Authored by war veteran Ahmad Yousefzadeh, the book recounts the haunting tale of 23 teenage Iranian combatants, aged between 15 and 17, captured by Saddam Hussein’s forces during the Beit-ol-Moqaddas operation.

The young prisoners, mostly from Kerman, were paraded by the Ba’ath regime to wage psychological war against Iran.

Yousefzadeh, one of the captives, brings chilling clarity to their experiences, drawing the reader into Iraqi prison cells with his vivid, emotionally detailed prose.

Through frequent flashbacks, he reflects on village life and familial love, painting a broader picture of how war impacts even the most remote corners of a country.

The memoir is elegantly structured in four chapters, each corresponding to a season of the Iranian year 1361 (1982).

The organization, paired with Yousefzadeh’s flowing yet powerful writing, provides an accessible and immersive experience for readers.

The book has earned its place among the top ten most significant events chronicled from the war, according to defense literature expert Morteza Sarhangi, MNA wrote.

The narrative also served as the foundation for a documentary and cinematic adaptation.

Beyond the military narrative, 'Those 23 People' underscores the emotional dimensions of war.