The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story -- Daniel Nayeri, Hardcover

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.

Author: Daniel Nayeri
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 09/16/2025
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.78lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.91w x 0.66d
ISBN: 9781646145669
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 05/01/2025 pg. 128
Publishers Weekly 05/05/2025
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2025
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2025
Booklist 09/30/2025
Shelf Awareness 10/03/2025

About the Author
Award-winning author Daniel Nayeri, who was born in Iran and immigrated to Oklahoma as a refugee, captivated readers with his poignant memoir Everything Sad Is Untrue (Printz Award) and the epic adventure The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams (Newbery Honor). A former publisher, editor, and pastry chef, he resides along the East Coast with his family.