"An endearing coming-of-age story. . . . Sharp and witty. . . . A wily and operatic novel. . . . Propulsive." --The Washington Post "The History of a Difficult Child is an extraordinary novel." --Maaza Mengiste, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Shadow King "An exhilarating novel by a powerful new writer." --Elif Batuman, author of Pulitzer-Prize finalist The Idiot and Either/Or ...