Stave One: Somebody Else in the Vehicle Summary

Gregory Maguire is also the author of recognizable titles such as Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Wicked, which has been transformed into a highly successful Broadway play.

The book opens immediately with action; the main character, Winfred Rudge (Winnie) has just witnessed a multi-car accident directly in front of her. Although she does get out of her car into the rain to check on the passengers of the cars involved in the wreck until the ambulances arrive, readers are made privy to her thought process, which reveals that Winnie is very matter-of-fact, arguably cynical, and more removed from the situation than one may expect. She is worried about being late for a meeting.

Despite the hold up of the car accident, Winnie makes it to her Forever Families meeting, led...