Ng’s storytelling is a master class in authenticity. From poverty and violence to addiction and strained relationships, the novel unflinchingly explores the depths of human struggle. And the author’s profound psychological insights and heartfelt portrayal of the characters’ troubled lives create an intense and unforgettable reading experience.—IAN THOMAS SHAW, The Ottawa Review of Books

The Family Code is a riveting and heart-wrenching story of inter-generational trauma that pivots around Hannah and her young son, Axel.….sophisticated, clear-eyed and compassionate writing.—HOLLAY GHADERY, Carousel Magazine 

The Family Code is a gritty and unflinching look at the devastating effects of intergenerational trauma. Wayne Ng has created vulnerable, damaged, and compelling characters who will resonate with me for a long time. Heartbreaking but also hopeful, this book put me through the wringer.—BIANCA MARAIS, best-selling author of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor

The characters in this novel were real, so real that they seemed to leap off the page. They were raw, unforgiving, and vulnerable.—Laura Patterson, The Miramichi Reader

The Family Code’s intricate plotting and sizzling dialogue show us an imaginative master at work, narrating in dual points of view with authentic voices, sharp wit and deep sympathy. We live with a dysfunctional family struggling with poverty, petty crime, violence, alcohol, and sexual tension. Wayne Ng’s psychological insights and ability to bring us passionately into their troubled lives make for an intense experience. —JOSIP NOVAKOVICH, author of Rubble of Rubles and Man Booker Finalist.

THE FAMILY CODE by Wayne Ng is a superb page-turner. The dialogue is absolutely spot-on in both an adult’s voice and also in a child’s. It is real, with every sentence as though I am listening to the characters speak to me….Whether it is the parents, Hannah, young Axel, friends along the way, or those inside the system, each one holds their own distinctive, clear voice. The feelings that came over me when reading made it clear this is written with extensive care, expert knowledge of the subject matter, and creative plotting to the max. In other words, author Wayne Ng delivers!
—CARRIE STANTON, The Miramichi Reader

Building on his years of social work, Wayne Ng has written a searing portrait of a family in crisis, the complexities of love and the pain of intergenerational trauma. Hannah, a struggling single mother trying to cope with deep levels of pain and her own skewed choices, is a complex character who readers will cheer on and abhor in equal measure. Ng’s sensitive portrayal of Hannah’s young son, Axel, is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Hannah and Axel are two people trying desperately to find safety and express love in a system that is stacked against them. These characters will stay with you long after the book is over.—AMY TECTOR, author of Speak for the Dead 

Ng tackles delicate and difficult issues eloquently and with sensitivity and his vast experience as a social worker allows him to present us with complex, real characters who broaden our understanding of the challenges many face within the social (and children’s) services system in Canada. You truly never know what someone is going through. An unexpectedly riveting, important read that I could not put down. Highly recommended. One of the best books I read this summer (out of 60). —Mardi Michels, eat. live. travel. write. 

Full of grit and heart, Wayne Ng’s The Family Code is one novel not to be missed. Not only does it ground you in today’s reality, but it features unforgettable characters that continue to live in your soul long after you’ve finished reading the book.—Shilpa Raikar, Sukasa Reads

In The Family Code, Hannah Belenko demonstrates that the darkest parts of herself must be reckoned with in order to come out the other side. From her story, Ng teaches us that family certainly provides us with the fuel for our own growth, although this sometimes means being far from their reach, and unlearning everything we believed about ourselves and the world around us so we can start anew.—Phoebe Yī Lìng, Montreal Review of Books

A heart-stoppingly vivid cast of characters awaits readers of The Family Code. Wayne Ng brings his masterful storytelling to every page, fearlessly examining trauma, abuse, and the often brutal complexities of family. The story of Hannah and Axel is one that will break your heart, but also one that stands as a timeless and stunningly textured testament to hope, redemption, and love. A must-read! —HOLLAY GHADERY, author of Fuse: Meditations on Mixed-Race Identity and Mental Illness

Wayne Ng’s brilliant novel, The Family Code hooked me immediately. I was deeply invested in his protagonist Hannah, desperate to know what would happen next. Ng’s characterization is beautiful and utterly convincing. He writes with the perfect balance of grit and beauty, compassion and stark reality, always aware of his character’s motivations, imploring the reader to observe without judgement. My favourite books explore difficult people and their psychology, and Ng’s writing is sharp and insightful. Though his characters often misstep, they are all complex and three dimensional. I can’t recommend it enough!—DANILA BOTHA, author of Things that Cause Inappropriate Happiness, and For All the Men

Hannah just wants to hang on to her kids. But her abusive upbringing hasn’t equipped her with the parenting skills the authorities want, and her rough street smarts may not be enough. With the immediacy of a bruised throat, Wayne Ng’s compelling new novel The Family Code confronts us with an unsympathetic character with whom we sympathize, the baffled son she struggles to care for, and the tenacity of their hope in seemingly hopeless circumstances. —K.R. WILSON, author of Call Me Stan

The Family Code is gripping…in its unvarnished honesty, where its power resides. —IAN COLFORD, The Seaboard Review

• CBC Mainstreet NS: Why this Ottawa author chose Dartmouth for the setting of his new book
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• THE FAMILY CODE is a 49thShelf 2023 Best Fiction Book of the Year!
• The Richard Crouse Show Interviews Wayne Ng – News Talk 1010
• The Artisanal Writer’s In-depth interview with Wayne Ng
• Derick Fage Interviews Wayne Ng on Daytime Ottawa, RogersTV
• Raw Mike Richards Interviews Wayne Ng – Sauga 960 AM
• Families: It’s Complicated! Wayne’s book recommendations on the 49thShelf Blog
• Shilpa Raikar Interviews Wayne and Reviews THE FAMILY CODE on Sukasa Reads
• 49thShelf’s awesome summer reading picks include THE FAMILY CODE

Content Warning: This novel contains aspects of intimate partner violence, child abuse, mental illness, sex and coarse language. Please read with care.

The Family Code – PRESS RELEASE 

INTRO YouTube – The Family Code

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