Hello Stranger: A Novel

Content Warning: This guide section references medical conditions, the loss of a parent, and mental health conditions.

Art is tied to Sadie’s sense of self-worth. She says, “[…] the truest thing I knew about myself was this: I was always happy when I was making things” (85). Yet, Sadie has struggled to prove herself as an artist since announcing to her father that she chose art over medicine. Making it to the finals of the portrait contest symbolizes a significant step into becoming a famous, successful artist and finally proving to her family and friends that she can survive and thrive as an artist. Her diagnosis compromises her artistic and technical skills, forcing her to redefine her approach to creativity. Sadie's struggle with prosopagnosia raises questions regarding the nature of art, namely whether it is concerned with physical precision or something more abstract.

Initially, Sadie believes that her creative career is predicated on her ability to accurately capture the intricacies of faces, a skill necessary for realistic portrayal. When her health condition makes this impossible, she must reconsider how and, more importantly, why she creates art. This transition symbolizes Sadie’s investigation of art as not merely a reproduction of what is seen but also an expression of what is felt and understood.