5/5 stars

It's official: I'm a Daniel Nayeri stan! This is the third Nayeri book I have read and I loved them all. Each contain elegantly rendered elements of Persian folklore and a wise, humorous, and entirely original voice. Having a longtime interest in occupied France as a setting, I have read quite a few WWII books, both fiction and nonfiction. Some reside among the top reading experiences of my life (All the Light We Cannot See; Madame Fourcade's Secret War; Code Name Verity). The Teacher of Nomad Land has now earned a top spot on that list!

I had never really thought about how intensely countries which are not combatants in wars can still be affected. Iran was neutral in WWII, but was occupied by the British and Russians in order to prevent the Nazis from obtaining the vast oil reserves at play there. Nazi spies and Polish refugees also flowed into the country, including Jewish children (if you have ever seen the picture book How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz, it is a beautiful book that relates the true story of the author's journey from Poland to Kazakhstan as a Jewish child during this period). All these elements contributed to a dangerous mix of competing interests, misunderstandings of language and culture, espionage, and a lot of desperate and hungry people of all backgrounds.

Into this setting step the characters of newly orphaned siblings Babak and Sana. Babak is 13 and Sana is 8. Their relationship is as moving a portrayal of sibling love as I have ever read, plus it's funny! As orphans, their overarching goal is to stay together, which ultimately leads them to run away from their city and attempt to join a band of migrating nomads crossing the country. Of course they face many challenges and dangers. The chief challenge (other than hunger and thirst) arrives in the form of a socially awkward, hostile, desperate and utterly annoying Jewish boy named , and the chief danger a volatile, mentally unbalanced Nazi spy.

The action in this tale moves along at a fairly brisk pace, but the real beauty of the book lies in the contemplative moments in which Babak struggles with how to earn his keep as a teacher, following in the footsteps of their late father. To this end, he carries strapped to his back his father's blackboard. It is cumbersome and ridiculous, but the blackboard emerges as the symbolic heart of the book. The children have only the legacy of love left by their father's care and teaching with which to barter and survive as "useless" kids.

There are so many themes braided throughout this book-honor, friendship, family, language, courage, sacrifice, love of country, the absurdity of war, and many more. While this may sound somber, the story is still alive with humor and wit, especially in the character of Sana, who is the leader of the children despite her youth and gender. Nayeri weaves the theme of language and languages as a cultural connection into the story in such a clever way. The Teacher of Nomad Land is moving, profound and a sheer delight to read. I read through it in one night.

Thank you Levine Querido for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book tells the story of Babak and Sana, siblings traveling in Iran during WW II. Babak can read and write and carries a portable blackboard. They forge a bond to stay together no matter what. I like that several of the characters aren’t able to understand each other; yet do their best to try to get their point across. I like that the author includes the Persian alphabet and a famous Persian saying.

THE TEACHER OF NOMAD LAND is a quick read, and an informative view of World War II in a part of the world that isn't usually the focus in books set in that era. It follows a brother and a sister who have been recently orphaned. When they become separated, younger sister Sana implores that her brother Babak keep his promise to never leave her behind. We follow Babak as he seeks his sister out, and then fights to keep them both alive in the dangerous wilderness outside 1940s Isfahan, Iran.

The book is short, but crammed with beautiful turns of phrase and observations by the characters; little nuggets of truth that resonated with me despite my wildly different social context. The descriptions of Iran in this era were very much a window into an underrepresented facet of World War II - outside the Pacific and European theaters, how did the rest of the world fare? What happened to civilians? How did they get their news? Where did loyalties lie, and what roles did colonial tensions play in the establishment of those loyalties? These questions and others were answered for me in a way that made me wonder why I'd never asked them before.

I do think this might not be as compelling for kids who aren't already interested in WWII - it starts off a little slower than I anticipated, and the writing style is that beautiful slightly-elevated literary tone that might not keep younger readers captivated. So, despite its short length I think it would resonate more with the upper-middle-grade age and even teen readers. I would also recommend this book to young readers interested in language-learning, translation, and how those work in the "real world" rather than a classroom. It's been a good while since I read Bruchac's "Code Talker" but I think they scratch a similar itch - underrepresented stories of WWII with a young protagonist in which language (particularly, a lower-prestige indigenous language) plays a key role in conflict resolution. Overall, this is an emotional and compelling story which showed me a new angle on World War II.

EDIT 6/26/25: Given that it's been nearly three weeks since I read and reviewed this book and I'm still thinking of it often, I'm raising this to 4. I still think it may be a bit of a hard sell in my community and I did find it somewhat slow plot-wise, but I'm finding myself returning to it frequently, and I don't typically do that with books I give only 3 stars!

"All of history is one giant misunderstanding after another in a cacophony of voices, with the primary language, violence" (p. 179). Nayeri says this at the end of Babak and Sana's brief tale set in Iran in World War II. This is a tale of siblings, the value of education, languages, and a little-known aspect of WWII (at least one my students are unlikely to read in their middle school history textbooks.) Iran was carved up during the war by Great Britain and the Soviet Union to protect the flow of oil from the Nazis. Ordinary Iranian people with their own customs were caught in the middle, including the nomadic people Babak and Sana want to join after the death of their teacher father. Add in a bumbling Nazi spy and once again you have a story that is unmistakably Daniel Nayeri. Can't wait to add it to our classroom library with his others.

this uses the World War 2 element perfectly and had that element that I was looking for from the description. It uses the historical period perfectly and was hooked from the first page. The characters were everything that I was wanting and glad it had that element that I was looking for. Daniel Nayeri wrote this well and had that feel that I wanted.

a solid 4 stars

I'm not going to lie, this book was too short for the emotional impact that we had. It's also extremely simple but extremely sad. I wish I had more time to see Sana and Babek and even Ben in this novel. It's set in Iran in 1941 (a horrible time period but lets be honest, is there a good time period? no) and it follows Babek and his sister, Sana, after their father dies. The brother sister dynamic was so cute (and Babek and his goofy chalkboard).

I was tearing up at midnight while reading this book because why was it so *waves hand* simple? There was nothing awedropping or insane about the prose but it hurt. I felt for the characters and was cheering for them. Nayeri is an amazing storyteller, go read this !!

thx to the publisher + netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review


pre~review

well i got the arc of this so another one on the list !

What a timely moment to be reading this book. Iran and Israel are currently at war with each other (who knows if the US will get drawn into a conflict) and low and behold, there is so much history between these two countries. Yes, the whole region but to be honest, I did not know much about Iran during WWII. It's not exactly something we talk about in the history books. My eyes were opened to the nuanced relationship of Iran and the Allied forces.....

Daniel Nayeri, in a shorter story, truly evoked emotion and appreciation for education/storytelling in this book. Oh my goodness, I could NOT put it down. While I resonated with the message that when all are educated, and find commonality and ways to community, good things happen.....I didn't expect to fall in love with siblings Babak and Sana as much as I did. I journeyed with them as they were nomads, longing for them to find a place to be home.

This book also is a reminder that those who feel they have nothing to offer are often some of the MOST who do. Readers who are interested in language learning and translation will love learning languages right alongside all the characters (for each person we meet learns something). The little nuggets of wisdom tucked in throughout the text give the reader something to dwell on. I appreciate an unassuming book that makes you think.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. (I'd love to see this pop up on Newbery lists as we get closer!)

Daniel Nayeri has done it again! This book gives a vivid and moving look at the impact of World War II on the people of Iran. At times this story is heartbreaking, but overall it’s redeeming, eye-opening and beautiful. A great reminder of the impact that we can each make on the lives of others, even if we don’t share the same language or culture.

Highly recommend to middle-grade readers, teens and families.

Babak and his little sister Sana are orphans. It’s 1941, the middle of World War II and Babak and his little sister are orphans in Iran. The country is a neutral zone, but occupied by British forces on one side and Soviet forces on another side. Babak and his sister flee the city to follow the nomads because their father was a teacher of the nomadic tribe in their area and they were hoping to find a home with them. But along the way that stubble upon unexpected adventure when they meet a Jewish boy hiding from a Nazi spy.

This book is an 192 paged middle grade novel, The chapters are short enough to make a good read aloud. The plot is paced well to keep the interest of the reading to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. And the author, Nayeri, layers his plot with a bigger overall message to his readers of the impact of kindness and a good character in the midst of hard times.

I enjoy the brother sister dynamic between Babak and Sana. I appreciated that the story was placed in an often untold setting of Iran during World War II. Each of the characters that Nayeri introduced in his story I enjoyed and feel like they were appropriately placed.

Great fiction, I believe, expands our view of the world, and that’s just what this mighty little middle-grade novel achieved from it’s opening page.

Set in Iran in 1941, this was a place-in-time I knew little about. The narrative quickly drew me in and winningly replaced my assumptions and, let’s be honest, ignorance with fresh perspectives and understanding.

Daniel Nayeri is a gift story-teller and natural born teacher—as is his main protagonist, 13-year-old Babek. He and his little sister Sana quickly found their way into my heart, and are characters I won’t soon forget.

Together, they navigate a world of uncertainty and peril, coaxing their way to survival through the power of their sibling bond and their father’s blackboard.

This story has all the hallmarks of Nayeri’s exceptional style: endearing characters, riveting storylines, pulsing insight, and beautiful, quotable sentences. While I am eager to share this with my WW2-absorbed nephews, I think the Teacher of Nomad Land will absolutely be an absorbing and rewarding book for adult readers as well.

There's always something fascinating about books set during war. Reading about the courage and bravery of the people who were thrown into the tumult of wartime is always something that serves to teach and to inspire.

Despite the abundance of books set during World War 2, The Teacher of Nomad Land gave a fresh look at things. It is set in Iran, a neutral country during the war. Before reading this book I really knew nothing about what Iran was like at the time, so I feel like I learned a lot about what the war looked like from a totally different part of the world. While places like Iran certainly weren't at the forefront of the war, they still experienced the changes that come with war and worldwide conflict. This book is about two siblings, Babak and Sana, who were recently orphaned. Their father was a teacher before he was killed, so one of the main themes of the book is communication and the challenges of language barriers. This theme is carried throughout the book, and the ending ties everything together. It's pure perfection.

I actually enjoyed this book so much. The writing style was a little bit different than what I'm used to, but I quickly became accustomed to it and thought it worked really well. My only real complaint is that it started out a bit slowly. Thankfully, around the halfway point the pace really picked up and I couldn't stop reading. The book is short enough that this didn't cause much of a problem.

I would highly recommend this to anyone, adult or child, who is a fan of historical fiction or enjoys seeing different perspectives on familiar events.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Teacher of Nomad Land was a stunning exploration of history and people.

Daniel Nayeri is an impressive storyteller who has brought a little know story about the fate of Iran in WWII.

"The Teacher of Nomad Land" is a fascinating middle grade historical fiction set in Iran during its occupation by British and Soviet forces during WWII. The main characters are siblings Babak and Sana who have recently lost their father and now must face a future where as orphans they are separated. In an effort to remain together they run away to join the nomads, a group of traveling herders for whom their father was a teacher. Once they catch up to the nomads they learn that they do not have anything to offer them to earn their keep. Babak's efforts to be a teacher like his father are not quite enough to impress the nomadic leader. After being sent away their journey becomes even more perilous when they meet a violent Nazi spy looking for a young Jewish refugee. After escaping the angry "Vulf" they encounter the object of his pursuit, Ben and together the 3 become allies, working together to stay alive and determine their future. Daniel Nayeri tells a gripping and skillfully researched story that deftly shows the complexities of nations at war through the voices of children. I learned a lot about the "third world" countries impacted by the war between the Allies and Axis powers. My favorite part of "The Teacher of Nomad" is its theme of language. In one scene after another, including one dramatic one at a roadside checkpoint, the ability to communicate across languages is shown to be a means to peace.

The Teacher of Nomad Land is not to be missed, even if you aren't a teacher, parent, or grandparent. It is beautifully written, with cultural differences and experiences so perfectly woven into the fabric of the story that you learn effortlessly, as if by osmosis. Through the innocence of these children's voices, we experience the life-shattering consequences of global conflict. The book is set during World War II, but it's easy to draw connections to current political situations in Syria and Ukraine.

I read this book twice...first as a retired middle school teacher and the grandmother of a 10-year-old grandson. I made six pages of notes and quotes, as if I'm walking back into a classroom tomorrow! Old habits die hard and I would teach this novel in a heartbeat because it lends itself easily to a discussion of refugees, world religions, and history. I reread it for the sheer beauty of the author's writing. Although terrible things happen to Babak and Sana, the tension is both heightened and broken by the fact that they are just children and still do childish things. For example, while they are being chased by a violent Nazi, Sana tells Babak of a game she made up at school, Horse Friend Donkey Friend. The rules are absurd, and her description is so long-winded that her older brother can't figure out the goal. She answers, "You just hold hands with your friends and run around and scream a lot. It's great!" If you have much experience with 8-year-old girls, you will relate.

In a short time, we watch 13-year-old Babak take on the role of an adult, protecting his sister while growing into the role of a teacher, emulating his father. Where children will cheer his acts of bravery, I wept at his loss of innocence. As Babak prepares to attack the Nazi so his sister will have time to run, "He says goodbye in his heart. He knows it will hurt. He does it anyway." That is soul-shattering. I will be buying copies of this book when it is published on August 26, 2025, because The Teacher of Nomad Land is a treasure. I loved it, and so will my grandson.