On Two Feet and Wings
Abbas Kazerooni
eBook
(Skyscape, Oct. 21, 2014)
He is in a foreign country, he is alone, and he is just a boy...Abbas Kazerooni is not yet ten, but heâs suddenly forced to leave his parents, his friendsâhis entire worldâand flee Tehran. The Iran-Iraq war is at its bloodiest, and the Ayatollahs who rule Iran have reduced the recruitment age for the army. If Abbas doesnât escape, itâs almost certain that he will be drafted and die fighting for a regime that has stripped his family of all they have.On his own in the strange, often frightening city of Istanbul, Abbas grows up fastâwith little more than his wits to guide him. He must conquer difficult things: how to live on his own, how to navigate a foreign city and culture when he doesnât speak the language, and, most importantly, how to judge who is a friend and who is an enemy. Facing the unexpected as well as the everyday challenges of life on his own, Abbas walks a tightrope of survivalâyearning to please the demanding father he has left behind, yet relishing his new found independence. His quick thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, and the kindness of strangers allow him to make the best of his dire situation in surprising ways. Does he have what it takes to not only survive against these challenging odds but achieve his parentsâ ultimate dream for him: a visa to England, and the safety it represents? This compelling true story of one young boyâs courage provides a powerful childâs-eye view of war, political tumult, and survival.