On Two Feet and Wings, Abbas Kazerooni
On Two Feet and Wings, Abbas Kazerooni
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On Two Feet and Wings

Author: Abbas Kazerooni

Narrator: Abbas Kazerooni

Unabridged: 4 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download (DRM Protected)

Published: 10/21/2014


Synopsis

He is in a foreign country, he is alone, and he is just a boy...Abbas Kazerooni is not yet ten, but he’s suddenly forced to leave his parents, his friends—his entire world—and 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 doesn’t escape, it’s 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 fast—with 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 doesn’t 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 survival—yearning 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 parents’ ultimate dream for him: a visa to England, and the safety it represents?This compelling true story of one young boy’s courage provides a powerful child’s-eye view of war, political tumult, and survival.

About Abbas Kazerooni

Abbas Kazerooni is a lawyer in California. He is also a professional actor, writer, and producer. Shows he has acted in include Sleuth on the London stage (lead role), the BBC’s The Land of the Green Ginger (lead role), HBO’s The Hamburg Cell, and the independent feature film Universal Senses. On Two Feet and Wings is his first book.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tiffany on July 14, 2016

As a 9-year old, Abbas Kazerooni, is sent from Iran to Turkey to try and obtain a visa to move to Britain. Staying in Iran is dangerous, with children being drafted into the war. Abbas' parents literally sacrifice everything they have to get Abbas to Turkey. From there, he has to rely on his own ing......more

Goodreads review by Marj on August 09, 2012

Abbas leaves his family when he is 9 years old to escape being drafted into the army. He's alone on the streets of Istanbul, trying to survive. His journey is aided by the kindness of strangers and his innate uncanny sense of who is trustworthy and who is not. On Two Feet and Wings is the author's a......more

Goodreads review by Deborah on August 13, 2022

OMG, this was an awesome book This was one of the most moving books I have ever read. I was drawn in right from the beginning. I don't know how this child survived. I have a granddaughter his age and knowing how much a child she is makes me ache for this "Little Man" and what he had to endure. He los......more

Goodreads review by Anna on November 26, 2017

I couldn't put this book down. What an incredibly resilient young person Abbas was! Can't wait to read the second book.......more


Quotes

“Readers are often promised unforgettable protagonists—this memoir delivers one.” Kirkus Review (Starred Review)“Readers of Abbas Kazerooni’s incredible memoir will be rooting for him from the very first pages—and not be able to put this book down. His frank narrative is clear, compelling, and utterly endearing. An unforgettable story—I love this book!” —Naomi Shihab Nye, winner of the 2013 NSK Neustadt Prize in Children’s Literature“This heart-stopping memoir of a young boy who fled Iran on his own after the 1979 Revolution left me wondering whether adults could be so resilient. Enormously inspiring on many levels!” —Suzanne Fisher Staples, author of Shabanu, a Newbery Honor Book