Learning About Yourself Amongst Chaos
The Evolution of Nora O�Brien Pacheco� by Kevin O�Flaherty is the coming-of-age story of Nora, a teenager in Bilbao, Spain, as she navigates her formative years amid changes in friendships and relationships, schooling, priorities, and social/cultural issues.
After being accepted to a prestigious summer school in Wales, Nora develops new friendships as she leaves behind old ones in Bilbao. With her new friends, they unearth a mystery at the school when paintings go missing. Nora returns home to find her relationship with her former best friend has changed when boys and new interests develop. When a new girl comes along and inserts herself in the relationship, Nora must decide if she�s a third wheel and if her priorities align with the new ones, popular among kids her age. Meanwhile, Nora is struggling with a family issue that seems out of nowhere, not one she ever comprehended would happen.
Nora figures out how to take matters into her own hands and make the ending she wants instead of following others and letting them decide. Itâ��s not easy â�" through trial and error and mistakes, Nora eventually learns from friends and family that itâ��s best and easiest to be yourself and stick with your gut feelings about matters.
ââ?¬Å"The Evolution of Nora Oââ?¬â?¢Brien Pachecoââ?¬Â? explores various and diverse cultures across the globe through their language, heritage, and beliefs, along with immigration, the act that allows for a source of variety in any place at one time. Family dynamics, dynamics among friendships, and dynamics among cultures explore the pros and cons based on the fictional situations for the reader to make their own decisions. The mystery is another dynamic of the story that adds excitement and suspense. This reader felt as if the mystery did not receive a complete resolution; however, given the shorter length of the story, it is understandable that detail and depth couldnââ?¬â?¢t/wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be placed. The storyââ?¬â?¢s target audience would be middle and high school students, as it covers relevant topics for these age groups to understand, reflect on, and possibly learn from.
Due to social and interpersonal patterns throughout time, Kevin Oââ?¬â?¢Flahertyââ?¬â?¢s tale ââ?¬Å"The Evolution of Nora Oââ?¬â?¢Brien Pachecoââ?¬Â? will be relevant and age well through the years. The story is informative as well as entertaining; it is a quick read with useful and personal information to dwell on and reflect on simultaneously.