I, Who Did Not Die
- 293 pages
- 11 hours of reading
In May 1982, during the bloodiest battle of the Iran-Iraq War, Najah, a wounded Iraqi conscript, confronts a thirteen-year-old Iranian child soldier ordered to kill him. Instead, the boy shows an extraordinary act of mercy, a choice that would later save his own life. This powerful narrative intertwines themes of war, love, and morality, offering a haunting witness to the horrors of conflict and the beauty found within it. It sheds light on the overlooked Iran-Iraq War, a brutal conflict marked by the use of chemical weapons and child soldiers, which claimed 700,000 lives, including 80,000 Iranian children. The staggering costs of the war reached 1.1 trillion dollars, yet little has been documented about the young men and children whose lives were lost due to the whims of dictators. The storytelling, crafted with award-winning journalist Meredith May, stands alongside the works of literary greats such as Remarque and Hemingway. It captures the essence of humanity that transcends politics and borders, reminding us of the shared experiences that unite us all amidst the chaos of war. This remarkable tale is not just a story of survival but a testament to the power of compassion.
