A captivating, loveable novel of stunning originality and poignancy about a 12-year-old genius mapmaker. Film adaptation from director of 'Amelie', starring Helena Bonham Carter, expected in 2014

"Here is a book that does the impossible: it combines Mark Twain, Thomas Pynchon, and Little Miss Sunshine. Good novels entertain; great ones come as a gift to the readers who are lucky enough to find them. This book is a treasure" Stephen King "Larsen has made an impressive mark ... spectacularly funny" Sunday Times "Reif Larsen's wonderful original debut, destined to please readers of all ages, is the Next Big Thing... echoes of Thomas Pynchon, Robert Coover and Nicholson Baker... a lively sophisticated narrative that looks to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" Irish Times "A wilfully original and diverting book ... you can see exactly why it caused publishers to sit up. It is charming and kooky" Observer "Think Tom Sawyer with a passion for empirical science... one of the most original books of the year" Metro

Reif Larsen studied at Brown University and has taught at Columbia University, where he received his MFA in fiction. He is also a filmmaker and has made documentaries in the United States, United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.