Rating: 
Summary: Vivid book
Review: Despite the fact that this book is being marketed as about Toby's life changing by the stories Zachary tells, well, this is not entirely true. Instead, this is the story of Toby's coming of age during the summer of 1971 when the only constant in the small town of Antler, Texas is change. I enjoyed this book, along with Holt's extremely vivid details of the town of Antler and its denizens. Holt has the gift of taking certain cliched situations (yet another story of a friend's brother in Viet Nam, and the stranger who stirs up things in town) and gives them a new, non-cliched literary lives. This is not to say that there still are not moments in the book when things don't ring entirely true (Toby's mother Opalina, while never seen, aspires to be a country western singer and moves to Nashville, yet by the descriptions of her, I can only picture her as a character in Robert Altman's 1975 magnum opus film, "Nashville".) The denouement of the novel also seems to come a bit too quickly, but again, this is two sided as Holt does her best to not deliver us a 100% neat ending. Other than these little problems, I do find this book a rather engaging and fun read. The town that Holt creates seems to be an interesting one. True, while it may be boring to Toby, it intrigues somebody like me who has lived his entire life in New England and never got to experience such a place. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: When Zachary beaver came to town.
Review: THe book 'When Zachary Beaver came to town' was in general a good book. I thought it was some what boring at times but it had great detail and a great plot. The books about a guy, and when his mom goes away a guy who says hes the fatest man in the world and his owner come to town problems arise. After his owner leaves, the police get involved. Zach claims he knows nothing, though every1 knows he knows where he is. Everything becames a mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: Fat Boy, Good Friend and Chaos! What More Could You Ask For?
Review: I am twelve years old, and thought this book was age appropriate. Although it had more than one story within the story, all of the little colors made a beautiful painting. It was easy to follow, and the characters were believable yet unique-- much like some people of today's society. Toby and his friend Cal are amused when a trailor containing the world's fattest boy arrives in their sleepy hometown. While befriending the boy, Zachary, chasing after his beloved crush, and coping with tradgedy, Toby Wilson learns to accept himself and others.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book!
Review: I really liked this book! It is good because the characters seem real and they have problems too. I would recommend this for boys in junior high.
Rating:
Summary: When Zachary Beaver Came To town
Review: This book is about a boy named Toby. He is thirteen and he lives in Antler, Texas. One day a trailer is sitting in the middle of nowhere. It is holding the fattest boy in the world who weighs six hundred fourty-three pounds. Paulie Rankin is a skinny man who collects money for people to see the fattest boy and he takes care of Zachary. Also, Toby's mom goes away to a place called Nashville to sing at a contest, but she loses. Toby's mother writes something to him that makes him very upset. Toby will probably live the rest of his life without his mom. At first, Toby meets Zachary, and they do not get along. But at the end of the story, they become friends.
Rating:
Summary: when zachary beaver came to town
Review: I can't even explain how fabulous the book "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town" is. It is a suspenseful story about a very heavy teenager. His name is Zachary and he is the main act of a freak show run by Paulie Rankin. Paulie leaves Zachary to go find another act for the freak show. A local boy named Toby decides to help Zachary with some of his internal conflicts. If you would like to read a book that deserves the award that it earned, this book definitely deserves its award.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing book!
Review: I'm an 18 year old college student, who loves nothing more than to read. Majoring in childen education, I esp. love reading children's books. After beginning the book, I couldn't put it down. I finished the book in about a week, and loved ever part of this book. This book made me realize that you should pick people out just because they look different. Some of the most weirdest and strange looking people out there today, can be have the most amazing minds in the world. I loved this book and would reccomend it for anyone young and old.
Rating:
Summary: He lives in a trailer?
Review: I liked When Zachary Beaver Came To Town because it tells about how it feels to be thirteen year old kid.Toby feels really sad when his mom leaves home. He misses her and the way she takes care of him.He feels good about his friendship with Zachary Beaver, a fat kid he though he wouldn't like. In between, Toby is jealous when he sees the girl he likes with another boy. This book shows how crazy it can get when you are a kid.
Rating:
Summary: The fattest boy in the world comes to Antler...
Review: This book starts out innocent enough. Toby and his friend Cal find out that the fattest boy in the world has come to Antler, a slow moving town in the middle of Texas. So, they decide to go see them. And when they see him, Cal becomes obsessed with the boy. So starts out this books. Although many other things happen throughout the story, Toby and Cal's friendship with Zachary remains the main topic. Toby has a lot happen to him, as this is one of those "Summer Of" books where your supposed to remember it as the greatest summer of your life. Holt did a great job telling the story to this one. One problem I did have though, was its thing with religion. At a point, I began to think this was a religious book of sorts. It pushes a huge emphasis on baptism at one point, which I did not like. Whats amazing is that this book is meant for Readers ages 9 to 12. I'm 16, and I seriously doubt the average 11 year old to read this book. When Zachary Beaver Came To Town is a good book, and well worth reading, but I don't think it's one that deserved an award. And [it] definately should be directed towards an older age.
Rating:
Summary: Zachery Beaver Came to me from my MOM!
Review: Zachery Beaver is a winner. My mother gave this book to me and it was excellent. Though I was not living at this time I could actually picture it. Kimberly Holt has created a real work of art. One night I began to read and could not stop. With the series of events and they way they happened I was so into it I just couldn't stop reading it. At 1:00 in the morning I fell asleep after finishing the book. This book has a very nice ending and I suggest all 10-15 year olds read it. This is a great book book if you want to know what the past was like. I believe that the characters Toby and Cal are discribed very well and are just like most 12-13 year olds. Therefore I gave this book a 5 but really it is a atleast a 10. I hope others enjoy this book as much as I did.
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