SISTERS ALONE, by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, Sept. 8, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
Two sisters try to survive after getting trapped in a blizzard in Sisters Alone, a middle-grade novel in verse by Shifa Saltagi Safadi.
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. —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Told from the alternating viewpoints of Rama and Leena, Sisters Alone is a beautiful story of sisterhood, loss and survival.
The two sisters are trying to move forward, but they feel stuck. Stuck in their grief, their guilt and the very real monsters that sometimes live in our heads.
Author Shifa Saltagi Safadi captures each sister’s unique voice through poetic verse that’s both sparse and full of meaning. Each line and word in Safadi’s text is carefully chosen to both impart feeling and to push the story forward. Verse adds emphasis and draws you in.
Sister’s Alone moves quickly. It features a compelling plot and characters you want to succeed. It’s a lovely read that sits with you even after completion.
Copyright © 2026 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
