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.
On sale: September 8, 2026
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 6-8
Page count: 336 Pages
ISBN: 9798217111091
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. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, is a former ELA teacher, and is passionate about spreading a love of reading through storytimes and school visits. Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents as a young girl. She lives near Chicago with her husband and four children.
Find her on Instagram @shifasaltagisafadi
PW Fall 2026 Preview: Top 10 Middle Grade
★ “A thrilling tale teeming with richly wrought details....Equal parts survival story and homage to sisterhood, it’s a standout."
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Publishers Weekly, starred review“The sister's hard-won victories remind us that the challenges of being human are best faced with trust, love, and the comfort of family.”
—Megan E. Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of Alone and Away“Punchy verse, high emotions, and a terrifying blizzard make this gripping tale of sisterhood a must-read for any survival fans.”
—Andrea Beatriz Arango, Newbery Honor author of Iveliz Explains It All
“This story reminds us how we cannot forgive and love others fully until we first forgive and love ourselves.”
—Allan Wolf, author of The Watch that Ends the Night and Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom.
“An action-packed novel in verse seeped in narrative tension.”
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Cordelia Jensen, author of Lilac and the Switchback
“A thoughtful depiction of sisterhood and loss, elevated by its deliberate use of form.”
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Kirkus
