Lia Anshar's Honest Pages

  My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) "He can’t just kill my dreams with a one-syllable word. I will not take no for an answer. I will convince him."  In Hafsa’s Way, we meet Hafsa, a girl with big dreams of becoming a doctor someday. So when she gets accepted into the prestigious Bukhari Summer Science Camp, she’s so excited. This is exactly the kind of opportunity she’s been hoping for, surrounded by other kids who share her passion for science. But not everyone is as excited as she is. Her parents hesitate for reasons: the camp is costly, and they’re not comfortable sending her all the way to the big city of Lahore without supervision. Thankfully, a solution comes through, her brother-in-law offers to cover the fees, and she can stay with him and her sister instead of in the camp dorms. After some persuasion, her parents finally agreed. Right from the start, things don’t go quite as planned. She quickly realizes she accidentally signed up for the wrong program. On top of that, she can’t...

  My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) "He leaves the boy standing there and is on his way while a voice drones in his head: PRISON-it's a prison, prison, prison."  Set in Palestine, Asad’s Secret by Najlaa Attaalah follows the life of Asad, the eldest of eight children living in a small home. With his father imprisoned, Asad takes on responsibilities far beyond his years, working at a printing press through the summer and stepping up as the man of the house. But this role weighs heavily on him. He feels trapped, resentful, and confused: why must he face life’s hardest sides? Being the eldest brings him no pride, only the burden of caring for his whole family, and he often feels suffocated by it all. It’s only when he meets Um Fawzi, a wise old woman, that he begins to find guidance and a way out of his heavy, brooding thoughts.  The story focuses on everyday moments that dive deep into Asad’s inner world. We see him struggle to balance his duty to his family with his dream of continuin...

  "It still baffled me that some people thought they had the right to own human beings." The Four Seasons of Florence Wallace by Kirstie Myvett is a captivating middle-grade novel that transports readers to a pivotal and often overlooked period of American history. If you're looking for a story that's as heartwarming as it is thought-provoking, and as hopeful as it is harrowing, then this is definitely one to add to your reading list! Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Civil War, we meet Florence and her younger sister, Eva. After the tragic loss of their father and their mother's desperate search for work, the sisters find themselves in an orphanage. Florence, fueled by the unwavering belief that her Mama will return, finds strength and purpose in unexpected places: the companionship of new friends, the inspiring words of female abolitionists and suffragists, the lingering memories of her father's faith in her, and even a vibrant sunflower patch in th...

  Title: I Made It Home Author: Debra I. Thomas Narrated by: Rose Velorum Genre: Children's Fiction Publication Date: March 02, 2026 My Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I Made It Home by Debra I. Thomas is a warm, gentle, and wonderfully concise story that captures all the familiar feelings of a child’s very first day of school, and as an audiobook experience, it shines beautifully for young listeners. The story follows Aubrey, a little girl stepping into first grade, who feels nervous about the day ahead and especially about her aunt picking her up when school ends. Worries creep in, "What if she doesn’t come?" "What will I do?" But her mom’s reassurance calms her heart, and as the day unfolds, Aubrey finds comfort in her beloved animal friends, shares sweet moments, and even makes brand-new friends at school. At its core, this is a charming tale about friendship, small acts of bravery, and the quiet confidence children discover when facing new experiences. As an audiobook p...

  Tittle: Firstborn  Author: M.J. Hastings Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance Publication Date: September 01, 2026 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Firstborn by M.J. Hastings is an epic dystopian romantasy with a premise that immediately hooks you. In this world, your entire life is decided the moment you are born. Firstborns are trained to be soldiers and take up arms, secondborns become scholars and take up books, and thirdborns are taken away. Our protagonist, Bryn Ruelle, is a Firstborn facing her final trial. To graduate and defend her country, she must take a life or face exile. But Bryn has never killed before. Just as the pressure reaches its peak, she uncovers a plot that threatens her youngest sister. To save her, she has to team up with an enemy, she must choose between loyalty to her nation and protecting the family she loves. The concept of society being strictly divided by birth order is brilliant and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed seeing how the government controls info...