Page-turning World War 2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri—NOW IN PAPERBACK!National Book Award · Newbery Honor · Named Amazon's #1 Children's Book of 20251941. 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.W I N N E RNational Book AwardNewbery HonorMalka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's LiteratureCommon Sense Media SelectionJLG Gold StandardP R A I S E* "Heart-piercing… Lush details and taut plotting distinguish this immersive, profound offering." –Publishers Weekly (starred)* "Gripping… Nayeri tells a remarkably intimate story… The novel’s richly drawn characters and evocative setting provide enough context about World War II and Iranian history without overwhelming young readers… A compelling testament to the power of education and empathy to light the way in even the most perilous circumstances." –Kirkus (starred)* "The artfully detailed setting and strong values depicted through Babak’s endeavor to teach others will leave readers inspired. A powerful novel about an often-forgotten region and era that highlights the power of education through shared communication to create bonds." –School Library Journal (starred)* "A tightly crafted odyssey about two siblings in World War II Iran, seems unlikely to break Nayeri's award-winning streak. Discover: Daniel Nayeri's tightly crafted odyssey about two siblings in World War II Iran showcases his gifts for understatement, restraint, and split-second swings between humor and emotional devastation." –Shelf-Awareness (starred)* "Cinematic…Nayeri rolls out a tale in which severe hardship and the ever-present potential for violence are counterbalanced by lighter moments." –Booklist (starred)* "Emotionally rich, suspenseful, and profound… Nayeri’s prose is lush and evocative… Along with vivid characterization, the novel balances action and introspection, weaving in issues of faith, identity, and empathy without slowing momentum... Timely and unforgettable." –TheHorn Book (starred)"A fictional story so utterly real the reader feels it must be true… The setting here — mountains, brush and beleaguered cities — is vivid and gritty. The characters, especially Sana and Ben, are so authentic you can hear their breath when they speak. The plot is as tight as an ocean-bound ship. But the glory of this book is the way it reaches across cultures and time to find an essential truth: 'What we want others to know, we must teach them.' Superb." –Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, The New York Times"World War II stories are perennially popular, but Newbery honoree Nayeri brings a fresh lens… The journey’s mishaps and crises, including an unforgettable game of telephone, remind readers of the ripple effects of war, while Nayeri’s immaculately crafted turns of phrase pierce the heart with precision." –The Washington Post"Astonishing. This isn’t just a book – it’s a prayer, a lament, a master class in storytelling." –NPR"The Teacher of Nomad Land is an extraordinary novel that made me want to dig deeper into the true stories that inspired it, and I hope to see this book showered with awards in the months to come." –Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor"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." –Betsy Bird, Fuse8"Rich in symbolism and simply told, I’d add this historical fiction to any public, middle grade, or high school library collection." –Edith Campbell, SLJ Pearl’s & Ruby’s BlogBEST OF THE YEARAmazon · NPR · New York Times · Kirkus · Shelf-Awareness · Booklist · Evanston Public Library
