American Wings Iranian Roots

What would you sacrifice for freedom?

American Roots, Iranian Wings by Kristin Orloff is a powerful blend of historical nonfiction, political tension, and human resilience. Based on the true story of Reza Abedi, an elite Iranian wrestler, the book traces his journey from national hero to political fugitive.

As a boy in 1970s Iran, Reza rises through the ranks of youth wrestling with grit, pride, and the weight of family expectations. When the 1979 Iranian Revolution erupts, he becomes both witness and participant in a movement that promises liberation-but delivers repression.

Serving in the military under Ayatollah's Khomeini regime, Reza continues to wrestle, now under the watchful eyes of a government that silences dissent.

By 1982, Reza stands at a crossroads. Minutes after winning gold at the Military World Wrestling Championships, he must choose between defecting to the U.S.-and freedom-or risking everything to protect his younger brother, imprisoned by the regime.

This is more than a story about wrestling. It's about honor, family loyalty, and the price of freedom. For readers of historical drama, political thrillers, and sports biographies, American Roots, Iranian Wings offers a compelling, deeply human portrait of sacrifice and hope amid revolution.

Witness a journey that defies borders.