The Boy with Two Lives

by Abbas Kazerooni

When 10-year-old Abbas arrives in England having just fled conscription into the Iranian army and survived almost three months alone in Istanbul waiting for a visa, little does he know that his troubles have only just begun. His cousin packs him off to boarding school, infrequent phone calls are his only contact with his beloved mother, and he eventually finds himself homeless at the age of 13. Abbas's extraordinary resilience in the face of overpowering odds makes this story, based on true events, inspiring and unforgettable.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2016

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

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book the following thoughts were in my head all the time:
No kid anywhere in the world should have to go through such cruel experiences. What a wonderfuly written memoir. Thank you Abbas Kazerooni for sharing your story and giving strength to all of us. An amazing and unforgettable read.

[Ro Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book with no expectations. I had about one minute to choose some books at the library and I grabbed three.
This is a small book and about a boy from Iran who was smuggled out of Iran to avoid conscription into the army at the ripe old age of 9.
It started softly, and even although he was a fish out of water at a private boy’s boarding school in the UK, he wasn’t bullied, he found a friend and was respected by his classmates and his teachers.
When he came to start high school his guardian decided he couldn’t afford a boarding school so gave him a key to a house and basically left him to his own devices.
From there on the story is mesmerising. I was about 3/4 of the way through when I went to a cafe and sat in the sun to read. Without warning something just hit my heart like a hammer and I started sobbing.
I have read a lot of books but this has never happened before......
I have to say I had to sit there until I had finished the book.
I think the writing style of the author telling his story of his time growing up in the UK with no family as support was so matter of fact that somehow it was very very moving.
5 stars for sure!!!!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so touching and unforgettable. I want to hug Abbas myself. He went through so much, and he inspires me to go on even though my situation is not as bad as his ever was. Abbas had his childhood stripped away from him with everything he had to do to maintain his visa in England, then his homeless life during his time at King’s was extremely unbearable. Thank you so much to all the people that helped Abbas out in the time period of this book. You are all such wonderful people and it gives me faith in humanity how generous and kind you all were. Bless you.

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book as it was a real life experience which added to the pure harshness and darkness of this story. It subconsciously portrays a really deep message that i think many people should be able to experience.

[Deborah Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was better than the first one; much more moving and sad. I just can't imagine any child having to go through what Abbas had to. It must have been very difficult writing this second book and reliving the tradities he endured. I highly recommend reading this continuation of his story.

[Ophelia]

… the emotional journey this took me on… no words.

[Dixie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sequel to his first book. He finally arrives in England and is picked up by a cousin of his father and placed in a boarding school at 9 years old. This sponsor and others along the way were abusive to him but he also met others who helped him on his way. After elementary school where he excelled he was placed in a prestigious school. All the other students came from affluent homes. Abbas however lived in a house along with no heat or lights until he came home and found it had been boarded up. He then was homeless and barely surviving living on the streets. It was amazing to read about how he anyway excelled at school and worked two jobs in order to survive. An incredible story. Loved it even though very sad to see his tremendous will to survive at such a young age of 9-14

[Alan D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy with Two Lives by Abbas Kazerooni is a nonfiction memoir that tells the true story of Abbas, a young refugee from Iran who must survive on his own in England after leaving his home country. The book shows his struggles with loneliness, finding a safe place to live, and learning how to grow up quickly without his family. What I liked most was how real and emotional Abbas’s experiences felt. His courage and determination made the story inspiring. The characters and situations felt vivid at times, and I could easily imagine myself in his place. One thing I didn’t like was that some parts were very sad and emotionally heavy, which made the book harder to read at times. Overall, I give this book a thumbs up and recommend it to readers who enjoy true stories about resilience and survival.

The most interesting thing I learned from The Boy with Two Lives by Abbas Kazerooni was how difficult life can be for young refugees who have to take care of themselves in a new country. Abbas had to figure out how to live without his parents, find shelter, and earn money, all while adjusting to a culture that was very different from his own. Reading about his experiences helped me understand the challenges refugees face and how much strength they have to keep going when everything feels uncertain. This gave me a new look at real-world problems and made me appreciate everything that I have that he didn't when he was my age.

[Annette Heslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sequel to "On Two Feet and Wings".

Enrolled in a school for boarders, Abbas enjoys learning (education), rugby, cricket and whatever extra-curricular activities there are. Weekends are at home throughout the school term, but his Guardian Mehdi deliberately forgets and leaves him at the school.

Term Holidays Mehdi makes him work nights at the restaurant leaving him alone to fend for himself. No love or care.

Things reach boiling point and Abbas discovers a cousin and so begins his new life. No worries, cares or burdens to carry on young shoulders anymore.

[leah lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story of what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

I loved the raw honesty portrayed in this book. It’s so sad you wish it weren’t a true story . You respect and cheer for the author with every page and the emotion you feel for the characters who were both good to him and horrible to him will surprise you. Please make sure to read his first book, On Two Feet and Wings, it too is amazing .

[Neon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled right into this book and I could not put it down. I have some experience with some of the abuse Abbas went through and really respect him for being brave enough to tell his story. I've only just discovered that this is the second book and I'm off to find the first. Amazing read, will break your heart before raising it up with the strength Abbas shows throughout.

[Joy Carrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm about to read his first memoir which I didn't realize existed. This book follows the first. It's about a boy whose family has him flee Iran to avoid conscription into the Iranian army at age 9. This book is the second part of his story based on his life in England. The fact that he survived all that happened to him is only because his incrediblly resilient nature.

[Dotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerful and heartbreaking memoir. I want to know what happened next, which isn’t explained, though I know by the bio that the author grew to adulthood. It’s a horrific story despite being very poorly written.

[Philip A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty wretched sequel.

This book suffers from too many tears, flimsy character development and lack of development. A brutal editing might salvage the author’s intentions but stick to his earlier book.

[F_alsaad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of the resilience and strength of a brave young boy. It is also the story of evil and wickedness that some ppl can possess and the story of the beauty and generosity of complete strangers.

[Kasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy With Two Lives by Abbas Kazerooni is a powerful story that follows Abbas and how he escapes the dangers of war in Iran and tries to live on his own in Istanbul. I really liked the way he describes fear, loneliness, and determination,

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book cover to cover and could put it down. The plight of Abbas and the need to know he'd be ok touched me deeply. Wonderfully written.

[Whit Bd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite tear jerker

[SatanButGayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was depressing.

[Pip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I was in tears for 2/3rds of this book! Extraordinary.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and inspirational. An even better read than his first book.

[MIMSY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular

[Jane Pocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, kept me wanting to read more and so i'm so glad there is a sequel.
What a clever boy and so good to hear what has become of him.

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only 1 question: why is this book not available in my local library?

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel which feels sadder than its predecessor. May Kazerooni's bittersweet ending stay skewed to safety.

[Tod · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for an inspirational story, look no further than The Boy with Two Lives. It is probably the most inspirational story I’ve ever read. It’s one that I would gladly read over and over again. And all of this is just further emphasized by the fact that it’s a true story written about Kazerooni’s own childhood.

I don’t even know if I can put into words how much I loved this book. It’s just so good. Abbas’s ability to convey his story in such a compelling way leaves me hooked page after page. I read this way faster than most books because I had to know what happened next. Obviously, since he’s an adult now writing this story, I knew everything somehow ended up okay, but I honestly couldn’t fathom how he managed to get there, so the story had me absolutely hooked.

To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out: https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/202...

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kindness of strangers was the only thing between 10 year old Abbas and his destruction. Finally safe in England, under the custody of an older cousin who abandoned him, Abbas was an elite schoolboy at a wonderful boarding school by day, and by the time he was 13, he was homeless by night.
Infrequent phone calls are his only contact with his beloved mother in Iran. Unable to tell her what is really going on – that during holidays he must work all night to ‘pay back’ his cousin – it is possible that she guesses, and her health deteriorates. Abbas’s survival is amazing.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

Another great book by the author. This story is amazing and I can not believe that he went through so many terrible situations in his young life. The characters are strong and stirred up some intense feelings for me. Though this story was much more sad than his last book, it was just as uplifting, knowing that he was able to make it through such tragedy and still be successful. I read this book in one sitting it was that good. I'd love to read about the next chapter in Abbas' life and I do hope he keeps writing.

[Christine Roush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. What this young boy/man had to endure is beyond words. Abbas' story, although at times is very sad and tragic, it is the most inspirational book I've ever read. There are so many people throughout our world that have suffered and sacrificed so much to escape war and oppression. I'm fairly certain that most don't have the resilience, strength and courage with which Abbas was blessed. An amazing book. A must read. Thank you, Abbas, for writing this memoir. I feel that I'm a better person after having read it.

[Patricia Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting sequel!

This book is the sad, yet uplifting sequel to Abbas' first book. Although it can be read independently from the first book, I would highly recommend reading both! They are both engrossing, terribly sad at times, but full of hope, determination and courage. Abbas showed resolve and creativity to survive under terrible circumstances. You can't help but cry when he cries and cheer with his triumphs!
He is an utterly likeable child/ person. Read both his books, you won't regret it!