The Iranian people have experienced great turmoil since the overthrow of the shah in 1979. That year, Ayatollah Khomeini established the Islamic Republic, a country whose government backed strict religious laws. This book gives a historical overview of the past three decades in Iran. "My parents were forced to leave Iran and flee to the United States," writes one of two pen pals whose letters are woven into the text. The other writer, a young boy in Tehran, gives his perspective of life for everyday Iranians today. The tight control of current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the ongoing nuclear crisis, and the violence among ethnic and religious groups are just a few of the topics covered in this informative text, which is accompanied by striking photographs that will engage readers as each detail is presented.