Sometimes a Stranger

Katie Rose and Stacy Belford #8

by Lenora Mattingly Weber

Stacy's future and self-confidence crumble when she learns her boyfriend has accepted a car as a bribe to stop seeing her.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Lenora Mattingly, though born in Missouri, lived most of her life in Denver, Colorado. In 1916 she married Albert Herman Weber and was the mother of six children.

Weber's first book, Wind on the Prairie, was published in 1929. From 1930 through 1962 she wrote short stories for magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, McCall's, and Good Housekeeping. Her last book was published posthumously in 1972.

Lenora Mattingly Weber’s favorite topics included the Denver area, horses, and teenage girls. In 1943 the first Beany Malone book, Meet the Malones, was published. Beany Malone became Weber's most well-known creation, featured in 14 books and appearing as a minor character in the Katie Rose Belford and Stacy Belford series.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this. There were a few sections I genuinely enjoyed--most of the parts at St. Jude's, Stacy working at the day camp (speaking of that, wasn't there a similar storyline in Come Back, Wherever You Are?), the visit with Grandpa Belford, etc. However, much of the subject matter and environment of the story feels like such a departure from the Weber's earlier books that it was hard for me to get used to (and I'm not sure I really want to).

I do like how Weber writes, and after reading so many of her books, the manner of description and style is comfortingly familiar. Maybe that's why it's so weird for me to hear the characters I've grown to know and love start swearing more (taking God's name in vain, mostly), and read about them in relation to "folk Mass," fathers running off with mistresses, seedy nightclubs, Vietnam, drinking, and worse. It's not like the characters engage in or condone all of these things themselves, but it's just such a confusing muddle (kind of like this review. *ahem*). I guess I really don't like the '70s much at all; it was such a time of cultural upheaval--and most of it I don't think was that beneficial (although there were exceptions, of course). This whole book has a sort of restless energy about it, as if Weber herself is not sure what to make of the changing times (for example, when the mural is described on pp. 112-113, I couldn't tell if the author was agreeing with, disagreeing with, or just stating the character's perspective).

I really don't care much for Bruce. I think his disintegration in this book is further proof that Stacy needs to let him go. He has way too much baggage. The big issue among Weber fans always seems to be Carl, but what about Bruce? He really needs to work some things out. I'm not saying he's a bad character, but I just think Stacy should move on. She's young yet, and there will be other options than just him and Claude. Maybe down the line, when Bruce finally figures things out a bit more, he might be okay. But from what we've seen of him in all of these books, I can't imagine him changing that much. I guess we'll never find out. I do wonder what Stacy and Katie Rose's future holds, but I'm also kind of glad the series ended. I'm not sure I could take these books becoming anymore heavy and modern. I just don’t like these last few books as well as the more innocent escapism of the earlier ones.

[Barbara Irene Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins a few days before Christmas. Stacy is very happy because her relationship with her boyfriend, Bruce Seerie, seens to be going well. However, Stacy is often frustrated because Bruce's manipulative mother is still very much in control of his life, and Bruce's failure to stand up to his mother is a constant source of irritation to Stacy. Stacy's relationship with her family is difficult at times and she doesn't always get that they are just trying to do their best for her. Later, Bruce suffers a terrible disappointment that changes the course of his life. How the characters work through their conflicts is very satisfying and this book proves to be a successful conclusion to the Belford series.

[Candy Bassinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently ordered this book and read it. I had read the complete Stacey series when I was a teen ager but for some reason, this book was not available in my library. I believe this was the last book that Mrs. Weber wrote before she died. I absolutely love Lenora Mattingly Weber and she told this story very well.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stacy books never seemed as convincing to me as Beany or Katie Rose...

[Reader66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read