Lia Anshar's Honest Pages

  "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...

"She'd lived deep in the nuances of a world they saw as black and white. They were right about the war. She knew that."  If you’re looking for a historical novel that blends coming-of-age emotions with a rarely explored perspective on the Vietnam War, Sawadika American Girl by Daria Sommers might surprise you in the best way.  Set in 1968 Bangkok, the story follows seventeen-year-old Piper Lewis, the daughter of a USAID officer. As the U.S. military presence expands across Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, Piper finds her once-familiar world shifting in ways she doesn’t fully understand. Her father grows distant and secretive, her stepmother becomes increasingly controlling, and even the piano, once her refuge, feels disconnected from her emotions.  Everything changes when Piper meets Jack, a nineteen-year-old American soldier on leave. Their connection is immediate, intense, and forbidden. Determined to spend his remaining days of leave together, they step into a f...

"Oh, my dear Lucinda, I can't control what is going on out there," Mamá said, "but Papá can help a neighbor, Tía Antonia can sooth a troubled tummy, Abuelo can reinforce the doors, and I I can cook." A Light for Lucinda by Olga Herrera is a tender and timely picture book that gently explores what it feels like to be a child witnessing political conflict just outside her window. Through Lucinda’s eyes, readers experience the contrast between fear and comfort, chaos and calm, uncertainty and love.  Told from a child’s perspective, the writing and illustrations beautifully capture how young hearts process overwhelming events. While danger lingers outside, the inside of Lucinda’s home remains warm and steady. In the midst of anxiety, she finds healing in simple yet powerful moments, her mother cooking in the kitchen and the reassuring presence of family members taking care of one another.  What I love most about this book is how it handles a serious topic with sens...