The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas

by Kimberly Willis Holt

Kimberly Willis Holt's The Ambassador of Nowhere, Texas is 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 middle grade novel is a tribute to friendships--old and new--and explores the challenges of rebuilding what may seem lost or destroyed.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Juvenile, Family

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 2021

About the author

Kimberly Willis Holt is the author of the Piper Reed series, including Piper Reed, Navy Brat, Piper Reed, Clubhouse Queen, and Piper Reed, Rodeo Star. She has written many award-winning novels, including The Water Seeker and My Louisiana Sky, as well as the picture books Waiting for Gregory and Skinny Brown Dog. A former Navy brat herself, Holt was born in Pensacola, Florida, and lived all over the U.S. and the world—from Paris to Norfolk to Guam to New Orleans. Holt long dreamed of being a writer, but first worked as a radio news director, marketed a water park, and was an interior decorator, among other jobs. A few years after she started writing, her third book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She resides in West Texas with her family.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/kimber...

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, we will no doubt be treated to a plethora of books commemorating this historic event. This book is the first 2021 entry I have read and it is a fantastic beginning. Rylee Wilson is going into 7th grade. Her best friend is Twig. Her dad is her history teacher. Before school begins in the fall of 2001, Antler inhabitants receive enlarged photographs from a deceased former resident. Rylee's family receives a picture of Zachary Beaver who was a sideshow circus performer in the 70's and had befriended her dad and uncle. As the town is abuzz over these deliveries and Twig is on an international trip, 9/11 occurs shaking everyone up. Twig returns at last and the friendship seems to be irreparably broken. Then Joe comes to town. His dad was a firefighter in NYC and perished in the two towers. Searching for Zachary Beaver gives Rylee and Joe a project to focus on and their friendship grows. Holt contrasts the aftermath of 9/11 for those out on the fringes and those who were directly impacted. The town of Antler rallies around Joe and his mom and it is beautiful to see both sides learning from one another. I would love to visit the town of Antler and the Wilson family Sno-cone stand. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Company and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas by Kimberly Willis Holt
The author Kimberly did a wonderful job writing this book. This book is an excellent book for middle schoolers and it touches 9/11 which can be a difficult subject for some.
Rylee Wilson is a seventh grader that grew up in her small town. She is currently having issues with her best friend Twig. Twig us dealing with a lot of stuff at home and don't know how to talk to anyone about it.
While Twig and Rylee friendship are on the rocks a new kid just moved in and Rylee declares that she will show him around. Joe is a kid who just moved there from New York where he lost his father to the 9/11. Rylee and Joe's friendship grows while they are undercovering a small mystery of rylees dad friend from when he was a child.
Raiting: 5 stars 🌟

[Fatirah Murtaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ambassador of Nowhere is a middle grade book that reads as a love letter to the children of 9/11. It’s a fictional story but the premise is based on a true American history; the terror attacks that once had robbed lives of many and left about more than 3000 children parentless. Despite the sentimentality that lingers about the catastrophe itself, Holt’s exceptional and heartfelt writing will take you on a delightful journey—centering on themes that most readers would find this as an engaging read such as friendships, redemption, home, and family.

Written from the first point of view, we’re introduced to the main character named Rylee Wilson, a seventh grade, who has a best friend named Twig. Yet their relationship becomes distant when Twig comes from an international trip with a domestic problem on her shoulders. Their misunderstanding builds the space in between them, leading both of them astray. The turmoil between Rylee and Twig would be a turning page for readers who seek for what a true friendship is, as well as the project looking for Zachary Beaver, an old, long-forgotten friend of her Dad and her Uncle lead by Rylee and a newcomer boy in the town named Joe.

Paralleling with the timeline and the terrorism, Holt delivers us such a successful storyline that makes sense in a way of how she conducts the aftermath of the event. Rylee is not affected by the terrorism since she lives in Antler but the boy, Joe, who comes from New York is affected badly. The relationship between Rylee and Joe grows beautifully as they are able to overcome their hardships by focusing on the aforesaid project. It’s a kind of platonic love in which I think readers will find the relationship likeable.

This book is written so deftly and I hardly find any part that feels disjointed to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who favours well-rounded characters with friendships as the major theme. I also want to add that it’s my first time finding about this historical event and I was happened to born in the same year the terrorism had occurred. If Holt doesn’t pen this story then I wouldn’t know. For that, I want to thank her for bringing this event to life with an impactful narration.

Thank you Netgalley and Turn The Page Tour for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

[Rajiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

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“The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas” is a beautiful novel that explores friendship and forgiveness, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

To begin with, I loved the theme of friendship that the author portrays in the story. She beautifully conveys that it is never too late to rekindle the company with a true friend, no matter how old you are. The author also highlights how important it is to understand one another and not be judgemental. I loved how the author portrayed these messages across various characters, whether it be Zachery and Toby, Rylee, Joe, and Twig. Rylee is a beautiful character with a charming attitude. Rylee and Joe share a beautiful connection and have many memorable moments.

Honestly, I loved Joe’s character more than Rylee. He goes through so much in the story. Initially, you feel he is snobbish and arrogant, but later, you realize the reason for his behavior. I loved the scenes where Joe rides the bike from Sheriff Levi and how everyone applauds for his father. Similarly, it was interesting to see how Rylee and Twig’s friendship progressed. The author wrote the characters so personally, where you feel like you are with them on their adventures.

Moreover, the story takes place during the 9/11 event, and the author poignantly touches on the events that took place and how they affected everyone. The author also spices the plot with the entertaining investigation of Zachary Beaver. I enjoyed how Joe and Rylee took this as a project and conducted their research to learn about him.

Overall, I thought this was a delightful middle-grade novel. I will surely pick up the companion novel “When Zachary Beaver came to Town” to dive into the character’s lives again.

[Kimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 Things I Enjoyed from The Ambassador of Texas:

1. I LOVED how Kimberly Willis Holt developed her characters from the beginning to the end. They were easy to like and relate to.
2. The dialogue between Rylee and Joe was engaging, believable, and conveyed a wonderful sense of small-town closeness.
3. Both the subject matter (9/11) and the memories associated with it were written in a way that was factual, yet, still reveling the topsy-turvy emotions that go along with losing someone you love in such a tragic way.
4. Kimberly Willis Holt did a good job explaining the timeline for the characters while still giving me a richer understanding of what it might have been like to lose someone during 9/11
5. I appreciated how Kimberly Willis Holt interwove themes of forgiveness, overcoming grief, being true to yourself, and perseverance.
6. I will close out with my favorite quote from the book:
“But true Friendship never fades, no matter what happens”.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, engaging, and enlightening story that any age would like. I do think it started a little slow, but after reading a bit I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, for the characters, how 9/11 was conveyed, and for giving me a richer understanding of that time period.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

[Nikole Clow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas is one of those middle grade stories that leaves you content and thankful that you picked up this book. It’s a story brimming with friendship, forgiveness, and overcoming hardships, and it’s a great read perfect for many readers. Holt’s new middle grade is an emotional, yet enlightening read, with heartfelt characters and a story you will not soon forget.

What I thoroughly enjoyed about this book the most is how relatable the characters were. The characters are beautifully developed throughout the whole book. I felt it was easy to relate to Rylee, especially as she was continuously growing throughout each chapter. Her conversations with her friends and Joe were engaging, even when the topic at hand was difficult to discuss. Rylee is a strong character that doesn’t give up easily and that in itself is truly inspiring. Rylee is definitely one of those characters that is bound to be a role model for many readers.

Kimberly Willis Holt has a way with words. Holt grips your heart from the very beginning and keeps you engaged with the characters and dialogue. She’s crafted a story with heart and friendship and what it means to rebuild. Holt captures the essence of what it would have been like to lose someone during 9/11 and how it’s like to try to move on, even decades later. When 9/11 happened, I was just a young child, not entirely sure of what was happening. But this book exceptionally creates that feeling of knowing what 9/11 was like for those that lost a loved one and lived through a tragic event. Holt provided a deeper understanding of the tragedy of 9/11 while also sticking to the facts, which made this story more emotional.

Overall, I enjoyed this middle grade read. Filled with wonderful characters, engaging dialogue, and emotional scenes, The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas is sure to grip your heart strings and leave you with an emotional connection to this beautiful story.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I had different expectations for this book than what I was given. When I was told a post 9/11 take, I was truly expecting a tale that took place in the aftermath of 9/11. That IS a subplot for sure (a boy comes to town whose father has gone missing on that fateful Tuesday morning).....and another girl's life has been impacted by travelling that day.

However, this is more of a small town story. A story centered around a family....and of a girl searching for answers. Perhaps it is due to my NOT realizing this was a "sequel" of sorts, perhaps because I didn't know that the mystery about an individual had started in a previous book....but I found myself going "eh" throughout most of "The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas." I did not have the back story or history or the investment.

All told, this is not going to be a middle grade I gravitate towards recommending.

[Sara Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time reading this book. I finished it fairly quickly, and enjoyed every minute of it. The main character wasn't annoying she was actually quite an active character. First off she really could put up with Twig. If that was me I would've dropped her right then and there. No one deserves a friend like that. Also Joes braid grosses me out, I try not to think about it too much but it's gross. There little "romance" was so cute!! 🥰 I think I will continue to read this book over and over again cause it is a really good book. I think it's one I would recommend to any of my friends 11+

[Tamsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, a story about 1971 which was published in 1999, and I read it sometime shortly thereafter. This book follows the next generation, with Rylee, the daughter of Toby in 2001. This book, of course, has an entirely different set of challenges, but is filled with the same sympathetic characters dealing with ordinary problems (though 9/11, not an ordinary problem, also drives the plot). I loved how Kimberly Willis Holt connected the two stories when a photo including Zachary Beaver is gifted to Rylee's father, and her search to find out what happened to him after he left her town helps her understand her father and home better, as well as foster a new friendship.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a satisfying read - heartwarming, special, coming-of-age, family and friendship, small town. You don't have to have read When Zachary Beaver Came to Town to enjoy this novel, but you really should!

[Jessica Vitalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in a pitch-perfect middle grade voice, I felt like I was living in "Nowhere" Texas and experiencing the main character's bewilderment as her best friend suddenly changed and the gradual friendship that she developed with the new boy in town. A sensitive depiction of 9/11 loss and grief.

[Cara BookShelfMomma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great middle grade read about friendships that span the ages.

Loved it, longer review to come. I listened on audiobook from MacMilian audio.
4.5/5 stars.

[Blake Bolling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had a very interesting story that kept me engaged when I was reading it. One thing I liked about the book was the suspense it gave. The book created suspense between Twig and the narrator's friendship and if they were going to reunite their friendship. One motif that I found in the book is that everyone has a different meaning for home. I recommend this book because it has a great story.

[Binxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts of this story I liked and others that were way too contrived for me to give it a better review. Seems she really wanted a vehicle to bring a character that lived through Sept 11 to life. Not her best work

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: My grandmother told me she once watched an abandoned house fold inside itself. The roof had caved in, leaving a hollow shell. “A house needs people, Rylee,” she claimed, “or it will die.” Every time I passed Miss Myrtie Mae’s home, I watched for signs of the roof giving way or the walls collapsing. But even though ivory paint flakes covered the ground like snow and the roof had shed a few shingles, the old house looked as if it were holding its breath, waiting for someone to claim it.

Premise/plot: The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas is set thirty years after the events of When Zachary Beaver Came To Town. It opens in late summer of 2001. Rylee Wilson, Toby's daughter, is the main character. Her best friend, Twig, may or may not be still her best friend. The two just don't seem to be on the same track anymore. No matter how much Rylee still wants things to be the same. A new family will soon be heading to Nowhere...and life for Rylee may never be the same...

When Zachary Beaver Came To Town opens with Miss Myrtie Mae taking pictures, pictures, and more pictures. The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas opens with her estate being settled. (She's recently died.) Who inherits her house--and will they stay and settle down in Antler, Texas??? or will they sell the house??? who will buy it if they do???--makes up a bit of the story. But mainly the focus is on FRIENDSHIP.

My thoughts: I am super thankful that this book exists. The publication of this sequel/companion book motivated me to read When Zachary Beaver Came To Town. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. But I did LOVE it. Primarily because it was so character-driven and the world-building was great. It gave a real sense of time and place. I fell in love with a whole town. Though you may hear that this one can be read as a standalone, I disagree. I mean technically, yes, it could be I suppose. But you'd be missing out on so many squeal-worthy moments of pure glee. (Like when you find out WHO Toby married!!!) Because what we get are snippets here and there that update you on EVERYONE.

The books I love the most seem to be the ones I struggle with the most in the writing of the review. (Even that sentence was a bit awkward). I want to gush enough that you want to read the book--or both books--but I don't want to spoil either book!

Quotes:
“Looking forward to seventh grade?” “Well, I wish Twig was going to be there.” “Rylee, Twig may not be here every day of your life. People come and go even when we don’t want them to.” I wondered who he was talking about, because he’d seen his best friend practically every day of his life. “Seventh grade is going to be great,” he said. “Because you are.” I only wished everyone saw me the same way my dad did.

Saying “sorry” was easy for me even if something wasn’t my fault. If someone dropped a pencil or spilled juice, I apologized as if I’d done it myself. Twig would catch me every time, and ask, “Why are you sorry?” One day she said, “Don’t say sorry, say squim.” Twig rarely, if ever, used squim, but it was the first of three words she’d invented.

That’s what we’d been since September—tumbleweeds—Joe, Twig, and me. Thinking we were so strong and independent, but we’d learned that we were fragile, too. Maybe we weren’t made of sticks and debris, powered by the wind, but like tumbleweeds, we couldn’t make it alone. We needed each other. Twig was moving at a leisurely pace. She hadn’t even made it halfway down the street. Joe looked over at me, and it was as if we could read each other’s thoughts. He hurried toward his porch and went after his bike while I hopped on mine. We pedaled fast, trying to catch up. Twig didn’t seem to know we were behind her, until I yelled, “Wait up!” She slowed to a stop and glanced over her shoulder. The forced smile from a moment before was missing. In its place was the big one I knew by heart.

[Diya (Melancholic Blithe)⚡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to begin by saying that I am positive I have an invisible faucet fitted somewhere near my eyes which breaks apart whenever I read. Nothing else can explain my reaction while reading this beautiful book. I honestly never thought Middle Grade Books would want me to try so hard as to not cry (a lie, I think I have been teary eyed in most of them). They are supposed to feel childish and a cool refreshing reads then why do they seem like coming home?

This books is no different, trust me. It started of slowly, just describing the friendship of Rylee and Twig and the plot setting that was chosen. It seemed during that moment that nothing significant would be coming out of it. The words described personalities of Twig and Rylee which made it easier for me to picture them. Then 9/11 attack was described and the what was the town’s response. And that was the turning point of the book. It was like slowly and gradually important stuff started to unwrap. There is no way I can talk about them without giving spoilers but I will still brief through all the stuff. We saw how sometimes friendship breaks apart, but can be still glued back in months or in years. Then we saw how families navigate through divorce and death. Beautiful narration of stories from oldies could be seen and even if I personally couldn’t get majority of the references, I still enjoyed reading about them. It’s like some people will be nostalgic about those stuff while some would be looking out to find something new, interesting and exciting. Various aspects of growing up were covered and somehow through all of this, I tried very hard to not see how my life had been during those years and what would the impact have been.

Finding Zachary Beaver was an excuse to make the readers go on a journey they wouldn’t regret being on. The blurb gives a gist of the different different characters and events it was going to discuss about. It’s really surprising how events affect not only our lives and understandings or surroundings for that matter, but how they tell people a story, an event however unfortunate to visit back to and think about how different things could have been. How hard this novel hits you is quite subjective I believe but there is no way that it wouldn’t hit you hard and make you wonder about a lot of things.

Trigger Warnings: 9/11 attacks description, Vietnamese war mention and discussion, Death of a loved one, Divorce, mention of instances of Bullying.

NOTE: I was provided with a copy via Netgalley for the Turn the pages tour in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

January has seemed especially long this year. Even though we had some sun, I still found myself longing for warmer days when we can spend time together, and share some hugs. In a way, I got my wish when I read @kimberlywillisholt‘s new book. I was instantly transported back to Antler, Texas, home of Miss Myrtie Mae, Toby, Cal and Zachary Beaver (remember them from twenty years ago in WHEN ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN) but this time was a little bit different, because it was now 2001, 30 years after we first spent the summer with the Antler crew. However, all the love and kindness from long ago was still there, despite the shock and sadness experienced by everyone after 9/11.

Rylee, Toby’s daughter, tells us the story of the school year of 2001-2002. It was the year the airliners crashed into the twin towers in New York City, when her best friend, Twig, seemed to outgrow her, Miss Myrtie Mae’s mansion finally sold four years after her death, Rylie first learned the story of Zachary Beaver visiting their town in the summer of ‘71 and Joe, who’s firefighter dad perished in the collapse of the Trade Center Towers, moved to town. Along the way, Rylie learns the value of friendships, both old and new, the value of being yourself and the value in appreciating the everyday world.

This story was one you simply didn’t want to end. I wanted to read it in one sitting, but somehow, I found the self discipline to spread it out over a few days. The warmth of a small town in Texas, though there were definitely some sad moments, gave me so much happiness and comfort. This is one to read to your family, listen to on a springtime road trip or share with your class. It’s one that needs to be in every library and on your own bookshelf. And if you haven’t read ZACHARY BEAVER in a while, I highly recommend you do. You’ll get to visit the world of Antler, TX, twice and experience that warmth just a bit longer. In fact, maybe you’ll discover spring is not quite as far away as you thought!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 2001 in Antler, Texas, population 856 (or something like that). Rylee is twelve, and can feel her world changing. The elderly lady next door died, and Rylee wonders who will buy her house. Her best friend, Twig, seems to be growing away from Rylee, and is even missing the first week of school for a trip to Portugal. It's odd, starting school without her. And then, 9/11 happens, and no one knows how to feel. Twig is delayed in returning, and then seems to come back a different person, with her parents divorcing and Twig pushing Rylee away in favor of one of the bullies in the class. Then there's Joe, a new kid whose mother inherited the house next to Rylee's, and who moved from New York to Antler after Joe's father, a first responder, died in 9/11. Joe is understandably difficult to get to know at first, but he and Rylee almost accidentally fall into a friendship. They get interested in finding Zachary Beaver, the sideshow boy who became friends with Rylee's dad Toby and his best friend Cal during the Vietnam war, when his circus was in town. Will they find him?

This was a quiet, lovely book with a sense of place built into every word and every scene. You can almost hear the crunch of the kids' bike tires on the dirt road by the railroad line, or Rylee's mandolin. Every character is distinct and quirky, but in a real, not exaggerated way. Rylee really loves Antler, and can't understand at first why Joe wouldn't love it, too. Their accidental friendship gives Joe solace and purpose in the wake of tragedy, and also feeds Rylee's soul after losing her friendship with Twig--which she's beginning to realize was always a little one-sided. I loved that the author brought back the characters from the first book, even if I didn't remember them all that well (it's been a loooong time since I read it!). I loved that this book was full of quiet dramas that felt more realistic than the usual extremes you find in other books (which are equally good! This is just different). I hope this book finds its readers.

[Virginia McGee Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move a generation beyond the Vietnam War and Toby’s summer in When Zachary Beaver Came to Town and pick up with Toby’s daughter in the 9/11 era in The Ambassador of Nowhere, Texas. A reader who loved the first book will have to wonder if the second measures up. After all, a National Book Award winner is a pretty high standard! I checked it out by rereading Zachary Beaver, followed immediately by the Ambassador.

The beginning of The Ambassador of Nowhere, Texas returns to familiar territory in Antler, Texas. Old friends from the first book show up in new places, a few buried in the cemetery. Toby’s wife turned out to be the first surprise, but I won’t spoil it for you.

Toby’s daughter Rylee explores the theme of friendship as her best friend Twig becomes distant and a new kid named Joe arrives in Antler from New York City in the aftermath of the death of his father in 9/11. As Rylee explores the complexities of her own relationships, she wonders about the one between her father, his best friend, and Zachary. She is not content with the idea of the two friends losing all touch with Zachary after he left Antler following the memorable summer when her father and Cal befriended him. Rylee and Joe begin their own search. For both generations, the value of friendship winds up in juxtaposition against the cost and effort to maintain or restore it.

The question about whether this book measures up to the first is a resounding, “Yes!” Perhaps you also wonder if it is necessary to read or reread Zachary Beaver before you read the Ambassador. The answer is the same as if you asked if it was necessary to put the hot fudge, cherry, and whipped cream on top of the vanilla ice cream. It is not essential, but why not give yourself the whole treat? – And this one is calorie free!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just in time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/1/1 and the fall of the Twin Towers in New York City, author Kimberly Willis Holt returns to the small town of Antler, Texas and some now-grown up characters from her earlier novel, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, published in 1999. Although Toby Wilson from that novel appears in this one, it is his daughter Rylee who is the focus of this one. Rylee is in the seventh grade, and her father is her history teacher. In his free time he runs a snow cone stand where Rylee works. Things seem different this year than they ever have before. Rylee's best friend Twig returns from a summer trip to Paris with a new look and attitude, and she seems uninterested in maintaining their friendship. A new classmate, Joe Toscani, moves from New York City to Miss Myrtie Mae's house after the death of his firefighter father during the terrorist attacks, and Rylee and Joe get caught up in trying to track down the whereabouts of Zachary Beaver. Readers' hearts will ache for Rylee as she comes to some realizations about her former friend and tries hard to help Joe appreciate small-town living. Ultimately, Rylee finds that some friendships are worth the effort and that it is possible to move out from the shadow of another friend. And sometimes hiding parts of oneself out of a fear of being rejected or dismissed can be terribly damaging. The novel celebrates small, close-knit communities and the quiet, unrecognized acts of kindness that many individuals show as well as the unexpected cruelties of others. There are many tender, hopeful moments throughout the novel that may have readers considering their own actions as well as acknowledging how they deal with loss. Reading a story by this skilled author is akin to sinking into a warm bath after a long, hard day--soothing and comforting to the senses and making little things attain importance.

[Aj Sterkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was nervous about this one because it's the sequel to one of my childhood favorite books, When Zachary Beaver Came To Town. I was not disappointed!

I guess I'd call it middle grade historical fiction. The sequel follows the children of the characters from the first book. It's set in 2001, which is pretty cool because I was middle grade aged in 2001. It feels nostalgic, even though middle school was a terrible time for me. It's not great for the characters, either.

The main character, Rylee, is growing apart from her best friend and doesn't understand why. Since her friend won't talk to her, Rylee befriends the mysterious new boy in town. The new kid, Joe, is moody and refuses to talk about his family or why they moved to Texas. Joe starts confiding in Rylee when they make a plan to reunite Rylee's father with his childhood friend, Zachary Beaver.

Like the first book in the duology, this one is slow and quiet. It's about grief and how a friend can change everything. The best part is how it captures the flavor of smalltown America in 2001. I could especially relate to this paragraph about 9/11:

"Some of the same kids who talked about how much they hated Muslims made their own prayer circles before school the days following the attacks. To me, it didn't seem right to act like it was okay to hate and then turn around and pray for peace."

I had the exact same thought in 2001! My school had a club for Christian athletes. The athletes would hold hands around the flagpole every morning and pray for peace. Then they'd go into the school and throw kids down the stairs for being "weird." I guess 2001 was a confusing time for everybody. This book gets it.

If you like character-driven middle grade, I recommend this duology.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel to Kimberly Willis Holt's award winning "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town," features Toby's daughter, Rylee. The time period is 2001 and the world is reeling from the shock of the attack on the Twin Towers. Rylee's longtime friend, Twig, has become cold and distant, and the new kid, Joe, has secrets. Joe connects with Rylee and keeps urging her to find what happened to Zachary Beaver. Rylee is reluctant to do so, but Joe's faith that a true friendship never fades goads Rylee into participating in the search with him.

Kimberly Willis Holt is one of my favorite children's authors; her book are generally added to my purchase list for my school library without hesitation. I remember loving Zachary Beaver, which was the book that made me keep an eye out for her other books. For these reasons, it is so hard for me to say this book just didn't click with me. I'm hoping I'm just "in a mood" and when I read it again, I will like it better. I think the reason for my feelings are that I can't remember many of the details of Zachary Beaver and all through the book I kept feeling like this book would have more of an impact on me if I would have re-read Zachary Beaver first.

Kimberly Willis Holt's writing is beautiful and smooth. She has mastered character dialog to the point you can "hear" the characters speaking. Her characters are so unique and individual it is like meeting someone new. I love everything about Holt's writing.....but this one just didn't click with me. I will still purchase it for the school library, but I will encourage readers to read Zachary Beaver first.

[Asuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this story is fiction, it does a great job at helping understand and deal with reality. This book is written post 9/11, and I think it can do a great job at teaching a new generation about the things the previous generation went through. Sometimes it can be hard to understand the impact and importance of something that you, yourself, did not personally experience. While unfortunate, it is a normal occurrence to many to find empathy and understanding for things that they have not experienced on a personal level.

This book does a great job at bringing you down to that personal level, and giving you an inside look at what experiences others had. This book helps you understand the issues that people faced indirectly through a story, so it makes it less heavy to deal with. It touches on friendship, family, and home issues surrounding the situations. It is written in first person so it does feel genuine and intimate. It shows how the effects of 9/11 were different, depending on where you lived, and if your family was impacted or not. Through the characters Rylee and Joe, Holt tells the story of many kids around the US.

This story is very believable, and I am sure that some friendships out there at this time, were very similar to this story. Through listening to others struggles, actually hearing them out, and acknowledging that major events affect everyone differently, we can have better relationships with those around us. That's what this book is about, and it does a dang good job at it.

[Sally Kruger]

Thank you to author Kimberly Willis Holt for writing a companion novel to her wonderful WHEN ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN. Zachary Beaver is a character I have always remembered, and this new story honors him well.

Rylee Wilson lives in Antler, Texas. She loves her town. Her family-owned snow cone shop, her history teacher father, and Opalina's Opry House are just a few of the things that make this small Texas town special. When a boy and his mother buy the old house owned by town legend Miss Myrtie Mae, Rylee hopes they will love Antler, too.

Acting as a tour guide for the new neighbor, Joe, Rylee realizes that he isn't impressed by her town. He is from New York City so small town life must seem pretty slow and dull. 9/11 happened just months earlier, and Rylee learns that Joe's father was killed in the disaster. She thinks if she can get him to like Antler, it might take his mind off the tragedy.

One thing does seem to help distract Joe. When he sees a photograph of Zachary Beaver and learns that the sideshow performer was in Antler years ago and was friends with Rylee's dad, he is determined to find out what happened to Zachary. Reuniting the childhood friends turns into a mission for Joe and Rylee.

Author Kimberly Willis Holt deftly weaves together multiple story lines that will have readers remembering Zachary and learning so much more about the characters of Antler both past and present. Older readers will love the return of Zachary and probably encourage new readers to find a copy of his story before or after tackling this latest one.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a very long time since I read When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. I honestly didn't remember the details, just the feelings I had when reading it. And that was okay when reading this book, since Rylee sets out on a journey to discover more about her Dad's friendship with him and what happened after he left Antler. Rylee is the daughter of Toby, the main character in When Zachary Beaver Came to Town and Toby's best friend (now Uncle Cal) lives right next door.
When a new boy moves from New York City to Antler right after 9/11, he convinces Rylee to set off on a search for Zachary Beaver. Together they explore the meaning of friendship and loss and how they need to keep going on even when the world around them changes more than they'd like. A beautiful homage to friendship. You don't have to have read When Zachary Beaver Came to Town first, but it would help. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful sequel to When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, a 1999 winner of a National Book Award, and I recommend reading it before you read Holt's new book.

Set in 2011-2012, all of the characters are back with the exception of librarian Myrtie May who has recently died leaving her house to a New York relative, and one of her photographs to each person in town. Toby's photo is one of Zachary Beaver and Cal's is of a bag of groceries sitting on the steps of Zachary's small trailer.

Rylee is dealing with the loss of her best friend who is suddenly distant but offers no explanation, but Rylee learns from her mom that Twig's parents are divorcing.

When Joe and his mom arrive from New York to take possession of Myrtie May's house, Rylee hopes they will be friends. As she gets to know him she finds his moodiness and irritability is because of the recent death of his father, a fireman who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center and who is listed among the unrecovered dead.

There's not an unlikable character among the cast. Even Vernon, the class bully, is nicely improved upon by the end.

This is a very touching and revealing look at the 9/11 tragedy. Author Holt ends her author's note by saying, "...I'm thankful to... all the... survivors who continue to share their loved ones' stories with the world, forever reminding us of who we lost. May we never forget."

[Britt Fitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just a normal day for Rylee who had just started seventh grade, until her teacher got called to the office. When she came back, the TV was turned on and everyone watched together as the twin towers came tumbling down.
Twig had been her best friend since second grade, but when she returns from vacation to a post-9/11 Texas to find her family torn apart, she doesn't want to be around Rylee much... or at all. Joe has just moved to Antler from NYC. Rylee tries to show him the wonders of small town life, but he is more interested in the mystery of what happened to Zachary Beaver.
Alter, Texas could very well have been my own hometown. I understand Rylee's love for it. I would never move back, but sometimes I do miss that sense of community that you can never find away from the small town life.
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★★★★★
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"True friendship never fades, no matter what happens."
-Kimberly Willis Holt, "The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas"
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[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been years since I read When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. Twenty years after Vietnam, we find out the next chapter. The fateful 9/11 has happened and America is changed forever. This is Rylee's story. Rylee is the daughter of Toby, the main character in When Zachary Beaver Came to Town and Toby's best friend (now Uncle Cal) lives right next door. Rylee's parents are both teachers living in the small Texas town. They run the snow cone booth through the summer. Miss Myrtie May, Rylee's next door neighbor, has died and a new family moved in. He is from New York City and can't believe he has landed in little bitty Antler. We slowly discover his story, why he and his mother moved here, what has happened to the rest of his family when they lived in New York. Joe convinces Rylee to set off on a search for Zachary Beaver. Together they explore the meaning of friendship and loss and how they need to keep going on even when the world around them changes more than they'd like. What they discover is friendship at its very best. Middle school students will enjoy Rylee's story, as well as upper elementary students.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rylee Wilson's dad is Toby from "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town." They still live in Antler Texas, and things haven't changed much in the last 30 odd years. Everyone has gotten older, and their neighbor, Miss Myrtle Mae has recently passed away. Rylee and her best friend Twig have had a falling out, and Rylee is navigating a new friendship with Joe - who recently moved to Antler after his father, a first responder, was killed on September 11th. After Toby receives a photo of himself and Zachary Beaver from Miss Myrtle Mae's estate, Rylee and Joe embark on a search to find Beaver and see what happened to him.

I loved the connection to 9/11, and the theme that those who weren't there have a different understanding, a different kind of memory about it. Kimberly Willis Holt is a great writer for middle grade readers, although a bit slow, this slice of small town life is a sweet story. More of a companion than a sequel, a recent reading of Zachary Beaver makes it more enjoyable, but not entirely necessary as it is indeed a different story.

Crossposted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Note: Although this is a companion novel to When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, I hadn't read the first book and didn't feel confused at all, so this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

One of the things that really elevates a book for me is a sense of place, and The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas does that incredibly well. I felt like I was walking down the streets of a small Texas town (Note: if you want to enhance the experience, download some Nickel Creek music to listen while you read!). I think the book does an excellent job of introducing middle grades readers to the impact of 9/11, in an age appropriate manner. The theme of friendship is one that many middle grades readers will relate to and they will related to how Rylee navigates different friendships. Often, parents and educators of young MG readers ask about this, so it is worth noting that there is some light dating in the story.