On Two Feet and Wings- Abbas Kazerooni (244 pages)
At the urging of his father, Abbas and his mother have decided to flee Iran during the Iran/ Iraq war. Abbas is about to turn 10, and the Government is already recruiting boys as young as 8.
Part of an elite family under the Shah, the family now lives humbly and must sell everything to send the pair to Istanbul. At the airport, Abbas learns he must travel on his own, and, as a 10 year old boy, attempt to acquire a visa from the British Consulate.
Along the way, Abbas uses pure intellect to make his way in Istanbul. He meets friends on the way, but it’s Abbas himself that saves him.