Good Night, Commander

The Commander has lost his mother and one of his legs in the Iran-Iraq war. Now he spends most of his time alone in his room where he recreates the conflict with an imaginary enemy and soldiers, trying to avenge his losses. His father urges him to take off his artificial leg when he is at home, to join his uncles and aunties who have arrived for dinner. But when he does, he finds out that they are all about to go off to meet his "new mother." Back in his room the imaginary war continues, and he confronts an enemy soldier who is also missing a limb. A battle seems inevitable until The Commander offers the enemy his artificial leg.

About the author

One of Iran's foremost writers, Ahmad Akbarpour lives in Shiraz, Iran.

Summary

This extraordinary little book gives us a glimpse into the world of a young boy who has lost his mother and one of his legs in the Iran-Iraq war. We meet the boy in his room, where he recreates the conflict with an imaginary enemy and soldiers, trying to avenge his losses. The boy's father urges him to take off his artificial leg when he is at home, to join his uncles and aunties who have arrived for dinner. But when he does, he finds out that they are all about to go off to meet his new mother.
Back in his room he meets an enemy soldier who is also missing a limb. Identifying with this soldier, the boy offers him his artificial leg. And as he does, his mother smiles down on him from her picture on the wall, acknowledging his hurt and giving him comfort.

Product details

• Authors: Ahmad Akbarpour
• Assisted by: Morteza Zahedi (Illustration), Shadi Eskandani (Translation), Helen Mixter (Translation)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 7
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 17.06.2010
• EAN: 9780888999894
• ISBN: 978-0-88899-989-4
• No. of pages: 24
• Dimensions: 209 mm x 209 mm x 12 mm
• Weight: 297 g
• Illustrations: Color illustrations throughout
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books; Naher und Mittlerer Osten, Children's Books / Ages 4-8 Fiction, JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play, JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Middle East, Middle East, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Places / General, JUVENILE FICTION / Places / Middle East