The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story

This children’s historical novel is set during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. After their father is killed, Babak and his younger sister, Sana, are separated and sent to live with relatives. Babak decides to escape with Sana to the Zagros Mountains, carrying his father’s blackboard on his back, in the hope of following him as a teacher for the Bakhtiari.

The two join a Bakhtiari caravan, but Babak’s first attempt at teaching fails. On the way back towards Isfahan they meet Ben, a Jewish boy who is being hunted by a Nazi and is trying to reach Tehran.