ON TWO FEET AND WINGS

The amazing story of a young boy fleeing Tehran, on his own, during the Iran–Iraq War. The author unfolds a powerful child’s-eye view of political tumult, separation, survival, dreams and triumphs in a moving memoir that chronicles extraordinary times in an ordinary child’s life.

Close to his tenth birthday, Abbas has to leave his parents and friends to escape Tehran. The Iran–Iraq War is at its bloodiest and the ayatollahs, the rulers of Iran, have reduced the age of recruitment into the army. If Abbas doesn’t leave soon, he will have to go to war. In the strange and often frightening city of Istanbul, Abbas has to grow up faster than ever. He has to learn difficult things – how to live on his own, how to make his way around, and most importantly, how to judge who is a friend and who is an enemy. Living alone for twelve weeks in a rundown hotel, Abbas finds a friend in Mourat, the owner, while he waits to get his dream visa to England. Meanwhile, he has to deal with his new life and work at several jobs to make ends meet. Most of all, he has to guard against being manipulated, and watch his back at all times. This is young Abbas’s remarkable story of innocence and wisdom, and survival against the worst odds. Like all stories, this is often happy and sometimes sad. But unlike most others, this one is true. Abbas Kazerooni is now a grown man – a lawyer – living in California. He is also an actor, writer and producer. This is his first book and he plans to write a sequel.