Review by Booklist Review
To keep from being separated, orphaned sibs Babak and Sana pack up their few possessions--including the portable blackboard their beloved father, an itinerant reading teacher--had left behind, and set out from Isfahan for the Zagros Mountains in hopes of passing themselves off as his successors to the nomadic herders he had taught there. Choosing as setting a neutral country far from the main theaters of WWII (but occupied in 1941 by both Russian and British troops determined to shield its strategic oil fields from the Nazis), Nayeri rolls out a tale in which severe hardship and the ever-present potential for violence are counterbalanced by lighter moments, such as Babak's clever efforts to tease a band of wayward nomad children (and perhaps a few readers) into learning the Persian alphabet or the way his eight-year-old little sister, wise beyond her years, consistently out-talks and out-thinks him. The two make a winning pair, and for all their tragic backstories, the author maintains an upbeat tone throughout. Just for good measure, he adds a cinematic subplot involving a secretive young Polish refugee with a scary German agent hot on his heels and rounds out the adventure by filling in the historical background with a map and a substantial afterword.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Nayeri (The Bizarre Bazaar) considers the effects of WWII on two Iranian children in a heart-piercing historical novel. Following the death of Babak's educator father from British cannon fire in 1941 Iran, the 13-year-old takes guardianship of his eight-year-old sister Sana. They join a group of travelers migrating through the Zagros Mountains who briefly allow the siblings to stay with them on the condition that Babak, carrying his father's books and blackboard, teaches the other children English. Unable to wrangle the students, Babak and Sana are forced to travel to the city of Ahvaz on their own. On their journey they encounter Vulf, a threatening stranger searching for a Jewish child named Ben; after sneaking away from Vulf, the duo meets Ben, who joins them on their trek. As the children navigate each harrowing obstacle, Babak holds close wise words from his father, which drive the teen to persevere: "That is the teacher's job--to make the world understandable in parts." Babak's palpable love for his sister emphasizes the novel's suggestion that there is power in kindness, even in the face of tragedy. Lush details and taut plotting distinguish this immersive, profound offering. Ages 8--12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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. VERDICT A powerful novel about an often-forgotten region and era that highlights the power of education through shared communication to create bonds.--Kristen Shaw
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Review by Horn Book Review
Nayeri's stirring historical novel -- emotionally rich, suspenseful, and profound -- sheds light on a lesser-known front of World War II: Iran, a neutral country occupied by both British and Soviet forces. Thirteen-year-old Babak and his younger sister, Sana, have been recently orphaned and are facing separation. Their bold decision to escape this fate propels them into a gripping tale of resilience and survival. The two first attempt to join a group of Bakhtiari nomads but are soon turned away. As they journey across the Zagros Mountains, the siblings encounter a threatening German spy and a prickly Jewish boy who is fleeing the Nazis, and their fates intertwine. Nayeri's prose is lush and evocative, capturing the stark beauty of Iran's mountainous landscapes as well as the traditions, languages, and beliefs that define its people. Along with vivid characterization, the novel balances action and introspection, weaving in issues of faith, identity, and empathy without slowing momentum. This poignant, often heart-wrenching narrative (despite occasional historical inaccuracies) offers readers a profound lesson in the power of communication, cross-cultural and cross-lingual understanding, and kindness. With a blackboard strapped to his back and a satchel full of books, Babak becomes a meaningful symbol of education as a bridge between people and cultures. Timely and unforgettable. Alicia RogersJanuary/February 2026 p.79 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Master storyteller Nayeri crafts a gripping World War II tale set in Iran. When 13-year-old Babak and 8-year-old Sana are orphaned after their father is killed during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of their country, family members take them in, but the kids are sent to different households. So Babak decides to flee, taking on his father's role as teacher to nomadic tribes. Strapping a blackboard to his back, he leads Sana into the treacherous Zagros Mountains to find the Bakhtiari people during their annual migration--and the dangers only deepen when they come across a Jewish boy attempting to dodge a Nazi spy. Nayeri tells a remarkably intimate story of a neutral nation caught between warring powers, seamlessly integrating philosophical questions about God, family, and cross-cultural understanding and suggesting that truly listening to those different from us can be a sacred and transformative act. The novel's richly drawn characters and evocative setting provide enough context about World War II and Iranian history without overwhelming young readers, while Babak's growth from insecure orphan to a confident mediator who bridges cultural divides sends a potent message about how "everybody has good work to do"--even children displaced by war. A compelling testament to the power of education and empathy to light the way in even the most perilous circumstances. (map, author's note, further reading)(Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
