A Junior Library Guild Selection " In this companion to the author's memorable When Zachary Beaver Came to Town , 30 years have passed and it's 2001. Evocatively written ("stiff as burnt bacon"), this is an altogether absorbing and affecting novel. It's obvious that Holt loves her fully realized characters and their small-town setting, and readers can't help but feel the same. " -- Booklist , starred review "Holt deftly intertwines the stories of the individuals from both books, each set at a pivotal time in our country's past, the earlier work during the Vietnam War and the latter in the aftermath of 9/11. This volume is a literary reunion of sorts, but more important is its deep examination of the meaning and responsibilities of friendship, family, and community ." -- Horn Book "A quiet celebration of friendship, no matter how brief." -- Publishers Weekly.