One afternoon, in a town in southeastern Nigeria, a mother opens her front door to discover her sons body, wrapped in colorful fabric, at her feet. What follows is the tumultuous, heart-wrenching story of one familys struggle to understand a child whose spirit is both gentle and mysterious. Raised by a distant father and an understanding but overprotective mother, Vivek suffers disorienting blackouts, moments of disconnection between self and surroundings. As adolescence gives way to adulthood, Vivek finds solace in friendships with the warm, boisterous daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign-born women married to Nigerian men. But Viveks closest bond is with Osita, the worldly, high-spirited cousin whose teasing confidence masks a guarded private life. As their relationship deepensand Osita struggles to understand Viveks escalating crisisthe mystery gives way to a heart-stopping act of violence in a moment of exhilarating freedom.

An Instant New York Times Bestseller.