On Two Feet and Wings

by Abbas Kazerooni

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Iran, Autobiography, Survival

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Abbas Kazerooni is a lawyer in California, USA. 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

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 ingenuity and the kindness of strangers to get his visa.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this memoir. I couldn't help but think of my own daughter, who is about to turn 10 and how I doubt she would have the skills to survive on her own in a foreign country.

What astounds me is how much courage and cleverness Abbas demonstrates. His story continued on with more challenges that were not related in this book, but he seems to look back on his past with gratitude and strength rather than bitterness and despair.

I think everyone should read this book, particularly in light of the staggering refugee crisis that is happening right now. I hope that by reading this book, people will walk away feeling more compassion and understanding for the desperate measures refugees go to escape horrific violence, war, and unbelievable danger.

[Marj Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 autobiography. It's highly accessible, harrowing enough but not too graphic, making it highly suitable for upper primary - lower secondary students. In the most graphic scenes, Abbas is beaten up, has a knife held to his throat and fears for his life. But what shines through is not the danger or the destitution, but Abbas' strength of character and his will to survive. The author's tone is never condescending, never preaching, but the story holds many lessons for today's young readers.

This story forms a wonderful adjunct to recent titles dealing with displacement, such as "In the Sea There are Crocodiles" by Fabio Geda, "No Safe Place" by Deborah Ellis and "Mountain Wolf" by Rosanne Hawke (in my view, the latter two books are suitable only for teens and above).

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a captivating story, but the extent of the nine-year old's recall is so unlikely that I found this undermined my enjoyment of the book.

[Deborah Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 lost his childhood the day his father put him on a plane to Turkey all alone, scared and sad. This was only the beginning of what was to come for nine year old Abbas.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Ali Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it with my 7th grader for an ELA assignment. It’s a great (true) story! Highly recommend for kids that age.

[Robyn]

Wow, can one little boy have all the luck?

First Line:

It was a typical spring day in Tehran - hot, dusty, nothing special - when my life turned upside down, p.1.

In order to escape an encroaching war, that began recruiting children to fight, Abbas Kazerooni was sent, alone to Turkey by his parents. From there, Abbas had to quickly learn how to find lodging, exchange money, navigate the British consulate, all while trying not to get kidnapped, mugged, or killed. On top of all that, he was nine years old.

What Dazzled: I feel like the story itself is quite dazzling. A nine year old in the US school system is probably in the third grade. I never taught third grade, but I did teach 4th grade. I would be dazzled by any one of my students having the critical thinking and analytical skills of Kazerooni at the same age.

What Fizzled: The writing style felt like a narrated timeline. I did this, and then I said this, and then this happened, and then I did this. Looking at the 4.19 average starred review, this writing style probably won’t bother you. It’s probably just me. Maybe this won’t bother anyone else either, but the way women were treated by men was frustrating. Particularly because it’s only vaguely and poorly addressed by the author (is there ever a good reason for this behavior? No). For example, Kazerooni’s mother was denied many times, by her husband, to speak to her son on the phone. According to the father, it would just upset her. *eyeroll. Another moment takes place in the hotel bar, where a woman gently speaks with Kazerooni only to her male companion yelled at her to stop bothering the boy.

Jots and Thoughts: If you’re looking for a refugee experience that inspires hope, kindness, and resilience I recommend How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana who was ten when her refugee camp was attacked by gunmen. Lastly, I’ll leave you with a line from a beloved song that came to my mind after reading the first line of On Two Feet with Wings.

“...and I’d like to a minute / just sit right there / I’ll tell you how I become the prince of a town called Bel-Air” - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Lyrics

[Ming · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't recount the entire book. But this was a sweet story of a young boy who flees Iran to Turkey. He is 10 years old and is extremely lucky to meet a string of friendly and helpful people during his journey. It's almost unbelievable how fortunate he was. He is smart and keeps his wits about him.

The book covers the harrowing period and is a straightforward account of the author's experience. I found the read to be compelling...an adult recalling his childhood adventures.

[Powder River Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narration by the author. Can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this even though it is a difficult story to hear. As a parent it’s frightening to think about but at the same time one is spellbound by the events that take place and proud of how 9/10 year old Abbas handles them; I wanted to crawl into the past and rescue him while cheering his spunk, intelligence and fortitude. A relatively short listen that is worth every minute.

[Ben]

This book was great! Had to read it for school wasn't super excited at first but I got pulled in during his time in Istanbul and his life at the hotel! Happy-but sad story. really sad that he really had to go through some of these challenges during his life...Recommend it to everyone nice easy read with a good message and story people should hear about!

[Silanur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had won this in a giveaway like a year and a half ago, but I never got around to reading it until this year for a summer assignment. I'm not really super interested in historical fiction, and there were somethings I weren't crazy about, but all in all this was a good read. :)

[B.A. Malisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting true story about a 9-year old who fled from Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war. The writing isn't brilliant, but the story has its own kind of value.

Book 217 read in 2018

Pages: 256

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 word summary: With savvy courage, Abbas conquers challenges no child should face.
#Iwanttohughim #hispoormother #kindnessofstrangers

🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔 If you don't rave about this book, I shall to look at you with concern and suspicion.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

'On Two Feet and Wings' is the partially autobiographical account of how Abbas Kazerooni left his home and family in Tehran, fled to Istanbul and sought asylum in the UK. It’s not the first book to look at such a challenging journey but this one is different because the asylum seeker was just 9 years old at the time of his adventure. During the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranian authorities were desperate for more young men to send to the front. So desperate that they dropped the age at which boys could be drafted to the forces to just 8 years old. Kazerooni’s father was under surveillance by the authorities and believed that it was very likely that they would start by drafting the sons of their enemies first, sending them off to almost certain death. The family planned for Abbas and his mother to flee to Istanbul and apply for asylum and they sold up all their belongings to raise money for their journey.

At the airport, everything went badly wrong and as a result, Abbas had to travel to Istanbul on his own. 'On Two Feet and Wings' tells of what happens to him when he gets there. He finds good people and bad people – a taxi driver who goes out of his way to help, a jeweller who seems to be involving him in some unclear naughtiness (probably drug carrying), strangers who translate for him and consulate officials who take pity on him. The owner of the hotel where he stays – a grimy and rather grim place – becomes a good friend who protects him from the worst of the big city but also teaches him to play a mean game of backgammon and gives him work polishing shoes and serving drinks. He becomes the ‘Little Man’ that both locals and the other Iranian émigrés want to help and support.

We follow Abbas as he learns to survive without his family in the big city where he doesn’t speak the language or understand the systems. His father won’t let him talk to his mother on the phone for fear of them upsetting each other and Abbas knows he’s loved but also that he cannot depend on his family any more. The process of applying for refuge is a long and complex one and Abbas must eke out his savings and live on his wits.

I received my copy of the book in a box of goodies that was sent to me by the lovely people at Hachette India. I’m unclear why I got this one as I don’t recall asking for it (I may have done – I just don’t remember) but it really was right up my street. I love books set in Iran almost as much as I love those set in India. 'On Two Feet and Wings' is classified as a children’s book but there’s nothing childish about the story or the way in which it is told. It might be classified in that ambiguous category of ‘Young Adult’ if it were released in the UK but this is not a compromise or watered down story. Despite its young audience, Kazerooni doesn’t pull his punches and the experiences he relates will most likely make children and young adults think very seriously about how they might react in similar circumstances. I’m a well-travelled adult and I can honestly say I wouldn’t fancy my chances of getting through the experiences recounted in this book.

I consider myself lucky to have landed a copy of this great tale. It’s not entirely factual but it is entirely believable. The courage shown by young Abbas ought to serve as a great example to young people everywhere as a great example that there can be worse things in your childhood than not being instantly given the latest must-have computer games console.

I doubt that many young people today would be aware of the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranian revolution or the diaspora that was caused by both. In that respect, this is educationally and historically interesting. I also think a lot of children are confused (let’s be honest, a lot of adults are) about issues of immigration, asylum and religious and political persecution and I hope that a book such as this will help them to see that there’s more to immigration than the Daily Mail taunts of ‘coming over here and taking our jobs’. Some may find the absence of a classic ‘storybook ending’ disappointing but it’s clear from early on that there’s very little prospect for a transposed nuclear family. Without giving away the ending but in the interests of reassuring any parents who might worry about a shocking or disturbing outcome, I can assure you that all ends safely and broadly speaking ‘well’ but not particularly predictable.

[Anjum Haz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome recommendation from Barbara. The name of the book really caught me. It just sounds so optimistic, promising. I had to wait a bit to get this book though. Waited for owning my first credit card which will lead me to subscribing to Kindle and Audible. And a few days back, my dream-comes-true moment came. On Two Feet and Wings was my first pick in Audible and what an amazing listen it was.

Abbas, soon-to-be-ten is on his own in a foreign land. Trying to do his best to make his parents proud, to get past a difficult journey to reach a promising destination. In this four and a half hours audiobook, author Abbas portrayed his former journey. I liked that it was described in a straightforward manner.

Little man Abbas amazes us with his optimized economical solutions, quick business plans and his endless stamina to survive. It was pretty inspirational for me. I looked back at my own privileges while listening to the book.

The narration was charming. Usually I don’t find many male narrations that suit my taste. But this memoir charmed me from the beginning, with the British accented Asian voice. It’s a short read/listen. A beautiful, exceptional story featuring the struggle of a boy and a part of the big revolution in Iran. I would recommend this one to you.

[Angelina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 Abbas had to decide who to trust and who not to.
Abbas learns to survive without his family in the big city where he doesn’t speak the language or understand the systems. His father won’t let him talk to his mother on the phone for fear of them upsetting each other and Abbas knows he’s loved but also that he cannot depend on his family anymore.
Despite his young age, most of Abba's ideas throughout his adventure are very smart and relatable for me.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this memoir. I couldn't help but think of myself, who is even older than Abbas, and how I will have no way to survive on my own in a foreign country.

[Chinook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an important story to tell, a child trying to escape a bad situation in his home country and stuck in Turkey by himself trying to get a visa to the UK. Unfortunately it’s not terribly well written - I think it would go better with the target audience, because the sentences are short and simple. It was hard to feel like I was in Abbas’s shoes because it doesn’t examine his emotions except in very basic ways.

[Kristel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A YA audio sync summer program work about the author's immigrant experience when parents sent him out of Iran at the age of 9. He was in Turkey until he could get his Visa. The story is good but I could have used more information. What was happening to his parents while he was gone. What happened after. He dedicates this work to his mother's memory. It's a great story. He was lucky that so many people did things to help him and he is lucky that he was so mature for his age.

[Anne Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book I chose it to read alongside my daughter for her English assignment and quickly passed our required reading deadlines. It’s easy to forget that this account was based on the true story of a nine-year-old boy who was forced to navigate the immigration system in another country alone. The alternative being to stay with his parents and grandmother in Iran where he would surely be enlisted to fight in the war. Abbas’s journey is filled with heart warming stories of the kindness of strangers, and heart wrenching adventures that any parent would dread to think of. A thought provoking short read that exposes the real meaning of humanity in the face of impossible choices.

[Margaret Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would know the fallout with the change from the ruling Shah of Iran to Ayatollah Khomeini? It’s an amazing story of a young boy’s journey from Iran to Istanbul on his own to start a new life. Although only a part of his story, Abbas at 9 years old is street smart and able to navigate getting a British visa. This gripping tale is told from Abbas’s perspective and shows what Iranian families did to persevere in the 1980s.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
The author did a great job capturing the viewpoint of his younger self and provided a magnificent narration as well. So glad that this audiobook was one of the SYNC offerings as I probably would never have heard of it otherwise.

[Lora Desrosier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a touching account of human desperation & courage! This dear, sweet, courageous child, and his parents who blindly sent him off... I was moved to tears, yet so inspired by the honesty & bravery of this beautiful little soul! Thank you for sharing your story, Mr. Kazerooni, and for telling it so beautifully.

[Russell Rider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read it in English, honestly not my favorite book.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece. One of the books that made me think all the time how grateful I am I know how to read and literature exists.

[millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I actually enjoyed reading my summer book

[Richard_C1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Abbas Kazerooni is one that is truly remarkable. It is a story of survival in a country where the chances are stacked against him. A struggle to maintain his sanity while staying in a hotel for ten weeks straight. Alone. Thousands of miles away from his parents. On Two Feet and Wings is an unbelievable memoir that takes the reader on an incredible adventure through the good and the evil of society.

[Peggy Tibbetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abbas Kazerooni is only 9 years old when he is forced to flee his home and family in Iran to avoid being drafted into the military as a child soldier. Alone, he boards a plane for Istanbul, Turkey, where a family friend is supposed to meet him and help him obtain a passport so he can travel to Great Britain to live with his cousin. But the “friend” cruelly abandons him at the airport and he is forced to make his own way in a foreign land. Armed with a list of Iranian-friendly hotels, detailed instructions from his father, and a wad of American dollars, he manages to navigate the maze of language barriers and red tape to gain access to the British Consulate. Any adult under the same circumstances would be intimidated and terrified and Abbas most definitely has his moments of anxiety and fear. Yet somehow he is able to tap into an inner strength and intellect he never knew he possessed. From the hotel owner to shopkeepers to fellow Iranians to the grim agent at the Consulate, everyone he meets is shocked at such a young boy alone without his parents. But at the same time they are impressed with his grit and resourcefulness because Abbas doesn’t merely survive, he thrives with such panache that people are instantly drawn to him and want to help him. “On Two Feet and Wings” is the compelling true story of a young boy’s journey to freedom and manhood.

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could I give this 8 stars and 4 tissues?!!! I had to keep reminding myself that this book is a memoir. First, the writing, the story, the emotions, the people were compellingly communicated. What courage on the part of the writer and I would love to hear more of his life story.

BOOK TALK: You are nine years old (fourth grade). They are drafting nine year olds into the army. Your parents want to save you from military service so they put you on a plane to another country with most of their money, in hopes of keeping you safe. You will have to navigate a strange country where you don't speak the language and you know no one. This is not science fiction. It's not historical fiction. It's the true story of an Iranian boy fleeing Tehran for Istanbul, hoping to make it to England.

[Piyali · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredible story of courage, resilience and sacrifice. Abbas Kazerooni is 9 years old when his parents send him to Istanbul to avoid recruitment in the Iranian army. Iran is ruled by Ayatollah Khomeini and Abbas's father, a Shah supporter, has fallen out of favor. The only chance Abbas has to succeed in life and escape from forced recruitment is a visa to UK. 9 years old and alone, Abbas Kazerooni has to navigate Istanbul and British bureaucracy to seek a brighter and different future.

[Kat Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book written by my friend. It is hard to imagine how Abbas felt going through all of this on his own and, for me as someone who knows him it was incredible to realise how much he had experienced yet he is so grounded and one of the loveliest people you could ever hope to meet. Can't wait for the sequel which he is currently writing.