The History of a Difficult Child

A major new writing talent. Not only does the novel confront history, masculinity and gender in refreshing but uncompromising ways, it also has a remarkably original voice, fresh and irreverent. Sibhat will soon be one of the most influential voices in the literature of Africa

Chris Abani, author of GRACELAND

An extraordinary novel. At once a story of a sharp-witted young girl trying to hold herself together during political upheaval, and an achingly tender tale of community, family, grief and forgiveness

Maaza Mengiste, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of THE SHADOW KING

Selam, Mihret Sibhat's ferociously witty young narrator, depicts her family's religious and political struggles in Ethiopia in extraordinarily rich and original prose... Deeply moving as well as hilarious. A one-of-a-kind must-read debut

Julie Schumacher, author of DEAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

A brilliant powerhouse of a novel, an incandescent read from an electrifying writer

Patricia Hampl, author of THE ART OF THE WASTED DAY

An unexpected and hilarious voice with a velocity all its own... razor-sharp. Tender and merciless, full of human and political insight. I couldn't stop turning the pages

V. V. Ganeshananthan, author of BROTHERLESS NIGHT

An exhilarating novel by a powerful new writer

Elif Batuman, author of Pulitzer-Prize finalist The Idiot and Either/Or