The Teacher of Nomad Land

Nayeri, Daniel. The Teacher of Nomad Land
August 26, 2025 by Levine Querido
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

During World War II, Babak Noori and his sister Sana having been living in Iran with relatives after the death of their father, a traveling teacher. He was killed when the British mistakenly fired on a group of shepherds whom he was teaching. Babak is working with Mr. Turani, running errands for his store and living in a back room. Dana is at her grandmother's, so she can help out, and also gets to attend school. The two don't like being separated, so Babak saves up all of his money in the hopes of connecting with the Bakhtiari tribe his father served, who travel across the Zagros mountains every year from Isafahan to Ahvaz to graze their cattle. When Mr. Turani takes the money, Babak decides there is no time like the present to leave. He and Sana find the group, and talk to Traveler, a friend of their father's, as well as the leader, Mr. Hussein. He agrees that the two can travel with them as long as Babak can teach the children the alphabet and how to write their names. Things are tense in Iran, since the British and Russians are occupying areas around the country. Some European refugees have come as well, and there are Jewish children being care for at an orphanage and Polish children living at a wealthy estate. When a chance encounter with Vulf, a Russian who is looking for a Jewish boy, puts the children in danger, they seek help from British soldiers. Callum Hargis is helpful, and gives them some food and provisions, but the troops soon move out. Babak runs in to Ben, who is the boy for whom Vulf is looking. Ben wishes he had gone to the Jewish orphanage, since he has heard they are being taken to Israel. Ben isn't particularly grateful for Ben and Sana's help, and takes more than his share of their provisions. Vulf resurfaces several times, even after what appears to be a fatal fall. Eventually, Babak reconnects with the nomads, and eventually is useful when he sets up a chain of translators to help the group get through a check point. The war is horrible, but Babak and Sana manage to help people along their way and get help in return. 

Strengths: As much as I have read about World War II, I had no idea what was going on in Third World countries at the time. This book even explains where the phrase "Third World" comes from! Babak and Sana's circumstances were no doubt very common, and their route to try to stay safe is interesting. What really makes this book intriguing, however, is the father's teaching of the nomadic people, and the details about things like carrying a chalkboard on his back. 
Weaknesses: This was a bit slower paced than I was expecting. It bears some stylistic similarities to this author's The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like to read about children surviving on the fringes of war torn societies in books like Nielsen's Resistance, Hartnett's The Silver Donkey or Couloumbis' War Games.