In Hush, Hush, we get the death of a father, as absentee mother, new revelations about identity, first experiences with romance and sex, and the need to make very important decisions—all of which screams, "Coming-of-age novel coming through."
Is Nora a total grown-up by the end of the book? Absolutely not. But remember that this is the first book in a series, so she has some time to finish the process yet. Given how much is on her plate in this first installment in the series, though, and how little adults do to help out, we'd say she's well on her way to adulthood herself. One thing's certain: She's definitely not a kid anymore.
Questions About Coming of Age
- How is Nora different at the end of the book than she is at the start of the book? Does she seem more mature? Be specific about ways she's changed.
- Is Hush, Hush a coming of age story for Patch as well as for Nora?
- Does Nora lose anything or have to give anything up as she moves further from childhood and closer to adulthood? Conversely, does she gain anything?
Chew on This
Nora never settles into her own mature identity; she shifts from an identity dependent on school, family, and friends to one dependent on her boyfriend.
Nora's relationship with Patch allows her to grow into a more mature understanding of herself.