Scars Like Wings ~ Erin Stewart
~ Blurb ~
Before, I was a million things. Now I’m only one. The burned girl.
Sixteen-year-old Ava is heading back to school a year after a house fire left her severely disfigured. She’s used to the stares, the name-calling, but there’s one name she hates most of all. Survivor. Because what do you call someone who didn’t mean to survive? Who sometimes wish she hadn’t?
When Ava meets Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn’t have to face the nightmare alone. Piper helps Ava reclaim the pieces of the girl she was before the fire, the one who kissed boys and sang on stage. But Piper is facing her own battle, and Ava must decide if the new “normal” she’s chasing has to do with the girl in the mirror… or the people by her side.
Genres – Coming of Age
Age Group – YA (Young Adult Fiction)
Quotes –
- “When a wound’s that deep, it’s the healing that hurts.”
- “This is why I don’t need mirrors; I can see my reflection in the eyes of everyone around me. My face always finds me.
- “If you hold on to the old skin, you’ll never heal.”
- “Funny how when your secret keeper is gone, all those dreams and conversations vanish, too.”
- “It’s a good reminder. Everyone has scars. Some are just easier to see.”
- “Our demons may be smaller, but that doesn’t make the fight — or the bravery — any less real.
- “Their stares tell me I’m different, sure, but they reveal an even deeper truth: I’m less.”
- “But that was another lifetime, one where spontaneous choreographed dances and happy endings seemed not only plausible but likely. At some point, you realize life is not a musical.”
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“Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting. It just means letting go of the hurt.”
My Opinion –
Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart is a heart-breaking, raw, relatable and unforgettable story of hope and finding light in the darkness. Through different characters such as Ava and Piper, the author explores ideas of self-love, acceptance and hope. The development of each character, especially Ava, is quite detailed and shown through diary entries, dialogue, actions and thoughts. Scars Like Wings hooked me from the beginning, and I personally found myself relating to Ava’s thoughts. It’s difficult to see your true self, and in Ava’s case, she didn’t want people to judge and see her for her physical appearance. This coming of age novel is very inspiring, and I highly recommend it for teenagers.