GA

SUPER READERS
Title:  When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
Author:  Kimberly Willis Holt
Reviewed by:
Maura M. '08 Andrew L. '08

Adrienne O. '08

Andrew K. '08 Tory R. '08
Reviewer: Tory R. '08

Toby and Cal live in the small town of Antler, Texas. Nothing exciting ever happens. One day, they find out that the fattest boy in the world, Zachary Beaver, has come on a side-show tour. The boys get in line and meet Zachary with his problems (and help each other with their own problems). Zachary’s guardian leaves for a few weeks. Will Zachary be put in a foster home because his guardian left him? Will the boys be able to help him? Read the book and find out.

10/23/00

Reviewer: Andrew K. ’08

Toby Wilson is a normal kid until Zachary Beaver comes to town. He has to risk his friendship and his love to do the kindest thing he’s ever done. But it turns out that thing is against the law.

I liked this book because I couldn’t stop turning the pages and it’s the kind of book you just like. I would recommend this book to anyone because it’s that good.

Fall 2000

Reviewer: Adrienne O. ’08

This is definitely one of my favorite books. It’s about a boy named Zachary Beaver and two kids named Cal and Toby. The story is about how Toby and Cal become best friends with the fattest kid in the world. What makes it interesting is how much the two boys go through to help Zachary Beaver.

I would definitely recommend this book for book reviews or just reading for fun.

Fall 2000

Reviewer: Andrew L. ’08

Zachary Beaver is 634 pounds! He is the largest person Toby Wilson and his friend Cal McKnight have ever seen. This story is mainly about the ups and downs of Cal and Toby in Antler, Texas, the most boring place in the world. Some ups include romance and new friends. Some downs include the divorce of Toby’s parents and a death. The most exciting thing to happen in a long time is the traveling circus that comes to town. That’s where Zachary Beaver comes in. He is a sideshow — the fattest boy in the world! Somewhere along the way, the boys realize that Zachary is not a freak but a human being with real feelings. They put aside prejudice and treat Zachary with sensitivity. They show the power of friendship.

On a scale from one to ten, I would rate this book a ten. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I would recommend it to anyone.

Fall 2000

Reviewer:   Maura M. '08

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is about a boy named Toby and his horrible summer in a small town in Texas. But that all changes when he and his best friend, Cal, spy on a trailer parked in the parking lot all summer. They find out that in that trailer is the fattest boy in the world. I would recommend this book to everyone because it is a great book.

Fall 2000


5th Grade Super Readers
Director:  Betty Grant - Lower School Reading Specialist
Web Site - Andrea Owens
Germantown Academy

Super Readers | Lower SchoolGAnet