A stunning post-9/11 companion to the National Book Award-winner When Zachary Beaver Came to Town.
Decades after the Vietnam War and Toby’s life-changing summer with Zachary Beaver, Toby’s daughter Rylee is at a crossroads—her best friend Twig has started pushing her away just as Joe, a new kid from New York, settles into their small town of Antler. Rylee befriends Joe and learns that Joe's father was a first responder on 9/11. The two unlikely friends soon embark on a project to find Zachary Beaver and hopefully reconnect him with Rylee's father almost thirty years later.
This beautiful novel is a tribute to friendships—old and new—and explores the challenges of rebuilding what may seem lost or destroyed. For readers of Wishtree and See You in the Cosmos.
Topics Best friends. Friendship. Family life. Texas. 9/11. Small town life. September 11 terrorist attacks, New York City, 2001.
Lexile 740L
Trim Size 8 3/10" x 5 25/"
JLG Span Spring
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2021-01-11
JLG Release Date Mar 2021
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 7
Reading level Elementary, Middle
Format Print
Upper Elementary/Middle Plus (Grades 5-7)
Upper Elementary/Middle Plus
Upper Elementary/Middle Plus (Grades 5-7)
For Grades 5-7
This collection ensures a steady stream of engaging books for middle-grade readers, offering a well-balanced mix of fiction and nonfiction. Designed to challenge and inspire young readers, these selections remain accessible for those transitioning to more complex texts or who may be reluctant to read.