Motherhood is hard. Especially when you had abusive parents who didn't teach you what good parenting looks like.
Hannah wants to be a good mom, but when she loses her daughter to the state, she has to take her son and run. The chaos doesn't stop there though, and she makes a lot of chaotic decisions trying to figure out how to survive with her boy.
This was a good book but definitely hard to read at times. I had trouble connecting to the story but would recommend for anyone who is plagued by generational trauma.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.*

Ng is a master of character. As I closed out this book, I read Ng's bio at the end and it mentioned he was a school social worker - it all clicked together at that point. In this novel, Ng follows Hannah and her son Axel. They are are working with the Canadian children/social services system. We learn about Hannah's upbringing and see how it impacts her parenting and how her parenting is already impacting Axel. Ng is so balanced in giving us insight into Hannah's mind as well as Axel's increasing our understanding of inter-generational trauma. This novel is the epitome of two things can be true at the same time and supports a nuanced understanding of what others may be going through. Not providing excuses, but simply giving greater understanding to those who haven't had a life experience.

The Family Code tells the story of a family involved with Canada's child welfare system. Wayne Ng obviously has experience with the system as his tale is such an accurate portrayal of the problems within the system, the legacy of trauma, and the experiences of the people who work within or are involved with child welfare. Often, families and child welfare workers are portrayed as clear villains or heroes and this book delves into the nuance. No one is perfect and unlikely people show up to support the family and become safe adults for a child caught in the middle. Rather than making the parent the enemy or someone on a clear course to redemption, Ng shows the ups and downs of addiction, bad choices, hard work, and likely mental illness.
As someone who worked inside the system, I know that we often are only witness to part of the story. Our involvement ends not when the happily ever after begins, but rather when the immediate crisis is over. I have never read a book that epitomizes that experience as well as this one. Ng brought this story to life in a way that felt incredibly authentic and I highly recommend this book.

Heartbreaking and raw, a very real look at how hurt people hurt people. Motherhood is hard even with a village, good mental health and support, take all those away, and Motherhood can break you.

The Family Code
by Wayne Ng
I really was delighted to be able to read the book to review and it seemed very interesting to me. Sadly, I could not get it to send to my Kindle. I will have to read and review it when it becomes published. It broke my head not to be able to read this.