This is different to the majority of YA books coming out at the moment, there’s no murder or massive mystery going on, it’s a story of coming to terms with massive trauma and life changing events, with friendship at its core. I loved it,

The subject of this book is a difficult one to read in places, and the reactions of some of the kids at school are absolutely awful, but this is real life. The author's research and time spent on this book is clear, and comes across with how realistic it all is. You will love Ava and be completely rooting for her pretty much immediately.

I’d have loved to have seen more from these characters and spent more time with them, which is the indicator of a good book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Scars Like Wings – Erin Stewart

Everyone has scars. Some are just easier to see …
16-year-old Ava Gardener is heading back to school one year after a house fire left her severely disfigured. She’s used to the names, the stares, the discomfort, but there’s one name she hates most of all: Survivor. What do you call someone who didn’t mean to survive? Who sometimes wishes she hadn’t?
When she meets a fellow survivor named Piper at therapy, Ava begins to feel like she’s not facing the nightmare alone. Piper helps Ava reclaim the pieces of Ava Before the Fire, a normal girl who kissed boys and sang on stage. But Piper is fighting her own battle for survival, and when Ava almost loses her best friend, she must decide if the new normal she’s chasing has more to do with the girl in the glass—or the people by her side.
The beautiful, life-affirming debut from Erin Stewart that’s being called the YA answer to Wonder. Perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson, Nicola Yoon and John Green

Sometimes you just really want a jolly good YA novel and that was exactly what this was. I mean, like the great YA novels it deals with some big issues, loss of parents, suicidal thoughts and life changing injuries as well as bullying but all in a funny and heart breaking way. This had some wonderful smart and sassy teens and managed to make a truly horrible situation engaging without being preachy or making victims or examples out of our main characters. Both Piper and Ava are incredible characters that react to their situations in completely different ways. In fact, I don’t think there was a character I didn’t like! My only real issue with this was that I am getting a bit bored of every YA book I read referencing Lin Manuel Miranda. We get it. He’s awesome, kids like theatre but ya’ll need to stop.

There were elements of this I liked, but ultimately I've read the same concept done better a number of times now. I really struggled to like Ava, and the other characters in the book weren't developed enough. This, coupled with the lack of a real plot, meant that what should've been an affecting and heart wrenching story, just...wasn't. Link that with Ava's basic theatre taste and I just wasn't wowed.

Such a thought-provoking book. We meet Ava Lee, who is a burns survivor but with significant scars on her face and body, in the fire, she lost her parents and now living with her aunt and uncle. It is now time to return to school, how will the other students be with her?
We follow Ava through her struggles and her achievements, friendship and self-acceptance it is heartbreaking at times, I felt the pull and was almost in tears reading some of it.
Erin Stewart did an amazing job writing this, it flowed well and I would recommend it

This was such a well done book in terms of dealing with Ava and her life after surviving a house fire that killed her parents and cousin. Ava’s relationship with Pippa helps her remember who she was before she was the girl who was in the fire. This book was really well written.

Amazing voice and characterisation. Beautifully balanced between the dark and difficult subject matter, the loss and grief, and hope, and the idea that we are stronger together. Life-affirming. One that will linger long after reading. Issue-driven, character-driven, contemporary YA at its best.

The author brought these characters to life, sharing their stories with compassion, truth and expectations of others. Two survivors of different but equally horrific accidents. The friendship they develop and the strength they gain from this is inspiring. They both have their own demons to tackle and although they do it in different ways, they come together (with the help of family and new friends gained along the way) A wonderful read.

Brilliant. Just amazing
Ava Lee has lost everything including her face. Everyone spends their time staring at her, pitying her or unable to look at her in the face but her aunt has made her go back to school.
The only trouble is Ava is too 'broken' and doesn't need friends.
Until she meets Piper who is more screwed up than she is and it shows.
I loved how the author didn't make us pity Ava and didn't play the poor victim card. She wasn't some inspirational story and she was allowed to be selfish and sad.
Asad was hilarious and I wish I had a friend like him.
I think that this is a book that is important to read, especially for survivors as it showcases real feeling and emotions without sugarcoating the hardships that come with such a tragedy.

I really enjoyed this book, that at times reminded me of the book 'wonder' by Raquel Jaramillo.

There were times where I was crying with the character.

A wonderful moving but powerful book.

Easily compared with Full Disclosure, which I read later, I found this easier to read, although I need no more books about theatre kids! I respect the detail the author goes to to describe the injuries, there is no glamourising here and the protagonist seems fully human inside their pain. Valuing friendship, freedom and independence this was an empowering read.

I finished Scars Like Wings last night and it was truly beautiful. Everything about it was beautiful, so beautiful that I cried near the ending. This novel opened my eyes to so many different things and made me feel so much. I would highly recommend this book to any and everyone.

Ava is 16, and a year previously her house had burned down with Ava as sole survivor, losing both her parents and cousin Sara. Sara’s parents took in Ava and have supported her ever since. Her aunt has finally persuaded Ava to return to school on a strict (Ava’s conditions) 10 day trial, albeit a different school as Ava could not face returning to her previous friends. But Ava must face the worst nightmare of a teenage girl - facing her peers with her newly disfigured face and body. In spite of numerous skin grafts, Ava know everyone will stop and stare. Can she last the 10 days?
Ava soon susses out the It Girl, who whispers hurtful truths about Ava’s condition. But as well, Ava meets Piper, herself a victim of a traumatic car accident, who seems not to care about what people think and knows everyone will notice her injuries, so why not draw attention to them by opting for a shocking coloured compression garment, rather than the flesh coloured ‘normal’ option. Two different approaches to a similar situation, but neither girl has quite got full control of their own feelings.
This novel is so realistic and heartbreaking. The reader feels for both girls and wonders how the other students can be so cruel, but that’s what make it real. In spite of the immensely sad events, this is ultimately a positive story, made that way because of the powerful writing.

I got through this book very quickly because it's easy to read and absorbing. I fully related to the main character, Ava, as she was so well written, and the themes of not being at peace with the way you look are universal to everyone, even though in Ava's case it was a lot more exacerbated due to her extensive burns. It was odd that no one had siblings except her mother though. This was an issues book that ties everything up perfectly but not in an unrealistic fairy tale way. I liked her aunt Cora. I didn't like Piper as much as I felt I was supposed to, but her presence wasn't an annoyance. I liked Asad and his love of musical theatre.

A good, fast read that delves into self-worth, perception and friendship.

O WOW I was bowled over by this book. It made me cry quite a few times but by the end I felt educated, informed and hopeful. The writing is early good with a real feel for a teenage generation. All the characters were likeable and three dimensional. I think this book will appeal to not only the YA market but to all. If you liked Wonder, then you’ll love this

An absolutely beautifully written heartfelt book. This book had me in tears pretty much from the off.
The book focuses on Ava the sole survivor of a house fire that claimed her parents, her cousin and her body. She is a teenage girl trying to live her life covered in scars from that horrific night whilst dealing with the loss of her family.
I can't even begin to imagine how you would feel if you were in her shoes. This book gave me all the feels. It felt so raw and honest it left me a total mess. It was so well written I became absorbed in the story and kept having to stop to really process what had happened. It covers aspects of bullying, judgement, depression and of course trauma and made me really think about how people could all be a bit kinder if they read books like this.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. I think this is one that will stay with me for a long time

I've been waiting for a book with this premise for a while now; tired of female protagonists who hide away for no reason other than it makes them interesting to boring boy love interests. Ava is a very realistic character, with good reason to feel the way she does. I loved Piper too, and it was fun to read her dialogue.

A touching and uplifting book about loss, love, friendship and disability. Ava’s journey seemed authentic, believable, particularly her relationship with her aunt and uncle, juxtaposed with their own loss. Apart from some predictable YA staples (e.g., the love triangle), this was a good read. My only niggle was Piper, she appeared pushy and disrespectful of other people’s boundaries.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

What an amazing read, a young girls story on how she deals with the hand she's been dealt after a devastating fire leaves her an orphan, how she deals with her injuries, and even though Ava doesn't like to hear it, she truly is an inspiration, can't recommend this book enough, I loved it

This book is about a girl coming to terms with a series of forever life changing, traumatic events - losing her parents, her best friends and sustaining painful and visible burn injuries.

It's a visceral, at times very tough read, but it's balanced with the author's gentle nudging of the protagonist to healing, to making tentative new friends, to choosing life. It's chock full of important lessons and insights, and is a great pick for younger readers in particular.

Pretty, raw and well crafted, this YA novel joins ‘Perks’ in being another I wish I’d read in my own teens. Prose flows beautifully and the story unfolds well. Profound without being “in your face”. Recommended.