FIRST LINE: "One year after the fire, my doctor removes my mask and tells me to get a life."

THE STORY: What's it like to lose everything you love including yourself? 16 year old Ava survived a fire that left her alone and disfigured. How she faces trying to find a new normal is heartbreaking and inspiring. This is an amazing view into what burn survivors live through, but then all of us have scars, although some aren't as visible.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I was immediately drawn into the story by the awful facts of Ava's situation. At first she turns away from everyone but, forced to go back to high school, she encounters and makes friends with Piper and Asad.

"For each species on the planet, finding this community is not a luxury; it's an essential element of survival."

I loved the social media aspects and the musical theater references. Ava makes some bad decisions that worried me, but these issues were overcome by others who love her enough to help her find appropriate outcomes. Ava's world will never again be what it was before the fire but there is a new normal that is worth living.

BOTTOM LINE: Well written, plotted, and paced, this debut novel is worthy of the attention it has garnered. Although the story is about teenagers, I think anyone can read and take away a message of hope.

Disclaimer: A copy of Scars Like Wings was provided to me by Delacorte Press/Net Galley for an honest review.

One of the most touching and hardest books I’ve read so far this year. It made me laugh and cry and sometimes both at the same time. A fantastic read.

Just finished SCARS LIKE WINGS and WOW did it hit me in the feels. It’s inspirational (MC Ava would really hate that I said that), evocative, and REAL. Anyone can see themselves in Ava and Piper, and that's part of the magic behind the story. Author Erin Stewart shows every single reader that you’re more than your body and other people’s perceptions of you, and sometimes the internal scars are the hardest ones to see AND the hardest ones to heal. Every high school ELA classroom needs this story. I highly recommend!

I don't know how I can express how much I loved this book in a review. Suffice it to say that this book is exceptional in every way. Mild spoilers follow.

Ava is an amazing main character. She would hate to hear me describe her as an inspiration, so I won't. What makes her so wonderful is that she isn't perfect. She's multifaceted with tons of thoughts and feelings that the author makes known to the reader. She is an excellent narrator, and always felt realistic to me.

Piper is really something. I liked that the main theme of this book is the friendship between her and Ava. It's really meaningful, much more so than the insipid YA instalove that happens in too many books. These girls have both been through hell and they support each other in the best way. There sure is a lot of drama, without going into spoilers, but I was really happy with how the book ended.

My heart broke for Ava as she struggled to come to terms with how she looks. The saddest part is how she doesn't recognize herself when she looks in the mirror. She doesn't just think she's ugly, she feels like she's lost everything. Her journey in support group is super well written, because she starts off skeptical but ends up genuinely working hard and growing. This is a nuanced and encouraging portrayal of therapy, and I'm so glad the author did it like this. Of course, I have no idea what it's like to be in Ava's position, but I was glad to see an honest discussion of the healing process.

This book genuinely made me cry when reading about how Ava and Cora, her aunt, are both dealing with loss. Ava lost her parents and Cora lost her daughter. The relationship between Ava and her aunt and uncle is beautifully written and has a lot of heart. Honestly, this book put me through the emotional wringer. I read it in less than 24 hours which is remarkable these days for me. This is a truly exceptional addition to the YA world and I can't recommend it enough.

TW: suicide attempt, severe bullying, graphic depictions of burn treatment in the hospital and a surgery.

***I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much, NetGalley, for the privilege of reading this book early.***

I received a copy of SCARS LIKE WINGS on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

FIVE stars and here’s why:

The book drew me in from the get-go. The author, Erin Stewart, has a beautifully written story here that is very hard to put down. Total book hangover. Each person experiences life and death and tragedy in their own unique way. The author portrayed emotionally raw characters who are dealing with death and anxiety in different ways. I found it to be a real page-turner, but I work with teens, so I found that Ms. Stewart really captured the essence of what it’s like to lose someone near and dear to one’s heart; particularly at that age when everything is so vibrant and fresh and emotional. I fell in love with the story and rooted for the characters. I realize it’s one of these stories that does not necessarily have to have a happily ever after tied up in a big red bow. Having said that, however, it’s one of these stories that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Highly recommend.

I honestly feel kind of bad being the first person who didn't really like <i>Scars Like Wings</i> by Erin Stewart. And I was initially really excited and thrilled to get a chance to read it, but somewhere along the way I just found myself quickly losing interest both in the character and in the story. <i>Scars Like Wings</i> follows a teenager, Ava, through the aftermath of experiencing the trauma of a fire that not only left her world in upheaval as she deals with the mental damage such an event causes and the struggle to work through and accept her injuries, she deals with the loss of her parents and cousin. Everything about Ava's life has changed as a result of her burns; from her outward appearance to the way she spends her days. Though the book begins long after she has worked through much of her recovery, with its focus more on her mental healing rather than her physical healing, so much of what she faces seems to continually be a fight that stands as a testament to her own inner strength.

And I just didn't like it. I grew annoyed with the characters and I grew bored with the story. Perhaps the only character in the whole novel I felt any connection to enough to like as a person was Asad. And while I've never had to deal, personally, with much of what Ava goes through I feel as though I just wanted her to be a more likable character. And this isn't to demean her struggle in any way shape or form. I couldn't begin to fathom how my life would change if I were in her shoes. The only thing Ava and I really have in common lies in our depression, so that aspect I did understand to an extent. But I think the truth of the matter is that I don't want to read about depressed people who take it out on those around them. I've never been the kind of person to see it as okay to lash out, despite my depression, and while I know it is how some cope it bugged me immensely about Ava and infuriated me about Piper.

So, what I think my opinion on <i>Scars Like Wings </i>really boiled down to in the end was the fact that I couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters. Kenzie was awful, Cora was very "meh," Piper was awful, Ava was frustrating, and all the other side characters--again, minus Asad--were so dull that I barely remember them. And maybe we can chock it up to the fact that the bitterness within the traumatized characters was not something I felt comfortable reading because, on a personal level, I can't fathom being that awful to those around you simply because of the hurt you went through, but I just didn't like this book. I don't think it was horrendously terrible and it was definitely researched and written well. It just wasn't for me.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Erin Stewart has done an amazing job with a degree of success previously achieved by only the masters.
Ava Lee is a 16 year old girl who is the sole survivor of a savage fire, apocalyptic in that it destroyed her entire life; it destroyed her home, killing both of her parents and her best friend/cousin. It has also destroyed her face and scarred over 60% of her body. Ava has survived a year full of surgeries and skin grafts, leaving multi-colored, swollen patchwork scars all over her face and body. But the ugliness doesnt stop there. Ava is living with her dead cousin's parents, in her dead cousin's room, with no friends, no school, no hope. The only consistencies in her life are more doctors, more guilt, and the repeatedly horrified gawking of strangers. As the book opens, Ava is literally a burned out shell of her former self.
Let me tell you why I love this book so much.
1. Characterization above and beyond what you would expect from YA. Even minor characters are complex, fresh, breathing life and word-weaving spells of infinite variation. Every character has their own voice, tempo, and word choice (aka colloquialisms) expressing not only their ethnicity, but also gender, and generational differences. Most importantly, Stewart has avoided the standard hee-hee YA characters.
2. Plot: Along with a host of intricate protagonists in Ava, Piper and Asad.. there are many, many plot twists that you could not have seen coming.: Stewart has chosen an unusual storyline and we would do well to soak it in. A survivor may not want to be an "Inspiration!" or a "Hero!" They don't know what to do with your pity or your curiosity or your adoration. They just want to be normal, but there is no normal. It's all gone.
3. Theme. Yes, it's YA. Which means the theme is "coming of age" which is lit-speak for going through a whole raft of sh*t and coming out the other side. Scars Like Wings does give us a happy ending, but it also tantalizes us with a tragic ending which is ever-present, a threatening reminder of the knife's edge dividing life and death.
Pay attention to this book. Like Busta Rhymes says, "If you dont know, now you know."

Scars Like Wings, by Erin Stewart drew me in from the first chapter. It was one of those books that I couldn’t put down and read in under 24 hours. The characters were so genuine and real. I easily connected with all of them. I loved seeing the world through Ava’s and Piper’s eyes, because it really gave you a different perspective. It reinforced differences in people in the most beautiful way. This was a “feel-good” book but also brought out so many raw emotions. I definitely caught myself tearing up a few times. I will be looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book took me through so many emotions. The writing was extremely well done, as were the characters. Especially Ava.
You can tell that the author put in lots of thought and research.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to review this book ahead of its release date.

So, sometimes there are books that you may think, well, I just can't relate to that. But books are not just for you to relate to personally. They are for you to open your eyes to others and what they might be going through. They teach you empathy and how to switch your perception of what you only see on the outside. This book is one of those that I digested in such a way.

SCARS LIKE WINGS follows Ava, a year later after a horrific house fire that killed her parents and left her burned on 60% of her body. She lives with her aunt and uncle as she navigates life feeling lost and hideous. She makes a deal with Cora, her aunt, and attempts to go back to school for a sense of normalcy. Ava knows her life is no longer normal, and the stares and whispers about her appearance do not sneak by but are amplified in her already fragile mind.

She meets a girl named Piper, who's recovering from a car accident and together, along with a boy named Asad, they form bonds that seem unbreakable, but are just as splintered. Piper may push Ava to become more confident, but it can only go so far. Ava realizes the trauma that Piper is going through behind closed doors and learns to look past her problems. Behind the backdrop of a theater group and secrets, she must come to terms with; Ava must find a way to break free of her scars.

I finished this book in less than a day. The characters and their journies were so heartbreaking. Having scars of my own (car accident, thyroid surgery, throwing my arm through a window), I felt a little bit what Ava was going through. People who ask about the scars on my face as a child and when we're children we don't know how to process it. We sink into ourselves, feel ashamed, or just get angry. These feelings are normal and are some of the things Ava goes through. What I learned as I grew, is what Ava learns in this book, is that you are not your scars and that you can rise above the stares and the questions and comes to terms with your past because scars, unseen or not, are there to stay. It's what you do with them that defines you.

I cannot wait to see what else Erin Stewart has in store. I cannot believe this is a debut because it is just phenomenal!. Congrats on a fantastic book. I hope teachers and librarians stock this book and use it as required reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book!

This is a beautiful novel. The characters are so vivid. I sank right into this book and stayed in until the very last page. The main character's growth was great to watch.

After Ava's family dies in a house fire, her world feels like it will never be the same. Severely burned herself, Ava has to learn to navigate life without her parents, living with her aunt and uncle without her cousin, a lifelong friend. She sees herself as unloveable, and has distanced herself from everyone in her life before the fire.

After urging from her aunt, she goes back to school, and stars discovering that life can be fulfilling, even after tragedy. With the help of new friends Piper and Asad, she begins to tread the treacherous waters of high school. But still, secrets may upend the new normal she is slowly trying to build.

One thing that I didn't love about the novel is Piper, Ava's new friend. To me, she seems highly manipulative and controlling. While I understand the reasons she is the way she is, I still didn't feel she was the strongest friend for Ava.

I highly enjoyed this book. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It very well written. And the characters are very well described. My favorite characters are Piper and Asad. I can't wait to read more by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. I honestly read it in the span of a few hours and it was fantastic. I really liked the main character and felt that book being from the POV of a burn survivor was interesting. I have never read a YA book from that POV so I found it unique. I also really enjoyed the broadway references that fill the book and the twist and turns too. I really didn't see a twist coming at the end that kinda surprised me. I had a few issues with the sudden turn around of the "villain" character at the end and felt some characters could've been more fleshed out, but overall I really liked this story. The characters had unique experiences and interesting personalities, the story flowed very well, and there were even a few surprises in store that I didn't see coming. I definitely can recommend this book and hope that everyone goes out and purchases a copy this October.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of SCARS LIKE WINGS by Erin Stewart in exchange for my honest review.***

Nineteen surgeries after Ava loses her parents and cousin to a fire, she returns to school. With 60% of her body covered in burn scars, she doesn’t expect to meet Piper, another burn survivor who attends her support group and school. Together the girls bolster each other. As Ava finally sees the possibility of a “new normal”, Piper becomes clingy.

Debut writer Erin Stewart kept me glued to my kindle. I finished SCARS LIKE WINGS in one sitting, rooting for Ava every step of the way. Major and minor characters felt like the real kids you meet in high school. Stewart’s word building read like that of a seasoned writer.

At times Ava felt like a trope, the damaged girl who needs convincing life is worth living who overcomes being her worst obstacle. I’ve seen her character in other books.

***minor spoilers***

What kept me from giving SCARS LIKE WINGS five starts was the unhealthy friendship aspects that go unaddressed. Taking bullying from a friend, even if she’s depressed is not healthy. Friends shouldn’t be martyrs to their friends’ mental illnesses, especially when they’re also struggling. Their therapist should have been encouraging time apart to find and heal themselves instead of encouraging enmeshment.

***end spoilers***

I do recommend SCARS LIKE WINGS and will look for Stewart’s next book.

Such a good book! Heart wrenching story of a teen girl dealing with severe disfigurement and family loss while trying to regain a normal life. Highly recommend!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

this book will hit you in the feels. the cover is beautiufl, the title drew me in, and the writing kept me here.

the book follows the aftermath of a tragedy that occurs to ava and her family. it has left ava scarred.

it's a raw and real look at the struggle of not only being a teen girl, but of being a burn survivor and coming to terms with your new normla.

Erin Stewart delivers with an engaging look at what it feels like to wear pain on our bodies and learn to fly anyway. Besides the delightful musical theatre references and fantastic voice, Stewart's story will captivate you form the first page. You'll want to re-read this as soon as you reach the end.

A raw, real, and unflinching portrayal of a teen burn survivor’s struggle to find a new normal.

What I loved 🖤🖤🖤:
1. The power of language. Dr. Layne explains the difference between seeing yourself as a “victim” or as a “survivor.” The words we choose to say about ourselves either give us power or take it away.
2. Ava’s struggle to find herself in her scarred skin is heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful. She reintegrates back into high school despite rude stares and mean comments.
3. Her friend and fellow burn survivor, Piper, helps Ava to laugh at her struggles while hiding her own pain. Their friendship is poignant and probably my favorite part of the book.
4. I learned so much about burn survivors. Their surgeries, including “harvesting” skin and even toes from other areas of their bodies. Compression garments and masks to keep their new skin from bulging. The tank and other methods to help their new skin.
5. Ava’s aunt and uncle are beautifully supportive while still mourning the death of their own daughter.
6. Before the fire Ava loved theatre, and after the fire Ava has to find her old voice and new dreams. I loved how the high school theatre group ultimately rallied around her.
7. As the title states, our scars don’t have to define us, but can be our wings. This book shows that the deepest scars are often on the inside. The scars that no one else can see.

Grab a box of tissues and prepare to be entirely immersed into Ava’s world.

This book was so amazing. I don’t usually read contemporary, but Scars Like Wings was so hauntingly beautiful that I couldn’t help but love it. The characters were all so real, strong sometimes, weak sometimes. I loved Ava as a character and really enjoyed reading her story. I also loved Piper.

This book was so amazingly good. Ava was the best character: strong, smart funny brave and so real. She survived a fire in which her parents and cousin died in. She had burns over 60% of her body. Now a year later, she is attempting to try and get back to a normal life (somewhat) and go back to high school because her aunt and uncle (her dead cousin's parents who she now live with) and her therapists/doctors) want her to try). She does not look the same--she has tons of scars and scar tissue all over her body including her face. She is self-conscious about how she looks but she also keeps it real with an amazing sense of humor and a no-too-serious grasp of what her reality is now that her life is so different that it was pre-fire. High school sucks for normal kids and she knows is but she goes anyways. She meets Piper who was in a car accident and is also a burn victim and in a wheelchair because of spinal damage. They become close friends and really begin to need each other, push the other to get involved and really start to live again. unbeknownst to Ava, Piper is merely making the motions and not really following through. Ava even has a crush a fellow crew member once she joins the stage crew (she used to be on stage in her former life as a performer but being backstage is close enough for her to at least be involved). So many things happen that in this amazing story that I do not want to ruin for other readers. Ava funds strength inside herself and really does come back to life in a truly beautiful way. I absolutely loved this book, the characters, the writing--it is clever, funny, honest and so real. Definitely do NOT miss this absolutely brilliant story of a teenage girl who thought her life was over after a terrible disaster but finds strength and love and beauty in herself and those around her to begin to live again. This book deserves more than 5 stars!!!! Thanks so much to NG for the ARC!!! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!!!