Ten obcy facts for kids

That Stranger (Polish: Ten obcy) is a popular novel written by the Polish author Irena Jurgielewiczowa. It was first published in 1961. This book is so important in Poland that it's required reading for students in Year 6. It has been translated into 23 different languages, showing how widely loved it is!

In 1964, That Stranger was honored by being placed on the Honour List for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. This award celebrates excellent children's literature. The main characters from this story also appear in another one of Irena Jurgielewiczowa's novels, Inna? (Another?), which came out in 1975.

What's the Story About?

This exciting book explores themes of friendship, growing up, and helping others. The story follows four friends: Ula, Pestka (who they call Pip), Marian, and Julek. Their summer adventure takes place in Olszyna, a small village about 150 kilometers from Warsaw.

During their summer holiday, the friends spend a lot of time on a special island. This island was created by spring floods. They build a cool hut there and even set up poles to make it easier to get to the island. One day, a mysterious boy suddenly appears on their island. The boy is hurt, so the group of friends quickly decide to take care of him. At first, the boy doesn't say much, but slowly he starts to share his secrets with them.

Meet the Characters

• Zenon Wójcik (called Zenek) is the main character and the "stranger" of the book's title. After his mother passed away, he had a very difficult home life in Wrocław. He decided to run away to find his uncle. While trying to escape, he hurt his leg on a piece of glass. He ended up stopping on the island near Olszyny, where he met the four friends. Zenek becomes very close with Urszula Zalewska.

• Urszula Zalewska (called Ula) is a very quiet and shy girl. She finds it hard to talk about her feelings. Ula was the first person to notice that Zenek was hurt. She quickly realized that the group of friends should help him. Ula lives with her aunts in Warsaw. Her father is a doctor. Like Zenek, she doesn't have a mother.

• Juliusz Miler (called Julek) is Marian's younger cousin. He is full of energy and very active. He usually doesn't like playing with girls, except for Pip. Julek is very impressed when Zenek saves a child. He starts to see Zenek as a great hero and someone to look up to, even though he was a bit wary of him at first.

• Pestka Ubyszówna (called Pip) is an energetic girl who likes to impress Zenek. She does things like swimming to show off her bravery. Pip is Ula's best friend, even though they sometimes have small arguments. Zenek admires her for her courage.

• Marian Pietrzyk is the oldest of the group of friends. He naturally takes on the role of leader and guide for everyone. He is Julek's older cousin. Zenek initially doesn't want to stay with the group, but Marian convinces him. When the holidays begin, Marian decides to visit his grandparents in Olszyny with Julek.

• Danube (Dunaj) is a stray dog that Ula grows very fond of. At the beginning of the book, the dog is wild. However, with Zenek's help, the children manage to befriend the animal. Later in the story, when another character throws a stone at Danube, the dog becomes wild and scared again.