Akin

In Emma Donoghue's poignant novel, "Akin," retired New York professor Noah is on the cusp of his first return to Nice since childhood, hoping to unearth his mother's deeply buried wartime secrets. His meticulously planned trip is upended by the sudden arrival of his 11-year-old great-nephew, Michael, who needs a temporary home. Despite never having met, Noah reluctantly agrees to take the street-smart, screen-addicted boy to France. What ensues is a hilarious yet heart-wrenching transatlantic journey marked by cultural clashes and intergenerational squabbles, from disputes over French cuisine to screen time. As this unlikely duo navigates the Riviera, Michael unwittingly becomes instrumental in helping Noah peel back the layers of their family's past, revealing troubling truths about World War II. Through this shared quest, they discover unexpected bonds and profound similarities, transforming what began as a duty into a journey of mutual understanding and the forging of a new family narrative.