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List Price: $17.95 | | Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises
Salesrank: 1750365
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| Used Price: $26.00 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
This is a true story about survival and what a postitive attitude and hard work can accomplish. Author Abbas Kazerooni was born in Iran and was forced to flee as a 7-year-old boy. Leaving his family behind, he grew to be 'The Little Man.'
The Little Man Reviews:
I can't wait to read the rest of the book 
2008-01-13 - I met the author in a coffee shop today. In the course of a wide-ranging conversation, he mentioned his book. After reading a chapter on his website, I knew I would have to order the book to satisfy my curiosity. When I think that he is the same age as my oldest daughter, I can't believe all that he has accomplished already. I also can't imagine the pain his family endured having to be separated from him at such a young age.
Could YOU do this?
2006-01-17 - Imagine being dropped off in a foreign country, where you don't speak the language, the locals don't particularly like your people, the city is very dangerous, you're on a very limited budget, and you have to appeal to consular authorities for permission to leave for a better life.
Now imagine this scenario, you're seven years old, you're all alone, and your parents can only provide limited support from far away! In order to avoid the draft for the Iran Iraq War at the tender age of eight, Abbas is sent to Istanbul to try to gain a British visa so that he can live with a relative in England.
The Little Man is much more than a rite of passage story. At least in ritual rites of passage, the child coming of age would have support of family and community. The little boy Abbas really has neither. He does make friends along the way, but not so much out of pity but from the strength of his character and conviction. It is still not enough to spare him from danger, so the reader spends much of the story guessing how he will survive. Only the picture of the adult author on the back convinces you that in such a scenario the boy has any chance of success.
But knowing how the story ends does not ruin it. You'll still want to finish the book to answer the following:
How does he survive?
How does he accomplish everything put forth to him to do?
Who becomes his friends and allies along the journey?
How does good upbringing make a difference in his luck?
How does a child go through all this and not become cynical as an adult?
Is there any of the virtues of childhood preserved as The Little Man is forced to grow up prematurely?
The only way to find out is to read the book. If you choose to go down that path, give yourself plenty of time, and plenty of tissues.
