Stranger with My Face

Stranger with My Face

Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1981
Founder	Lois Duncan
Products	Young adult horror novel

Stranger with My Face is a young adult horror novel written by Lois Duncan and published in 1981. The story centers on Laurie Stratton, a Native American teenager who discovers she has an identical twin named Lia, who uses astral projection to visit Laurie's hometown. Laurie learns to astrally project herself in an attempt to find Lia, but Lia’s spirit eventually seizes control of Laurie’s body, resulting in a battle for dominance. The narrative delves into themes of duality and identity. Duncan drew inspiration from the concept of astral projection and later revised the book in 2011 to update its setting and technology.

The novel received critical acclaim, including recognition as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and designation as an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults in 1981. It was adapted into a television film in 2009 featuring actors such as Alexz Johnson and Catherine Hicks, which aired on the Lifetime Movie Network. Additionally, the Stranger with My Face International Film Festival held in Hobart, Australia, takes its name from this novel.

Plot

Laurie Stratton, a seventeen-year-old Native American adopted by the Stratton family, experiences being seen in locations where she knows she was never physically present. Her adoptive sister Megan refers to the apparition as "ghosty," which identifies itself as Lia—Laurie’s twin sister. Laurie's friend Helen proposes that Lia employs astral projection, a technique involving the soul leaving the body, but she suspects Lia harbors ill intent. While pursuing Lia’s spirit, Helen suffers a serious injury. Prior to this incident, Helen’s father gifts Laurie a lavender eagle necklace intended for protection.

On Christmas Eve, Jeff, one of Laurie’s friends, brings books about astral projection. During their encounter, Jeff spots someone resembling Laurie and falls into a cavern; Laurie falls while trying to find him. Laurie manages to project her spirit onto nearby rocks and is rescued after Neal witnesses her apparition vanish. The protective necklace is discovered snagged on Jeff's parka zipper; he repairs it before returning it to Laurie.

Laurie hones her astral projecting abilities and eventually locates Lia in a psychiatric hospital. She uncovers that Lia had pushed their adoptive sister Katherine Abbott off a cliff to secure an inheritance. Upon returning to her physical form, Laurie realizes that Lia has taken over her body. Megan notices changes in "Laurie’s" behavior—such as eating white meat instead of red, making rude comments, and ignoring longtime friends—which raise suspicion.

Lia reveals that their biological mother was a skilled projector who disappeared during an astral projection session; following this event, the twins were separated. Lia was shuffled between foster families due to unusual occurrences like Katherine’s death.

Megan confides her concerns to Jeff. When they confront Lia, Jeff attempts to place the protective necklace on her but is unsuccessful; Megan throws the necklace at Laurie’s body, which expels Lia’s spirit and restores Laurie’s control. Lia had been declared dead after remaining absent from her body for an extended period. To prevent Lia from returning, Laurie vows never to project again but remains aware of her sister’s lingering presence.

Background and publication history

Stranger with My Face was initially released in hardcover by Little, Brown, and Company in October 1981. Lois Duncan developed the story after thorough research into astral projection through interviews and library materials to accurately depict the phenomenon within the plot. The story takes place on a fictional island near New England, inspired by Duncan’s own visits to Nantucket Island and information from a relative living in Rhode Island.

The characters Megan and Neal were modeled after Duncan’s children Kaitlyn and Don Junior. The novel contains personal touches such as naming an actress Kerry Arquette—one of Duncan’s daughters—in the original edition; this name was changed to Brittany Mahrer in the 2011 update. Furthermore, Helen’s transfer to Duke University Hospital reflects Duncan’s personal experience with her daughter’s medical treatment.

In 2011, Little, Brown republished the novel with revisions that incorporated modern elements like cell phones. These changes necessitated adjustments in the storyline since isolation and lack of communication were originally crucial plot points.

Audiobook editions were produced by Listening Library in 1986 and later by Recorded Books in 1998 with narration by Alyssa Bresnahan. The novel also inspired the Stranger with My Face International Film Festival held in Hobart, Australia, which promotes female filmmakers and highlights women’s perspectives within genre films, especially horror.

Major themes

Crime writer Megan Abbott points out that the novel delves into the idea of a doppelgänger—individuals who resemble each other yet are not identical. The story’s female lead encounters another woman who embodies actions the protagonist herself would hesitate to take. Following her encounter with this counterpart, Laurie initiates beneficial transformations in her life, including ending her involvement with a self-centered boyfriend and his unkind social circle. Lizzie Skurnick emphasizes the contrast between outward appearance and inner identity, referencing a moment when Laurie detects subtle distinctions between herself and Lia while they are in a psychiatric facility. According to Deborah Wilson Overstreet, the narrative compellingly depicts women experiencing turmoil; for instance, Laurie severs ties with her boyfriend and begins dating a young man who has been physically scarred by an explosion after meeting Lia.

Reception

Stranger with My Face received numerous accolades, such as the 1981 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults award and recognition as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. It was included on the University of Iowa’s Books for Young Adults list, where it was commended for its brisk narrative and captivating use of astral projection. The novel also garnered four state-level honors: the Massachusetts Children's Book Award, the California Young Reader Medal (Young Adult division), the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award, and the Young Hoosier Book Award for grades 6–8.

Lois Duncan identified both Stranger with My Face and Locked in Time as among her preferred works for young adults. Kirkus Reviews described it as "expertly crafted suspense aimed at receptive readers." Jean Fritz of The New York Times characterized the book as "equally chilling and entirely plausible." Common Sense Media awarded it three out of five stars, observing that Duncan portrays out-of-body experiences as routine but critiquing Laurie's narrative voice as sounding older than a typical teenager. Barbara Baskin and Karen Harris noted that the book blends familiar supernatural tropes with light teenage romance, resulting in a somewhat superficial story.

Adaptation

Production of a television adaptation commenced on February 6, 2009, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The movie premiered on August 29, 2009, on the Lifetime Movie Network. The cast featured Alexz Johnson portraying both Laurie and Lia, Catherine Hicks as Shelley Stratton—Laurie’s adoptive mother—Andrew Francis as Jeff, and Emily Hirst as Alexis, Laurie’s adoptive sister. Direction was by Jeff Renfroe. Sloan Freer from Radio Times gave the film a two-star rating out of five, critiquing the director’s heavy dependence on music and visual effects to build tension but praising Johnson’s nuanced dual portrayal as the production’s standout aspect.