The Stranger is the story of a mysterious man who enters the life of a farming
family and brings joy and intrigue during his short stay. As the beginning of the story unfolds, Mr. Bailey hits the
stranger, then brings him home to have the doctor check him out. The doctor says that the man has a temporary amnesia
and doesn't know who he is.
All through this part of the story, the illustrations only show the characters
from behind, in silhouette, or reaching in from the edges. But, as the reader turns the next page, he/she is suddenly
brought face-to-face with a wide-eyed man being served his soup. Up until now, the lighting in the illustrations has
been soft, late afternoon type light. Now, light and shadow are more pronounced as the man and the bowl are starkly
lit while the rest of the scene fades to darkness.
The author drops clues here and there as to the identity of the stranger while
he waits out his amnesia with the Bailey's and without speaking. Through most of the story, the pictures beautifully
illustrate or enhance just what the author is telling the reader. However, in the pivotal scene in which the stranger
remembers his identity, the picture goes beyond the text for the first time to give us an essential piece of the story.
Interesting also that the stranger appears in shadow when he is hit, then throughout his stay he is bathed in light.
But once he recalls who he is, he appears in shadow once again. It is almost as if he is truly "with" the Bailey's,
living in their world, when he is in the light.
After a whole-class reading of this book, the students sat awestruck for a moment
before they were ready to comment. For the rest of the week, individuals came to ask me if they could borrow the book.
Each student carefully examined the pictures after each page was re-read. I had to keep the book out an extra day so
that I, too, could go back and absorb the beauty of this book.
