't imagine that the kids the author is targeting--maybe 7th or 8th graders--would 'get' it at all. There are some very powerful themes found in the story of Zachary Beaver, who is billed by his guardian the fattest kid in the world, and who is carted around in a trailer in a modern day version of a freak show. When Zachary ends up abandoned...more
Nothing ever happens in the small rural town of Antler, Texas, until one day the monotony comes to a screeching halt. Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, rings in a summer of change for Toby WIlson with his arrival into town. Toby and his best friend Cal struggle to make sense of a changing world and their status in it as they tip toe into an unexpected friendship with the sideshow aspiring Zachary. Both Toby and Cal deal with changing family dynamics and the reality of wartime America...more
"When Zachary Beaver Came to Town" by Kimberly Willis Holt is about an extremely overweight boy named Zachary Beaver who is treated like an expo in the small town of Antler, Texas where he sits in a trailer all day long while people pass by and stare at him. Toby thinks it seems weird to be standing here, just staring at someone because of their appearance, but his immature best friend, Cal, couldn't be more excited. There's also a girl named Scarlett, who Toby's in love with. There's ...more
Starting to enjoy and don't want to put it down.
This is one of those books that I think deserves 20 stars. I just spent the last half hour bawling as I read the end. It was sad, but mainly touching. Where I'd heard other people call the story weird or bored, I thought it was beautiful. It was touching how Toby dealt with these problems he had, and his character was true and believable. Lately, I've been craving this style of writing, too. For some reason I find it much easier to relate to the characters when they're telling the story as...more
Kimberly Willis Holt is visiting our school next year, so I am re-reading this National Book Award winner. What appears to be a slice of life in Texas during the Vietnam war era turns into a multi-layered story of hope and reaching out. Toby and his friend reach out to the unappealing fattest boy in the world. Meanwhile Toby's mother has left home to try to join the world of Country music. The Vietnam War looms ever present through Cal's brother who has been enlisted. Descriptions are vivid - yo...more
Throughout the book, When Zackary Beaver Came to Town, many events occurs in Toby’s life in just one summer. His mom leaves him to pursue her dream as a singer. His best friend’s brother goes off to fight in the dangerous Vietnam War. His crush falls in love with another guy. However, when Zachary Beaver comes to the boring town of Antler, Toby starts to look at things in another way. Because of all these occurrences, it was intersecting to see how Toby’s personality altered throughout the book....more
Its an amazing book. It was very inspirational book. It was very sad on how people made fun of his weight. :( People also paid these boys to take a look at him and everybody always lauphed at him. Onnce he found a freind, his freinds never left his side. His freinds also got him to go outside and explore. He has never been out side before that...
I can't tell you all of it because then i would be giving it away. I reccomend this book to people who have a good taste into books that sad...more
I can't tell you all of it because then i would be giving it away. I reccomend this book to people who have a good taste into books that sad...more
A winner of the national book award 1999
From this vacation's collection, this was the first one i chose to read.
It's a story about a friendship between 3 young boys ;
Toby (with his parents' problems)
Cal (who has a brother serving in Vietnam)
and Zachary (the mysterious, new big fat boy in town)
well, i liked how simple the story was.
and it was the very first time i read about the (baptism) thing.
I don't think i would recommend it to any...more
From this vacation's collection, this was the first one i chose to read.
It's a story about a friendship between 3 young boys ;
Toby (with his parents' problems)
Cal (who has a brother serving in Vietnam)
and Zachary (the mysterious, new big fat boy in town)
well, i liked how simple the story was.
and it was the very first time i read about the (baptism) thing.
I don't think i would recommend it to any...more
My 3-star rating is unfair. This is Young Adult literature that would work for a young adult. It won an award after all. However, unlike some YA books, this one read a little too simply for my tastes. Zachary Beaver is a carny, billed as the fattest kid in the world. He is left in small town Texas and befriended by two boys. One boy's brother is serving in Vietnam. The other boy's mother ran off to pursue her singing career. So much for kids to deal with, but throw in a love interest and...more
Janette
added it
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Was not to treat other differently because there people too and they have feelings just like you and me. Although the main struggle is that they have to get Zachary Beaver out of his home before the police come and arrest him and put him in a foster home. I gave my book a star 4 start because i thought the book deserves it and the book also give a meaning behind it and that meaning is to not treat people differently just because they look different then you and me. Another lesson that was named...more
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is about two best friends, Toby and Cal, and how they met "the world's fattest boy", named Zachary. Toby, has a mother that leaves to go try out for a singing contest in Nashville, and in the process, divorces his father. Cal has a brother that goes to war whom he never writes to, and gets killed. Zachary’s mom died when he was little, and his guardian abandon him in Antler, Texas. Toby and Cal, seeing Zachary’s guardian had been away for a while, start...more
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is a book set in a sleepy Texas town in the early 1970s. When 600-pound Zachary Beaver's trailer rolls in it's literally big news, since he's touted as the "fattest boy alive".
As the townsfolk fork over two bucks and line up to get a glimpse of him (ummm, I guess that was somehow acceptable in the 70s) we meet our young protagonist, 13-year-old Toby Wilson. This is a summer of change for Toby - hIs mother has left him and his father to purs...more
As the townsfolk fork over two bucks and line up to get a glimpse of him (ummm, I guess that was somehow acceptable in the 70s) we meet our young protagonist, 13-year-old Toby Wilson. This is a summer of change for Toby - hIs mother has left him and his father to purs...more
This seemed like more of a juvenile book to me. Toby is living in a small town in Texas in the early 70s when a trailer pulls in to town carrying "The Fattest Boy in the World." Just one more crazy event in Toby's stressful summer. His mom is in Nashville trying to be a singer, his parents separate, his best friend's brother (who he adores) is in Vietnam, and the love of his life is madly in love with another boy. This book resonated with me because I lived in Texas in the early 70...more
Author: Kimberly Willis Holt
Title: When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
Genre: coming-of-age novel
Publication Info: Dell Laurel-Leaf. New York. 1999.
Recommended Age: 9 and older
Plot Summary: Toby and his best friend Cal pay two dollars each to see the fattest boy in the world, who had ridden to their town in a trailer decorated with Christmas lights. Their first introduction does not go over very well. Toby and Cal think Zachary Beaver is rude, selfish, and not wor...more
Title: When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
Genre: coming-of-age novel
Publication Info: Dell Laurel-Leaf. New York. 1999.
Recommended Age: 9 and older
Plot Summary: Toby and his best friend Cal pay two dollars each to see the fattest boy in the world, who had ridden to their town in a trailer decorated with Christmas lights. Their first introduction does not go over very well. Toby and Cal think Zachary Beaver is rude, selfish, and not wor...more
I can see why the book earned an award . It is a good coming me age story. It touches on with issues like losing a loved one to war and feeling abandoned by parents. It is very dated. Everything takes place when there were bell bottoms and the Vietnam war. Also issues like parents leaving their children aren't so rare anymore. Its almost offensive how they talk about Zachary Beaver and not very PC anymore. While slow to start, I liked where the book eventually ended up and think it is worth read...more
When Zachary Beaver came to town, Toby's life was just coming together. Then it falls apart. While Toby is building his life up, Zachary helps him notice the important things in life. Toby realizes finally that life can be much better without the things you THINK you want!
Toby also gives some respect to Zachary, the "fattest boy in the world" and becomes an actual friend to him. He finally realizes he is MORE than just the fattest boy in the world...but a good freind too!
Toby also gives some respect to Zachary, the "fattest boy in the world" and becomes an actual friend to him. He finally realizes he is MORE than just the fattest boy in the world...but a good freind too!
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