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.

Author: Abbas Kazerooni
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Skyscape
Published: 10/21/2014
Pages: 238
Weight: 0.6lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.40w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781477820377
Audience: Young Adult

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.7
Point Value: 8
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 176016 / On Two Feet and Wings: One Boy's Amazing Story of Survival


Review Citation(s):
Voice of Youth Advocates 10/01/2014 pg. 3

About the Author
Kazerooni, Abbas: - 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.