Boy from the North Country

A Novel

De: Sam Sussman

Narrado por: Sam Sussman

A fiction finalist for the 75th National Jewish Book Awards

“This portrait of a young man caring for his mother is a rare combination of boldface intrigue and profound emotion.” —Oprah Daily, The Best Fall Books of 2025

“Come for the riveting father-son mystery, stay for the most beautiful and moving mother-son story in recent memory.” —Kirkus (starred review)

A son returns home to his dying mother to discover the astonishing truth of his origins and the secrets of a woman whose life and wisdom he is only beginning to understand

When Evan, twenty-six, is suddenly called home from his life abroad to the secluded farmhouse where he was raised by his mother, June, there is so much he does not yet know. He doesn’t know his mother is dying. He still doesn’t know the identity of his biological father or the elusive story of his mother’s creatively intense, emotionally turbulent romance with Bob Dylan, whom Evan reveres as an artist and whom strangers have long insisted he resembles. He doesn’t know the secrets of his mother’s life before he was born or what drove her to leave New York City for a completely different existence.

In this deeply moving debut novel, Sam Sussman writes one of the most tender and intimate mother-son relationships of our era. Caring for his mother as her illness worsens, and as she begins to tell him truths he has waited so long to hear, Evan comes to understand the startling gift this extraordinary woman has bequeathed him.

Inspired by the author’s own uncertain celebrity paternity, Boy from the North Country is an emotionally searing meditation on the most essential human themes: loss, healing, memory, and the redemptive power of love.

Smart, Tender, and Deeply Human

Boy from the North Country by Sam Sussman is a smart, beautiful, and touching mother-son novel — an impressive debut from the Bob Dylan look-alike author himself.

The story centers on three main characters: Evan, the youngish son; June, his dying mother; and Bob Dylan, whose presence is woven throughout the novel in subtle and artful ways. As June nears the end of her life, she begins filling in the missing chapters of Evan’s past. He has never known who his father is — only that people have always told him he’s the spitting image of Dylan, and that his mother once had a relationship with the legendary troubadour. I’ll say no more. No spoilers here.

There is so much to appreciate in this book. Art, writing, and drama are seamlessly interwoven. Dylan’s music drifts through the narrative — yes, “Tangled Up in Blue” makes a prominent appearance — and at one point there’s even a reference to crossing a personal Rubicon through writing. Be still my heart!

But what ultimately moved me most wasn’t the Dylan thread — it was Evan’s relationship with his dying mother. Their final conversations stirred up reflections on my own mother’s passing ten years ago. I may have shed a tear turning these pages, but they were mixed with gratitude and joy for her life well lived. At its heart, this is an end-of-life story told with nuance and restraint. No emotional sledgehammers — just careful, honest storytelling.

So why four stars instead of five?

Because at times, I found myself frustrated with Evan. He can come off as childish and self-absorbed. I wanted to shake him a bit — listen to your mother, man. This is about her. That tension is likely intentional, and perhaps even realistic, but it kept me from fully embracing him as a protagonist.

Still, this is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant novel. The complicated relationships both Evan and June have with Judaism add another meaningful layer to the story. If you’re drawn to intimate family dramas with literary texture, quiet twists, and a touch of music history woven in, this book is well worth your time.

I may have picked it up for Dylan — but I stayed for the mother and son. This one will stay with me for a while.

A story brimming with intense love and raw openness

So well written!!! I felt the emotion so deeply that was shared openly between a young man and his mother. Their rare relationship was so eloquently portrayed. I was riveted from the first line to the last, this is a must read.

A true love story

A true love story between a mother and son. In the end it only mattered who was there.

This is a Treasured gift on Understanding What is means to Choose Love

Sam Sussman is an incredible orator, with an incredible knowledge base of literature and the arts. His story wrestles in a poetic journey to understand the human condition. Evan’s journey with his mother could be a templet on how we can hope to journey with a love for our parents. Thank you for opening your heart to us, to bring such a soulful presentation.

Ver Relatable Touching Story

I lost my mother just under two months ago. I'm a single mother of a 25 year old son. This story hit too close to home. Really enjoyed the read.