Review from Abigail

 

A Book about connections of all kinds -- natural, human, and with self

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2025

Format: Paperback

The Stranger in Me by Russ Munson follows the story of Roy Nilsson from when he moves to live on a farm with his mother at the age of seven to his high school graduation.

Besides being a coming-of-age story for Roy, or a simple regional tale of life on a farm and, later, in the small town of Issaquah, the book also reveals Roy’s connection to both the land and its people. The narrator is deeply connected to the natural world, and as the world changes and develops, so does he.The reader can see this connection in the descriptions of his explorations:

“My treks along the forest trails of Squak Mountain and the neighboring hills surrounding the farm became more than just walks – they were quiet pilgrimages into a world that pulsed with life just beneath the surface. The trees, animals, and birds were no longer background– they were characters in a living story, and I was learning to read their language…. The rhythm of rain, mist, fog, and morning dew created a damp, shadowy underworld where everything grew slowly, deliberately, and with purpose. When I stopped walking and simply listened, the forest revealed itself in layers.”

The narrator also develops deep connections to the people in his life – his mother, his estranged father, Dell the farmhand, beloved Patch, Julia Johnson, Mabel Brown… . And, as with any character who is so deeply connected to his surroundings, Roy is open to and part of some jarring life experiences that act as guides in Roy finding out who he is.

Although the narration of rural and small town life and its lessons (a hard work ethic, small town life, deep connections) might not be relatable to the middle-grade readers of today, the book offers perspectives and wisdom that could broaden their worlds. The book will also be of special interest to those who are intimate with this region and can appreciate the descriptive language and deeper themes of The Stranger in Me.

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