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.

This was a beautiful YA book. It tells the story of 16 year old Ava. She has experienced severe burns after a house fire leaving her disfigured. She lost a lot in the fire, including her self-confidence.  The story follows her journey of reintegrating back in to mainstream high school.   And when she meets Piper she starts to regain her purpose in life. She stops feeling as much guilt and learns to adapt.  It’s a lovely telling of the difficulties of being a teen with the added pressure of trying to fit in when you feel you don’t.  It’s filled with heartache, bullying, sadness and coming to life.

Really enjoyed this book, I haven't read a YA before but it was gripping and I was engrossed in finding out how Eva got on. The story was up to date and covered modern day issues.

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)

I have just finished this book and I have goosebumps... such an emotional and powerful read, that follows the story of Ava and her journey after a house fire leaves her whole life destroyed, her body covered in burns, scars and pain and her parents and cousin dead, she has to learn how to truly live again and not just survive. This book is heartbreaking but mostly it's a story of strength and hope. The support around Ava is incredible and the friends she makes during her toughest moments just fills your heart. It's a long hard road for Ava but she is a Phoenix rising from the ashes. My favourite quote from this book is "She conquered her demons and wore her scars like wings." This book is such an important and brilliant YA read. Thank you netgalley for my review copy and the publishers and Erin stewart. My opinion and review as always is my own and has not been influenced in any way. 5/5 stars for Scars Like wings.

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.

Wow!  This book is AMAZING!

Burn-survivor Ava has scars – physical, emotional, psychological… the full set.  The accident that took her parents also took her carefree teenage life from her.  Her aunt and uncle, and her doctors, are determined that she can pick up where she left off – thankful for her survival against the odds, but is it really that easy?

School life is hard enough, without having to wear your differences right out there on your face for all to see.

Ava is convinced that her real life ended in the fire, and just wants to get through this ‘bonus time’ as unobtrusively as possible: hiding in corners and shadows, and under the covers.  But life, and some schoolmates, has other plans for Ava.  And it turns out that the scars we can see are only part of our story… it’s the ones that we can’t see that can kill us.

Ava tells her story with real heart and humour.  There is sadness, anger and angst, but also hope, smiles and the occasional song.  This isn’t about a tragedy turning someone into a hero or a saint.  It is about how everyone has to learn to live with the hand they’re dealt and make the best of it; however good or bad it may be.  I particularly love that there are no easy romantic ‘fixes’ but instead real relationships, that are messy and complicated, and take work.

In  short: I cried buckets; smiled some; held my breath at times.  I put the book down feeling drained, but content, and – I’m so sorry, Ava! – inspired.

 

 

One year after the fire, my doctor removed my mask and tells me to get a life.

He doesn’t use those exact words, of course, because he’s paid to flash around lots of medical-degree terms like reintegration and isolation, but basically, the Committee on Ava’s Life had a big meeting and decided I have wallowed long enough.

My postburn pity party is over.

– Erin Stewart, Scars Like Wings


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

I really enjoyed this book. Such a raw and powerful novel about a girl adjusting to her life after a house fire that leaves her with burns. In some ways, made me think of the book 'Wonder'. Loved the MC and really enjoyed going along on her road of self-discovery. Highly recommend.

I couldn't wait to read Scars Like Wings when I received it on Netgalley, I had read so many positive reviews and was eager to get reading.

This is an emotional whirlwind of a book, full of a 16 year olds thoughts and feelings after having survived a fire in which her family died. It covers survivor guilt, bullying, recovery, mental health, friendships, the list goes on. This book is jam-packed with important and poignant messages.

I flew through this book in one easy read feeling all the emotions under the sun. It was heart breaking, enlightening, emotive and so much more. I highly recommend it to everyone.

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