Middle Grade Review: The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri

 

With Iran and Israel in the news, the book I review today is particularly timely.

Two years ago I reviewed another book by Daniel Nayeri. Like The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams, this book is also historical fiction and shares an unfamiliar setting. And like the prior title, there are moments of life hanging in the balance, and moments of patience and kindness. The role of mentors and family is another thread in both stories.

My schooling didn't include a lot of the specifics about World War II. Even though my father, and father-in-law were World War II veterans, no one talked about the war. I felt that the topic was off limits--too painful to recall. So I never asked, or researched the time period. Just recently I watched the film Number 24 (watch it if you haven't!) and learned about Norway's occupation and resistance movement. I was similarly unfamiliar with Iran's occupation and role in the conflict.

I recommend that you read this book twice. The opening is a heart-breaking moment for the two siblings who are the main characters, but perhaps because of my lack of knowledge about the area and time period, I didn't immediately connect with the characters even though I too lost a parent at a young age. The political discussion in Chapter Three felt a bit like backstory that while important to the overall arc, wasn't organically important to the character at that moment and I struggled to absorb it all. The plot really picked up for me in Chapter Four. I'm glad I stayed with it, and in the re-read, knowing what I now did, I was able to enjoy Nayeri's beautiful prose and linger with the characters emotions more.

I particularly enjoyed the "worth" of a child discussion in Chapter 8, the introduction to the Farsi alphabet in Chapter 9, and the contemplation of a teacher's and parent's role in Chapter 20. Being brought up in the United States with a western storytelling sensibility, sometimes the deep philosophical thoughts seem to come out of nowhere from a child's point of view but meshed well on the second read. The back cover description describes the book's plot. The beauty of the prose and the overall feelings of stability, instability and humanity were the standouts for me.

I don't want to spoil the plot for readers, but the kindness exhibited by the main characters is a lesson for contemporary residents in Iran and Israel.

I hope you'll get a copy and read it for yourself! The book releases August 26, 2025 from the acclaimed publisher Levine Querido. My review is based on an uncorrected advance proof copy supplied by the publisher. #MiddlegradeMonday

Middle grade book recommendations - Echo and Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting

     If you choose books for a middle grade reader, or enjoy reading it yourself, I have two books to recommend.

     This is wild-waving two thumbs up stuff.

     At first glance, the two books are dissimilar . . .

     Pam Munoz Ryan’s Echo is a weighty tome. The ARC I read is 592 pages long. The story spans decades, weaving the individual stories of multiple protagonists together with themes of prejudice, justice (and injustice) and the healing property of music. A lush mash-up of fantasy, fairy-tale, and historical fiction, it reads like Gone With the Wind for middle grade with a brushstroke of magical realism. Stories that cross the globe with elements of family danger, racism and heroism are rendered at a personal level. It’s the kind of book you “experience” as much as you read it. Wondering how it was all going to tie together, the pages flew by (and sleep was lost!). You will want to run out and buy a harmonica, dust off that recorder from grade school, drum on the desk.

    

      The ARC of Tommy Greenwald’s Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting (and lives to tell about it) clocks in at 227 pages. Not counting the three page forward-looking epilogue, the storyline spans one week. The plot follows a single protagonist who makes the mistake of sending a text about misgivings about her boyfriend to the wrong person—her boyfriend. I began the book thinking the short chapters were the perfect interlude before I needed to go to the grocery store, and we ended up eating leftovers. It was a cover-to-cover single-sitting read. Part of the author's "Charlie Joe Jackson" series, this can be read as a stand alone title. The snappy contemporary first person narrative deals with the issues of honesty, social media, self-discovery and—the healing power of music. 

     Sometimes I wonder why I don’t have the radio on more now. When I was younger I studied to it, partied to it, sang to it every chance I could. While I didn’t personally identify with all of the songs that I heard, I identified with the singers’ angst and contemplation of the emotional journeys they had taken. And music has a way of freeing people up. A way of connecting people. Of making us stop, listen and feel. Going to go turn it on now.

     Other great elements I should highlight. Both books have diverse characters. Both deal with important social issues. Short chapters in both make them easy to dive into.

     I’m not sure about the boy appeal of these books. I’d love to hear from others to hear what you think!

     Echo is published by Scholastic Press and went on sale February 24, 2015

     Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting went on sale February 17th and is published by Roaring Brook Press.

DISCLOSURE:

I received a review copy from the publishers. No other compensation was received nor was a review required.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Snicker of Magic - Book review

     When I read this book, I wondered if the author ever took her manuscript to a First Pages session. I imagined the faces of everyone in attendance and the quiet that would have fallen over the room during the reading, followed by the chaos at the end as the editors and agents vied in hand to hand combat to secure the rights to be associated with the project.
     Yes, it's that good.
     As a writer, it simultaneously makes you want to put your pencils away and leave writing to the masters, and inspires you to work that much harder to make your own voice come alive on the page. Because for me, the book wasn't so much about the plot (although that worked too!) as it was about the voice. The glorious voice.

Title: A Snicker of Magic
Author: Natalie Lloyd
Publisher: Scholastic, February 25, 2014
FICTION
Audience: 8-12
Themes: Home, Confidence, Finding magic in your heart and mind
Opening:
    "They say all the magic is gone up out of this place," said Mama.

Synopsis: This is a VERY condensed synopsis. No spoilers. If you want to read a more complete synopsis of the book I suggest you head to the reviews already posted on Kirkus or Publisher's Weekly.
Twelve year-old Felicity Juniper Pickle arrives in Midnight Gulch in a broken down van with her mother, younger sister and their dog. Although it's Mom's hometown, there's no logical reason for the connection that Felicity feels for the town. But then this book isn't about logic. It's about magic! And for a girl who has traveled across the country in moves propelled by Mama's wandering heart, the magical feeling of belonging is something worth hanging onto and fighting for.

What I like about this book: The book transported me to Midnight Gulch. The lyrical small-town voice of all the characters brought the town alive. And Felicity's sense of longing was palpable. The magical realism worked especially well because it was interesting, but not essential to the plot. At first, it felt a bit coincidental that a girl who "sees" words around people meets a boy in a wheelchair who "sees" colors in music. But the story teller voice was so strong I found myself saying "why not?" The book explores the possibilities and potentials in places and people. Felicity has had more than a few setbacks in life but at her core she's definitely a glass half-full person. (and if there's magic in ice cream, I'm ready to volunteer for the research!)
     My only gripe? I wish Aunt Cleo wasn't a chain-smoker. Or maybe she could have given the cigs up as part of her transformation. In a book about the power of optimism, the death sticks made my nose wrinkle every time they appeared.
     My favorite quote? There's a lot to like here but this message of empowerment was a winner.
     "Maybe sometimes the words I say are as magical as the words I see."

Resources: Scholastic has an 8 page activity booklet for A Snicker of Magic. I especially like the prompt to invent your own ice cream flavor and name its characteristics!
 Look at photos of strangers and "pretend" you have Felicity's power. What words do you see above them? Start a Beedle club and do an anonymous good deed for someone (or some organization).
If you want to learn more about the author, there's a super interview with Natalie Lloyd on Literary Rambles.

I was fortunate to snag an ARC of this title from Shelf Awareness. My review is based on that uncorrected proof. I was not required to provide a review in exchange for the copy. The opinions in this review are my own.

A HUNDRED HORSES - Book review

    I'm reviewing a book today. And it isn't a picture book.  
    Don't sound the alarms! I'm an adult, so it makes sense that I read books for adults, too. What some of you may not know is that I also read a lot of middle grade and young adult children's books. 
    If it's a good book, I want to read it. And honestly, I usually enjoy the middle grade and young adult books better than the adult tomes that often seem to me to be trying overly hard to impress. Go figure, I'm an attorney that likes plain language.
    Over the next week, I'm going to try to highlight a few NON-picture book titles that I've enjoyed.
     Don't worry--on Fridays it will be perfect picture books.
     First up, in honor of the Year of the Horse:
     
     Title: A Hundred Horses

     Author: Sarah Lean
     Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 
                             Jan. 2014
     Middle Grade - 217 pages (ARC)
     Intended Audience: Ages 8-12
     Themes: Friendship, Belonging
     
     Synopsis: Nell, an eleven-year old girl has to spend her vacation on a farm with relatives she doesn't know well. When a mysterious girl takes Nell's prized metal toy carousel, Nell stumbles onto a secret about the girl and the horses that are awaiting sale on a nearby farm.

     What I liked--and didn't like:
     I don't like the opening. 
             "Mom was late picking me up from drama
             club again. Which meant another twenty minutes of not wanting to  
             be there."
     For me, this opening was a bit whiny in tone, and after reading the entire book the drama club was no drama. Nothing pulled me in here.
     I also expected a bit more about horses. While horses are part of the plot, in large part you could have substituted any animal in their place and the story still would have worked. 

     I do like the magical realism, reminiscent (to me, anyway) of SKELLIG. I don't want to give the plot away entirely, so suffice it to say that this is a friendship story that also has an element of the supernatural. 
     The friendship element of the story worked well. It's the rare friendship that doesn't face obstacles, and the unlikely pairings that are often the most satisfying. My favorite lines from the book:
     "And I thought about magic and fairy tales. They are not real. It's just that beautiful things make you feel full up inside. As if nothing is missing. And that feels like a miracle." (p.178)
      Good stuff!

     I would recommend this book. Note: I received the ARC of this book from the publisher with no expectation or requirement for a positive review.