Set in Tashkent at the start of World War I, “The Rascal,” a 224-page hardcover by Akademnashr Verlag (2014), follows a fourteen-year-old Uzbek boy who runs away from home due to unfortunate misunderstandings. On his unwilling odyssey, he experiences camaraderie and betrayal, beatings and affection, stumbling from one catastrophe to the next. He must learn to survive in the often unjust adult world. Gafur Gulom portrays the harsh and deprived life of ordinary people in Central Asia with humor and empathy, highlighting their customs and traditions. Priced at €15, with over 35,000 copies sold in Europe and a 5% discount on 20 copies.