Stuck in Antler, Texas, where "nothing ever happens," life to Toby Wilson is dull and going nowhere. Besides that, his mother leaves home to become a country music singer; his best friend's brother is sent to fight in Vietnam, and the girl of his dreams loves someone else. But when the fattest boy in the world parks his trailer in the Dairy Maid parking lot, Toby discovers he has a lot to learn about his town and about life. The summer of 1971 holds a series of discoveries that change Toby's life forever and getting to know Zachary leads the way.

It is a summer of firsts and lasts, a summer of meetings and goodbyes, and a summer of joys and sorrows. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town peels back the layers of smalltown life to reveal lessons in loving and losing, while it teaches Toby to look beyond the obvious and to take a broader view of life to discover the hidden dreams and treasures that it offers.