Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town cover art

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

By: Kimberly Willis Holt
Narrated by: Will Patton
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $16.99

Buy Now for $16.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

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 become a country singer. And Toby takes it hard when his best friend Cal's older brother goes off to fight in Vietnam. But now their sleepy town is about to get an even bigger jolt with the arrival of Zachary Beaver, billed as the fattest boy in the world. Toby is in for a summer unlike any other, a summer sure to change his life.

©1999 Laurie Halse Anderson (P)2000 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"Holt...sets her heartwarming and carefully crafted novel during 1971, but her message of tolerance is one that contemporary readers will appreciate." (Publishers Weekly)

"Will Patton is exceptional in his narration. His voice is firm and sincere, with a deliberate slowness that gives import to the motif of watching and inevitable change. His pauses allow the listener to reflect on the story's events and the understandings and friendships that develop and deepen because of them. Don't miss this recording!" (AudioFile

What listeners say about When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.