Stan

A product of Missouri, Stan Johnson is a precocious young boy, whose parents live vicariously through his achievements. His father sees his son as a future version of Stan Musial, the legendary baseball player. His mother sees her boy as a future version of Stanley Babin, the great pianist and composer. However, their son is neither of these exceptional individuals. He is Stan Johnson, his own unique person, who excels at whatever he sets his mind to. To please his parents, he sets his mind on their obsessions, piano and baseball, and achieves statewide acclaim in both. Stan's skills are only surpassed by his character, as he bridges the gap, amongst his classmates, between the athlete and the artist. He is friend and role model to both groups. At twelve-years-old, the boy's sights are set on statewide championship competitions in both endeavors. All who know him, expect the inevitable results from what would be the greatest summer of his life. Then, the unthinkable happens...

A product of Missouri, Stan Johnson is a precocious young boy, whose parents live vicariously through his achievements. His father sees his son as a future version of Stan Musial, the legendary baseball player. His mother sees her boy as a future version of Stanley Babin, the great pianist and composer. However, their son is neither of these exceptional individuals. He is Stan Johnson, his own unique person, who excels at whatever he sets his mind to. To please his parents, he sets his mind on their obsessions, piano and baseball, and achieves statewide acclaim in both. Stan's skills are only surpassed by his character, as he bridges the gap, amongst his classmates, between the athlete and the artist. He is friend and role model to both groups. At twelve-years-old, the boy's sights are set on statewide championship competitions in both endeavors. All who know him, expect the inevitable results from what would be the greatest summer of his life. Then, the unthinkable happens...

Robert Hilfinger lives in Beverly, Massachusetts. His third book titled 'Fred' is about a newly minted college graduate from Missouri. While looking to build his future, Fred follows his college sweetheart to Boston, where she lives with her very wealthy parents; parents that demand their daughter marry a boy of their choosing. And this boy is not Fred Munroe. A handsome and charming overachiever, Fred figures he can win over the minds and affections of his girlfriend's parents. What he does not figure on is the ruthless and conniving nature of his girlfriend's mother and father. These parents are not Ward and June Cleaver. And there is nothing they will not do, to rid themselves of the irritant that is the boy from Missouri. Nothing.