Frederick Buechner

Growing up, Freddy is a total nerd. He loves reading, especially books in the Wizard of Oz series, and fantasizes constantly about the characters of Oz. A shy boy, he does not make any friends until he goes to boarding school, where he meets some other boys that have something in common with him. Freddy loves when it rains, not because he likes getting wet, but because the rain makes it so nice to be snugly indoors. He loves hearing stories from his grandmothers, especially amusing, light anecdotes. Freddy has the unconscious innocence of a child until the day his father commits suicide. Then, the ten-year-old boy has to become the man of the house, which is both scary and gratifying to him. Freddy is haunted by expressive faces and wants to be an artist so that he can portray what people are thinking and feeling. Instead...