*The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

Balak valiantly takes up his father’s mantle to be the teacher of nomad land; along the way, he himself is taught much.

*The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri. Levine Querido, 2025, 192 pages.

• Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12
• Recommended for: ages 8-14

When Balak hears that his father (Baba) has been killed, he knows he is now responsible for his younger sister, Sana. He promises he won’t let them get separated, but Auntie Joon has other plans. In short order, both children are placed in two different houses. Balak’s new “home” is especially challenging. He carefully saves his extra earnings planning to run away with Sana. His Baba had been a teacher in “nomad land” where the nomads traveled on their annual routes. Baba had also taught Balak his letters; Balak could speak several languages, too. He would shoulder Baba’s teaching easel, collect Sana, and head for nomad land. If Baba was dead, then the nomads were in need of a new teacher, right?

If this were an ordinary middle grades novel, we’d read a heartwarming story of brother and sister finding their way amidst these challenges, only to surface at the end stronger and better for their struggles. The Teacher of Nomad Land certainly includes that storyline, but several additional factors add tremendously to the impact of this sparely written narrative.

For one, Balak’s carefully hidden extra money is stolen by his new “family.” Bereft, he leaves with Sana anyway, penniless. When they find the nomads and their father’s contact, they learn that extra children are not wanted and they must earn their keep. To add to these complications, the story is set during World War II … in Iran. Thus, Balak (and the nomads) must constantly figure out who is friend or foe. Soldiers from both Allies and Axis nations have descended, and the way forward is murky. Roads are blocked, towns are shuttered, and everyone is on edge.

As Balak and Sana figure out the way forward together, each of their strengths comes into play: Sana’s boldness and creativity launch them forward in leaps and bounds while Balak’s careful consideration and quick analysis help them stay on the straight and narrow. A villain appears, dogging their steps. Unlikely new friends emerge. And perhaps most significantly, Balak learns what true teaching means, what a gift a genuine teacher is to a community.

Language barriers often include cultural barriers, and as Balak seeks to bridge the linguistic barriers, he breaks down cultural ones. Readers will come away appreciating Balak’s effort to see everyone as worthy of respect, his desire to treat others as he would like to be treated, and his courage. Nayeri’s spare text is often understated; he has crafted a beautiful story in this short book. As of this writing, The Teacher of Nomad Land has been shortlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. It would be well-deserved.

Considerations:

• Violence: Yes, this book is set during war-time. But other than standard issue war violence, the villain (Vulf) may frighten younger children. Additionally, he dies a fairly violent death (although minimal details are given).

Bottom Line: The Teacher of Nomad Land is a rewarding story the entire family can enjoy.

*indicates a starred review, the best of the best

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: Nayeri is no stranger to Redeemed Reader. Read our reviews and discussions of Everything Sad Is Untrue, The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, and Drawn Onward.
• Resource: We’ve interviewed Daniel Nayeri several times, once on the website, and twice for our Redeemed Reader Quarterly Magazine. Did you know that we have a little photo gallery under our “About” Menu? Several of us got to spend time with Daniel at HopeWords in 2024; you can see a picture of us together in the gallery.
• Resource: Don’t miss our Heroes of World War II booklist.

You may purchase The Teacher of Nomad Land from Amazon.