James Bowen

James Bowen is the author and first person narrator of A Gift From Bob. Bowen was born in Surrey, England. Shortly after his birth, his parents divorced. He and his mother then relocated to Australia. Bowen had a difficult childhood, in that he spent most of his time alone. He missed his father and had no friends at school. The harder he tried to fit in, the more his peers belittled and bullied him. Christmases were especially difficult for Bowen. He longed for a traditional family celebration. Instead of visiting with his mother’s family in Australia or seeing his father in England, Bowen spent Christmases traveling with his mother. Though he knows she was trying to make up for her absence from home throughout the year, what Bowen really wanted was to spend time with her and to be loved.

Throughout the years following, Bowen...