I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. It was a harder read for me, given the mistreatment of the lions. The main character, Abu, was strong and determined. I cried, laughed and it really was an amazing story of triumph and love. Abu’s dream and the hard work that it took to make it a reality was thought provoking and heartbreaking at the same time. Imagining my life there made me both appreciate what we have in the US but also made me very sad for all the zoos with terrible enclosures that do nothing to stimulate the animals kept behind the bars/walls. Learning more about the Iraqi ways was mind boggling. It was difficult for me to follow along geographically and that was the most difficult. Overall, it’s a lovely story that I recommend to any animal lover.