Book Review: Akin

Akin, by Emma Donoghue

An old man, childless, set in his ways, and still mourning the loss of his wife to cancer, suddenly finds himself the guardian of an 11-year-old great-nephew he barely knew existed and had never met. 

Worse for Noah Selvaggio, he must take custody of the boy the same week he had planned a visit to his native France, for the Carnival in his hometown of Nice.

Days before he's set to fly from his home in New York, Noah gets a call from a social worker. Michael, his sister's only grandchild, needs an emergency parental figure, and Noah is his only living relative. The boy's father? A recent overdose fatality. His mother? Serving time in a prison upstate.

It's either Noah or a state home. Noah reluctantly agrees to take care of the child.

Thus begins Donoghue's latest novel, an exploration of family, heritage, and the responsibility one has -- or should feel -- for the actions of their ancestors.

You see, at the same time Noah is learning he will be taking Michael along on his trip, he discovers a small packet of cryptic photographs his mother took during World War II, when she stayed in France as he and his father shipped off to the United States for safety. Noah has no idea who the photos portray or why they were taken. Michael, snootily introducing Noah to Google images search, easily discovers the location of one picture. It's a hotel in Nice.

So off they go.

It's a tough relationship. Michael, at 11 years old, often finds his phone to be a better companion. He enjoys baiting Noah. Nor is Noah enamored with Michael, whom he sees as a whingy little brat. His immediate response to any request from Michael is to say no.

But still.

Noah is empathetic enough to know Michael's background and sympathize with his upbringing. He recognizes the child is poor and lonely, but he struggles to accommodate his wants and needs.

Still. 

For the most part, I liked their relationship. Noah wants to educate the child, and he takes every opportunity to explain history and science (sometimes in excruciating detail, but then, Noah is an old, retired chemistry professor). The boy generally is bored to tears, but sometimes responds to Noah's prodding and teaching.

So we see them slowly, reluctantly and uncertainly, grow closer and show concern for each other in fits and starts. Noah comes to enjoy Michael's wit, even if it is exasperatingly at his own expense. Michael tries to help Noah's search for meaning in his mother's photos, even as he struggles to maintain his own sense of self with his strange great-uncle.