Sisters Alone Review: Sibling Grief and Survival Story

 

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Publishing date: September 8, 2026

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Rep: Syrian-American, Muslim, Anxiety

Synopsis:

From the National Book Award–winning author of Kareem Between comes a powerful novel in verse about two sisters trapped in a blizzard in a heart-wrenching story of sisterhood and survival.

Two sisters. One storm. A fight for their lives.

Rama is all fire—fierce, quick to anger, and trying to hold her family together while battling the monster of intrusive thoughts. Leena is all ice—quiet, numbed to the vibrancy of the world, as she silently blames herself for their mother’s death.

When their father must travel for work, a sudden blizzard traps the sisters alone at their rural home. As the storm tears through their house, they’re left without power, without food, without shelter—and with no one to rely on but each other.

Told in powerful, poetic verse, Sisters Alone is a heart-stopping story of sisterhood, survival, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going, even when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

Content Warning: death of a parent, hospitalization, medical content, hypothermia, grief, anxiety, panic attack

Review:

Sisters Alone brings you into the life of two sisters in one wild blizzard, and a whole lot of emotions. This book truly hit different. I’ve loved verse novels ever since I read Other Words for Home, so I was super excited to read this one, and it didn’t disappoint. It's a gripping, quick story that draws you in instantly.

Rama and Leena are total opposites. Rama is all fire, quick to anger, and dealing with overwhelming intrusive thoughts. Leena is like ice; quiet, shut down, and convinced she’s to blame for their mother's death. When their father leaves for work, they end up stuck alone at their home instead of going on a school ski trip. Then the storm hits hard; power is out, food is gone, and a tree even crashes into their house, leaving them exposed to the cold. It’s just the two of them figuring things out.

What I loved most is how real it feels. They don’t suddenly turn into survival pros who know how to build fires or hunt for food. They act like actual kids: scared, making mistakes, and learning as they go. It makes them so easy to relate to. The writing is awesome too. Each sister has her own clear voice in verse, and even the intonation shifts a little to match their vibe. You really get deep into their heads.

This story balances survival tension with so much heart. It’s not just about braving the snow; it’s about dealing with grief, guilt, and the messy stuff between siblings. If you like verse novels, real sibling bonds, or you're looking for emotional winter vibe reads, this one’s for you. Short, powerful, and totally worth reading!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Toppling Stacks Tours for having me as part of this book tour. Visit this link for the full tour schedule.

About the Author

Shifa Saltagi Safadi is the National Book Award Winning author of Kareem Between, the Amina Banana series, and several picture books, including The Gift of Eid.

Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents when she was a young girl. She is a bilingual Arabic/English speaker, and is very familiar with the challenges of learning English and navigating two languages.

Shifa  has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, is a former English teacher, and is a former reviewer of Muslim books on her blog, Muslim Mommy Blog. 

She is passionate about spreading a love of reading to children through fun storytimes and engaging school visits.

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