Scars Like Wings

By: Erin Stewart

Narrated by: Emma Galvin

Relatable, heartbreaking, and real, this is a story of resilience--the perfect novel for readers of powerful contemporary fiction like Girl in Pieces and Every Last Word.

Before, I was a million things. Now I'm only one. The Burned Girl.

Ava Lee has lost everything there is to lose: Her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Even her face. She doesn't need a mirror to know what she looks like--she can see her reflection in the eyes of everyone around her.

A year after the fire that destroyed her world, her aunt and uncle have decided she should go back to high school. Be "normal" again. Whatever that is. Ava knows better. There is no normal for someone like her. And forget making friends--no one wants to be seen with the Burned Girl, now or ever.

But when Ava meets a fellow survivor named Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn't have to face the nightmare alone. Sarcastic and blunt, Piper isn't afraid to push Ava out of her comfort zone. Piper introduces Ava to Asad, a boy who loves theater just as much as she does, and slowly, Ava tries to create a life again. Yet Piper is fighting her own battle, and soon Ava must decide if she's going to fade back into her scars . . . or let the people by her side help her fly.

"A heartfelt and unflinching look at the reality of being a burn survivor and at the scars we all carry. This book is for everyone, burned or not, who has ever searched for a light in the darkness." --Stephanie Nielson, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven Is Here and a burn survivor

Critic reviews

"A heartfelt and unflinching look at the reality of being a burn survivor and at the scars we all carry. This book is for everyone, burned or not, who has ever searched for a light in the darkness." --Stephanie Nielson, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven Is Here and a burn survivor

"A tender, frank coming-of-age story about the pain and power of survival."—Kirkus Reviews

“A sensitively handled story filled with relatable, three-dimensional characters…. The first-person narrative movingly expresses Ava’s lingering sorrow and changing outlook as she navigates her way toward a new form of normalcy.” –Publishers Weekly

“Thought-provoking . . . will push readers to think deeply about empathy, hope, and resilience in the face of heartbreak." —School Library Journal

"What Wonder (2012) did for middle-school kids, Stewart’s debut does for high schoolers…. Readers will find this emotional, heart-wrenching novel endearing and profound.” —Booklist

The novel offers an unflinching portrait of pain and loss, and argues that the journey out of darkness cannot be a solitary one.” —VOYA

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Great story about finding a new normal after tragedy

Readers get a glimpse of what life’s like as a teen with tragic injuries. Recommended!

Painfully delightful !

Fun and heart wrenching at the same time! Burn survivors have to deal with so much besides the scars.

Not generally a fan of Y.A. , but...

This book was hard to listen to, both because I have a weak stomach, and it was very sad overall. But in spite of this, and in spite of being too old to enjoy the Y.A. genre most of the time, this was a good story with excellent narration. I only listened to it because it was my book club's pick this month, but I am looking forward to the discussion!

Addy

This is a amazing book. The book made me feel like I was there. I highly suggest this book.

Great read

Loved the book. One that I will be sharing with my daughter. There was a realness to the characters.