The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story

Gr 3-7–Babak and Sana’s father devoted his life to teaching others; but after he is claimed as a casualty of World War II, the brother-sister duo must find a way to survive on their own. Babak and Sana embark on a perilous journey across Iran to find the nomadic people their father taught, hoping to find a home among them. Babak vows to honor his father by also teaching, going as far as carrying a blackboard on his back. He quickly realizes the war-torn region is further divided due to language barriers and miscommunication. Initially lacking confidence in his own abilities, Babak slowly finds his conviction to bring people together through teaching languages, strongly proclaiming the importance of education as a tool for communication and forging bonds. Newbery Honor-winner Nayeri highlights Iran during WWII, an often overlooked perspective of the war in a country caught between occupation by the Allied and Axis forces. The artfully detailed setting and strong values depicted through Babak’s endeavor to teach others will leave readers inspired.