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Stranger with My Face
Laurie was at home, but her boyfriend swears he saw her on the beach with another guy. Her family insists they see her coming and going when she's been out of the house for hours. Who--or what--is taking over Laurie's life?
235 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
176 people are currently reading
5486 people want to read
About the author
Lois Duncan
63Ìýbooks1,954ÌýfollowersLois Duncan (born Lois Duncan Steinmetz) was an American writer and novelist, known primarily for her books for children and young adults, in particular (and some times controversially considering her young readership) crime thrillers. Duncan's parents were the noted magazine photographers Lois Steinmetz and Joseph Janney Steinmetz. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Sarasota, Florida. Duncan started writing and submitting manuscripts to magazines at the age of ten, and when she was thirteen succeeded in selling her first story.
Duncan attended Duke University from 1952 to 1953 but dropped out, married, and started a family. During this time, she continued to write and publish magazine articles; over the course of her career, she has published more than 300 articles, in magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, McCall's, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest. After her first marriage, which produced three children, ended in divorce, Duncan moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to teach journalism at the University of New Mexico, where she also earned a BA in English in 1977. In 1965 she married Don Arquette, and had two more children with him.
Duncan was best known for her novels of suspense for teenagers. Some of her works have been adapted for the screen, the most famous example being the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer, adapted from her novel of the same title. Other made-for-TV movies include Stranger with My Face, Killing Mr. Griffin, Don't Look Behind You, Summer of Fear and Gallows Hill.
In 1989 the youngest of Duncan's children, Kaitlyn Arquette, was murdered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, under suspicious circumstances. Who Killed My Daughter? relates the facts and conjecture about the still unsolved case.
Duncan's second book about her daughter's murder, ONE TO THE WOLVES: ON THE TRAIL OF A KILLER, picks up where the first book leaves off and contains all the new information Kait's family has uncovered from private investigation.
The 1971 children's book Hotel for Dogs was released as a theatrical movie in 2009, starring Emma Roberts. That book has now been republished by Scholastic along with two sequels, News for Dogs (2009) and Movie for Dogs (2010).
Duncan's Gothic suspense novel, DOWN A DARK HALL, is being filmed for the Big Screen and will probably be released in 2016.
Follow Lois on Twitter:
Duncan attended Duke University from 1952 to 1953 but dropped out, married, and started a family. During this time, she continued to write and publish magazine articles; over the course of her career, she has published more than 300 articles, in magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, McCall's, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest. After her first marriage, which produced three children, ended in divorce, Duncan moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to teach journalism at the University of New Mexico, where she also earned a BA in English in 1977. In 1965 she married Don Arquette, and had two more children with him.
Duncan was best known for her novels of suspense for teenagers. Some of her works have been adapted for the screen, the most famous example being the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer, adapted from her novel of the same title. Other made-for-TV movies include Stranger with My Face, Killing Mr. Griffin, Don't Look Behind You, Summer of Fear and Gallows Hill.
In 1989 the youngest of Duncan's children, Kaitlyn Arquette, was murdered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, under suspicious circumstances. Who Killed My Daughter? relates the facts and conjecture about the still unsolved case.
Duncan's second book about her daughter's murder, ONE TO THE WOLVES: ON THE TRAIL OF A KILLER, picks up where the first book leaves off and contains all the new information Kait's family has uncovered from private investigation.
The 1971 children's book Hotel for Dogs was released as a theatrical movie in 2009, starring Emma Roberts. That book has now been republished by Scholastic along with two sequels, News for Dogs (2009) and Movie for Dogs (2010).
Duncan's Gothic suspense novel, DOWN A DARK HALL, is being filmed for the Big Screen and will probably be released in 2016.
Follow Lois on Twitter:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 709 reviews
June 16, 2008
I read every one of these books I could find in the library in elementary school and junior high. Trashy yet enthralling. I associate them with the period of time I was convinced I could have superpowers if only I tried hard enough. I really really wanted paranormal powers-- particularly telekinesis. If it could happen to the girls in these books.. why not me?
August 11, 2018
As ‘Teen Creeps Podcast� are covering this book, I wanted to read it before the latest episode was released.
This is my first Lois Duncan novel, though I know they covered some of her other books. I’m slowly working through the back catalogue!
Laurie’s friends and family keep telling her that they have seen her in places where she can’t have been, as Laurie was ill in bed. So how is this mysterious stranger?
I really liked the set up to the story, it’s a great mystery that instantly hooked me in.
I was slightly disappointed when it was revealed early on the stranger is Laurie’s twin and that they had both been adopted.
I was really enjoying that element of the story.
Laurie is then introduced to astral projection and the story takes a great creepy turn.
I really had fun reading this, the narrative flowed quickly and I enjoyed Duncan’s style of writing.
I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
This is my first Lois Duncan novel, though I know they covered some of her other books. I’m slowly working through the back catalogue!
Laurie’s friends and family keep telling her that they have seen her in places where she can’t have been, as Laurie was ill in bed. So how is this mysterious stranger?
I really liked the set up to the story, it’s a great mystery that instantly hooked me in.
I was slightly disappointed when it was revealed early on the stranger is Laurie’s twin and that they had both been adopted.
I was really enjoying that element of the story.
Laurie is then introduced to astral projection and the story takes a great creepy turn.
I really had fun reading this, the narrative flowed quickly and I enjoyed Duncan’s style of writing.
I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
August 19, 2010
OH MAN it crushes my poor cold heart to sand to have to tell you this, because I used to borrow this book from the library over and over and over when I was in fifth grade and it's one of the things that really made me like books so goddam much, but it's just all about like "Native American people are mysterious and magical," which is not an okay theme. So sad! I was so stoked when I found it in a little used bookstore in Kokomo Indiana, because when I was little I think I just thought Laurie Stratton was so grown up- she called her siblings "the children" and her mother "Mother," and had a boyfriend, and learned to astrally project herself long distances- but man, what a downer, to be like "I can do magic shit because I'm secretly a Navajo alien or something." Um, spoiler.
June 26, 2019
“Life continues, and we all of us keep changing and building, toward what we cannot know.�
� Lois Duncan, Stranger with My Face
My 2nd favorite of hers second only to Daughters of Eve.
This book is genuinely scary and has remained so. Did a reread recently and I thin k it got scarier!
SPOILERS:
Can you imagine looking into the mirror..and your mirror image is not smiling while you are? Man..now THAT is the kind of scare I like. No blood. No gore. Just creepy scary.
Plus it is just an awesome story with awesome characters. Did anyone reading this really not fall in love with Jeff? Cmon, of coarse you did!
And I also wanted Helen for a friend. That was my only quibble. I really wanted to know how her story ended.
I love the New England island feel, the ocean, the rocks and the waves. Everything about it was perfect.
Highly recommended to YA mystery lovers who prefer great story telling to gore, blood, and Freddy Kruger.
� Lois Duncan, Stranger with My Face
My 2nd favorite of hers second only to Daughters of Eve.
This book is genuinely scary and has remained so. Did a reread recently and I thin k it got scarier!
SPOILERS:
Can you imagine looking into the mirror..and your mirror image is not smiling while you are? Man..now THAT is the kind of scare I like. No blood. No gore. Just creepy scary.
Plus it is just an awesome story with awesome characters. Did anyone reading this really not fall in love with Jeff? Cmon, of coarse you did!
And I also wanted Helen for a friend. That was my only quibble. I really wanted to know how her story ended.
I love the New England island feel, the ocean, the rocks and the waves. Everything about it was perfect.
Highly recommended to YA mystery lovers who prefer great story telling to gore, blood, and Freddy Kruger.
November 12, 2023
a dark tale of astral projection, deception, and mystery, all with a beautiful cliffside island setting. it has moody vintage vibes, and i enjoyed it so much more than duncan's
the mysteries unfold rather slowly, with reveals and mini climaxes throughout the novel, which is great for keeping up the momentum. the setting of the cold, rocky island is wonderful. i also love the characters. laurie is terrorized by a specter with her face, but she takes solace in her family. her workaholic artist parents and two inquisitive young siblings are all creative, warm, smart, and caring. what a delightful family unit to have, even if
i was unsurprised by most of the twists:
my biggest critique is that all of this makes for a good story. it's thrilling and well written. but
my review of i know what you did last summer is partly a rant about the updated version, as unfortunately duncan rewrote many of her classics for a modern young audience in the 2000s. but thankfully this novel seems to have undergone minimal changes. the lack of cell phones is explained away with a lack of service on the island, and few technology adjustments are necessary. i really appreciate how this contributes to the vibe. it feels like the book takes place in the early 80s, as it should!
as for the bleak ending - i loved it.
the mysteries unfold rather slowly, with reveals and mini climaxes throughout the novel, which is great for keeping up the momentum. the setting of the cold, rocky island is wonderful. i also love the characters. laurie is terrorized by a specter with her face, but she takes solace in her family. her workaholic artist parents and two inquisitive young siblings are all creative, warm, smart, and caring. what a delightful family unit to have, even if
i was unsurprised by most of the twists:
my biggest critique is that all of this makes for a good story. it's thrilling and well written. but
my review of i know what you did last summer is partly a rant about the updated version, as unfortunately duncan rewrote many of her classics for a modern young audience in the 2000s. but thankfully this novel seems to have undergone minimal changes. the lack of cell phones is explained away with a lack of service on the island, and few technology adjustments are necessary. i really appreciate how this contributes to the vibe. it feels like the book takes place in the early 80s, as it should!
as for the bleak ending - i loved it.
December 20, 2008
I read this book years and years ago. In fact, I wasn't sure I had actually read it until I saw the summary of it in Bitch magazine.
It's a really creepy premise. A teenage girl is doing astral projection and while she's out of her body, the sister she didn't know she had slips her spirit into the vacated body. Well, something like that happens. I may have the details wrong about who the girl who slips into the body is. In any case, the protagonist is floating around in spirit, watching some other spirit propelling her body around. Of course, everyone thinks the protagonist's body is inhabited by the protagonist's spirit, and there's not much she can do to correct the mistake.
Kept me too scared to try astral projection during the time I thought it was maybe possible.
It's a really creepy premise. A teenage girl is doing astral projection and while she's out of her body, the sister she didn't know she had slips her spirit into the vacated body. Well, something like that happens. I may have the details wrong about who the girl who slips into the body is. In any case, the protagonist is floating around in spirit, watching some other spirit propelling her body around. Of course, everyone thinks the protagonist's body is inhabited by the protagonist's spirit, and there's not much she can do to correct the mistake.
Kept me too scared to try astral projection during the time I thought it was maybe possible.
February 6, 2008
I haven't read this book in a very long time. But I first discovered it when I was probably 10-years-old and I just kept taking it out of the library! I knew exactly where it was, what shelf it was on and it was ALWAYS there waiting for me. The librarians used to look at me and say, "Well there you go again Paula." This was my first introduction to science fiction (at least in book form) and it was awesome! What if your friends suddenly started acting strange and told you you did things that you don't remember? What if you started seeing strange things through your own eyes? This book is creepy, but a real page turner.
November 1, 2019
This wasn't my first Lois Duncan but it will probably be my last. Duncan's writing is dated and simplistic by today's YA standards. It just doesn't seem to cut it for more reasons than one.
The story was published in 1981 and it was very clear exactly where the author added updates. Not many teens would call a boyfriend's cell and then try calling the boyfriend's dad (many people no longer have landlines nor know the number of a friend's parent). Calling a parent Mother or younger siblings The Children, or having a writer father use a typewriter set this novel firmly in the past and leaves the reader with an odd disconnect as well as a reminder of how much technology has transformed everyone's daily lives.
The whole premise of the book, that new age astral projection is real and that it is somehow tied to Navajo beliefs is both laughable and an outdated and insensitive stereotype. The fact that Duncan claims to have experienced it herself occasionally in an author's interview at the end made me question her grasp on reality.
Duncan's stories seem on par with the ability of a middle school writer. I wouldn't recommend them for anyone above eighth grade.
The story was published in 1981 and it was very clear exactly where the author added updates. Not many teens would call a boyfriend's cell and then try calling the boyfriend's dad (many people no longer have landlines nor know the number of a friend's parent). Calling a parent Mother or younger siblings The Children, or having a writer father use a typewriter set this novel firmly in the past and leaves the reader with an odd disconnect as well as a reminder of how much technology has transformed everyone's daily lives.
The whole premise of the book, that new age astral projection is real and that it is somehow tied to Navajo beliefs is both laughable and an outdated and insensitive stereotype. The fact that Duncan claims to have experienced it herself occasionally in an author's interview at the end made me question her grasp on reality.
Duncan's stories seem on par with the ability of a middle school writer. I wouldn't recommend them for anyone above eighth grade.
March 18, 2015
I'm not going to waste my time reading this dated, often racist and size-ist, and altogether ludicrous teen novel. I bought it bored on a cold, empty winter day. We do crazy things when holed up in an ice cave for months on end. The purchase of this book is high on my list of wintry follies. Suffice to say I will never finish this. And now that spring is here I have no desire to have this sitting among my things, creating added clutter. Be off with you Stranger! I don't care about you nor your evil twin's face!
January 20, 2021
I think that this is a really good book to read. I think that it might need a little more context with the whole "spiritual realm" thing. I would enjoy the book more if it was more realistic instead of fantasy. That being said, I really thought that the book was good. Especially the ending. The "fight" type scenes are really interesting as well with one of the characters being a literal ghost, and switching between some sort of like intangible mode thing. idk. The book itself is really interesting :))
April 2, 2022
Okay so I wanted to read this because I thought I remembered reading it in highschool but after finishing it I can say, I don’t recall reading this before.
Very easy quick read, interesting and good, it introduced astral projection to me. I didn’t know that existed. And it was a captivating story! I really enjoyed a lot!
The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is because I wasn’t absolutely blown out of the water by the story! It was great and quick paced, and a new original story, just not mind blowing. I just happened to go to the beach to camp and basically Could sit and read a lot!
Very easy quick read, interesting and good, it introduced astral projection to me. I didn’t know that existed. And it was a captivating story! I really enjoyed a lot!
The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is because I wasn’t absolutely blown out of the water by the story! It was great and quick paced, and a new original story, just not mind blowing. I just happened to go to the beach to camp and basically Could sit and read a lot!
December 29, 2024
It’s pretty forgettable. I liked the plot twists but it was laughably bland. The author had the nerve to include a q&a at the end of this book like “what inspired you�, “how’d you come up with the ending� etc� for me, it fell flat. 🥱💤💤💤💤
August 9, 2011
I didn't know what to expect when I got this book from the library. I had heard of the author, but I'd never read anything by her.
Duncan does an amazing job creating suspense. It was SO HARD to put this book down every time I had to stop reading. It caught me and never let go--the pace is relentless. This should be required reading for suspense writers, because so many get it wrong. Duncan is a master.
That said, I didn't really care for the main character. I tried hard to like her, and succeeded only partially. I did have sympathy for her, but some of her decisions were just so stupid it made things harder. And I found parts of the book way too predictible for a suspense novel.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this book. It was very well crafted. A little less foreshadowing would have made me like it more. Also, the whole thing with the boy with the damaged face really added interest to the story. I liked how the ending was good, but not all shiny happy, either.
Fun, interesting, absorbing read. Very exciting and suspenseful.
Duncan does an amazing job creating suspense. It was SO HARD to put this book down every time I had to stop reading. It caught me and never let go--the pace is relentless. This should be required reading for suspense writers, because so many get it wrong. Duncan is a master.
That said, I didn't really care for the main character. I tried hard to like her, and succeeded only partially. I did have sympathy for her, but some of her decisions were just so stupid it made things harder. And I found parts of the book way too predictible for a suspense novel.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this book. It was very well crafted. A little less foreshadowing would have made me like it more. Also, the whole thing with the boy with the damaged face really added interest to the story. I liked how the ending was good, but not all shiny happy, either.
Fun, interesting, absorbing read. Very exciting and suspenseful.
January 15, 2015
This was a pretty good tale, and the first time for me to read anything from Lois Duncan. I have become intrigued with this Authors talent, and plan on reading more of her works in the future.
No the book did not blow me away, but it was still very well written. The story was very fluid and easy to read and follow. I was a bit confused at the ending and felt like I was left hanging a bit, like it seemed to be left open for a sequel, but I would have liked a little more closure though.
Our main character, Laurie, was probably the strongest and best developed in the book, I loved her determination and courage. Her parents were not likable at all for me though, They were so close minded throughout the entire story. I could not imagine not even listening to my kids when they were distressed about something. It was like they did not wanna deal with problems that were brought into the story, wanted to act like nothing was wrong at all.
I thought the premise of the book was great, loved the idea. I would liked to have seen a bit more work put into it though. I feel as though the story could be so much more than it was, kinda fell a little short. This could have easily been a 300 - 350 page novel. This book gets a 3.5 rating from me.
No the book did not blow me away, but it was still very well written. The story was very fluid and easy to read and follow. I was a bit confused at the ending and felt like I was left hanging a bit, like it seemed to be left open for a sequel, but I would have liked a little more closure though.
Our main character, Laurie, was probably the strongest and best developed in the book, I loved her determination and courage. Her parents were not likable at all for me though, They were so close minded throughout the entire story. I could not imagine not even listening to my kids when they were distressed about something. It was like they did not wanna deal with problems that were brought into the story, wanted to act like nothing was wrong at all.
I thought the premise of the book was great, loved the idea. I would liked to have seen a bit more work put into it though. I feel as though the story could be so much more than it was, kinda fell a little short. This could have easily been a 300 - 350 page novel. This book gets a 3.5 rating from me.
June 11, 2024
Laurie has a great life living at Cliff House on Brighton Island with her Mom, a successful artist, her Dad, a successful writer and her younger sister, Megan and brother, Neal. She has had a fantastic summer with her boyfriend Gordon and their friends but suddenly she feels she is being watched, people swear they have seen her in places she hadn’t been and she is soon ostracised from her peers. Something evil is stalking het, who is it?
A fabulous supernatural mystery thriller with deadly peril and wicked intentions. The teens are as flaky as you’d expect although of course it is the end of the world when her friends turn on her. Her younger siblings are cute and annoying, her parents self involved with their careers but loving.
When her friend Helen is severely injured and her and her friend Jeff are almost killed, Laurie realises she has to fight back but that leads to potentially fatal results. A story of family, secrets, identity and consequences, even though this is a story from the early 80’s it is absolutely chilling.
A fabulous supernatural mystery thriller with deadly peril and wicked intentions. The teens are as flaky as you’d expect although of course it is the end of the world when her friends turn on her. Her younger siblings are cute and annoying, her parents self involved with their careers but loving.
When her friend Helen is severely injured and her and her friend Jeff are almost killed, Laurie realises she has to fight back but that leads to potentially fatal results. A story of family, secrets, identity and consequences, even though this is a story from the early 80’s it is absolutely chilling.
December 14, 2020
I read this book so long ago, but a conversation with a friend got me thinking about this book again, so I decided to do a reread.
Back when I read it, I remembered that parts of the book felt extraordinarily heavy so that I wanted to skim over parts of the book. Most of the book felt incomprehensible to me back then, and this time when I reread it, I realized that it read exactly like that to me now.
The problem, I found, was that the beginning of the book was filled with endless data dumping. The book itself is novel because of the subject matter and the horror aspect of the story, especially when writers like Christopher Pike and R.L.Stine were so popular, but for half of the book, it was mostly set up. The way it starts out is "My name is... I'm seventeen years old...I live..." which is exactly how most elementary school essays begin. It's hugely tedious and I'm surprised that no editor tried to get Duncan to rewrite it. Maybe none of that mattered, because this is supposedly one of her most popular books.
I will say that I hadn't forgotten the horror aspect of the story. Even decades later, I still recall that feeling of horror when Laurie floated out of her body and she couldn't go back because someone was already inside her body. Shudders. Everything exciting happens in the second part of the book, and it's a bit distressing how heavy the first part feels. I'm not even certain how the first part was supposed to read to make it better. Honestly, most books are the type that start out well and the end leaves you with the utmost feeling of mehness. It's very rare to find a book that shocks you to the core with its ending despite the blandness of the beginning.
One thing I do want to point out was the similarity of the romance aspect with Duncan's first book, Debutante Hill. Both of these books had the "bad boy" suddenly confessing to the main character completely out of the blue. Very Scooby-Doo-ish. If there had been more flashbacks of encounters between the two, I would have bought the feelings a bit more. As it was, I was awash with skepticism and the word OREALLY were probably flashing across my pupils. And while Debutante Hill dealt with that weird instacrush from the guy better (they ended up as friends and he said he wasn't giving up), here they supposedly got together and everything was wonderful.
Back in the day, I'll admit I was very giddy at these flashes of romance in books. They seemed tamer and much less...inflamed...than the YA books nowadays. And somehow that worked a lot better. I prefer it when the romance is a subplot, especially when the romance can be SO BADLY WRITTEN. Nowadays because the romance aspect is done with such a heavy hand I feel concussive after reading a YA novel, I'm much less giddy and rip it apart from all angles.
So I would say for this book: 1 star for execution, 5 stars for plot, 2 stars for the romance, 4 stars for the nostalgia for rereading and still getting shivers from this old, old book. A good 3 stars to balance it all out.
Back when I read it, I remembered that parts of the book felt extraordinarily heavy so that I wanted to skim over parts of the book. Most of the book felt incomprehensible to me back then, and this time when I reread it, I realized that it read exactly like that to me now.
The problem, I found, was that the beginning of the book was filled with endless data dumping. The book itself is novel because of the subject matter and the horror aspect of the story, especially when writers like Christopher Pike and R.L.Stine were so popular, but for half of the book, it was mostly set up. The way it starts out is "My name is... I'm seventeen years old...I live..." which is exactly how most elementary school essays begin. It's hugely tedious and I'm surprised that no editor tried to get Duncan to rewrite it. Maybe none of that mattered, because this is supposedly one of her most popular books.
I will say that I hadn't forgotten the horror aspect of the story. Even decades later, I still recall that feeling of horror when Laurie floated out of her body and she couldn't go back because someone was already inside her body. Shudders. Everything exciting happens in the second part of the book, and it's a bit distressing how heavy the first part feels. I'm not even certain how the first part was supposed to read to make it better. Honestly, most books are the type that start out well and the end leaves you with the utmost feeling of mehness. It's very rare to find a book that shocks you to the core with its ending despite the blandness of the beginning.
One thing I do want to point out was the similarity of the romance aspect with Duncan's first book, Debutante Hill. Both of these books had the "bad boy" suddenly confessing to the main character completely out of the blue. Very Scooby-Doo-ish. If there had been more flashbacks of encounters between the two, I would have bought the feelings a bit more. As it was, I was awash with skepticism and the word OREALLY were probably flashing across my pupils. And while Debutante Hill dealt with that weird instacrush from the guy better (they ended up as friends and he said he wasn't giving up), here they supposedly got together and everything was wonderful.
Back in the day, I'll admit I was very giddy at these flashes of romance in books. They seemed tamer and much less...inflamed...than the YA books nowadays. And somehow that worked a lot better. I prefer it when the romance is a subplot, especially when the romance can be SO BADLY WRITTEN. Nowadays because the romance aspect is done with such a heavy hand I feel concussive after reading a YA novel, I'm much less giddy and rip it apart from all angles.
So I would say for this book: 1 star for execution, 5 stars for plot, 2 stars for the romance, 4 stars for the nostalgia for rereading and still getting shivers from this old, old book. A good 3 stars to balance it all out.
June 18, 2016
Here's another Lois Duncan book I read several times as a youngster. I remembered a few things from it and realized this book formed my love and desire to live:
On a sweet little island where I need to take a ferry every day to go to school and whatnot
With my house perilously perched on a cliff to take in the best sea views
Where I would write all day as a job on my typewriter, click-clacking away.
Sometimes I wonder what books are going to seriously shape my own kids' lives. (I guess you could say this didn't seriously shape my life since I am not on a tiny island, in my grand house of many windows, making a living as a writer...yet.)
Anyhoodle, I am now thirty-one, and I actually felt scared about how this book would turn out. Astralprojection adventures with your twin--who knew that could be so terrifying?
On a sweet little island where I need to take a ferry every day to go to school and whatnot
With my house perilously perched on a cliff to take in the best sea views
Where I would write all day as a job on my typewriter, click-clacking away.
Sometimes I wonder what books are going to seriously shape my own kids' lives. (I guess you could say this didn't seriously shape my life since I am not on a tiny island, in my grand house of many windows, making a living as a writer...yet.)
Anyhoodle, I am now thirty-one, and I actually felt scared about how this book would turn out. Astralprojection adventures with your twin--who knew that could be so terrifying?
September 11, 2012
In one word - Freaky! I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this story! It was really scary in a neat way. I totally freaked when she was sitting in front of the mirror and her image smiled at her and she realized that she herself was NOT smiling! Ohhhh I love it when things like that happens in movies and it sent a chill over me while reading it here as well!
I despised Laurie's so called friends and boyfriend. I'm like all they had to do if they cared at all was ask her family if she had been home sick but instead they would rather doubt her. That's just not a friend to me which it more or less says she was only a member of their crowd on accounts of her popular boyfriend anyhow but still...
I was not overly excited about "part" of the ending but if I explain I will be spoiling it for anybody whose not read it so I will leave it at that.
I despised Laurie's so called friends and boyfriend. I'm like all they had to do if they cared at all was ask her family if she had been home sick but instead they would rather doubt her. That's just not a friend to me which it more or less says she was only a member of their crowd on accounts of her popular boyfriend anyhow but still...
I was not overly excited about "part" of the ending but if I explain I will be spoiling it for anybody whose not read it so I will leave it at that.
July 3, 2014
I haven't read this book since I was eleven or twelve years, and like most of the other people in these reviews, it was my absolute favorite book of my childhood. I'm pretty sure I read it about seven or eight times when I was in seventh grade. I was just so amazed by astral projection and Laurie's story in general. By the way, the Lifetime movie adaption was absolute crap, just like everything else on Lifetime. It did no justice to this beautiful book whatsoever. Just saying. Don't waste your time on it.
Anywho, since it's been so long since I've read this book, I'm going to order it offline and re-read it, just to see if I still feel the same way, and then I'll write a better review. Until then, I still give this book five stars.
Anywho, since it's been so long since I've read this book, I'm going to order it offline and re-read it, just to see if I still feel the same way, and then I'll write a better review. Until then, I still give this book five stars.
April 19, 2020
Raise your hand if you spent months as a kid trying astral projection because of this book.
This is a seriously spooky book. As a kid, it terrified me, but was also one of those books I read over and over. Lous Duncan has a true gift for suspense writing. Her teen characters are always relatable and smart, and her ideas are so creative. Most importantly, she never fails to deliver an awesome ending, and this ending is one of her best. This ties with Daughters of Eve as my favorite Duncan book.
This is a seriously spooky book. As a kid, it terrified me, but was also one of those books I read over and over. Lous Duncan has a true gift for suspense writing. Her teen characters are always relatable and smart, and her ideas are so creative. Most importantly, she never fails to deliver an awesome ending, and this ending is one of her best. This ties with Daughters of Eve as my favorite Duncan book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2024
I remember loving this one when I was younger and always staring at the cover. Come on, it's addictive right?
Re-Read notes - this one sadly did not hold up. Cheesy storyline and rather boring honestly. Oh well, still a cool retro cover.
Re-Read notes - this one sadly did not hold up. Cheesy storyline and rather boring honestly. Oh well, still a cool retro cover.
January 21, 2021
3.5 The parents in this book were just horrible.
November 10, 2024
Fairly predictable in the basic plot but I loved it. The made for TV movie looks awful. Rare is a novel with astral projection at the main storyline? Jack London's The Star Rover is another (still on the list to-read). Lois Duncan forever.
June 19, 2024
A favourite of mine as a youth and I'm glad to say, all these years later, the writing still holds up!
November 19, 2022
It‘s fine, 3 stars.
At the beginning I found it a little dull and I almost dropped it again, what with all this relationship and clique drama. That must certainly have been the reason I never finished it back at school, too. This drama turns up every so often through the book and is a little annoying but after the first chapters it gets better and the story finally takes off in the second half of the book.
The idea was very interesting in my opinion, writing this horror book with this explanation of astral projection and making it less paranormal (kind of) and thus more realistic. Somewhere in the second half it really started to draw me in.
One thing that I found a little disappointing is how Helen didn’t have more screen time (page time?). I wished for her to make some kind of big comeback, maybe Laurie visiting her when she was locked out of her body and Helen suddenly seeing and remembering her and giving this important piece of information that finally helps Laurie get Lia out of her body.
In a way Helen did play that role I guess, since it was her gift that finally saved Laurie, but I would still have preferred a bigger role for her than just that, I wanted her to get well and remember.
I was also a little annoyed with Laurie‘s stupidity. Helen told her so many times how dangerous it was and to me as a reader it was pretty much from the beginning clear that Lia wanted to snatch her body but Laurie just didn’t listen.
Even after she already knew that her twin was evil, it took her an eternity to figure out that it had been her who lured Helen in the park and Jeff out onto the cliff. She noticed how weird it was for Lia to want her so desperately to learn astral projection but didn‘t think much about it, even after she knew what her sister was capable of.
And then—just after perceptive little Meg warning her too and Laurie promising to be careful—she goes and does exactly the opposite by not only immediately projecting herself again but doing so in the middle of the afternoon, disregarding the last tiny bit of safety measures she and Jeff had agreed upon. What the hell?
Well, that was the part about the stupid main character—a common problem in books and movies. Apart from these things I enjoyed the story, though, and at least part of it was exciting and well executed.
Probably won‘t reread—but who knows, maybe I will want to one day.
At the beginning I found it a little dull and I almost dropped it again, what with all this relationship and clique drama. That must certainly have been the reason I never finished it back at school, too. This drama turns up every so often through the book and is a little annoying but after the first chapters it gets better and the story finally takes off in the second half of the book.
The idea was very interesting in my opinion, writing this horror book with this explanation of astral projection and making it less paranormal (kind of) and thus more realistic. Somewhere in the second half it really started to draw me in.
One thing that I found a little disappointing is how Helen didn’t have more screen time (page time?). I wished for her to make some kind of big comeback, maybe Laurie visiting her when she was locked out of her body and Helen suddenly seeing and remembering her and giving this important piece of information that finally helps Laurie get Lia out of her body.
In a way Helen did play that role I guess, since it was her gift that finally saved Laurie, but I would still have preferred a bigger role for her than just that, I wanted her to get well and remember.
I was also a little annoyed with Laurie‘s stupidity. Helen told her so many times how dangerous it was and to me as a reader it was pretty much from the beginning clear that Lia wanted to snatch her body but Laurie just didn’t listen.
Even after she already knew that her twin was evil, it took her an eternity to figure out that it had been her who lured Helen in the park and Jeff out onto the cliff. She noticed how weird it was for Lia to want her so desperately to learn astral projection but didn‘t think much about it, even after she knew what her sister was capable of.
And then—just after perceptive little Meg warning her too and Laurie promising to be careful—she goes and does exactly the opposite by not only immediately projecting herself again but doing so in the middle of the afternoon, disregarding the last tiny bit of safety measures she and Jeff had agreed upon. What the hell?
Well, that was the part about the stupid main character—a common problem in books and movies. Apart from these things I enjoyed the story, though, and at least part of it was exciting and well executed.
Probably won‘t reread—but who knows, maybe I will want to one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2011
Lois Duncan is a huge name in the literary world, who has written many, (many, many) books and received many (manymanymany) awards. I Know What You Did Last Summer may be her most recognizable. However, I can't remember reading any of her books growing up, but I recognized her name when I picked up this audio book in the library. My other reasons for checking this out were 1) We don't have a huge selection in our library and 2) It was earmarked as Supernatural. I'm not sure I would really recommend it, but it did win a ton of awards.
The story was published in 1981 and yes, the book is a bit dated. Not just because the father who is a writer uses a typewriter, but it just didn’t have a contemporary feel. However, the story holds up and the plot is fun. Although it is a bit predictable, I didn’t know everything that was going to happen and I do like how it was all resolved.
I didn’t really connect to any of the characters, I felt they were kind of stereotyped. The boyfriend who is Mr. Perfect and a tad arrogant, the bad boy who is sullen and most of Laurie's friends who happened to be in the popular crowd. Laurie is nice and perhaps a typical teenager. Her reaction to her parent's secret is understandable but her continuing anger had me a little annoyed.
It took me a while to get into the tone of voice of the narrator. At first I felt as if she was reading a bit too deliberately and it just sounded funny. But I did get used to it.
Some of the writing sounded odd to me. I’m sure it is correct and I’m not a Grammer expert, but she kept using sentences, like “We, both of us saw you.� “We, none of us…� or “We, all of us…� It just stuck out. I also thought it kind of odd that the main character Lori, who is 17, calls her younger siblings who are 8 and 11 “the children.� I don’t know, maybe it’s because that’s what her parents call them. Also, the issue of adoption is pretty dated. It kind of had me laughing.
I think this book would appeal more to middle grade students than young adults.
The story was published in 1981 and yes, the book is a bit dated. Not just because the father who is a writer uses a typewriter, but it just didn’t have a contemporary feel. However, the story holds up and the plot is fun. Although it is a bit predictable, I didn’t know everything that was going to happen and I do like how it was all resolved.
I didn’t really connect to any of the characters, I felt they were kind of stereotyped. The boyfriend who is Mr. Perfect and a tad arrogant, the bad boy who is sullen and most of Laurie's friends who happened to be in the popular crowd. Laurie is nice and perhaps a typical teenager. Her reaction to her parent's secret is understandable but her continuing anger had me a little annoyed.
It took me a while to get into the tone of voice of the narrator. At first I felt as if she was reading a bit too deliberately and it just sounded funny. But I did get used to it.
Some of the writing sounded odd to me. I’m sure it is correct and I’m not a Grammer expert, but she kept using sentences, like “We, both of us saw you.� “We, none of us…� or “We, all of us…� It just stuck out. I also thought it kind of odd that the main character Lori, who is 17, calls her younger siblings who are 8 and 11 “the children.� I don’t know, maybe it’s because that’s what her parents call them. Also, the issue of adoption is pretty dated. It kind of had me laughing.
I think this book would appeal more to middle grade students than young adults.
August 27, 2023
This seems to be one of Lois Duncan's favorite books that she wrote and one that a lot of people really like and I really liked it too.
Laurie Stratton has blossomed over the summer and gained herself a boyfriend from the popular set, Gordon Ahearn. She's lived out on Brighton Island for a dozen years now in the Cliff House with her parents and her younger siblings, Neal and Megan, but has now gained friends through her popularity of going with Gordon.
When school starts, Laurie is excited for her year to begin. She had to miss Natalie Coleson's end of summer blowout because she was sick but is sure to hear all the details on the ferry ride to the high school on the mainland.
Instead of warmth, Laurie is freezed out by her so called friends and her boyfriend on the ride over.
Natalie is sure Laurie lied to her about being sick because she didn't want to come to the party just because she and Gordon use to go out. Gordon says he say Laurie on the beach from the party while getting some air and he is sure Laurie was out meeting another guy.
No one believes that Laurie was sick and won't listen to her when her parents and siblings can swear that she was home with some sort of stomach flu. So Laurie has lunch with Helen Tuttle, the girl with the locker next to her, instead of her island friends and then ends up sitting on the ferry with Jeff Rankin.
Jeff use to be a real popular guy with the ladies when he came to the island four years ago to start spending summers with his dad but it all ended with an accident. One side of his face got badly burned and now it is scarred enough that he has been ostracized, most people saying his attitude now matches the ugliness outside.
Laurie doesn't mind that Jeff is surly and disfigured on half of his face or that Helen just moved here from the southwest and isn't seen as a true islander either. Laurie and Gordon make up but Laurie still has to defend that she wasn't anywhere near the beach or the cliffs near her house.
Soon it becomes more than that...
Her father swears that Laurie was in her room when she was still at school and her sister Megan says that she saw Laurie outside her window...which is impossible without a ladder. Soon, Laurie starts to hear a voice and then she sees a girl with long, dark hair and tanned skin and brown eyes.
Not in her mirror but in her dreams with her own face smiling back while Laurie is in shock and confusion. She can feel that this girl is watching her, following her and then Laurie finds out her name is Lia...her long-lost twin sister.
Megan isn't the only one who sees Lia besides Laurie when Helen comes to stay for the weekend, she sees Lia too. The feeling Helen gets from Lia is not a good one and she tries to warn Laurie but she feels a bond with her sister and ignores much of what Helen says...until she mentions astral projection.
Helen use to live near a Navajo reservation and go to school with some kids from there and a boy she knew named Luis told her about it. A common gift given to the medicine men to be able to have their spirit leave their body but keep their soul tethered to their body to return.
That gives Laurie the courage to confront her parents since everyone in her family is fair skinned with blonde hair. Sure enough, Laurie was adopted when her parents thought they couldn't have children of their own but they had to go to Arizona to do so. Being an up and coming painter and science fiction writer, they had no chance of adopting in New York but there were children who needed homes elsewhere.
Laurie learns her biological father was white and her mother was a full-blooded Navajo. All of this information spurs Laurie on in wanting to contact Lia the same way with the astral projection when finding information about the adoption doesn't pan out talking to either her parents or trying to contact the adoption agency in New Mexico.
When Lia does makes contact with Laurie, it is all she can think about. Laurie and Gordon end up breaking things off, her grades start slipping, Laurie isolates herself from her "parents" and asks Lia more about their parents. The popular crowd no longer embracing her, Laurie even begins to push away from Jeff and Helen...until the day Helen suffers an accident.
With her best friend in a coma, Laurie feels guilty when Helen's family moves away to get their daughter better care for her condition. Laurie begs Lia to show her how to finally astral project so she can see Helen and it is when...the real Lia starts appearing.
This isn't a long lost sister seeking to be reunited with her twin out of love but bitterness and anger...to find her and take everything that she has. If Lia had to grow up with no real family, no friends of her own...why should Laurie?
With no one else to believe her, despite Megan seeming aware of Lia's presence, Laurie seeks out Jeff Rankin's help in trying to understand this gift of astral projection in order to find out all she can about Lia...to find her physical body.
It leads to peril and danger for everyone that Laurie truly loves unless she can find a way to get rid of Lia from haunting her...
The themes of friendship and family and love and loss are among the themes set within the suspense and thrills. The incorporation of astral projection as being passed on through bloodlines and being a cornerstone of Native American beliefs is interesting as well with Duncan handling it delicately and not...awkwardly.
All of the characters with the exception of Lia are not perfect but flawed enough that you don't truly hate them. All of Laurie's so called "friends" are just teenagers after all yet none of them are as fueled by hatred like Lia. I can understand where Lia is coming from to a degree but the rest of her personality is purely psychotic.
The friendship between Laurie and Helen and Jeff was pivotal to the plot just as much as Laurie's connection with her family...the true family in the Strattons. The ending is bittersweet from one standpoint, utterly heartbreaking in another and justifiably final with no hint of ambiguity for certain characters.
Yet there is still a slight degree of wishful thinking even if it is clear Duncan wasn't going for a happy ending...
Stranger With My Face got a TV movie adaptation and it wasn't 100% faithful to the story but it was pretty much less of a downer ending with the changes they did make. Not enough to cause any anger to fans of this book but just enough to keep you from feeling utterly depressed if you view the glass as half empty.
If you are looking for a really good Lois Duncan book to start with in discovering her work, Stranger With My Face is the one I highly recommend.
Laurie Stratton has blossomed over the summer and gained herself a boyfriend from the popular set, Gordon Ahearn. She's lived out on Brighton Island for a dozen years now in the Cliff House with her parents and her younger siblings, Neal and Megan, but has now gained friends through her popularity of going with Gordon.
When school starts, Laurie is excited for her year to begin. She had to miss Natalie Coleson's end of summer blowout because she was sick but is sure to hear all the details on the ferry ride to the high school on the mainland.
Instead of warmth, Laurie is freezed out by her so called friends and her boyfriend on the ride over.
Natalie is sure Laurie lied to her about being sick because she didn't want to come to the party just because she and Gordon use to go out. Gordon says he say Laurie on the beach from the party while getting some air and he is sure Laurie was out meeting another guy.
No one believes that Laurie was sick and won't listen to her when her parents and siblings can swear that she was home with some sort of stomach flu. So Laurie has lunch with Helen Tuttle, the girl with the locker next to her, instead of her island friends and then ends up sitting on the ferry with Jeff Rankin.
Jeff use to be a real popular guy with the ladies when he came to the island four years ago to start spending summers with his dad but it all ended with an accident. One side of his face got badly burned and now it is scarred enough that he has been ostracized, most people saying his attitude now matches the ugliness outside.
Laurie doesn't mind that Jeff is surly and disfigured on half of his face or that Helen just moved here from the southwest and isn't seen as a true islander either. Laurie and Gordon make up but Laurie still has to defend that she wasn't anywhere near the beach or the cliffs near her house.
Soon it becomes more than that...
Her father swears that Laurie was in her room when she was still at school and her sister Megan says that she saw Laurie outside her window...which is impossible without a ladder. Soon, Laurie starts to hear a voice and then she sees a girl with long, dark hair and tanned skin and brown eyes.
Not in her mirror but in her dreams with her own face smiling back while Laurie is in shock and confusion. She can feel that this girl is watching her, following her and then Laurie finds out her name is Lia...her long-lost twin sister.
Megan isn't the only one who sees Lia besides Laurie when Helen comes to stay for the weekend, she sees Lia too. The feeling Helen gets from Lia is not a good one and she tries to warn Laurie but she feels a bond with her sister and ignores much of what Helen says...until she mentions astral projection.
Helen use to live near a Navajo reservation and go to school with some kids from there and a boy she knew named Luis told her about it. A common gift given to the medicine men to be able to have their spirit leave their body but keep their soul tethered to their body to return.
That gives Laurie the courage to confront her parents since everyone in her family is fair skinned with blonde hair. Sure enough, Laurie was adopted when her parents thought they couldn't have children of their own but they had to go to Arizona to do so. Being an up and coming painter and science fiction writer, they had no chance of adopting in New York but there were children who needed homes elsewhere.
Laurie learns her biological father was white and her mother was a full-blooded Navajo. All of this information spurs Laurie on in wanting to contact Lia the same way with the astral projection when finding information about the adoption doesn't pan out talking to either her parents or trying to contact the adoption agency in New Mexico.
When Lia does makes contact with Laurie, it is all she can think about. Laurie and Gordon end up breaking things off, her grades start slipping, Laurie isolates herself from her "parents" and asks Lia more about their parents. The popular crowd no longer embracing her, Laurie even begins to push away from Jeff and Helen...until the day Helen suffers an accident.
With her best friend in a coma, Laurie feels guilty when Helen's family moves away to get their daughter better care for her condition. Laurie begs Lia to show her how to finally astral project so she can see Helen and it is when...the real Lia starts appearing.
This isn't a long lost sister seeking to be reunited with her twin out of love but bitterness and anger...to find her and take everything that she has. If Lia had to grow up with no real family, no friends of her own...why should Laurie?
With no one else to believe her, despite Megan seeming aware of Lia's presence, Laurie seeks out Jeff Rankin's help in trying to understand this gift of astral projection in order to find out all she can about Lia...to find her physical body.
It leads to peril and danger for everyone that Laurie truly loves unless she can find a way to get rid of Lia from haunting her...
The themes of friendship and family and love and loss are among the themes set within the suspense and thrills. The incorporation of astral projection as being passed on through bloodlines and being a cornerstone of Native American beliefs is interesting as well with Duncan handling it delicately and not...awkwardly.
All of the characters with the exception of Lia are not perfect but flawed enough that you don't truly hate them. All of Laurie's so called "friends" are just teenagers after all yet none of them are as fueled by hatred like Lia. I can understand where Lia is coming from to a degree but the rest of her personality is purely psychotic.
The friendship between Laurie and Helen and Jeff was pivotal to the plot just as much as Laurie's connection with her family...the true family in the Strattons. The ending is bittersweet from one standpoint, utterly heartbreaking in another and justifiably final with no hint of ambiguity for certain characters.
Yet there is still a slight degree of wishful thinking even if it is clear Duncan wasn't going for a happy ending...
Stranger With My Face got a TV movie adaptation and it wasn't 100% faithful to the story but it was pretty much less of a downer ending with the changes they did make. Not enough to cause any anger to fans of this book but just enough to keep you from feeling utterly depressed if you view the glass as half empty.
If you are looking for a really good Lois Duncan book to start with in discovering her work, Stranger With My Face is the one I highly recommend.
July 21, 2012
This is an excellent paranormal thriller, in which the 17-year-old heroine finds her life in danger of being taken over by a heretofore-unknown evil twin. Good writing, plenty of suspense, a haunting atmosphere, and well-portrayed characters make for a riveting read for both teens and adults. I definitely want to read more of Lois Duncan's novels (and reread those I've read before).
February 13, 2017
I really enjoyed the premise of the novel. It has some elements that will certainly hold a reader's interest: astral projection, evil twins, disfigured boyfriends, and the like. It's a fun little read, if you're looking for a short book to pass the time.
October 28, 2017
I read this in eighth grade over 20 years ago and loved it then just realized the author died last year rip your books were everything to me as a teen and helps remind me of why ive always loved reading!!
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