In 'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' readers are introduced to a unique and memorable character: Owen Meany, a boy with a damaged voice who stands out not just for his small physical stature but for the profound impact he has on the narrator's faith. The story unfolds in Gravesend, New Hampshire, in 1953, as two eleven-year-old friends experience a harrowing event during a Little League baseball game—a foul ball hit by Owen results in a tragic death. Convinced that he is an instrument of God, Owen's life takes a remarkable path following the incident, one that is replete with destiny, faith, and the search for meaning. John Irving weaves an extraordinary tale that explores friendship, belief, and the peculiarities of fate.