Lia Anshar's Honest Pages

  Genre:  Middle Grade Fiction Publishing date:  September 8, 2026 Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  IndieBound 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 ...

  Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Thank you to Anas Hakeem for this gifted ARC. Please visit https://www.anashakeem.com/  for more information about the book. It's a story about Adam, an eleven-year-old orphan who's spent his entire life thinking he's cursed. Strange things follow Adam wherever he goes: paint pots fall on people's heads, bathroom taps mysteriously flood, and bullies seem to follow him around. Worst of all, Adam's shadow has started moving on its own, writhing and stretching whenever he feels strong emotions. He's learned to keep his head down, stay invisible, and pray that no one notices the thing on the wall behind him.  But everything changes when Adam discovers that he's not cursed at all. He's Gushmar, a person born with magical energy called Gushoolah and an "Animal" fused within his very being. Suddenly, he's whisked away from the adoption center and into the magical world of Teraquair, where he finds ...

  "Amira did not need to be told to smile. She was already smiling."  Amira's Picture Day by Reem Faruqi is a sweet and thoughtful story about balancing two important moments in a child’s life: celebrating Eid and attending picture day at school.  The story follows Amira, who is excited to stay home and celebrate Eid. Just thinking about the holiday makes her feel warm and tingly. She looks forward to wearing new clothes, visiting the mosque, and handing out goody bags. But then she notices a flyer on the fridge and her excitement quickly turns into worry. Eid happens to fall on the same day as school picture day.  Amira suddenly feels torn. If she skips school to celebrate Eid, she’ll miss the class photo. What if her classmates forget her? What will her teacher think?  Even though the Eid celebration at the mosque is everything she hoped for, the thought of missing picture day keeps lingering in her mind. Luckily, a last-minute idea on the car ride home offer...

  "'And did you know?' continue grandma, "There are other ways to celebrate Ramadan?'"   The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard is a warm picture book about a young girl experiencing Ramadan in a very relatable way.  The story follows Sophia, who decides that she wants to fast during Ramadan just like her parents and grandmother. She wakes up early for suhoor and begins her first fasting day full of excitement and determination. But as the day goes on, Sophia quickly realizes that fasting is much harder than she expected.  When her little brother appears with a delicious cookie, her resolve finally breaks. Sophia worries that she has ruined everything and failed her first fast.  But her grandmother gently helps her understand something important: Ramadan is about more than just fasting.  One of the things I appreciated in this book is the message about kindness and helping others. When Sophia’s grandmother becomes too tired to prepare iftar, Sophia st...

  "What makes a day special? What I mean is, what makes a special day special?"  Once Upon an Eid is a heartwarming anthology that brings together fifteen Muslim authors to celebrate one of the most joyful days of the year: Eid. Through short stories and lovely spot illustrations, this collection captures the many emotions and traditions surrounding this special holiday.  Eid may be a short, single-syllable word, but for Muslims, it carries so much meaning. It might remind you of waking up to the sound of frying samosas in the kitchen, the sweet comfort of bean pie, or the excitement of wearing a brand-new outfit for Eid prayer. For others, it’s about gift-giving, family gatherings, or long-awaited reunions. Whatever the tradition, the feeling that ties it all together is simple and powerful: joy.  This anthology beautifully showcases the diverse ways in which Eid celebrations can be observed. Religious holidays often require preparation, and every family has its own...

  "Inshallah you have faith that won't waver or bend."  If you’re looking for a sweet, heart-melting picture book, Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan is such a lovely pick.  This book may be short, but the feeling it leaves behind is so warm and comforting. It’s more than just a picture book with adorable illustrations. It feels like a reminder, a hope, and a quiet prayer wrapped into a story, especially for Muslim families.  The whole book centers around the phrase InshaAllah, which means “if God wills it.” It’s something many of us Muslims say every day when we talk about our plans and dreams. In this book, though, InshaAllah becomes something extra special, it’s a loving dua from parents to their child.  Each page starts with “InshaAllah…” followed by a heartfelt wish. We see a baby welcomed into a loving family, and as the pages turn, the child slowly grows up. From tiny newborn moments to little milestones, the child changes, but the loving wishes st...