Blizny jak skrzydła

by Erin Stewart, Maria Grabska-Ryńska (translator)

Każdy ma blizny. Tylko niektóre widać na pierwszy rzut oka…

Rok po pożarze, który ją okaleczył, szesnastoletnia Ava wraca do szkoły. Przywykła już do krępujących ludzkich spojrzeń i niewybrednych określeń. Ale jest jedno, którego nienawidzi bardziej niż innych: „ocalona”. Jak nazwać kogoś, kto ocalał wbrew własnej woli? Kto czasami żałuje, że żyje?

Kiedy Ava poznaje Piper, dziewczynę, która tak jak ona jest ofiarą wypadku i poparzenia, dopuszcza do siebie myśl, że być może nie będzie musiała stawić czoła koszmarowi samotnie. Piper pomaga jej odnaleźć w sobie dziewczynę, jaką była przed pożarem – normalną nastolatkę, która całowała się ze swoim chłopcem i śpiewała na scenie. Ale Piper toczy swoją własną bitwę, a gdy Ava omal nie traci przyjaciółki, musi zdecydować, czy zbuduje swoją „nową normalność” na tym, co widzi w lustrze – czy oprze się na ludziach, którzy przy niej stoją.

Ta piękna, afirmująca życie debiutancka powieść Erin Stewart została nazwana odpowiedzią na Cudowne dziecko dla nieco starszej widowni. Idealna dla fanów Jandy Nelson, Nicoli Yoon i Johna Greena.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction, Disability, Young Adult Contemporary

408 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Teodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

"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."

This affirmation just made me want to sell my soul for this book.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, SCARS LIKE WINGS was such a wonderful book about recovery from a major accident and learning to live with disability/disfigurement. We meet Ava a year after the fire that killed her parents and cousin. She survived but was left covered in burns. Her aunt wants her to return to school. Ava is hesitant.

This book was amazing in so many ways, showing the reality of recovery, the changes, both physical and psychological that someone goes through after a major illness or injury, and the stigmas they encounter. A wonderfully diverse cast, including best friend Piper, who was also recently in an accident and uses a wheelchair. So many great messages in this one, including finding your way back to your true self and what makes you happy as you move forward to living your best life.

Trigger Warnings: loss of parents, suicide attempt, bullying

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Everyone has scars. Some are just easier to see.”

All the stars!!! That was gorgeous! It’s been almost three weeks since I finished reading this book and I’m still struggling to form meaningful sentences about it. There isn’t anything I can say that would do justice to the ways Ava and Piper made me feel so please just trust me when I say I want everyone to read this book.

Also, you may want to make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand before you begin. I was close to tears when I read the author’s note about eight year old Marius, whose own story helped to inspire Ava’s, and that was before the first chapter. Couple that with the comparisons between Scars Like Wings and Wonder, and you’ve essentially already got a foolproof recipe for a good ol’ ugly cry. And ugly cry I did, as well as some more minor dehydration inducing episodes, but they were of the ‘this is so beautiful!’ variety.

When a wound’s that deep, it’s the healing that hurts.

Ava survived the fire that claimed the lives of her parents and her best friend, but she doesn’t feel like the lucky one. After a year of excruciating treatments on her scarred body, 60% of which was burned, Ava is leaving hospital to live with her Aunt Cora, the “self appointed CEO” of the “Committee on Ava’s Life”, and Uncle Glenn.

The scars are all I see.

Ava doesn’t want any part of finding a ‘new normal’ but reluctantly agrees to attend school for two weeks to appease the Committee. If she can just make it through ten school days and show her Aunt she’s attempted ‘reintegration’, she will be able to resume hiding from the world indefinitely because she’ll have concrete evidence of its failure. She’s certain of it.

Those girls have no idea that I used to be a normal girl with friends

Except Ava doesn’t expect to meet people like Piper and Asad. Piper was my favourite character, partially because of her fluency in sarcasm and eccentricity, and also because I understand what it’s like to have a car accident turn your life into a Before and After. I appreciated her use of humour to deflect and deny the pain she was feeling.

“It’s like the universe dealt us this horrible hand in life and it’s our duty to scream back: ‘Well played, craptastic cosmos, but you haven’t met me yet.’”

Asad is a theatre geek, whose passion and personality stole my heart. Their empathy and compassion made me consistently want to give them bear hugs but they also snagged some great lines. About Wicked:

“It is nothing like The Wizard of Oz. It is like taking the yellow brick road and twisting it until it snaps in half and then you look inside and there’s a whole other world in that road that’s dark and deep and soul-exposing.”

I would tell you that Ava’s story is inspirational but she hates that word so instead I’ll tell you that it’s a reminder that the love, support and acceptance of others can make all the difference when you’re in pain, for whatever reason.

“She conquered her demons and wore her scars like wings.”

I loved the complexities of the characters. I can’t think of a single person who remained inside of the box that was initially labelled with them in mind. Perception or circumstances may have cast them in a specific role and while sometimes that may have been accurate to a degree, that’s not all they were; oftentimes they were also the opposite and I find that so encouraging.

At one point I nearly convinced myself to refuse to turn the page because I didn’t think I could handle it if what I feared was going to happen actually did. Thankfully I was mostly wrong about that part of the story. Had I been right, I’d probably still be ugly crying!

I figured out who was sending the messages to Piper early on, quite possibly accidentally, but this didn’t affect the way I felt about this book. By the time the truth was revealed it actually made even more sense to me why it had to be this person.

Content warnings include bullying, homophobia, ableism, depression and a suicide attempt.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the opportunity to read this book.

[Geo Just Reading My Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translation widget on The blog!!!
O lectură cu un mare impact emoțional asupra cititorilor, care te sfărâmă și apoi te lipește la loc, pe care o trăiești la intensitate maximă.
O lectură despre curaj și suferință, despre o tânără lovită crunt de soartă, care a rămas fără nimic. Un incendiu care nu-i schimbă doar viața de zi cu zi, ci și pe ea: fizic și emoțional.
Ava Lee este eroina principală a romanului “Cicatrici în chip de aripi”, o tânără puternică, care luptă cu piedicile pe care soarta i le-a pus în cale. Piedici nu chiar așa ușor de depășit.
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/cic...

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Wonder you will enjoy this debut YA Novel from Erin Stewart.

Our protagonist Ava has burn scars across 60% of her body from a house fire where her mother, father and best friend (Cousin) lost their lives. Ava now lives with her Aunt and uncle, one year on from the tragedy, countless surgeries and rehabilitation it is time for Ava to go back to school, to get back to "normal"

So much has changed for Ava, her mental state, her depression, her scars, kids can be cruel and as a teenager in high school it will be brutal. But Ava agrees to give it a shot. At support group, Ava meets Piper a burn survivor from a horrific car accident. We follow Ava’s journey, her struggles, her triumphs this is a story of courage, friendship, taking chances, self-acceptance and learning to love herself again.

There are parts of the story that lagged for me and were very young. At the core heart of the story was uplifting, and the research Erin invested in burn scars and associated trauma was evident in Ava’s road to recovery, it felt real and relatable.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia and Erin Stewart for my ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Published in Australia October 1st 2019.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come later; I’m in a “book hangover” after reading this beautiful story.
Ok, here it is!
This book was a wonderful read on several levels. First, it’s the story of a teenage girl who loses everything she holds dear in a fire, and has to deal with horrific burns to her body as well. At times she literally wants to let herself curl into a ball and hide from everyone, including her own mirror image, but her doctors and therapists refuse to let that happen. Made me think about how very difficult it must be to work in a burn unit.
The story line of Ava being a theater buff and working in the high-school play of “The Wizard of Oz” was very enjoyable. I appreciated her ability to yank out a quote about a Broadway musical for almost every occasion!
I also liked it because, unlike many other Y.A books written today, it did not contain vulgar language and graphic sex scenes.
Scars Like Wings reminded me of another book about a severely burned young man, David Rothenberg, whose mom wrote a book in the eighties about the experience of helping her son live after his dad tried to burn him alive.
This was a tough book to read at times because of the tears it brought, but well worth it.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg.91)-“The stage was my second home . A place I felt safe. Alive. Confident.”
(Pg.32)-“ This kid has no clue how he’s supposed to act around me. Because no matter what reaction people have, there is always one common thread:
1. Everyone looks at me.
2. Then everyone looks away.
Until now.”

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster (Australia) and Erin Stewart for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


4 stars.

"It's a good reminder: Everyone has scars. Some are just easier to see."

Such a well told story from a burn victim. Sorry I mean burn SURVIVOR. This story is raw and full of emotion.

Ava is seriously burned in a fire that completely destoroyed her home and claimed her parents lives. She ends up living with other family members, Cora and Glenn who's Daughter, Sara, was also killed in the fire. Ava now feels she lives in the shadow of Sara while she tries to work her way through her new life. Cora and Glenn are wonderful guardians, ever so supportive but they all have their own greif to deal with. But together, they step by step, manage their way to creating a new normal life together.

"We have to be stronger than the hurt"

What an emotion wreck I was after reading the part of the story where Dr Layne takes Ava on a road trip. Anybody who has suffered deep and debilitating greif and loss will understand this. It's utterly heartbreaking because I can relate on a deep level to the way this story goes, to how it feels to feel something that's been taken away. It really was such a heartbreaking read that only a person who has experienced such heartbreak can write about, and in this, the author did it well.

"There is always beauty in the ashes. Sometimes we just can't see it yet."

But this book is more than that. It's about losing yourself, losing others and then finding yourself again in a way you didn't think possible. It's about the struggles in getting there. The suffering. And then finally the breaking through it all.

The part where the photographer Photoshop's Ava's photo of herself, really bothered me as I'm sure it would have to anybody who has things about their image that makes them self-conscious, or scars of any kind that they would wish weren't there. He edits Ava's photo so that her scars are no longer there and he then goes to tell her that he made her look, "Better". Like seriously! How in sensitive can a person be. I get that he really did think he was trying to help, but it really wasn't helpful at all. Instead it just pointed out that there was something 'wrong' with how she looked. But it made me realise that comment and all the other ones in this book about insensitive people, is something people with obvious scaring go through each day. Among the rare ones who happen to see beyond all of that, the world is full of those who see and judge and react in a negitaive way. We get to experience what it's like to stand out in a crowd when all you wish you could do is disappear into the background.

"Courage can not erase fears."

This is a story of courage and hope and survival. About how, together, we can climb back out of the hole we have fallen into. But it is also about the strength of friendship and love, support and just simply how being there for someone can mean everything.

Scars Like Wings is a powerful story with a lot of important messages. I highly recommend this book.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Going into this book, I was expecting an interesting story about a fire survivor, but all I got was a book about a girl who complains way too much and a lot of theater references which were inaccurate.

The 'friendships' in this book were extremely toxic and made me uncomfortable to read about.

Okay, I'm a theater kid and there were so many 'references' about musicals, that were later referred to as plays, when they are obviously musicals not plays! Shows that have songs in them are musicals, no songs, only lines are plays!

It seemed like our main character did not respect her aunt and uncle in this book, and that annoyed me, especially with how kind and understanding they have been to her.

Overall, I was disappointed by this book.

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scars Like Wings is a story about Ava that lost her parents in a horrific house fire. That incident left her burned on 60% of her body. She had 19 surgeries. She is feeling lost and hideous. Her life is no longer normal.

She met another burned survivor, Piper. She didn’t expect to meet her. She met her at her support group and school, The characters were so likeable. I enjoyed my journey throughout the book. It was so heartbreaking.

There are so many lessons that I learnt in this book. The plot is good and this book has fast pace. I finished it in less than two days.

The author really done a good job by representing such interesting characters. I liked that the family and friends’ theme also included in this book and to me this theme is one of the aspects that make this book stand out.

Thank you, Pansing for sending me a copy of Scars Like Wings in return for an honest review. This book will be available on October 2019.

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.

Thank you so much Pansing for sending me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Scars like Wings by Erin Stewart will be available at all good bookstores.

Scars like Wings is the story of Ava who has been left severely disfigured after a house fire and who lives with her aunt and uncle, both whom lost their own daughter in the same fire that took the lives of Ava’s family. When placed in this way, you can’t help but to expect an entirely heartbreaking and painful but “life-affirming” (as the blurb says) novel. So yeah, guess who feels awful for not liking this one as much as expected? Me.

You see, Scars like Wings is built on strong foundations but the execution of the ‘building’ (a.k.a. the story itself) on top of said foundations is poor. I’m not saying that this story isn’t valid or that the author hasn’t done their research, because this story is valid and the author definitely did their research. The diversity here is also amazing, but there are three huge issues that I have with this book which made it fall short of my expectations.

The first (and most important) is the lack of emotional depth. I don’t know if it’s just me, but Scars like Wings is just too easy to read and that shouldn’t be the case. A book that is centered around such painful topics should be just as painful to read. It should be filled with hurt—and forgive me for the morbid imagery but, reading it should be like swallowing a mouthful of broken glass. We’re reading in the point of view someone of whose life has drastically changed and thus, we should be able to step into their shoes and experience things as though we’re them, especially because this is a fictional person. If this were a real story told by the person, we wouldn’t need this extra layer of convincing because our mind is already conscious of the fact that this person is real. A character, however, needs that extra layer. Fiction is different from non-fiction, after all.

Another problem I have with this book is the lack of strong character development. I get it that Piper is the one who will help Ava learn how to live life again (it says so in the synopsis) and that Ava will no doubt change because of Piper’s influence. However, that doesn’t mean that Piper should do the character development for Ava only because this makes Ava’s growth appear weak and disingenuous. Of course, it’s not wrong for Ava to have someone to be the reason for her changes, but I would love to see her grow without Piper’s presence constantly lingering in her (and my) consciousness as well. There should be a better balance between Piper helping Ava grow and Ava helping herself to grow.

The final issue I have with this book is the lack of an engaging plot. If you replace everything with generic characters with generic circumstances and backgrounds, you will get about 80% of the same story. What makes Scars like Wings different is the characters and I think that they’ve not been utilized to the fullest due to the rather typical plot.

All in all, Scars like Wings is an okay read for me. Memorable in some ways but not enough to have a lasting impact.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The world casts us into roles based on snap judgements. We look at people, but we don’t see them."

I was a little hesitant to read this because I didn't have the best experience with Erin's second novel. It definitely wasn't my favorite and one I would like to forget. But I really seem to be in the minority with that one. This one was highly recommended to me by some friends because I love a book that can make me have a good cry. So off we went on this emotional adventure.

From the start, I knew that this was going to get me. Oh, boy, did it get me! This was a good and emotional read. It even made old stone face here tear up a few times. Erin put so much feeling into her words that it was hard not to feel them deep in your soul. I saw them, I felt them, and I felt the tears pooling up. I can’t say that I liked the writing style though and I think that’s what held me back. I did actually enjoy this one more than her second book.

Scars Like Wings was an okay read. Better than her second book. The writing style is what gets me and I can't get into it as I would with other authors. Erin will one day get me to be amazed at one of her books but it hasn't happened yet. I'll be waiting for that day!

[Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She conquered her demons and wore her scars like wings,”

I have never really Admired a protagonist as much as I admire Ava.
She is written so realistically that I couldn't help but feel her emotions with every turn of a page.

And believe me, she could have easily been turned into the stereotypical angsty teen who finally finds the ray of light at the end.

But instead her journey to finding a new normal, was so meaningful and relatable.

A must read.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Everyone has scars. Some are just easier to see.'

Sixteen year old Ava received burns to sixty percent of her body in the house fire that killed her parents and her cousin Sara. A year on from the devastation, her doctor and her aunt think it would be a good idea for Ava to make a return to school. But Ava can no longer stand to look at herself in the mirror, so how is she going to walk the halls at school where it will be impossible for her to remain invisible?

Staring, whispers, name calling, gossip... Ava encounters it all. But she also meets Piper. Piper is dealing with her own traumas, but where Ava wants to fade into the background, Piper is loud and funny and sarcastic. And she forces Ava out of her comfort zone. Is the old Ava still in there somewhere?

Scars Like Wings was such an emotional read. Ava's story was heartbreaking. She had so much to deal with. The loss of her family, her home, her old life and friendships, the bullying, and then the psychological impact of everything. It was such a load to bear. But one of my favourite things about this book was the amazing support that the author gave Ava, in her aunt and uncle. I just loved them so much. They were dealing with their own grief, but they were just so loving and supportive.

Erin Stewart did such a wonderful job in creating such a multi layered and powerful read.

[Booktastically Amazing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! What's that? A tear? Here is another one! Ooooo here's one more! And what's that over there? My heart? Hanging from a tree? Hmm, how InTEresTinG!

[Loredana Mariana Bublitchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am ramas fara cuvinte…

De când am observat-o pe contul celor de la @corinteens , la momentul când au anuntat lansarea ei, ochii mi-au fost vrajiti si mintea zapacita de titlu, trebuia sa o am, doar atat aveam in gand, asemeni unei mantre “a mea, a mea, a mea…” . Ei bine, la vremea aceea, nu stiam ce ma asteapta pentru ca nu citisem descrierea, voiam sa ma surprind si…m-am surprins…

Ava a fost singura supravietuitoare a incendiului ce i-a cuprins casa, ramanand cu numeroase cicatrici, atat exterioare, cat si interioare. La un an dupa incendiu, unchiul si matusa sa decid ca e momentul ca Ava sa revina la scoala…la normalitate. Sa renunte la izolarea de care s-a inconjurat, sa-si faca prieteni noi si sa fie o adolescenta ca oricare alta. Doar ca Ava nu vede asa lucrurile, insa Piper ii iese in cale si viata Avei ia o altfel de turnura…

Cu totii avem cicatrici, fie ca sunt la vedere, fie le purtam in suflet, insa nu acestea ne definesc pe noi, ca si persoane. Nu trebuie sa ne lasam influentati de aspectul fizic, ci sa conteze mult mai mult ceea ce o persoana poseda in interior. Degeaba esti placut in afara, daca sufletul iti este putred, insa ne lasam condusi de aparente si tindem sa punem etichete fara numar… Iar povestea Avei vine ca un dus rece sau, cel putin eu, asa am perceput-o. M-a trecut prin numeroase stari, am ras si am plans in acelasi timp, constientizand ca e nevoie de multa putere ca sa treci peste un eveniment cutremurator, dar mai ales, este nevoie de sustinere si de persoane care sa-ti fie alaturi, sa le accepti prezenta si sa nu ii consideri ca iti pot oferi doar mila.

“Cicatrici in chip de aripi” dezvaluie o poveste cu un puternic impact emotional, vorbeste despre vindecare, acceptare si iti demonstreaza ca nu trebuie sa vezi doar cu ochii, ci si cu sufletul…
Vi-o recomand cu draga inima, desi stiu ca o sa va tulbure, dar la cat adevar este cuprins intre coperti, este si pacat sa nu o cititi. Ava va asteapta sa va spuna povestea sa…
Mii de multumiri, @corinteens 🤗, asa povesti sa ma tot loveasca, nu ma supar! ❤️

[Mridu aka Storypals · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is for all the young adult readers. Also, people who enjoyed #Wonder will also probably enjoy reading this.

Why do I talk so highly off of this novel (even though hI haven’t actually thrown in the best of the adjectives in yet but it deserves them all) you ask?

Because I was able to relate to the main protagonist. I was able to feel, understand all the feeling she was going through. How an event, an accident can change your whole entire life and then you start seeing yourself in different light.

Here the character is dealing with her burnt scars, I got partial facial paralysis as a kid, which sort of changed the person I was to the person who I am. Demeaning myself to just how I look than appreciating I am still the same person with the same talent.

And now that have put that out, I wish I met someone like Piper. God we need more people like Piper. Complex as she is, she will help you out with her sense of self analysing in the best possible way.

[Willemijn jufwillemijnopallstars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Het vuur in mij is een prachtige YA waarin Ava leert hoe ze om moet gaan met haar Leven Na De Brand. Een boek vol emoties, vriendschappen en overwinningen. Lees het.

[Adele Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words to describe this book apart from simply fantastic.
Thank you Erin Stewart for writing this unforgettable book.

[Melanie Brinkman]

"Everyone has scars. Some are just easier to see."

There is nothing left to lose. Gone are her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Her face.

One year ago a house fire left Ava badly disfigured. Since then, she's stayed away from friends, people, their judgment, and life in general. She'd love for it to stay that way, but her aunt insists that she begin attending school once more.

It just awful as she expects, yet there she befriends Piper, a girl from her support group who's everything she wishes she could be. Soon the two are facing their nightmares together, and suddenly high school isn't so bad. But soon it's apparent that Piper is fighting her own battles, and Ava's not sure how or if she can help. Will Ava be able to create a normal life again?

A story of scars visible and not. A tale of finding a new normal.

Trigger warnings for insensitive talk towards burn victims, grief, death, loss of a parent, loss of a loved one, mention of drunk driving, bullying, and an overdose.

Sarcastic, pessimistic Ava just wanted to blend in. From feeling guilty for being the only one to live to the bullying she endured, my heart just broke for her. As somewhat of a former theater kid, I was excited to see how the stage might become intregal in finding her voice once more. So raw, so real, Ava was incredibly strong.

From her hugely supportive aunt and uncle to seemingly confident Piper, to friendly Asad, from cruel school kids, to an intentionally and unintentionally cruel public, Ava had to deal with a lot of people's reactions to the aftermath of her personal trauma. This well written supporting cast had my emotions tumbling.

As characters themselves and for how they gave Ava their hearts during recovery and forever, I loved Ava's family. Even suffering from pain of their own, they were always there for her. Siprited Piper, who wore her scars like badges in her wheelchair, may not have been my favorite, but she truly got Ava like no one else. Piper's humor and friendship helped Ava find the courage she needed to come out of her shell. Helping Ava to overcome her fears was Asad. Adding to the stress of her life were the bullies and general public. I couldn't believe some of the truly revolting things people said and did to poor Ava.

We can choose to let our scars keep us pinned on the ground, or to let them lift us up towards the sky. A story of internal and external mirrors and reflections, Ava's read like a heart wrenching personal account of a real life survivor. Unflinchingly, Scars like Wings tackled the mental and physical ways trauma can change us, survivor's guilt, and moving on. Accurately depicted, revecovery wasn't a steadily upward trajectory, but Erin Stewart's messages of family, friendship, inner beauty, healing, and hope were so uplifting. Tenderly crafted, this well researched contemporary was full of heart.

Breathtaking, Scars Like Wings soars.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Gardener is the sole survivor of a house fire that took the lives of her parents and cousin Sara. Ava lives with the scars that serve as a reminder of her sorrow, for the lives lost that fateful day and the life that she's been so cruelly denied. Once an outgoing and popular girl, Ava has become a recluse, completing her education through correspondence and reluctantly attending group counselling appointments for adolescents who have survived tragedy and trauma.

Enduring invasive reconstructive surgery and grafts, Ava is restricted to compression bandages to ensure her skin remains taut during the heeling process, her aunt and uncle working tirelessly to afford Ava's ongoing medical expenses. Cared for by her aunt and uncle, Sara's parents who are mourning the loss of their only child, Ava understands the financial burden she's become. Championing her recovery, Cora is enthusiastic when Ava's counsellor suggests Ava return to school, no longer challenged by her online studies and needing to gain a sense of normalcy so to appease Cora, Ava agrees to a two week trial.

Ava Gardener is a wonderful young woman who has endured devastating tragedy, losing her parents and cousin in traumatic circumstances and although heavily scarred, Ava survived. The intensity of the fire burnt over sixty percent of Ava's skin and although she's endured multiple grafting procedures, Ava's facial scarring has become a barrier in regaining her independence. Through counselling Ava befriends Piper, the two young women both survivors. Piper was involved in a car accident and now physically disabled as a result, never allowing herself to become a victim or survivor but rather a girl who is thriving. Neither Ava or Piper serve as an inspiration to others, they simply want to experience adolescence.

Ava and Piper are characters of contrast, Ava wants to remain as inconspicuous as possible, Piper is self deprecating and uses humour to make antagonisers and detractors feel uncomfortable. Ava is a kindred spirit filling the void of loneliness for Piper, Piper encourages Ava to broaden her horizons and although both Piper and Ava continue to navigate their tentative friendship, Ava's confidence begins to blossom.

Scars Like Wings is a gentle and healing narrative, to not merely survive but to endure, to exist and to live again. Diverse young adult literature is almost exclusively sexually diverse, multicultural, multigender or hearing and vision impaired and Scars Like Wings is an incredibly important narrative. Physical scarring can often be debilitating, not only effecting confidence but the discomfort and pain associated with skin trauma. Ava's experience in finding her sense of normalcy is a personal journey, she experiences isolation, undiagnosed depression, acute pain and her movements restricted due to her compression bandages. Her recovery is ongoing, with Cora massaging ointment into her skin nightly. Psychologically, Ava also experiences vivid reminders of her loss which some readers may find confronting.

Erin Stewart has authored a tender, captivating narrative and an unflinching account of the scars we carry. Some not always visible. A beautifully compassionate debut novel and essential reading

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

***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 more stars 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. The Piper character was a trope, an annoyingly awful trope.

***end spoilers***

[Zoë ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars!

This was such an incredible but heavy read. I laughed, I cried.. I actually don’t know what to say right now, except for: go read this!! It’s a story that I’ll surely won’t forget anytime soon. It gripped me so much, I just couldn’t stop reading!

[Voinea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legumita 😅😆😂. Ce poveste emoționantă si frumoasa. Pe alocuri amuzantă dar cu un mesaj puternic. Din pacate suntem egoiști și etichetam oameni care nu se încadrează în "normalul nostru". Mai ales perioadă liceului, eu cel putin singurul defect sa zic asa au fost pistruii si tot am fost ridiculizata nu imi pot imagina prin ce trece o persoană cu adevărate cicatrici. Recomand cartea din suflet.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit moet ik even laten bezinken. 💛

[Odette Brethouwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dit boek valt op in de boekhandel vanwege het felle kleurtje op de voorkant. Daardoor pakte ik het boek op om de achterflap te lezen. Want ja, we moeten boeken niet beoordelen op hun voorkant, maar het speelt vaak wel een grote rol met het prikkelen van de interesse.

Het boek klonk mij als een goede ya contemporary in de oren, omdat het echt een inhoudelijk onderwerp heeft. Het hoofdpersonage is verbrand. Ik houd erg van contemporarys die de diepte induiken van een onderwerp. Dat doet deze.

En er viel me nog iets op: hij is floppy uitgegeven! Floppy vind ik echt heel fijn en wordt naar mijn mening in Nederland te weinig uitgegeven.

Al met al dus een boek dat mijn interesse prikkelde. Maar ik ben enorm mijn kast uitgegroeid, dus ik dacht 'ik wacht wel op de bibliotheek met deze'. En toen was de uitgeverij zo lief om mij een digitaal leesexemplaar te sturen! Daar ben ik echt heel blij mee, want nu kan ik dit supergoede boek dus al gaan aanraden aan klanten :)

En dan het boek. Dit is inderdaad heel erg goed. Ik heb heel veel geleerd over brandwonden, en over hoe het herstel- en geneesproces gaat. Niet alleen lichamelijk, ook geestelijk.

Daarnaast speelt vriendschap een hele grote rol in dit boek, en daar ben ik altijd enorm fan van. In het echte leven is het ook zo waardevol.

Ik ga niet teveel over de inhoud van dit boek zeggen want ik wil niet spoilen. Maar ik vind het heel tof dat alle personages ontwikkelingen doormaken. Ook vind ik het tof dat er ook 'gewone' tienerproblemen aan bod komen. Dat is ook logisch, want je bent meer dan alleen je huid en meer dan alleen je littekens.

Dit boek kroop echt in mijn hoofd en in mijn hart. Ik voelde mee met de personages, op goede momenten en op slechte. Dat vind ik zo mooi gedaan.

En tegelijkertijd las het boek gewoon heel lekker weg. Vlot geschreven in een fijne schrijfstijl. Zwaar onderwerp, niet zwaar geschreven. Geen worsteling om te lezen, behalve soms dan met mijn emoties :) Ik beleefde het boek ook heel erg, en het speelde zich ook als een film in mijn hoofd af.

Dit is nou echt zo'n boek dat precies is waarom ik van YA contemporary houdt. Het is een fijn geschreven boek, met inhoud. En dat zijn de beste.

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cicatrici în chip de aripi" urmărește povestea Avei, numită și Fata Arsă când rămâne desfigurată în urma unui incendiu.
După un an de la tragedia care a lăsat-o orfană și de nerecunoscut, Ava se întoarce la școală. Inițiativa a fost propusă de către mătușa sa și susținută de doctori, însă Ava nu crede că este pasul în direcția cea bună, considerând că nu se va putea integra printre ceilalți elevi. Nu pot spune că s-a înșelat în privința aceasta.

• Ava este un personaj puternic, în ciuda faptului că incendiul i-a răpit părinții și prietena cea mai bună, aceasta luptă în continuare, chiar dacă uneori ea nu realizează că o face.

• Mi-a plăcut să văd cum se dezvoltă Ava ca personaj, cum ajunge să se regăsească și să se accepte pe sine, atât la nivel fizic, cât și psihic.
A trecut prin momente dificile, a întâlnit persoane la fel ca ea, și a ajuns să înțeleagă că "toată lumea are cicatrici. Doar că unele sunt mai greu de ascuns."

• Eu vă recomand această carte, este un YA Contemporary, care se axează pe mental health.

✎ Mai jos vă las câteva citate care mi-au plăcut:
• "E o problemă serioasă atunci când prima lege a liceului este cea de ~ A aparține ~."
• "Suntem la liceu. Poate că demonii noștri sunt mai mici, dar asta nu face ca lupta noastră sau curajul nostru să fie mai puțin reale."
• "Cum de n-am văzut că și ea își purta propriul război cu întunericul?"
• "Mai ai încă o grămadă de zboruri de făcut de această parte a curcubeului."
• "– În cazul tău însă, cicatricile spun toată povestea.
– Și care ar fi acea poveste?
– Că ești mai puternică decât ceea ce a încercat să te ucidă."

[Debbie Schrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a real friend of hers, Erin Stewart's Scars Like Wings helps readers understand what it's like to wake up with a different face and life. Ava's voice is engaging from the first line. We feel her pain as she tries to fit in and learn how to deal with the loss of her family. Her friend Piper's cheerful persona is a great counter balance to Ava's bitterness. Yet each girl has her own struggle to fit into the world. This is a well-written and poignant novel. I recommend that everyone read this book!

[bookswithnora · Rating 5 out of 5]

“there's always beauty in the ashes. sometimes we just can’t see it yet.” this book is just so amazing. discusses very important topics and tells a story of hope, loss, and friendship. loved this book sm

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai adoré. Ca réussit le tour de force d'être touchant, émouvant, drôle et sérieux à la fois. On parle notamment de reconstruction et de courage, on parle d'amitié et c’était vraiment une belle lecture. Un sujet qu'on a pas l'habitude de voir dans le YA mais qui m'a beaucoup touchée.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava has a lot of burn scars over her body and face after she survived a house fire which claimed the lives of her parents and her cousin. She spent a long time in the burns unit and is now living with her aunt and uncle (whose daughter lost her life in the fire). Cora and Glenn are keen for her to try to live a normal life and are encouraging her to go back to school, something she's been avoiding. Ava finally agrees to give it a try for two weeks, thinking that she'll do it and then be able to go back to her quiet life of online lessons and, importantly for Ava, people not looking at her and talking about her. Ava didn't count on meeting Piper though, and Piper is a fellow burns survivor who's not content to fade into the background. There is so much to this book you just need to read it, it's a beautiful story. Congratulations to Erin Stewart, this is an amazing debut novel.