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The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story
Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri
1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side, Soviet forces on another. Soldiers fill the teahouses of Isfahan. Nazi spies roam the alleyways.
Babak and his little sister have just lost their father. Now orphans, fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan. Babak will take up his father's old job as a teacher to the nomads. With a chalkboard strapped to Babak's back, and a satchel full of textbooks, the siblings set off to find the nomad tribes as they make their yearly trek across the mountains.
On the treacherous journey they meet a Jewish boy, hiding from a Nazi spy. And suddenly, they are all in a race for survival.
Against the backdrop of World War II comes an epic adventure in the faraway places. Through the cacophony of soldiers, tanks, and planes, can young hearts of different creeds and nations learn to find a common language?
Master storyteller Daniel Nayeri keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncertain to the very end.
1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side, Soviet forces on another. Soldiers fill the teahouses of Isfahan. Nazi spies roam the alleyways.
Babak and his little sister have just lost their father. Now orphans, fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan. Babak will take up his father's old job as a teacher to the nomads. With a chalkboard strapped to Babak's back, and a satchel full of textbooks, the siblings set off to find the nomad tribes as they make their yearly trek across the mountains.
On the treacherous journey they meet a Jewish boy, hiding from a Nazi spy. And suddenly, they are all in a race for survival.
Against the backdrop of World War II comes an epic adventure in the faraway places. Through the cacophony of soldiers, tanks, and planes, can young hearts of different creeds and nations learn to find a common language?
Master storyteller Daniel Nayeri keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncertain to the very end.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2025
215 people are currently reading
4227 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Nayeri
31 books987 followersDaniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced The Cult of Sincerity, the first feature film to be world-premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children's librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He's also a professional pastry chef. He loves Street Fighter 2, hates the word "foodie," and is an award-winning stuntman.
Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.
Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 606 reviews
October 17, 2025
Daniel Nayeri keeps getting away with murder. Where other authors follow the beaten path and churn out respectable, comprehensible, perfectly decent works of historical fiction, Nayeri has this tendency to sort of pad in before blowing up assumptions left, right, and center. One Such Assumption: Historical Fiction is boring. If the first few pages of Nayeri’s Newbery Honor winning title The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams didn’t upend that idea entirely (running for your life from monks that want to stone you to death is always a good start) then I’m not sure what else could. Or how about the (unspoken) assumptions that historical fiction for kids is long, usually set in America (though you can get away with Europe if it involves a war), and should be deadly serious. The Teacher of Nomad Land should, by all rights, AT LEAST be joke-free, right? I mean, it’s friggin’ set in Iran during WWII. That sounds serious! And it has orphans and nasty German spies and Holocaust survivors. Yet I’ve noticed something about Daniel Nayeri. With every middle grade novel for kids that he writes he gets a little bit sharper. A little bit sleeker. A little bit funnier. A little bit faster. And this latest title? It’s a little bit one of the best books of the year and then some. It’s a little bit legendary.
It’s World War II in Iran (1941) and Babak and his kid sister Sana have been orphaned. Their father, who teaches the nomads how to read and write, was accidentally killed when he was mistaken for an enemy by British soldiers. When staying with relatives becomes intolerable, Babak and Sana set forth to join the nomads themselves. Their plan is simple. Babak will pick up where his father left off as a teacher, and Sana will do whatever odd jobs need doing. Unfortunately, this plan falls apart pretty quickly and the next thing the kids know they’re on their own, trying to trace their steps back the way they came over the mountains. Little do they know they’ll soon be escaping a Nazi soldier, take on the Jewish boy he’s tracking, befriend a British soldier, and solve a language puzzle all with the aid of the blackboard Babak keeps strapped to his back.
I wouldn’t say that I’m against war novels, but I don’t seek them out on a regular basis. So while I know that the subtitle of this book (“A World War II Story”) will probably lure in some readers, for kids like me they may need a bit of coaxing. Maybe you should tell them that it’s deeply enjoyable, because that was certainly my greatest shock upon getting a page or two into it. The two main characters have just been orphaned and they’re distraught but by page four Babak and his sister are debating the best way to write the word “Baba” on his gravestone and whether or not a stick or a dull knife is going to get the job done. It’s incredible how quickly Nayeri is able to not only catch up the reader in terms of time, place, and actions that have just occurred (the death of Baba), but he has the ability to establish both these characters' personalities and their relationship to one another in record time. That’s impressive, but what’s extraordinary is that you also really like them. Some writers struggle and strain to make their characters likeable and then here’s Nayeri just making it happen almost instantaneously. Authors Beware: Reading this book may cause extreme bouts of envy.
I’m sure that the fact that the entire book is written in the present tense means something. I don’t know what, precisely, but the act is so rare in the world of children’s literature that it stands out. It would be as if this book were written in the second person. Clearly Nayeri did it on purpose, but why? If I were to loft a theory in your general direction, I’d wager that it had something to do with telling a tale from the past. WWII is ancient history of kids yet in the characters of Babak and Sana young readers find characters that (as I mentioned before) you relate to instantly. It all comes down to Nayeri’s writing, which is punctuated throughout not just with humor but with these little bright spots of writing. I listened to the audiobook which is a marvelous way to be introduced to this title (Nayeri reads it himself, and that’s a particular treat) but it didn’t allow me to highlight the lines I liked best. I’d just be listening and then all at once the text would be punctuated by these little spots of brilliance or insightfulness or cleverness. It’s incredibly good, and the plot? The plot is everything you would want. Danger, friendship, frustration, and a chase sequence at the end that you won’t be able to stop thinking about.
The best writers for kids respect kids. Or, rather, respect kids’ capacity for complexity. If you view childhood through the gauzy glass of nostalgia, conveniently forgetting all its sharp edges and contrasts, then your writing will reflect that. If, on the other hand, you’ve a fair view of it and a willingness to give kids something to chew on, your book will be all the better for it. Take the soldiers in this book. There is a moment in the book when Babak is reunited with a British soldier who has been kind to him. Until now Nayeri has done an exquisite job of explaining why the citizens of Iran aren’t particularly fond of the British. Yet the man has been a kind face in a harsh war. Even so, there comes a moment when soldiers, including this one, from a variety of nations engage in a demand of bribes that isn’t just expected, it’s perfunctory. This isn’t something that is seriously challenged, not even from the seemingly kind British man. Being nice to kids is one thing, but getting a cut of profits is another entirely.
Even more complicated and difficult is the character of Ben, the Jewish boy on the run. He’s lived through horrors, lost his family, escaped and starved and survived, and through it all Nayeri adamantly refuses to make him two-dimensional. Considering what he’s lived through, it almost feels dangerous for the author to give the guy a distinct personality, but that’s precisely what’s happened here. Ben, you absolutely know, isn’t looking for pity. Not from the other characters and not from the reader. He has goals and dreams and he’s determined to follow through on them. As a result, he's spiky and difficult at times, and watching the dynamic between him and the siblings is utterly unique. When they first find him, you think you know where the relationship might go, but it’s isn’t like that at all. Ben is completely real, and you get the sense that he wouldn’t want to be predictable. It’s something you have to respect.
For the record, I didn’t know where any of this was going either. I have a tendency to avoid plot descriptions when I pick up books, just on the off-chance that there’s some big reveal spoiled there (it happens more often than you’d think). I like walking into a book cold, trying to predict where the author is going with the story. I’ve read enough novels for kids that often I’m right. However, with The Teacher of Nomad Land I felt completely out to sea. For example, there’s a big significant moment that happens at Chapter 11 that had me completely baffled. Wait.. the story’s going in THAT direction now? But… but… what???
Oh. Quick warning, by the way. I'm invoking the “Grace Lin Rule”. Which is to say, read this book on a full stomach. Years ago I sat on the tarmac of an airport as my flight decided it would rather just sit without moving for hours on end, as my stomach rumbled. Having decided that it would be a good idea to read a Grace Lin book to pass the time, I found myself drooling over long passages involving descriptions of food that made my hunger far worse than it would have been otherwise. Nayeri does something similar in this book. Babak and Sana don’t have a lot of food with them, but when they prepare meals you might feel inclined towards voraciousness. One particular meal involves flatbread, cooked shallots and zalzalaks (similar to crabapples), ghee butter, cheese, and honeycomb. Doggone it. I’m hungry just writing that.
I dunno. It’s just sort of the best. The kind of book you read and then instantly recognize as incredible and a future classic (though we’re not supposed to invoke the “C” word so soon). But anyone that reads this title will recognize that fact. Apparently, if you just reduce Nayeri’s words down to their most essential parts, you get a book that kids will genuinely enjoy reading and that their adult gatekeepers will acknowledge as “great literature” and all that. Humor and heart. Kid-friendliness and scintillating writing. Characters you care about, a plot you can’t predict, and a setting I am almost certain has never appeared in an American middle grade novel before. This review is probably just as long as the book is, and not half as interesting, so I’ll end it there. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself a copy and start reading it yourself. See what all the fuss is about.
It’s World War II in Iran (1941) and Babak and his kid sister Sana have been orphaned. Their father, who teaches the nomads how to read and write, was accidentally killed when he was mistaken for an enemy by British soldiers. When staying with relatives becomes intolerable, Babak and Sana set forth to join the nomads themselves. Their plan is simple. Babak will pick up where his father left off as a teacher, and Sana will do whatever odd jobs need doing. Unfortunately, this plan falls apart pretty quickly and the next thing the kids know they’re on their own, trying to trace their steps back the way they came over the mountains. Little do they know they’ll soon be escaping a Nazi soldier, take on the Jewish boy he’s tracking, befriend a British soldier, and solve a language puzzle all with the aid of the blackboard Babak keeps strapped to his back.
I wouldn’t say that I’m against war novels, but I don’t seek them out on a regular basis. So while I know that the subtitle of this book (“A World War II Story”) will probably lure in some readers, for kids like me they may need a bit of coaxing. Maybe you should tell them that it’s deeply enjoyable, because that was certainly my greatest shock upon getting a page or two into it. The two main characters have just been orphaned and they’re distraught but by page four Babak and his sister are debating the best way to write the word “Baba” on his gravestone and whether or not a stick or a dull knife is going to get the job done. It’s incredible how quickly Nayeri is able to not only catch up the reader in terms of time, place, and actions that have just occurred (the death of Baba), but he has the ability to establish both these characters' personalities and their relationship to one another in record time. That’s impressive, but what’s extraordinary is that you also really like them. Some writers struggle and strain to make their characters likeable and then here’s Nayeri just making it happen almost instantaneously. Authors Beware: Reading this book may cause extreme bouts of envy.
I’m sure that the fact that the entire book is written in the present tense means something. I don’t know what, precisely, but the act is so rare in the world of children’s literature that it stands out. It would be as if this book were written in the second person. Clearly Nayeri did it on purpose, but why? If I were to loft a theory in your general direction, I’d wager that it had something to do with telling a tale from the past. WWII is ancient history of kids yet in the characters of Babak and Sana young readers find characters that (as I mentioned before) you relate to instantly. It all comes down to Nayeri’s writing, which is punctuated throughout not just with humor but with these little bright spots of writing. I listened to the audiobook which is a marvelous way to be introduced to this title (Nayeri reads it himself, and that’s a particular treat) but it didn’t allow me to highlight the lines I liked best. I’d just be listening and then all at once the text would be punctuated by these little spots of brilliance or insightfulness or cleverness. It’s incredibly good, and the plot? The plot is everything you would want. Danger, friendship, frustration, and a chase sequence at the end that you won’t be able to stop thinking about.
The best writers for kids respect kids. Or, rather, respect kids’ capacity for complexity. If you view childhood through the gauzy glass of nostalgia, conveniently forgetting all its sharp edges and contrasts, then your writing will reflect that. If, on the other hand, you’ve a fair view of it and a willingness to give kids something to chew on, your book will be all the better for it. Take the soldiers in this book. There is a moment in the book when Babak is reunited with a British soldier who has been kind to him. Until now Nayeri has done an exquisite job of explaining why the citizens of Iran aren’t particularly fond of the British. Yet the man has been a kind face in a harsh war. Even so, there comes a moment when soldiers, including this one, from a variety of nations engage in a demand of bribes that isn’t just expected, it’s perfunctory. This isn’t something that is seriously challenged, not even from the seemingly kind British man. Being nice to kids is one thing, but getting a cut of profits is another entirely.
Even more complicated and difficult is the character of Ben, the Jewish boy on the run. He’s lived through horrors, lost his family, escaped and starved and survived, and through it all Nayeri adamantly refuses to make him two-dimensional. Considering what he’s lived through, it almost feels dangerous for the author to give the guy a distinct personality, but that’s precisely what’s happened here. Ben, you absolutely know, isn’t looking for pity. Not from the other characters and not from the reader. He has goals and dreams and he’s determined to follow through on them. As a result, he's spiky and difficult at times, and watching the dynamic between him and the siblings is utterly unique. When they first find him, you think you know where the relationship might go, but it’s isn’t like that at all. Ben is completely real, and you get the sense that he wouldn’t want to be predictable. It’s something you have to respect.
For the record, I didn’t know where any of this was going either. I have a tendency to avoid plot descriptions when I pick up books, just on the off-chance that there’s some big reveal spoiled there (it happens more often than you’d think). I like walking into a book cold, trying to predict where the author is going with the story. I’ve read enough novels for kids that often I’m right. However, with The Teacher of Nomad Land I felt completely out to sea. For example, there’s a big significant moment that happens at Chapter 11 that had me completely baffled. Wait.. the story’s going in THAT direction now? But… but… what???
Oh. Quick warning, by the way. I'm invoking the “Grace Lin Rule”. Which is to say, read this book on a full stomach. Years ago I sat on the tarmac of an airport as my flight decided it would rather just sit without moving for hours on end, as my stomach rumbled. Having decided that it would be a good idea to read a Grace Lin book to pass the time, I found myself drooling over long passages involving descriptions of food that made my hunger far worse than it would have been otherwise. Nayeri does something similar in this book. Babak and Sana don’t have a lot of food with them, but when they prepare meals you might feel inclined towards voraciousness. One particular meal involves flatbread, cooked shallots and zalzalaks (similar to crabapples), ghee butter, cheese, and honeycomb. Doggone it. I’m hungry just writing that.
I dunno. It’s just sort of the best. The kind of book you read and then instantly recognize as incredible and a future classic (though we’re not supposed to invoke the “C” word so soon). But anyone that reads this title will recognize that fact. Apparently, if you just reduce Nayeri’s words down to their most essential parts, you get a book that kids will genuinely enjoy reading and that their adult gatekeepers will acknowledge as “great literature” and all that. Humor and heart. Kid-friendliness and scintillating writing. Characters you care about, a plot you can’t predict, and a setting I am almost certain has never appeared in an American middle grade novel before. This review is probably just as long as the book is, and not half as interesting, so I’ll end it there. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find yourself a copy and start reading it yourself. See what all the fuss is about.
March 25, 2026
A Fabulous audio! The book is written and narrated by Daniel Nayeri. In a WWII setting in 1941 Iran, focusing on 13-year-old Babak and his 8-year-old sister, Sana. After their father is killed in World War II crossfire, the orphaned pair escapes to the Zagros Mountains, where Babak masquerades as a teacher to nomads. It is through the eyes of a child which is heart wrenching and hard to understand their pain and hunger. A interesting fact of history, that Iran was involved in this war also. Great for middle school students.
June 20, 2025
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 !
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 !
December 20, 2025
I have never read a book set during WWII in the Middle East. This one set in Iran was fantastic. We follow Babak and Sana, siblings who lose their father right at the start of the story. They live separate with family for a while before running off to live with the Nomads their father used to teach. Things don't work out and this becomes a survival story for these two kids. They come across a Nazi soldier, a British soldier, and a Jewish boy on the run. All the while their brother sister relationship is stand out. I love the introspective thoughts of Babak about teaching and the role of a teacher. Loved Sana's spunk and creativity. I loved how these two worked together and overcame some difficult obstacles. This book could have been 100 pages longer and I would still love it. Fantastic read.
September 21, 2025
"This is the teacher's job--to make the world understandable in parts." After Babak's father and mother die, he takes the literal burden of his father's blackboard and the metaphorical burden of becoming a teacher in order to care for his sister Sana. As they journey through the Persian desert, Babak proves the (slightly altered) maxim that when the only tool you've got is a blackboard, every problem must be solved through education. But Babak doesn't just teach, he also exchanges knowledge as he meets characters from various cultures who inhabit Iran during the war for various reasons. None of these lessons will be wasted by the end of the story. Nayeri's efficiency always amazes me.
Nayeri equips his hero with a noble and earnest superpower as a teacher, but also instills him with an honest humility about what it means to call oneself a teacher. For example, Babak realizes that teaching is more complex than he originally believed: "Teaching isn't anything like delivering groceries. There isn't a tidy box of knowledge to hand over. And you don't know where to take it or if the person wants it or has any use for it at the moment or will ever thank you when they do." Nonetheless, Babak persists (mainly because he has no other choice). His father taught him to value communication, and Babak trusts his instincts to help him teach everyone he meets.
I admire Nayeri's ability to tell a great story AND capture profound wisdom in simple statements through his characters. I basically avoid all WWII related books, but I made an exception for Daniel Nayeri. And I have no regrets.
Nayeri equips his hero with a noble and earnest superpower as a teacher, but also instills him with an honest humility about what it means to call oneself a teacher. For example, Babak realizes that teaching is more complex than he originally believed: "Teaching isn't anything like delivering groceries. There isn't a tidy box of knowledge to hand over. And you don't know where to take it or if the person wants it or has any use for it at the moment or will ever thank you when they do." Nonetheless, Babak persists (mainly because he has no other choice). His father taught him to value communication, and Babak trusts his instincts to help him teach everyone he meets.
I admire Nayeri's ability to tell a great story AND capture profound wisdom in simple statements through his characters. I basically avoid all WWII related books, but I made an exception for Daniel Nayeri. And I have no regrets.
October 17, 2025
I enjoyed this short book and read it in two days. Adventure, cultures, humor, and clever plot twists. So excited to meet the author next week at Biola University!
January 25, 2026
The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri has been my favorite read of this summer. Set in Iran, Nayeri manages to share a phenomenal and heartfelt adventure of two orphaned siblings determined to stay together. Iran's history during World War Two was one I was not at all familiar with which made the narrative all the more engaging. Nayeri's storytelling, humor, themes, and use of language throughout the tale as a means for both building understanding and miscommunication makes this tale as distinguished as I have read this year.
My students also love reading about this time in history, so I can't wait to share this one soon!
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri comes out of September 16th, 2025. Thank you to Levine Querido and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story in advanced of its publication in exchange for this honest review.
9/1/25 Reread and found it to be even more compelling the second time through.
1/17/26 "a teacher is one who gives"
Could this be the first National Book Award Winner to also win the Newbery Medal since Holes?! I sure hope so, but either way, I will be sharing and celebrating Teacher of Nomad Land for years to come!
My students also love reading about this time in history, so I can't wait to share this one soon!
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri comes out of September 16th, 2025. Thank you to Levine Querido and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story in advanced of its publication in exchange for this honest review.
9/1/25 Reread and found it to be even more compelling the second time through.
1/17/26 "a teacher is one who gives"
Could this be the first National Book Award Winner to also win the Newbery Medal since Holes?! I sure hope so, but either way, I will be sharing and celebrating Teacher of Nomad Land for years to come!
January 24, 2026
Taking place in Iran during the Anglo-Soviet Invasion in 1941 when the UK and the Soviet Union joint controlled the country, it follows a young boy named Babak who is trying to do whatever it takes to keep him and his little sister together during the war after losing their father. With his father’s chalkboard and textbooks, he believes that they will find safety with the revered nomad tribes in the nearby mountains. Their journey will face a big challenge when they meet a young Polish boy far way from his country who they must save from a young Nazi.
It’s an emotionally powerful story involving children during wartime that takes place in a very different location during WWII. Babak is truly a very determined and brave protagonist who does whatever it takes to protect his sister and their new friend. There’s a lot of moments we see that have sadness, tension and even happiness. Nayeri’s end note also gives us more info on Iran was effected during the invasion.
An incredible story where war affects many from different languages.
A (100%/Outstanding)
It’s an emotionally powerful story involving children during wartime that takes place in a very different location during WWII. Babak is truly a very determined and brave protagonist who does whatever it takes to protect his sister and their new friend. There’s a lot of moments we see that have sadness, tension and even happiness. Nayeri’s end note also gives us more info on Iran was effected during the invasion.
An incredible story where war affects many from different languages.
A (100%/Outstanding)
July 28, 2025
I received an Advance Copy of this book on NetGalley and here’s my review:
Read it.
I knew I’d enjoy this book, as I have loved everything I’ve read from Daniel Nayeri, but this was wonderful. I have not read much (anything) about the WWII era in the Middle East and actually know very little about how the war played out there. This book is about much more than WWII-era Iran. It’s about family, grief, doing the right thing (even when you don’t like the person you’re doing the right thing by), nomad life, as well as the war, all told from the perspective of a boy who suddenly has to keep his little sister safe and fed in a world determined to not let him.
The only thing I wish is for more story. It’s so well-told, and the voice of that young boy is so clear, that more story would just be wonderful!
Read it.
I knew I’d enjoy this book, as I have loved everything I’ve read from Daniel Nayeri, but this was wonderful. I have not read much (anything) about the WWII era in the Middle East and actually know very little about how the war played out there. This book is about much more than WWII-era Iran. It’s about family, grief, doing the right thing (even when you don’t like the person you’re doing the right thing by), nomad life, as well as the war, all told from the perspective of a boy who suddenly has to keep his little sister safe and fed in a world determined to not let him.
The only thing I wish is for more story. It’s so well-told, and the voice of that young boy is so clear, that more story would just be wonderful!
November 24, 2025
Back in October I started reading The Teacher of Nomad Land on my Kindle (ironically while flying to the Southern Festival of Books where I ended up meeting Daniel Nayeri and getting to talk about publishing with him). At about 20% in to the story I realized I needed to immediately buy a copy and read it out loud with my younger kids because I was blown away by the blending of simplicity and depth in the pages.
And then, serendipitously, I finished reading The Teacher of Nomad Land aloud to them on the day that this novel won the National Book Award. What a wild ride.
Yes, I was skeptical if yet another WWII novel would be compelling. And also yes, I was completely wrong; this was brilliant and propulsive and somehow both lighthearted and somber. Set in Iran in 1941, this is such a unique WWII perspective, and even as a student of history, I found myself understanding this part of the world at that time better for having read this book. The author’s note goes into more detail about the history, and my kids loved this particularly (what parts of this are a true story?!).
The length is perfect for middle grade and proof that sometimes the best books say the most with less words. I’m so glad to own this book, although my copy doesn’t have that National Book Award medal, but I guess that’s proof that I owned it before it was famous 😆
And finally, as an adult reading a book for kids, I appreciated so much how (once again) Nayeri writes with such depth. There’s a huge element of this story that revolves around language and misunderstandings and it is told in a way that is humorous and thought-provoking.
Read aloud to my 9 and 11 year olds and highly recommended!
And then, serendipitously, I finished reading The Teacher of Nomad Land aloud to them on the day that this novel won the National Book Award. What a wild ride.
Yes, I was skeptical if yet another WWII novel would be compelling. And also yes, I was completely wrong; this was brilliant and propulsive and somehow both lighthearted and somber. Set in Iran in 1941, this is such a unique WWII perspective, and even as a student of history, I found myself understanding this part of the world at that time better for having read this book. The author’s note goes into more detail about the history, and my kids loved this particularly (what parts of this are a true story?!).
The length is perfect for middle grade and proof that sometimes the best books say the most with less words. I’m so glad to own this book, although my copy doesn’t have that National Book Award medal, but I guess that’s proof that I owned it before it was famous 😆
And finally, as an adult reading a book for kids, I appreciated so much how (once again) Nayeri writes with such depth. There’s a huge element of this story that revolves around language and misunderstandings and it is told in a way that is humorous and thought-provoking.
Read aloud to my 9 and 11 year olds and highly recommended!
October 15, 2025
I loved it. I knew I would. I expect nothing less from Daniel Nayeri.
Here's a story of WW2 that I had never before heard or even considered: from neutral Iran. Did you know that one thousand Jewish refugee children were sent to Iran, the "Tehran children"?
An orphaned brother (Babak, 13) and sister (Sana, 8) strike out with nomad travelers. Babak is trying to fill his father's shoes as a teacher to the children, even though he has no experience teaching.
The best bits were Babak's thoughts about teaching as he tries to eke out a path.
It seems like half of being a teacher is knowing when to intervene.
Babak gets the sense that a core point of teaching is the art of making things the right size. Specific. [...] That is the teacher's job - to make the world understandable in parts.
Here's a story of WW2 that I had never before heard or even considered: from neutral Iran. Did you know that one thousand Jewish refugee children were sent to Iran, the "Tehran children"?
An orphaned brother (Babak, 13) and sister (Sana, 8) strike out with nomad travelers. Babak is trying to fill his father's shoes as a teacher to the children, even though he has no experience teaching.
The best bits were Babak's thoughts about teaching as he tries to eke out a path.
It seems like half of being a teacher is knowing when to intervene.
Babak gets the sense that a core point of teaching is the art of making things the right size. Specific. [...] That is the teacher's job - to make the world understandable in parts.
January 21, 2026
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was an interesting fictional perspective on what life may have been like and likely was like in countries that were not directly involved in World War II, but were directly and indirectly impacted by World War II. The characters really seem to come to life as depictions of the various parties that are in Iran at the time. I also found the historical context of the welcoming of Jewish children by Iran during World War II a way to have hope that what we see today doesn’t have to always be that way.
March 24, 2026
This is an interesting read, but I think it's the kind of award-winning book that adults will like more than young readers. I have read a lot about World War II but never anything about how Iran was affected. Don't skip the author's note at the end. I learned so much and now have new topics to research and learn more about.
January 31, 2026
Loved this one - great sibling relationship, resilient kids, interesting insight on languages and teaching. Like in Everything Sad is Untrue, I loved the windows he gives into Iranian culture and foods.
September 29, 2025
The story is good, but what you’ll remember about this is Nayeri’s voice—especially the evocative descriptive language and wise observations . I’m looking forward to reading this again and slowing down to catch it all.
Worth reading, but may be intense for younger readers—war, orphans, the Holocaust, being chased by nazis, and other more “minor” traumas.
Worth reading, but may be intense for younger readers—war, orphans, the Holocaust, being chased by nazis, and other more “minor” traumas.
February 17, 2026
Not sure I could have enjoyed this more! Such a story!
October 4, 2025
TL;DR: This had a lot of promise but didn't hold my attention, so I don't know if the middle grade students it is intended for will love it.
I love that this was about a side of WWII I have never studied. the middle east was absolutely a part of the war, and logically I know that, but it never strikes me to consider stories told there. But this one does a great job of introducing elements of that story to people.
The two characters are forced to flee their homes after their father is killed, and go to live with and teach nomads, like their father did. But things don't go all that well and they end up alone.
The story has a lot going on and is at times too fast pasted for me to really keep up. There is a lot of unexplained context that, were I a middle schooler, would have made me disinterested because it is a new side of the war.
So, this is a good story but probably more interesting for adults and history buffs. There were too many unfinished elements for me to love it.
I love that this was about a side of WWII I have never studied. the middle east was absolutely a part of the war, and logically I know that, but it never strikes me to consider stories told there. But this one does a great job of introducing elements of that story to people.
The two characters are forced to flee their homes after their father is killed, and go to live with and teach nomads, like their father did. But things don't go all that well and they end up alone.
The story has a lot going on and is at times too fast pasted for me to really keep up. There is a lot of unexplained context that, were I a middle schooler, would have made me disinterested because it is a new side of the war.
So, this is a good story but probably more interesting for adults and history buffs. There were too many unfinished elements for me to love it.
October 1, 2025
I am always amazed when authors can take a piece of little-known history and make it come alive for readers. Truthfully, I have never once thought of Iran's involvement in World War II--it is something that never came up in my studies or prior reading. And now I know a little something, thanks to this book. But mostly thanks to the way Nayeri can tell readers about history through characters. I loved Babak and his little sister. They, along with the others they meet on their journey, brought this slice of history alive for me. It is beautifully told and accessible for older elementary and middle school students.
October 12, 2025
1. A short read with no superfluous text. A beautiful story, simply and expertly told.
2. Portrays a little known aspect of WWII. A great learning opportunity.
2. Portrays a little known aspect of WWII. A great learning opportunity.
January 30, 2026
This was a short, fast paced, but incredibly charming story. It follows a brother and sister in WWII era Iran after the death of their father. It showcases the invasion of Allied forces in Iran, the Jewish of Poland as refugees, and the tragedy of war. While so much of this story is heartbreaking, the focus is on family, friendship, and finding a way through hardship. Nayeri is a gifted story teller and he has written a charming story. I also highly recommend the audiobook which is narrated by the author.
October 17, 2025
This was such a quick read, I wished it had gone on longer. That’s really my only complaint! I enjoyed learning a little about Iran during WWII, having known nothing about it formerly.
February 28, 2026
Especially fitting for today, a quote from the author's note:
"I imagine Babak and Sauna's father would consider a war to be one great and horrific misunderstanding. There must be a quote from a historian somewhere that amounts to, 'all of history is one giant misunderstanding after another in a cacophony of voices with the primary language: violence.' And if there isn't such a quote, well then let me humbly submit it now, because it really, really is."
"I imagine Babak and Sauna's father would consider a war to be one great and horrific misunderstanding. There must be a quote from a historian somewhere that amounts to, 'all of history is one giant misunderstanding after another in a cacophony of voices with the primary language: violence.' And if there isn't such a quote, well then let me humbly submit it now, because it really, really is."
January 25, 2026
**read for adolescent lit**
i loved the display of language barriers in this book. also, i connected with many of the concerns that babak has about how teachers do what they do. although this book was written for younger kids, i still enjoyed it, and it’s important that books like this are written for all ages to inform & educate about historical events. bc i learned new things about world war II that i hadn’t known which i think is the best takeaway.
i loved the display of language barriers in this book. also, i connected with many of the concerns that babak has about how teachers do what they do. although this book was written for younger kids, i still enjoyed it, and it’s important that books like this are written for all ages to inform & educate about historical events. bc i learned new things about world war II that i hadn’t known which i think is the best takeaway.
January 24, 2026
I felt like this story had so much potential, but it was too short and fast paced to truly leave the mark it could have. I know Nayeri is SUCH a talented writer, and though there were some passages that rang with his signature heart and wit, they seemed to come almost as after thoughts to wrap up the chapters in a philosophical bow instead of being organically woven in.
There was so much to unpack - war, language, loss, and I really loved Babak’s thoughts about what it means to be a teacher in a broken world - but the brevity of the book didn’t allow me to truly sink into any of those things. And they are all heavy - there was death of parents, war trauma, etc. But they barely had time to register in my mind because the plot was zipping by.
There was so much to unpack - war, language, loss, and I really loved Babak’s thoughts about what it means to be a teacher in a broken world - but the brevity of the book didn’t allow me to truly sink into any of those things. And they are all heavy - there was death of parents, war trauma, etc. But they barely had time to register in my mind because the plot was zipping by.
March 1, 2026
Highly recommend this book!! In 1941, a recently orphaned brother and sister navigate survival as the British and Soviets occupy Iran. Themes of family (beautiful brother/sister relationship), friendship, differing languages, teaching, and resilience. I recommend for middle school and up due to some heavy topics associated with WWII.
“She’s your sister, Babak. If you want her to grow up, you have to help her. What we want others to know, we must teach them.”
Brief content notes:
Jewish boy recounts experience on cattle cars and of close family dying. Kids have scary encounters with an adult villain (he has a knife and gun). General WWII era loss and hardship. No profanity or romance.
“She’s your sister, Babak. If you want her to grow up, you have to help her. What we want others to know, we must teach them.”
Brief content notes:
Jewish boy recounts experience on cattle cars and of close family dying. Kids have scary encounters with an adult villain (he has a knife and gun). General WWII era loss and hardship. No profanity or romance.
January 12, 2026
I think even if you didn’t like Everything Sad Is Untrue you should give The Teacher of Nomad Land a chance. It’s a much more straightforward story but still rich with depth and meaning. It’s much shorter and presented an aspect of World War II I’d never thought about. Iran was a “neutral” land but still had both Allies and Axis armies on the ground.
“Only parents care that you tried your best. Everyone else wants a good job.”
“ if someone cared that you did your best, even if you failed the job, what would that mean?’
Sana, who only ever gets perfect grades in school, knows the answer immediately. ‘ it means they care more about you than about the result.”
“ and because He (God) has freely given these things I do not deserve, then I can freely share with you”.
“Only parents care that you tried your best. Everyone else wants a good job.”
“ if someone cared that you did your best, even if you failed the job, what would that mean?’
Sana, who only ever gets perfect grades in school, knows the answer immediately. ‘ it means they care more about you than about the result.”
“ and because He (God) has freely given these things I do not deserve, then I can freely share with you”.
July 4, 2025
I love everything Daniel Nayeri writes. This book offers a glimpse of life in Iran during WWII. Both the British and the Russians occupied parts of Iran to protect their oil interests in the country. As is always the case in war, the civilians of Iran, a neutral country, were caught in the middle of a dispute they had nothing to do with and wanted no part of.
July 8, 2025
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 the socially awkward, hostile, desperate and utterly annoying Jewish boy (Ben), and the chief danger a volatile, mentally unbalanced Nazi spy ("Vulf").
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 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 this book 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.
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 the socially awkward, hostile, desperate and utterly annoying Jewish boy (Ben), and the chief danger a volatile, mentally unbalanced Nazi spy ("Vulf").
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 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 this book 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.
December 3, 2025
I loved this year’s (2025) National Book Award for Young People’s Literature – Daniel Nayeri’s, The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story (2025). The School Library Journal describes this book as, “A powerful novel about an often-forgotten region and era that highlights the power of education through shared communication to create bonds.”
Nayeri’s central character is Iranian, Babak, a 13-year -old boy who finds himself orphaned, taking care of his 8-year-ols sister, and a Jewish boy hiding from the Nazis. On top of all of these challenges, Babak wants to help others by following in his father’s footsteps.
NPR says, “This isn’t just a book – it’s a prayer, a lament, a master class in storytelling. Nayeri writes like someone who knows what stories are for: to carry us, to crush us and then to redeem us.”
In the Kirkus Review starred review - they report, “The novel’s richly drawn characters and evocative setting provide enough context about World War II and Iranian history without overwhelming young readers, while Babak’s growth from insecure orphan to a confident mediator who bridges cultural divides sends a potent message about how ‘everybody has good work to do’ – even children displaced by war.”
This is a remarkable book for any reader interested in yet more ways war can and will touch those we may least expect it to. And, if the reader is young and still enjoys a parent or teacher to read aloud to the and discuss the story as it unfolds – this book could spawn many a conversation and great probing question.
I recommend this book.
Nayeri’s central character is Iranian, Babak, a 13-year -old boy who finds himself orphaned, taking care of his 8-year-ols sister, and a Jewish boy hiding from the Nazis. On top of all of these challenges, Babak wants to help others by following in his father’s footsteps.
NPR says, “This isn’t just a book – it’s a prayer, a lament, a master class in storytelling. Nayeri writes like someone who knows what stories are for: to carry us, to crush us and then to redeem us.”
In the Kirkus Review starred review - they report, “The novel’s richly drawn characters and evocative setting provide enough context about World War II and Iranian history without overwhelming young readers, while Babak’s growth from insecure orphan to a confident mediator who bridges cultural divides sends a potent message about how ‘everybody has good work to do’ – even children displaced by war.”
This is a remarkable book for any reader interested in yet more ways war can and will touch those we may least expect it to. And, if the reader is young and still enjoys a parent or teacher to read aloud to the and discuss the story as it unfolds – this book could spawn many a conversation and great probing question.
I recommend this book.
January 26, 2026
Had a snowy day home, and happened to have already purchased this book, which just won’t the Newbery Honor for 2026!
I love both of Daniel Nayeri’s first two novels. This one was so interesting to me, especially at the start of Holocaust Remembrance Week, as it features a lesser known historical setting.
12 year-old, Babak and his 8 year-old sister, Sana, are orphaned at the outset of the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. In attempting to escape safely with the nomadic tribe their father used to teach, they find themselves face to face with an escaped Jewish boy named Ben.
Nayeri is a such a great storyteller, and within the pages he shows us how interconnected we are as humans. He also delicately leads us to the complexities of occupation and war, the misunderstandings that humans cannot move past, and the fragility of civilization in wartime
I had no idea that Iran was an occupied nation for 6 years, which devastated their country in the long term. Additionally, nearly one thousand Jewish children were sent to Iran as refugees and were welcomed and cared for by the Iranians, and were eventually sent to Israel.
I love both of Daniel Nayeri’s first two novels. This one was so interesting to me, especially at the start of Holocaust Remembrance Week, as it features a lesser known historical setting.
12 year-old, Babak and his 8 year-old sister, Sana, are orphaned at the outset of the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. In attempting to escape safely with the nomadic tribe their father used to teach, they find themselves face to face with an escaped Jewish boy named Ben.
Nayeri is a such a great storyteller, and within the pages he shows us how interconnected we are as humans. He also delicately leads us to the complexities of occupation and war, the misunderstandings that humans cannot move past, and the fragility of civilization in wartime
I had no idea that Iran was an occupied nation for 6 years, which devastated their country in the long term. Additionally, nearly one thousand Jewish children were sent to Iran as refugees and were welcomed and cared for by the Iranians, and were eventually sent to Israel.
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