When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is a 1999 Period Piece Coming of Age Story (and its 2003 film adaptation) by Kimberly Willis Holt. During The Vietnam War, the town of Antler, Texas is visited by a small sideshow that leaves behind its star attraction, Zachary Beaver, the supposed fattest boy in the world, an intelligent but unhappy boy whose visit has a large impact on the lives of several residents.
Tropes in the book:
- AM/FM Characterization: Kate, the first person to befriend Zachary and accept him as more than just a fat sideshow kid, annoys her brothers with how much she listens to "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."
- Draft Dodging: Ferris is infamous around town for "accidentally" shooting himself in the leg right before reporting to his draft board during The Korean War.
- The Ghost: Vietnam soldier Wayne McKnight is only present through his letters to his family, until his body comes back in a coffin.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Toby is initially delighted by the angry breakup between his longtime crush Scarlett and her boyfriend Juan. However, after Scarlett gently but firmly tells him that no matter how nice she finds him, she won’t like him romantically, and he hears Juan’s sympathetic perspective of the breakup, he works to reconcile them.
- Male Gaze: Toby often admires the height and tightness of Scarlet's jeans, not to mention her bikini top.
- Waiting for a Break: Toby’s mom is a waitress who dreams of being a professional musician and loves to sing to her customers. Toby worries that she will abandon her family to pursue her career, and he's right.
- Weight Woe: Zachary is less at peace with his obesity than he lets on and dislikes being made a spectacle over in public, which is part of his reluctance to leave his trailer.
