THE STRANGER IN ME, Growing Up In Squak Valley

THE STRANGER IN ME is a coming-of-age memoir set in 1950s-60s Washington State, blending humor, history, and heartfelt discovery. From the quiet rhythms of farm life to the shifting social landscape of small-town adolescence, THE STRANGER IN ME follows Roy Nilsson through a decade of transformation in Squak Valley, and the small town of Issaquah, nestled at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

This richly textured story captures the wonder of growing up in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest at a simpler time-when the future was still a mystery and the pace of life left room for reflection. Roy is curious, resilient, and adventurous, whether navigating creek beds or mysterious lights in the night sky. He wrestles with self-doubt, loss, and the quiet emergence of someone new-the stranger within. Along the way, mentors appear just when he needs them most, offering guidance, humor, irony and the kind of wisdom that sticks for a lifetime.

"I was starting to feel proud to be a Nilsson. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, my mother was not. 'You've got some explaining to do, young man!' She stood in the kitchen like a judge ready to deliver sentencing. It was two-thirty on Sunday afternoon The Ford sat quietly in the yard, looking innocent and well-behaved, like it hadn't just been part of a minor felony... Before I could speak, Mom added, 'Maybe you're getting too big for your britches?' I hung my head. I knew my britches still fit."

With evocative sketches and vivid imagery throughout, The Stranger In Me is perfect for:

- Young adult and middle grade readers (ages 10-18) exploring identity, change, and belonging

- Parents, grandparents, adults and educators drawn to mid-century Americana and emotional storytelling

- Fans of historical fiction, biographical memoir, and coming-of-age narratives

-Pacific Northwest, nostalgia and biographical fiction

Father-son relationship narratives

1950's to 1960's nostalgia

Childrens stories and novels

A heartfelt legacy tribute to the natural beauty of the PNW region and to the mentors who shape us, the places that define us, and the quiet revelations that stay with us long after the last page.