When I decided to highlight The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri as this month’s #AngiesPeeks, I did not know it would be the winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. But I’m not surprised. As someone who taught a course on Holocaust Literature and has read numerous World War II books, I am always pleased when a new perspective or story from this period surfaces. The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story is brilliantly unique and universal at the same time. Set in Iran, a neutral country during World War II, the novel follows recently orphaned thirteen-year-old Babak and his younger sister, Sana, as they embark on a quest for survival. Babak, eager in his desire to protect his sister and honor his father’s memory, decides to continue his father’s work as a teacher to the children of a tribe of nomads. The odyssey that ensues tackles complex themes of grief, displacement, the refugee experience, and survival while skillfully integrating historical facts about the war. It is both brilliant and a captivating tale for young readers. Recommended for ages 10 and up.