Book Club - When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt-Fantastic!

In this discussion-based format, learners will study this deeply sensitive, heartwarming novel that presents characters each of whom are deep in their own personal triumphs, roadblocks, difficult moments, and at the same time are wonderfully pulled into the dilemmas and events facing other characters in a unique way that pulls the town of Antler, Texas in the 1971 together with common goals.  THe characters are rich and facing conflicts rooted in the accurate historical events of the time period, along with a visit from two strangers who make their living as a freak show in which one teen presents himself as the "fattest boy in the world." It is rare to come across a novel that engages its audiences of all ages with the deep, powerful creation of each character and life in the small town.  A true story of the development of friendship, the importance of truth, pursuing your dreams, not judging people from their outsides, being happy with who you are,helping others through the most difficult that life can throw at us, and sacrificing dreams of our owns for those of others, in this case, during the VIetnam war.  Each character brings such depth to the novel and will bring a smile to the reader.  The author deals with the harshness of war, loss of a big brother to the war, family possible separation, and the concept of a boy claiming to be the " fattest boy in the world"  with professionalism and grace that tenderly teaches themes and important lessons.

My classes are centered around powerful and lively discussions in a most safe environment. Learners quickly feel comfortable adding to discussions and building off each other's ideas.  Mixed into the discussion are valuable language skills of themes, character development, protagonists, antagonists, figurative language, critical settings, vocabulary, elements of historical realistic fiction, conflicts, and resolutions.