“My Friend Suhana” is a children’s book written by Aanyah Abdullah and her mother, Shaila Abdullah. It is available in bookstores and on e-readers. Aanyah is currently a 6th grader at CVMS.

“My Friend Suhana” is based off of a true story. The book expresses the friendship between the narrator and Suhana, a child with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. When she was 7, Abdullah volunteered at a special needs class, where she met a girl named Suhana. Suhana was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, but that didn’t stop them from bonding. When Aanyah was in second grade she wrote an essay about their friendship, which impressed her teacher.  Encouraged by her teacher’s praise, she decided to team up with her mother to turn it into a book. “This message of friendship and hope and love really needed to be told.” Shaila said.

The process of creating the book was long and tiring for the two authors. “It took about 6 months [to complete the book], every night my mom and I would get on the computer to work. She typed, and I would give ideas and suggestions.” Aanyah said. The book was published when she was in 4th grade.

The book has earned countless of praise from authors and critics.  “[The book is] visually appealing and well written,” commented Mrs. Styles, one of Canyon Vista’s librarians. “But the thing I love most is the message of acceptance.” It was awarded the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award for children’s books that appropriately illustrate a character with disabilities. “It was a big honor,” said Aanyah after receiving the award. On January 21st, Aanyah and Shaila were interviewed by Christina Millweard, a reporter from KVUE. You can watch the story here.