As I began to read The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas yesterday I realised I need to revisit the first book from this two book series - When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. I re-read my blog post but it did not have enough information so yesterday I read both of these books from cover to cover in one sitting. That's 227 pages plus 311 pages. I am glad I did this because, while the second book could perhaps stand alone, you will have a far richer reading experience if you can read both of these books one after the other so that all the small plot details fit together.
This second book, published in 2021, is set about 25 years after the first. Back in 1971 a trailer pulled up in the Dairy Maid parking lot. Inside is a young boy - he is being used as a circus curiosity - billed as the "Fattest Boy in the World". Over the next few weeks Toby Wilson and his best friend Cal make friends with Zachary. His owner/manager/guardian has left him behind in the trailer. Paulie Rankin has headed away to find more circus acts. Zachary has some food and books to read but it does feel as though he has been abandoned. The local police Sheriff Levi arrives after a window is broken on the trailer. the sheriff tells Toby and Cal that Zachary will have to placed in foster care if Paulie doesn't return by the end of the week.
Now moving onto the second book. Toby has married Tara (she's the younger sister of Scarlett. Toby had a huge crush on Scarlett). Toby and Tara have two daughters - Rylee and Mayzee. Mayzee is six years old and little like Tara was in the first book - loud, brave and a born performer. Rylee, aged 12 is more reserved. She is starting Grade 7 and her dad will be her history teacher. Rylee has one true friend - a girl named Twig. Sadly Twig has just returned from a trip to Spain. Now she no longer talks to Rylee and worse she seems to want to hang out with the class bully.
After 9-11, a young boy and his mum have moved from New York to Antler in the Texas panhandle. Joe and Rylee slowly become friends and Joe opens up about his grief and past life. When Joe hears about Zachary Beaver he tells Rylee they should try to find him. Rylee is worried Zachary might now be dead but Joe encourages her and together, using the brilliant services of the local reference librarian, they piece together the life of Zachary from 1971 to 2021. I imagine you are guessing there will be a happy ending but SO much happens before we reach the end of this engrossing story of small town life and the colourful characters who live there.
Read more plot details in the Kirkus review. Ms Yingling comments on both stories here. Listen to an audio sample which begins on page 4. Kimberly Willis Holt explains the inspiration for her story.
This is the first middle grade novel that I have read that deals with the events of September 11th, 2001. I am sure there are tons of others, just as there lots of books coming through now dealing with the Covid 19 pandemic, but so far this is my first book that touched on 9-11.
I fell in love with a whole town. Becky's book Reviews - me too especially Miss Myrtie Mae Pruitt; Miss Earline the real estate agent; Ferris from the Bowl-a-Rama cafe; and Opalina Wilson (Rylee's grandmother and Toby's mum). Oh and I'm keen to try a Snow Cone especially a Bahama Mam flavour. I'd also love to have seen the hundreds of ladybirds that were released over the cotton fields (from the first book).
You should also read this book by Kimberly Willis Holt:
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