Not happily ever after!
In the first book, Abbas battled to get to England. Now that he is here, you would think it is much better,it's a first world country right? Wrong! This is a book about exploitation and the harsh reality that some refugees face as they are so indebted to their "sponsors" they do anything they ask . In this case, while Abbas attends school, he sleeps in a tiny garage, has to work all night preparing lunches, shower and wash at school and eat whatever he can find. He suffers from cold, malnutrition and exhaustion while around him are wealthy private school mates who have no idea about his "other life". With a psychopathic sponsor who barely keeps him alive, Abbas must still do school work and "keep up appearances'. A truly horrifying book and one that every first world kid should read. Highly recommended. ( )

Sequel to "On Two Feet and Wings" by the same author.
Goodreads summary: 24th October 2015. :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. When 10-year-old Abbas arrives in England to start a new life - having just fled conscription into the Iranian army and survived almost three months alone in Istanbul, Turkey, waiting for a visa - little does he know that his troubles have only just begun. . . Abbas's cousin packs him off to boarding school, and infrequent phone calls are his only contact with his beloved mother in Iran. Things get worse when Abbas is threatened with deportation and forced to work through the nights during his school holidays to repay his "debt," and worse still when, at the age of 13, he finds himself homeless. Abbas's extraordinary resilience in the face of overpowering odds makes this story, based on true events and from the internationally bestselling author of On Two Feet and Wings, inspiring and unforgettable.

My input : Although this is a sequel to "On Two Feet and Wings", you don't really need to have read it to read this book ( although you SHOULD read it as it is fantastic). Abbas' ability to keep going in the face of overwhelming odds is incredible. With his horrible guardian abusing then abandoning him to a life of homelessness, he somehow manages to earn money via paper rounds, make friends and, above all, keep going to school!! The fact that this is a true story moved me to tears as I kept thinking about what I was moaning about in my First World life when poor Abbas was starving on the streets in , god forbid another First World Country, England. This book made me so appreciate my own childhood and where I have grown up with people who have protected, loved and cared for me. It shines a spotlight on the hidden poverty in First World countries and as such, is possibly a more moving and horrific story than the first book. We pride ourselves on caring for the poor, but the reality is quite different.

Read this book if you get the chance. Abbas' story is incredible! ( )