Bodsworth intertwines ornithology and human drama in this unusual novel. The central story follows the mating of a Hebridean Barra goose with a native Canada goose, paralleled by the romance between Rory, a young biologist, and Kanina, a Cree woman who has been assimilated into settler society.
The novel explores themes of instinct vs. social convention, cultural identity, and miscegenation, drawing a parallel between the natural world and human relationships. Bodsworth was among the first Canadian authors to tackle such themes directly, making The Strange One distinctive in both nature literature and Canadian social commentary.