Nothing but a Stranger

by Arlene Hale

Holly Westcott has just graduated from high school. Soon she will be leaving for college, but first she faces what promises to be the most significant and pivotal summer of her life. A vengeful sister, conflicts of the heart, and quest for new horizons shatter her familiar, comfortable world. But most important of all, her summer job -- writing future articles on the work of adoption agencies for her father's newspaper -- brings about a startling personal discovery!

This story is more than just a "young romance". In a deeper sense, it is a moving account of a young girl's search for identity, purpose, and a place among her friends and family. Teenage readers are likely to discover something about themselves -- and certainly about basic human relationships -- from reading this book. They will learn a great deal about the process of adoption as well.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

169 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

MARY ARLENE HALE (1924-1982) wrote more than 100 books under pseudonyms Arlene Hale, Gail Everett, Louise Christopher, and Lynn Williams. She lived in New London, Iowa, the youngest of four surviving children. Her father died when she was about seven years old when he slipped on ice while carrying a shotgun. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1941, she worked for the Iowa-Illinois Telephone Co., and on a factory assembly line during World War II. Initially she began writing poetry, and had some success with this, then wrote her first book in 1948 and became a full-time novelist in 1954, at the age of 30. She never married and lived with her mother until her death, of cancer, at age 57.

Reviews

[Alyeska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy one day read. It was kinda obvious she was adopted and I could sorta guess what was coming next but I still enjoyed the read.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that a niece read and recommended it to me. I read it when I was younger and really enjoyed it.