This easy to read coming-of-age novella appears, judging by the rather simple sentence construction throughout, to be aimed at young readers of approximately 11 to 14 years old. Divided into three distinct parts, it follows dual-nationality Nora, seventeen-years-old and living with her parents in Bilbao when the story begins, as she negotiates various challenges in her life as she journeys towards independence. Some of these arise out of her struggles with an unexpected crisis in her family life, whilst others are to do with some of the generic issues which face teenagers of every generation as they try to make sense of the world they inhabit, to explore their self-identity, to gain self-confidence and to determine what’s important to them as they approach adulthood.
In addition to exploring the emotional journey Nora takes, her search for self-awareness/fulfilment and to the uncovering of answers to family secrets involve taking trips from Spain to North Wales, Argentina and Peru, allowing the author to introduce lots of information about the history of these other locations, the different cultural practices found and the different languages which are spoken. This encourages young readers to expand their knowledge, to think about how to communicate with people who speak a different language, to respect differences and yet still find shared values. I certainly enjoyed his inclusion of the importance of understanding the roots of, and preserving, old languages, for instance Welsh and Basque and the rich heritage they represent.
His exploration of topics such as the evolving friendships and alliances of adolescence, bullying, family tensions and secrets, being true to oneself and finding ones own voice, being open to new experiences, cultural and geographical displacement and issues surrounding migration and immigration, mean that this is a very thought-provoking story, one which should encourage young readers to reflect and learn. As I’m considerably older than the demographic the book is aimed at I didn’t find it a particularly stimulating personal read, but that doesn’t prevent me from recognising its relevance for a younger readership, hence my 4* rating. ( )