The Teacher of Nomad Land: Chapters 20–28

by Daniel Nayeri
In this historical fiction novel, a boy and his sister trek across Iran during the Allied invasion of WWII.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–12, Chapters 13–19, Chapters 20–28
15 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. precarious
    fraught with danger
    They have crossed down into another ravine and the trail up looks too precarious in the dying light.
  2. wiry
    lean but strong
    He is wiry and his fingers fidget.
  3. meander
    move or cause to move in a winding or curving course
    They slept in a clearing midway up a slope, with the path meandering around craggy hills.
  4. solace
    the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction
    Ben jerks awake as if from a nightmare to a nightmare with no solace in between.
  5. scabrous
    rough to the touch, as if covered with scales or projections
    If Babak had to guess, he would say she had seen him holding the tree trunk, which was the same way she slept sometimes, with her arm slung over Babak, and she’d imagined it for herself, the cold, scabrous tree bark.
  6. antsy
    nervous and unable to relax
    Ben starts to get antsy.
  7. precipice
    a very steep cliff
    Vulf makes a sound like “ooph” and goes back over nothing.
    Over the precipice.
    Down the cliffside into the ravine.
  8. ford
    a shallow area in a stream that can be crossed
    They cross at a shallow ford and fill their waterskins.
  9. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
    As they approach, they see there’s a commotion.
  10. mirage
    optical illusion in which hot air distorts distant objects
    They see it in the distance at first, as if it’s a roiling mirage in the desert heat.
  11. insignia
    a distinguishing mark or symbol
    Babak notices their insignias are the Soviet hammer and sickle.
  12. haggle
    wrangle, as over a price or terms of an agreement
    Negotiations continue as if they’re haggling over groceries.
  13. mannerism
    a behavioral attribute that is distinctive to an individual
    “We did it?” says Sana, who has been in her own world, watching The Lady and trying to copy her mannerisms.
  14. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    The shopkeeper sits on a stool and glowers at the soldiers.
  15. woozy
    feeling dizzy or unsteady
    Babak arrives, woozy.
Created on Fri Nov 06 03:05:34 EST 2026 (updated Mon Nov 09 12:48:10 EST 2026)

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