Arion Golmakani’s memoir “Solacers” is a recount of his cruel childhood in 1960’s Iran. Despite his harsh tales of suffering on the Iranian streets as an unwanted child, Golmakani manages to deliver a humbling message of forgiveness and hope.

I read his life-story for AP English as a fall-break read, and the usual feeling of dread that follows the beginning of any school-mandated book ensued. However, what I received was the complete opposite; “Solacers” now ranks at the top of my most memorable reads.

Golmakani’s memoir starts with a summary of his father’s divorce from his mother. The divorce caused both sides of his family to regard him, and the name Alireza, with disgust. His mother got custody over Alireza, but then found a new suitor to marry. The new suitor, Mansoor Aqa, stated he could not care for another man’s child while the other man still lived.

With that, Alireza was returned to his biological (yet estranged and abusive) father. Yet instead of living with him, Alireza was forced by his father into a world of unfamiliar foster homes. From there, Alireza was forced to mature quickly; he begged and scavenged for food at the age of six and was put to work within several foster homes before the age of ten.

Although his story sounds depressing, Golmakani found a way to persevere through it. Along his challenging journey, he met many people who treated him with kindness- calling them his “solacers.” His solacers stretched from strangers he met from his times on the street, to distant families relatives who disregarded his lowly status.

His story- combined with his uses of personification and figurative language- make for a very emotional read, exposing both the harsh and comforting environments Golmakani experienced all before he was an adult.

Overall, if given the chance to read it in a class, choose “Solacers”; not only will you be moved by the unbelievable perseverance of Golmakani, but you will gather a more humbled and grateful outlook on everyday life.