When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

National Book Award Winner
"This book packs more emotional power than 90% of the so-called grown-up novels." —USA Today
"Holt reinvents the coming-of-age story, breathing life into a quirky cast of characters." —Kirkus Reviews

Award-winning author Kimberly Willis Holt tells an elegant 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.
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.